Quizology.Online

Tag: religion

  • A Maiden Voyage — Answers

    Here’s the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    SS Great Western.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    These questions are all about today, April 8th.

    One

    In 1838, the SS Great Western, the earliest regular and first purpose-built transatlantic steamer, embarked on its first transatlantic voyage. Between what U.K. and U.S. ports did she sail on this voyage?

    Answer: Bristol, U.K. to New York City, U.S.

    SS Great Western, a wooden-hulled paddle-wheel steamship designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was the largest passenger ship in the world from 1837 to 1839. Her maiden transatlantic voyage took 15 days, which was half the time taken by sailing ships. She served as a model for successful wooden Atlantic paddle-steamers and was scrapped in 1856 after serving as a troopship during the Crimean War.

    Two

    Born in 1938, who was the first Secretary-General of the United Nations to be elected from within UN staff?

    Answer: Kofi Annan.

    Kofi Annan, a Ghanaian diplomat and civil servant, served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. He was the first Secretary-General elected from within the UN staff and shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. After his tenure, Annan founded the Kofi Annan Foundation, was chairman of the Elders, and served as a UN envoy for various conflicts.

    Three

    On this date in Japan, the birth of Buddha is celebrated. In what century was Buddhism founded?

    Answer: 6th or 5th centuries BCE.

    Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, was a religious teacher who founded Buddhism in the 6th or 5th century BCE. He taught a Middle Way between indulgence and asceticism, summarised in the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. Buddhism evolved into various traditions and spread beyond India, becoming prominent in Southeast and East Asia. Buddha, an enlightened being who achieved freedom from suffering, is celebrated by Buddhists for events in his life, including his birth, enlightenment, and nirvana, with festivals like Wesak and Hanamatsuri.

    Four

    In 2014, Windows XP reached its ‘End of Life’ and would not be supported. What product released in 2007 was the successor to Windows XP?

    Answer: Windows Vista.

    Windows XP, released in 2001, was the first consumer edition of Windows not based on the Windows 95 kernel. A successor to both Windows 2000 and Windows Me, it received critical acclaim for its performance, stability, and user interface.

    Five

    Born in 1902, this British mountaineer and his climbing partner vanished near the summit of Mount Everest during the 1924 British expedition.  Who were these two mountaineers?

    Answer: Andrew Irvine and George Mallory.

    Andrew ‘Sandy’ Irvine was the British mountaineer born on this day. He participated in the 1924 British Mount Everest expedition, the third British attempt to conquer the world’s highest mountain. Irvine and his climbing partner, George Mallory, vanished somewhere high on the mountain’s Northeast Ridge and were last seen alive at an uncertain distance from the summit. Mallory’s body was discovered in 1999, while Irvine’s partial remains were found in 2024. To this day, it is not known if they reached the summit or not.

  • A Maiden Voyage

    SS Great Western.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    These questions are all about today, April 8th.

    One

    In 1838, the SS Great Western, the earliest regular and first purpose-built transatlantic steamer, embarked on its first transatlantic voyage. Between what U.K. and U.S. ports did she sail on this voyage?

    Two

    Born in 1938, who was the first Secretary-General of the United Nations to be elected from within UN staff?

    Three

    On this date in Japan, the birth of Buddha is celebrated. In what century was Buddhism founded?

    Four

    In 2014, Windows XP reached its ‘End of Life’ and would not be supported. What product released in 2007 was the successor to Windows XP?

    Five

    Born in 1902, this British mountaineer and his climbing partner vanished near the summit of Mount Everest during the 1924 British expedition.  Who were these two mountaineers?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • From Alfa to Echo — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    Five questions with the answers beginning with the letters from A to E, with each letter being used only once, but they are not in alphabetical order.

    See question two. Death in the Afternoon.
    Image A Couple Cooks

    One

    Who wrote, produced, and directed Moulin Rouge (2001) and Australia (2008)? 

    Answers: Baz Luhrman.

    Baz Luhrmann is an Australian film director, producer, writer, and actor known for his Red Curtain Trilogy and other films like Australia, The Great Gatsby, and Elvis. He is also involved in opera, theatre, music, and the recording industries, with Grammy-nominated soundtracks and his own record label.

    Two

    An absinthe-Champagne cocktail was invented by an author and shares its name with his 1932 non-fiction book about a sport in a southern European nation. Who is the author, and what is the book and cocktail’s shared name? 

    Answers: Ernest Hemingway; Death in the Afternoon.

    Death in the Afternoon, a 1932 non-fiction book by Ernest Hemingway, explores Spanish bullfighting, fear, and courage. Its namesake, a cocktail invented by Hemingway, is made with absinthe and Champagne. The drink, known for its decadence and high strength, can be made with absinthe alternatives like Absente or Pernod.

    Three

    Which chemical element derives its name from the Latin for ‘coal’?

    Answer: Carbon.

    Carbon, symbol C and atomic number 6, a non-metal which has two main forms, diamond and graphite, and which also occurs in impure form in charcoal, soot and coal. It is the 15th most abundant element in Earth’s crust and the fourth most abundant in the universe.

    Four

    Which small dog breed, which is not a terrier, is sometimes known as the monkey terrier?

    Answer: Affenpinscher.

    The Affenpinscher, a German toy dog breed, originated as a ratter and is now a popular companion worldwide. The breed, whose name is sometimes translated from German as ‘Monkey Terrier’, is believed to be ancestral to the Griffon Bruxellois and Miniature Schnauzer.

    Five

    The Malawian city of Blantyre was named after the Scottish birthplace of which missionary and explorer (1813-73)?

    Answer: David Livingstone

    Blantyre, Malawi’s second-largest city and commercial centre, was founded in 1876 by the Church of Scotland. It grew rapidly due to its role in colonial trade and became a major manufacturing centre. The city’s development was influenced by various factors, including commerce, industry, and administration, and it was merged with Limbe in 1956.

  • From Alfa to Echo

    Five questions with the answers beginning with the letters from A to E, with each letter being used only once, but they are not in alphabetical order.

    See question two.
    Image A Couple Cooks

    One

    Who wrote, produced, and directed Moulin Rouge (2001) and Australia (2008)? 

    Two

    An absinthe-Champagne cocktail was invented by an author and shares its name with his 1932 non-fiction book about a sport in a southern European nation. Who is the author, and what is the book and cocktail’s shared name? 

    Three

    Which chemical element derives its name from the Latin for ‘coal’?

    Four

    Which small dog breed, which is not a terrier, is sometimes known as the monkey terrier?

    Five

    The Malawian city of Blantyre was named after the Scottish birthplace of which missionary and explorer (1813-73)?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words — Answers

    Again some pictures and questions but with no theme this time.

    One

    Michelangelo’s Pietà.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Michelangelo’s Pietà a Carrara marble sculpture of Jesus and Mary at —— dating from 1498-99 is pictured…

    1. What is the location of Jesus and Mary in the sculpture ?
    2. In what building and city is the sculpture located?

    Answers

    1. Mount Golgotha (aka Calvary)
    2. Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City.

    Michelangelo’s Pietà, a Carrara marble sculpture of Jesus and Mary, is a masterpiece of Italian Renaissance sculpture. Commissioned by a French cardinal, it is the only work Michelangelo ever signed and is housed in Saint Peter’s Basilica.

    Two

    Zorbing, Rotorua, New Zealand.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    What is this recreation or sport?

    Answer: Zorbing aka globe-riding, sphereing or orbing.

    Zorbing, a recreational activity, involves rolling downhill inside a transparent plastic orb. It can be done on slopes, level surfaces, or even water, and there are harnessed and non-harnessed orbs available. The first zorbing site was established in Rotorua, New Zealand, by ZORB Ltd.

    Three

    Kindlifresserbrunnen.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Pictured is the Kindlifresserbrunnen…

    1. In what city is this fountain found?
    2. What, in English, is its name?

    Answers

    1. (either) Fountain of the Eater of Little Children (or) Child-eater fountain
    2. Berne

    The Kindlifresserbrunnen, a 16th-century fountain in Bern, Switzerland, was created by Hans Gieng in 1545-1546. Its name, meaning ‘Fountain of the Eater of Little Children’, was first used in 1666.

    Four

    Flag of Cape Verde.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    This is the flag of an island country…

    1. What country is it?
    2. In what ocean is the country found?
    3. Is the country in the Northern or Southern hemisphere?

    Answers

    1. Cape Verde or Cabo Verde
    2. North Atlantic Ocean
    3. Northern Hemisphere

    Cape Verde, an island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean, gained independence from Portugal in 1975. Its economy, lacking natural resources, is service-oriented, with a focus on tourism and foreign investment. The population, primarily of West African descent, is around 491,233.

    Five

    Zori.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    What are these Japanese sandals called?

    Answer: Zori.

    Zori are Japanese sandals made from various materials, including rice straw and synthetic materials. They are easily slipped on and off, making them ideal for traditional Japanese clothing and casual wear.

  • A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

    Again some pictures and questions but with no theme this time.

    One

    Michelangelo’s Pietà.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Michelangelo’s Pietà a Carrara marble sculpture of Jesus and Mary at —— dating from 1498-99 is pictured…

    1. What is the location of Jesus and Mary in the sculpture ?
    2. In what building and city is the sculpture located?

    Two

    Image Wikimedia Commons

    What is this recreation or sport?

    Three

    Kindlifresserbrunnen.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Pictured is the Kindlifresserbrunnen…

    1. In what city is this fountain found?
    2. What, in English, is its name?

    Four

    Image Wikimedia Commons

    This is the flag of an island country…

    1. What country is it?
    2. In what ocean is the country found?
    3. Is the country in the Northern or Southern hemisphere?

    Five

    Image Wikimedia Commons

    What are these Japanese sandals called?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • All at Sea — Answers

    The questions are all related to today’s date, March 23rd.

    Ever Given in Suez Canal 2021.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    The Suez Canal was blocked for six days in 2021, when a container ship ran aground, see picture above. What was the name of the container ship?

    Answer: Ever Given.

    The Ever Given, a 400-metre-long vessel, blocked the Suez Canal on 23 March, disrupting global trade. After six days, the ship was freed, and shipping resumed. The Egyptian government impounded the vessel, seeking compensation, and a settlement was reached in July.

    Two

    What animals were retired from the U.S. Army in 1957 when it was decided that they were obsolete? 

    Answer: Pigeons.

    During World War I, 10,000 messenger pigeon spots were filled, delivering messages where telegraph lines were vulnerable. Despite their service from the Spanish-American War to the Korean War, advances in communication technology made pigeons obsolete, leading to the end of pigeon service in 1956.

    Three

    In 1998, James Cameron’s Titanic won eleven Academy Awards. Which of these did it not win: 

    1. Best Actress
    2. Best Director
    3. Best Picture

    Answer: 1. Best Actress.

    James Cameron and Jon Landau Received the Oscar for the Best Picture, and Cameron was also the recipient for Best Director. Although nominated Kate Winslet did not win the Best Actress award which went to Helen Hunt for her role in As Good as it Gets.

    Four

    In 1956, the world’s first Islamic republic came into being. Currently the term is used in the names of three states: name those three countries? 

    Answer: Pakistan, Mauritania and Iran.

    The term is currently used in the official name of three states – Pakistan, Mauritania, and Iran. Pakistan first adopted the title under the constitution of 1956. Mauritania adopted it on 28 November 1958. Iran adopted it after the 1979 Iranian Revolution that overthrew the Pahlavi dynasty. Despite having similar names, the countries differ greatly in their governments and laws.
    — Wikipedia (22/03/2026)

    Five

    In 1806, Lewis and Clark began their return journey to St. Louis, Missouri. Their return journey began from a position near to the mouth of what river?

    Answer: Columbia River.

    The Lewis and Clark Expedition, led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark, explored the newly acquired western US territory after the Louisiana Purchase. The expedition, which began in 1804 and ended in 1806, traversed the continent, reaching the Pacific Ocean near the mouth of the Columbia River, where they built Fort Clatsop. The fort became their winter encampment prior to heading back to St. Louis. The original fort was replaced with a replica, and the area is now the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park.

  • All at Sea

    These questions are all related to today’s date, March 23rd.

    Suez Canal 2021.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    The Suez Canal was blocked for six days in 2021, when a container ship ran aground, see picture above. What was the name of the container ship?

    Two

    What animals were retired from the U.S. Army in 1957 when it was decided that they were obsolete? 

    Three

    In 1998, James Cameron’s Titanic won eleven Academy Awards. Which of these did it not win: 

    1. Best Actress
    2. Best Director
    3. Best Picture

    Four

    In 1956, the world’s first Islamic republic came into being. Currently the term is used in the names of three states: name those three countries?

    Five

    In 1806, Lewis and Clark began their return journey to St. Louis, Missouri. Their return journey began from a position near to the mouth of what river?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer — Answers

    See question three. Loevestein Castle.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    These questions are all about today’s date, March 22nd.

    One

    Born in 1948, this composer wrote the music for a musical based on a 1939 T.S. Eliot poetry collection. Three questions…

    1. Who is the composer?
    2. What is the title of the musical? 
    3. What is the name of the poetry collection?

    Answers

    1. Andrew Lloyd Webber;
    2. Cats
    3. Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats

    Cats, a sung-through musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on T.S. Eliot’s poetry, tells the story of the Jellicle cats and their annual ‘Jellicle choice’. Premiering in 1981, it became a commercial success, running for decades in both the West End and Broadway, and sparking the mega-musical phenomenon.

    Two

    Canadian actor William Shatner, who was born on 22 March 1931, first appeared in the role of James T. Kirk in series 1 episode 1 of the original television series Star Trek in September 1966. What was the episode title?

    Answer: The Man Trap.

    William Shatner, born in 1931, is a Canadian actor renowned for his iconic role as Captain Kirk in the Star Trek franchise. He also starred in T.J. Hooker, Rescue 911, and Boston Legal, earning two Emmy Awards for the latter. Beyond acting, Shatner has released several albums and made history in 2021 as the oldest person to fly in space.

    Three

    Hugo Grotius, a Dutch jurist, scholar and diplomat, is often called the ‘father of modern international law’. Today, he is best known for escaping imprisonment in Loevestein Castle, Netherlands, on this date in 1621. His wife devised the escape plan; what was it?

    Answer: Hidden in a wooden chest.

    On this day in 1621, Hugo Grotius was smuggled out of prison in a chest. Religious tensions were high in Holland and Grotius, who favoured tolerance, made many enemies. Arrested and sentenced to life in prison in 1618, his guards grew careless, neglecting to inspect the large book chest he often received. His wife then devised a plan to smuggle him out using the same chest. The plan was successful and the couple later reunited in Paris. Grotius is also remembered for his extensive legal writings which earned him the title ‘father of international law’.

    Four

    Born in 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana, this actress won an Academy Award in 2006 for her role in Walk the Line. Who is she?

    Answer: Reese Witherspoon.

    Reese Witherspoon, born on March 22, 1976, in New Orleans, Louisiana, is an acclaimed American actress and producer renowned for her roles in romantic comedies and films like Legally Blonde and Walk the Line — for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of June Carter. Witherspoon founded Hello Sunshine, a production company dedicated to female-led literary adaptations, and is actively involved in advocacy for children and women.

    Five

    Born in 1641 in Antwerp, Spanish Netherlands (now Belgium), this Flemish Baroque artist became a leading court painter in England. He is also known for having a beard named after him. Who is he? 

    Answer: Anthony van Dyck.

    Sir Anthony van Dyck, a Flemish Baroque artist, revolutionised court portraiture in England, notably painting Charles I. He was a prolific painter of portraits, religious and mythological subjects, and a fine draftsman and etcher. The Van Dyke beard is named after him.

    Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer

    Today’s post title is the names of two feline characters from T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats and the musical Cats.

  • Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer

    See question three. Loevestein Castle.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    These questions are all about today’s date, March 22nd.

    One

    Born in 1948, this composer wrote the music for a musical based on a 1939 T.S. Eliot poetry collection. Three questions…

    1. Who is the composer?
    2. What is the title of the musical? 
    3. What is the name of the poetry collection?

    Two

    Canadian actor William Shatner, who was born on 22 March 1931, first appeared in the role of James T. Kirk in series 1 episode 1 of the original television series Star Trek in September 1966. What was the episode title?

    Three

    Hugo Grotius, a Dutch jurist, scholar and diplomat, is often called the ‘father of modern international law’. Today, he is best known for escaping imprisonment in Loevestein Castle, Netherlands, on this date in 1621. His wife devised the escape plan; what was it?

    Four

    Born in 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana, this actress won an Academy Award in 2006 for her role in Walk the Line. Who is she?

    Five

    Born in 1641 in Antwerp, Spanish Netherlands (now Belgium), this Flemish Baroque artist became a leading court painter in England. He is also known for having a beard named after him. Who is he? 

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.