Shakespeare is generally regarded as having been born and having died on the same date (though obviously in two different years). What date? 23rd April
Which character was the son of the witch Sycorax? Caliban in The Tempest
In which Italian city is the story of Romeo and Juliet set? Verona
In which play does a character discuss the side-effect of drunkenness known colloquially as brewer’s droop?
Macbeth (the ‘comic porter’ scene)
What is the name of the Merchant of Venice? Antonio
Which minor Shakespearean characters are the title figures in a modern play by Tom Stoppard?
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern from Hamlet
In which play is a play performed by a tailor, a weaver, a tinker and other tradesmen? A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Which Shakespeare play has been retold in modern settings as a film by Kurosawa and a novel by Jane Smiley? King Lear (Kurosawa’s Ran and Smiley’s A Thousand Acres)
In which play do we find the stage direction ‘Exit, pursued by a bear’? The Winter’s Tale
Which play includes two scenes partly in French? Henry V
And which one has a part for a native Welsh speaker? Henry IV part 1 (Shakespeare includes lines and a song for Glendower’s wife but leaves it up to the actor, with the instructions ‘The lady speaks/sings in Welsh.’ Presumably there was an actor in the company who spoke Welsh.)
With whom did Shakespeare collaborate on a play based on Chaucer’s Knight’s Tale of Palamon and Arcite?
John Fletcher; the play is The Two Noble Kinsmen).
In Othello, who is married to Emilia? Iago
Speaking in Hamlet, silent in Julius Caesar, Macbeth and Richard III. What sort of character? Ghosts
Volumnia is the mother of the title character of a Shakespeare play. Which play? Coriolanus
Which play has the alternative title of What You Will?
Twelfth Night
What relation was Dr. John Hall to Shakespeare? Son-in-law
Which Shakespeare play has been turned into operas by Verdi and Vaughan Williams?The Merry Wives of Windsor (Verdi’s Falstaff and V-Ws Sir John in Love)
‘My salad days, when I was green in judgment, cold in blood.’ From which play does this quotation come?
Antony and Cleopatra
Which 20th century work is the origin of the title of this quiz?
Kiss Me Kate by Cole Porter
The first official Grand National took place in 1839, 3 years after an unofficial race was run and won by The Duke. Which appropriately named horse won the 1839 event? Lottery
The Mayflower set sail for America in 1620 but was forced toturn back to Dartmouth when about 100 miles west of Land’s End because her sister ship had sprung a leak. What was the name of the sister ship? Speedwell
Which Chancellor of the Exchequer introduced Premium Bonds in 1957 Harold McMillan
When James Beck died in 1973, Private Walker disappeared from Dads’ Army. He was indirectly replaced by Talfryn Thomas who played which character? Private Cheeseman
Alderney is the most northerly Channel Island. What is the name of its main town? Saint Anne
What is a tittle? The dot on an i or j
The Prime Minister of Sweden was assassinated in 1986 by Christer Petterson. What was the victim’s name? Olaf Palme
Which notable character from World War 1 died in a Czech prison in April 1918 as a result of Tuberculosis?
Gavrilo Princip
Who was the only woman to appear regularly in Monty Python’s Flying Circus? Carol Cleveland
Sir Edward Elgar composed the music for Land of Hope and Glory but who wrote the words? Arthur Christopher Benson
Takeyuki Nakayama and Jon Brown share which unenviable Olympic record? Nakayama (1988 and 1992) and Brown (2000 and 2004) twice finished 4th in the men’s Olympic marathon.
Why was the final Test match of the 1938-9 series between South Africa and England drawn? After 9 days of play the match was abandoned as a draw as the England team had to leave to get the boat home!
Which tennis player reached 3 Wimbledon finals in 1977 and lost all of them? Betty Stove (Netherlands) lost the ladies singles, ladies doubles and mixed doubles finals at the 1977 Wimbledon championships.
In which modern day country did the 1980 Olympic Sailing events take place? Estonia (Then part of the Soviet Union)
Which Italian born cricketer, once stood against future Prime Minister James Callaghan in a General Election? Ted Dexter who lost to Callaghan in the Cardiff South East constituancy in the 1964 General Election
Ken Matthews and Paul Nihill are the last British athletes to win Olympic medals in which athletics discipline?
Race Walking. At the 1964 Olympics Matthews won gold in 20km and Nihill silver in 50km.
Who is the most successful individual British athlete at the Winter Olympics? Jeanette Altwegg won Figure Skating bronze in 1948 and gold in 1952. The only British individual Winter Olympian to win more than one medal. NOTE Since this question was written, Lizzie Yarnold has won the Skeleton gold again in Pyong Yang, to become Britain’s most successful)
Who was the last Frenchman to win the Tour de France?
Bernard Hinhault in 1985
What connects South African cricketer Ali Bacher, German runner Thomas Wessinghage, English canoeist Tim Brabants and Welsh Rugby player J.P.R. Williams?
They are all medical doctors
The brother of which British Olympic Gold Medallist competed at the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics?
Steve Ovett’s brother Nicholas competed in the luge at these games
This Mozart opera based on a stage play by Pierre Beaumarchis is often called the greatest opera often written. Some roles are common with the Barber of Seville.
The Marraige of Figaro
This American opera by George Gershwin is set on Catfish Row in Charleston, South Carolina and concerns two African-Americam Lovers. Porgy and Bess
Puccini’s last opera, it has an oriental setting. It concerns a Chinese princess who sets riddles for her suitors. Calaf the Prince of Persia wins her over. Turandot
Wagner opera based on The Holy Grail. For several years it could only be performed at Bayreuth. Parsifal
A Mozart opera that concerns the rescue of Constanze from a harem by Belmonte and his side-kick Pedrillo.
The Abduction from the Seraglio
Rossini’s comedy based on a play by Beaumarchis. Concerns the attempts of Count Almaviva to wed the beautiful and rich Rosina aided by Figaro, who is the title character.
The Barber of Seville
Mozarts opera about the adventures of a libertine who is dragged to hell in the climax for his misdeeds. Don Giovanni
Beloved opera of Menotti, inspired by Heironymus Bosch’s painting Adoration of the Magi. Amahl and the Night Visitors
This 1892 Leoncavello opera is a tragady about clowns.
Pagliacci
Verdi’s last opera. About the adventures of the titular fat knight on a mission to seduce Mrs Ford and Mrs Page. Falstaff
Opera by Donizetti based on a Walter Scott novel, concerning the fueding Ashton and Ravenswood families.
Lucia di Lammermoor
Richard Strauss’ opera famous for featuring The Dance of the Seven Veils. It ends with the title character kissing a severed head. Salome
One of the many melodies in this Verdi classic is The Anvil Chorus performed by a group of gypsies. Il Trovatore
Modest Mussorgsky’s only completed opera. About a real-life Russian ruler who reigned as Tsar from 1598-1605
Boris Godunov
Puccini tragedy which ends with the titular heroine’s lover meeting his end at the hands of a firing squad and her jumping to her death. Tosca
Name the four opears in Wagner’s Ring Cycle.
The Rhinegold, The Valkerie, Siegfried, Twilight of the Gods
Popular German opera by Richard Strauss it concerns the presentation of a silver flower by Octavian to Sophie.
Der Rosenkavalier
Verdi’s tragedy about a prostitute named Violetta who loses her life to tuberculosis La traviata
Most sucessful opera of Tchaikovsky that has several references to Pushkin’s verse novel of the same name. Mainly about the title character rebuffing then longing for Tatania.
Eugene Onegin
Verdi’s tragedy about a hunchbacked Jester ends with him crying over the dead body of his daughter Gilda. Rigoletto
In Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the mariner shoots what seabird with a crossbow and later wears it around his neck as punishment? Albatross
Mohandas Gandhi carried whose essay entitled “Civil Disobedience” with him during his prison stays?
Henry David Thoreau
What literary character had a little sister named Phoebe, wore an iconic red hunting cap and saw expulsion from school?
Holden Caulfield in J.D.Salingers Catcher in the Rye
Who made the one ring in The Lord of the Rings?
Dark Lord Sauron
Ian Fleming built a Jamaican home named after which of his James Bond novels? Goldeneye
Who wrote Treasure Island? Robert Louis Stevenson
Helen Fielding wrote whose best-selling Diary in 1996?
Bridget Jones
Originally rejected by 121 publishers – more than any other bestselling book – what 1974 Robert M. Pirsig novel explores the metaphysics of quality during a 17-day motorcycle journey across the United States?
Zen and the Art of Motor Cycle Maintainance
Jack Dawkins goes by what nickname in Oliver Twist?
the Artful Dodger
Who wrote Interview with a Vampire? Ann Rice
George H.W. Bush owned a famous book-writing dog with what name? Millie
Amy, Beth Jo and Meg share what last name in Little Women? March
Who wrote Peter Pan? James M.Barrie
Who wrote the series of suspense novels pertaining Hannibal Lecter? Thomas Harris
What sexy cinema septuagenarian wrote the 2010 book subtitled Beyond the Cleavage? Raquel Welch
Elizabeth Bennet acts as the protagonist of what 1813 novel?
Pride and Prejudice
Who wrote Mary Poppins? (Pamela) P.L.Travers
Who wrote the epic poem “The Song of Hiawatha” in 1855?
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Later adapted into the film Schindler’s List, what author wrote the book Schindler’s Ark? Thomas Keneally
Mary Lennox arrived in England after her parents’ death in The Secret Garden; Lennox lived where prior to this event? India
Name the Artist/Band of the following Classic Albums
Ghost in the Machine (1981) The Poilce
Surrealistic Pillow ( 1967) Jefferson Airplane
Disraeli Gears (1987) Cream
At Fillmore East (1971) Allman Brothers Band
The Queen is Dead (1986) The Smiths
Mellon Collie and the Infinate Sadness (1995)
The Smashing Pumpkins
Green River (1969) Creedance Clearwater Revival
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967) Pink Floyd
Fly Like an Eagle (1976) Steve Miller Band
Houses of the Holy (1973) Led Zepplin
Abraxas (1970) Santana
Closer (1980) Joy Division
Version 2.0 (1998) Garbage
Master of Puppets (1986) Metallica
Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978) Bruce Springsteen
Post (1995) Bjork
BloodSugarSexMagik (1991) Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Disintregation (1989) The Cure
Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989) Janet Jackson
Elecrtric Warrior (1971) T-Rex
Appetite for Destruction (1987) Guns n Roses
If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears (1966)
The Mamas and the Papas
Aqualung (1971) Jethro Tull
Tragic Kingdom (1995) No Doubt
Automatic for the People (1992) R.E.M.
A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002) Coldplay
Hysteria (1987) Def Leppard
American Beauty (1970) Grateful Dead
Jagged Litte Pill (1995) Alanis Morrisette
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)
Public Enemy
Based on “Only Connect”
Round 1. Connections
Lion Harold Wilson, Gordon Brown, Paul McCartney,
Hugh Laurie. James Harold Wilson, James Gordon Brown, James Paul McCartney, James Hugh Calum Laurie. All have James as first name but are known by their middle names.
Water. Enterprise, Rock and Chips, Young Sheldon, Gotham.
All are prequels to TV shows. Enterprise, prequel to Star Trek. Rock and Chips, prequel to Only Fools And Horses. Young Sheldon prequel to The Big Bang Theory. Gotham, prequel to Batman.
Twisted Flax. Te, Ce, Se, He.
Symbols for chemical elements named after solar system objects. Te (Tellurium) – Earth. Ce (Cerium) – Ceres. Se (Selenium) – Moon. He (Helium) – Sun.
Eye of Horus. Geena Davis, Martin Sheen,
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kevin Spacey.All have portrayed fictional US Presidents on TV. Davis in “Commander in Chief”, Sheen in “The West Wing”, Louis-Dreyfus in “Veep”, Spacey in “House of Cards.”
Two Reeds. Rio de Janeiro, Auckland, Philadelphia, Istanbul.
Previous capital cities. Rio de Janeiro replaced by Brasilia as capital of Brazil. Auckland replaced by Wellington as capital of New Zealand. Philadelphia replaced by Washington as capital of USA. Istanbul replaced by Ankara as capital of Turkey.
Horned Viper. Chesley Sullenberger, Walt Disney, Jim Lovell, Charlie Wilson. Real people portrayed in films by Tom Hanks. Chesley Sullenberger in “Sully”. Walt Disney in “Saving Mr. Banks”. Jim Lovell in “Apollo 13”. Charlie Wilson in “Charlie Wilson’s War.”
Round 2. Sequences
Lion. Los Angeles, Istanbul, Madrid….?
Los Angeles, runner up to Paris in bid for 2024 Olympics. Istanbul, runner up to Tokyo in bid for 2020 Olympics, Madrid, runner up to Rio de Janeiro in bid for 2016 Olympics. Missing sequence is Paris, runner up to London in bid for 2012 Olympics.
Water. Spider, Eagle, Aquarius…? Spider, Lunar Module for Apollo 9. Eagle, Lunar Module for Apollo 11. Aquarius, Lunar Module for Apollo 13. Missing sequence is Falcon, Lunar Module for Apollo 15, next odd numbered Apollo mission.
Twisted Flax. 3001, 2061, 2010…? The Final Odyssey. 2061: Odyssey Three. 2010: Odyssey Two. Missing sequence is 2001: A Space Odyssey. Arthur C. Clarke’s Space Odyssey novels in reverse chronological order.
Eye of Horus. Kelly Holmes, Chris Hoy, Ben Ainslie…?
Carried the Union Flag in the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games. Holmes (2004), Hoy (2008), Ainslie (2012). Missing sequence is Kate Richardson-Walsh, who carried the flag in 2016.
Two Reeds. Clive Lloyd, Clive Lloyd, Kapil Dev…?
Captains of successive Cricket World Cup winning teams. Clive Lloyd (1975 and 1979), Kapil Dev (1983). Missing sequence is Allan Border (1987).
Horned Viper. Bernard Lee, Robert Brown, Judi Dench…?
Actors who played “M” in EON James Bond films in chronological order. Lee, Brown, Dench. Missing sequence is Ralph Fiennes.
What are the three main rivers in Lancashire?
Ribble, Wyre and Lune
Which Lancashire born engineer invented the Spinning Jenny in the 18th Century? James Hargreaves
In which Lancashire town was the Cooperative Movement founded? Rochdale
Brian Gamlin of Bury, Lancashire, introduced what innovation into the game of darts? The odd numbering system in 1896
In which Lancashire town is the Nutters Dance performed every Easter Sunday? Bacup
Name the Lancashire town where the first test tube baby was born? Oldham
Which town in Lancashire was called Marsden prior to 1805?
Nelson
In which town in Lancashire would you find the Thwaites brewery? Blackburn
Liquorice, capsicum, eucalyptus and menthol are the main ingredients of which well- known edible product first made in Fleetwood, Lancashire in the late 19th century? Fishermans Friends
In which city is the University of Central Lancashire?Preston
Lancashire’s Industrial Landscape was often the subject for which Famous Artist? L.S.Lowry
From which Lancashire town do the Verve come from? Wigan
Which Lancashire town boasts itself as the birthplace of the tee-total movement? Preston
Which fruit has the varieties Lord Kitchener, White Lion and Lancashire Lad? Gooseberry
Which Lancashire town was officially known as Poulton le Sands untill 1870? Morcambe
Which Lancashire town was designated a new town in 1961 to relieve overcrowding on Merseyside? Skelmersdale
Which Lancashire town became future leader Winston Churchill’s first seat as an MP in 1900? Oldham
On which English course is the Lancashire Oaks run? Haydock Park
Born in Lancashire in 1904 which comedian became a jockey and was later awarded the Order of Lenin?George Formby
Manchester United were originally known as Newton Heath, a team formed by employees of which company in 1878? Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company
Which England soccer manager was born in Burnley, Lancashire? Ron Greenwood
The Hatchet was a magazine produced for the supporters of which Lancashire football club? Bury
Which chart topper started life at Leigh, Lancashire as Clive Powell? Georgie Fame
Which comedy double act worked as welders in a Lancashire factory before forming a singing duo called The Harper Brothers? Cannon & Ball
The English novelist Dorothy Sayers shares her middle name with which Lancashire town? LeighWho played Raquel Watts nee Wolstenholme in Coronation Street? Sarah Lancashire
The famous “Six Before Breakfast” awards in which half a dozen Victoria Crosses (VCs) were eventually handed out in recognition of the bravery shown by the 1st Battalion, the Lancashire Fusiliers. Took place in which campaign?Galipolli
Where has Hope replaced Dippy? Hintze Hall of the Natural History Museum. The cast of a diplodocus skeleton known as ‘Dippy’ has been replaced by a blue whale skeleton. The latter has been named ‘Hope’.
Which is the only Gilbert and Sullivan opera with no spoken
dialogue? Trial by Jury
The Long Man of Wilmington in Sussex is one of only two ancient chalk figures in the UK depicting a human figure. Which is the other? The Cerne Giant, near Cerne Abbas in Dorset)
Where did the wrong red envelope cause confusion in February 2017? At the Oscars, when Warren Beatty was given the wrong envelope and announced the wrong Best Picture.
The German name for this musical instrument is ‘zink’. What is it called in English? Cornett/Cornetto; ‘cornet’ won’t do, as this is a completely different instrument so I couldn’t accept that misspelling.
Which UK institution has the motto ‘Nullius in verba’? The Royal Society; usually translated as ‘take nobody’s word for it’.
Which operatic character is the long-lost son of Bartolo and
Marcellina? Figaro in Mozart’s opera, ‘Marriage of Figaro’
What was discovered as the result of an anonymous letter to Lord Monteagle early in the 17th century? Barrels of gunpowder in thecellars of the Houses of Parliament – the so-called ‘MonteagleLetter’ resulted in the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605).
In which fictional school, whose creator died in 2017, did Class 2B include Toots, Smiffy and Plug? Bash Street – created by Leo Baxendale for The Beano
Which British monarch had a name suggesting his main adviser might have been a small mythical being? Alfred the Great – aelf =‘elf’ + ‘rede = advised
Which is the only narrator of a Canterbury Tale not to have been oneof the original pilgrims who set out from the Tabard Inn? The Canon’s Yeoman
Which instrument plays the initial solo in Rossini’s ‘William Tell’ overture? Cello; the famous bit which starts with the trumpets comes later.
Which country’s national airline is named after a mythical bird? Indonesia – Garuda
An old dial telephone is permanently exhibited at the church of St. Stephen Walbrook, London. What does it commemorate? The founding of the Samaritans in 1953 by the Rev. Chad Varah; it was the original telephone he used at the church.
What is generally believed to have been the cause of death of the brother of Edward IV and Richard III in 1478? Drowning – allegedly in a butt of malmsey – George Duke of Clarence
The title of D. H. Lawrence’s novel ‘The Plumed Serpent’ is a
reference to which ancient Mexican deity? The serpent-god
Quetzalcoatl
Which composer, organist and choirmaster of Chichester Cathedral was repeatedly disciplined for drunkenness and bad behaviour, including urinating on the Dean from the organ loft during Evensong? Thomas Weelkes
.What is the easternmost station on the new Elizabeth Line?
Shenfield
Which fictional character is named after the author of a guide to the birds of the Caribbean? James Bond
Celia Birtwell, the textile designer, appears in a painting by David Hockney with her then husband and their pet. What was the pet’s name? The painting is called ‘Mr & Mrs Clark and Percy’. Celia Birtwell says that the cat in the painting is actually their other cat Blanche – so either answer will do, and brownie points to those who mentioned bo
A pioneering method for calculating a sequence of Bernoulli numbers in the 1840s has what significance for the digital age? The method, created by Ada Lovelace for Babbage’s Analytical Engine, is widely credited as the world’s first computer program. Based on this work, Lovelace is now widely credited with being the first computer programmer
What is particularly common to the topics of photoelectric effect, Brownian motion, special relativity, and mass–energy equivalence? Just saying Einstein won’t do! These are the subjects of the four papers that he published in 1905 that are called the Annus Mirabilis papers.
These four articles contributed substantially to the foundation of modern physics and changed views on space, time, mass, and energy
The Russian scientist Vasili Samarsky-Bykhovets has what pioneering connection with the periodic table of elements? First person whose name was given to a chemical element. Samarium (62).
What short-named body can be called the most geologically active place of the Solar System as the tidal forces of its mother planet cause its solid surface to bulge up by as much as 100 meters? Io (Jupiter)
When Nixon was president, Sample 70017 was cut into fragments and distributed to all U.S. states and 135 countries around the globe as a goodwill gesture. What is it? Moon rock Lunar basalt 70017 is a moon basalt that was last collected by astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt on the last manned moon landing, Apollo 17. NASA still has about 80 percent of the original rock
1. The A is the outermost of the large, bright ones.
2. The B is the largest, brightest, and most massive.
3. The C is wide but faint and located inward of the B.
4. The D is the innermost and is also very faint.
5. The E is the second outermost and is extremely wide.
6. The F is the outermost discrete one and very active.
7. The G is very thin and faint and is halfway between the F and the E.
What are we talking about? The Rings of Saturn
In mathematics, what object commonly seen in video games with secret getaways is used to describe a function that is easy to compute in one direction but very hard to compute the opposite way? Trapdoor function .An example would be saying that a large number is a product of two primes. Without knowing one of the two, it would be very difficult to find the numbers.
Anna Bertha who exclaimed “I have seen my death!” after seeing her photograph taken by her husband in 1895 was married to whom?
Wilhelm Röntgen Needless to say, concerning x-rays
In a Oct, 2014 interview to The Guardian, Prof. Peter Piot said the following. What’s the missing word? “In 1976 I discovered … – now I fear an unimaginable tragedy.” Ebola
What striking wildlife form mostly endemic to a large island gets its name from specimens prepared by traders without wings and feet lending to a belief that they are creatures that originated in an other-worldly place? Bird-of-paradise The majority of species, known for their plumage, are found in New Guinea and its satellites, with a few in the Maluku Islands and eastern Australia. The family has forty-one species in 14 general.
Maria, the heroine of the 1941 novel Storm by George Rippey Stewart, was the first of sorts in what practice streamlined from 1953 on?
Naming hurricanes after people Originally, hurricanes were given the names of saints who were honored on the day they occurred, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The practice of using first names started when the usage of appending latitude-longitude positions to the names proved confusing. Now, hurricane names are determined by the World Meteorological Organization headquartered in Geneva
Wardenclyffe Tower in Shoreham, New York was designed by which genius who intended to showcase it for demonstrations of wireless power transmission? Nikola Tesla Funding for the project dried up before completion and Wardenclyffe was shut down by 1905.
The Bortle scale on which areas away from human habitation unsurprisingly receive high ratings and which is of particular interest to amateur astronomers is concerned with what property? Darkness of the night sky The scale ranges from Class 1, the darkest skies available on Earth, through Class 9, inner-city skies.
In a letter written in 1924, who wrote “You will be interested to hear that I have found a Cepheid variable in the Andromeda Nebula” and transformed our view of the universe forever? Edwin Hubble This paved the way for understanding that the universe is composed of innumerable galaxies spread out in space, farther than the largest telescope could see
In 2007, Lisa Nowak drove 900 miles to attack another lady in a fit of lovers jealousy. It was initially reported that she wore a Maximum Absorbency Garment to avoid restroom stops. What was Lisa Nowak’s professional role that made the story newsworthy? She was an astronaut
A Maximum Absorbency Garment (MAG) is a piece of clothing NASA astronauts wear during liftoff, landing, and extra-vehicular activity (EVA) to absorb body excretions. It is worn by both male and female astronauts. It is used because astronauts cannot remove their space suits during long operations, such as spacewalks that usually last for several hours
Most of the discoveries of exoplanets thus far are due to the work of NASA’s space laboratory named appropriately for which 17th century scientific great? Johannes Kepler As of June 2014, Kepler and its follow-up observations had found 977 confirmed exoplanets in more than 400 stellar systems, along with a further 3,277 unconfirmed planet candidates. Kepler of course is best known for his laws of planetary motion
Oklo in Gabon, Africa is the only known place in the world where what reaction occurs naturally? Nuclear fission A natural nuclear fission reactor is a uranium deposit where self-sustaining nuclear chain reactions have occurred. This can be examined by analysis of isotope ratios
The Flammarion engraving that can be frequently seen on book covers sought to illustrate what belief system? Flat earth It has been used to represent a supposedly medieval cosmology, including a flat earth bounded by a solid and opaque sky, or firmament, and also as a metaphorical illustration of either the scientific or the mystical quests for knowledge.
Awarded to people in the medical field, what American awards are considered the country’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize in that area?
The Lasker Awards Eighty-six Lasker laureates have received the Nobel Prize, including 32 in the last two decades.
Using two copper devices called the Magdeburg hemispheres, a certain German scientist proved the concept of what in 1656?
Atmospheric pressure/ vacuum (Otto von Guericke)
When the rims were sealed with grease and the air was pumped out, the sphere contained a vacuum and could not be pulled apart by teams of horses. The hemispheres became popular in physics lectures as an illustration of the power of air pressure, and are still used in education. A pair of the original hemispheres are preserved in the Deutsches Museum in Munich
In a 1995 book, authors Charles Mann and Mark Plummer argue that we have to realize we cannot save every species and must prioritize. They called the book whose choice? Noah (Noah’s Choice)
A steel sphere filled with sodium housed at the University of Maryland seeks to register the flipping of what physical property that is of enormous significance to mariners, among others? Earth’s magnetic field
Earth’s magnetic field changes over time because it is generated by the motion of molten iron alloys in its outer core. In the course of the planet’s history, it has flipped hundreds of times.
If the Solvay Conferences of the early 1910s set the tone for 20th century physics, the Dartmouth Conferences of 1956 have similar importance for what field of science? Artificial Intelligence (AI) Organised by John McCarthy and formally proposed by McCarthy, Marvin Minsky, Nathaniel Rochester and Claude Shannon, the proposal is credited with introducing the term ‘artificial intelligence’. McCarthy was very influential in the early development of AI
What is the name of the six-letter ore from which niobium and tantalum are extracted and whose mining is said to have fueled many modern day African conflicts? Coltan It is used primarily for the production of tantalum capacitors, used in many electronic devices. Many sources mention coltan’s importance in the production of cell phones, but this is an over-simplification, as tantalum capacitors are used in almost every kind of electronic device. Its mining has been cited as helping to finance serious conflict, for example the Ituri conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
What is the subject of the illustration commonly called March of Progress that was commissioned by Time-Life Books and drawn by Rudolph Zallinger in 1965? The ape to man progress Scientists have noted that early human evolution did not progress in any linear, sequential fashion nor did it move along a “road” toward any predetermined “ideal form”; they have faulted the image with being misleading in implying these things. Although the context of the original drawing indicates that it was not the authors’ or illustrator’s intent to imply a linear ancestor-descendant parade, as the popularity of the image grew and achieved iconic status, the name “March of Progress” became attached to it.m
What psychological phenomenon states that when two people live in close proximity during the first years in the life of either one, they are desensitized to sexual attraction? The Westermarck effect
What present-day tradition that is a favorite among the working class originated in the U.S. Navy in the 1920s where it was a slang for a scheduled entertainment period?
If someone wants to be called a ‘hafiz’ or ‘hafith’ by Muslims, they must possess an incredible memory Why?
Hafiz is one who has memorised the Quran It literally means ‘Guardian’.
What is the Japanese practice of ‘jigai’ that is the female equivalent of a more gory procedure prescribed for males?
Traditional method of ritual suicide
What is the term for the fine pattern of cracks formed on old paintings, which is sometimes used to detect forged art as it is a hard-to-forge signature of authenticity? Craquelure
The name of what mythical medieval land of plenty where the harshness of peasant life does not exist is commonplace in medieval Goliard verse? Cockaigne
What cultural symbol of Mexico is said to represent both the Virgin Mary and the Aztec goddess Tonantzin?
Our Lady of Guadalupe
A snare is tied near the base of a bird’s throat, which allows the bird only to swallow small fish. When the bird tries to swallow a large fish, the fish is caught in the it’s throat and when it returns to the fisherman’s raft, he helps the bird to remove the fish. Historically in China, Japan and Macedonia, the fishing skills of which bird have been put to good use this way? Cormorant
Alluded to by Alexander Pope in his “An Essay on Criticism”, in Greek mythology it was believed that drinking from what body of water would bring you great inspiration?
The Pierian spring
What is the illustrated manuscript produced by Celtic monks around 800 AD that has been described as the zenith of Western calligraphy and illumination? The Book of Kells
The medieval practice of appointing a cardinal who was a nephew of a pope gives us which English word that means bestowing favors to relatives/friends? Nepotism
What is the Japanese equivalent of the Chinese art of penjing? Bonsai
In Irish, Icelandic, and Scottish mythologies, selkies are creatures that are capable of taking what form apart from human? A form of Seal
The temple of the Hindu god Lord Venkateshwara in Tirupathi, India holds what distinction? It is the second most visited religious center in the world, following the Vatican
What valuable commodities were called as ‘sweat of the sun’ and ‘tears of the moon’ by the Incas? Gold & Silver
What monument was described by the poet Rabindranath Tagore as “a teardrop on the cheek of time”? Taj Mahal
What measures 15 feet × 29 ft and can be found in the back halls of a dining hall at the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy? The Last Supper by Da Vinci
What is the name of the ritual practiced by some Bedouin tribes for the purpose of lie detection in which the accused is asked to lick a hot object? Bishaa
Western Red Cedar trees are typically used by the indigenous cultures of the Pacific Northwest coast of North America to carve what distinctive artifacts? Totem Poles
What is the name of the water management system developed in ancient Persia that is used to provide a reliable supply of water in hot and arid climates? Qanat
Typically worn in rural areas while hunting, what type of hat became a stereotypical head wear of a detective because of its association with Sherlock Holmes? Deerstalker
What item of clothing invented in 1946 was named after the site of a nuclear weapons test on the reasoning that the burst of excitement it would cause would be like a nuclear device? The Bikini
Until the 80s, visitors to Disneyland would purchase books of coupons that were in different alphabetical denominations with the highest one being the most expensive and reserved for the most popular rides.
What expression for a thrilling situation originates from this practice? E Ticket Ride
What is the name given to a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar? Caryatid
The Ouroboros, one of the oldest mystical symbols in the world was the inspiration behind the discovery of the structure of the Benzene molecule. How is it represented?
A Serpent swallowing its own tail
Most mosques in the world contain a niche in a wall that indicates the qibla. What is it? The direction of Mecca
What breed of dog was a favored imperial pet in ancient China? Pekinese
Auguste Rodin’s famous sculpture The Thinker was originally meant to depict whom? Dante at the gates of Hell contemplating his great poem
What is the correct term for a tomb or monument erected in honor of those whose remains are elsewhere? Cenotaph
In the US, baseball parks are often designed so that the batter is facing east, in order that the afternoon sun does not shine in his eyes. This means that left-handed pitchers are always throwing from a particular direction. What term for a left-hander originated from this practice? Southpaw
The Temple of the Tooth which houses the only surviving relic of Buddha (a tooth) is located in the city of Kandy in which Asian country? Sri Lanka
During the canonization process of the Roman Catholic Church, what was the lawyer who argued against the canonization of a candidate called? The Devils Advocate
Made famous by the movie Midnight Express, what is the punishment of ‘falaka’ or ‘bastinado’?
Beating the soles of the feet
In Greek mythology, Achilles’ mother dipped him in a river and held him up by his ankle which remained dry and thus vulnerable. Name the river. Styx
The name of what eponymous color is derived from an artist’s use of brownish orange, especially for the hair of his early portraits of courtesans? Titian
What word meaning a person devoted to luxury is derived from the name of an ancient Greek city that was noted for the pleasure-seeking habits of its inhabitants? Sybaris
In 1940, U.S. paratroopers at Fort Benning saw a biopic before their first mass jump and started a certain trend. Who was the subject of the picture? Geronimo
Two Belgian Malinois dogs called Hurricane and Jordan were in the news in 2014 for tackling an intruder at what location? The White House
Since doctors are meant to ‘cure all’, the first line of the Hippocratic oath appropiately mentions what other goddess along with Apollo, Aesculapius & Hygeia? Panacea
Biycle mechanic Charlie Taylor is best known for his collaboration with which two gentlemen in the early 20th century? The Wright Brothers
The legendary Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul, was built in 1892 for passengers who arrived in the city by which specific form of transport? The Orient Express
What annual observation started in 1889 by members of the Second International who wanted to commemorate the Haymarket riot in Chicago in 1886? Labour Day (May Day)
What organization which operates with the slogan “The Opinion and The other Opinion” started in 1996 with a loan of
500 million Qatari ryals? Al Jazeera
The Berne Convention of 1886 was an international agreement that established rules governing what? Copyright
Château de Pitray, Château Mouton Rothschild, and Château Pape-Clément that attract tourists in a particular area of France are all famous what? Bordeaux Vinyards
The traditional recipe of what sea-food dish strongly associated with Marseilles calls for the use of rascase (scorpion fish) and at least two other types of Mediterranean fish? Bouillabaisse
In the fruit with the scientific name Citrus Sinensis, the protuberance at the blossom end is compared to what human body part? Navel
A flatbread called injera that is traditionally eaten in Ethiopia is made from the flour of what grain that is now being called as the new quinoa? Teff
Compiled in the late 4th or early 5th century AD and sure to delight gourmets, what is Apicius?
A collection of Roman cookery recipes
The consumption of Touareg tea which is tea flavored with which herb is widely prevalent in several Arab countries? Mint
Talking against the new Healthcare Bill, Judge Antonin Scalia said in 2012 that it is akin to forcing people to buy what food item? (hint:George H. W. Bush wouldn’t approve)
A 2002 book subtitled The Much Lamented Death of Madam Geneva is a detailed account of the craze for what libation that overtook 18th century England? Gin
What concept of the food industry involves cooking sealed food at lower temperatures but for a long time? Sous-vide
Englishman Albert Howard who had publications like Manufacture of Humus by the Indore Process among others is considered a pioneer of what? Organic agriculture
A favourite mesure of dieters in present times, what index indicates how quickly blood sugars rise after eating a particular type of food? Glysemic index
In a native American legend, corn, beans and what other crop make up the triage called the three sisters owing to the practice of growing them together? Squash
What cocktail made with lemon juice, cointreau, gin and a dash of certain color is also the name of a luxury transport of South Africa? Blue Train
What fast-food ubiquity that chef Bourdain once called “the most disgusting thing he ever ate” comes in bone, ball, bell, and boot shapes? McDonalds Chicken McNuggets
The Cypriot dish ambelopoulia that is the subject of much controversy in the country is made from what? Songbirds
In 2011, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion upended the Naga Bhut Jolokia for what culinary distinction?
The worlds hottest chilli pepper
What is the only South American region in the list of 9 names selected by a project called ‘Great Wine Capitals’?
Mendoza in Argentina
The 18th century English nobleman John Montagu who was so fond of gambling that he played even while eating was the earl of what town in Kent? Sandwich
The ‘culinary triangle’ concept proposed by anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss discusses what three basic types of cooking of meat? Boiling, roasting and smoking
If ‘single malt’ describes a whisky made at one distillery, what is the word for a wine that is made from a single grape type? Varietal
Vehicles from which country use the international registration letters WG? Grenada
What was Elton john’s first US No1 hit? Crocadile Rock
Which celebrity was born in Craigton Rd. Eltham in 1903?
Bob Hope
In which English city is the Burrows Toy Museum? Bath
What was Oliver Reed’s real first name? Robert
In which Woody Allen movie did Madonna play a trapeze artist? Shadows & Fog
From 1903 to 1958 , every Pope-bar-one took which name? Pius
In which US state is John F. Kennedy buried? Virginia
Which US No 1 single came from Diana Ross’s platinum album Diana ? Upside Down
What was the title of Kitty Kelly’s book about Elizabeth Taylor? Elizabeth Taylor : The Last Star
Which country does the airline Sansa come from?
Costa Rica
Who drew Felix the cat? Otto Messmer
In which English city was Cary Grant born? Bristol
Who wrote the lyrics to “Je ne regette rien”?
Michel Vaucaire
What is Mel Gibson’s middle name? Colmcille
In which country was Julie Christie born? India
Sculptor Drederic Auguste Bartholdi based the face of the Statue of liberty on whom? His Mother
Which group made albums.Bare Trees and Penguin?
Fleetwood Mac
Which lady was taking driving lessons in Bob Newharts classic sketch? Mrs.Webb
Which writer said “Where large sums of money are involved. it is advisable to trust nobody”? Agatha Christie