Mastermind Club
General Question Archive 3
The Basin Reserve is an international cricket venue in which city? Wellington
How many squares make up the perimeter of a chess board? 28
Slivovitz is made from which fruit? Plums
Arbroath Smokies are made from which fish? Haddock
What colour is the Central Line on a London Underground map? Red
Name the lead singer associated with the band the Stone Roses, who went on to pursue a solo career? Ian Brown
In which part of the human body would you find the Pons? The Brain
The computing term Bit, derives from which 2 word term? Binary Digit
What is the correct title for the building in London, which is known as Canary Wharf Tower? No. 1 Canada Square
What is the width of a standard railway gauge in the UK? 4ft. 8 1/2 inches
Which gemstone symbolises a 40th Wedding Anniversary? Ruby
In which sport might you come across an event known as a ‘Madison’ (Track) Cycling
What was the name of the pretender to the throne, who was executed in 1499 after trying to overthrow Henry VII? Perkin Warbeck
Who was the first Prime Minister of Britain in the 20th Century? Lord Salisbury (Robert Gascoyne-Cecil)
A dish described as Dubarry contains what? Cauliflower
The Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified on 13 December 1865. What was achieved by the thirteenth amendment? The abolition of slavery
What in years is the average length of time between appearances of Halley’s Comet? 76 years
Which literary work, completed in 1353, takes the form of tales related by ten travellers departing Florence to escape its plague? The Decameron
‘Queen Anne’s War’, fought with France for the control of North America between 1702 and 1713, was contemporaneous with which European war? The War of the Spanish Succession
Between 1940 and 1942 the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra provided accompaniment for which singer born in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1915? Frank Sinatra
Which Russian composer wrote several symphonies commemorating revolutionary Russia, his Second Symphony being commonly known as the October Symphony? Shostakovich
What is the name of the music hall comedian played by Laurence Olivier in both the stage and film versions of John Osborne’s play The Entertainer? Archie Rice
What was the surname of the brothers Nicolaas and Diederick, on whose farm near Kimberley in the 1860s the first diamond in Southern Africa was found, later named the Star of Africa? De Beer
Over thirty-six kilometres long, triangular in shape and forming part of the boundary between Strathclyde and Central Regions, which of the Scottish lochs covers the largest area? Loch Lomand
Which flat race is run at Newmarket and gets its name from the future Alexander II of Russia, who attended the inaugural race in 1839? The Cesarewitch
In 1935 Italy invaded which African country? Abyssinia
Who was the author of The Shortest Way with Dissenters and A Journal of the Plague Year? Daniel Defoe
What is the name of the rake in The Rake’s Progress? Tom Rakewell
Which four flags were raised above the summit of Mount Everest by Hillary and Tensing in 1953? Great Britain, India, Nepal & the United Nations
In Greek legend, Pygmalion was king of which island? Cyprus
What famous opera takes place while another opera is supposed to be played off-stage? The Tales of Hoffman
What planet is known as the Horned Planet? Venus
Which Russian city was known as Tsaritsyn until 1925? Volgagrad
Which battle is sometimes called the “Battle of the Three Emperors’” ? Austerlitz
What unique find was made by a Bedouin shepherd boy in a cave in the Wadi Qumran? The Dead Sea Scrolls
The Norwich School of Painting was founded by whom? John Crome
Which is the longest river in France? The Loire
Which Chancellor of the Exchequer introduced Premium Bonds? Harold McMillan (in 1956)
Which famous rocker released the album Greetings from Ashbury Park N.J.? Bruce Springsteen
Who played the only female driver in the U.S. sit-com Taxi? Marilu Henner
Who was the assassin of U.S President James Garfield in 1881? Charles Guiteau
The scene of one of the Pacific battles during the Second World War, in which group of islands is Guadalcanal? Solomon Islands
With 26 appearances who was in in the most Carry On films? Kenneth Williams
Which drink was advertised as “Reassuringly expensive”? Stella Artois
In front of which London church will you find a statue, sculpted by Faith Winter of Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Arthur Harris? St. Clement Danes
Which Nazi leader’s widely read memoirs were titled Inside the Third Reich? Albert Speer
Which U.S. President was nick-named “Old Rough and Ready” Zachary Taylor
In 1947 The Best Years of our Lives became the first film to win which award? A BAFTA (for best film)
Nicolas Brakespeare is the only Englishman ever to hold the office of Pope. What name did he take when becoming Pope? Adrian IV
Who said “Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same”? Oscar Wilde
Which curved-billed bird is the largest European wader? Curlew
Lake Ohrid lies between which two countries? Albainia and Macedonia
Which poet (1884-1915) wrote The Bridge of Fire, Golden Journey to Samarkand and The Old Ships? James Elroy Flecker
Which French artist (1834-1917) was famous for his paintings of the Ballet? Edgar Degas Anna Maria Louisa Italiano born in 1931 is the real name of which actress? Ann Bancroft
Which author based his stories about the spy Asenden on his experiences in the British Secret Service during the First World War? W. Somerset. Maugham
What name was given to the cliff face at the southern end of the Capitoline Hill in Rome, from which traitors were flung to their death? Tarpeian Rock
In which sport would you come across Penthouses and Buttresses? Real Tennis
Who was the husband of Boadicea? Prasutagus
Which American President was involved in the Teapot Dome scandal? Warren G.Harding
Who was Queen Anne’s husband? Prince George of Denmark
A Harras is a collective noun for a group of which animals? Horses
Which Mexican general who was appointed president of Mexico five times in spite of losing two wars to the Americans? Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
Who was the first African American to win a Wimbledon singles title? Althea Gibson in 1957
What is the name given to the dot above the letter I? Tittle
Which planet of the solar system has the shortest day? Jupiter
Which of Turner’s paintings sold at auction in 2006 for a UK record of £20 Million? Visions of Venice
At the climax of which film does the male lead climb down the Presidential faces of Mount Rushmore? North by Northwest
Which town was named Danum by the Romans? Doncaster
Who was the creator of Dick Tracy? Chester Gould
What does the Russian word Vostok as in Vladivostok mean? East
Who was appointed as U.S. Vice president when Gerald Ford replaced Richard Nixon as President? Nelson Rockefeller
Which British composer wrote the music for Desert Island Discs and ‘The Dambusters March? Eric Coates
Which 14th-century English religious reformer was often called ‘The Morning Star of the Reformation’? John Wycliffe
What is the name of the Paranoid Android in Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy? Marvin
Of what is semiotics the study? Signs and Symbols
Which female politician was the Prime Minister of Australia between 2010 and 2013? Julia Gillard
Which band had a hit 2009 album entitled Wild Young Hearts? The Noisettes
In the film Mary Poppins, who played Mrs Banks, mother to Jane and Michael? Glynis Johns
“When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen”, are the opening lines of which novel? The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
In which country are Castello cheeses produced? Denmark
Which Oasis track was the theme tune to the hit comedyThe Royle Family? Half a World Away
Which snooker player was the first to achieve a televised 147 break? Steve Davis at the Lada Classic January 11th 1982
‘‘JPEG’ is a common file format for pictures and photographs, but what does it stand for? Joint Photographic Experts Group
“There’s evil in the air and there’s thunder in the sky and a killer’s on the bloodshot streets” is the opening line of which song? Bat out of Hell
The Commitments became a film in 1991, but the original book was published in 1987 – who wrote it? Roddy Doyle
Marble is formed by the metamorphosis of what rock? Limestone
Which bridge connects Dawes Point to Milson’s Point? Sydney Harbour Bridge
Invented by Haci Bekir Effendi at his Istanbul shop in 1777 what is the globally consumed ‘lokum’ more famously called? Turkish Delight
What name for a crude greedy humanoid species in Jonathan Swift’s 1726 Gulliver’s Travels came to refer to a rude and violent person? Yahoo
According to which religion did the prophets Nephi and Lehi lead people from Jerusalem across the sea to the Americas around 600BC? Mormonism (or Latter Day Sainthood)
American engineer Percy Spencer’s domestic invention, launched in 1947 as the ‘Radarange’, is nowadays very commonly known and used as what? Microwave Oven
From early Greek ‘authentes’, lord or master, what titular term in Arab and east Mediterranean nations refers to a man of educated or high social standing? Effendi
What branch of mathematics also means in Spanish (and archaic English) ‘the surgical treatment of fractures’? Algebra
Who was the Swiss Psychiatrist who gave his name to a personality test which directs the subjects attention to ink blots? Rorschach
In 1917 which King was forced by an ultimatum from the Allies to abdicate in favour of his son? Constantine of Greece
In Vincent van Gogh’s painting The Prison Courtyard now in the Pushkin Museum, Moscow, which is the London prison represented? Newgate
Shark-skin , often dyed green, was used for covering cases which held scientific instruments. What was this material called? Shagrin
What was “Operation Dynamo” in the Second World War? The evacuation from Dunkirk
The highest temperature ever recorded outside in the shade was recorded in Azizah, in Africa. In which country is this city located? Libya
How old is Juliet when she dies in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet? 13 (almost 14)
Which poem starts with the line `On either side of the river lie`? The Lady of Shallot
In Greek mythology, which King was the son of Laius and Jocasta? Oedipus
Which two European capital cities are closest together? Vienna and Bratislava (81km)
Who was President of the United States during the brief Spanish-American war? William McKinley
Which achievement links Arthur Martin-Leake, Noel Chavasse and Charles Upham? They won 2 Victoria Crosses (VC and Bar)
In which South African city was J.R.R.Tolkien born on 3rd January 1892 Bloemfontein
Which group of British artists, formed in 1911, took their name from an area of Greater London that was often used as the setting for paintings by Walter Sickert? Camden Group
What term is used to describe a stag with twelve or more points on its antlers? Royal
Which singer sculpted the statue of Eleanor Rigby, situated in Stanley Street in Liverpool? Tommy Steele
The title of which John Steinbeck novel is taken from a Robert Burns poem? Of Mice and Men
Some species of which brightly coloured small marine fish are particularly known for clearing parasites from larger fish? (Cleaner) Wrasse
Which play by Oscar Wilde is subtitled “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People” The Importance of Being Earnest
Who succeeded his relative Trajan in AD 117? Hadrian
Which book of the Bible warns of the consequences “if a man takes his brother’s wife”, which Henry VIII used to justify his divorce from Catherine of Aragon? Leviticus
Which play by Anthony Schaffer was filmed in 1972 and 2007, with Michael Caine in on of the leading roles each time? Sleuth
Which German composer, whose most famous work is his First Violin Concerto in G Minor, was the conductor of the Liverpool Philharmonic Society from 1880 to 1883? Max Bruch
Stibium is the Latin name for which element that has been given the symbol Sb as a result? Antimony
In which county is Britain’s deepest cave, known as “Titan” which is around 460 feet deep? Derbyshire
The first time a mile race was run in under four minutes by two men was the final of the Commonwealth Games in Vancouver in 1954. The gold medal was won by Roger Bannister, the silver went to which Australian athlete? John Landy
Opened in 1968, in which Northern Irish town is The University of Ulster? Coleraine
Rule Britannia was written by James Thomson; who set it to music? Thomas Arne
George Bernard Shaw wrote the part of Eliza Doolittle especially for which actress? Mrs.Patrick Campbell
In the USA, which present-day state was known officially in the nineteenth century as Indian Country? Oklahoma
In the film Cannonball Run what was the name of the super-hero played by Dom DeLuise? Captain Chaos
What is the hard tag at the end of a shoe lace called? Aglet
What is the layer of the atmosphere closest to the earth`s surface called? The Troposphere
What yellow fossilised resin was used as jewellery by the Greeks and Romans? Amber
What is pogonology the study of? Beards
In the Bible, what were the names of Noah`s three sons? Shem, Ham and Japeth
Which artist is responsible for the painting entitled Whaaaam? Roy Lichenstein
Who said: “The best way to keep one’s word is not to give it”? Napoleon Bonapart
Which creature was slain with a vorpal blade near the Tumtum tree? Jabberwocky
As of 2014, who was the only player in the last 50 years to have won the golden boot in both top flight Scottish and English football? Andy Grey
The name of which controversial art form stems from a Latin word meaning ‘stylus’? Graffiti
The acronym FLOTUS stands for what? First Lady of the United States
In which city was the original ‘ghetto’? Venice
The word biscuit stems from the Latin ‘bis coctum’. What does ‘bis coctum’ mean? Twice cooked (or twice baked)
What is the name of the sea strait that separates Greenland and Iceland? The Denmark Strait
The 1,267 ft. Devils Tower in Wyoming plays an alluring role in which 1977 sci-fi film? Close Encounters of The Third Kind
Where can one find Tysse, Ormeli and Vestre Mardola, and what are they? Norway and they are Waterfalls
Who is Jessica’s father in The Merchant of Venice? Shylock
“Now as through this world I ramble I see lots of funny men, some will rob you with a Six gun and some with a fountain pen” is a verse in the outlaw song ‘Pretty Boy Floyd’. Which prolific US song writer wrote the song? Woody Guthrie
Which group were once known as ‘The Detours’ and ‘The High Numbers’ in the early 1960’s? The Who
In a farewell address, which US President first warned Americans of the possible “misplaced power” of the new military-industrial complex? Dwight D.Eisenhower
Thunder Child is a doomed Royal Navy ship in a famous novel and the title of a song on a popular 1978 album. The title of the novel and the album are the same. What is it? War of the Worlds
In Norse mythology what is ‘Midgard’? Earth
What is the largest tree borne fruit in the world which can reach up to 80 pounds in weight and 36 inches in length? Jackfruit
In the year 1700, Luxembourg, Naples, Milan, Sicily and Sardinia belonged to which monarchy? Spain
The name of which popular culinary dish probably stems from the Portuguese words wine and garlic? Vindaloo
Which worry prone film character is fluent in more than 6,000,000 forms of communication? C3PO
What name did the Vikings give to Newfoundland? Vinland
Which letter does Hester Prynne have to wear in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s ‘The Scarlet Letter’? A (for adulterer)
The H-3 and the H-4, built in 1757 and 1759 were mechanical wonders. Which man constructed them both and what were they used for? John Harrison. H-3 and H-4 were the first successful maritime chronometers)
80% of all footballs in the world are made in which Asian country? Pakistan
What does a woman raise and hold up in a Pabana? Her skirt. The Pabana (or Peacock dance) is a solemn and stately Spanish dance.
In a popular very early 1960’s TV series John Drake was better known to viewers under another name. The name is also the title of the series. What is it? Danger Man (or Secret Agent)
Which man, who asked us all to envisage there is no empyrean goal, was responsible for composing three 1981 UK number one hit singles? John Lennon (Woman, Imagine and Jealous Guy)
The spelling of which rock bands name often contains two inverted Sig runes? Kiss
Which force or effect, named after a French mathematician, effects rotating bodies? Coriolis
In which Shakespeare play would you find the cat Greymalkin? Macbeth
In Paris, where would you find Franklin D Roosevelt, Victor Hugo and George V? On the Metro, they are stations
Cebuano, Fula, Gujarati and Kannada are all examples of what? (Indian) Languages
An Scottish woman was nominated six times for the Oscar for best actress and came away empty handed each time. A record. Who was she? Deborah Kerr
Which abnormally elevated mood was first coined by the Daily Mirror newspaper on the 2nd November 1963? Beatlemania
What took place for the first time in Alamogordo? The first atomic bomb test
Who met whom on the tenth of November 1871 in Ujiji? Stanley and Livingstone
The Germanic goddess of the springtime Ostara was what kind animal? A rabbit or hare
Which large river separates Laos and Myanmar? The Mekong
What did Captain William Mynors discover on the 25th December 1643? Christmas Island
With which profession does one associate the Stanislawski method? Acting
Since 1975, which sport can not be played with the left hand? Polo
The following are the first words spoken by 007 in which Bond film:: “Request permission to come aboard, sir”? You only live twice
Which island country is the only country in the world with all the different climatic zones? New Zealand
What was the name of the sect that over six centuries strangled millions of people in India? Thugees
In which US television series would you find the character Ralph Malph Happy Days
What does a Neonatologist study? New Born Babies
Which sea explorer’s expedition was the first to circumnavigate the globe? Ferdinand Magellan
What is the name of the cathedral in Red Square, Moscow ? St.Basil’s
Pegasus, the flying horse, stemmed from which slain woman? Medusa
What is the name of the belief that animals, plants and even a glass of beer has a soul? Animism
Which famous writer had a cameo role in the first Bridget Jones movie? Salman Rushdie
What is the capital of Madagascar? Antanarivo
The Air France Concorde that crashed in Paris narrowly missed another plane on which a famous person was travelling. Who was travelling on the other plane? Jacques Chirac
What are the first three words in Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick”? “Call me Ishmael”
What is kept in an Ossarium? Bones
Which summer Olympics was boycotted by almost every African nation? Montreal in 1976
In which films did Tom Hanks play the character Andrew Beckett? Philadelphia
Which famous European building is the Arabic word for “The Red”? The Alhambra, Granada
Red Dragon is a Hannibal Lector movie, who painted the picture with the same name? William Blake
What is the name given to the Swiss guards who are the Popes bodyguard at the Vatican? Hellebardier Gardist
Apart from the obvious, between 1962 and 1986, for what purpose was the Glienicke bridge used? Exchange of spies between the Eastern Block and the West
Lutelia was the old name of which city? Paris
Which fruit has the most calories per gram? Avacado
Who was the first boxer to defeat Muhammad Ali? Joe Frazier In which French colony was an atom bomb tested in 1960? Algeria
Some hippies believed you could get high smoking Mellow Yellow. What was the source of this totally ineffective drug? Dried Banana peel
The Bay of Fundy, which has the world’s highest tides lies between which 2 Canadian provinces? New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
What is the deepest female singing voice called? Contra Alto
Of the thirteen Football League clubs in London which is the oldest? Fulham (Formed 1879)
The Linbury Studio Theatre is found in what larger London building? The Royal Opera House
Traditionally which of two kinds of wood can a shillelagh be made from? Oak & Blackthorn
Formerly the “British protectorate of Bechuanaland”, which republic adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on the 30th September 1966? Botswana
‘Up the river’ is an American expression for going to prison. Which prison on the Hudson river gave rise to this expression?
Sing Sing (situated in the village of Ossinsing)
What is so unusual about a city that Wincanton is twinned with? It is fictional- Terry Pratchetts Anka-Morpork
Who was president of Egypt during the Suez Crisis in 1956? Gamel Abdel Nasser
Nicknamed ‘Connie’, what was the most popular commercial airliner in the 1950’s? Lockheed Constellation
The Dickin Medal, bearing the words ‘We also serve’ and ‘For Gallantry’, is awarded to which group of war heroes? Animals
Who became German chief of staff in 1916 , directing the German war effort alongside Hindenburg? Eric Luddendorff
Which company developed the first automatic focus camera in 1976? Konica
Two England Cricketers each scored their 100th first class century in 1977. One was Geoffrey Boycott, who was the other? John Edrich
In which film was the voice of Charlie Chaplin heard for the first time? Modern Times
Which UK Eurovision Song Contest performer said they would “rather stick pins in their eyes” than repeat the experience? Michael Ball
“Screwed up eyes and screwed down hairdo like some cat from Japan.” Is a line from which song? Ziggy Stardust
Which music hall, television and film comedian, who died in 1990, was famous for his funny walks, deep sad voice and rubber faced grimaces? Max Wall
First published in 1928, the title character of which famous novel is named Constance? Lady Chatterley’s Lover
What is the name of the best selling XBOX 360 game that features the character Marcus Fenix? Gears of War
Who wrote The Prince, a famous work that redefined the beliefs of cynicism in the Italian Renaissance? Niccolo Machiavelli
Which character appears in all nine of Raymond Chandler’s novels? Philip Marlowe
Which seed has been used for centuries to colour cheddar cheese? The Annatto Seed
Where in the human body is the Lunula located? Fingernail (it is the white crescent shape at the base of the finger nail)
Who wrote the story on which the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock film The Birds was based? Daphne de Maurier
What is the name of an apparatus for representing the positions, motions, and phases of the planets, satellites, etc. in the solar system? Orrery
The Prince William Cup is contested in Rugby Union between Wales and which other country? South Africa