technology – Quizology Online

First Things First—Answers

Here are the answers to today’s questions.

These questions all relate to today, February 24th.

Photograph of President Johnson,
by Mathew Brady, circa 1870.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

Born in North Carolina in 1808, Andrew Johnson became the seventeenth president of the United States. Already notable as the first president to take office after an assassination and the first to be impeached, he achieved another unique milestone in 1875 — one no other president has matched. What was it?

Answer: He was elected to the US Senate.

Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States, assumed office after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. His lenient Reconstruction policies led to his impeachment by the Radical Republicans in Congress, though he was acquitted. A self-taught man who rose from poverty, Johnson was a skilled orator and a staunch advocate for states’ rights and the Constitution. Following his presidency, he was elected in 1875 to the Senate, representing Tennessee, although he served only a short time before his death later that year. To date, he is the only president to have entered the Senate after his presidential term.

Two

On this day, two earthquakes struck with a maximum Mercalli intensities of VIII (Severe) and IX (Violent). The 1981 Gulf of Corinth earthquake affected the central region of a country while the 2004 Al Hoceima earthquake impacted the northern areas of another. Which two countries were affected?

Answers: Greece and Morocco.

In early 1981, the eastern part of the Gulf of Corinth in Greece experienced three earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 6 Ms over 11 days and maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe), causing widespread damage in the Corinth–Athens area. Nearly 8,000 houses were destroyed, and 20–22 people lost their lives.
On 24 February 2004, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Morocco’s Al Hoceïma Province at 03:27 CET, with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). The epicentre was located about 13 km south-southwest of Al Hoceima. The earthquake resulted in 631 deaths, 926 injuries, and the destruction of over 2,500 homes, primarily in villages within the Rif Mountains.

Three

In men’s singles tennis, what Australian defeated Pete Sampras to win the 2001 U.S. Open, his first Grand Slam title, and ten months later overcame David Nalbandian on the All-England Club’s grass courts to win the 2002 Wimbledon tournament?

Answer: Lleyton Hewitt.

Lleyton Hewitt, born in 1981 in Adelaide, Australia, is a retired professional tennis player known for his court speed and determination. He won the U.S. Open in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2002, becoming the youngest man to finish a year at number one in the ATP rankings. Despite injuries, he returned to compete in doubles events after retiring in 2016.

Four

Born in 1955, this future billionaire acquired a controlling interest in Pixar in 1986. He played a key role in transforming it into a major animation studio, ultimately leading to the creation of the first fully computer-animated feature film Toy Story in 1995. Later, he sold the company to Disney in 2006. Who is this future billionaire?

Answer: Steve Jobs.

Steve Jobs, a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer era, co-founded Apple Inc. in 1976 and oversaw the launch of revolutionary products like the iPod and iPhone. Despite battling pancreatic cancer, he remained a visionary leader until his death in 2011.

Five

In which modern country was Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Spain, and Archduke of Austria, born in 1500?

Answer: Belgium

Born in Prinsenhof, Ghent, Flanders (now Belgium), Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Spain, and Archduke of Austria, inherited a vast empire spanning Europe and the Americas at a young age. Throughout his reign, he faced significant challenges, including defending against Protestantism, Ottoman and French pressure, and papal hostility. Despite his efforts, he eventually conceded the Peace of Augsburg and abdicated in favour of his son and brother.

First Things First

These questions all relate to today, February 24th.

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

In which modern country was Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Spain, and Archduke of Austria, born in 1500?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

The Truth Will Out II—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

Today’s questions aren’t about dates; they simply ask whether something is true or false.

Orville Wright beginning the first successful controlled flight in history, at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, December 17, 1903.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

One

Is it true or false that the first controlled and sustained flight of an engine-powered, heavier-than-air aircraft was made by Wilbur Wright?

Answer: False.

The first flight was made by Orville Wright at 10:35 am on 17 December 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, United States. The flight was captured in the above photograph. The duration of the flight was 120 feet (37 m) in 12 seconds at a speed of 6.8 mph (10.9 km/h). By noon that day, they had made four flights, and on the last, Wilbur flew 852 feet.

Two

Is it true or false that a gnu is another name for a water buffalo?

Answer: False.

A gnu is another name for a wildebeest. Wildebeest are antelopes native to Eastern and Southern Africa. There are two species: the black wildebeest and the blue wildebeest, which differ in colour and horn orientation. Wildebeest are abundant in East Africa, often migrating in herds with zebras for protection against predators.

Three

Is it true or false that Marc Antony, Roman general and politician, lived in the first century CE?

Answer: False.

Born in 83 BCE, Marc Antony died at the age of 53 in August 30 BCE. Mark Antony, a Roman general and triumvir, was defeated by Octavian in the final civil war that ended the Roman Republic. He allied with Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, and their relationship, along with his perceived favour towards Greek culture, contributed to his downfall. Despite his abilities as a leader and general ultimately lost the battle of Actium, leading to his and Cleopatra’s suicides.

Four

Is it true or false that Eswatini is a landlocked country in Southern Africa?

Answer: True.

Eswatini, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, shares borders with South Africa and Mozambique. Formerly known as Swaziland, it’s a developing nation with a lower-middle income economy. Agriculture and manufacturing are its primary industries. Eswatini is an absolute monarchy ruled by King Mswati III since 1986 and faces significant health challenges, including a high HIV/AIDS prevalence.

Five

Is it true or false that nephology, a term from the late 19th century, relates to the study of the ground in relation to gold prospecting?

Answer: False.

Nephology, a rare term from the late 19th century derived from the Greek word ‘nephos’ meaning ‘cloud’ and the suffix ‘-logy’, refers to the study or contemplation of clouds. A nephoscope, an instrument from the 19th century, was used to measure cloud altitude, direction, and velocity through transit-time measurement, distinguishing it from a nephometer, which measures cloudiness.

The Truth Will Out II

Today’s questions aren’t about dates; they simply ask whether something is true or false.

The beginning the first successful controlled flight in history, at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, December 17, 1903.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

One

Is it true or false that the first controlled and sustained flight of an engine-powered, heavier-than-air aircraft was made by Wilbur Wright?

Two

Is it true or false that a gnu is another name for a water buffalo?

Three

Is it true or false that Marc Antony, Roman general and politician, lived in the first century CE?

Four

Is it true or false that Eswatini is a landlocked country in Southern Africa?

Five

Is it true or false that nephology, a term from the late 19th century, relates to the study of the ground in relation to gold prospecting?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

When—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions i posted earlier.

These questions all relate to today’s date, February 5th. Each question has a year or decade as the first part of the answer, followed by a supplementary question.

Cartoon depicting Leopold II and other imperial powers at the Berlin Conference of 1884.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

In what decade did a European monarch establish the Congo Free State in West Africa? Who was the monarch, and what was the European country?

Answer: 1880s; Leopold II and Belgium

Belgian King Leopold II established the Congo Free State in 1885, seizing the land as his personal possession. His brutal reign, characterised by forced labour and widespread atrocities, led to international condemnation and the eventual transfer of control to Belgium in 1908.

Two

On this day in what year did Apollo 14 land on the Moon, and name any one of the three astronauts who flew on that mission or all three if you can?

Answer: 1971; Alan B. Shepard Jr., Stuart A. Roosa or Edgar D. Mitchell

Apollo 14, the third lunar landing, successfully landed in the Fra Mauro formation after overcoming malfunctions. Shepard and Mitchell collected Moon rocks and deployed experiments, while Roosa orbited the Moon.

Three

On this day, the New Hermitage Museum opened in Russia. In what decade did it open, and what—at that time—was the name of the city it is located in?

Answer: 1850s; Saint Petersburg

The New Hermitage Museum, part of the larger Hermitage Museum complex in St. Petersburg, was reconstructed between 1840 and 1852 and opened to the public in 1852. The museum is housed within five interconnected buildings, including the Winter Palace and the Small, Old and New Hermitages. The city was founded by Peter the Great in 1703 and named St. Petersburg, which it stayed until 1914 when it became Petrograd to reflect Russian patriotism during World War I by avoiding the German-sounding ‘Petersburg’. In 1924, the name changed to Leningrad in honour of Vladimir Lenin after his death, which it was until 1991 when the city’s population voted to return to the original name.

Four

United Artists, the American film production company, was founded on this day in what decade? Secondly, name any two of the four founders?

Answer: 1910s; Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D. W. Griffith.

United Artists, founded in 1919, was established to allow actors more control over their own affairs. It was acquired by MGM in 1981 and later revived as United Artists Releasing in 2019. However, Amazon, MGM’s parent company, folded UAR into MGM in 2023. On 26 July 2024, Amazon MGM Studios announced the company’s revival.

Five

The creation of the first synthetic plastic was announced on this date. In what decade was this announcement made, and what was the name of this synthetic plastic?

Answer: 1900s; Bakelite

Leo Hendrik Baekeland, a Belgian chemist, invented Velox photographic paper and Bakelite, a versatile plastic, earning him the title ‘The Father of the Plastics Industry’. Bakelite, developed in 1907, became a commercial success due to its mouldability, heat resistance, and electrical nonconductivity. Its creation revolutionised the chemical industry and inspired the development of other synthetic plastics.

When

These questions all relate to today’s date, February 5th. Each question has a year or decade as the first part of the answer, followed by a supplementary question.

Contemporary cartoon.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

In what decade did a European monarch establish the Congo Free State in West Africa? Who was the monarch, and what was the European country?

Two

On this day in what year did Apollo 14 land on the Moon, and name any one of the three astronauts who flew on that mission or all three if you can?

Three

On this day, the New Hermitage Museum opened in Russia. In what decade did it open, and what—at that time—was the name of the city it is located in?

Four

United Artists, the American film production company, was founded on this day in what decade? Secondly, name any two of the four founders?

Five

The creation of the first synthetic plastic was announced on this date. In what decade was this announcement made, and what was the name of this synthetic plastic?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Here and There—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier posted questions.

All of today’s questions relate to February 4th, and each of them has at least one place in the answer, although there may be other requirements to the answer.

Flag of Sri Lanka.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

The flag shown above represents a modern country which gained independence from Great Britain on this date in 1948. What was the country’s name at independence, and to what was that name changed in 1972?

Answer: Ceylon; Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island country in South Asia. It gained independence from British rule in 1948 and became a republic in 1972. Despite a prolonged civil war, Sri Lanka has emerged as a developing country with a strategically important location in the Indian Ocean.

Two

Roman emperor Septimius Severus died at Eboracum on this date in 211 CE. What modern city was Roman Eboracum, and in what country is it located?

Answer: York, England, United Kingdom

Septimius Severus led a military campaign in Caledonia, facing hardships but achieving significant gains before his death in 211. His death led to the abandonment of the campaign and the withdrawal of Roman forces from Caledonia.

Three

The Yalta Conference opened on this day in 1945 in the final stages of Second World War and was the second meeting of the ‘Big Three’ allied leaders. On what peninsula is Yalta located and who were the three allied leaders?

Answer: Crimean Peninsula; Franklin. D Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin.

Yalta, a resort city on Crimea’s south coast, is today internationally recognised as part of Ukraine but controlled by Russia. It is known for its historic significance, including the 1945 Yalta Conference held in February 1945, which was a meeting of the US, UK, and Soviet Union leaders to discuss the postwar reorganisation of Germany and Europe. The conference aimed to establish collective security and self-determination for liberated European nations.

Four

In what year was Facebook founded, and which university campus did it originally launch from?

Answer: 2004, Harvard University.

Facebook was founded on this day in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and a small group of fellow students while they were attending Harvard University. It originally began as a social networking site exclusively for Harvard students before quickly expanding to other universities and eventually becoming a global platform with billions of users worldwide.

Five

Charles Lindbergh was born on this day in 1902. He was an American aviator who made the first non-stop solo transatlantic flight in his aircraft, Spirit of St. Louis. In what decade did he make this flight, and where were his departure and destination locations?

Answer: 1920s; Roosevelt Field, Long Island, New York, United States to Le Bourget Aerodrome, Paris, France.

Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo transatlantic flight, departing from Roosevelt Field on Long Island and landing at Le Bourget Aerodrome in Paris. The flight, lasting over 33 hours, involved navigating through fog, icing, and fatigue, with Lindbergh relying on dead reckoning for navigation. Upon landing, he was greeted by a massive crowd, who damaged the Spirit of St. Louis in their excitement.

Here and There

All of today’s questions relate to February 4th, and each of them has at least one place in the answer, although there may be other requirements to the answer.

One

Two

Roman emperor Septimius Severus died at Eboracum on this date in 211 CE. What modern city was Roman Eboracum, and in what country is it located?

Three

Four

In what year was Facebook founded, and which university campus did it originally launch from?

Five

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Then Peace will Guide the Planets—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

These questions all relate to today’s date, January 23rd.

One

Some astrologers believed that a 1997 planetary alignment with the Sun and Moon, which had not occurred since 1475, indicated the beginning of a new age. What age?

Answer: Age of Aquarius

When the moon is in the Seventh House

And Jupiter aligns with Mars

Then peace will guide the planets

And love will steer the stars

— Lyricfind

Two

In 1229, Pope Gregory IX first mentioned the town of Aboa in his bull; Aboa is the Latin name of Turku. This date is increasingly considered the founding of Turku. In what modern country is Turku?

Answer: Finland

Turku, Finland’s oldest city, is the regional capital of Southwest Finland. With a population of approximately 207,000, it is the country’s third-most populous urban area. Turku, a bilingual municipality, is a significant business and cultural centre, known for its rich history, vibrant food scene, and as a major port city.

Three

In 1957, American inventor Walter Frederick Morrison sold the rights to his disc to the Wham-O toy company. What did they later rename it?

Answer: Frisbee

A frisbee, also known as a flying disc, is a gliding toy used for recreational and competitive throwing and catching. It is typically made of plastic and has a pronounced lip, allowing it to fly with reduced drag and increased lift.

Four

In 1998, which corporation announced the creation of Mozilla, a free software community?

Answer: Netscape Communications Corporation

Netscape announced its Communicator browser software would be free and open-source in 1998, leading to the creation of the Mozilla project. Initially a technology provider, Mozilla later focused on developing independent applications like Firefox and Thunderbird, and expanded into mobile platforms and other projects.

Five

In 1977, the television miniseries Roots debuted in the United States. The series was an adaptation of whose best-selling novel, and what was that novel’s full title?

Answer: Alex Haley

Roots is a 1977 American television miniseries based on Alex Haley’s novel, Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The series, which aired on ABC, received critical acclaim and numerous awards, including nine Primetime Emmy Awards. It was followed by a sequel, Roots: The Next Generations, and a remake commissioned by the History Channel in 2016.

Then Peace will Guide the Planets

These questions all relate to today’s date, January 23rd.

One

Some astrologers believed that a 1997 planetary alignment with the Sun and Moon, which had not occurred since 1475, indicated the beginning of a new age. What age?

Two

Three

In 1957, American inventor Walter Frederick Morrison sold the rights to his disc to the Wham-O toy company. What did they later rename it?

Four

In 1998, which corporation announced the creation of Mozilla, a free software community?

Five

In 1977, the television miniseries Roots debuted in the United States. The series was an adaptation of whose best-selling novel, and what was that novel’s full title?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers tomorrow.