One to Ten equals 55, Part II—Answers

Second of two parts. Questions one to five were posted in Part I yesterday.

Compass Rose, see question eight.
Image Clipartbest.com

Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.

Continuing from yesterday with questions six to ten.

Six

For SIX points, name the members of the comedy troupe, Monty Python.

Answer: Graham Chapman—John Cleese—Terry Gilliam—Eric Idle—Terry Jones—Michael Palin


Seven

For SEVEN points, list the Harry Potter novels. No need to put Harry Potter and…

Answer: Philosopher’s Stone—Chamber of Secrets—Prisoner of Azkaban—Goblet of Fire,—Order of the Phoenix—Half-Blood Prince—Deathly Hallows


Eight

For EIGHT points, starting from 0 degrees and moving clockwise, list the compass points formed by dividing a compass rose into eight segments. (in clockwise order)

Answer: North—Northeast—East—Southeast—South—Southwest—West—Northwest.


Nine

For NINE points. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, a group of nine, known as the Company of the Ring or the Fellowship of the Ring, embarked on a mission to destroy the ring. Who were they?

Answer: Gandalf—Legolas—Gimli—Aragorn—Boromir—Frodo Baggins—Samwise Gamgee—Merry Brandybuck—Pippin Took.


Ten

For TEN points, list the world’s ten most populous cities as listed by the UN 2025 Population Estimates.

Answer: Jakarta, Indonesia—Dhaka, Bangladesh—Tokyo, Japan—Delhi, India—Shanghai, China—Guangzhou, China—Cairo, Egypt — Manila, Philippines — Kolkata, India—Seoul, South Korea


One to Ten equals 55, Part II

Second of two parts. Questions one to five were posted in Part I yesterday.

Compass Rose.
Image Clipartbest.com

Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.

Continuing from yesterday with questions six to ten.

Six

For SIX points, name the members of the comedy troupe, Monty Python.


Seven

For SEVEN points, list the Harry Potter novels. No need to put Harry Potter and…


Eight

For EIGHT points, starting from 0 degrees and moving clockwise, list the compass points formed by dividing a compass rose into eight segments. (in clockwise order)


Nine

For NINE points. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, a group of nine, known as the Company of the Ring or the Fellowship of the Ring, embarked on a mission to destroy the ring. Who were they?


Ten

For TEN points, list the world’s ten most populous cities as listed by the UN 2025 Population Estimates.

Good luck! As usual I’ll post the answers later.


One to Ten equals 55, Part I—Answers

Noah’s Ark, question two.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.

Posted in two parts with the second part following tomorrow.

One

For ONE point, in what country was the composer Franz Liszt born

Answer: Hungary


Two

For TWO points. According to the Bible story, Noah released two birds from the ark to determine whether the flood had abated; what birds?

Answer: Raven—Dove


Three

For THREE points. In Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Three Musketeers, the title characters meet and befriend d’Artagnan; what are their names?

Answer: Athos—Porthos—Aramis


Four

For FOUR points, list the patron saints of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.

Answer: Andrew—George—David—Patrick


Five

For FIVE points, list the five boroughs of New York City.

Answer: The Bronx—Brooklyn—Manhattan—Queens—Staten Island


Part II follows tomorrow

One to Ten equals 55, Part I

Noah’s Ark, question two.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.

Posted in two parts with the second part following tomorrow.

One

For ONE point, in what country was the composer Franz Liszt born


Two

For TWO points. According to the Bible story, Noah released two birds from the ark to determine whether the flood had abated; what birds?


Three

For THREE points. In Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Three Musketeers, the title characters meet and befriend d’Artagnan; what are their names?


Four

For FOUR points, list the patron saints of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.


Five

For FIVE points, list the five boroughs of New York City.

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later and part II follows tomorrow.


We Three Kings—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions posed in my earlier post.

These questions all relate to today’s date, January 6th.

Adoration of the Magi by El Greco (1568),
Museo Soumaya, Mexico City.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

In Western Christianity, the Epiphany celebrates the coming of the Magi. Which Gospel or Gospels tell this story?

Answer: Gospel of Matthew

The biblical account in Matthew 2 describes the visit of unnamed ‘wise men’ to the infant Jesus, not on the night of his birth but at an unspecified later time. While artistic conventions often depict this event alongside the nativity, the text specifies that the wise men visited Jesus in a house, not a stable, and the exact timing of their visit is not provided.


Two

In 1994, ‘The Whack Heard Around the World’ involved an attack on an US figure skater by an assailant hired by, or on behalf of, a rival skater. Who was the attacked skater, and who was the rival?

Answer: Nancy Kerrigan; Tonya Harding

On January 6, 1994, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by Shane Stant, who was hired by Jeff Gillooly and Shawn Eckardt to prevent her from competing. The incident was later linked to her rival, Tonya Harding, Gillooly’s ex-wife, who was accused of involvement. Despite the attack, Kerrigan recovered and competed in the Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Winter Games, winning a silver medal. Harding, who also competed at the Olympics, faced legal consequences, pleaded guilty to hindering the prosecution, and was banned for life from USFSA events.


Three

In 1540, England’s King Henry VIII married his fourth wife, who was she and what was her fate?

Answer: Anne of Cleves; marriage was annulled

Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII’s fourth wife, ruled England for six months in 1540. Their marriage was annulled, but she remained in England, receiving a generous settlement. She lived to see the reigns of Henry’s children. Ten years after Henry’s death and during Mary I’s reign, Anne died and was interred as a queen in Westminster Abbey.


Four

Born in 1955, this British actor voiced Zazu, an uptight hornbill, in The Lion King (1994). Who was this actor?

Answer: Rowan Atkinson

Rowan Atkinson is an English actor, comedian and writer, best known for his roles in Blackadder, Mr. Bean, and Johnny English. He has received numerous awards for his work, including a BAFTA and an Olivier Award, and was appointed CBE in 2013.


Five

In 1900, the besieged fortress at Ladysmith, Natal, successfully repelled an attack and drove the attackers back. During what war did this occur, and in what modern country is this location?

Answer: Second Boer War; South Africa

The Siege of Ladysmith, a crucial engagement during the Second Boer War, lasted from 2 November 1899 to 28 February 1900. The Boer republics invaded Natal, leading to battles and a British retreat to Ladysmith. Despite several relief attempts, the Boers encircled the town until the British forces, led by General Buller, broke through and relieved it. The Battle of Wagon Hill, on 6 January 1900, saw Boer forces attack British positions on Platrand. Initially successful, the Boers were repelled by British counterattacks, resulting in heavy casualties. The siege of Ladysmith continued until 28 February 1900, when the British forces finally broke through the Boer lines and relieved the town.


We Three Kings

These questions all relate to today’s date, January 6th.

Adoration of the Magi by El Greco (1568),
Museo Soumaya, Mexico City.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

In Western Christianity, the Epiphany celebrates the coming of the Magi. Which Gospel or Gospels tell this story?


Two

In 1994, ‘The Whack Heard Around the World’ involved an attack on an US figure skater by an assailant hired by, or on behalf of, a rival skater. Who was the attacked skater, and who was the rival?


Three

In 1540, England’s King Henry VIII married his fourth wife, who was she and what was her fate?


Four

Born in 1955, this British actor voiced Zazu, an uptight hornbill, in The Lion King (1994). Who was this actor?


Five

In 1900, the besieged fortress at Ladysmith, Natal, successfully repelled an attack and drove the attackers back. During what war did this occur, and in what modern country is this location?

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


Canterbury Tales—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posed earlier today.

I have five questions about today, December 29th.

The Murder of Thomas Becket.
Image The British Library via Encyclopædia Britannica

One

Four knights—Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy and Richard le Breton—were responsible for an assassination in England on this date in 1170. Who was the victim of this assassination?

Answer: Thomas Becket

St. Thomas Becket, chancellor of England and archbishop of Canterbury, clashed with King Henry II, leading to his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr in the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.


Two

In 1890, the Wounded Knee massacre resulted in 300 Lakota deaths on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Which US state is Wounded Knee located in, and which US regiment was responsible for this massacre?

Answer: South Dakota; 7th Cavalry Regiment

The Wounded Knee massacre is widely regarded as marking the end of the Indian Wars, a series of conflicts between the United States and Native American tribes that spanned much of the 19th century.


Three

In 1911, after gaining independence, the 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu was enthroned as Khagan. This took place in which country?

Answer: Mongolia

The 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu became both the spiritual and temporal leader of the newly independent state, establishing a theocratic government that lasted until Mongolia fell under strong influence from the Soviet Union.


Four

1860 – The launch of HMS Warrior, with her combination of …, … and …, renders all previous warships obsolete

The above quote from Wikipedia is missing the three factors which rendered previous warships obsolete. What were these factors?

Answer: Screw propeller, iron hull and iron armour

HMS Warrior demonstrated that ironclad, steam-powered warships were superior to traditional wooden sailing vessels, prompting navies worldwide to rapidly abandon older ship designs.


Five

According to his own account, which Native American woman saved the life of English explorer John Smith in 1607 by pleading with her father, the Powhatan leader Wahunsenacawh?

Answer: Pocahontas

Pocahontas was the daughter of Wahunsenacawh, the paramount chief of the Powhatan Confederacy, and her dramatic rescue of John Smith is known primarily from Smith’s own later writings—leading historians to debate how literally the event should be interpreted.


Canterbury Tales

I have five questions about today, December 29th.

One

Four knights—Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy and Richard le Breton—were responsible for an assassination in England on this date in 1170. Who was the victim of this assassination?


Two

In 1890, the Wounded Knee massacre resulted in 300 Lakota deaths on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Which US state is Wounded Knee located in, and which US regiment was responsible for this massacre?


Three

In 1911, after gaining independence, the 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu was enthroned as Khagan. This took place in which country?


Four

1860 – The launch of HMS Warrior, with her combination of …, … and …, renders all previous warships obsolete.

The above quote from Wikipedia is missing the three factors which rendered previous warships obsolete. What were these factors?


Five

According to his own account, which Native American woman saved the life of English explorer John Smith in 1607 by pleading with her father, the Powhatan leader Wahunsenacawh?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Matchmaker—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posed in my earlier post.

Today’s questions are all connected to December 23rd.

Gwyneth Paltrow (left) and Toni Collette in Emma (1996).
Image © 1996 Miramax Films via Encyclopædia Britannica

One

In 1815, Jane Austen published her fourth novel, which was later adapted into a film in 1996. What was the title of the book?

Answer: Emma

Jane Austen’s 1815 novel, Emma, follows the matchmaking misadventures of Emma Woodhouse in the fictional town of Highbury.


Two

Who, born in 1933, became the 125th emperor of Japan in 1989, and how did his reign end in 2019?

Answer: Akihito; abdication

Akihito, the 125th emperor of Japan, reigned from 1989 to 2019. He abdicated in favour of his son, Crown Prince Naruhito.


Three

In 1888, what two artists were involved in ‘the incident at the Yellow House’, and what injury happened to one of them?

Answers: Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin; Van Gogh cut off part of his left ear

Vincent van Gogh cut off part of his ear in 1888 after a heated argument with fellow artist Paul Gauguin. The incident, possibly linked to van Gogh’s mental health struggles, led to his hospitalisation and Gauguin’s departure from Arles.


Four

In 2001, which South American nation announced the suspension of payments on its external debt marking the largest debt default in history?

Answer: Argentina

Argentina’s economy experienced a severe recession from 1998 to 2002, culminating in a US$93 billion debt default in 2001. This led to a rapid devaluation of the peso, soaring inflation, and a significant drop in GDP.


Five

Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was born in 1805. Which US state was his birthplace?

Answer: Vermont

Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, translated golden plates into the Book of Mormon. His teachings, including revelations and polygamy, were recorded and published.

Steamboat Willie—Answers

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

These questions all relate to today’s date, December 5th.

Walt Disney’s business envelope featured a self-portrait, c. 1921.
Image Wikipedia

One

Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901, in Chicago, this visionary American producer created a global entertainment empire that truly began with a mouse. What was that mouse originally going to be called?
A. Maxwell Mouse
B. Meredith Mouse
C. Mortimer Mouse

Answer: C. Mortimer Mouse

The mouse was originally called Mortimer Mouse but Lillian Disney, Walt’s wife, suggested Mickey. Disney received a record 59 Oscar nominations and won 22 competitive Academy Awards – still the most for any individual in history.

The post title Steamboat Willie is a nod to Mickey. It is the title of what was Mickey’s third film, which was the first to be distributed and so considered to be his public debut.


Two

Which pope issued the 1484 papal bull Summis desiderantes affectibus, condemning witchcraft and empowering inquisitors in Germany?
A. Pope Alexander VI
B. Pope Julius II
C. Pope Innocent VIII

Answer: C. Pope Innocent VIII

The bull later helped legitimise Malleus Maleficarum (1487), one of the most notorious witch-hunting manuals of the era.


Three

Which modern television series featured the Great Smog of London as the central focus of a Season 1 episode, portraying the political and social impact of the 1952 crisis?
A. Downton Abbey
B. The Crown
C. Call the Midwife

Answer: B. The Crown

The Great Smog has also inspired satirical and fictional treatments—including a Goon Show episode in 1954 and the Doctor Who audio drama The Creeping Death, both of which use the choking fog as a dramatic backdrop.


Four

Born in Vienna, which director known for visually striking films such as Metropolis and M became one of the major figures in early cinema?
A. F.W. Murnau
B. Sergei Eisenstein
C. Fritz Lang

Answer: C. Fritz Lang

Lang fled Nazi Germany the same day he was offered a high-ranking propaganda role, later becoming influential in shaping American film noir.


Five

On December 5, 2006, which military commander declared himself acting president of Fiji after leading a coup?
A. Sitiveni Rabuka
B. Frank Bainimarama
C. Epeli Nailatikau

Answer: B. Frank Bainimarama

Bainimarama later served as Fiji’s elected prime minister from 2014 to 2022, overseeing the country’s return to democratic elections.