Quizology.Online

Tag: sport

  • Lord of the…—Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown below.

    Bookplate of Edgar Rice Burroughs.
    Tarzan, shown with one of his great-ape family, is holding the planet Mars and is surrounded by other characters from Burroughs’ stories and symbols relating to his personal interests and career. 
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 1 September 1875, an American novelist was born. Starting in 1914, following a 1912 magazine story, he wrote a series of novels about an ape-man who was also known as John Clayton. Who was this novelist?

    Answer: Edgar Rice Burroughs

    Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950) was an American writer known for creating Tarzan and John Carter. Tarzan, aka John Clayton and Viscount Greystoke, first appeared in Tarzan of the Apes as a 1912 magazine serialisation and 1914 novel. This was followed by 23 further novels and Tarzan became a cultural icon, spawning comic strip, films and merchandise.

    Muammar Gaddafi, 1970.
    Image Wikipedia

    Two

    On this date in 1969, Muammar al-Qaddafi, or al-Gaddafi, along with a group of fellow young army officers, deposed the king and declared Libya a republic. Who was the deposed king?

    Answer: King Idris I

    Muammar Gaddafi ruled Libya from 1969 to 2011, initially as a revolutionary leader and later as the Brotherly Leader of the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. He implemented his Third International Theory, nationalised the oil industry, and promoted Islamic socialism. Gaddafi’s rule was marked by authoritarianism, human rights abuses, and support for terrorism, leading to his overthrow and assassination during the 2011 Libyan Civil War.

    Grace Kelly.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Three

    On 1 September 1954, Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window opened in American film theatres. Starring James Stewart, it also featured a future princess. Who was this future princess?

    Answer: Grace Kelly (Princess Grace of Monaco)

    Grace Kelly, an American actress, achieved stardom in Hollywood films before marrying Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956. As Princess of Monaco, she focused on charity work, particularly for children and the arts. Kelly passed away at the age of 52 due to injuries from a car crash.

    Bobby Fischer, 1972.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    On this date in 1972, the first native-born American to become world champion achieved that title. Who was the American and who did he defeat to win the world title?

    Answer: Bobby Fischer (USA) defeated Boris Spassky (USSR)

    The 1972 World Chess Championship, held in Reykjavík, Iceland, marked the end of 24 years of Soviet dominance. The first game was played on 11 July 1972. The 21st and last game, begun on August 31, was adjourned after 40 moves, with Spassky resigning the next day without resuming play or attending the venue. Fischer won the match 12½–8½, becoming the eleventh undisputed world champion. This victory made Fischer the first US-born world champion.

    Bow of the Titanic, 2024.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    On 1 September 1985, a search found the wreck of the Titanic lying at a depth of 13.000 feet (4,000 metres). Who was the oceanographer who led this search?

    Answer: Robert Ballard

    Robert Ballard, an American oceanographer, is renowned for discovering the Titanic in 1985 using the submersible Argo. He pioneered deep-sea archaeology and explored the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Galapagos Rift, uncovering thermal vents and chemosynthesis. Ballard also founded the JASON project, the Institute for Exploration, and the Ocean Exploration Trust, continuing his search for shipwrecks and sharing his discoveries through writing.

    Lord of the…

    The post title refers to both Lord of the Jungle and Lord of the Apes which have been used for Tarzan.

    Tarzan and the Golden Lion.
    Illustration by James Allen St. John.
    Image Wikipedia

  • Lord of the…

    One

    On 1 September 1875, an American novelist was born. Starting in 1914, following a 1912 magazine story, he wrote a series of novels about an ape-man who was also known as John Clayton. Who was this novelist?

    Two

    On this date in 1969, Muammar al-Qaddafi, or al-Gaddafi, along with a group of fellow young army officers, deposed the king and declared Libya a republic. Who was the deposed king?

    Three

    On 1 September 1954, Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window opened in American film theatres. Starring James Stewart, it also featured a future princess. Who was this future princess?

    Four

    On this date in 1972, the first native-born American to become world champion achieved that title. Who was the American and who did he defeat to win the world title?

    Five

    On 1 September 1985, a search found the wreck of the Titanic lying at a depth of 13.000 feet (4,000 metres). Who was the oceanographer who led this search?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Mr ? Goes to Washington—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier post.

    Lyndon B. Johnson, 1915.
    Image Wikipedia
    Lyndon B Johnson, 1972.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Born on 27 August 1908 in Texas, this boy went on to become the president of the United States. Who is he?

    Answer: Lyndon B Johnson

    Lyndon B Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, served from 1963 to 1969. He assumed the presidency after John F. Kennedy’s assassination and was later elected in a landslide. Johnson’s presidency is remembered for his Great Society programmes, which aimed to expand civil rights, improve healthcare, and combat poverty, but his legacy is also marred by the Vietnam War.

    Two

    On this date, Ernst Heinkel’s He178 turbojet-powered aircraft achieved the historic first jet flight. In which decade did this event occur?

    Answer: 1930s (1939)

    The jet engine, though conceptually ancient, only became practical in the 20th century. Early attempts, like the Caproni Campini N.1 and Tsu-11, were unsuccessful. The breakthrough came with the gas turbine, leading to the development of the turbojet, with Frank Whittle and Hans von Ohain (He178) playing pivotal roles in its creation.

    Three

    The Anglo-Zanzibar War, the shortest war in history, took place on 27 August 1896. How long did the war last?
    1. Between 30 minutes and 60 minutes
    2. Between 510 minutes and 540 minutes
    3. Between 960 and 990 minutes

    Answer: Between 30 minutes and 60 minutes

    The war lasted no longer than 40 minutes, making it the shortest war in recorded history.
    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    The conflict lasted between 38 and 45 minutes, marking it as the shortest recorded war in history.
    — Wikipedia

    Four

    The world premiere of a film adaptation of a book by PL Travers took place on 27 August 1964 in Los Angeles. Which film?

    Answer: Mary Poppins

    Mary Poppins, a 1964 American musical film, features Julie Andrews as a magical nanny who transforms a troubled London household.

    Five

    On 27 August 1938, at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA, Captain George E.T. Eyston set a new land speed record. What speed did he achieve?
    1. 199.96 mph
    2. 273.13 mph
    3. 345.49 mph

    Answer: 345.49 mph

    Captain George Eyston, a British engineer and racing driver, broke the land speed record three times between 1937 and 1939.

  • Mr ? Goes to Washington

    All are connected to today’s date, August 27th. Two of the questions are multiple choice the other three are not.

    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Born on 27 August 1908 in Texas, this boy, pictured above in 1915, went on to become the president of the United States. Who is he?

    Two

    On this date, Ernst Heinkel’s He178 turbojet-powered aircraft achieved the historic first jet flight. In which decade did this event occur?

    Three

    The Anglo-Zanzibar War, the shortest war in history, took place on 27 August 1896. How long did the war last?
    1. Between 30 minutes and 60 minutes
    2. Between 510 minutes and 540 minutes
    3. Between 960 and 990 minutes

    Four

    The world premiere of a film adaptation of a book by PL Travers took place on 27 August 1964 in Los Angeles. Which film?

    Five

    On 27 August 1938, at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA, Captain George E.T. Eyston set a new land speed record. What speed did he achieve?
    1. 199.96 mph
    2. 273.48 mph
    3. 345.49 mph

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • J’Accuse—Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown below.

    Captain Alfred Dreyfus. Image Wikipedia
    J’Accuse. Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 22 August 1953, the maximum-security penal colony on Devil’s Island, which had operated for 100 years, was permanently closed. The subject of the front page article from L’Aurore (13 January 1898) was imprisoned on Devil’s Island. Who was the subject of Émile Zola’s J’Accuse and in which country is Devil’s Island located?

    Answer: Captain Alfred Dreyfus and French Guiana

    The Dreyfus affair was a political scandal in France from 1894 to 1906, centred around the wrongful conviction of Captain Alfred Dreyfus for treason. Despite evidence of his innocence, Dreyfus was convicted and imprisoned, sparking a national debate between Dreyfusards, who supported him, and anti-Dreyfusards, who condemned him. The affair highlighted issues of injustice and antisemitism in France.

    Two

    Edvard Munch, 1893, The Scream, oil, tempera and pastel on cardboard, 91 x 73 cm, National Gallery of Norway.
    Image Wikipedia

    On this date in 2004, a painting was stolen from the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway. What painting?

    Answer: The Scream

    Edvard Munch’s 1893 painting The Scream depicts an agonised face and is considered an iconic representation of existential dread. Munch created multiple versions, including two paintings and two pastels, with one pastel version selling for a record price in 2012. The Scream has been stolen twice, in 1994 and 2004. In both cases, the perpetrators were eventually apprehended. The painting was recovered after a few months in 1994 and two years after the 2004 theft.

    Henry Kissinger, 1982.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Three

    On 22 August, a U.S. President named Henry A. Kissinger as Secretary of State. Which president?

    Answer: Richard Nixon

    Henry Kissinger, national security adviser and secretary of state (from 1973) under Nixon and Ford, significantly shaped US foreign policy from 1969-1976. He advanced détente with the Soviet Union, initiated SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks), opened relations with China, and played a crucial role in Vietnam War peace negotiations.

    The America, schooner yacht.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    In 1851, the yacht America (US) won what is considered the first America’s Cup. Around which island did the race take place?

    Answer: Isle of Wight

    The America’s Cup, originally the R.Y.S. £100 Cup, was donated to the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) in 1857 and renamed after the winning yacht, America. The NYYC held the trophy for 132 years until 1983. The class of yachts used in the competition has evolved over time, from large yachts to smaller, more affordable classes, and currently features high-tech foiling catamarans.

    Richard III, Battle of Bosworth Field.
    From A Chronicle of England, B.C. 55-A.D. 1485 by James E. Doyle, 1864.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Five

    A battle on 22 August 1485 was the last significant battle of England’s Wars of the Roses. What was the battle, and what king died during it?

    Answer: Battle of Bosworth Field and King Richard III

    The Battle of Bosworth, fought on 22 August 1485, was the decisive battle of the Wars of the Roses. Henry Tudor’s victory over Richard III marked the end of the Plantagenet dynasty and the beginning of the Tudor dynasty. The exact location of the battle is disputed, with memorials erected at different sites.

  • J’Accuse

    All of these questions are related to today, August 22nd.

    J’Accuse.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 22 August 1953, the maximum-security penal colony on Devil’s Island, which had operated for 100 years, was permanently closed. The subject of the front page article from L’Aurore (13 January 1898) was imprisoned on Devil’s Island. Who was the subject of Émile Zola’s J’Accuse and in which country is Devil’s Island located?

    Two

    On this date in 2004, a painting was stolen from the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway. What painting?

    Three

    On 22 August, a U.S. President named Henry A. Kissinger as Secretary of State. Which president?

    Four

    In 1851, the yacht America (US) won what is considered the first America’s Cup. Around which island did the race take place?

    Five

    A battle on 22 August 1485 was the last significant battle of England’s Wars of the Roses. What was the battle, and what king died during it?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Smorgasbord—Answers

    The Hoof and Horn flag described in Animal Farm has painted on it a ‘hoof and a horn in white’, which resembles the communist hammer and sickle
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Mr. Jones, of the Manor Farm, had locked the hen-houses for the night, but was too drunk to remember to shut the pop-holes.

    The above quote is the opening line of a classic satire published on 17 August 1945. What was the title of this novella?

    — Answer: Animal Farm

    Animal Farm is a satirical allegorical novella by George Orwell, published in 1945. It reflects events leading up to the Russian Revolution and the Stalinist era, criticising Stalin’s dictatorship. The book was initially rejected by several publishers but became a commercial success after World War II.

    Two

    The official name of an Asian capital city is

    krungthepmahanakhonamonrattanakosinmahintharaayuthayamahadilokphopnoppharatratchathaniburiromudomratchaniwetmahasathanamonpimanawatansathitsakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit

    What is this city commonly known as in English?

    — Answer: Bangkok

    The 168-letter official name for Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, translates as

    The city of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the Nine Gems, seat of the King, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Vishvakarman at Indra’s behest.

    Rufus the Harris Hawk.
    Image The Telegraph

    Three

    Rufus took over from Hamish in 2000 to perform a specific duty at The Championships on Wimbledon’s famous grass tennis courts. His social media manager reveals that Rufus has undergone an intensive training process for this role, which includes starting work each day at 5 am. What is Rufus’s two-word job title?

    — Answer: Bird scarer

    Rufus the Harris Hawk, Wimbledon’s official bird scarer, prevents pigeons from disrupting play. Trained to scare birds away, Rufus works from 5am before the gates open, ensuring a bird-free environment for the tournament. His handler, Imogen Davis, manages his training and monitors his weight to ensure optimal performance. Imogen also manages his social media where he has more than 11,000 followers on X (Twitter).

    Don Juan Pond, Wright Valley, Victoria Land, Antarctica.
    Image NASA/Wikipedia

    Four

    The Don Juan Pond, located in Wright Valley, Victoria Land, is one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth. It is situated on which continent?

    —Answer: Antarctica

    Don Juan Pond, located in Victoria Land, Antarctica, is the saltiest lake in the continent with a salinity level of 45.8%. Discovered in 1961, it remains liquid even at temperatures as low as −50 °C (−58 °F).

    School of trumpetfishes (Macroramphosus scolopax), Faial-Pico Channel, Azores Islands, Portugal
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    Is it true or false that there are more species of mammals than there are amphibians, birds, fish and reptiles combined?

    — Answer: False

    There are over 33,000 extant species of fish, surpassing the combined total of all amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Most fish belong to the class Actinopterygii, which represents about half of all living vertebrates, making fish the largest group of vertebrates by species count.

  • Smorgasbord

    The first question relates to today’s date, August 17th. The rest of the post, apart from being posted today, has no connection to this date.

    One

    Mr. Jones, of the Manor Farm, had locked the hen-houses for the night, but was too drunk to remember to shut the pop-holes.

    The above quote is the opening line of a classic satire published on 17 August 1945. What was the title of this novella?

    Two

    The official name of an Asian capital city is

    krungthepmahanakhonamonrattanakosinmahintharaayuthayamahadilokphopnoppharatratchathaniburiromudomratchaniwetmahasathanamonpimanawatansathitsakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit

    What is this city commonly known as in English?

    Three

    Rufus took over from Hamish in 2000 to perform a specific duty at The Championships on Wimbledon’s famous grass tennis courts. His social media manager reveals that Rufus has undergone an intensive training process for this role, which includes starting work each day at 5 am. What is Rufus’s two-word job title?

    Four

    The Don Juan Pond, located in Wright Valley, Victoria Land, is one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth. It is situated on which continent?

    Five

    Is it true or false that there are more species of mammals than there are amphibians, birds, fish and reptiles combined?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Bunkered—Answers

    Bunker on the Old Course, St Andrews.
    Image Lee Abbamonte

    One

    Golf courses traditionally include hazards like bunkers (sand traps). Is it true or false that the word ‘bunker’ originates from the Flemish dialect of Dutch?

    — Answer: False

    The word bunker originates from the Scots language.

    OED’s earliest evidence for bunker is from before 1758, in the writing of Allan Ramsay, poet.

    Bunker

    1 a large container or compartment for storing fuel: a coal bunker. 

    2 a reinforced underground shelter, typically for use in wartime. 

    3 a hollow filled with sand, used as an obstacle on a golf course.

    – ORIGIN mid 16th century (originally Scots, denoting a seat or bench): perhaps related to bunk1.

    — Oxford English Dictionary 

    Brooklyn Bridge.
    Chromolithograph of the “Great East River Suspension Bridge” by Currier and Ives, created in 1883. Image Wikipedia

    Two

    Is it true or false that vaults constructed within the ramps of New York’s Brooklyn Bridge were used as arsenals storing weapons for the National Guard?

    — Answer: False

    The New York City government rented out vaults under the Manhattan anchorage of the bridge starting in 1876 to fund maintenance. These vaults, used for wine storage due to their consistent temperature, were closed during WWI and Prohibition but reopened later. By the late 20th-century the spaces were being used as storage for maintenance equipment.

    This 3D topographical view of Antarctica gives an idea of its high elevations and mountains with ice that covers them. A topographical map shows the elevation and other features of a land surface in greater detail. Credit: NASA

    Three

    The South Pole is significantly colder than the North Pole during both summer and winter, as shown in a comparison of their average temperatures. Is the foregoing statement true or false?

    — Answer: True

    The South Pole is always colder

    North Pole

    32° F (0° C) summer

    −40° F (−40° C) winter

    South Pole

    −18° F (−28.2° C) summer

    −76° F (−60° C) winter

    Data from NASA

    The North Pole is located in the Arctic Ocean, which is mostly covered in sea ice due to its cold climate. This sea ice floats over water, affecting its thickness as the ocean warms the air and the water below the ice changes temperature. In contrast, Antarctica is a dry, high continent with extremely thick ice, up to 3 miles (5 kilometres), forming a plateau above sea level. The ice sits on tall mountains, and as altitude increases, the air becomes colder. The South Pole is significantly colder than the North Pole due to strong winds surrounding Antarctica, which prevent warmer air from mixing with the cold polar air. These winds are unimpeded by land, unlike around the Arctic, where land slows down the winds, allowing warmer air from the south to occasionally mix with the polar air, making the Arctic relatively warmer.

    Four

    Millvina Dean Memorial Stone, Southampton, UK.
    Image Wikipedia

    Is it true or false that the last survivor of the RMS Titanic died in 2009?

    — Answer: True

    Millvina Dean, the last living survivor of the Titanic, was born in 1912 and boarded the ship as a nine-week-old infant with her family. After the Titanic sank, her mother returned to England with Millvina and her brother, as their father perished. Millvina became involved in Titanic-related events in her later years, but declined to see the film Titanic and criticised the BBC for a Doctor Who episode featuring a similar ship.

    Five 

    The US State of New Hampshire had a law which required margarine to be dyed pink. Is this statement true or false?

    — Answer: True

    Margarine, created in 1869 as a cost-effective substitute for butter, encountered significant resistance from the American dairy industry. Although it was favoured by the lower classes, margarine was taxed and prohibited in various states, with critics arguing it endangered the American lifestyle. By 1902, 32 states imposed restrictions on margarine’s colour, with Vermont, New Hampshire, and South Dakota requiring pink dye. The Supreme Court eventually invalidated the ‘pink laws’ but maintained the ban on yellow margarine.

  • Bunkered

    We have five random true or false questions today.

    One

    Golf courses traditionally include hazards like bunkers (sand traps). Is it true or false that the word ‘bunker’ originates from the Flemish dialect of Dutch?

    Two

    Is it true or false that vaults constructed within the ramps of New York’s Brooklyn Bridge were used as arsenals storing weapons for the National Guard?

    Three

    The South Pole is significantly colder than the North Pole during both summer and winter, as shown in a comparison of their average temperatures. Is the foregoing statement true or false?

    Four

    Is it true or false that the last survivor of the RMS Titanic died in 2009?

    Five 

    The US State of New Hampshire had a law which required margarine to be dyed pink. Is this statement true or false?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.