Questions for March 31st

 Set By

The Principals

 

Vetted by:  Harrington B and Puss Heads

 

Specialist Rounds are :

 

Science

Money matters – we're doomed

Sport in 2009

Geography

Spelling Bee

Arts and Entertainment

History

Fruit is good for you

 

 

 

SCIENCE

    

        1.   Quark is the name given to a fundamental particle of matter, but which author                  originally coined the word Quark?

              James Joyce (in Finnegan's  Wake).

               

        2.   Which star is the brightest star in the night sky?              

              Sirius (accept Dog Star).

 

        3.   Nocturnal describes creatures that are active by night, what

              word describes creatures that are active by day?

              Diurnal.

 

        4.   What name is given to chemical elements with atomic numbers greater than

               ninety two?

              Transuranic Elements (The atomic number of  Uranium is 92)

 

        5.   What was the name of the British space probe that was lost when                                         attempting to land on Mars at Christmas 2003?

               Beagle Two (Accept Beagle).

              

        6.   As in the cmyk four colour printing process, for what does the letter “m” stand?

              Magenta.

 

        7. What type of bridge is the Forth railway bridge?

             Cantilever.

           

        8.   What name is given  to a one thousand millionth of a second?

              Nanosecond.

 

SUPPLEMENTARIES                  

               

         9.  Who, along with Marie & Pierre Curie, shared the 1903 Nobel Prize for physics?

             Antoine Becquerel

 

        10. Who invented the mercury thermometer?

              Gabriel Fahrenheit

 

        11. How many teeth should a healthy human adult have?

              32

 

 

   

 

 

MONEY MATTERS-----WE'RE DOOMED

             

    1.   The vat rate has recently been temporarily reduced to 15 %, but which chancellor of         the exchequer originally raised the vat rate from 15% to 17.5% in his 1991 Budget?

          Norman Lamont.

 

    2.   What name is given to the method of boosting the money supply by “printing new             money” when the normal process of cutting interest rates isn't working, most           obviously when interest rates are so low it is not possible to cut them further?

           Quantitative Easing

 

    3.   What is the name of the U.S. equivalent of the Bank of England?

           The Federal Reserve

 

    4.   Who first advocated Monetarism?

          Milton Friedman.

 

    5.   Which Building Society, in 1989,  was the first British Building Society to float on the       London stock market?

          Abbey National.

 

    6.    Due to his reputation for cost cutting and efficiency, what nickname was given to Sir      Frederick Goodwin, former chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland?

          “Fred the Shred”.

 

    7.   In which U.K.town is the Royal Mint located?

          Llantrisant.

 

    8.   As in G8, G20 etc the alphanumeric designation given to meetings of the world's richest countries, for what does the letter G stand?

           Group (Group of 8 etc)

 

 

 SUPPLEMENTARIES

 

    9.  What is the name of the Paris Stock Exchange?

         La Bourse

 

    10. Which country has the oldest stock exchange?

          Belgium. (Antwerp 1460)

 

    12. By what nickname is the Bank of England commonly known?

          “The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street”.

 

 

 

SPORT----2009

                              

     1.  Earlier this month (March 2009), which country defeated Great Britain by four games       to one in in their Europe/Africa  zone Davis Cup tie?

           Ukraine.

 

     2.  Since their withdrawal from the sport, the Honda Racing Formula One team has   been taken over by their ex-team boss, who is he?

          Ross Brawn (the team is called “Brawn GP Formula One Team”)

 

     3.  The second cricket Test Match game between West Indies and England in February was abandoned after only ten balls because of an unfit outfield. On which West Indian island was the game being played?

           Antigua (Sir Vivian Richards Stadium).

 

     4.   On 25^th February 2009 which football league Division 2 team were deducted 10   points for entering into administration part way through the season?

           Darlington

 

     5.  The European Indoor Athletics Championships recently took place in Turin. The   Great Britain team won only two gold medals. Dwain Chambers the 60 metres race, which athlete won the  3000 metres?

           Mo Farah.

 

     6.  Which jockey recently rode his 3000^th winner in the Tyser&Co

          beginners' chase on the 9^th February at Plumpton?

          A.P.(Tony) McCoy.

 

     7.  Which course is to host the 2009 Open  Golf  Championship?

          Turnberry (Ailsa Course)

 

     8.  In February, which American Football team won Superbowl XLIII  (43), becoming the only team to have ever won their sixth Superbowl?

          Pittsburgh Steelers (beat Arizona Cardinals 27-23)

 

SUPPLEMENTARIES

 

    9.  Which British yachtswoman recently came third in the Vendee Globe, round the    world race, despite stopping mid-race to help rescue a fellow competitor?

         Sam Davies.

 

    10.  Which darts player won the BDO World Championship in January?

           Ted Hankey.

 

    11. Which horse won the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival earlier this     month?

           Punjabi.

GEOGRAPHY

             

    1.   St. Petersburg stands at the head of which gulf  in the Baltic Sea?

          Gulf of Finland.

 

    2.   At 375 miles (approx.604 km.), the Glomma is the longest river in which mainland             European country?

          Norway

 

    3.   Which U.S. City stands on the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers?

          St Louis

 

    4.   Wenlock Edge is a range of hills in which English county?

          Shropshire.

 

    5.   Which cape stands at the north-west tip of mainland Scotland?

          Cape Wrath.

 

    6.   Which lake on the River Nile was created by the building of the Aswan Dam?

           Lake Nasser.

 

    7.   Name either of the two countries in which the Thar Desert is located.

          India or Pakistan

 

     8.  What is the smallest country on mainland Africa?

          The Gambia

 

 SUPPLEMENTARIES

 

     9.   Denali is the native name for which of the worlds major mountains?

           Mt. McKinley.

 

     10.  What is the highest mountain in Scotland after Ben Nevis?

            Ben Macdui.

 

     11.  What is Europe's highest capital city?  (EXCLUDING San Marino and Andorra)

            Madrid (2188ft./667m) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPELLING BEE

               

                 (To quiz masters-give the definition and say the word,

                   trying not to give clues with pronunciation. A phonetic

                   guide is included as an aid to this end).

 

                  In each case correctly spell the word defined

            

          1   An assignation or meeting (LEE A ZON ).

               Liaison

 

          2.  A type of shoe (MOK A SIN).

               Moccasin

 

          3.  To remove all liquid (DEH SI KATE)

               Desiccate

 

          4.  Very small (MIN EE SKUEL)

               Minuscule.

 

          5.  A general agreement (CON SEN SUS)

               Consensus.

 

          6.  To carry out a task (FULL FILL)

                Fulfil.

 

          7.  A gymnasium item (DUM BEL)

               Dumbbell.

 

          8.  To inject for medical reasons (IN OCK U LATE)

               Inoculate.

 

SUPPLEMENTARIES

 

          9.  A burial place (SEM EH TREE)

              Cemetery.

 

          10.  Emitting light without heat (FOS FOR ESS UNT)

                 Phosphorescent.

 

           11. A cocktail (DAH KEER EE)

                 Daiquiri.

 

 

 

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

         

       1.   Which British dramatist wrote “Five Finger Exercise”?

              Peter Shaffer.

 

       2.  Which female writer wrote “Five Children and It”?

             Edith Nesbit.

 

       3.  Which American rock band released a live album entitled “From the Muddy Banks           of the Wishkah” in 1996?

            Nirvana.

 

       4.  Which British pop legend released the live album “One Night Only”, recorded at Madison Square Garden in 2000?

           Elton John.

 

       5.  Which Spanish artist painted “The Rokeby Venus”?

            Diego Valazquez

 

       6.  Which Spanish artist painted “The Disasters of War”

             Francisco Goya

 

       7.  Which TV presenter's shows include “Pet Power”, “Up2U” and “Best of Magic”?

            Anthea Turner.

 

       8.  Which actor's TV programmes include “ New Street “, “McCallum” and “Cold                      Blood”?

           John Hannah.

 

SUPPLEMENTARIES

 

       9.  Which Russian composer wrote “”Scheherazade” and “The Golden Cockerel”?

            Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.

 

       10.  Which Italian composer wrote “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “L'amico Fritz”?

              Pietro Mascagni

 

       11.  Nicole Scherzinger is the lead singer with which group?

              Pussycat Dolls.

 

       12.  Who partnered John Sergeant in his much publicised foray into the last series of             “Strictly Come Dancing”?

               Kristina Rinanoff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HISTORY

           

     1.    Who became First Secretary of the Czechoslovak Communist Party in 1968?

            Alexander Dubcek

 

     2.  In which city was David Lloyd George born in 1863?  

          Manchester

 

     3.   Who was U.S. President at the time of the Louisiana purchase in 1803?

           Thomas Jefferson

 

     4.   Which Democratic politician ran for the U.S. Presidency in 1952 and 1956 but was          defeated both times by Eisenhower?

           Adlai Stevenson

 

     5.   Which Stone Age  village in the Orkney Islands was exposed by a storm in 1850?

           Skara Brae.

 

     6.  Which palace was the principal London residence of the monarch from 1697 until             superseded by Buckingham Palace in 1837?

           St. James's Palace.

 

    7.   Which newspaper was founded in 1896 by Alfred Harmsworth?

           Daily Mail.

 

     8.  Who was the mother of Richard the Lionheart?

           Eleanor of Aquitaine.

 

                                   

SUPPLEMENTARIES

 

     9.  Which British contralto died in 1953 aged 41?

           Kathleen Ferrier

 

     10.   Which river did George Washington cross on Christmas night in 1776?

             Delaware.

 

     11.   In January of which year did the first annual letter appear on British vehicle                      number plates?

            1963.

 

             

                 

 

FRUIT IS GOOD FOR YOU

          

               Each answer contains the name of a certain fruit,

               the full phrase, name or saying is required , not just the fruit

              

       1. What is the nickname of New York City?

            The Big Apple.

 

       2. What dessert is named after an Australian soprano ?

            Peach Melba. (Dame Nellie Melba 1861-1931).

 

       3. Who was the first president of Zimbabwe?

           Canaan Banana.

 

       4. What was the powerful herbicide and defoliant used by the U.S. Military during the         Vietnam War?

            Agent Orange.

 

       5. What was the anti-personnel ammunition used in cannons in the 18^th century.?  (loosely packed metal slugs as opposed to solid cannonballs).

           Grapeshot.

 

       6. Alternative name for the Kiwi Fruit?

           Chinese Gooseberry.

 

       7. The group that had a U.K. No.1 in 1968 with Green Tambourine?

             The Lemon Pipers.

 

       8. Native North American (Red Indian) in the Beano comic?

           Little Plum.

 

 SUPPLEMENTARIES            

 

      9.  U.K. No.1 hit for the Move in 1969?

           Blackberry Way

 

      10.  A colloquial term indicating that something has gone wrong?

             Pear Shaped.

 

      11. Founded by John Wilson in 1980 in opposition to the Academy Awards, the awards        given for the worst acting, directing, screenwriting etc. in the movie industry?

            The Golden Raspberry Awards.

 

       12. The brand name of a certain shoe polish?

             Cherry Blossom.

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

 

Q1 VARNA and BOURGAS are both tourist and holiday destinations in which country?

A1 BULGARIA

 

Q2 'Nutmegger' is the nickname for an inhabitant of which U.S. State?

A2 CONNECTICUT

 

Q3 Express 100,000 (one hundred thousand) in Roman numerals

A3 C with a bar on top (a bar on top of a Roman numeral multiplies its value by 1000)

 

Q4 When elevated to the peerage what title did Margaret Thatcher take?

A4 BARONESS KESTEVEN  (Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven)

 

Q5 What is the anatomical name for the windpipe?

A5 TRACHEA

 

Q6 Who has replaced Carole Vorderman as the 'numbers' girl on Channel  4's Countdown?

A6 RACHEL RILEY

 

Q7 What name is given to the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution?

A7 BILL OF RIGHTS

 

Q8 What name is given to a mark under the letter 'c' in French and Portuguese to indicate a soft pronunciation?

A8 CEDILLA

 

Q9 Angelina Jolie is the daughter of which actor?

A9 JON VOIGHT (her full name is Angelina Jolie Voight)

 

Q10 What is 70% of 300

A10 210

 

Q11 Who sang the theme song to the TV series 'One Foot in the Grave' ?

A11 ERIC IDLE

 

Q12 Lateral humeral epicondylitis is a medical condition better known by what name?

A12 TENNIS ELBOW

 

Q13 In which German city does the Porsche motor company have its H.Q.?

A13 STUTTGART

 

Q14 Marco Polo airport serves which European city?

A14 VENICE

 

Q15 Born in Salford in 1966 which singer is nicknamed 'The Voice'?

A15 RUSSELL WATSON

 

Q16 Which creatures live in a 'Holt'?

A16 OTTERS

 

Q17 The Beijing Olympics commenced on 8/8/2008. For what reason did the Chinese request this starting date?

A17 8 IS CONSIDERED A LUCKY NUMBER IN CHINA

 

Q18 Which company's trade mark is named 'The Swoosh'?

A18 NIKE  ('the flying tick')

 

Q19 The Cheshire Building Society was taken over by which much larger Building Society last year?

A19 NATIONWIDE

 

Q20 The 1958 film 'A Night to Remember' was based on/around what event?

A20 SINKING OF THE TITANIC

 

Q21 Mount Logan is the highest mountain in which country?

A21 CANADA

 

Q22 'Convolvulus Arvensis' is the botanical name for which common garden weed?

A22 BINDWEED

 

Q23 On which novel was the 1993 film Schindler's List based?

A23 SCHINDLERS ARK

 

Q24 Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852) was better known by what name?

A24 DUKE OF WELLINGTON

 

Q25 Uttering the word 'SHAZAM' turned Billy Batson into which super-hero?

A25 CAPTAIN MARVEL

 

Q26 What is the state capital of Tasmania?

A26 HOBART

 

Q27 Paul Arthurs was one of the founder members of the band Oasis – by what other name is he known?

A27 BONEHEAD

 

Q28 What is the link between TV presenter David Dickinson and movie star John Wayne?

A28 BOTH ARE NICKNAMED 'DUKE'

 

Q29 'Window Cake' is an alternative name for what cake?

A29 BATTENBERG

 

Q30 As seen on a bottle of German wine what does the work SEKT indicate?

A30 SPARKLING

 

 

 

Q31 Which company now owns the Bentley marque and manufactures Bentleys at Crewe?

A31 VOLKSWAGEN

 

Q32 Thomas à Beckett was murdered at the behest of which king?

A32 HENRY II

 

Q33 Who was deputy Prime Minister to Winston Churchill 1942-1945?

A33 CLEMENT ATTLEE

 

Q34 The 'Bond Girl' in the latest Bond movie (Quantum of Solace) played by Gemma Arterton shares her character name with which Beatles song title?

A34 STRAWBERRY FIELDS

 

Q35 What is the name of the decorative red spot on the forehead of some Asian women?

A35 BINDI

 

Q36 With a population of less than 2000 which Welsh city is the smallest city in the U.K.?

A36 ST. DAVIDS

 

Q37 Under what name has Stefanie Joanne Angelina Germanotta recently topped the U.K. Singles chart?

A37 LADY GAGA

 

Q38 In what year did Woolworth's store in Mill Street Macclesfield open?

A38 1927  (sign in window of store)

 

Q39 Which U.S. City is nicknamed 'The Big Easy'?

A39 NEW ORLEANS

 

Q40 What name is given to the drink that combines lager and cider?

A40 SNAKEBITE

 

Q41 On which day of the week does the Bank of England announce interest rate alterations?

A41 THURSDAY

 

Q42 Martedi is the Italian name for which day of the week?

A42 TUESDAY

 

Q43 South West Africa was the former name of which country?

A43 NAMIBIA

 

Q44 Sam Weller is a character in which Dickens novel?

A44 PICKWICK PAPERS

 

Q45 Which supermarket chain is currently using Bob Dylan singing “Blowin' in the Wind” in a series of TV commercials?

A45 CO-OP (first time one of Dylan's songs has been used in a UK advert)

 

Q46 Ian Botham played county cricket for three counties – Somerset, Worcestershire and which other county?

A46 DURHAM

 

Q47 Who was the Greek Goddess of retribution?

A47 NEMESIS

 

Q48 Which country borders Syria, Iran, Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia?

A48 TURKEY

 

 

Q49 In the game of Backgammon how many pieces (counters) does each player start with?

A49 15

 

Q50 Who, in 1953, was playboy magazine's first 'playmate of the month'?

A50 MARILYN MONROE

 

Q51 In English history what name has been given to the period between the years 1811-1820, when George III was deemed unfit to rule?

A51 REGENCY PERIOD (his son, later to be George IV, ruled by proxy as Prince Regent)

 

Q52 'Slowhand' is the nickname of which rock musician?

A52 ERIC CLAPTON

 

Q53 Which brewery produces Abbot Ale?

A53 GREENE KING

 

Q54 How many squares are there on a scrabble board?

A54 225 (15x15)

 

Q55 Which U.S. city is named after a British Prime Minister?

A55 PITTSBURG

 

Q56 Which brewery produces 'London Pride' beer?

A56 FULLERS

 

Q57 In what subject does rock musician Brian May hold a doctorate?

A57 ASTROPHYSICS

 

Q58 According to the proverb which fruit tastes sweetest?

A58 FORBIDDEN FRUIT

 

Q59 Which sporting venue in London with a capacity of 82,000 has the second largest capacity in the U.K. after Wembley?

A59 TWICKENHAM

 

Q60 What school did Billy Bunter attend?

A60 GREYFRIARS

 

Q61 As in NASDAQ the American share index, for what does the letter 'Q' stand?

A61 QUOTATION (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation)

 

Q62 Which Oxford college was disqualified for playing an ineligible player after winning the final of University Challenge earlier this year?

A62 CORPUS CHRISTIE

 

Q63 Aldergrove was the original name of the airport serving which U.K. City?

A63 BELFAST (now Belfast International Airport)

 

Q64 How many men have walked on the moon?

A64 TWELVE (Apollo 11,12,14,15,16,17 – 2 from each)

 

Q65 Which Yorkshire town has a name derived from the Latin for 'broken bridge'?

A65 PONTEFRACT

 

Q66 The CAC 40 is one of the main share indexes on which capital city's stock exchange?

A66 PARIS

 

Q67 What type of creature is a skink?

A67 LIZARD

 

Q68 Blenheim Palace was built in the early 18^th century for which Duke?

A68 DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH

 

Q69 Which British Prime Minister was born in a bedroom at Blenheim palace?

A69 WINSTON CHURCHILL

 

Q70 The Statue of Liberty holds a torch in one hand and a book in the other – what date is inscribed on the book?

A70 1776

 

Q71 Who was the first female presenter on Radio One?

A71 ANNIE NIGHTINGALE

 

Q72 What breed of dog was named as 'Best in Show' at this years Cruft's Dog Show earlier this month?

A72 SEALYHAM TERRIER

 

Q73 Aesculus Hippocastanum is the Latin name of which common tree?

A73 HORSE CHESTNUT

 

Q74 Claret is produced in which French wine producing area?

A74 BORDEAUX

 

Q75 From which language do we get the word Yoghurt?

A75 TURKISH

 

 

Q76 Spotted, striped, and brown are all types of which creature?

A76 HYENA

 

Q77 What is the first commandment?

A77 'THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME'

 

Q78 Which biscuit is named after an Italian soldier?

A78 GARIBALDI?

 

Q79 Which U.S. state is known as “The Last Frontier”? 

A79 ALASKA

 

Q80 Which current Radio 5 football commentator lives in Macclesfield?

A80 ALAN GREEN

 

Q81 How many stars are there on the national flag of New Zealand?

Q81 FOUR

 

Q82 The medical condition known as Chinese Restaurant Syndrome is thought to be caused by what food additive?

A82 MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE (accept MSG or Sodium Glutamate)

 

Q83 What value does the letter J have in scrabble?

A83 EIGHT POINTS

 

Q84Taxus Baccata is the Latin name for which common tree?

A84 YEW

 

Q85 What was the name of the Indian ritual where widows threw themselves onto their husbands' funeral pyres?

A85 SUTTEE

 

Q86 In pounds what weight is the shot as used in the Olympic games men's shot putt?

A86 16 lbs

 

Q87 'Dreams from My Father' is an autobiographical account of the early years of which prominent person?

A87 BARACK OBAMA

 

Q88 The action in Shakespeare's Othello takes place in Venice and on which island?

A88 CYPRUS

 

Q89 Taikwando is a martial art originating in which country?

A89 KOREA

 

Q90 Which political figure has children named Lara Lettice, Milo Arthur, Cassia Peaches, and Theodore Apollo?

A90 BORIS JOHNSON

 

 

Q91 Goneril and Regan are two of King Lear's daughters in Shakespeare's play – who is the third?

A91 CORDELIA

 

Q92 Who was the Roman god of fire?

A92 VULCAN

 

Q93 What is the first name of Jeremy Vine's younger, stand-up comedian brother?

A93 TIM

 

Q94 David Howell Evans is guitarist and keyboard player with U2. By what nickname is he better known?

A94 THE EDGE

 

Q95 Who was the Greek god of wine?

A95 DIONYSUS

 

Q96 How many stars are there on the national flag of the People's Republic of China?

A96 FIVE (one large and four small)

 

 

 

 

Supplementary Questions

 

Q1 Who, in the current government, has ministerial responsibility for the Olympic games?

A1 TESSA JOWELL

 

Q2 In the 1966 movie 'The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly' Clint Eastwood was 'The Good' , Lee Van Cleef 'The Bad' – which actor was 'The Ugly'?

A2 ELI WALLACH

 

Q3 In the T.V. series 'Minder' what is the full name of Arthur Daley's Minder played by Dennis Waterman (full name required) ?

A3 TERRY McCANN

 

Q4 Queen Margaretha II is the current Queen of which country?

A4 DENMARK

 

Q5 The New York Yankees are one of the two major league professional baseball teams of New York City. Name the other.

A5 NEW YORK METS

 

Q6 What rhyming phrase is used in the U.S.A. to describe a meal of sea food and meat?

A6 SURF and TURF

 

Q7 Which naturalist wrote 'My Family and other Animals'?

A7 GERALD DURELL