Quizology.Online

Tag: US president

  • What’s in a Name—Answers

    QE2 bow.
    Image Wikipedia
    QE2 stern.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 20 September 1967, the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2 was launched from which shipyard?

    • John Brown and Company, Clydebank, Scotland, UK
    • Harland & Wolff, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
    • Swan Hunter, Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England, UK

    Answer: John Brown and Company, Clydebank, Scotland, UK

    The QE2 was built and launched into the River Clyde from John Brown and Company, Clydebank, Scotland, by HM Queen Elizabeth II. During the launch ceremony, the Queen said ‘I name this ship Queen Elizabeth the Second’, and the following day, newspapers including The Times and The New York Times printed the name as Queen Elizabeth II, which would be read as ‘Queen Elizabeth the Second’. When the ship was completed, the name on both the bow and stern of the vessel was Queen Elizabeth 2. Over the years, there has been debate as to whether the ship is named after Queen Elizabeth II; her mother, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Consort of King George VI; or simply the second Cunard liner named Queen Elizabeth. See Wikipedia for additional information.

    Billie Jean King & Bobby Riggs.
    Image Wikipedia

    Two

    The ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match took place at Houston Astrodome on 20 September 1973. Who were the two players who competed in the match?

    • Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs
    • Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors
    • Evonne Goolagong and Marlon Brando

    Answer: Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs

    In 1973, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in an exhibition match, earning $100,000, equivalent to $707,000 in 2024. Riggs, a former top men’s player in the 1930s and 1940s, had won Wimbledon in 1939 and was World No. 1 in 1941, 1946, and 1947. He later became a tennis ‘hustler’, playing promotional matches. Riggs claimed the women’s game was inferior and challenged top female players, defeating Margaret Court 6–2, 6–1. King, initially rejecting his challenges, accepted a financial offer to play him, resulting in her victory and a significant win for women’s tennis.

    Victor Emmanuel II.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    On 20 September 1870, Rome was occupied, leading to the unification of Italy. Who was the ruler of the Kingdom of Italy at this time?

    • Victor Emmanuel I
    • Victor Emmanuel II
    • Victor Emmanuel III

    Answers: Victor Emmanuel II

    The unification of Italy, or Risorgimento, was a 19th-century movement that culminated in 1861 with the creation of the Kingdom of Italy through the annexation of various Italian states to the Kingdom of Sardinia. Key figures included King Victor Emmanuel II, Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, Giuseppe Garibaldi, and Giuseppe Mazzini. The movement was inspired by earlier rebellions and the Revolutions of 1848, concluding in 1870 with Rome’s capture. King Victor Emmanuel II was honoured as the Father of the Fatherland.

    Four

    Which explorer set out from Spain on 20 September 1519, embarking on a quest to circumnavigate the globe?

    • Bartolomeu Dias
    • Ferdinand Magellan
    • Vasco da Gama

    Answer: Ferdinand Magellan

    The Magellan expedition, led by Ferdinand Magellan and completed by Juan Sebastián Elcano, was a pivotal 16th-century Spanish voyage aimed at securing a maritime trade route to the Spice Islands. Departing Spain in 1519 with five ships and about 270 men, it achieved the first circumnavigation of Earth, crossing the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Despite hardships like mutinies, starvation, and Magellan’s death in the Philippines, only about 40 men and the ship Victoria returned in 1522. Funded by King Charles I, the expedition expanded European geographical knowledge, though the route proved commercially impractical.

    Five

    On 20 September 1881, a US Vice President was sworn in as president following the death of his predecessor who had died the previous day two months after being shot. Who was the vice president who was sworn in as president on this day?

    • Andrew Johnson
    • Chester A. Arthur
    • Theodore Roosevelt

    Answer: Chester A. Arthur

    James A. Garfield, the 20th US president, was assassinated by Charles J. Guiteau in 1881. Guiteau, who believed he deserved a diplomatic post for his support of Garfield, shot him after his requests were denied. Garfield died from his injuries over two months later, and Vice President Chester A. Arthur became the 21st US President. Guiteau, who was apprehended at the scene of the shooting, was later executed for the murder.

  • What’s in a Name

    The questions are all related to today’s date, September 20th.

    The Queen Elizabeth 2 is now a hotel in Dubai.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 20 September 1967, the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2 was launched from which company’s shipyard?

    • John Brown and Company, Clydebank, Scotland, UK
    • Harland & Wolff, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
    • Swan Hunter, Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England, UK

    Two

    The ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match took place at Houston Astrodome on 20 September 1973. Who were the two players who competed in the match?

    • Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs
    • Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors
    • Evonne Goolagong and Marlon Brando

    Three

    On 20 September 1870, Rome was occupied, leading to the unification of Italy. Who was the ruler of the Kingdom of Italy at this time?

    • Victor Emmanuel I
    • Victor Emmanuel II
    • Victor Emmanuel III

    Four

    Which explorer set out from Spain on 20 September 1519, embarking on a quest to circumnavigate the globe?

    • Bartolomeu Dias
    • Ferdinand Magellan
    • Vasco da Gama

    Five

    On 20 September 1881, a US Vice President was sworn in as president following the death of his predecessor who had died the previous day two months after being shot. Who was the vice president who was sworn in as president on this day?

    • Andrew Johnson
    • Chester A. Arthur
    • Theodore Roosevelt

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Round the World—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.

    V2-Rocket in the Peenemünde Museum.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 6 September 1944, Nazi Germany launched the first V-2 rocket, a precursor to modern long-range missiles. What city was the target of this inaugural launch?

    Answer: Paris

    [The first] was fired against Paris on September 6, 1944. Two days later the first of more than 1,100 V-2s was fired against Great Britain (the last on March 27, 1945). Belgium was also heavily bombarded. About 5,000 people died in V-2 attacks, and it is estimated that at least 10,000 prisoners from the Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp died when used as forced labour in building V-2s at the underground Mittelwerk factory. After the war, both the United States and the Soviet Union captured large numbers of V-2s and used them in research that led to the development of their missile and space exploration programs.

    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    Joseph Kenney, United States Ambassador to the Court of St James’s.
    Image Wikipedia

    Two

    Joseph Kennedy Sr. was born on 6 September 1888. He was the father of the Kennedy dynasty, which included John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. He was appointed as the US Ambassador to the United Kingdom but what is the formal name for that post: US Ambassador to the…?

    Answer: US Ambassador to the Court of St. James’s

    The Court of St James’s serves as the official royal court for the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. It formally receives all ambassadors accredited to the UK and, conversely, ambassadors representing the UK are formally accredited from this court. It is named after St James’s Palace, the most senior of Britain’s royal palaces.

    Three

    On 6 September 957, Liudolf, the Duke of Swabia and son of the Holy Roman emperor Otto I, passed away. Today, the area known as the Duchy of Swabia is located in which modern country?

    Answer: Germany

    Swabia is a cultural and linguistic region in southwestern Germany, roughly coinciding with the Swabian Circle of the Holy Roman Empire. Swabians, natives of Swabia and speakers of Swabian German, numbered close to 800,000 as of 2006.

    William McKinley, President of the United States.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Four

    On 6 September, Leon Czolgosz shot a US president. Who was the president?

    Answer: William McKinley

    On 6 September 1901, President McKinley was attending the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, when he was shot twice in the chest and abdomen by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist. He lingered for a week before succumbing to his injuries on 14 September, when Theodore Roosevelt succeeded him.

    Victoria, the sole ship of Magellan’s fleet to complete the circumnavigation. Detail from a map by Ortelius, 1590.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    The Victoria, the first known ship to circumnavigate the world returned to Spain on 6 September. In which decade did this event occur?

    Answer: 1520s

    On 6 September 1522, the Victoria, the only surviving ship of Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition, completed the circumnavigation of the world and arrived at Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain. Of the 270 men who had set sail on the expedition on 20 September 1519, only 18 or 19 survived. Magellan had been killed approximately 18 months earlier.

  • Round the World

    V2-Rocket in the Peenemünde Museum.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 6 September 1944, Nazi Germany launched the first V-2 rocket, a precursor to modern long-range missiles. What city was the target of this inaugural launch?

    Two

    Joseph Kennedy Sr. was born on 6 September 1888. He was the father of the Kennedy dynasty, which included John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. He was appointed as the US Ambassador to the United Kingdom but what is the formal name for that post: US Ambassador to the…?

    Three

    On 6 September 957, Liudolf, the Duke of Swabia and son of the Holy Roman emperor Otto I, passed away. Today, the area known as the Duchy of Swabia is located in which modern country?

    Four

    On 6 September, Leon Czolgosz shot a US president. Who was the president?

    Five

    The Victoria, the first known ship to circumnavigate the world returned to Spain on 6 September. In which decade did this event occur?

    Good luck! As usual I will post the answers later today.

  • Why a Duck?—Answers

    Freddie Mercury, 1977.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Freddie Mercury, born on 5 September 1946 in Stone Town, the Sultanate of Zanzibar, is best known as the frontman of Queen. Which two Queen albums from the mid-seventies are named after Marx Brothers films?

    Answer: A Night at the Opera (1975) and A Day at the Races (1976)

    Freddie Mercury, born Farrokh Bulsara in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, was a British rock singer and songwriter known for his flamboyant showmanship and powerful vocals. He joined the band Smile in 1970, renamed it Queen, and became its lead singer. Queen achieved international fame with albums like A Night at the Opera, and Mercury’s solo career included collaborations with Montserrat Caballé.

    Gerald R. Ford, presidential portrait.
    Image Wikipedia

    Two

    On 5 September 1975, Lynette ‘Squeaky’ Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, attempted to assassinate the US president. This was one of two assassination attempts in that month, Who was the president who was targeted?

    Answer: Gerald R Ford

    Twice in September 1975, Ford was the target of assassination attempts. In the first instance, Secret Service agents intervened before shots were fired; in the second, the would-be assassin fired one shot at Ford but missed by several feet.
    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    Jim Henson with Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear in 1979.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    The first episode of The Muppet Show aired on 5 September 1976. In which country was it broadcast?

    Answer: United Kingdom

    The Muppet Show, created by Jim Henson, premiered in the UK on 5 September 1976 and ended on 23 May 1981. Five seasons, totalling 120 episodes, were broadcast on ATV and other ITV franchises in the UK and in syndication in the United States from 1976 to 1981. It featured iconic characters like Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, with its success leading to films, merchandise, and other series. The Muppets were acquired by Disney in 2004.

    Sam Houston, 1861.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    Sam Houston was elected as the first president of the Republic of Texas on 5 September. In which decade of the 19th century did this event occur?
    Thirties

    Answer: Thirties

    Houston was elected in 1836.
    Samuel Houston was an American general and statesman who played a prominent role in the Texas Revolution. He served as the first and third president of the Republic of Texas, a U.S. Senator, and the governor of both Tennessee and Texas. Houston opposed secession and was forced out of office as Texas governor in 1861.

    Flag of Tuvala.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    On 5 September 2000, the Pacific island nation whose flag is shown above became the 189th member of the United Nations. Please name that country?

    Answer: Tuvala

    Tuvalu, a Polynesian island country in the Pacific Ocean, comprises three reef islands and six atolls. It gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1978 and is a constitutional monarchy. The economy relies on imports, fishing, and remittances, while facing challenges from climate change and sea level rise.

    Why Why a Duck?

    The title of the post, Why a Duck?, doesn’t directly relate to the content, except for the mention of the Marx Brothers in the first question. However, I’ve always enjoyed the routine it originates from. This routine comes from The Cocoanuts. A bit of an explanation follows.

    “Why a Duck?” is a comedy routine featured in the Marx Brothers movie The Cocoanuts (1929). In a scene in which Groucho and Chico are discussing a map, Groucho mentions the presence of a viaduct between the mainland and a peninsula. Chico, who is playing the role of an immigrant with poor English skills, replies “Why a duck?” This leads into a long schtick with Chico responding “Why a no chicken?”, “I catch ona why a horse”, and so forth
    — Wikipedia

    The routine can be read here at The Marx Brothers.

  • Why a Duck?

    See question 5.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Freddie Mercury, born on 5 September 1946 in Stone Town, the Sultanate of Zanzibar, is best known as the frontman of Queen. Which two Queen albums from the mid-seventies are named after Marx Brothers films?

    Two

    On 5 September 1975, Lynette ‘Squeaky’ Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, attempted to assassinate the US president. This was one of two assassination attempts in that month, Who was the president who was targeted?

    Three

    The first episode of The Muppet Show aired on 5 September 1976. In which country was it broadcast?

    Four

    Sam Houston was elected as the first president of the Republic of Texas on 5 September. In which decade of the 19th century did this event occur?

    Five

    On 5 September 2000, the Pacific island nation whose flag is shown above became the 189th member of the United Nations. Please name that country?

    Good luck! The answers will be posted later today.

  • Big Stick Diplomacy, Among Other Things—Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown below.

    Japanese surrender on USS Missouri, 2 September 1945.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 2 September 1945, the Japanese formally surrendered, ending World War II. The following quote is from the US National Archives:

    That morning, on the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, the Japanese envoys, Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and General Yoshijiro Umezu, signed their names on the Instrument of Surrender.

    Please provide the names of the ship and the body of water that are missing from the quote above?

    Answer: USS Missouri and Tokyo Bay

    Japan surrendered unconditionally to the Allies on 15 August 1945, following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the Soviet Union’s declaration of war and invasion of Manchukuo. The formal surrender ceremony took place on 2 September aboard the USS Missouri. The Treaty of San Francisco, effective 28 April 1952, formally ended the state of war.

    Two

    Tom Bombadil and his wife Goldberry were characters created by what 81-year-old author, who died on 2 September 1973?

    Answer: JRR Tolkien

    Tom Bombadil and his wife Goldberry are supporting characters in JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. They feature in the novel The Fellowship of the Rings but are omitted from various adaptations, including Peter Jackson’s film trilogy, due to their non-essential role.


    William Allen Rogers‘s 1904 cartoon recreates an episode in Gulliver’s Travels    ,
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    On 2 September 1901, future US president Theodore Roosevelt said…

    Speak softly and carry a big stick

    …he claimed he was paraphrasing a proverb which originated from what continent?

    Answer: Africa (specifically West Africa)

    The phrase was supposed to come from West Africa but there is little evidence of that. Theodore Roosevelt’s ‘big stick’ diplomacy, characterised by a powerful military and a willingness to negotiate peacefully, emphasised intelligent forethought and decisive action. This approach, rooted in Realpolitik, involved possessing a strong navy, acting justly and striking decisively when necessary.

    “This painting shows the great fire of London as seen from a boat in vicinity of Tower Wharf. The painting depicts Old London Bridge, various houses, a drawbridge and wooden parapet, the churches of St Dunstan-in-the-West and St Bride’s, All Hallow’s the Great, Old St Paul’s, St Magnus the Martyr, St Lawrence Pountney, St Mary-le-Bow, St Dunstan-in-the East and Tower of London. The painting is in the [style] of the Dutch School and is not dated or signed.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    What city was largely destroyed by a great fire which began on 2 September 1666?

    Answer: London, England

    The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed much of the medieval city, including St. Paul’s Cathedral. The fire, which started in a bakery, spread rapidly due to strong winds and indecisive firefighting efforts. The city was rebuilt on the same medieval street plan.

    The Battle of Actium, 2 September 31 BC, oil on canvas by Lorenzo A. Castro, 1672. Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Five

    On 2 September 31 BCE, Octavian, the future Roman emperor Augustus, won the Battle of Actium. Which historical figure, who appeared in two Shakespearean tragedies, was defeated in this battle?

    Answer: Mark Antony

    The Battle of Actium, fought on 2 September 31 BC, was a decisive naval battle between Octavian’s fleet and the combined forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Octavian’s victory led to the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire, with Octavian becoming Augustus.

  • Big Stick Diplomacy, Among Other Things

    Five questions which all are connected to today, September 2nd.

    One

    On 2 September 1945, the Japanese formally surrendered, ending World War II. The following quote is from the US National Archives:

    That morning, on the deck of the (ship) in (body of water), the Japanese envoys, Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and General Yoshijiro Umezu, signed their names on the Instrument of Surrender.

    Please provide the names of the ship and the body of water that are missing from the quote above?

    Two

    Tom Bombadil and his wife Goldberry were characters created by what 81-year-old author, who died on 2 September 1973?

    Three

    On 2 September 1901, future US president Theodore Roosevelt said…

    Speak softly and carry a big stick

    …he claimed he was paraphrasing a proverb which originated from what continent?

    Four

    What city was largely destroyed by a great fire which began on 2 September 1666?

    Five

    On 2 September 31 BCE, Octavian, the future Roman emperor Augustus, won the Battle of Actium. Which historical figure, who appeared in two Shakespearean tragedies, was defeated in this battle?

    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.