Apollo 12 launch, November 14, 1969. Image Wikipedia
One
Apollo 12, launched on 14 November 1969, became the second mission to land on the Moon. Among the three-man crew, who landed and walked on the lunar surface, was which of these: Mr Bean, Mr Hyde or Mr Spock?
Two
Is it true or false that Hannibal the Great was crowned pharaoh of Egypt today in 332 BCE?
Three
In Moby-Dick—which was published in the US today in 1851—Captain Ahab offers a gold coin as a reward for spotting the white whale. What real-world coin does he nail to the mast — and from which country does it come?
Four
On this date, Eugene Burton Ely achieved the first aircraft takeoff from a ship. In which decade did this happen?
Five
In the television series MASH*, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake, played by McLean Stevenson, was discharged and sent home in the final episode of Season 3. What shocking event was revealed at the end of that episode?
Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.
King James VI of Scotland and James I of England. Image Wikipedia
One
What event is commemorated in the United Kingdom on November 5th, when effigies of Guy Fawkes are traditionally burned on bonfires? Also, in what year did it occur?
Answer: The Gunpowder Plot of 1605
The failed plot was an attempt by Catholic conspirators to blow up the English Parliament and assassinate King James VI (of Scotland) & I (of England). ‘Remember, remember, the fifth of November’ became a famous rhyme, see below, recording the event.
Two
Which spacecraft, launched on 5 November 2013, was India’s first interplanetary mission?
Answer: The Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan)
Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Mangalyaan made India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit and the first country in the world to do so successfully on its maiden attempt — all on a remarkably low budget.
On 5 November 1981, a small Caribbean nation achieved independence from the United Kingdom. Its capital is St. John’s. Can you name the country?
Answer: Antigua and Barbuda
The twin-island nation remains a member of the Commonwealth, recognizing the British monarch as its head of state, but governs itself independently.
Four
November 5th is a central date in the storyline of what 2005 film which opens with the line, ‘Remember, remember the fifth of November’?
Answer: V for Vendetta
The film, based on a graphic novel, turned the Guy Fawkes mask into a global symbol of resistance — later adopted by protest movements such as Anonymous and Occupy Wall Street.
Five
On November 5th, Google introduced its first Android-based mobile operating system, signalling the start of a new era in smartphones. In what year did this occur?
Answer: 2007
The Android OS announcement reshaped the mobile landscape — today, Android powers over 70% of the world’s smartphones.
Remember, remember, the 5th of November
Remember, remember, the 5th of November, Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason Why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot. Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, ’twas his intent To blow up the King and the Parliament Three score barrels of powder below Poor old England to overthrow By God’s providence he was catch’d With a dark lantern and burning match Holler boys, holler boys, let the bells ring Holler boys, holler boys God save the King!
The undercroft beneath the House of Lords. Image Wikipedia
What event is commemorated in the United Kingdom on November 5th, when effigies of Guy Fawkes are traditionally burned on bonfires? Also, in what year did it occur?
Two
Which spacecraft, launched on 5 November 2013, was India’s first interplanetary mission?
See question 3. Image Wikipedia
Three
On 5 November 1981, a small Caribbean nation achieved independence from the United Kingdom. Its capital is St. John’s. Can you name the country?
Four
November 5th is a central date in the storyline of what 2005 film which opens with the line, ‘Remember, remember the fifth of November’?
Five
On November 5th, Google introduced its first Android-based mobile operating system, signalling the start of a new era in smartphones. In what year did this occur?
National Mall, Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, Washington D.C. Image Wikipedia
One
What decade saw the first time that residents of Washington, D.C. could vote in a U.S. presidential election
Answer: 1960s (1964)
Twenty-Third Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1961, granted D.C. three electoral votes—the same number as the least-populous state. Before this, its residents had no say in electing the president or vice-president.
Two
Today Henry VIII of England became the first Supreme Head of the Church of England. In which century was this?
Answer: 16th century (1534)
The Act of Supremacy officially severed England’s ties with the Roman Catholic Church and papal authority, paving the way for the English Reformation. Henry’s motivations were both political and personal; he desired an annulment from Catherine of Aragon.
A dog named Laika went into space on this day in 1957. Which of these craft carried her: Soyuz 1, Sputnik 2 or Salyut 3?
Answer: Sputnik 2
Laika, a stray from Moscow’s streets, became a global icon of the Space Race. Sadly, she died within hours due to overheating, although the Soviets initially claimed she survived for several days.
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Four
On this date, the Caribbean island nation of Dominica was first sighted by Europeans. Four hundred and eighty-five years later, it gained independence from a European country. What does the island’s name mean and from which country did it achieve independence?
Answer: United Kingdom; and Sunday
On 3 November 1493, Christopher Columbus sighted Dominica and named it Dies Dominica, meaning ‘the Lord’s Day’. Four hundred and eighty-five years later, on 3 November 1978, Dominica achieved independence after being a British colony and briefly a French one.
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Five
On this day in 1911, a racing driver and engineer, born in 1878, co-founded the American motor car manufacturer Chevrolet, who was he and in what country was he born?
Answer: Louis Chevrolet; Switzerland
Louis Chevrolet’s name lives on in one of America’s most famous car brands, but he sold his stake early and never profited from its later success. Ironically, he died while working for a rival carmaker.
A dog named Laika went into space on this day in 1957. Which of these craft carried her: Soyuz 1, Sputnik 2 or Salyut 3?
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Four
On this date, the Caribbean island nation of Dominica was first sighted by Europeans. Four hundred and eighty-five years later, it gained independence from a European country. What does the island’s name mean and from which country did it achieve independence?
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Five
On this day in 1911, a racing driver and engineer, born in 1878, co-founded the American motor car manufacturer Chevrolet, who was he and in what country was he born?
The Battle of Agincourt, 15th-century miniature, Enguerrand de Monstrelet. Image Wikipedia
One
The Battle of Agincourt took place on 25 October 1415. In what department of France is the battlefield?
Answer: Pas-de-Calais
The unexpected victory of the vastly outnumbered English troops against the numerically superior French army boosted English morale and prestige crippling France and heralding a new era of English dominance in the war.
Two
On what island in New York Harbor does the Statue of Liberty stand, and by what name was the island known prior to it being renamed by an act of the United States Congress in 1956?
Answer: Liberty Island, formerly Bedloe’s Island
The Statue of Liberty, a neoclassical sculpture gifted by France, stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbour. Designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and built by Gustave Eiffel, it was dedicated on 28 October 1886.
Three
The deepest known point on Earth’s seabed is almost 7 miles (approximately 11 kilometres) deep. What is its name and in which ocean is it located?
Answer: Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean
On 23 March 1875, the British Royal Navy’s HMS Challenger with depth soundings taken by Baillie-weighted marked rope, and geographical locations were determined by celestial navigation (to an estimated accuracy of two nautical miles). Seventy-five years later HMS Challenger II took depth soundings but the depth was beyond their echo sound equipment so they used a weighted line…
The Senior Scientist aboard Challenger II, Thomas Gaskell, recalled:
It took from ten past five in the evening until twenty to seven, that is an hour and a half, for the iron weight to fall to the sea-bottom. It was almost dark by the time the weight struck, but great excitement greeted the reading…
Challenger Deep has a depth of approximately 10,935 meters (35,876 feet) below sea level.
Four
On 20 July 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the Moon at the Sea of Tranquillity (Mare Tranquillitatis). A few months later, on 19 November 1969, Apollo 12 landed at a seemingly less tranquil location. Where did Apollo 12 land?
Answer: Ocean of Storms (Oceanus Procellarum)
Six Apollo missions landed on the Moon: Apollo 11 to 17, except Apollo 13, which suffered severe damage after an explosion and missed landing. Twelve astronauts walked on the lunar surface during these missions. The final Apollo astronauts departed the Moon in December 1972.
Photograph of Mount Erebus (and Adélie penguins) taken by the Terra Nova expedition in 1913. Image Wikipedia
Five
McMurdo Station (US) and Scott Base (NZ) are Antarctic research stations located on the Hut Point Peninsula. Two questions: firstly, on what island is this peninsula located; and secondly, the island is home to the planet’s southernmost active volcano, what is that volcano?
Answer: Ross Island and Mount Erebus
Ross Island was named after James Clark Ross a British naval officer and explorer. Hut Point, at the southern tip of Hut Point Peninsula on Ross Island, is a small, ice-free promontory near McMurdo Station. Designated as ASPA No. 158, entry requires a permit. It holds historical significance with a hut and artefacts from the 1901-04 British National Antarctic Expedition led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott, also designated as HSM No. 18. McMurdo Station, operated by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is the largest research station in Antarctica, serving as a logistics hub. Ross Island’s Mount Erebus is 3,794 metres (12,448 ft) in height.
The first question concerns today, October 25th, and the subsequent questions follow a theme.
The Battle of Agincourt, 15th-century miniature, Enguerrand de Monstrelet. Image Wikipedia
One
The Battle of Agincourt took place on 25 October 1415. In what department of France is the battlefield?
Two
On what island in New York Harbor does the Statue of Liberty stand, and by what name was the island known prior to it being renamed by an act of the United States Congress in 1956?
Three
The deepest known point on Earth’s seabed is almost 7 miles (approximately 11 kilometres) deep. What is its name and in which ocean is it located?
Four
On 20 July 1969, Apollo 11 landed on the Moon at the Sea of Tranquillity (Mare Tranquillitatis). A few months later, on 19 November 1969, Apollo 12 landed at a seemingly less tranquil location. Where did Apollo 12 land?
Five
McMurdo Station (US) and Scott Base (NZ) are Antarctic research stations located on the Hut Point Peninsula. Two questions: firstly, on what island is this peninsula located; and secondly, the island is home to the planet’s southernmost active volcano, what is that volcano?
On this day in 1956, an American film premiered and became particularly notable as the final film featuring James Dean, who died in a car crash shortly after filming concluded. Which film was it?
Answer: Giant
James Dean, a 1950s Hollywood actor, became an influential figure despite a brief career. His three major films, Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, and Giant, are preserved in the National Film Registry.
Two
In 1969, the album In the Court of the … was released by a band which included Greg Lake. What words complete the album title and what was the band called?
Answer: (In the Court of the) Crimson King and King Crimson
King Crimson, an English progressive rock band formed in 1968, is known for its diverse musical influences and significant impact on the progressive rock movement. In the Court of the Crimson King, King Crimson’s debut album, is a pioneering work of progressive rock, blending rock with jazz, classical and symphonic music.
Three
In 1846, English astronomer William Lassell discovered Triton, a moon of which planet?
Answer: Neptune
William Lassell (18 June 1799 – 5 October 1880) was an English merchant and astronomer. He’s best known for his improvements to the reflecting telescope which led to his discovery of four planetary satellites.
Matt Monro, publicity picture for the single, Born Free, 1966. Image Wikipedia
Four
In 1963, the second film in the official James Bond franchise, From Russia with Love, premiered. Which Englishman sang the title song in the film?
Answer: Matt Monro
If I had to choose three of the finest male vocalists, Matt would be one of them. — Frank Sinatra
Born on December 1, 1930, Terence Edward Parsons, known as Matt Monro on stage, was an English singer renowned as ’The Man with the Golden Voice’. The former London bus driver, performed internationally for 30 years and sold 23 million records. AllMusic called him ‘one of the most underrated pop vocalists of the ‘60s’, praising his ‘easiest, most perfect baritone’. Monro, a heavy smoker and drinker, died of liver cancer in 1985 after which ‘Frank Sinatra said of him, ‘If I had to choose three of the finest male vocalists, Matt would be one of them.’ Monro’s recordings include UK top 10 hits Portrait of My Love, My Kind of Girl, Softly As I Leave You, Walk Away and a cover of the Beatles’ Yesterday. He also recorded film themes such as From Russia with Love, Born Free, and On Days Like These.
Five
In 1935, Porgy and Bess opened on Broadway. Who composed this opera?
Answer: George Gershwin
Porgy and Bess is an English-language opera by George Gershwin, based on a novel and play by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward. It premiered in 1935 and is now one of the most frequently performed operas, known for its story of Porgy’s attempts to rescue Bess from her violent lover and drug dealer.
On this day in 1956, an American film premiered and became particularly notable as the final film featuring James Dean, who died in a car crash shortly after filming concluded. Which film was it?
Two
In 1969, the album In the Court of the … was released by a band which included Greg Lake. What words complete the album title and what was the band called?
Three
In 1846, English astronomer William Lassell discovered Triton, a moon of which planet?
Four
In 1963, the second film in the official James Bond franchise, From Russia with Love, premiered. Which Englishman sang the title song in the film?
Five
In 1935, Porgy and Bess opened on Broadway. Who composed this opera?
Who was the first astronaut to drive a Lunar Rover on the Moon’s surface?
Answer: David Scott
Between July 30 and August 2, 1971, David Scott, commander of Apollo 15, drove the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV-1) for 3 hours and 2 minutes. These journeys covered A total of 17.25 miles (27.76 km) across the lunar surface. Apollo 15(LRV-1) 17.25 miles (27.76 km) 3 h 02 min 7.75 miles (12.47 km) 3.1 miles (5.0 km)
Two
What, in Roman numerals, is the sum of LXXXIV and DCCLIX?
Answer: DCCCXLIII
LXXXIV =
L = 50
XXX = 30
IV = 4 → 50 + 30 + 4 = 84
DCCLIX =
D = 500
CC = 200
L = 50
IX = 9 → 500 + 200 + 50 + 9 = 759
84 + 759 = 843
Convert 843 to Roman numerals:
800 = DCCC
40 = XL
3 = III
→ 843 = DCCCXLIII
Three
John F. Kennedy had a dog called Dunker. What breed was it?
Answer: Dachshund
The Dachshund is a small, long-bodied dog breed originally developed in Germany to hunt badgers. The name literally means ‘badger dog’—Dachs = badger, Hund = dog. They’re often called ‘sausage dogs’ because of their shape.
Four
Which character in a work by Alexandre Dumas was possibly inspired by the vengeful shoemaker Pierre Picaud of Nîmes?
Answer: Edmond Dantes, The Count of Monte Cristo
Pierre Picaud, a shoemaker from Nîmes, is believed to have inspired Edmond Dantès, the protagonist of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Picaud’s story is strikingly similar to that of Dantès. In the early 19th century, Picaud was wrongfully imprisoned due to the betrayal of his friends and his fiancée. During his imprisonment in the Château d’If, he met an old man who shared with him knowledge of treasure hidden on the island of Monte Cristo. Upon his release, Picaud used this treasure to exact revenge on those who had wronged him, much like Edmond Dantès does in Dumas’ novel. This story of Picaud’s life—his unjust imprisonment, subsequent escape, and thirst for vengeance—closely mirrors the narrative of The Count of Monte Cristo.
Five
Please list the US states whose names start with the letter ‘M’?
Answer: Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri and Montana
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