Quizology.Online

Tag: religion

  • 2025-10-29 Bridge to Somewhere—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions posed earlier.

    The Öresund Bridge, which features in the Nordic noir television drama series The Bridge, carries European Route E20, see question 1.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The European Route E20 stretches approximately 1,168 miles (1,880 km) from a river estuary airport in the west to the northernmost city of over a million people in the east. Which airport and city are these?

    Answer: Shannon Airport, Republic of Ireland and Saint Petersburg, Russia.

    The European route E20 is part of the United Nations International E-road network and runs roughly west-east through Ireland, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia and finally Russia. The road is not continuous and, at three points, a ferry must be used to continue along its length; although at one of those there is no ferry! The Øresund Bridge, which is known for featuring in the Nordic noir television series The Bridge, carries European Route E20.

    Two

    A television medical drama that ran from October 1982 to May 1988 was set in St Elegius Hospital, Boston. What was its title?

    Answer: St Elsewhere

    St. Elsewhere, a medical drama series, aired on NBC from 1982 to 1988. Although it never ranked higher than 47th in Nielsen ratings, it gained a loyal following and critical acclaim, winning 13 Emmy Awards. Set at the fictional St. Eligius Hospital in Boston, the show was known for its realistic portrayal of the medical profession and featured a large ensemble cast. It tackled contemporary issues like breast cancer, AIDS, and addiction, while also incorporating humour and inside jokes.

    Three

    In what novel by Charles Dickens does Esther Summerson tell her own story in the past tense?

    Answer: Bleak House

    Bleak House, a Dickens novel, satirises the legal system through the long-running case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce. The novel, partly narrated by Esther Summerson, is set in London and is credited with introducing urban fog to Gothic literature.

    Four

    The Chalcolithic period, an archaeological era, was primarily defined by a rise in the use of what specific material?

    Answer: Copper (smelted copper)

    The Chalcolithic, or Copper Age, was a period characterised by the increasing use of smelted copper, following the Neolithic (latter part of the Stone Age) and preceding the Bronze Age. It occurred at different times in different regions, with the earliest evidence of copper smelting dating back to around 5,000 BC in Serbia. In Britain, the Chalcolithic was a short period between 2,500 and 2,200 BC, marked by the arrival of Beaker culture people and the introduction of copper and gold objects.

    Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III in the Sistine Chapel, October 2025.
    Image thedialog.org

    Five

    In October 2025, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England prayed with Robert Francis Prevost on the Apennine Peninsula. Who is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and who is Robert Francis Prevost known as?

    Answer: King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV

    The reigning British monarch is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, currently King Charles III. Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, is the first American pope. King Charles and Pope Leo met at the Vatican to pray together in the Sistine Chapel. It was the first occasion that the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and the Pope had prayed together since the reformation 500 years ago.

  • Bridge to Somewhere

    Today we have five unrelated and unconnected questions.

    The Öresund Bridge, which features in the Nordic noir television drama series The Bridge, carries European Route E20, see question 1.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The European Route E20 stretches approximately 1,168 miles (1,880 km) from a river estuary airport in the west to the northernmost city of over a million people in the east. Which airport and city are these?

    Two

    A television medical drama that ran from October 1982 to May 1988 was set in St Elegius Hospital, Boston. What was its title?

    Three

    In what novel by Charles Dickens does Esther Summerson tell her own story in the past tense?

    Four

    The Chalcolithic period, an archaeological era, was primarily defined by a rise in the use of what specific material?

    Five

    In October 2025, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England prayed with Robert Francis Prevost on the Apennine Peninsula. Who is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and who is Robert Francis Prevost known as?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Connections—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    Marlene Dietrich, The Blue Angel. See question two.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    A rock group’s first album, which was self-titled, was released in 1964 while their latest Hackney Diamonds was released in 2023. Which group is this?

    Answer: Rolling Stones

    The Rolling Stones, an English rock band formed in 1962, are one of the most influential bands of the rock era. Known for their gritty, rhythmically driven sound, they pioneered hard rock and were at the forefront of the British Invasion. With over 250 million album sales, they have won four Grammy Awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

    Two

    Who played Lola Lola in 1930’s film The Blue Angel?

    Answer: Marlene Dietrich

    The Blue Angel (1930) is a German musical comedy-drama film directed by Josef von Sternberg, starring Marlene Dietrich. It is based on Heinrich Mann’s novel and follows a professor’s transformation into a cabaret clown.

    Three

    What is the one word name used for the prestigious institution, part of a larger university, which Marie Curie attended for her studies in physics and mathematics, and where she became the first woman professor?

    Answer: Sorbonne

    Marie Curie studied at the Sorbonne, which is part of the University of Paris. She earned her degrees in physics and mathematics there and later became the first woman professor at the Sorbonne — National Geographic

    Four

    What, since February 2025, is the hereditary title of Prince Shah Rahim al-Hussaini, 50th hereditary Imam of Nizari Ismailis?

    Answer: Aga Khan

    The Aga Khan is the hereditary title of the spiritual leader and Imam of the Nizari Ismāʿīli Shias, a branch of Islam.  Currently, the 50th hereditary Imam is Prince Shah Rahim al-Hussaini. He succeeded his father in February 2025 and oversees development and humanitarian work.

    Five

    Founded by the Greeks in the first millennium BCE, this city is now Italy’s third-largest as well as Campania’s regional capital.  Please name it?Question

    Answer: Naples

    Naples, the regional capital of Campania, is Italy’s third-largest city and a significant cultural centre. Founded by Greeks in the first millennium BCE, it has a rich history, having served as the capital of various kingdoms. Today, it is a major economic hub with a UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic centre and numerous cultural sites nearby.

    Peter Sarstedt Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?
    Image chordify.net

    Six

    What connects the five answers above?

    Answers: (The song) Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?

    Peter Sarstedt’s 1966 hit Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)? features all five of these answers in its lyrics.  The song tells the story of Marie-Claire, a girl who rose from poverty in Naples to become a jet-setter. It achieved chart success in the UK, Ireland, Australia,  New Zealand and South Africa, reaching number one in all of them. In the US, it peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart and 36 on Canada’s RPM Adult Contemporary chart. The lyrics are shown below.

    Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)

    by Peter Sarstedt

    You talk like Marlene Dietrich
    And you dance like Zizi Jeanmaire
    Your clothes are all made by Balmain
    And there’s diamonds and pearls in your hair, yes there are

    You live in a fancy apartment
    Off the Boulevard St. Michel
    Where you keep your Rolling Stones records
    And a friend of Sacha Distel, yes you do

    But where do you go to my lovely
    When you’re alone in your bed?
    Tell me the thoughts that surround you
    I want to look inside your head, yes I do

    I’ve seen all your qualifications
    You got from the Sorbonne
    And the painting you stole from Picasso
    Your loveliness goes on and on, yes it does

    When you go on your summer vacation
    You go to Juan-les-Pins
    With your carefully designed topless swimsuit
    You get an even suntan on your back, and on your legs

    And when the snow falls you’re found in St. Moritz
    With the others of the jet set
    And you sip your Napoleon brandy
    But you never get your lips wet, no you don’t

    But where do you go to my lovely
    When you’re alone in your bed?
    Won’t you tell me the thoughts that surround you?
    I want to look inside your head, yes I do

    You’re in between twenty and thirty
    That’s a very desirable age
    Your body is firm and inviting
    But you live on a glittering stage, yes you do, yes you do

    Your name is heard in high places
    You know the Aga Khan
    He sent you a race horse for Christmas
    And you keep it just for fun, for a laugh, ha-ha-ha

    They say that when you get married
    It’ll be to a millionaire
    But they don’t realize where you came from
    And I wonder if they really care, or give a damn

    But where do you go to my lovely
    When you’re alone in your bed?
    Tell me the thoughts that surround you
    I want to look inside your head, yes I do

    I remember the back streets of Naples:
    Two children begging in rags
    Both touched with a burning ambition
    To shake off their lowly-born tags, they tried

    So look into my face, Marie-Claire
    And remember just who you are
    Then go and forget me forever
    But I know you still bear the scar, deep inside

    I know where you go to my lovely
    When you’re alone in your bed
    I know the thoughts that surround you
    ‘Cause I can look inside your head

    — Genius

  • Connections

    His Highness Prince Rahim al-Hussaini. See question 4.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    A rock group’s first album, which was self-titled, was released in 1964 while their latest Hackney Diamonds was released in 2023. Which group is this?

    Two

    Who played Lola Lola in 1930’s film The Blue Angel?

    Three

    What is the one word name used for the prestigious institution, part of a larger university, which Marie Curie attended for her studies in physics and mathematics, and where she became the first woman professor?

    Four

    What, since February 2025, is the hereditary title of Prince Shah Rahim al-Hussaini, 50th hereditary Imam of Nizari Ismailis?

    Five

    Founded by the Greeks in the first millennium BCE, this city is now Italy’s third-largest as well as Campania’s regional capital.  Please name it?

    Six

    What connects the five answers to the above questions?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Shrouded in Mystery—Answers

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

    Nero.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Is it true or false that in 1988 the Archbishop of Turin announced that carbon-14 dating of the Shroud of Turin placed its date in the first century CE?

    Answer: False

    He admitted the shroud’s origins date back to the Middle Ages. The Shroud of Turin, traditionally believed to be Jesus’ burial cloth, was radiocarbon dated in 1988 to the period 1260–1390 CE This contradicts its traditional association with Jesus’ crucifixion. While some question the reliability of the 1988 test, no expert has deemed it substantially unreliable.

    Two

    The 1972 Andes flight carrying the Old Christians Rugby Club became international news when it was revealed that the survivors had resorted to cannibalism to survive. Is it true or false that the flight originated from Buenos Aires, Argentina?

    Answer: False

    They were flying from Montevideo, Uruguay to Santiago, Chile. Old Christians Club, a Uruguayan sports club from Montevideo, is known for its rugby union team. The club also has football and field hockey branches. Forty rugby club members and five crew members were on board a plane that crashed in the Argentinean Andes. They endured an avalanche and weeks of starvation, resorting to eating the frozen bodies of the deceased. Sixteen survivors were rescued after two trekked across the mountains to seek help.

    Three

    Is it true of false that in 54 CE the Roman emperor Claudius died from poisoning and was succeeded by his son Caligula, rather than his son with Messalina?

    Answer: False

    He was succeeded by his adoptive son Nero rather than Britannicus, his son with Messalina. Ancient historians believe Claudius was poisoned, likely by his wife Agrippina, to secure Nero’s succession. However, some argue he died from illness or old age, citing his poor health and the lack of evidence against his taster Halotus.

    Four

    Is this statement true or false: In 2010, 33 miners were rescued from South America’s Patagonian Desert after spending a 69 days underground.

    Answer: False

    It was the Atacama Desert in Chile. The 2010 Copiapó mining accident trapped 33 miners 700 metres underground for a record 69 days after a cave-in at the San José mine in the Atacama Desert, Chile. The rescue operation, involving multiple countries and organisations, successfully brought the miners to the surface. The mine’s owner, San Esteban Mining Company, had a history of safety violations and negligence.

    Margaret Thatcher.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    Margaret Thatcher, who was born today in 1925 was the British Prime Minister from 1979 until 1990. Is it true or false that she was Member of Parliament for the constituency of Finchley for more than 32 years?

    Answer: True

    She became the MP for Finchley on 8 October 1959 and held the position until her retirement in the spring of 1992. Thatcher was Europe’s first female prime minister and the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century, also the only one to secure three consecutive terms.

  • Shrouded in Mystery

    Here are five questions which are all related to today, October 13th

    Shroud of Turin.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Is it true or false that in 1988 the Archbishop of Turin announced that carbon-14 dating of the Shroud of Turin placed its date in the first century CE?

    Two

    The 1972 Andes flight carrying the Old Christians Rugby Club became international news when it was revealed that the survivors had resorted to cannibalism to survive. Is it true or false that the flight originated from Buenos Aires, Argentina?

    Three

    Is it true of false that in 54 CE the Roman emperor Claudius died from poisoning and was succeeded by his son Caligula, rather than his son with Messalina?

    Four

    Is this statement true or false: In 2010, 33 miners were rescued from South America’s Patagonian Desert after spending a 69 days underground.

    Five

    Margaret Thatcher, who was born today in 1925 was the British Prime Minister from 1979 until 1990. Is it true or false that she was Member of Parliament for the constituency of Finchley for more than 32 years?

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

  • 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.

  • An Unexpected Party—Answers

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

    An Unexpected Party.
    Image Tea With Bilbo

    One

    The opening chapter of a book, first published on 21 September 1937, is titled ‘An Unexpected Party’. Before the party begins, the householder is unexpectedly visited by a group of dwarfs. How many dwarfs are there?

    Answers: Thirteen

    The book is The Hobbit. Bilbo Baggins lives in the house. Gandalf, without Bilbo’s knowledge, organises a party. The dwarves arrive either singly or in groups:

    • Dwalin
    • Balin
    • Kili and Fili
    • Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin and Gloin
    • Bifur, Bofur and Bombur
    • Thorin Oakenshield

    Two

    The Grammy-winning album American Idiot was released on 21 September 2004 by which band?

    Answer: Green Day

    American Idiot, Green Day’s seventh studio album, is a concept album that follows the story of Jesus of Suburbia. The album, which marked a return to the band’s punk rock sound, was a critical and commercial success, selling over 23 million copies worldwide and winning several awards.

    American Idiot
    Image

    Three

    According to the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, on the night of September 21, 1823, Joseph Smith prayed to know God’s further will. A light steadily grew, “as though the house was filled with consuming and unquenchable fire.” …, a messenger sent from God stood before him. Who was this messenger?

    Answer: Moroni

    Moroni, son of Mormon, was a Nephite prophet, historian and military commander. He completed the Nephite record, buried the plates, and later became the Angel Moroni in Latter Day Saint belief.

    Four

    On this day in 1957, a mystery series based on Erle Stanley Gardner’s books debuted on American television. What was the TV series?

    Answer: Perry Mason

    Perry Mason, a long-running American legal drama series, aired on CBS from 1957 to 1966. The show, based on Erle Stanley Gardner’s detective fiction, starred Raymond Burr as the titular lawyer and received numerous awards and accolades.

    Janis Joplin photographed by Jim Marshall about one year before her death.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    Born on 21 September 1934, a singer-songwriter released an album titled New Skin for the Old Ceremony in 1974. This album included the song Chelsea Hotel No. 2, which Encyclopædia Britannica describes as a ‘frank recollection of a brief sexual encounter with Janis Joplin’. Who is this singer-songwriter?

    Answer: Leonard Cohen

    Chelsea Hotel #2 recounts a sexual encounter at the Chelsea Hotel with Janis Joplin. Cohen later regretted revealing the song’s inspiration and the explicit details of their relationship. In 1994, on the BBC, Cohen said it was “an indiscretion for which I’m very sorry. If there is some way of apologising to the ghost, I want to apologise now for having committed that indiscretion.”
    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • An Unexpected Party

    Five questions related to today, September 21st.

    See question 3.
    Image LDS

    One

    The opening chapter of a book, first published on 21 September 1937, is titled ‘An Unexpected Party’. Before the party begins, the householder is unexpectedly visited by a group of dwarfs. How many dwarfs are there?

    Two

    The Grammy-winning album American Idiot was released on 21 September 2004 by which band?

    Three

    According to the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, on the night of September 21, 1823, Joseph Smith prayed to know God’s further will. A light steadily grew, “as though the house was filled with consuming and unquenchable fire.” …, a messenger sent from God stood before him. Who was this messenger?

    Four

    On this day in 1957, a mystery series based on Erle Stanley Gardner’s books debuted on American television. What was the TV series?

    Five

    Born on 21 September 1934, a singer-songwriter released an album titled New Skin for the Old Ceremony in 1974. This album included the song Chelsea Hotel No. 2, which Encyclopædia Britannica describes as a ‘frank recollection of a brief sexual encounter with Janis Joplin’. Who is this singer-songwriter?

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

  • Flight of Fancy | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.

    Boeing 737-900. ‘Boeing 100 years strong’, Alaska Airlines.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 15 July 1916, in Seattle, Washington, William Boeing and George Conrad Westervelt incorporated…

    • BoWes Aviation Company
    • Northwest Airplane Corporation
    • Pacific Aero Products Company

    Answer: Pacific Aero Products Company

    William E. Boeing, fascinated by airplanes after seeing one in 1909, bought a shipyard in 1910 and built his first airplane factory. After a crash damaged his Martin seaplane, he built his own, the ‘B&W’, with the help of George Conrad Westervelt and later Wong Tsu. Boeing incorporated his business as Pacific Aero Products Company in 1916 and changed the name to Boeing Airplane Company in 1917.

    Rosetta Stone.
    Image Wikipedia

    Two

    The Rosetta Stone was discovered on 15 July 1799. Where was it found?

    • Egypt
    • Greece
    • Rome

    Answer: Egypt

    In 1799, French soldiers in Napoleon’s army in Egypt discovered a stone with three inscriptions, including hieroglyphs and Greek, at Fort Julien near Rosetta. The Rosetta Stone, a granodiorite stele, contains a 196 BC decree in hieroglyphic, Demotic and Ancient Greek, aiding in deciphering Egyptian scripts.

    Drawing of the Mount Bandai eruption by Yamamoto Hōsui, 1888.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    On 15 July 1888, Mount Bandai, a stratovolcano, erupted, resulting in an estimated 500 fatalities. Mount Bandai is located in which country?

    • Indonesia
    • Japan
    • Philippines

    Answer: Japan

    On 15 July 1888, Mount Bandai in the Iwashiro Province (now part of Fukushima Prefecture) in the Empire of Japan erupted. The eruption, preceded by earthquakes, caused pyroclastic flows that buried villages and devastated the eastern part of the Bandai region. The tragedy resulted in at least 477 fatalities and hundreds of injuries.

    Mariner 4: Image No. 11, Mariner Crater.
    Image NASA

    Four

    On this day in 1964, a NASA space probe took the first close-up pictures of another planet and began transmitting them back to Earth the following day. What planet was photographed?

    • Mercury
    • Venus
    • Mars

    Answer: Mars

    Picture No. 11 of the Mariner sequence must surely rank as one of the most remarkable scientific photographs of this age.
    – ROBERT B. LEIGHTON. Mariner 4 Principal Investigator, Caltech, speaking at the White House. July 29, 1965

    Mariner 4: Image No. 11, Mariner Crater (shown above)
    This photo clearly showed craters upon craters — and nothing else — a “scientifically startling fact,” according to the Mariner imaging team. They saw a desolate landscape that had scarcely changed in 2 to 5 billion years, an environment more like the lifeless Moon than any place on Earth.
    They called the revelation “profound,” not just for what it suggested about Mars’ past and present, but because it “further enhances the uniqueness of Earth within the solar system.” NASA

    Monty Python members Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Terry Jones performing The Spanish Inquisition sketch during the 2014 Python reunion. Image Wikipedia

    Five

    The Spanish Inquisition was officially disbanded on 15 July 1834. How many years had it been in operation?

    • 241
    • 298
    • 356

    Answer:

    The Spanish Inquisition, established in 1478 by the Catholic Monarchs, aimed to maintain Catholic orthodoxy and replace the Medieval Inquisition. It targeted heretics, particularly those who converted from Judaism and Islam, leading to forced conversions, torture, executions, and mass expulsions. The Inquisition, which lasted until 1834, expanded to other Spanish territories and targeted various offences, resulting in around 150,000 prosecutions and 3,000 to 5,000 executions.