Tag: UK

  • One to Ten equals 55, Part II—Answers

    Second of two parts. Questions one to five were posted in Part I yesterday.

    Compass Rose, see question eight.
    Image Clipartbest.com

    Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.

    Continuing from yesterday with questions six to ten.

    Six

    For SIX points, name the members of the comedy troupe, Monty Python.

    Answer: Graham Chapman—John Cleese—Terry Gilliam—Eric Idle—Terry Jones—Michael Palin


    Seven

    For SEVEN points, list the Harry Potter novels. No need to put Harry Potter and…

    Answer: Philosopher’s Stone—Chamber of Secrets—Prisoner of Azkaban—Goblet of Fire,—Order of the Phoenix—Half-Blood Prince—Deathly Hallows


    Eight

    For EIGHT points, starting from 0 degrees and moving clockwise, list the compass points formed by dividing a compass rose into eight segments. (in clockwise order)

    Answer: North—Northeast—East—Southeast—South—Southwest—West—Northwest.


    Nine

    For NINE points. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, a group of nine, known as the Company of the Ring or the Fellowship of the Ring, embarked on a mission to destroy the ring. Who were they?

    Answer: Gandalf—Legolas—Gimli—Aragorn—Boromir—Frodo Baggins—Samwise Gamgee—Merry Brandybuck—Pippin Took.


    Ten

    For TEN points, list the world’s ten most populous cities as listed by the UN 2025 Population Estimates.

    Answer: Jakarta, Indonesia—Dhaka, Bangladesh—Tokyo, Japan—Delhi, India—Shanghai, China—Guangzhou, China—Cairo, Egypt — Manila, Philippines — Kolkata, India—Seoul, South Korea


  • One to Ten equals 55, Part II

    Second of two parts. Questions one to five were posted in Part I yesterday.

    Compass Rose.
    Image Clipartbest.com

    Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.

    Continuing from yesterday with questions six to ten.

    Six

    For SIX points, name the members of the comedy troupe, Monty Python.


    Seven

    For SEVEN points, list the Harry Potter novels. No need to put Harry Potter and…


    Eight

    For EIGHT points, starting from 0 degrees and moving clockwise, list the compass points formed by dividing a compass rose into eight segments. (in clockwise order)


    Nine

    For NINE points. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, a group of nine, known as the Company of the Ring or the Fellowship of the Ring, embarked on a mission to destroy the ring. Who were they?


    Ten

    For TEN points, list the world’s ten most populous cities as listed by the UN 2025 Population Estimates.

    Good luck! As usual I’ll post the answers later.


  • One to Ten equals 55, Part I—Answers

    Noah’s Ark, question two.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.

    Posted in two parts with the second part following tomorrow.

    One

    For ONE point, in what country was the composer Franz Liszt born

    Answer: Hungary


    Two

    For TWO points. According to the Bible story, Noah released two birds from the ark to determine whether the flood had abated; what birds?

    Answer: Raven—Dove


    Three

    For THREE points. In Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Three Musketeers, the title characters meet and befriend d’Artagnan; what are their names?

    Answer: Athos—Porthos—Aramis


    Four

    For FOUR points, list the patron saints of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.

    Answer: Andrew—George—David—Patrick


    Five

    For FIVE points, list the five boroughs of New York City.

    Answer: The Bronx—Brooklyn—Manhattan—Queens—Staten Island


    Part II follows tomorrow

  • One to Ten equals 55, Part I

    Noah’s Ark, question two.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.

    Posted in two parts with the second part following tomorrow.

    One

    For ONE point, in what country was the composer Franz Liszt born


    Two

    For TWO points. According to the Bible story, Noah released two birds from the ark to determine whether the flood had abated; what birds?


    Three

    For THREE points. In Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Three Musketeers, the title characters meet and befriend d’Artagnan; what are their names?


    Four

    For FOUR points, list the patron saints of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.


    Five

    For FIVE points, list the five boroughs of New York City.

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later and part II follows tomorrow.


  • “Only one man in a thousand is a leader of men — the other 999 follow women.” | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.

    George III of Great Britain.
    Image Google Art Project/Wikipedia
    1. The American colonies gained independence during the reign of which British king?
      • George III—George III’s reign (1760–1820) saw the British Empire expand during the Seven Years’ War but shrink with the loss of the American colonies. The Napoleonic Wars solidified Britain’s position as a European power.
        Charles De Gaulle, 1942.
        Image Wikipedia
    2. Who was the Chairman of the French National Committee from June 1940 until June 1944 during World War II?
      • Charles De Gaulle—Charles de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II. He later founded the Fifth Republic, served as its first President, and pursued a policy of “national independence” that included withdrawing from NATO and developing an independent nuclear force. De Gaulle also advocated for a Europe of sovereign nations and opposed US intervention in Vietnam.
        Ptolemaic Kingdom in the 3rd–2nd centuries BCE.
        Image Wikipedia
    3. The Ptolemaic dynasty ruled Ancient Egypt from 305 BC until 30 BC. Where served as the Ptolemy’s capital city?
      • Alexandria—Alexandria had been founded by Alexander the Great. After Alexander’s death, Ptolemy Lagides took control of Egypt, executed Cleomenes, and declared himself Pharaoh in 305 BC, moving the capital to Alexandria.
        Leif Erikson, modern statue, Duluth.
        Image Wikipedia
    4. A Norse chieftain is thought to have been the first European to set foot on continental America, who is he?
      • Leif Erikson—Leif Erikson, a Norse explorer, is believed to have been the first European to reach continental America, establishing a settlement in Vinland (possibly Newfoundland, Canada). He later became chief of the Greenland settlement after his father’s death.
    5. Arrange these three assassins in chronological order based on the date of their infamous assassinations (earliest first).
      • John Bellingham (1812), Charles Julius Guiteau (1881) and Nathuram Vinayak Godse (1948)—
        • Bellingham assassinated Spencer Perceval, a British statesman and barrister who served as Prime Minister from 1809 until his assassination in 1812. He is the only British prime minister to have been assassinated.
        • Guiteau assassinated James Garfield, the 20th US president, who served from March to his death in September 1881. Garfield had a diverse background, having served as a preacher, lawyer, Civil War general, and nine terms in the House of Representatives.
        • Godse assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, an Indian lawyer and anti-colonial nationalist, in 1948. Gandhi led India’s independence movement through nonviolent resistance and championed civil rights, religious pluralism, and self-sufficiency, inspiring global movements. Godse, a Hindu nationalist, opposed Gandhi’s support for Muslims and shot him.

  • “Only one man in a thousand is a leader of men — the other 999 follow women.”

    Groucho Marx.
    Publicity portrait, 1947.
    Image Wikipedia

    Today’s post title, a quote by Groucho Marx, is only slightly relevant to these questions about leaders and rulers.

    1. The American colonies gained independence during the reign of which British king?
      • George I
      • George II
      • George III
    2. Who was the Chairman of the French National Committee from June 1940 until June 1944 during World War II?
      • Charles De Gaulle
      • Félix Gouin
      • Philippe Pétain
    3. The Ptolemaic dynasty ruled Ancient Egypt from 305 BC until 30 BC. Where served as the Ptolemy’s capital city?
      • Alexandria
      • Memphis
      • Thebes
    4. A Norse chieftain is thought to have been the first European to set foot on continental America, who is he?
      • Leif Erikson
      • Erik Thorvaldsson
      • Thorstein Eiriksson
    5. Arrange these three assassins in chronological order based on the date of their infamous assassinations (earliest first).
      • Charles Julius Guiteau
      • John Bellingham
      • Nathuram Godse

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • From Paris to Kashyyyk | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.

    First distribution of the Legion of Honor crosses at the church of Les Invalides on July 14, 1804.
    Jean-Baptiste Debret, Ca. 1812
    Image Wikipedia
    1. The Légion d’honneur (Legion of Honour), France’s highest order of merit, was established on May 19. Who was responsible for its establishment?
      • Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802—The National Order of the Legion of Honour, established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, is France’s highest national order of merit, applicable to both military and civil achievements. It is open to all citizens and foreigners, regardless of birth, religion, or rank, and has been maintained by all French governments with minor changes. The order consists of five classes and is led by the President of France as Grand Master. Its insignia includes the head of the Republic and the motto Honour and Country.
        Sam Smith, 2015.
        Image Wikipedia
    2. Born on 19 May 1992, the singer-songwriter of the theme for the 2015 James Bond film Spectre is…
      • Sam Smith—Samuel Smith, an English singer and songwriter, rose to prominence in 2012 with a feature on Disclosure’s Latch. Smith’s song Writing’s on the Wall became the theme for the 2015 James Bond film Spectre, earning Smith a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
        Map of North America.
        Guillaume Sanson, Rome, 1687.
        Image Wikipedia
    3. On 19 May 1845, British explorer John Franklin set out in command of two ships, the Erebus and Terror, on an ill-fated expedition to find what?
      • Northwest Passage—The Northwest Passage (NWP) is a sea lane connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic Ocean. It passes near the northern coast of North America, traversing waterways within the Arctic Archipelago of Canada. Franklin’s search for the Northwest Passage began on May 19, 1845, with two ships, the Erebus and the Terror, carrying 128 men. Last seen in July 1845, their fate remained unknown until 1859 when a search found skeletons and a written account on King William Island. The ships wintered at Beechey Island in 1845-46 and became trapped in ice in Victoria Strait in September 1846. By April 1848, Franklin and 23 others had died, and the remaining 105 survivors deserted the ships, resorting to cannibalism. Postmortems suggested botulism, scurvy and lead poisoning contributed to their decline. In 2014, the Erebus was discovered off King William Island, and in 2016, the Terror was found in Terror Bay, well-preserved and suggesting the crew had prepared for winter before leaving.
        St George’s Chapel, Windsor. St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
        The Nave is dominated by this Great West Window, often claimed to be the third largest in the UK. The chapel dates from 1475 and is built in the richest Perpendicular Gothic style. The whole building is Cathedral size, at over 315ft (96m) in length.
        Image Jack Pease/Wikipedia
    4. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding took place on May 19, 2018, in the UK. Where did they get married?
      • St George’s Chapel—Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married on 19 May 2018 in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The ceremony, officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, included elements of African-American culture.
        Peter Mayhew, 2015.
        Image Wikipedia
    5. Born on 19 May 1944, this actor was chosen by George Lucas to play a being from the planet Kashyyyk. Who is he?
      • Peter Mayhew—Peter Mayhew, a British-American actor, is best known for portraying Chewbacca in the Star Wars film series from 1977 to 2015. Born on 19 May 1944 in Barnes, Surrey, Mayhew was diagnosed with gigantism at the age of eight and later developed Marfan syndrome. This genetic tissue disorder caused his peak height to reach 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m). He was cast as Chewbacca by director George Lucas, who sought a tall actor for the role. He modelled his performance on observing animals at London Zoo and continued working as a hospital orderly during filming.
    Chewbacca.
    Image Star Wars Universe
  • From Paris to Kashyyyk

    Here are a few questions related to today’s date, May 19th.

    Legion of Honour (Légion d’honneur).
    Image Wikipedia
    1. The Légion d’honneur (Legion of Honour), France’s highest order of merit, was established on May 19. Who was responsible for its establishment?
      • Louis XV in 1745
      • Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802
      • Charles de Gaulle in 1945
    2. Born on 19 May 1992, the singer-songwriter of the theme for the 2015 James Bond film Spectre is…
      • Adele
      • Billie Eilish
      • Sam Smith
    3. On 19 May 1845, British explorer John Franklin set out in command of two ships, the Erebus and Terror, on an ill-fated expedition to find what?
      • Northeast Passage
      • Northwest Passage
      • Southeast Passage
    4. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding took place on May 19, 2018, in the UK. Where did they get married?
      • St George’s Chapel
      • St Paul’s Cathedral
      • Westminster Abbey
    5. Born on 19 May 1944, this actor was chosen by George Lucas to play a character from the planet Kashyyyk. Who is he?
      • Anthony Daniels
      • David Prowse
      • Peter Mayhew

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Main St. to Westminster Abbey via the North Pole | Answers

    Exile on Main St. Rolling Stones.
    Image Pinterest.
    1. Exile on Main St., a double album was released on 12 May 1972 by…
      • Rolling StonesExile on Main St. is the Rolling Stones’ tenth studio album, released in 1972. The album, recorded in France and Los Angeles, features a mix of blues, rock and roll, swing, country and gospel influences. It is considered a pivotal hard rock album and is often regarded as the Rolling Stones’ best work.
        Norge airship.
        Image Wikipedia
    1. The first verified flight over the North Pole took place on this date in 1926. The flight was made in a…
      • Semirigid airship—The Norge, an Italian-built airship, completed the first verified flight to the North Pole on 12 May 1926. The expedition, led by Roald Amundsen and funded by Lincoln Ellsworth, was the first to fly over the polar ice cap between Europe and America.
        Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
        Portrait by Richard Stone
        Image Wikipedia
    2. On 12 May 1937, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were crowned. George had been king since December 1936, following his brother Edward VIII’s abdication. Prior to Edward’s abdication, the new king and queen were known by what titles?
      • Duke and Duchess of York—George VI, born Albert, and titled Duke of York, became king after his brother Edward VIII abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson.. He led the UK through World War II, symbolising British determination. He died in 1952, his daughter becoming Queen Elizabeth II. His widowed consort, now styled Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, lived for a further 50 years.
        During the Berlin Airlift in 1948, U.S., British, and French planes delivered food and other goods to Berlin, which was blockaded by Soviet forces. In this photo, German children stand on a hillside and watch a U.S. plane fly overhead.
        Image Wikipedia
    3. On this day in 1949, the Soviet Union lifted its blockade of…
      • Berlin—The Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin in 1948–49, cutting off all land and water access. The Western Allies responded with the Berlin Airlift, supplying West Berlin by air for nearly a year until the Soviets lifted the blockade.
        Florence Nightingale, an angel of mercy. Crimean War: Florence Nightingale with her candle making the night round of the wards at Scutari hospital.
        Coloured mezzotint, c. 1855, by Tomkins after Butterworth.
        Image Wikipedia
    4. Three English people are listed, but one was born while her parents were on an extended honeymoon in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Can you identify which one?
      • Florence Nightingale, nurse and social reformer—Florence Nightingale, an English social reformer and statistician, revolutionised modern nursing. During the Crimean War, she led a team of nurses in Scutari, Turkey, improving hospital conditions and reducing mortality rates. Her dedication, known as the “Lady with the Lamp,” earned her international acclaim and led to the establishment of the first scientifically based nursing schools.
    Mission of Mercy: Florence Nightingale receiving the Wounded at Scutari.
    (Jerry Barrett, 1857)
    Image National Portrait Gallery, London/Wikipedia https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Nightingale_receiving_the_Wounded_at_Scutari_by_Jerry_BarrettFXD.jpg
  • Main St. to Westminster Abbey via the North Pole

    George VI and Elizabeth, coronation portrait.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. Exile on Main Street, a double album, was released on 12 May 1972 by…
      • Bob Dylan
      • Chicago
      • Rolling Stones
    1. The first verified flight over the North Pole took place on this date in 1926. The flight was made in a…
      • Fokker bi-plane
      • Hot air Balloon
      • Semirigid airship
    2. On 12 May 1937, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were crowned. George had been king since December 1936, following his brother Edward VIII’s abdication. Prior to Edward’s abdication, the new king and queen were known by what titles?
      • Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh
      • Duke and Duchess of Sussex
      • Duke and Duchess of York
    3. On this day in 1949, the Soviet Union lifted its blockade of…
      • Baghdad
      • Baku
      • Berlin
    4. Of the three English people listed one was born while their parents were on an extended honeymoon in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Can you identify which one?
      • Edward Lear, poet and illustrator
      • Florence Nightingale, nurse and social reformer
      • Dante Gabriel Rossetti, poet and painter