Quizology.Online

Tag: television

  • Gallimaufry IX — Answers

    Here are today’s answers.

    No theme today, just five general knowledge questions.

    Statue of Helvetia on the Federal Palace of Switzerland, Bern.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    The image shown is that of ‘Statue of Helvetia on the Federal Palace of …’. What country finishes the previous statement, and in what city is the Federal Palace located?

    Answers: Switzerland; Bern.

    Helvetia, the national personification of Switzerland, is depicted with flowing clothing, with the Swiss flag, braided hair, and often with shield and a wreath. The name derives from the Helvetii, a Gaulish tribe.

    Two

    The …, or boreal forest, is the world’s largest land biome. In North America, it covers most of inland Canada, Alaska, and parts of the northern contiguous United States. In Eurasia, it covers most of Sweden, Finland, much of Russia from Karelia in the west to the Pacific Ocean (including much of Siberia), much of Norway and, some of the Scottish Highlands, some lowland/coastal areas of Iceland, and areas of northern Kazakhstan, northern Mongolia, and northern Japan (on the island of Hokkaido).

    The above quote from Wikipedia describes a biome whose name has been omitted. What is that missing name?

    Answer: Taiga.

    taiga /ˈtʌɪɡə /
    ▸ (the taiga) noun [mass noun] the swampy coniferous forest of high northern latitudes, especially that between the tundra and steppes of Siberia: the coniferous forest of the taiga.

    – ORIGIN late 19th century: from Russian taĭga, from Mongolian.
    — Oxford English Dictionary

    Three

    What word completes the title of this 1957 sci-fi novel: The Midwich …; and who wrote it?

    Answers: Cuckoos; John Wyndham.

    The Midwich Cuckoos, a 1957 sci-fi novel by John Wyndham, explores moral ambiguities in an English village where women become pregnant by aliens.

    Four

    What calendar was replaced in England by the Gregorian in 1752?

    Answer: Julian.

    The Julian calendar, proposed by Julius Caesar in 46 BC, is a solar calendar with a leap year every four years. It gained one day every 128 years compared to the solar year, leading to a drift against the solar year. The Gregorian calendar, introduced in 1582, corrected this by eliminating occasional leap days, reducing the average year length to 365.2425 days. Although introduced in 1582 it took a lot longer to be adopted by individual nations. As stated in the question England adopted it in 1752 but Greece and turkey did not adopt until the 1920s and Saudi Arabia’s adoption of it was not until 2016.

    Five

    Who played the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk television series which originally aired between 1978 and 1982?

    Answer: Lou Ferrigno.

    The Incredible Hulk is a CBS series starring Bill Bixby as Dr. David Banner and Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk. Banner, a scientist transformed by gamma radiation, travels the U.S. helping others while pursued by reporter Jack McGee. The series aired 80 episodes from 1978 to 1982, starting with a pilot on November 4, 1977. In 1988, New World Television acquired filming rights from MCA/Universal for TV movies to conclude The Incredible Hulk series, with NBC broadcasting. They produced three films: The Incredible Hulk Returns, The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, and The Death of the Incredible Hulk, directed by Nicholas J. Corea and Bill Bixby.

  • Gallimaufry IX

    No theme today, just five general knowledge questions.

    Statue of Helvetia on the Federal Palace of ….
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    The image shown is that of ‘Statue of Helvetia on the Federal Palace of …’. What country finishes the previous statement, and in what city is the Federal Palace located?

    Two

    The …, or boreal forest, is the world’s largest land biome. In North America, it covers most of inland Canada, Alaska, and parts of the northern contiguous United States. In Eurasia, it covers most of Sweden, Finland, much of Russia from Karelia in the west to the Pacific Ocean (including much of Siberia), much of Norway and, some of the Scottish Highlands, some lowland/coastal areas of Iceland, and areas of northern Kazakhstan, northern Mongolia, and northern Japan (on the island of Hokkaido).

    The above quote from Wikipedia describes a biome whose name has been omitted. What is that missing name?

    Three

    What word completes the title of this 1957 sci-fi novel: The Midwich …; and who wrote it?

    Four

    What calendar was replaced in England by the Gregorian in 1752?

    Five

    Who played the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk television series which originally aired between 1978 and 1982?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Initial Diagnosis — Answers

    Today’s answers are shown below.

    Space Shuttle.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Here are five sets of initials for you to flesh out.

    One

    In computing what does WYSIWYG stand for?

    Answer: What You See Is What You Get.

    WYSIWYG software allows content editing in a form resembling its final appearance, such as a printed document or web page.

    Two

    UNICEF was formed in 1946 what, at that time, did the letters in UNICEF stand for?

    Answer: United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.

    UNICEF, a United Nations agency, provides humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. Operating in 192 countries, its activities include immunisations, disease prevention, nutrition, sanitation, education, and emergency relief. UNICEF relies on voluntary contributions and is governed by a 36-member executive board. Since 1953, UNICEF has officially been the United Nations Children’s Fund.

    Three

    In the US military MASH was an abbreviation meaning what? 

    Answer: Mobile Army Surgical Hospital.

    Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals (MASH) were U.S. Army field hospitals operational from the Korean War to the Gulf War. They provided crucial medical support to large army units, with a low mortality rate due to their proximity to the front lines. A media franchise (books, film and television) which depicts fictional characters at a fictional Korean War field hospital, focussing on medical practice and the staff’s humorous antics.

    Four

    During the NASA Space Shuttle program each mission was referred to by an STS number. What words were represented by the letters STS?

    Answers: Space Transportation System.

    The Space Shuttle programme, operational from 1981 to 2011, was NASA’s fourth human spaceflight programme. It involved reusable orbiters launched with solid rocket boosters and an external fuel tank, carrying astronauts and payloads to low Earth orbit. The Shuttle was the first reusable crewed space vehicle to achieve orbit and landing.

    Five

    In Australian geography what is A.C.T.?

    Answer: Australian Capital Territory.

    The Australian Capital Territory (ACT), established in 1911, houses the nation’s capital, Canberra. While the ACT has its own government, the Federal Parliament can overrule its legislation.

  • Initial Diagnosis

    Space Shuttle.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Here are five sets of initials for you to flesh out.

    One

    In computing what does WYSIWYG stand for?

    Two

    UNICEF was formed in 1946 what, at that time, did the letters in UNICEF stand for?

    Three

    In the US military MASH was an abbreviation meaning what? 

    Four

    During the NASA Space Shuttle program each mission was referred to by an STS number. What words were represented by the letters STS?

    Five

    In Australian geography what is A.C.T.?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Water, water, every where, / Nor any drop to drink — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    2026 Chinese GP – Mercedes – Kimi Antonelli – Qualifying.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s first question concerns the date May 5th. Each subsequent question builds on the previous one.

    One

    In Shangdu on 5 May 1260 Kublai was unanimously elected khan. An English poet later wrote a poem featuring Kublai Khan in which he changed Shangdu’s name to what?

    Answer: Xanadu.

    Kublai Khan, a Mongolian general and statesman, was the grandson and greatest successor of Genghis Khan. As the fifth emperor of the Yuan (Mongol) dynasty, he reigned from 1260 to 1294. He succeeded his brother Möngke after the Toluid Civil War and expanded the empire, claiming orthodox succession from Chinese dynasties. In 1279, he completed the conquest of China initiated by his grandfather and became the first Yuan ruler to govern the entire country.

    Two

    Water, water, every where,
    And all the boards did shrink; 
    Water, water, every where,
    Nor any drop to drink.

    The poet who wrote the poem mentioned in question one wrote another which includes the lines quoted above. Who was the poet, and what poem does the quote come from? 

    Answer: Samuel Taylor Coleridge; The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

    The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1797–98 and published in 1798 in Lyrical Ballads, is a seven-part poem recounting a sailor’s tale. The mariner stops a wedding guest to share his story of killing an albatross, his crew’s death, and his redemption. The narrative uses techniques like personification and repetition, marking a shift to modern poetry and British Romantic literature. The mariner’s penance is to share his story.

    Three

    A song released by a British American rock band in November 1968 has a creature from the poem mentioned in question two as its title. In January 1969, this instrumental track provided the band with its only UK number one hit in their more than fifty years of performing. Name the song and the band? 

    Answers: Albatross; Fleetwood Mac.

    According to Peter Green, inspiration for Albatross was drawn from Santo & Johnny’s Sleep Walk and Eric Clapton’s The Last Meal. Green was reading The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and took the title from it. Fleetwood Mac recorded it over two days in October 1968, initially without plans for a single release. Albatross, which was by Fleetwood Mac’s original line-up, is featured on their “greatest hits” compilations. George Harrison noted in 1987 that Albatross served as a starting point for the Beatles on two of their tracks; it inspired the songs: Sun King and Don’t Let Me Down.

    Four

    A track by the above-mentioned band, which is from their Rumours album, is the only one written by all five band members at that time. It has been used on the BBC since 1978 as a theme tune for a sports programme. That sport is now covered in the UK by Channel 4, but they have kept the same theme. What is both the relevant track and sport?

    Answer: The Chain; Formula One.

    The Chain by Fleetwood Mac, from their 1977 album Rumours, is the only song credited to all five members. It was crafted from rejected materials by Buckingham, Nicks, and McVie, manually spliced at the Record Plant in Sausalito, California, with engineers Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut. A staple of the band’s live shows, The Chain opens The Dance(1997) and appears on greatest hits compilations. It’s their second most streamed Spotify track with over 1.5 billion streams. In the UK, its instrumental is used for BBC and Channel 4’s Formula One coverage.

    Five

    Following on from above a question about Formula One. In the 2026 F1 World Championship two races were cancelled during April because of the international situation. What circuits, and where are these circuits, were effected by these cancellations?

    Answers: The Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain; and the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    The 2026 Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prixes, part of the Formula One World Championship, were set for 12 and 19 April at the Bahrain International Circuit and Jeddah Corniche Circuit, respectively. Scheduled as the fourth and fifth rounds, both races were cancelled on 14 March due to the outbreak of the 2026 Iran war.

    Water, water, every where,  / Nor any drop to drink.

    The post title is from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner as referenced in question two. The full text can be found at the Poetry Foundation website The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

  • Water, water, every where, / Nor any drop to drink

    2026 Chinese GP – Mercedes – Kimi Antonelli – Qualifying.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s first question concerns the date May 5th. Each subsequent question builds on the previous one.

    One

    In Shangdu on 5 May 1260 Kublai was unanimously elected khan. An English poet later wrote a poem featuring Kublai Khan in which he changed Shangdu’s name to what?

    Two

    Water, water, every where,
    And all the boards did shrink; 
    Water, water, every where,
    Nor any drop to drink.

    The poet who wrote the poem mentioned in question one wrote another which includes the lines quoted above. Who was the poet, and what poem does the quote come from? 

    Three

    A song released by a British American rock band in November 1968 has a creature from the poem mentioned in question two as its title. In January 1969, this instrumental track provided the band with its only UK number one hit in their more than fifty years of performing. Name the song and the band? 

    Four

    A track by the above-mentioned band, which is from their Rumours album, is the only one written by all five band members at that time. It has been used on the BBC since 1978 as a theme tune for a sports programme. That sport is now covered in the UK by Channel 4, but they have kept the same theme. What is both the relevant track and sport?

    Five

    Following on from above a question about Formula One. In the 2026 F1 World Championship two races were cancelled during April because of the international situation. What circuits, and where are these circuits, were effected by these cancellations?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Who, What, When, Where, Why and How VII — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    Six questions on random topics, each beginning with one of these words: Who, What, When (When is the first word of a quote), Where, Why and How.

    Court of the Quirinal Palace in Rome.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Who

    Who currently (April 2026) is the principal occupant of the Quirinal Palace (pictured), and what is that person’s office?

    Answer: Sergio Mattarella, the President of the Italian Republic.

    The Quirinal Palace, the main official residence of the President of the Italian Republic, is located on the Quirinal Hill in Rome. It has served as a residence for popes, kings and presidents. Mattarella was elected on 31 January 2015, and re-elected on 29 January 2022.

    What

    What song gave Tom Jones his first UK number one single and his debut US hit, where it peaked at number ten.

    Answer: It’s Not Unusual.

    Released in 1965, It’s Not Unusual became a chart-topper in the UK, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart. It also marked his first US hit, peaking at number ten; it further climbed to number three on Billboard’s easy listening chart. Initially rejected by the BBC in the UK due to Jones’ image, the song gained popularity on pirate radio. In the US, Jones performed it three times on The Ed Sullivan Show.

    When

    When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen.

    The above sentence opens what English classic children’s story and who wrote it?

    Answers: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

    The Secret Garden, a classic English children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, was first published in 1911. It has been adapted for stage and film.

    Where

    Where are lemurs endemic?

    Answer: Madagascar.

    Lemurs are a diverse group of primates endemic to Madagascar, with around 100 extant species. They are social, nocturnal, and primarily arboreal, exhibiting a range of sizes and diets. Despite their importance for research and conservation efforts, many lemur species are endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.

    Why

    Why was Darwin, in Australia’s Northern Territory, extensively rebuilt twice during the twentieth century? (NB Two answers as it was rebuilt on two separate occasions.)

    Answers: (First rebuild) World War II Japanese air raids; (Second rebuild) Cyclone Tracy.

    On 19 February 1942, 188 Japanese warplanes attacked Darwin, killing at least 243 people and causing significant damage. This was the first of many air raids on Darwin and was the most serious attack on Australia during wartime.
    Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin on 25 December 1974, killing 71 people and destroying over 70% of the city. The Darwin Reconstruction Commission oversaw the city’s rebuilding with modern materials and techniques.

    How

    How old, according to television’s Smallville, was Lex Luther when he became bald?

    Answer: Nine.

    I’ve been bald since I was nine. I’m used to people judging me before they get to know me.
    — Lex Luther, Pilot episode Smallville

    Lex Luthor, introduced in the pilot as the son of billionaire Lionel Luthor, is sent to Smallville by his father to manage the local fertiliser plant. As a child, he’s caught in the first meteor shower, which leaves him completely bald but also grants him perfect health.

  • Who, What, When, Where, Why and How VII

    Six questions on random topics, each beginning with one of these words: Who, What, When (When is the first word of a quote), Where, Why and How.

    Court of the Quirinal Palace.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Who

    Who currently (April 2026) is the principal occupant of the Quirinal Palace (pictured), and what is that person’s office?

    What

    What song gave Tom Jones his first UK number one single and his debut US hit, where it peaked at number ten.

    When

    When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen.

    The above sentence opens what English classic children’s story and who wrote it?

    Where

    Where are lemurs endemic?

    Why

    Why was Darwin, in Australia’s Northern Territory, extensively rebuilt twice during the twentieth century? (NB Two answers as it was rebuilt on two separate occasions.)

    How

    How old, according to television’s Smallville, was Lex Luther when he became bald?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • The Man Who Never Was — Answers

    Here’s the answers to my earlier questions.

    Today’s questions are related to the date, April 29th..

    See question two. Prince William and his bride, Catherine, leaving Westminster Abbey after their wedding, April 29, 2011.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    In a 1943 British deception plan, a corpse was given the identity of ‘Major William Martin’. The idea for the above operation, which was partly inspired by a plot device in a 1939 novel by Basil Thomson, The …’s Hat Mystery, had first been suggested in a memo.

    1. What was the codename of this operation?
    2. What word for a hat maker is missing from the book’s title? 
    3. A future spy novelist—later the creator of a fictional spy which spawned a massive media franchise—worked in British Naval Intelligence during the war where he circulated the memo outlining the above deception tactics. Who was he?

    Answers

    1. Operation Mincemeat
    2. Milliner
    3. Ian Fleming

    The body was released from the submarine HMS Seraph off Spain, where authorities were known to share intelligence with Germany. The Milliner’s Hat Mystery (a milliner is someone who makes or sells hats) is by Basil Thomson who had himself worked in intelligence and blurred the line between fiction and real espionage long before the war. Ian Fleming’s memo was nicknamed the ’Trout Memo’, comparing deception to fly-fishing—luring the enemy with carefully chosen bait. He went on to create James Bond.

    Two

    In 2011, Prince William married his longtime girlfriend, Catherine, whom he had met at university. 

    1. What is Catherine’s maiden name?
    2. At what university did they meet?
    3. In what church did they marry?

    Answers

    1. Middleton
    2. University of St. Andrews
    3. Westminster Abbey

    Prince William, heir to the British throne, married Catherine Middleton in 2011. They have three children: George, Charlotte, and Louis.

    Three

    In 2004, after 107 years of vehicle production, the final … was built in Lansing, Michigan. What make of vehicle is missing from the previous sentence?

    Answer: Oldsmobile.

    Oldsmobile, an American automobile brand, was established by Ransom Eli Olds in 1897 as Olds Motor Vehicle Company and produced over 35 million vehicles. Despite peaking sales in the 1980s, the brand faced declining sales in the 1990s and was discontinued in 2004. 

    Four

    On this day in 2018, a U.S. TV series became the longest-running scripted prime-time show, overtaking a Western that had aired from 1955 to 1975. Name both these shows.

    Answer: The Simpsons; Gunsmoke.

    The record-breaking episode was the show’s 636th, surpassing Gunsmoke’s long-standing total.

    Five

    Also on this day, in 1770, which British explorer made his first recorded landing on the east coast of Australia, at Botany Bay?

    Answer: James Cook.

    Cook’s voyage aboard the HMS Endeavour was originally intended to observe the transit of Venus before turning to exploration.

    The Man Who Never Was

    The Man Who Never Was (1956) is a British espionage thriller directed by Ronald Neame, starring Clifton Webb and Gloria Grahame. Based on Lieutenant Commander Ewen Montagu’s book, it depicts Operation Mincemeat, a 1943 British intelligence operation to mislead the Axis about the Allied invasion of Sicily. It was featured at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. Nigel Balchin’s screenplay received the BAFTA award for that year.

  • The Man Who Never Was

    Today’s questions are related to the date, April 29th..

    See question two. Prince William and his bride after their wedding, April 29, 2011.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    In a 1943 British deception plan, a corpse was given the identity of ‘Major William Martin’. The idea for the above operation, which was partly inspired by a plot device in a 1939 novel by Basil Thomson, The …’s Hat Mystery, had first been suggested in a memo.

    1. What was the codename of this operation?
    2. What word for a hat maker is missing from the book’s title? 
    3. A future spy novelist—later the creator of a fictional spy which spawned a massive media franchise—worked in British Naval Intelligence during the war where he circulated the memo outlining the above deception tactics. Who was he?

    Two

    In 2011, Prince William married his longtime girlfriend, Catherine, whom he had met at university. 

    1. What is Catherine’s maiden name?
    2. At what university did they meet?
    3. In what church did they marry?

    Three

    In 2004, after 107 years of vehicle production, the final … was built in Lansing, Michigan. What make of vehicle is missing from the previous sentence?

    Four

    On this day in 2018, a U.S. TV series became the longest-running scripted prime-time show, overtaking a Western that had aired from 1955 to 1975. Name both these shows.

    Answer: The Simpsons; Gunsmoke.

    The record-breaking episode was the show’s 636th, surpassing Gunsmoke’s long-standing total.

    Five

    Also on this day, in 1770, which British explorer made his first recorded landing on the east coast of Australia, at Botany Bay?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.