15 December - all questions set by The Dolphin
Mind Your Language
1. The standard, official version of the Spanish language originates in which region of Spain?
A. Castile.
2. The standard, official version of the Italian language originates in which region of Italy?
A. Tuscany.
3. Which two-word Latin term means a language that is widely used over a particular region, even among those for whom it is not their mother tongue?
A. Lingua Franca.
4. Which language is the Lingua Franca of East Africa?
A. Swahili.
5. Yiddish is derived originally from which language?
A. German. (Not Hebrew, though it contains Hebrew words).
6. Afrikaans is derived originally from which language?
A. Dutch.
7. In which country is there a move to recognize the dialect Lallands as a distinct language worthy to be taught in schools?
A. Scotland. (It’s the lowland dialect of Rabbie Burns and Rab C. Nesbitt).
8. Which Latin-American country has a sizeable Welsh-speaking minority?
A. Argentina.
Supplementaries:
9. There are two main variants of the Chinese language; one is Mandarin, what is the other?
A. Cantonese.
10. Erse is another name for which language?
A. Irish.
Anagrammatical Definitions
In defiance of usual question setting guidance, all these questions have two answers, and you need both to get the points, so don’t blurt out one until you have worked out the other. You will be given two definitions to two different four-letter words, but each answer is an anagram of the other. Work out both, then give the answers. Here is an example:
e.g. A. A ring of bells.
B. A jump.
Answer Peal and leap.
1. A A fearsome, possibly man-eating, giant.
B. The director of the films Walkabout and The Man Who Fell to Earth.
A. Ogre - Roeg.
2. A. To be concerned about or to look after something or someone.
B. The genus of trees and shrubs generally known as maples.
A. Care - Acer.
3. A. Wave phenomenon seen on certain tidal rivers, notably the River Severn.
B. The abbreviated form of the Latin title by which the Archbishop of York signs himself.
A. Bore - Ebor.
4. A. A spur, something intended to drive a person or animal forward.
B. An abusive and contemptuous term for a Spaniard.
A. Goad - Dago.
5. A An image made to be worshipped.
B. A Venetian seaside resort.
A. Idol - Lido.
6. A. A poet, particularly one in traditional societies who gives public communal performances of his verses.
B. Dull and uninteresting, especially referring to colour.
A. Bard - Drab.
7. A. An outer garment.
B. A Mexican dish consisting of a tortilla wrapped around a filling of meat, fish or vegetables.
A. Coat - Taco.
8. A. Stance adopted by an artist’s model.
B. Unit of currency in Mexico.
A. Pose - Peso.
Supplementaries:
9. A. Smart and well-presented.
B. The initial stake in a game of Poker.
A. Neat - Ante.
10. A An individual point on a list or agenda.
B. To give off eg light, sound, etc.
A. Item - Emit.
Geography - European Cities
The maps can be seen here
This is a picture round. You will be given a map of the centre of a European city and, by reference to the language used, prominent thoroughfares, squares, buildings and rivers, and in some cases directions to neighbouring places around the map edges, you should identify the city on the map. Alternative questions are provided for players with visual impairment.
1. Helsinki.
2. Milan.
3. Madrid.
4. Prague.
5. Brussels.
6. Copenhagen.
7. Florence.
8. Barcelona.
Supplementaries:
9. Budapest.
10. Hamburg.
Alternative Qs - city maps are described:
A1. Standing where the R. Rhône flows out of a lake. Notable landmarks: Palais de Nations and International Red Cross Museum. Directions point north to CERN.
A. Geneva.
A2. Standing in a loop of the R. Adige and protected on the south by medieval walls. Prominent landmarks; Piazza dei Signori, the large Piazza Bra containing the Roman Arena, and the Casa di Giulietta.
A. Verona.
History - Plots, & Conspiracies
1. Which leading Roman statesman and lawyer exposed and denounced the Conspiracy of Catilina in 65 BC?
A. Cicero.
2. An alleged plot to assassinate Stalin and other members of the Soviet leadership in 1952 - 53 was attributed to members of which profession?
A. It was the “Doctors’ Plot”.
3. The Babington Plot of 1585 - 86 aimed at the overthrow of Elizabeth I. Who was the most senior political figure to be executed for involvement in this plot?
A. ary Queen of Scots.
4. Name either of the two young men who were put forward as claimants to the throne as the front for Yorkist plots to overthrow King Henry VII.
A. Lambert Simnel or Perkin Warbeck.
5. A conspiracy in 1820 to assassinate the whole of the cabinet, led by Arthur Thistlewood, was organised in a building in which London street?
A. Cato Street.
6. Who was the instigator of the false accusations of a Catholic plot to kill King Charles II in 1878, known as the Popish Plot?
A. Titus Oates.
7. What was the code name of the plot to assassinate Hitler on 20th July, 1944?
A. Valkyrie.
8. Name either of the two leaders of the plot in 44 BC to assassinate Julius Caesar.
A. Brutus or Cassius.
Supplementaries:
9. The “Decembrist Revolt” in 1825, intended to overthrow a new but reactionary monarch and introduce liberal reforms, took place in which country?
A. Russia.
10. What name is given to the general strike, which started in the textile industries of northern England in 1842, on account of the method used by the strikers to stop the mills by sabotaging the steam engines?
A. The Plug Plot. They pulled the plugs from the steam engine boilers.
Sport - Goalkeepers
1. The Colombian goalkeeper René Higuita became famous for which feature of his goal keeping?
A. The scorpion kick.
2. In 1982 which goalkeeper, as captain of Italy, became the oldest player ever to receive the World Cup?
A. Dino Zoff.
3. With 119 caps, which keeper is the most capped player for N. Ireland?
A. Pat Jennings.
4. With 92 caps, which keeper is the most capped player for Wales?
A. Neville Southall.
5. With Gordon banks out through illness, who kept goal for England in their 3 - 2 defeat to West Germany in the 1970 World Cup finals?
A. Peter Bonetti.
6. Who broke his neck keeping goal for Manchester City in the 1956 FA Cup Final?
A. Bert Trautmann.
7. Which former England goalkeeper died in the 1958 Munich air disaster?
A. Frank Swift.
8. Which current premiership goalkeeper had a 3 month loan period with Macclesfield town at the start of the 2003 - 4 season?
A. Boaz Myhill. (Hull City).
Supplementaries:
9. Who became the first England goalkeeper ever to be sent off in the recent World Cup qualifier against the Ukraine?
A. Robert Green.
10. Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard suffers from a mild form of which Syndrome?
A. F...ing Tourette’s.
How Does Your Garden Grow?
1. For what would a gardener use a dibber?
A. For making holes in which to plant seeds, bulbs, etc.
2. For what would a gardener use FYM?
A. Fertiliser - it’s Farm Yard Manure.
3. Give either of the traditional English names for the popular garden flower whose botanical name is lonicera.
A. Honeysuckle or Woodbine.
4. Give the botanical name of the popular garden flower whose traditional English name is Old Man’s Beard.
A. Clematis.
5. What term is given to a protective layer, of bark, gravel, straw or other material, laid over soil to control temperature and moisture levels and to discourage weeds?
A. Mulch.
6. What appropriately horticultural name is given to the business-end of a watering can, containing the tiny holes which enable the water to be sprinkled?
A. The rose.
7. The ladybird is popular with gardeners because its favourite food is what garden pest?
A. Aphids. (Accept greenfly or blackfly).
8. The Bladderwort, Sundew and Pitcher Plant all share which distinctive feature?
A. They are all carnivorous, or insect eating plants.
Supplementaries:
9. The hawthorn bears flowers of two colours; name either.
A. Red or white.
10. What term is used for a plant which produces flowers, fruit and seeds in its second year of growth, and then dies?
A. Biennial.
Arts and Entertainment
1. Which TV Sitcom character often referred to his wife as “A silly old moo”?
A. Alf Garnett.
2. Which 1970s Sitcom revolved around racial issues between the Booth and Reynolds families?
A. Love Thy Neighbour.
3. The new film Nowhere Boy, directed by Sam Taylor Wood, is a portrayal of the early years of which pop star?
A. John Lennon.
4. Who directed, starred in, and wrote the music for the 1952 film Limelight?
A. Charlie Chaplin.
5. In her chart-topping hit how many balloons did Nena have?
A. 99.
6. In their chart topping hit how many miles would the Proclaimers walk?
A. 500.
7. What is the popular name of the painting The Company of Frans Banning Cocq and Willem Van Ruytenburch?
A. The Night Watch. (By Rembrandt).
8. What is the popular name of the painting Arrangement in Grey and Black?
A. Whistler’s Mother. (By Whistler, unsurprisingly!).
Supplementaries:
9. Bracken pie was the favourite dish of which fictional creatures?
A. The Wombles.
10. In the Beatrix Potter stories what kind of creature is Mr. Tod?
A. A fox.
Science
1. How many oxygen atoms are there in a molecule of Sulphuric Acid?
A. 4 - formula; H2SO4.
2. Which compound has the chemical formula CuSO4?
A. Copper Sulphate.
3. What is the predominant rock type in a region described as a Karst landscape?
A. Limestone. (From the name of the typical such region in Slovenia).
4. Of what rock are the Northumberland Whin Sill, Fingal’s Cave and the Giant’s Causeway composed?
A. Basalt.
5. The Eohippus is a very early evolutionary form of which modern animal?
A. The horse.
6. The (possibly) extinct Thylacine is also known by what name?
A. The Tasmanian wolf. (NNB do not accept Tasmanian Devil, a different animal and not extinct, but be sure not to give any hint of the correct answer if that answer is given).
7. If a medical procedure or syndrome contains the prefix haemo- to which part of the body does it refer?
A. The blood.
8. If a medical procedure or syndrome contains the prefix dermo- to which part of the body does it refer?
A. The skin.
Supplementaries:
9. Name either of the bones in the forearm.
A. Radius or ulna.
10. In which constellation would you find Polaris, the North Star?
A. Ursa Minor or the Little Bear.
General Knowledge
1. Which is the second largest city in Portugal?
A. Oporto. (Accept Porto).
2. Which footballer holds the record for the number of caps won at England Under-21 level?
A. James Milner.
3. The artist Degas was noted for his many paintings of two subjects. One was ballet, what was the other?
A. Horse racing.
4. In Greek mythology what was the name of the winged horse ridden by Bellerophon?
A. Pegasus.
5. In which series of films would you encounter the character Jar Jar Binks?
A. Star Wars.
6. Apart from being the name of a musical instrument, what does the musical term piano mean?
A. To be played quietly or softly.
7. Of what sport are the Leander Club noted exponents?
A. Rowing.
8. What is traditionally eaten on the day before the beginning of Lent?
A. Pancakes. (Pancake Tuesday).
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
9. In the nursery rhyme, with what unorthodox domestic materials did a youth named Jack attempt to treat a potentially serious cranial injury?
A. Vinegar and brown paper.
10. Which artist was played by Kirk Douglas in the film Lust for Life?
A. Vincent van Gogh.
11What is the chief town of the breakaway Turkish region of northern Cyprus?
A.Famagusta
12. Which battle, which took place on Palm Sunday, 1461, was the bloodiest ever fought on British soil?
A. Towton. (An estimated 28,000 dead; compare Marston Moor, 1644, 4 - 5,000 dead, and Culloden, 1746, 2, - 2,500 dead).
13. Walt Whitman’s poem, written in 1865, which begins “Oh Captain, my Captain”, was a lament for which prominent figure?
A. Abraham Lincoln.
14. In Basketball how many points are awarded for a slam dunk?
A. 2.
15. Great Orme and Little Orme are features of which holiday resort?
A. Llandudno.
16. According to the proverb, what is the better part of valour?
A. Discretion.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
17. In Islam, what name is given to the world-wide political leadership of the Muslim community, which was last vested in the Ottoman Emperors, and which some Muslims would like to see revived?
A. The Caliphate. (Accept Caliph, the term for the actual holder of the office).
18. Arkle and Foinavon were both famous racehorses; but what are they in geographical terms?
A. Mountains (in Scotland).
19. What is the title of the novel by John Steinbeck inspired by the Biblical story of the rivalry between Cain and Abel?
A. East of Eden.
20. In a well-known folk song a party of gentlemen including “Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and All” set out for a fair in which Devonshire village?
A. Widdecombe.
21. Although born in Crete, the 16th Century artist Domenikos Theotokopoulos spent the major part of his working life in Toledo, Spain. By what name is he better known?
A. El Greco (the Greek).
22. In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, the world is divided among three super states, constantly at war with one another. Name any of those super states.
A. Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia.
23. Which 1974 No 1 hit contained the lyrics
“And how could I ever refuse, I feel like I win when I lose”?
A. Waterloo. (Abba).
24. Who achieved immortality by leading the ill-fated raid on a US federal armoury at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, in 1859, with the intention of stirring up a slave revolt?
A. John Brown.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
25. What is the nickname of film actor Jean-Claude Van Damme?
A. “The muscles from Brussels”.
26. What title is given to a Spanish royal princess?
A. Infanta.
27,. Which English seaside resort holds an annual “Birdman” competition, in which contestants attempt to fly off the end of the pier?
A. Bognor.
28. What name is given to the form of alternative therapy which involves the manipulation of the feet?
A. Reflexology.
29. What was the outstanding physical feature of the 17th century soldier and poet Cyrano de Bergerac?
A. His nose.
30. With which artist would you associate the depiction of melting watches?
A. Salvador Dali.
31. Who in the Bible was converted by a blinding vision of Christ on the road to Damascus?
A. St. Paul - though at the time his name was Saul. Accept either.
32. Which song from the Threepenny Opera, by Berthold Brecht and Kurt Weill, was a hit for Bobby Darin in 1959?
A. Mack the Knife.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
33. The name of which US city completes the title of this novel by Hunter S. Thompson: Fear and Loathing in...?
A. Las Vegas.
34. With which record label would you associate the late Anthony H. Wilson?
A. Factory Records.
35. In the theatrical world what are the traditional words of encouragement and good luck to an actor about to go on stage?
A. “Break a leg”. (It’s considered unlucky to say “Good luck”).
36. The 1960s police drama series Softly, Softly was a spin-off from which popular TV series?
A. Z Cars.
37. What is the main provision of the Schengen Agreement?
A. To remove border controls between the member countries.
38. Most countries which have signed the Schengen Agreement are members of the EU, but three are not; name one of these three.
A. Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.
39. What is the name of the village in Dylan Thomas’s play Under Milk Wood?
A. Llarregub. (Read it backwards).
40. What does the word Gospel mean?
A. Good News.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
41. Which African state, with no previous association with the former British Empire, was in late November admitted as 54th member of the Commonwealth?
A. Rwanda.
42. In The Importance of Being Ernest, which character had a particular penchant for cucumber sandwiches?
A. Lady Bracknell.
43. Which company made the Constellation and Spitfire motorbikes among others?
A. BSA.
44. In which English city might you serve a prison sentence in Armley Jail?
A. Leeds.
45. In the well-known traditional Yorkshire song, “On Ilkley Moor baht ‘at” what do the dialect words “baht ‘at” mean?
A. Without a hat.
46. King James IV of Scotland died in 1513 in which battle?
A. Flodden.
47. What word is used to refer to a private soldier in a cavalry regiment?
A. Trooper.
48. Tobey Maguire is known for portraying which super hero on film?
A. Spiderman.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
49. Which is the only city in South America in which Test match cricket is played?
A. Georgetown, Guyana. (The Bourda Ground).
50. The Plumed Serpent Quetzalcoatl was a god in the religion of which people?
A. The Aztecs. (If any tedious pedantic nerd says the Toltecs give them the points).
51. The unofficial anthem of Newcastle upon Tyne is a 19th century music hall song about a trip to a race meeting at which Northumberland town?
A. Blaydon. (Blaydon Races).
52. Although most of his professional life was spent in Venice, the artist Paolo Cagliari was born in 1528 in Verona. By what name is he better known?
A. Veronese (the man from Verona).
53. What is the highest jump on the Aintree Grand National course?
A. The Chair.
54. In Grimm’s Fairy Tales, who was the dwarf who could spin straw into gold?
A. Rumpelstiltskin.
55. The Bank of England was established in the reign of which King?
A. William III (accept William of Orange).
56. What is the chief export of the island of Pemba, off the east coast of Africa?
A. Cloves.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
57. By the Treaty of Windsor, 1386, England established an alliance which remains in force to this day. With which country?
A. Portugal.
58. What is the traditional pattern of the material called Gingham?
A. Check.
59. According to tradition, what game was Sir Francis Drake playing when the Spanish Armada was first sighted?
A. Bowls.
60. “Hamelin Town’s in Brunswick, by famous Hanover city....”
is the opening line of which famous narrative poem?
A. The Pied Piper. (By Robert Browning).
61. In Greek Mythology who was the trusted friend, advisor and teacher of Odysseus’s son Telemachus, whose name has become a standard term for a guide and teacher?
A. Mentor.
62. What word is used to refer to a private soldier in the Royal Engineers?
A. Sapper.
63. Which artist was played by Charlton Heston in the film The Agony and the Ecstasy?
A. Michelangelo.
64. According to legend, Robin Hood was rightful heir to which earldom?
A. Huntingdon.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
65. The word salary is derived from a practice in the Roman Army of issuing soldiers with a regular allowance to pay for what commodity?
A. Salt.
66. Who has been selected as the Conservative candidate for Macclesfield at the next general election?
A. David Rutley.
67. Who is the General Secretary of the Communication Workers Union, which represents post office workers?
A. Billy Hayes.
68. What name is given to the French film movement of the late 1950s and early 1960s of which François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard were leading exponents?
A. New Wave. (Or Nouvelle Vague for the pedants).
69. If a plan goes seriously wrong it is said to have assumed the shape of which fruit?
A. The pear.
70. What is the main, essential ingredient of the Italian dish Frittata?
A. Eggs. (It’s a kind of omelette).
71. What spirit provides the basis of a Bloody Mary cocktail?
A. Vodka.
72. How is the character John Harmon known in the title of a Charles Dickens novel?
A. Our Mutual Friend.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
73. Which London thoroughfare has been, since the Middle Ages, the centre of the jewellery trade?
A. Hatton Garden.
74. Which multi-national food processing company last month made an aggressive bid to take over Cadbury’s?
A. Kraft.
75. Which battle of 1651 was the last pitched battle of the English Civil Wars?
A. Worcester.
76. In which city will the 2010 Commonwealth Games be held?
A. Delhi.
77. What industry is associated with the Provençal town of Grasse?
A. Perfume.
78. What name is given to the religious movement in the 8th century Byzantine Empire characterised by the destruction of religious images?
A. Iconoclasm.
79. Which character in a popular TV sitcom could be relied upon each week to come up with “a cunning plan”?
A. Baldrick (in Blackadder).
80. Which creatures are often erroneously believed to commit mass suicide?
A. Lemmings.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
81. Rough, Bearded, Smooth and Border are all types of which dog?
A. Collie.
82. Who, according to a Northumbrian folk song, has “gone to sea, silver buckles on his knee”?
A. Bobby Shaftoe.
83. What musical term indicates that a passage is to be played getting gradually louder and louder?
A. Crescendo.
84. According to its name, what is the country of origin of the dog known as a ridgeback?
A. Rhodesia.
85. What property of soil is determined by a Ph test?
A. Acidity or alkalinity.
86. In Greek mythology, what kind of creature was Polyphemus?
A. A Cyclops. (A one-eyed giant).
87. In Roman mythology, Dido was the queen of which city?
A. Carthage.
88. In British elections, what is the title of the public official in each constituency who is responsible for the running of the election and supervision of the count?
A. The Returning Officer.
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
89. Which song, based on Psalm 137, was a hit in 1978 for Boney M?
A. The Rivers of Babylon.
90. In World War II what name was given to the young men conscripted to work in the coal mines?
A. Bevin Boys.
91. The Yeomen Warders of the Tower of London, a well-known tourist attraction, are popularly known by what name?
A. Beefeaters.
92. In the theatrical world, which famous play is considered so unlucky that you mustn’t mention it by name?
A. Macbeth. (“The Scottish Play”).
93. In DIY what name is given to the substance Commonly used to seal the joints between tiles?
A. Grout.
94. Which city is the capital of the French region of Burgundy?
A. Dijon.
95. In Grimm’s Fairy Tales, who was the girl whose hair was so long she could let it down from the tower in which she was imprisoned so that the Prince, her lover, could climb up?
A. Rapunzel.
96. What was sold at London’s Billingsgate Market?
A. Fish.
Supplementaries:
97. William Wilberforce sat as MP for which city?
A. Hull.
98. What was the nationality of Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula?
A. Irish.
99. Which sea separates Italy from the Balkan peninsula?
a. The Adriatic.
100. Who was the star in the two films about spending a night in the museum?
A. Ben Stiller.
101. Who was the youngest player in England’s 1966 World Cup winning team?
A. Alan Ball.
102. Whose arch enemy was Skeletor?
A. He Man.
103. What, traditionally, is the occupation of a leprechaun?
A. Shoemaker.
104. Which island was the home of Father Ted?
A. Craggy Island.
105. Who is MP for Sheffield Hallam?
A,. Nick Clegg.
106. Annie’s Song was a hit for flautist James Galway, but who wrote it?
A. John Denver.
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