27th March Questions set by The Weaver

 

Vetted by: Waters Green Phoenix, Knot Know-alls

Specialist Rounds are :

Geography

Arts and Entertainment

History

Alliterative Answers

Science

The County Set

Sport

Initial Reactions

 

Geography

Q1 What is the most easterly country of mainland Africa ?

A1 Somalia (Ras Hafun)

Q2 What area became the U.K.'s newest National Park on becoming operational in 2010 (31^st March) ?

A2 South Downs

Q3 Symonds Yat is a beauty spot and viewpoint overlooking which U.K. River ?

A3 Wye

Q4 Which inlet of the North Sea, north east of Inverness, is the largest firth in Scotland and one of the most important places in the U.K. for observing dolphins and whales ?

A4 Moray Firth

Q5 On an Ordnance Survey map for what do the letters L.C. stand ?

A5 Level Crossing

Q6 On an Ordnance Survey map for what do the letters E.P. stand ?

A6 Electricity Pylon/Pole

Q7 What is the capital city of Nigeria ?

A7 Abuja

Q8 The rivers Tigris and Euphrates both rise in which country ?

A8 Turkey

Supplementary Questions

Q9 Cape Comorin is the southernmost point of which country ?

A9 India

Q10 Which volcano is nicknamed “The Lighthouse of the Mediterranean” ?

A10 Stromboli

Q11 Which South American country has Colombia to the north and Peru to the south and east ?

A11 Ecuador

Q12 Into which body of water does the River Volga empty ?

A12 Caspian Sea

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

In each case name the artist, writer, musician, sculptor etc who created the work given.

Q1 The painting “Allegoria Della Primavera” (1478)” in the Uffizi (translates as “Allegory of Spring”)

A1 Sandro Botticelli

Q2 The painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte – 1884” (completed 1886) in the Art Institute of Chicago

A2 Georges Seurat

Q3 The notorious 1953 musical work with no played notes and entitled “4 minutes 33 seconds”

A3 John Cage

Q4 The 1944 musical score “Appalachian Spring”

A4 Aaron Copland

Q5 The controversial minimalist sculpture made of bricks, “Equivalent VIII”

A5 Carl Andre

Q6 The bronze David (circa 1420 – 1460) in Florence

A6 Donatello (Donato di Niccolo di Betto Bardi)

Q7 The heads of the four U.S. presidents on Mt. Rushmore

A7 Gutzon Borglum (and his son Lincoln Borglum)

Q8 Theme music to BBC TV's “Sky at Night” programme (an extract from “At the Castle Gate” from “Pelléas et Mélisande” )

A8 Jean Sibelius

Supplementary Questions

Q9 Which band produced the early rock opera “Arthur (or the decline and fall of the British Empire)” in 1969 ?

A9 The Kinks

Q10 Creator of the surreal American TV series “Twin Peaks”

A10 David Lynch and Mark Frost (accept either)

Q11 Who conceived and largely built the Sydney Opera House ?

A11 Jorn Utson

Q12 Who wrote the music for Billy Elliot the musical ?

A12 Elton John

HISTORY

Q1 Who, to date, has been the youngest President of the U.S.A. ?

A1 Theodore Roosevelt (42 years 322 days – he became President on the assassination of McKinley in 1901 – John F Kennedy is the youngest person to have been elected to the office – 43 years 236 days)

Q2 Who was the U.S. President at the time of the Wall Street Crash ?

A2 Herbert Hoover

Q3 In the 19^th Century what was a “Penny Dreadful”

A3 Cheap and sensational book/novel (accept book/novel)

Q4 Where is Queen Victoria buried ?

A4 Frogmore Mausoleum at Windsor (accept Windsor)

Q5 Which geological time period is named after a small mountain range on the French/Swiss border ?

A5 Jurassic (after Jura mountains)

Q6 Which 19^th Century novelist is credited with introducing the pillar box to Britain ?

A6 Anthony Trollope

Q7 Who was Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time of the General Strike of 1926 ?

A7 Winston Churchill

Q8 The Neander Valley, site of the discovery of the prehistoric skeleton named “Neanderthal Man”, is in which country ?

A8 Germany

Supplementary Questions

Q9 Who was Pope during World War 2 (name and number required)

Q9 Pius 12^th

Q10 Initially, the Crimean War broke out between Russia and which other country ?

A10 Turkey

Q11 Edward VIII (Duke of Windsor) was Governor of where during World War 2 ?

A11 The Bahamas

Q12 Who succeeded Henry VIII on the throne of England ?

A12 Edward VI

ALLITERATIVE ANSWERS

In each case the answer is a two word name or phrase, each word of which starts with the same letter. e.g. “burly Wigan wing legend of the 50's and 60's“ would give the answer “Billy Boston”

Q1 Norwegian based sports and outdoor clothes maker founded in 1877

A1 Helly Hansen

Q2 Common name of Bibendum, the world's oldest trademark

A2 Michelin Man

Q3 Three time Stanley Cup winning Pennsylvania based ice hockey team

A3 Pittsburgh Penguins

Q4 Third division Scottish football team based in Clackmannanshire

A4 Alloa Athletic

Q5 Golden Globe winning actor in the “X-Files”

A5 David Duchovny

Q6 Driver of “The Compact Pussycat” in TV's Wacky Races

A6 Penelope Pitstop

Q7 Contemporary US artist famous for paintings of the American flag

A7 Jasper Johns

Q8 English painter (1891 – 1959) knighted in 1959. Painted “The Resurrection, Cookham”

A8 Stanley Spencer

Supplementary Questions

Q9 Latin phrase meaning “for one's country”

A9 Pro patria

Q10 Common name for a race of around 1500 metres, referring back to Imperial units

A10 Metric mile

Q11 Exhaust emission control device in cars, first introduced into the UK in the early 90's

A11 Catalytic converter

Q12 Australian city on the Murrumbidgee river 452 kilometres south west of Sydney

A12 Wagga Wagga

SCIENCE

Q1 Austrian Karl Landsteiner was awarded the Nobel prize for medicine in 1930 for the discovery of what ?

A1 Human blood groups

Q2 Which German physicist was the first recipient of the Nobel prize for physics in 1901 for his discovery of X-rays ?

A2 Wilhelm Röntgen

Q3 In astronomical terms what is a N.E.O. ?

A3 Near Earth Object

Q4 In astronomical terms what is E.T.I. ?

A4 Extra-terrestrial Intelligence

Q5 Featured on the national side of Italian 1 Euro coins what is the title of Leonardo's famous drawing of a multi-limbed figure emphasising human proportions ?

A5 Vitruvian Man

Q6 Taking its name from a certain city, what name has been given to the condition whereby hostages come to empathise with their captors ?

A6 Stockholm Syndrome

Q7 Oxygen is one of the two elements in the periodic table that start with the letter “O”. What is the other ?

A7 Osmium

Q8 In terms of mass, the sun accounts for what percentage of the total mass of the solar system ?

A8 99.9% (accept anything over 89.9%)

Supplementary Questions

Q9 How is Lateral Epicondylitis more commonly known ?

A9 Tennis elbow

Q10 What is the main diet of the Koala bear ?

A10 Eucalyptus leaves

Q11 Somnambulation is the medical name for what ?

A11 Sleepwalking

Q12 Selenography is the study of what ?

A12 The moon

THE COUNTY SET

Each answer contains the name of an English or Irish county. e.g. Superman's alter ego is Clark Kent.

Q1 Historic London building nowadays a visual arts centre, home to the Courtauld Gallery, the Gilbert Collection, the Hermitage Rooms etc. but was for many years the home of the Registrar General for England and Wales.

A1 Somerset House

Q2 Cambridge University college founded in 1596 and including Carole Vorderman as one of its better known students (and Oliver Cromwell)

A2 Sidney Sussex

Q3 Former husband of Victoria Wood, used “The Great Soprendo” as a professional name

A3 Geoffrey Durham

Q4 “Oh, 'tis my delight on a shiny night in the season of the year” is the final line of each verse in which traditional English folk song ?

A4 The Lincolnshire Poacher

Q5 An old fashioned name for Goitre (the swelling of the thyroid gland – normally caused by Iodine deficiency)

A5 Derbyshire neck

Q6 English fast bowler returned figures of 9 for 57 in South Africa's 2^nd innings in the Oval test of 1994

A6 Devon Malcolm

Q7 The title of a cycle of 63 poems by English poet A.E.Housman first published in 1896 and has been in continuous print ever since

A7 A Shropshire Lad

Q8 RAF World War 2 bomber pilot, commander of 617 squadron (The Dambusters) after Guy Gibson

A8 Leonard Cheshire

Supplementary Questions

Q9 Completes the set of three on a standard Monopoly board along with Whitehall and Pall Mall

A9 Northumberland Avenue

Q10 Type of horse drawn four wheeled two seater carriage famously mentioned in a song title from the musical Oklahoma

A10 Surrey (The song is entitled “The Surrey with the fringe on top”)

Q11 Musician, singer, actor born David Albert Cook in 1947 (23^rd July)

A11 David Essex

Q12 A breed of heavy draught horse , also a make of lawnmower

A12 Suffolk Punch

SPORT

Q1 Who is the current PDC darts world champion ?

A1 Adrian Lewis

Q2 Who is the current snooker world champion ?

A2 John Higgins

Q3 In which London district is Lords cricket ground located ?

A3 St. John's Wood

Q4 Prestbury Park is the official name of which horse racing course ?

A4 Cheltenham

Q5 “The Man of Steel” award is the annual award for the outstanding player of the year in which sport ?

A5 Rugby League Super League (accept Rugby League but not Rugby Union)

Q6 Lady Paramount is the title given to an official, who often presents the prizes, in which sport ?

A6 Archery

Q7 Who was the first bowler to take 300 wickets in test match cricket ?

A7 Fred Trueman

Q8 Which 'United' are the team/club featured in the novel and movie “The Damned United”

A8 Leeds United

Supplementary Questions

Q9 Which snooker player is nicknamed “The Thunder from Down Under”

A9 Neil Robertson

Q10 Which golfer, last year (2011), became the only golfer ever to top the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic (U.S. PGA and European tours) in the same year ?

A10 Luke Donald

Q11 Athens, Atlanta and Amsterdam are three of the four cities beginning with the letter “A” that have hosted the summer Olympics – what is the other ?

A11 Antwerp

Q12 What is the only horse racing course in County Durham ?

A12 Sedgefield

INITIAL REACTIONS

Many well known people are recognisable from their surnames and respective initial letter or letters of their first names. In each question you have to provide the name to which a particular letter refers – e.g. in John F. Kennedy the “F” is for Fitzgerald

Q1 The letter “P” as in author P.G. Wodehouse

A1 Pelham (Pelham Grenville)

Q2 The letter “S” as in poet and author T.S.Eliot

A2 Stearns (Thomas Stearns)

Q3 The letter “L” as in actor Samuel L. Jackson

A3 Leroy

Q4 The letter “C” as in actor W.C. Fields

A4 Claude (William Claude – surname originally Dukenfield)

Q5 The letter “C” as in C.J. De Mouie (Eggheads team member)

A5 Connagh (Connagh Joseph)

Q6 The letter “P” as in jockey A.P.McCoy

A6 Peter (Anthony Peter)

Q7 The letter “T” as in former England cricketer I.T. Botham

A7 Terence (Ian Terence)

Q8 The letter “S” as in artist L.S. Lowry

A8 Stephen (Lawrence Stephen)

Supplementary Questions

Q9 The letter “S” as in librettist W.S. Gilbert

A9 Schwenk (William Schwenk)

Q10 The letter “L” as in author Dorothy L. Sayers

A10 Leigh

Q11 The letter “D” as in Canadian singer K.D. Lang

A11 Dawn (Katherine Dawn)

Q12 The letter “A” as in B.A. Baracas, the character played by Mr T in the A-team

A12 Attitude (Bad Attitude)

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

Q1 In what month does the state opening of Parliament traditionally take place ?

A1 November (4^th Thursday in November)

Q2 In what month does the Grouse shooting season traditionally (and legally) begin ?

A2 August (the Glorious Twelfth)

Q3 Which U.K. city is known as “The Athens of the North” ?

A3 Edinburgh

Q4 “Beantown” is the nickname for which U.S. city ?

A4 Boston (also known as “The Athens of America”)

Q5 “An adventure film 65 million years in the making” was the tag line to which movie of 1993 ?

A5 Jurassic Park

Q6 What is Kris Kristofferson's character's call sign in the movie Convoy ?

A6 Rubber Duck

Q7 BAJAN is the name given to natives/inhabitants of which island ?

A7 Barbados

Q8 CARIOCAS is the name given to natives/inhabitants of which city ?

A8 Rio de Janeiro

Q9 What nationality are the band A-HA ?

A9 Norwegian

Q10 Which ABBA song lent its title to Alan Partridge's spoof chat show ?

A10 Knowing me, knowing you

Q11 On U.K. Motorways what colour are the cats eyes that mark slip road junctions ?

A11 Green

Q12 HYDROSIS is the medical name for what everyday occurrence ?

A12 Sweating/perspiration

Q13 STERNUTATION is the medical name for what everyday occurrence ?

A13 Sneezing

Q14 Which town was given the right to add the word “Royal” to its name in October of last year (2011) ?

A14 Wootton Basset

Q15 Recently announced, on what date (day and month) will the 2012 Olympic flame commence the U.K. leg of its journey (in Cornwall) ?

A15 May 19^th (allow one days tolerance – arrives in U.K. May 18th)

Q16 Who is the chief of the Gaulish village in the Asterix comic book series ?

A16 Vitalstatistix

Q17 SMEW, SHOVELLER, PINTAIL, POCHARD are all types of what species of bird?

A17 Duck

Q18 Concorde is the capital of which U.S. state ?

A18 New Hampshire

Q19 Olympia is the capital of which U.S. state ?

A19 Washington State

Q20 The DUMA is the name of the lower house of parliament of which country ?

A20 Russia

Q21 What is the Spanish word for yellow ?

A21 Amarillo (“Is this the way to...”)

Q22 GLOSSITIS is inflammation of what part of the body (precisely) ?

A22 Tongue (do not accept mouth – that is stomatitis)

Q23 In what part of the body (precisely) does carpal tunnel syndrome originate?

A23 Wrist

Q24 What breed of dog was named “best in show” at Cruft’s earlier this onth?

A24 Lhasa Apso

Q25 Who was U.S. Secretary of State in George W. Bush's administration 2005-2009 ?

A25 Condoleeza Rice

Q26 Helle Thorning-Schmidt is the current Prime Minister of which European country ?

A26 Denmark

Q27 What is the name of the Bolton Wanderers player who suffered a cardiac arrest during the F.A. Cup tie on 17^th March ?

A27 Fabrice Muamba

Q28 Often referred to as the “animal's Victoria Cross”, what is the name of the medal awarded to animals that have displayed acts of bravery etc. whilst serving with the armed forces of the U.K. ?

A28 Dickin Medal

Q29 What was the name of the security firm robbed of £26 million in gold bullion at Heathrow in 1983 ?

A29 Brinks-Mat

Q30 In what year did Mao Zedong die ?

A30 1976

Q31 Which U.S. city is served by Hartsfield airport ?

A31 Atlanta (the world's busiest airport with 89 million passengers per year)

Q32 Which city is served by King Khaled airport ?

A32 Riyadh (Saudi Arabia - was an alternative landing site for NASA's space shuttle)

Q33 Clara Petacci was the mistress of whom ?

A33 Benito Mussolini

Q34 Limburger cheese is from which country ?

A34 Belgium

Q35 In computer science what is “Pixel” short for ?

A35 Picture Element

Q36 In computing, what is “Fortran” short for ?

A36 Formula Translator

Q37 On which river does Canterbury stand ?

A37 Stour

Q38 On which river does York stand ?

A38 Ouse (do not accept Great Ouse, which runs into the Wash)

Q39 Often in the news currently, who is the appropriately named Group Chief Executive of Barclays Bank plc ?

A39 Bob Diamond

Q40 Why was a horse named RAISA in the headlines earlier this month ?

A40 Retired police horse loaned to Rebekah Brooks and ridden by David Cameron (allow anything along these lines)

Q41 In evolution terms what popular name is given to the hypothetical creature halfway between anthropoid apes and modern human beings ?

A41 The missing link

Q42 What is the link between Captain Cook, Inspector Morse, and NASA's space shuttle programme ?

A42 Endeavour (Capt. Cook's ship, first name of Insp. Morse, and the space shuttle Endeavour)

Q43 Who is the current (as of 20^th March) shadow Foreign Secretary ?

A43 Douglas Alexander

Q44 Who is the current (as of 20^th March) shadow Defence Secretary ?

A44 Jim Murphy

Q45 In U.S. baseball, what name is given to the set of matches played by the champion clubs of the American League and the National League ?

A45 The World Series

Q46 Incorporating a letter from the Greek alphabet, what is the U.S.A's equivalent of the S.A.S ?

A46 Delta Force

Q47 Razzle Dazzle, All that Jazz, and Funny Honey are all musical numbers from which show ?

A47 Chicago

Q48 I Dreamed a Dream, Bring Him Home, and Building the Barricade are all musical numbers from which show ?

A48 Les Miserables

Q49 Correctly spell the word for the class of society BOURGEOISIE (pronounced BOOR-ZHWAH-ZEE)

A49 BOURGEOISIE

Q50 Correctly spell the word for ones range of of skills, REPERTOIRE (REP-EH-TWAH)

A50 REPERTOIRE

Q51 Which Roman road ran from Dover to Wroxeter (near Shewsbury) via London ?

A51 Watling Street

Q52 Which Roman road ran from Exeter to Lincoln via Leicester ?

A52 The Fosse Way

Q53 What is normally alloyed with silver to make sterling silver ?

A53 Copper (92.5% silver, 7.5% copper by mass)

Q54 On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness talc is ranked softest. What mineral is ranked second softest ? Its name is derived from the Greek for chalk or plaster.

A54 Gypsum

Q55 Who is generally credited with the invention of the modern elevator ?

A55 Elisha Otis

Q56 Hubert Cecil Booth is generally credited with inventing what everyday household item ?

A56 (Motorised) Vacuum cleaner.

Q57 The offices of the ICC (International Cricket Council – the governing body of cricket) were located at Lords cricket ground until August 2005. In which city are they now located ?

A57 Dubai

Q58 In “The Wealth of Nations” what phrase did Adam Smith use to describe the English – a phrase also attributed to Napoleon ?

A58 A nation of shopkeepers

Q59 In which city was Beethoven born ?

A59 Bonn

Q60 In which city is James Joyce, writer of Ulysses, buried ?

A60 Zurich

Q61 In which part of the body would a LABRET be inserted as an ornament ?

A61 The lip

Q62 The adjective CRURAL refers to what part of the body ?

A62 Leg or thigh

Q63 In what year was Joan of Arc canonised (declared as a Saint) ?

A63 1920 (allow 1900 – 1940)

Q64 In what year did Wyatt Earp die ?

A64 1929 (allow 1924 – 1934)

Q65 A food dish described as 'A la broche' would be prepared in what manner ?

A65 On a skewer or spit roasted

Q66 In cooking to which vegetable does the term “Lyonnaise” refer ?

A66 Onions

Q67 Who in Greek mythology has a name meaning “All gifted” or “All giving” ?

A67 Pandora

Q68 In Greek mythology the drinking of the water of which river caused complete forgetfulness of Hades ?

A68 Lethe (LEE-THEE)

Q69 Who composed the opera “The Pearl Fishers” ?

A69 Georges Bizet

Q70 Which American poet wrote the collection of poems entitled “Leaves of Grass” ?

A70 Walt Whitman

Q71 Which actor played the lead role in “Dixon of Dock Green” 1955 - 1976 on BBC TV ?

A71 Jack Warner

Q72 What is the surname of the main family in Downton Abbey (TV series) ?

A72 Crawley (the Earl and Countess of Grantham)

Q73 Who took the award for the best British male solo artist at the “Brit” awards last month

A73 Ed Sheeran

Q74 Which group took the award for best British group at the “Brit” awards last month ?

A74 Coldplay

Q75 At what rate is VAT levied on domestic fuel and power ?

A75 5%

Q76 Which engineer designed the internal framework for “The Statue of Liberty” ?

A76 Gustave Eiffel

Q77 Edward Nigma is the actual name of which Batman villain ?

A77 The Riddler (E-Nigma)

Q78 Manolo Blahnik is a famous name in the design of what ?

A78 Shoes

Q79 Who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates ?

A79 Paul Allen (he proposed the name Micro-Soft)

Q80 Who is the host of the new BBC2 quiz show Breakaway ?

A80 Nick Hancock

Q81 What is the name of the annual festival held in the Shetland Islands each January that culminates with the burning of a replica Viking longship ?

A81 Up Helly Aa

Q82 How many faces does an icosahedron have ?

A82 Twenty

Q83 Which parliamentary constituency was represented by both Oliver Cromwell (1628-1629) and John Major (1983-2001)

A83 Huntingdon

Q84 What is Africa's smallest mainland country ?

A84 Gambia

Q85 Which Japanese director directed the classic film Seven Samurai upon which The Magnificent Seven was based ?

A85 Akira Kurosawa

Q86 Who is the dictionary expert, in dictionary corner, on Channel 4's Countdown programme ?

A86 Susie Dent

Q87 What is the name of Antony Gormley's display of 100 life size cast iron figures on Crosby beach ?

A87 Another place

Q88 Almost three times the height of Mount Everest, Olympus Mons is one of the tallest known mountains in the Solar System – on which planet is it to be found ?

A88 Mars

Q89 Samsoe cheese is from which country ?

A89 Denmark

Q90 Mamie Geneva Doud was married to which U.S. president ?

A90 Dwight D. Eisenhower

Q91 Which boxer was BBC sports personality of the year in 1985 ?

A91 Barry McGuigan

Q92 Which boxer was BBC sports personality of the year in 1999 ?

A92 Lennox Lewis

Q93 Which tax did John Hampden refuse to pay in 1637 precipitating the English Civil War A93 Ship Money

Q94 Who instigated the Third Servile War in 73 BC ?

A94 Spartacus

Q95 What name has been given to places of outstanding universal value in accordance with the convention adopted by Unesco in 1972 ?

A95 World Heritage Site

Q96 Which Indian city, nicknamed the Garden City, is the centre of the Indian technology industry ?

A96 Bangalore (Bengaluru)

Supplementary Questions

Q1 Who murdered his wife Cora, also known as Belle Elmore ?

A1 Dr. H.H. Crippen

Q2 Who 'invented' the female first name Wendy ?

A2 J.M. Barrie (in Peter Pan)

Q3 Which bird has the longest migration ?

A3 Arctic tern (North Polar region to South Polar region)

Q4 What name did Dutch Guiana adopt on becoming independent ?

A4 Suriname

Q5 What word describing the remote inner parts of a country comes from the German for “behind an area” ?

A5 Hinterland

Q6 In the Church of England, how many times are the Banns, giving notice of an intended marriage, read out ?

A6 Three

Q7 What word from the Spanish for tube is used to describe a deep valley with vertical sides excavated by a river ?

A7 Canyon

Q8 In what field of the arts is the Stirling Prize awarded ?

A8 Architecture

Q9 Which village near Coventry claims that its medieval cross on its village green marks the centre of England ?

A9 Meriden

Q10 What type of bed takes its name from the Turkish (originally Persian) for long seat ?

A10 Divan

Q11 Which colourful singer has the real name Alecia Moore ?

A11 Pink

Q12 Robert van Winckle is the real name of which rapper/songwriter ?

A12 Vanilla Ice