Quizology.Online

Tag: religion

  • The Royal Guardsmen — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier post.
    All of today’s questions relate to the date, April 21st.

    Queen Elizabeth II, 1959.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was born on 21 April 1926. To the nearest year how long did she reign?

    Answer: 71 years.

    Elizabeth II, born on 21 April 1926, was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 1952 until her death in 2022 — 70 years and 214 days — the longest reign of any British monarch. She was queen regnant of 32 states and monarch of 15 at her death. Educated privately, she served in World War II and married Philip Mountbatten in 1947. Her reign saw significant political changes and historic visits. Despite challenges, her popularity remained high. She died at 96, succeeded by Charles III.

    Two

    On this day In 1918, the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, Germany’s top World War I flying ace, was shot down and killed near Amiens, France. What act had a novelty song Snoopy vs. The Red Baron in the 1966 charts?

    Answer: The Royal Guardsmen.

    Snoopy vs. the Red Baron is a 1966 novelty song by The Royal Guardsmen, peaking at No.2 on the Hot 100 and No.1 in Australia and Canada. It sold nearly three million copies. The band released other Snoopy-themed songs, including The Return of the Red Baron and Snoopy’s Christmas.

    Three

    What was the musical Annie based on, and what type of work was it?

    Answer: Little Orphan Annie; Newspaper comic strip.

    Annie is a musical with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and a book by Thomas Meehan, based on the 1924 comic strip Little Orphan Annie. It premiered in 1977, ran for nearly six years, won seven Tony Awards, and features popular songs like ‘Tomorrow‘ and ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life‘.

    Four

    Whose visit to a Caribbean Island nation in 1966 led to the annual celebration of April 21st as Grounation Day?

    Answer: Haile Selassie.

    In 1966, the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie I, believed by many Rastas to be the Second Coming of Christ, arrived in Jamaica for a visit. This event is now celebrated annually in the Rastafari movement as Grounation Day, specifically on April 21.

    Five

    According to legend Rome was founded in what century?

    Answer: 8th Century BCE

    Ancient Rome, spanning from 753 BCE to 476 CE, evolved from a small Italic settlement into a dominant Mediterranean power. It encompassed the Roman Kingdom, Republic, and Empire, controlling vast territories including North Africa, Egypt, and much of Europe. At its peak in CE 117, it covered 5 million square kilometres with 50-90 million people. Rome’s influence on language, law, architecture, and governance persists, inspiring modern republics and achieving remarkable technological feats like aqueducts and roads. In Ancient Rome, its founding by Romulus was celebrated annually on April 21st.

    The Royal Guardsmen

    The post title had nothing to do with question one, but everything to do with question two.

  • The Royal Guardsmen

    All of today’s questions relate to the date, April 21st.

    Queen Elizabeth II, 1959.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was born on 21 April 1926. To the nearest year how long did she reign?

    Two

    On this day In 1918, the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, Germany’s top World War I flying ace, was shot down and killed near Amiens, France. What act had a novelty song Snoopy vs. The Red Baron in the 1966 charts?

    Three

    What was the musical Annie based on, and what type of work was it?

    Four

    Whose visit to a Caribbean Island nation in 1966 led to the annual celebration of April 21st as Grounation Day?

    Five

    According to legend Rome was founded in what century?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Bits and Bobs — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    All of these questions are related to today’s date, April 19th. They also all start with the letter ‘B’.

    Brandenburg Gate, Berlin.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    On 19 April 1999, in politics, what returned to Berlin for the first time in almost fifty years, and where had it returned from?

    Answers: Bundestag; Bonn.

    The first German Bundestag, the West German parliament, convened in Bonn on 7 September 1949. The Bundestag remained in Bonn until after reunification of Germany, when it returned to Berlin on 19 April 1999.

    Two

    In 1775, during the opening stages of a revolutionary war, a city was besieged for eleven months from April 19th. What city?

    Answer: Boston.

    The Siege of Boston (1775-1776) marked the start of the American Revolutionary War. American forces, led by George Washington, besieged the British Army in Boston, ultimately forcing their retreat to Nova Scotia after eleven months.

    Three

    Observed on April 19th, a celebratory day remembering an experiment where a chemist intentionally ingested LSD, documented it and then went home. What is the day called?

    Answer: Bicycle Day.

    On 19 April 1943, a few days after accidentally discovering LSD’s effects, which he believed had potential in psychiatry and neurology, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann intentionally ingested it and documented the first acid trip. After this experiment, he cycled home, leading to the observance of Bicycle Day, as Encyclopædia Britannica comments, ‘And now April 19 is observed as Bicycle Day—mostly by LSD enthusiasts, not cyclists’.

    Four

    A poet and playwright who died this day in 1824, first became a celebrity with the publication of the first two cantos of Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage in 1812. Who is this poet?

    Answer: Byron.

    George Gordon Byron, a prominent British Romantic poet, is renowned for works like Don Juan and Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. He lived in Italy for seven years, befriending Percy Bysshe Shelley, and later joined the Greek War of Independence, becoming a folk hero before his death at 36. Byron, along with Shelley and Keats, was a major figure in the second generation of English Romantic writers and was a literary celebrity known for both his poetry and personality.

    Five

    IIn 2011, Fidel Castro resigned from Cuba’s Communist Party central committee. The following March, in his role as an elder statesman, Castro briefly met a visiting dignitary, the sixteenth of the name. Who was this dignitary?

    Answer: (Pope) Benedict XVI.

    On 19 April 2011, Castro resigned from the Communist Party central committee, thus stepping down as First Secretary. Raúl was selected as his successor. Now without any official role in the country’s government, he took on the role of an elder statesman. In late March 2012, Pope Benedict XVI visited Cuba for three days, during which time he briefly met with Castro despite the Pope’s vocal opposition to Cuba’s government.

    Bits and Bobs

    The title is simply another way of saying bits and pieces, an assortment. It was chosen as the title as all the answers begin with the letter B.

  • Bits and Bobs

    All of these questions are related to today’s date, April 19th. They also all start with the letter ‘B’.

    Brandenburg Gate, Berlin.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    On 19 April 1999, in politics, what returned to Berlin for the first time in almost fifty years, and where had it returned from?

    Two

    In 1775, during the opening stages of a revolutionary war, a city was besieged for eleven months from April 19th. What city?

    Three

    Observed on April 19th, a celebratory day remembering an experiment where a chemist intentionally ingested LSD, documented it and then went home. What is the day called?

    Four

    A poet and playwright who died this day in 1824, first became a celebrity with the publication of the first two cantos of Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage in 1812. Who is this poet?

    Five

    IIn 2011, Fidel Castro resigned from Cuba’s Communist Party central committee. The following March, in his role as an elder statesman, Castro briefly met a visiting dignitary, the sixteenth of the name. Who was this dignitary?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Double Trouble — Answers

    Here are the answers for today’s questions.

    The first question today relates to the date, April 17th. The rest follows a theme but I’m not going to say what that theme is. 

    Martin Luther appearing before Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, at the Diet of Worms.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    On 17 April 1521, Martin Luther made his initial appearance at the Diet of Worms which eventually found him to be a heretic and enemy of the state. In what modern country is Worms?

    Answer: Germany.

    Martin Luther, a German priest and theologian, was a key figure in the Protestant Reformation. He challenged the Catholic Church’s teachings, particularly on indulgences and papal authority, and translated the Bible into German, making it more accessible to ordinary people. Luther’s beliefs, emphasising justification by faith alone and the authority of the Bible, laid the foundation for Lutheranism.

    Following on in the theme …

    Two

    Ben Ainslie is the most successful sailor in Olympic history. In what two classes did he win his four gold and one silver medal?

    Answer: Laser and Finn.

    Sir Charles Benedict Ainslie is a British competitive sailor and the most successful Olympian in sailing history. He is CEO of Athena Sports Group and a Patron of the 1851 Trust which supports young people in sailing and STEM education. 

    Three

    List the stages of a butterfly’s life cycle?

    Answer: Eggs, caterpillar larva, pupa and adult (or butterfly).

    Butterflies undergo complete metamorphosis through a four-stage life cycle like other holometabolous insects.  Winged adults lay eggs on plant leaves where their caterpillars, or larvae, will feed.  These caterpillars grow rapidly and eventually pupate in a chrysalis.  Once metamorphosis is complete the pupal skin splits revealing the adult butterfly which then climbs out, dries its wings and flies away.

    Four

    Name the planets in the solar system?

    Answer: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

    The Solar System, formed 4.6 billion years ago, consists of the Sun and orbiting bodies, including eight planets. The Sun, comprising 99.86% of the system’s mass, fuses hydrogen into helium, creating the heliosphere. The system also includes dwarf planets, small bodies like asteroids and comets, and natural satellites, or moons.

    Five

    Can you name the states between Louisiana and Ohio in an alphabetical list of US states?

    Answer: Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina and North Dakota.

    Sixteen states, eight with names starting with M and, eight with N.

    Double Trouble

    Today’s title refers to each question doubling the number of answers. Question one has only one answer which was obvious in the question and then number two asks for two answers. You had to work out that the remaining double each time so four, eight and finally sixteen for question five.

  • Double Trouble

    The first question today relates to the date, April 17th. The rest follows a theme but I’m not going to say what that theme is. 

    Martin Luther appearing before Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, at the Diet of Worms.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    On 17 April 1521, Martin Luther made his initial appearance at the Diet of Worms which eventually found him to be a heretic and enemy of the state. In what modern country is Worms?

    Following on in the theme …

    Two

    Ben Ainslie is the most successful sailor in Olympic history. In what two classes did he win his four gold and one silver medal?

    Three

    List the stages of a butterfly’s life cycle?

    Four

    Name the planets in the solar system?

    Five

    Can you name the states between Louisiana and Ohio in an alphabetical list of US states?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Annus Horribilis — Answers

    Today’s answers are shown below.

    The first two questions today relate to this date, April 15th. The remainder follow in the same unfortunate theme.

    Notre-Dame de Paris, 2019.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In 2019, the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris was very badly damaged by fire. On what island is the cathedral located?

    Answer: Île de la Cité.

    Notre-Dame de Paris, a medieval Catholic cathedral on Île de la Cité, in the River Seine, exemplifies French Gothic architecture with its rib vaults, flying buttresses, and rose windows. Construction began in 1163, completed by 1260, and it underwent restorations, notably after Victor Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame inspired interest. Damaged in a 2019 fire, it reopened in 2024. A symbol of Paris, it was a minor basilica since 1805 and attracts 12 million visitors annually. Owned by the French government, it houses significant relics.

    Two

    On this day, the RMS Titanic sank two hours and forty minutes after hitting an iceberg. During her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York, USA, which two ports did she visit?

    Answer: Cherbourg, France, and Queenstown, Ireland (now Cobh).

    The RMS Titanic sank on 15 April 1912 after hitting an iceberg on 14 April, during her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. With over 2,200 on board, up to 1,635 died, making it a deadly maritime disaster. Despite seven ice warnings, Titanic travelled at 22 knots. Her inadequate lifeboat system left many without refuge. RMS Carpathia rescued 710 survivors. The tragedy led to global outrage and the 1914 SOLAS convention for maritime safety.

    Three

    What event prompted the opening of parts of Buckingham Palace to the public for paid tours?

    Answer: Windsor Castle fire (1992).

    On 20 November 1992, a major fire broke out in Windsor Castle, affecting over 100 rooms, including St George’s Hall and the Grand Reception Room. Over 200 firefighters controlled the blaze after 15 hours. While much of the Royal Collection was saved, some significant works were lost. The fire led to public debate on royal funding, prompting Queen Elizabeth II to pay income tax. Restoration, completed in 1997, cost £36.5 million and was led by Donald Insall Associates. The fire occurred during what the Queen later described as her annus horribilis.

    Four

    In 1626, 20,000 people died when a factory in Wanggongchang, China exploded destroying part of the city. What was the factory manufacturing?

    Answer: Gunpowder.

    The Wanggongchang Explosion occurred on May 30, 1626, in Beijing, killing around 20,000 people. Located 3 km southwest of the Forbidden City, it was a major gunpowder production centre. The cause remains uncertain, but it was a key storage facility for the Shenjiying defending the capital.

    Five

    During what 1979 yachting race, with a course of 605 miles, did a storm in the Celtic Sea cause 21 fatalities?

    Answer: Fastnet Race.

    The 1979 Fastnet Race, the 28th edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s event, was a 605-nautical-mile course from Cowes to Fastnet Rock and Plymouth, marking the Admiral’s Cup climax. A severe windstorm on the third day caused chaos, resulting in 21 fatalities—15 yachtsmen and 6 spectators—on 14 August in the Celtic Sea. The largest peace-time rescue operation involved 4,000 people, including the Irish Naval Service, lifeboats, commercial boats, and helicopters.

    Annus Horribilis

    The post title is related to how Queen Elizabeth II referred to 1992. Not only was Windsor Castle the scene of a large fire but she also had the domestic problems of three of her children to contend with and said

    1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an annus horribilis.

    — Elizabeth II

  • Annus Horribilis

    The first two questions today relate to this date, April 15th. The remainder follow a familiar, unfortunate theme.

    Notre-Dame de Paris, 2019.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In 2019, the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris was very badly damaged by fire. On what island is the cathedral located?

    Two

    On this day, the RMS Titanic sank two hours and forty minutes after hitting an iceberg. During her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York, USA, which two ports did she visit?

    Three

    What event prompted the opening of parts of Buckingham Palace to the public for paid tours?

    Four

    In 1626, 20,000 people died when a factory in Wanggongchang, China exploded destroying part of the city. What was the factory manufacturing?

    Five

    During what 1979 yachting race, with a course of 605 miles, did a storm in the Celtic Sea cause 21 fatalities?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • We’ve had a Problem — Answers

    Here’s today’s answers.

    All of these questions are related to today, April 13th.

    Apollo13 – view of the crippled Service Module after separation.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In 1970, Apollo 13 suffered an explosion in a tank en route to the Moon. What did the tank contain, and who were the three crew?

    Answers: Oxygen; James A. Lovell, John L. Swigert and Fred W. Haise (aka Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise).

    Apollo 13, the seventh crewed Apollo mission, was aborted after an oxygen tank explosion two days into the mission. The crew used the Lunar Module as a lifeboat, facing hardships like limited power and water, but successfully returned to Earth. The incident highlighted the need for improved safety measures, leading to changes in oxygen tank design for future missions.

    Two

    In accordance with the Nanakshahi calendar, a religion was formalised as the Khalsa – the brotherhood of Warrior-Saints. In what century did this occur, and what religion was formalised as described?

    Answers: 17th century; Sikh or Sikhism.

    Sikhism, founded in the 15th century in the Punjab region, is a monotheistic religion based on the teachings of Guru Nanak and nine successors. It emphasises faith in one creator, equality, selfless service, and honest conduct. Since 1699, Sikhs follow the Guru Granth Sahib as their eternal guru and are identified by the five Ks, which are:

    • Kesh — unshorn hair and beard
    • Kangha — a comb for the kesh, usually made of wood
    • Kara — a bracelet, usually made of iron or steel
    • Kachhera — an undergarment
    • Kirpan — a small curved sword or knife made of iron or steel

    Three

    In 1953, the CIA launched Project MKUltra. What was the purpose of this programme?

    Answer: Mind-control (alter human behaviour).

    MKUltra was a CIA programme that ran from 1953 to 1973, experimenting on unwitting subjects to alter behaviour using drugs, hypnosis, and other methods. The programme, which involved illegal activities and violated individual rights, was exposed in 1975, and further information was declassified in 2001. Encyclopædia Britannica notes that MK-ULTRA was a CIA mind-control programme from 1953 to 1964, continuing work from concentration camps with the aim of controlling minds for Cold War purposes.

    Four

    George Frideric Handel’s Messiah made its world premiere on this date. In what century, and in what capital city, did this premiere take place?

    Answers: 18th century; Dublin, Ireland.

    Messiah, an oratorio by George Frideric Handel, premiered in Dublin in 1742 and is now a popular Easter performance. Based on biblical texts by Charles Jennens, it features the famous ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ and combines Old and New Testament verses. Originally for a small Baroque orchestra, performances have since expanded.

    Five

    On this day in 1964, Sidney Poitier became the first African-American man to win the Best Actor Academy Award. 

    1. Who was the first African-American to win an Academy Award in any category, and for which film was the award made?
    2. Who was the first African-American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, and for which film was the award made?

    Answers

    1. Hattie McDaniel; Gone with the Wind.
    2. Halle Berry; Monster’s Ball.
      Hattie McDaniel played Mammy in Gone with the Wind (1939) and won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Halle Berry won the Best Actress Oscar as Leticia Musgrove in Monster’s Ball (2001). Berry was also the first person of colour to win Best Actress, and that year was the first time two African-American performers won Oscars in the same year — Denzel Washington for Training Day.

    We’ve had a Problem

    The post title reflects what was first said from Apollo 13 to Houston after the explosion. Jack Swigert called Mission Control, ‘Okay, Houston, we’ve had a problem here’. Capsule communicator (Capcom) astronaut Jack R. Lousma asked, ‘This is Houston. Say again, please’. Lovell replied, ‘Ah, Houston, we’ve had a problem here. We’ve had a Main B Bus Undervolt’.

  • We’ve had a Problem

    All of these questions are related to today, April 13th.

    Apollo13 – view of the crippled Service Module after separation.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In 1970, Apollo 13 suffered an explosion in a tank en route to the Moon. What did the tank contain, and who were the three crew?

    Two

    In accordance with the Nanakshahi calendar, a religion was formalised as the Khalsa – the brotherhood of Warrior-Saints. In what century did this occur, and what religion was formalised as described?

    Three

    In 1953, the CIA launched Project MKUltra. What was the purpose of this programme?

    Four

    George Frideric Handel’s Messiah made its world premiere on this date. In what century, and in what capital city, did this premiere take place?

    Five

    On this day in 1964, Sidney Poitier became the first African-American man to win the Best Actor Academy Award. 

    1. Who was the first African-American to win an Academy Award in any category, and for which film was the award made?
    2. Who was the first African-American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, and for which film was the award made?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.