Quizology.Online

Tag: Second World War

  • In olden days a glimpse of stocking / Was looked on as something shocking — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Flag of Côte d’Ivoire/Ivory Coast.
    See question three.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of these questions relate to today’s date, 7 August.

    One

    In what sport could a ‘Salchow’ be performed?

    Answer: Ice skating.

    Swedish skater Ulrich Salchow, born 7 August 1877. The salchow, named the Salchow, an edge jump, after him. It is the easiest figure skating jump. It involves taking off from the back inside edge of one skate, completing one or more full turns, and landing on the back outside edge of the opposite skate. American skater Theresa Weld was reprimanded at the 1920 Olympics for performing a single Salchow jump because her skirt would fly up to her knees, creating an image deemed too risqué.

    Two

    The six-month-long Battle of Guadalcanal, which began on 7 August 1942, unfolded in which country?

    Answer: Solomon Islands.

    Guadalcanal Island, the largest island in the Solomon Islands, is situated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The Battle of Guadalcanal, occurring from August 1942 to February 1943, involved a series of World War II land and sea engagements between Allied and Japanese forces on and around Guadalcanal, one of the southern Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. Alongside the naval Battle of Midway, the combat on Guadalcanal signified a turning point in favour of the Allies in the Pacific War.

    Three

    In 1960, the country represented by the flag shown above gained independence from France. What country is it?

    Answer: Côte d’Ivoire/Ivory Coast.

    Côte d’Ivoire, located on the western coast of Africa, was previously a French colony. Abidjan functions as the de facto capital, while Yamoussoukro has been the administrative capital since 1983. Known as Ivory Coast, this West African nation is the leading cocoa exporter globally and has seen substantial economic growth since 2011. Nonetheless, 46.1% of its population remains in poverty. The economy is predominantly dependent on agriculture, especially smallholder cash-crop production.

    Four

    How many persons were onboard Thor Heyerdahl’s balsa wood raft, Kon-Tiki when it reached Raroia in the Tuamotu Islands after sailing 4,300 mile (7,000 km) in 101-days?

    Answer: Six.

    The Kon-Tiki expedition in 1947, led by Thor Heyerdahl, was a raft journey from South America to Polynesia. Named after the Inca god Viracocha, it inspired Heyerdahl’s book and a 1950 Oscar-winning documentary. A 2012 dramatised film was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film.

    Five

    In 1926, in motor racing the first British Grand Prix was held. Where was the race held? 

    Answer: Brooklands.

    Built in 1907 near Weybridge, Surrey, Brooklands was the first purpose-built motor racing venue and one of the UK’s first airfields. The British Grand Prix debuted there on 7 August 1926, won by Robert Sénéchal and Louis Wagner. The second race, on 1 October 1927, was also held there.

    Bonus Question

    The post title is two lines taken from a popular song, what song?

    In olden days a glimpse of stocking 
    Was looked on as something shocking

    It is part of the lyrics from Anything Goes from the Cole Porter musical of the same name. It is used here only as an oblique remark about Ms Weld’s risqué performance; see answer one.

    Anything Goes

    By Cole Porter

    [RENO]
    Times have changed,
    And we’ve often rewound the clock,
    Since the Puritans got a shock,
    When they landed on Plymouth Rock.
    If today,
    Any shock they should try to stem,
    ‘Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock,
    Plymouth Rock would land on them. 

    In olden days a glimpse of stocking
    Was looked on as something shocking,
    But now, God knows,
    Anything Goes. 

    Good authors too who once knew better words,
    Now only use four letter words
    Writing prose, Anything Goes. 

    The world has gone mad today
    And good’s bad today,
    And black’s white today,
    And day’s night today,
    When most guys today
    That women prize today
    Are just silly gigolos
    And though I’m not a great romancer
    I know that you’re bound to answer
    When I propose,
    Anything goes 

    When grandmama whose age is eighty
    In night clubs is getting matey with gigolo’s,
    Anything Goes. 

    When mothers pack and leave poor father
    Because they decide they’d rather be tennis pros,
    Anything Goes. 

    If driving fast cars you like,
    If low bars you like,
    If old hymns you like,
    If bare limbs you like,
    If Mae West you like
    Or me undressed you like,
    Why, nobody will oppose!
    When every night,
    The set that’s smart
    Is intruding in nudist parties in studios,
    Anything Goes. 

    [RENO, PASSENGERS & CREW]
    The world has gone mad today
    And good’s bad today,
    And black’s white today,
    And day’s night today,
    When most guys today
    That women prize today
    Are just silly gigolos
    And though I’m not a great romancer
    I know that you’re bound to answer
    When I propose,
    Anything goes 

    [RENO]
    If saying your prayers you like,
    If green pears you like
    If old chairs you like,
    If back stairs you like,
    If love affairs you like
    With young bears you like,
    Why nobody will oppose! 

    [ALL]
    And though I’m not a great romancer
    And though I’m not a great romancer
    I know that you’re bound to answer
    When I propose,
    Anything goes…
    Anything goes!
    — All Musicals

  • In olden days a glimpse of stocking / Was looked on as something shocking

    Flag of ?
    See question three.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of these questions relate to today’s date, 7 August.

    One

    In what sport could a ‘Salchow’ be performed?

    Two

    The six-month-long Battle of Guadalcanal, which began on 7 August 1942, unfolded in which country?

    Three

    In 1960, the country represented by the flag shown above gained independence from France. What country is it?

    Four

    How many persons were onboard Thor Heyerdahl’s balsa wood raft, Kon-Tiki when it reached Raroia in the Tuamotu Islands after sailing 4,300 mile (7,000 km) in 101-days?

    Five

    In 1926, in motor racing the first British Grand Prix was held. Where was the race held? 

    Bonus Question

    The post title is two lines taken from a popular song, what song?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Now I am Become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds — Answers

    Here are today’s answers.

    Trinity Test, Jack W. Aeby, July 16, 1945.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    The first question relates to today’s date, 16 July. The subsequent questions follow a theme established by the first.

    One

    The world’s first atomic bomb exploded in a test on 16 July. 

    • What code name was given to the test?
    • In what year was the test?, and
    • In what U.S. state was the test site located?

    Answers

    • Trinity
    • 1945
    • New Mexico

    The Trinity test, the first nuclear detonation, occurred on July 16, 1945, in New Mexico as part of the Manhattan Project. Directed by Kenneth Bainbridge, it tested an implosion-design plutonium bomb, releasing 25 kilotons of energy and creating trinitite. Observed by 425 people, the site became a National Historic Landmark in 1965. The Manhattan Project established Los Alamos for nuclear weapon development, leading to the first atomic bomb, Gadget, tested at the Trinity Site. The Trinity Site is now a national historic landmark with limited public access.

    Two

    When asked why he chose the nuclear test code name referred to in question one above, Robert Oppenheimer alluded to the work of which English poet?

    Answer: John Donne.

    In 1962 Oppenheimer said:

    Why I chose the name is not clear, but I know what thoughts were in my mind. There is a poem of John Donne, written just before his death, which I know and love.” Oppenheimer then quoted the sonnet “Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness” about a man unafraid to die because he believed in resurrection.

    Oppenheimer continued: 

    That still does not make a Trinity, but in another, better-known devotional poem Donne opens, ‘Batter my heart, three person’d God.’ Beyond this, I have no clues whatever.
    — Los Alamos National Laboratory

    Three

    Who is traditionally said to have used a clover-like plant, which is now a national symbol, as a metaphor for a Christian doctrine, and what was the plant?

    Answer: St. Patrick; shamrock.

    In 5th-century Ireland, Saint Patrick reportedly used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to pagans. Today, the shamrock is Ireland’s national symbol and a key emblem of Saint Patrick’s Day, celebrated worldwide with parades and festivities.

    Four

    Which charity is the official authority for lighthouses in England and Wales?

    Answer: Trinity House.

    Trinity House, established in 1514, is the UK’s largest maritime charity and General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales, the Channel Islands, and Gibraltar. It ensures maritime safety through navigation aids, pilot licensing, and audits. Annually, it donates £4m to support cadet training, retired mariners’ welfare, and sea safety education.

    Five

    Of the seven surviving British and Irish medieval and early modern universities founded before 1600 AD, one with a name appropriate for this theme was founded in 1592. Under what name was this 1592 establishment founded?

    Answer: Trinity College Dublin (Coláiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath).

    (or in full The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin (Coláiste Thríonóid Naofa Neamhroinnte na Banríona Eilís gar do Bhaile Átha Cliath)).

    Trinity College Dublin, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, is Ireland’s oldest university and a member of LERU and the Coimbra Group. It houses the Book of Kells and has notable alumni like Oscar Wilde and Jonathan Swift. The college, a major tourist destination, has an academic partnership with Oxford and Cambridge.

    Now I am Become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds

    Robert Oppenheimer later recalled a moment, after the Trinity Test, when the line ‘Now I am Become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds’ from the Hindu scripture the Bhagavad Gita came to mind.

  • Now I am Become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds

    Trinity Test, Jack W. Aeby, July 16, ?
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    The first question relates to today’s date, 16 July. The subsequent questions follow a theme established by the first.

    One

    The world’s first atomic bomb exploded in a test on 16 July. 

    • What code name was given to the test?
    • In what year was the test?, and
    • In what U.S. state was the test site located?

    Two

    When asked why he chose the nuclear test code name referred to in question one above, Robert Oppenheimer alluded to the work of which English poet?

    Three

    Who is traditionally said to have used a clover-like plant, which is now a national symbol, as a metaphor for a Christian doctrine, and what was the plant?

    Four

    Which charity is the official authority for lighthouses in England and Wales?

    Five

    Of the seven surviving British and Irish medieval and early modern universities founded before 1600 AD, one with a name appropriate for this theme was founded in 1592. Under what name was this 1592 establishment founded?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Gallimaufry XII — Answers

    Here’s the answers to the questions posted earlier.

    Despite a heart condition and arthritis that forced him to use a cane, Brigadier General Roosevelt led the assault on Utah Beach.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are a mixed bag and are not date-related. There is a bit of an alphabetical theme going on, though..

    One

    New York International Airport, which opened in 1948, was also commonly known by what other name?

    Answer: Idlewild.

    Now known as John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), it is a major international airport serving the New York metropolitan area. Located in Queens, New York City, it is the busiest airport in the New York airport system and the busiest international commercial airport in North America. JFK features five passenger terminals and four runways, and serves as a hub for American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

    Two

    Supported by a walking stick, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr led the assault on which D-Day beach?

    Answer: Utah Beach.

    At 56, Roosevelt was the oldest general to land by sea with the first wave on D-Day, alongside his son, Captain Quentin Roosevelt II, who also landed with the first wave at Omaha Beach, making them the only father-son pair to participate in the invasion that day. Brigadier General Roosevelt, with Captain Leonard T. Schroeder Jr., led the 8th Infantry Regiment and 70th Tank Battalion at Utah Beach. Despite drifting off course, Roosevelt personally reconnoitred the area, coordinated with battalion commanders, and decided to attack from their landing point, famously declaring, ‘We’ll start the war from right here!’.

    Three

    What two word term is commonly used in the west to refer to the mythical humanoid creature which is said to inhabit parts of the Himalayas?

    Answer: Abominable Snowman.

    The Yeti, or Abominable Snowman, is a mythical humanoid creature believed to inhabit the Himalayas. Its existence is debated, with evidence such as sightings, videos, photos, and footprints, many of which are hoaxes or disputed. Despite numerous claims, the Yeti remains a subject of folklore and speculation. Folklorists trace the Yeti’s origin to Sherpa folklore and misidentified animals like bears or yaks, and it is often compared to North America’s Bigfoot due to similar physical descriptions.

    Four

    What flower with an eight-letter common name is the official flower of the Japanese city of Hiroshima, being the first to bloom there after the city was destroyed by an atomic bomb in 1945?

    Answer: Oleander.

    As the very first flower to bloom on the scorched earth of Hiroshima, where it was said that nothing would grow for 75 years, the oleander flower was a source of strength and hope for the residents of the city as they worked hard on recovery efforts. Blooming in the summertime, the oleander flowers reach their peak around the August 6 Peace Memorial Day, their beautiful blossoms reminding our citizens of a great many and profound feelings.
    — The City of Hiroshima

    Five

    In Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Zaphod Beeblebrox steals the spaceship Heart of Gold. What’s the name of the ship’s computer?

    Answer: Eddie.

    Eddie, the Heart of Gold’s shipboard computer, is annoyingly cheerful with a Genuine People Personality, irritating the crew, especially Zaphod. He has a backup motherly personality but remains disliked. Eddie controls all ship systems and records conversations. In And Another Thing…, Zaphod’s Left Brain replaces him, being more competent

    Theme

    The answers started with one of English’s five vowels, although not in the correct order.

  • Gallimaufry XII

    Despite a heart condition and arthritis that forced him to use a cane, Brigadier General Roosevelt led the assault on Utah Beach.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are a mixed bag and are not date-related. There is a bit of an alphabetical theme going on, though..

    One

    New York International Airport, which opened in 1948, was also commonly known by what other name?

    Two

    Supported by a walking stick, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr led the assault on which D-Day beach?

    Three

    What two word term is commonly used in the west to refer to the mythical humanoid creature which is said to inhabit parts of the Himalayas?

    Four

    What flower with an eight-letter common name is the official flower of the Japanese city of Hiroshima, being the first to bloom there after the city was destroyed by an atomic bomb in 1945?

    Five

    In Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Zaphod Beeblebrox steals the spaceship Heart of Gold. What’s the name of the ship’s computer?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • As soon as the war ended, we located the one spot on earth that hadn’t been touched by the war and blew it to hell — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    The first underwater test conducted by the U.S. of an atomic bomb at Bikini atoll.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Today’s first question concerns the date 5 July. The subsequent questions share a theme established by the first.

    One

    On this day in 1946, French designer Louis Réard introduced a new swimsuit he called the Bikini, inspired by the location of recent US nuclear tests. In what island group is the Bikini Atoll situated?

    Answer: Marshall Islands.

    On this day in 1946, French designer Louis Réard unveiled the bikini, a two-piece swimsuit named after Bikini Atoll. The bikini became a symbol of changing attitudes towards self-expression and bodily autonomy, despite initial scandal and condemnation. Today, the bikini is celebrated as a powerful expression of agency and body positivity.
    The Marshall Islands atomic bomb tests by the United States from 1946 to 1958 involved 67 tests on Bikini and Enewetak atolls. The Castle Bravo thermonuclear bomb test in 1954 yielded 15 megatons, far exceeding expectations and causing widespread devastation, including vaporising three of Bikini’s islands. The U.S. has since paid compensation to affected parties but the atolls remain contaminated with radiation and uninhabitable. Bikini’s coral reefs recovered, but land and food are unsafe.

    Two

    A balaclava, also known as a ski mask, was named after its use by British troops at the Battle of Balaclava. Which war was this and in which decade did it occur?

    Answers: Crimean War; 1850s.

    A balaclava, or ski mask, is headgear exposing parts of the face, used in skiing, snowboarding, and racing. Originating from the 1854 Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War, British troops wore knitted headgear for warmth. Similar 19th-century headgear included the Uhlan cap and Templar cap.

    Three

    The sturdy cotton warp-faced textile used to make jeans has a name which points to the city of origin. What is that name, and what is the city?

    Answers: Denim; Nîmes.

    Denim is a sturdy cotton warp-faced textile in which the weft passes under two or more warp threads, originating from the French phrase sergé de Nîmes (‘serge from Nîmes’). This durable twill-woven fabric, typically made from cotton, is known for its longevity and is yarn-dyed and mill-finished. Jeans, trousers made from denim, originated in the 19th century as workwear. They gained popularity beyond labourers, becoming associated with various cultural movements and are now valued for their versatility and ability to transcend social boundaries.

    Four

    What U.S. president has a short battledress-type uniform jacket named after him?

    Answer: Dwight. D Eisenhower.

    The Eisenhower jacket, or Ike jacket, officially the M-1944 Jacket, was developed for the U.S. Army in WWII, named after Dwight D. Eisenhower. Inspired by the British Battledress, it featured a pleated back, adjustable waist, and multiple pockets. Major General Ira C. Eaker influenced its creation.

    Five

    Made famous when worn by Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday (1953) Capri pants are named after the island of Capri. In what marginal sea is the Capri located?

    Answer: Tyrrhenian Sea.

    Capri pants, introduced by Sonja de Lennart in 1948, gained popularity on the Italian isle of Capri in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Iconic figures like Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot popularised them. In the U.S., Mary Tyler Moore’s character in The Dick Van Dyke Show further popularised capris.

    As soon as the war ended, we located the one spot on earth that hadn’t been touched by the war and blew it to hell.

    The post title is a quote from American comedian Bob Hope.

  • As soon as the war ended, we located the one spot on earth that hadn’t been touched by the war and blew it to hell

    The first underwater test conducted by the U.S. of an atomic bomb at Bikini atoll.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Today’s first question concerns the date 5 July. The subsequent questions share a theme established by the first.

    One

    On this day in 1946, French designer Louis Réard introduced a new swimsuit he called the Bikini, inspired by the location of recent US nuclear tests. In what island group is the Bikini Atoll situated?

    Two

    A balaclava, also known as a ski mask, was named after its use by British troops at the Battle of Balaclava. Which war was this and in which decade did it occur?

    Three

    The sturdy cotton warp-faced textile used to make jeans has a name which points to the city of origin. What is that name, and what is the city?

    Four

    What U.S. president has a short battledress-type uniform jacket named after him?

    Five

    Made famous when worn by Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday (1953) Capri pants are named after the island of Capri. In what marginal sea is the Capri located?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Russian Caesars — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    See question two. Zonkey, the hybrid offspring of a donkey and a zebra.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are not date-related, nor are the questions related, but there is a theme concerning the answers.

    One

    What word completes the title of a 1965 war film starring Kirk Douglas and Richard Harris, which was based on a true story and shot in Norway: The Heroes of …?

    Answer: Telemark.

    The Heroes of Telemark is a 1965 British war film based on a true story. It depicts a sabotage mission against a Norwegian heavy water plant during World War II. At the time, Norway was occupied by German forces and there was a fear that the plant could aid their efforts to build an atomic bomb.

    Two

    What is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as ‘the hybrid offspring of a donkey and a zebra’? (NB. The same word is used in Mexico for donkeys painted as zebras for tourist souvenir photos.)

    Answer: Zonkey.

    Imagine a creature that embodies the rugged resilience of a donkey and the striking elegance of a zebra. This is no mythical beast, but a living, breathing marvel known as the zonkey. A fascinating hybrid, the zonkey captures the imagination with its unique blend of features, often sporting the sturdy body of a donkey adorned with the distinctive stripes of a zebra, typically concentrated on its legs, neck, and sometimes its torso. These captivating animals are a testament to the intricate dance of genetics and the surprising outcomes that can arise when different species meet.

    — Animals Network

    Three

    Dating from the first half of the 20th century from what language did the words ‘rooibos’ and ‘apartheid’ originate?

    Answer: Afrikaans.

    Rooibos is an evergreen South African shrub, and its leaves are used to make a tea. It originated in the early 20th century from Afrikaans, and means literally ‘red bush’.
    Apartheid, a system of racial segregation and discrimination, was adopted as a slogan in the 1948 election by the Afrikaner National Party in South Africa. The system was maintained until February 1991 despite domestic unrest and international isolation. Originating in the 1940s, from Afrikaans, literally ‘separateness’.

    Four

    Who won Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her part in The Constant Gardener?

    Answer: Rachel Weisz.

    The Constant Gardener is a 2005 drama thriller film directed by Fernando Meirelles, based on John le Carré’s novel. It follows a British diplomat in Kenya investigating his wife’s murder. A critical and box office success, it achieved four Oscar nominations, with Weisz winning Best Supporting Actress.

    Five

    What body of water was home to the British Fleet during both the First and Second World Wars, as well as being the site of the 1919 scuttling of the interred German High Sea Fleet and the 1939 sinking of HMS Royal Oak?

    Answer: Scapa Flow.

    Scapa Flow, a sheltered body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, has historical significance as a Viking anchorage and UK naval base. HMS Royal Oak is a war grave for over 800 seamen who perished when the ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat. Today, it is known for its diving sites and as a location for oil and LNG transfers.

    Russian Caesars

    The post title Russian Caesars refers to Tzar (also Tsar or Czar) in plural, TZARS which gives the start letter for each of the above answers.

  • Russian Caesars

    See question two. ?, the hybrid offspring of a donkey and a zebra.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are not date-related, nor are the questions related, but there is a theme concerning the answers.

    One

    What word completes the title of a 1965 war film starring Kirk Douglas and Richard Harris, which was based on a true story and shot in Norway: The Heroes of …?

    Two

    What is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as ‘the hybrid offspring of a donkey and a zebra’? (NB. The same word is used in Mexico for donkeys painted as zebras for tourist souvenir photos.)

    Three

    Dating from the first half of the 20th century from what language did the words ‘rooibos’ and ‘apartheid’ originate?

    Four

    Who won Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her part in The Constant Gardener?

    Five

    What body of water was home to the British Fleet during both the First and Second World Wars, as well as being the site of the 1919 scuttling of the interred German High Sea Fleet and the 1939 sinking of HMS Royal Oak?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.