Quizology.Online

Tag: politics

  • Dress Sense—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.

    Ocelots are active especially during dawn and dusk.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Which fictional character habitually wears a charcoal turtleneck, Harris Tweed jacket, khakis and collegiate cordovan loafers; and which author created him?

    Answer: Robert Langdon (created by) Dan Brown

    Robert Langdon, a fictional character created by author Dan Brown for his Robert Langdon book series: Angels & Demons (2000), The Da Vinci Code (2003), The Lost Symbol (2009), Inferno (2013), Origin (2017), and The Secret of Secrets (2025). He is a Harvard University professor of Religious Iconology and Symbology (a fictional field).

    Tom Hanks portrays Langdon in the Robert Langdon film series; starting with the 2006 film adaptation of The Da Vinci Code, reprising the role in the 2009 film adaptation of Angels & Demons, and again in the 2016 film adaptation of Inferno, while Ashley Zukerman plays a younger version of the character in the 2021 TV series adaptation of The Lost Symbol.

    Two

    Is it true or false that in zoology, a crepuscular animal is one which lives on a seashore in the areas between the high and low tide marks?

    Answer: False

    In zoology, a crepuscular animal is one that is active primarily during the twilight period, being matutinal (active during dawn), vespertine/vespertinal (active during dusk), or both. This is distinguished from diurnal and nocturnal behaviour, where an animal is active during the hours of daytime and of night, respectively. Some crepuscular animals may also be active by moonlight or during an overcast day.

    Stanley Baldwin.
    Image The Spectator

    Three

    Who was the British prime minister at the time of the abdication crisis, when King Edward VIII renounced the throne?

    Answer: Stanley Baldwin

    Baldwin served as Prime Minister from May 1935 to June 1937. He held office under three kings: George V, his eldest son Edward VIII, who abdicated and was succeeded by his brother Albert, who took the regnal name King George VI.
    In 1936, King Edward VIII’s proposed marriage to Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American, caused a constitutional crisis. The British government and the Church of England, of which the monarch is head, opposed the marriage. Consequently Edward abdicated in favour of his brother.

    The Doors c. 1966: Jim Morrison (L), John Densmore (C), Robby Krieger (R), and Ray Manzarek (seated).
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    The Doors chose their band name from a 1954 work by what author (1894-1963)?

    Answer: Aldous Huxley

    Morrison took the band’s name from Aldous Huxley’s book on mescaline, The Doors of Perception (1954), which in turn refers to a line in a poem by Romantic artist and writer William Blake.
    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    Five

    Can you name three players chosen for the European 2025 Ryder Cup team whose surnames begin with the same letter?

    Answer: Tyrrell Hatton, Rasmus Højgaard and Viktor Hovland

    The players are Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Rasmus Højgaard, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry, Robert MacIntyre, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Justin Rose and Sepp Straka.

  • Dress Sense

    Here are five unrelated questions which are not connected by date, subject or theme.

    King Edward VIII. Image Wikipedia

    One

    Which fictional character habitually wears a charcoal turtleneck, Harris Tweed jacket, khakis and collegiate cordovan loafers; and which author created him?

    Two

    Is it true or false that in zoology, a crepuscular animal is one which lives on a seashore in the areas between the high and low tide marks?

    Three

    Who was the British prime minister at the time of the abdication crisis, when King Edward VIII renounced the throne?

    Four

    The Doors chose their band name from a 1954 work by what author (1894-1963)?

    Five

    Can you name three players chosen for the European 2025 Ryder Cup team whose surnames begin with the same letter?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • All in a Day—Answers

    One

    On 18 September 1905, the actress Greta Garbo was born. In which capital city was she born?

    Answer: Stockholm

    Greta Garbo, was born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson, in Stockholm, Sweden. The Swedish-American actress was a prominent figure in Hollywood’s silent and early golden eras. Known for her melancholic screen persona and subtle performances, she achieved international stardom with films like Flesh and the Devil and A Woman of Affairs. Despite her success, Garbo retired from acting in 1941, shunning publicity and leading a private life until her death in 1990.

    Two

    A Dictionary of the English Language, published 1755, was considered the most famous work of which English writer, poet, playwright and lexicographer who was born 18 September 1709?

    Answer: Samuel Johnson

    Samuel Johnson, an English writer, made significant contributions to literature as a poet, playwright, essayist, and lexicographer. His most famous work, A Dictionary of the English Language, was published in 1755 and remained influential for 150 years. Johnson’s friendship with James Boswell resulted in the renowned biography, Life of Samuel Johnson.

    Three

    Dylan Kwabena Mills, born today in 1984, is known professionally as whom?

    Answer: Dizzee Rascal

    Dizzee Rascal, a British rapper, is credited with pioneering British hip hop and grime music. His work, incorporating elements of UK garage, bassline, and R&B, brought UK rap into the mainstream and achieved international recognition.

    Four

    John G. Diefenbaker, who was born on this day in 1895, was the prime minister of which country from 1957 to 1963?

    Answer: Canada

    John G. Diefenbaker, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, served as Canada’s prime minister from 1957 to 1963, ending 22 years of Liberal rule. His government faced challenges, including a crisis over nuclear weapons, leading to his defeat in the 1963 election.

    Five

    American police officer J.D. Tippit was born on 18 September 1924. When he was 39 years of age he was shot and killed while on duty by a suspect he was questioning regarding an earlier shooting. Who was he shot by?

    Answer: Lee Harvey Oswald

    After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas at 1230 on 22 November 1963, bullet casings were found on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository, where a rifle owned by Lee Harvey Oswald was discovered. Two employees were missing: one outside watching the motorcade and Oswald, who had been working there for a month. Oswald was seen on the sixth floor before the shooting and encountered by the building superintendent and a policeman afterward. Law enforcement circulated his description. Oswald returned to his boardinghouse, and then left again. At 1:15 pm he was confronted by Dallas policeman J.D. Tippit, whom he shot and killed. Witnesses saw Oswald enter the Texas Theatre, where he was apprehended by police at 1:50 PM.

  • All in a Day

    These questions all relate to people born on September 18th.

    Greta Garbo, 1925.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 18 September 1905, the actress Greta Garbo was born. In which capital city was she born?

    Two

    A Dictionary of the English Language, published 1755, was considered the most famous work of which English writer, poet, playwright and lexicographer who was born 18 September 1709?

    Three

    Dylan Kwabena Mills, born today in 1984, is known professionally as whom?

    Four

    John G. Diefenbaker, who was born on this day in 1895, was the prime minister of which country from 1957 to 1963?

    Five

    American police officer J.D. Tippit was born on 18 September 1924. When he was 39 years of age he was shot and killed while on duty by a suspect he was questioning regarding an earlier shooting. Who was he shot by?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Today—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.

    Robert Altman.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    M*A*S*H debuted on television on 17 September 1972. It was based on the 1970 film of the same name, which was directed by whom?

    Answer: Robert Altman

    M*A*S*H*, an American war comedy-drama TV series, aired from 1972 to 1983. It follows a team of doctors and support staff at a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) during the Korean War. Renowned for its blend of comedy and drama, the show is considered one of the greatest TV series of all time. It was based on Robert Altman’s film, which in turn was adapted from a 1968 novel by Richard Hooker.

    Two

    The opening paragraph of Encyclopædia Britannica‘s article on Wenceslas II is quoted below. What word is missing after ‘king of’?

    Wenceslas II (born Sept. 17, 1271—died June 21, 1305) was the king of Bohemia from 1278 and of Poland from 1300 who ably ruled his Bohemian kingdom and spread his influence not only into Poland but also into Hungary.

    Answer: Bohemia

    Wenceslas II, King of Bohemia from 1278 and Poland from 1300, ruled successfully after overcoming early challenges. He expanded his influence into Hungary and increased his kingdom’s wealth. He is not the Good King Wenceslas of Christmas carol fame who was St Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (907–935).

    Anwar Sadat, Jimmy Carter and Menachem Begin (left to right), at Camp David, 1978.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    In 1978, the Nobel Prize for Peace was awarded to two leaders who signed the Camp David Accords on 17 September of that year. Name these two leaders?

    Answers: Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat

    The Camp David Accords, signed in 1978, were agreements between Israel and Egypt brokered by U.S. President Jimmy Carter. The accords, officially titled the ‘Framework for Peace in the Middle East’, led to a peace treaty between the two countries.

    Four

    On 17 September 1940, Adolf Hitler postponed Operation Sea Lion. What was the purpose of this operation?

    Answer: The invasion of Great Britain (or United Kingdom)

    Operation Sea Lion was Nazi Germany’s planned invasion of the United Kingdom during World War II. Despite preparations, the invasion was indefinitely postponed due to the German Luftwaffe’s losses in the Battle of Britain.

    Brian Mulroney, Prime Minister of Canada, 1993.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    Martin Brian Mulroney became prime minister of what nation on this date in 1984?

    Answer: Canada

    Brian Mulroney, a Canadian lawyer and businessman, served as the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from 1984 to 1993. He led the Progressive Conservative Party to a landslide victory in the 1984 federal election and later secured a second majority government in 1988.

  • Today

    Five questions which are all related to today’s date, September 17.

    M*A*S*H (From left) Actors McLean Stevenson, Wayne Rogers, Gary Burghoff, and Alan Alda in a scene from the television series M*A*S*H. 
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    M*A*S*H debuted on television on 17 September 1972. It was based on the 1970 film of the same name, which was directed by whom?

    Two

    The opening paragraph of Encyclopædia Britannica‘s article on Wenceslas II, who was born on this date, is quoted below. What word is missing after ‘king of’?

    Wenceslas II (born Sept. 17, 1271—died June 21, 1305) was the king of … from 1278 and of Poland from 1300 who ably ruled his …n kingdom and spread his influence not only into Poland but also into Hungary.

    Three

    In 1978, the Nobel Prize for Peace was awarded to two leaders who signed the Camp David Accords on 17 September of that year. Name these two leaders?

    Four

    On 17 September 1940, Adolf Hitler postponed Operation Sea Lion. What was the purpose of this operation?

    Five

    Martin Brian Mulroney became prime minister of what nation on this date in 1984?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.

    United Nations flag.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Switzerland became a full member of the United Nations on this day. In what decade did this occur?

    Answer: Noughties (2000s)

    Switzerland, fearing for its neutrality status, did not join the United Nations when it was created in 1945. However, in 2002, after a referendum, it became the first country to join based on a popular vote.

    Two

    On 10 September, the United States defeated a British fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie. This battle took place during what war?

    Answer: War of 1812

    The Battle of Lake Erie, fought on 10 September 1813, saw the US Navy defeat the British Royal Navy, securing American control of the lake and enabling subsequent victories.

    Diana and Charles Ingram, 2006.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    Who was the former major from the British Army who won £1 million on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire on 10 September 2001, only to be later convicted of cheating and fraud?

    Answer: Charles Ingram

    In 2001, during his appearance on the British TV game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire? contestant Charles Ingram reached the £1 million top prize. However, it was later revealed that he had cheated by listening to coughs from his wife and another contestant. All three were later found guilty of procuring the execution of a valuable security by deception by a court of law.

    Four

    The last full-scale military confrontation between Scotland and England took place on 10 September 1547. What was the battle? Was it the Battle of Finger, Pinkie, or Thumb?

    Answer: Pinkie

    Henry VIII’s proposal for an alliance with Scotland through the marriage of his son to Queen Mary was rejected. After Henry’s death, the Duke of Somerset, ruling as Lord Protector, continued the ‘Rough Wooing’ with a military campaign, culminating in the Battle of Pinkie (or Pinkie Cleugh) on 10 September 1547. The English victory, with significant Scottish losses, led to the young Queen Mary being sent to France.

    View of the LHC tunnel sector 3-4.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    In a novel published in 2000, the theft of antimatter created by a device described by the BBC as “the world’s biggest science experiment” was an essential part the plot of the novel and subsequent film. What is the three-word name of the device, and what is the title of the novel and film?

    Answers: Large Hadron Collider and Angels & Demons

    The novel Angels & Demons, by Dan Brown, involves antimatter created at the LHC to be used in a weapon against the Vatican. In response, CERN published a “Fact or Fiction?” page discussing the accuracy of the book’s portrayal of the LHC, CERN, and particle physics in general. The movie version of the book has footage filmed on-site at one of the experiments at the LHC; the director, Ron Howard, met with CERN experts in an effort to make the science in the story more accurate
    — Wikipedia

  • Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

    Some questions which are related to today, September 10th.

    United Nations flag.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Switzerland became a full member of the United Nations on 10 September. In what decade did this occur?

    Two

    On this day, the United States defeated a British fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie. This battle took place during what war?

    Three

    Who was the former major from the British Army who won £1 million on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire on 10 September 2001, only to be later convicted of cheating and fraud?

    Four

    The last full-scale military confrontation between Scotland and England took place on 10 September 1547. What was the battle? Was it the Battle of Finger, Pinkie, or Thumb?

    Five

    In a novel published in 2000, the theft of antimatter created by a device described by the BBC as “the world’s biggest science experiment” was an essential part the plot of the novel and subsequent film. What is the three-word name of the device, and what is the title of the novel and film?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • Why a Duck?—Answers

    Freddie Mercury, 1977.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Freddie Mercury, born on 5 September 1946 in Stone Town, the Sultanate of Zanzibar, is best known as the frontman of Queen. Which two Queen albums from the mid-seventies are named after Marx Brothers films?

    Answer: A Night at the Opera (1975) and A Day at the Races (1976)

    Freddie Mercury, born Farrokh Bulsara in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, was a British rock singer and songwriter known for his flamboyant showmanship and powerful vocals. He joined the band Smile in 1970, renamed it Queen, and became its lead singer. Queen achieved international fame with albums like A Night at the Opera, and Mercury’s solo career included collaborations with Montserrat Caballé.

    Gerald R. Ford, presidential portrait.
    Image Wikipedia

    Two

    On 5 September 1975, Lynette ‘Squeaky’ Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, attempted to assassinate the US president. This was one of two assassination attempts in that month, Who was the president who was targeted?

    Answer: Gerald R Ford

    Twice in September 1975, Ford was the target of assassination attempts. In the first instance, Secret Service agents intervened before shots were fired; in the second, the would-be assassin fired one shot at Ford but missed by several feet.
    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    Jim Henson with Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear in 1979.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    The first episode of The Muppet Show aired on 5 September 1976. In which country was it broadcast?

    Answer: United Kingdom

    The Muppet Show, created by Jim Henson, premiered in the UK on 5 September 1976 and ended on 23 May 1981. Five seasons, totalling 120 episodes, were broadcast on ATV and other ITV franchises in the UK and in syndication in the United States from 1976 to 1981. It featured iconic characters like Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, with its success leading to films, merchandise, and other series. The Muppets were acquired by Disney in 2004.

    Sam Houston, 1861.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    Sam Houston was elected as the first president of the Republic of Texas on 5 September. In which decade of the 19th century did this event occur?
    Thirties

    Answer: Thirties

    Houston was elected in 1836.
    Samuel Houston was an American general and statesman who played a prominent role in the Texas Revolution. He served as the first and third president of the Republic of Texas, a U.S. Senator, and the governor of both Tennessee and Texas. Houston opposed secession and was forced out of office as Texas governor in 1861.

    Flag of Tuvala.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    On 5 September 2000, the Pacific island nation whose flag is shown above became the 189th member of the United Nations. Please name that country?

    Answer: Tuvala

    Tuvalu, a Polynesian island country in the Pacific Ocean, comprises three reef islands and six atolls. It gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1978 and is a constitutional monarchy. The economy relies on imports, fishing, and remittances, while facing challenges from climate change and sea level rise.

    Why Why a Duck?

    The title of the post, Why a Duck?, doesn’t directly relate to the content, except for the mention of the Marx Brothers in the first question. However, I’ve always enjoyed the routine it originates from. This routine comes from The Cocoanuts. A bit of an explanation follows.

    “Why a Duck?” is a comedy routine featured in the Marx Brothers movie The Cocoanuts (1929). In a scene in which Groucho and Chico are discussing a map, Groucho mentions the presence of a viaduct between the mainland and a peninsula. Chico, who is playing the role of an immigrant with poor English skills, replies “Why a duck?” This leads into a long schtick with Chico responding “Why a no chicken?”, “I catch ona why a horse”, and so forth
    — Wikipedia

    The routine can be read here at The Marx Brothers.

  • Why a Duck?

    See question 5.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Freddie Mercury, born on 5 September 1946 in Stone Town, the Sultanate of Zanzibar, is best known as the frontman of Queen. Which two Queen albums from the mid-seventies are named after Marx Brothers films?

    Two

    On 5 September 1975, Lynette ‘Squeaky’ Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, attempted to assassinate the US president. This was one of two assassination attempts in that month, Who was the president who was targeted?

    Three

    The first episode of The Muppet Show aired on 5 September 1976. In which country was it broadcast?

    Four

    Sam Houston was elected as the first president of the Republic of Texas on 5 September. In which decade of the 19th century did this event occur?

    Five

    On 5 September 2000, the Pacific island nation whose flag is shown above became the 189th member of the United Nations. Please name that country?

    Good luck! The answers will be posted later today.