10th December–The Questions
Set by Knot Arf
vetted by Plough Horntails and Prince of Wales
SPECIALIST ROUNDS
HISTORY – 20th Century
SCIENCE AND NATURE
GEOGRAPHY
SPORT
SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW
CULTURE – FIRST LINES
ENTERTAINMENT
CHRISTMAS IS COMING
HISTORY
1. Which famous philosopher and peace campaigner died at his home in North Wales in 1970 at the age of 97 ?
A. Bertrand Russell
2. In 1967, Che Guevera was captured and shot in which country ?
A. Bolivia
3. In which year did the Munich air disaster take place causing the death of 8 Manchester United footballers ?
A. 1958
4. Which iconic London building was destroyed by fire in 1936 ?
A. Crystal Palace
5. In 1929 the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre took place in which city ?
A. Chicago
6. In which year did the so-called Bloody Sunday shootings take place in Londonderry ?
A. 1972 – accept 1971 – 1973
7. In 1922, on an expedition sponsored by Lord Carnaervon, which archaeologist discovered the tomb of Tutenkhamun ?
A. Howard Carter
8. In which year did the Jarrow March take place ?
A. 1936
Sup 1. Which famous 20th century speech was written by Walter Monckton ?
A. Edward 8th’s abdication speech
Sup 2. Which famous British composer died in 1958 ?
A. Ralph Vaughn Williams
SCIENCE AND NATURE
1. What name do we give to the young of a squirrel ?
A. Kitten
2. Herdwick and Swalesdale are breeds of which farm animal ?
A. Sheep
3. What do we call a cross between a male horse and a donkey ?
A. Mule
4. What is measured on the Gay-Lussac scale ?
A. Alcoholic strength
5. What do we call the home of an otter ?
A. A holt
6. Which bird got its name from the Portugese word for “ stupid “ ?
A. Dodo
7. What’s the more common name for Nitrogen Embolism or Nitrogen Narcosis ?
A. The bends
8. What’s the common name given to the lowest temperature at which a material gives off enough flammable vapour for it to ignite ?
A. Flash Point
SUP 1. Which native British bird lays the largest egg ?
A. Mute swan – accept swan
SUP 2. Which wild animal is Britain’s largest carnivore ?
A. Badger
GEOGRAPHY
1. On which river does Quebec stand ?
A. St. Lawrence
2. Which South American country has borders with Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia ?
A. Paraguay
3. If you sailed due East from Edinburgh, in which country would you land ?
A. Denmark
4. Which city was the seat of government of Australia before Canberra ?
A. Melbourne
5. Which of the inhabited Channel Islands is closest to France ?
A. Alderney
6. In which Irish county is the Blarney Stone ?
A. Cork
7. Jericho and Summertown are suburbs of which English city ?
A. Oxford
8. Which US state is known as the Bluegrass State ?
A. Kentucky
SUP 1. On which Hawaiian island is Pearl Harbour ?
A. Oahu
SUP 2. Which US state is first alphabetically ?
A. Alabama
SPORT
1. Which former world heavyweight boxing champion died in a plane crash in 1969 ?
A. Rocky Marciano
2. Which sport is played by the Cornish Pirates ?
A. Rugby union
3. Who is captain of the England Rugby League team ?
A. Kevin Sinfield
4. Name either of the teams in this year’s World Series final ?
A. Boston Red Sox and St Louis Cardinals – allow either part of either name
5. Because of their height, what’s the nickname of the New Zealand national basketball team ?
A. The Tall Blacks
6. Who did Alex Ferguson replace as manager of Manchester United ?
A. Ron Atkinson
7. Rory McIlroy signed a much publicized sponsorship deal this year to use which company’s golf clubs ?
A. Nike
8. How did footballer Ben Watson make headlines in May of this year ?
A. He scored the winning goal in the FA Cup Final
SUP 1. Since WW2 two British athletes have won the men’s 100metre Olympic title. Linford Christie is one, who is the other ?
A. Alan Wells in 1980
SUP 2. Who is the youngest person to win the men’s single title at Wimbledon ?
A. Boris Becker
SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW
The answers to all these questions contain one of the colours of the rainbow
1. Which American Football team won the first ever Superbowl in1967 ?
A. Green Bay Packers
2. Whose autobiography, published this year, is called “ Always Managing “ ?
A. Harry Redknapp
3. What’s the name of the controversial defoliant used by the Americans in Vietnam ?
A. Agent Orange
4. Which hit song of the 1960’s claimed that the next big craze would be the electrical banana ?
A. Mellow Yellow by Donovan
5. Who were the Baddies in the Beatles’ film Yellow Submarine ?
A. The Blue Meanies
6. What colour dress does a bride traditionally wear in China ?
A. Red
7. In which song , a hit for Shaking Stevens amongst others, did someone laugh out loud when you said that Joe had sent you ?
A. Green Door
8. Which 1980 film had the tag-line “ They’ll never get caught, they’re on a mission from God “ ?
A. Blues Brothers
SUP 1. Where would you go to see Saint Basil’s cathedral ?
A. Red Square in Moscow
SUP 2. Which actress played Ena Sharples in the early years of Coronation Street ?
A. Violet Carson
ENTERTAINMENT – With a Christmas theme !
1. Which group had the Christmas number one in the British charts for three years running from 1996 to 1998 ?
A. Spice Girls
2. Paul McCartney got engaged to which actress on Christmas Day 1967 ?
A. Jane Asher
3. In the panto, which of Snow White’s dwarves has the longest name ?
A. Bashful
4. What’s the name of the horse in the song “ Jingle Bells “ ?
A. Bobtail
5. Which Eastenders character died on Christmas Day 2006 ?
A. Pauline Fowler
6. In the panto, who married Alice Fitzwarren ?
A. Dick Whittington
7. Who played Scrooge in the film “A Muppet Christmas Carol “ ?
A. Michael Caine
8. Which well-loved character left Coronation Street at Christmas 1987 ?
A. Hilda Ogden
SUP 1. The action of which popular ballet takes place on Christmas Eve ?
A. The Nutcracker
SUP 2. In the panto, what’s the name of Aladdin’s brother ?
A. Wishee Washee
CULTURE – First lines
Please give the name of the author of each of these first lines of well known poems and novels.
1. If I should die, think only this of me ; that there’s some corner of a foreign land that is forever England.
A. Rupert Brooke – The Soldier
2. The boy with fair hair lowered himself down the last few feet of rock and began to pick his way toward the lagoon.
A. William Golding – Lord of the Flies
3. The curfew tolls the knell of parting day’
A. Thomas Gray – Elegy written in an English Churchyard
4. A squat grey building of only 34 stories, over the main entrance the words – Central London Hatching and Conditioning Centre.
A. Aldous Huxley – Brave New World
5. As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams, he found himself transformed into a giant insect.
A. Franz Kafka – Metamorphosis
6. Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, close bosom-friend of the maturing sun.
A. John Keats – To Autumn
7. I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky.
A. John Masefield – Sea Fever
8. To begin at the beginning, it is Spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible black.
A. Dylan Thomas – Under Milk Wood
SUP 1. No-one would have believed in the last tears of the 19th century that the world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man’s.
A. H.G. Wells – War of the Worlds
Sup 2. Once there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmond and Lucy.
A. C.S. Lewis – The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
CHRISTMAS IS COMING
1. Give the names of any of the three Wise Men.
A. Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior
2. Which slogan, adopted by the Post Office in 1880, is still used today ?
A. Post Early For Christmas
3. According to tradition, what should be eaten on each of the twelve days of Christmas to bring good luck ?
A. Mince pies
4. In which lake in Hyde Park do people gather to swim on Christmas Day each year ?
A. Serpentine
5. In Dickens’ “ A Christmas Carol “, what’s the name of Tiny Tim’s father ?
A. Bob Cratchitt
6. Which Russian leader resigned during Christmas 1991 ?
A. Gorbachev
7. Clarissa Baldwin of the Canine Trust introduced which slogan in 1978 ?
A. A Dog Is For Life Not Just For Christmas
8. Who wrote “ A Child’s Christmas In Wales “, broadcast on radio in 1952 and published in written form in 1958 ?
A. Dylan Thomas
SUP 1. Which song won the Oscar for best song at the 1942 Academy Awards ?
A. White Christmas
SUP 2. Which film comedian died on Christmas Day 1977 ?
A. Charlie Chaplin
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
1. Who is the flamboyant presenter of the TV show “ Bargain Hunt “ ?
A. Tim Wonnacott
2. At what time of day does Woman’s Hour currently start on Radio 4 ?
A. 10 am
3. The French aperitif “ crème de cassis “ is made from which fruit ?
A. Blackcurrant
4. If a clock in a mirror shows twenty to three, what time is it ?
A. 9.20
5. In Britain we call it Remembrance Day. What do they call it in the United States ?
A. Veterans Day
6. Which stretch of water separates mainland Australia and Tasmania ?
A. Bass Strait
7. Which boy’s name was the title of Amy Winehouse’s debut album ?
A. Frank
8. In Australian slang, what’s the occupation of a “ Chalkie “ ?
A. Teacher
9. Which is the smallest of the United States by area?
A. Rhode Island
10. In which year was the MOT test first introduced in Britain ?
A. 1960 – accept 1958 to 1962
11. What is added to tomato juice to make a Bloody Maria ?
A. Tequila
12. On the cover of the Beatles “ Abbey Road “ album, which of the Beatles is first in line on the zebra crossing ?
A. John Lennon
13. Which serial killer hanged himself in Winson Green prison on New Year’s Day 1995 ?
A. Fred West
14. What did the deaths of Tommy Cooper and Sid James have in common ?
A. They both died on stage
15. “ Doctor No “ was the first James Bond film. What was the second?
A. From Russia With Love
16. Which ShaKespeare play begins, “ If music be the food of love, play on “ ?
A. Twelfth Night
17. In the poem by Edward Lear, who marries the Owl and the Pussycat ?
A. The Turkey who lived on the hill
18. Which serial killer hanged himself in Wakefield jail in January 2004 ?
A. Harold Shipman
19. The painter Paul Klee was the subject of a major exhibition at Tate Modern this year. In which country was he born ?
A. Switzerland
20. In literature, how is Oliver Mellors better known ?
A. Lady Chatterley’s Lover
21. Who composed and recorded the song “ Streets of London “ ?
A. Ralph McTell
22. Who was the first film star to be paid £1 million for a single film ?
A. Elizabeth Taylor for “ Cleopatra “
23. The Moulin Rouge is a famous nightclub in Paris, but what is a “ Moulin “ ?
A. Windmill (accept mill)
24. Give any year in the life of painter John Constable.
A. 1776 – 1837
25. What name was given to the home of the Norse gods ?
A. Asgard
26. Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1934 in which country ?
A. United States
27. With which field of the arts do we associate Jacob Epstein ?
A. Sculpture
28. Which classic Spanish dish takes its name from the local word for a frying pan ?
A. Paella
29. The Kray twins were jailed for life in which year ?
A. 1969 – accept 1968 – 1970
30. A popular nightspot in Paris is the Folies Bergeres. What is a “ Bergere “ ?
A. Shepherd(ess)
31. Which cartoon character advertises Kellogg’s Frosties ?
A. Tony the Tiger
32. Who wrote the play “ The History Boys “ ?
A. Alan Bennett
33. How many finger holes are there on a penny whistle ?
A. Six
34. In the nursery rhyme, who pulled Pussy out of the well ?
A. Little Tommy Stout
35. What name do we give to the visible clouds of dust and gas in space ?
A. Nebulae
36. We call it candy floss but what do the Americans call it ?
A. Cotton candy
37. Which creature features on the logo of Bacardi rum ?
A. A bat
38. Istanbul was built on the site of Constantinople which in turn was built on the site of which city ?
A. Byzantium
39. The song “ Rock Around The Clock “ first appeared in which 1955 film ?
A. Blackboard Jungle
40. What was the name of the car ferry which sank off Zeebrugge in 1987 ?
A. The Herald of Free Enterprise
41. Why was American Max Yasgur in the news in August 1969 ?
A. His farmland was used to stage the Woodstock festival.
42. Which motorway connects Edinburgh and Glasgow ?
A. M8
43. Name either of the two English kings to die at Sandringham House .
A. George 5th and George 6th
44. In which city is Mountjoy Prison ?
A. Dublin
45. What would be the star sign of someone born on Saint David’s Day ?
A. Pisces
46. The Wars of the Roses were fought during which century ?
A. 15th – 1455 to 1485
47. In which city was Boris Johnson born ?
A. New York
48. Which jazz musician has an airport named after him in New Orleans ?
A. Louis Armstrong
49. What colour is the front door of 10 Downing Street ?
A. Black
50. In slang terms, how much money is a “ monkey “ ?
A. £ 500
51. In the bible, who was the wife of King Ahab of Israel ?
A. Jezebel
52. In which British city will you find a statue of Desperate Dan ?
A. Dundee
53. Which German word translates into English as “ noisy spirit “ ?
A. Poltergeist
54. In which city is the Walker Art Gallery ?
A. Liverpool
55. The Radio 4 newsreader and actress Alice Arnold is in a civil partnership with which more famous broadcaster ?
A. Clare Balding
56. In which occupation might you use a plonker ?
A. Tailoring or Dressmaking – it’s a heavy iron
57. Who became king of England in 1016, Denmark in 1018 and Norway in 1028 ?
A. Canute
58. Which TV soap opera, still running today, was first broadcast in 1972 ?
A. Emmerdale Farm – accept Emmerdale
59. In which county is Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country residence ?
A. Buckinghamshire
60. Which former England football captain died in 1993 ?
A. Bobby Moore
61. Which member of the Dad’s Army cast was actually in the Home Guard during WW2 ?
A. John Laurie – Private Fraser
62. What would be your star sign if you were born on Saint Andrew’s Day ?
A. Sagittarius
63. Which character in Greek mythology was said to be half man and half bull ?
A. Minotaur – do not accept Buffalo Bill !
64. In which country was Bradley Wiggins born ?
A, Belgium
65. Which part of Cyrano de Bergerac’s anatomy was bigger than most men’s ?
A. His nose
66. Which country’s flag features a gold star on a red background ?
A. Vietnam
67. Which crime has a possible 324 different solutions ?
A. The murder in Cluedo
68. Which country is immediately to the East of Libya ?
A. Egypt
69. Which English sculptor died in a studio fire in St. Ives in 1975 ?
A. Barbara Hepworth
70. Nelly Forbush is a leading character in which musical ?
A. South Pacific
71. What name links an English philosopher who died in 1626 and an Irish painter who died in 1992 ?
A. Francis Bacon
72. What’s the name of the London pub where Ronnie Kray murdered George Cornell ?
A. The Blind Beggar
73. On the 10th of January each year, where is Maggie Thatcher Day celebrated ?
A. Falkland Islands
74. In 1966, Chay Blyth and John Ridgway became the first men to do what ?
A. Row across the Atlantic
75. What was significant about a TV advert for Birds Eye Peas shown on November 15th 1969 ?
A. First colour advert on British TV
76. The Canadian singer/songwriter , Roberta Joan Anderson, is better known by what name ?
A. Joni Mitchell
77. How many houses are there in Downing Street ?
A. Three – numbers 10, 11 and 12.
78. What do we call the skull cap worn by Orthodox Jewish men ?
A. Yarmulka
79. Which French word is given to the clothes collected by a bride for her wedding day ?
A. Trousseau
80. In an Indian restaurant, what would you get if you ordered Kulfi ?
A. A dairy dessert similar to ice cream – accept ice cream
81. Which Latin phrase means “ of sound mind “ ?
A. Compos mentis
82. Who is the patron saint of lost causes ?
A. Saint Jude
83. Vincent Van Gogh, Ernest Hemingway and singer Del Shannon all died in what way ?
A. They shot themselves
84. The subject of a well-known music hall song, what was the nickname of Victorian man-about-town, Charles Morton ?
A. Champagne Charlie
85. Give any year in the life of Leonardo Da Vinci .
A. 1452 – 1519
86. What does a cruciverbalist enjoy doing ?
A. Solving crossword puzzles
87. Which Minister of Transport introduced the breathalyzer in 1967 ?
A. Barbara Castle
88. Which artist said, “ The only difference between me and a madman is that I’m not mad “ ?
A. Salvador Dali
89. What is added to whisky to make a whisky mac ?
A. Ginger wine
90. Judith Durham was lead singer of which 1960’s pop group ?
A. The Seekers
91. Which artist worked as a rent collector for the Pall Mall property company until his retirement in 1952 ?
A. L.S. Lowry
92. Which of the Queen’s children was the first to get married ?
A. Anne
93. Which actor played Ronnie Barker’s cellmate in “ Porridge “ ?
A. Richard Beckinsale
94. Tracy, the sister of Phil and Gary Neville, is an English international in which sport ?
A. Netball
95. Which film is based on the career of Charles Chipping ?
A. Goodbye Mister Chips
96. What name links a popular singer of the 60s and 70s and the composer of the opera “ Hansel and Gretel “ ?
A. Engelbert Humperdinck
SUP 1. Having starred in 142 of his 153 films, which film actor had more leading roles than any other ?
A. John Wayne
SUP 2. In which country was Mo Farah born ?
A. Somalia
SUP 3. In London, what are Beefsteak, Boodles and White’s ?
A. Gentlemen’s clubs
SUP 4. In which 1960 film did Marion Crane meet a watery death ?
A. Psycho – in the shower
SUP 5. What do we call the day before Good Friday ?
A. Maundy Thursday
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