JustQuiz

Sunday Quiz 64

2012-02-27T17:26:00.000-08:00

I should be back in sync now.

Enjoy this batch of questions.........................

1.At the 2012 Academy Awards,which actor,at the age of 82,became the oldest recipient of an acting award for his role in the film 'Beginners'?

Christopher Plummer

2.Sometimes known as the 'maanhaar jackal',what is the common name of the small, insectivorous hyena, native to Eastern and Southern Africa?

Aardwolf

3.Within the pollen reproducing organ of a flower,the stamen consists of an anther and which other component,taking its name from the latin name for 'thread'?

Filament

4.The eldest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert,she was created Princess Royal of the United Kingdom in 1841.She became German Empress and Queen of Prussia by marriage to German Emperor Frederick III.What was the first name of this figure?

(Princess) Victoria

5.In a career spanning five decades,he has won a record 79 Grammy nominations.What is the name of this record producer,conductor and composer,who is particularly noted for producing Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' album?

Quincy Jones

6.Which South African author won the Booker Prize in 1983 and 1999,as well as receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2003?

JM Coetzee

7.Which son of Gengis Khan,succeeded his father in 1229 and became the second 'Great Khan',of the Mongol Empire?

Ogedei Khan

8.Ratified in 1948,what is the SI Base unit of luminous intensity?

Candela

9.Driving for the 'Williams' team,what is the name of the last non-European to win the Formula One World Drivers' Championship?

Jacques Villeneuve

10.Part of the early 20th century group of writers known as 'The Lost Generation',which American author,completed four novels before his death in 1940,including 'Tender Is The Night','This Side Of Paradise' and 'The Beautiful And Damned'?

F.Scott Fitzgerald

11.Dastar,Pheta and Mysore Pheta are all styles of which piece of religious clothing?

Turban

12.Originally entitled 'The Roly-Poly Pudding',it was the sequel to the Beatrix Potter book 'The Tale of Tom Kitten'.By what more popular title was the book republished in 1926?

The Tale of Samuel Whiskers

13.Which musical instrument has the Italian name 'fagotto',tranlsated in English to mean a 'bundle of sticks'?

Bassoon

14.Nicknamed 'The Green Island',which is the largest and most populous island in Portuguese Azores archipelago?

Sao Miguel

15.Closely resembling gold,it takes its name from the London clockmaker that invented it.Which two metals make up the alloy known as 'pinchbeck'?

Copper and Zinc

16.Which SI unit is defined as 'the point immediately above absolute zero,where all atomic activity ceases'?

Kelvin

17.Fought between 470 Vortrekkers and over 10,000 Zulus in 1838,on which river did the so called 'Battle of Blood River' occur?

Ncome River

18.The name refers to the animal they bore on their flag.What title was given to the heir apparent,to the throne of France from 1350 to 1791 and from 1824 to 1830?

Dauphin

19.Behind Harvard and Yale,which is the third oldest of the US Ivy League universities?

University of Pennsylvania

20.In which of Puccini's operas do the main characters 'Rodolfo' and 'Mimi' appear?

La Boheme

21.If silence is zero decibels and 'ordinary conversation' is 60 decibels,what level is the sound of a pin dropping,(to within 5 decibels)?

20 Decibels

22.In 1688 John Dryden was dismissed as Poet Laureate,after he refused to swear an oath of allegiance to King William III.Which writer and literary enemy of Dryden,known for the play 'Epsom Wells' and the poem 'Dear Pretty Youth',became his successor?

Thomas Shadwell

23.As told in the Old Testament book of the same name,who was the governor of Judea under Artaxerxes I ,who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in c.5BC?

Nehemiah

24.Releasing her debut album 'Arular' to critical acclaim in 2005,she is best known for her 2007 single 'Paper Planes',which received worldwide success.What is the stage name of the British singer,songwriter and rapper Mathangi Arulpragasam?

MIA

25.What two-word name is shared by the horse that won the 2002 Epsom Derby and the 1960s/1970s US TV series centred around an Arizona ranch,starring Leif Erickson and Cameron Mitchell?

High Chaparral

26.Best known for the design of the Sydney Opera House,architect Jorn Utzon,also created which Middle Eastern country's National Assemby building?

Kuwait

27.What is the name of the protagonist character that appears in the Franz Kafka novels 'The Trial','The Castle' and 'A Dream'?

Josef K

28.Still holding one of the oldest athletics world records,Stefka Kostadinova claimed the high jump record of 2.09 metres at the 1987 World Athletics Championships in Rome.What is her nationality?

Bulgarian

29.Its name translates as 'crossroads' in English.Which French-owned global hypermarket chain,is currently the third largest retail group in the world,(behind Wal-Mart and Tesco),in terms of profit?

Carrefour

30.A member of the House of Hanover,what was the first name of the eldest son of King George II and father to King George III?

Frederick (Louis)

The next quiz will appear later today (27th Feb)

2012-02-27T03:23:00.002-08:00

Thursday Quiz 66

2012-02-24T15:46:00.000-08:00

Thanks for waiting,here is your Thursday Quiz as promised.

Have fun.............

1.Announced as a saint by Pope Benedict XVI in February 2012, Kateri Tekakwitha became the first figure,from which ethnic group,to be venerated by the Roman Catholic Church?

Native American (Algonquin and Iroquois Native )

2.Growing up in a family of successful performance artists,she is the daughter of country music singer Naomi and the sister of Wynonna.She is best known for an acting career,including the films 'Ruby In Paradise','High Crimes' and 'Kiss The Girls'.She is also noted for her humanitarian work and for her marriage to the racing driver Dario Franchitti.What is the name of this American actress born in 1968?

Ashley Judd

3.Victorious on each occasion against the New England Patriots,what is the name of the New York Giants Quarterback,who won the award for 'Most Valuable Player' at both the 2008 and 2012 Superbowl finals?

Eli Manning

4.Behind Los Angeles,which is the second most populated city in the US state of California?

San Diego

5.In October 2011 Specific Media and which Emmy and Grammy award-winning artist,took over as the major shareholders of the social networking website 'MySpace'?

Justin Timberlake

6.Sometimes known in Spanish as the 'Mar de Hoces',it is more commonly associated with an English explorer.What is the name of the body of water between the southern tip of South America at Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica?

Drake Passage

7.Used in the formation of soap,what is the name of the chemical process, in which a certain molecule is split into two parts by the addition of a molecule of water?

Hydrolysis

8.Performing as part of a duet with Neneh Cherry,he reached number three in the British singles chart in 1994,with the song '7 Seconds'.Which Senagalese singer and songwriter entered the race for the 2012 Presidential election, competing against Abdoulaye Wade?

Youssou N'Dour

9.Which name,originally used sparingly as a male forename,became popular as a female forename,due to the popularity of Charlotte Bronte's second published novel?

Shirley

10.At the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta,athlete Michael Johnson completed an individual gold medal-winning double by claiming both the 200m and 400m titles.Which European athlete duplicated this achievement,(in the womens 200m and 400m),at the same Games?

Marie-Jose Perec

11.Sharing the award in 2007,which was the last organisation to win The Nobel Peace Prize?

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

12.According to Greek legend,the 'Nine Muses' were the daughters of Zeus and which titaness,the daughter of Gaia and Uranus?

Mnemosyne

13.Which is the only George Lucas film in which he directed,wrote,produced and appeared in?

Star Wars Episode III (Revenge of the Sith

14.With the atomic number 98,what is the only chemical element to be named after a state of the USA?

Californium

15.Containing Japan's second largest island, Hokkaido and Russia's largest island, Sakhalin,which sea,located in the western Pacific,lies between Russia in the north and the Kuril islands in the South?

Sea of Okhotsk

16.He received 3 Grammy Awards whilst in his tenth decade.He also became the oldest recipient of the award,when winning the 2011 'Best Traditional Blues Album' for 'Joined at the Hip',which he recorded with Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith,aged 97. What this the name of this Blues legend?

Pinetop Perkins

17.Which four-word term is shared by an ancient Chinese military treatise,attributed to Sun Tzu , the only historical work by Niccolo Machiavelli to be printed during his lifetime and a 1997 album by rap group 'Bone Thugs-n-Harmony'?

The Art of War

18.First published by DC comics during the mid-1980s,its main characters include Ozymandias,Doctor Manhattan, The Comedian,Nite Owl and Rorschach.Later adapted into a 2009 film,what is the title of this comic book series,created by Alan Moore,Dave Gibbons, and John Higgins?

Watchmen

19.Inspiring a 1960 Canadian TV series of the same name,her first book,'Minnow On The Say',was published in 1955.She is equally noted for her second book 'Tom's Midnight Garden',published in 1958.What is the name of this noted British author?

Philippa Pearce

20.Within 1 degree either way,on which line of latitude does Reykjavik, the world's most northerly sovereign state capital,lie?

64 Degrees (8 Seconds) North

21.In golf,who was the last European player to win the US Masters title?

Jose Maria Olazabal (1999)

22.Which type of precious gemstone is the 'Olympic Australis',the world's largest and most valuable?

Opal

23.Produced by the liver of most vertebrates,it aids the process of digestion of lipids in the small intestine. In many species,it is stored in the gallbladder and upon eating is discharged into the duodenum.What is the common name for this fluid?

Bile (or Gall)

24.Also known as a card security code,the CVV number,is found on the reverse of most (if not all) credit and debit cards.Relating to the last 3 digits located across the signature strip,for what does the acronym ‘CVV’ stand?

Card Verification Value

25.After serving just 6 months as Vice-President,who became US President,following the assassination of James Garfield? Chester A Arthur
26.Appearing in many films since 1990,from Super Mario Bros to Carlito's Way,he is perhaps best known for his role as Toulouse-Lautrec in the 2001 film Moulin Rouge.In early 2012,which American actor was cast as 'Derek Trotter' in the American remake of the British BBC sitcom, 'Only Fools and Horses'?

John Leguizamo

27.According to the (English) title of an opera by Bizet,how are the characters Nadir and Zurga referred?

The Pearl Fishers

28.Named in honour of the Greek hero who is believed to have found Mount Vesuvius,which ancient Roman town,located in the Campania region,was destroyed,along with Pompeii,following the 79AD eruption?

Herculaneum

29.Personally ordered by Adolf Hitler and planned by Major Harald Mors,The Gran Sasso raid (or Operation Eiche),was a 1943 mission by German paratroopers, to rescue which political leader?

Benito Mussolini

30.Separated from the Iberian peninsula by the Strait of Gibraltar,what is the name of the autonomous city of Spain,which is also an exclave on the north coast of North Africa,surrounded by Morocco?

Ceuta

The quiz will appear here on Friday this week

2012-02-23T15:39:00.000-08:00

Due to work commitments,I 've had to delay the Quiz for Thursday 23rd February by one day.

Many thanks
Paul

Sunday Quiz 63

2012-02-19T17:18:00.000-08:00

Here is your Sunday/Monday morning dose.

Have fun......................

1.An American tenor and character singer,he played a record-breaking 2928 times at New York's Metropolitan Opera,over 56 years.He also performed with many of the world's biggest opera names over his vast career.What is the name of this man,who died in February 2012,aged 82?

Charles Anthony

2.In the structure of the European Parliament,Germany are allotted the most seats with 99.They are then followed by France,Italy and the UK with 72 each.Two countries come next on the list with 50 seats each.Name either?

Spain and Poland

3.Excluding any 'lost plays',which is the only one of William Shakespeare's plays that has not been adapted for film or television?

Two Noble Kinsmen

4.Most people are aware of its neighbouring country's President,but who is the current President of South Korea,serving in the role since February 2008?

Lee Myung-bak

5.Won by Simon Whitfield of Canada and Brigitte McMahon of Switzerland in their respective events,at which Summer Olympic Games did the Triathlon make its debut?

2000 Sydney

6.According to Greek mythology,who was the King of Thebes,husband to Jocasta and killed by his son Oedipus?

Laius

7.Although they were seperated for 28 years they never divorced.Which painter,in 1918,married Olga Khokhlova, a ballerina with Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes?

Pablo Picasso

8.Founded by Welsh businessman John Hughes in 1869,it has had the previous names Yuzovka, Staline and Stalino.Which city,the centre for the country's steel and coal industry,is also the 5th largest city in the Ukraine,by popualtion?

Donetsk

9.Taken from the Spanish meaning 'snow-covered',which word can describe a US state or a range of mountains in Spain and western North America?

Nevada

10.An iconic structure,it is the most northen of the Las Vegas 'Strip' hotels and also home to the tallest observation tower in the United States.Sharing its name with a layer of the atmosphere,what is the name of this hotel,casino and tower complex?

Stratosphere

11.After Oxygen and Silicon,which is the 3rd most abundant chemical element in the Earth's crust?

Aluminium

12.A Hebrew word meaning 'ascent',' it is spelt almost the same as that of an American R&B singer,tragically killed in a plane crash in 2001.What name is used to describe the immigration of a Jews to the Land of Israel?

Aliyah

13.Which EU capital city's metro system includes the stations Opera,Oktogon,Astoria and Stadionok?

Budapest

14.Located on the Gulf of Guinea,it was founded in the 18th century by the Ewe people.Which city serves today as the capital of Togo?

Lome

15.Although the musical film,'Mary Poppins',won awards for the 'Best Actress' and 'Best original Song',which other musical collected the 'Best Picture' award (amongst others) at the 37th Academy Awards,honouring films made during 1964?

My Fair Lady

16.Located in the Pacific Ocean,it gained full independence under the 1986 'Compact of Free Association' .Which is the only sovereign nation state that does not have any record, (according to FIFA), of any national association football team?

Marshall Islands

17.Which prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century,is particularly noted for writing the historical novels known as the 'Leatherstocking Tales', featuring the protagonist frontiersman Natty Bumppo?

James Fennimore Cooper

18.Serving between 1889-1893,which US President was both preceeded and succeded by Grover Cleveland?

Benjamin Harrison

19.Which Dutch sounding surname links the American golfer 'Bo',currently ranked in the World's Top 50,the siblings from the Peanuts comic strip,'Linus,Lucy and Reun' and the character 'Grace' played by Amanda Righetti in the US TV drama series 'The Mentalist'?

Van Pelt

20.Led by the title character,which group,in children's literature, contains the members Tootles,Nibs,Slightly,Curly and The Twins?

The Lost Boys (from Peter Pan)

21.Synonymous during the Middle Ages with anyone associated with Islam,what name was used by the ancient Romans,to refer to people who lived in desert areas in and around the Roman province of Arabia?

Saracen

22.Originally used as a shipping way-station,due to its position halfway between the Strait of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal,which Mediterranean island was ceded to to Britain at the Treaty of Paris in 1814?

Malta

23.Meaning 'scribe' in Sanskrit,what name is given to the descendants of King Chitragupta,considered to be one of the highest of the Hindu castes?

Kayastha

24.Speaking generally,the Stanford-Binet scale is used to measure what capacity in human beings?

Intelligence

25.After Honduras became independent,it shared capital city status with Tegucigupla until 1880.It is also noted for its wealth of Spanish Colonial architecture and is home to the oldest cathedral clock in the Americas.What is the name of this city,which made headlines in February 2012,when a fire killed 350 inmates at its main prison?

Comayagua

26.At which annual European film festival is the prestigious 'Golden Bear' awarded as a prize for the best film?

Berlin

27.Written by Acker Bilk for the clarinet,which instumental piece of music,in 1962,became the first British recording to reach number one on the US 'Billboard Hot 100' chart?

Stranger On The Shore

28.Which of Henry VIII's wives was the first cousin of Anne Boleyn?

Catherine Howard

29.With a small part located in Greece,its highest peak is known as Golyam Perelik.In which country do the vast majority of the Rhodope Mountains lie?

Bulgaria

30.It is a cemetery for American servicemen,killed during World War II,mostly at the Battle of the Bulge.It is probably best known as the site of General George S Patton's grave.Located near to Findel Airport,in which European capital city,is the cemetery located?

Luxembourg City

Thursday Quiz 65

2012-02-16T18:02:00.000-08:00

Just a quick piece of self-promotion.

I am making myself available to Quiz Leagues as a question writer (for a small fee). If you are interested,I am more than happy to provide free samples according to your Leagues' question requirements.

Of course,I will also be happy to write questions for any other event/platform

E-mail justquiz@hotmail.co.uk

Thanks
Paul

Back to business. Enjoy.......................

1.In February 2012,which snack company was bought from Procter and Gamble by the Kellogg Company for 2.7billion US dollars?

Pringles

2.Which Belgian writer is best known for his creation of the detective Jules Maigret?

George Simenon

3.Serving for the nearly ten years,between March 1940-December 1949,he was considered,by historians,as a major figure in the history of the New Zealand Labour Party.He was in office longer than any other New Zealand Labour Prime Minister and is,to date ,the country's fourth longest serving Prime Minister.What is his name?

Peter Fraser

4.Fought in the French province of Gascony,which was the last battle fought between English and French forces during the Hundred Years' War?

Battle of Castillon

5.At the 2003 Rugby World Cup (and still held today),Australia broke the record for the biggest winning margin at a finals tournament.Which African team did they beat 142-0?

Namibia

6.In the US,the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway,consists of two parallel bridges crossing Lake Pontchartrain.The longer of the bridges has a place in the 'Guiness Book of Records' as the longest continuous bridge over water.Starting at Metairie at the north and Mandeville at the south,in which southern US state is it located?

Louisiana (close to New Orleans)

7.In units of length a chain is a measurement of 66 feet.What logical name is given to a 100th part of a chain?

Link

8.LG is a global Korean electronics company that was formed (largely) by the amalgamation of two smaller companies.Lucky was one company,which was the other,a brand particularly popular in 1980s America?

Goldstar

9.Popular in Europe and Latin America,it boasts over 130 million users.It has been described by a top reviewing website as 'a chat room, dating site and picture rating site,disguised as a social network'.Which social networking site,one of the largest in the world was founded by Andrey Andreev in November 2006?

Badoo

10.Centred around a group of World War I fighter pilots,it also features an early appearance by Gary Cooper.Which film was the first ever winner of a 'Best Picture' Academy Award and so far,the only silent film winner in this category?.

Wings

11.Formed in 1989,they released the albums,'Pretty on the Inside' (1991),'Live Through This' (1994),'Celebrity Skin' (1998) and 'Nobody's Daughter' (2010).What is the name of this alternative rock band fronted by Courtney Love,the widow of Kurt Cobain?

Hole

12.Placed on one of the lines at the beginning of the stave,which musical symbol is used to indicate the pitch of the notes written on that line?

Clef

13.Of the 83 Academy Award ceremonies to date,only twice have the four acting awards all been awarded to non-Americans.Once in the 1960s and once during the 2000s.Name either year (ie the year the films were made)?

1964 and 2007

14.Written at the age of 80 ,which of Giuseppe Verdi's operas,based on a Shakespearean character,was to be his last?

Falstaff

15.An Austrian biologist and physician,he is noted for jointly discovering the polio virus in 1909 and for his work on the 1937 'Rhesus factor' with Alexander Wiener.However he is best known for his discovery of human blood groups in 1900,for which he was later awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology in 1930.What is his name?

Karl Landsteiner

16.Launched in 2011,the American version of the 'X-Factor' TV franchise, was a massive success across the globe.Winning a $5million record contract,which female singer claimed the first prize?

Melanie Amaro

17.In womens' athletics,what are the two running events used in an official indoor pentathlon?

60m Hurdles and 800metres

18.With the atomic number 83,which chemical element is thought to have derived its name from the German word for 'white mass'?

Bismuth

19.Consistently Fox's second most popular TV show (in the US) behind 'American Idol',which TV drama series,first aired in 2004,announced it was to air its last episode in 2012?

House

20.With one of its borders forming the Lebombo Mountains,which is the only country in Africa to be landlocked between (only) two countries?

Swaziland (between South Africa and Mozambique)

21.Making headlines in 2010,the Pike River Mine disaster was New Zealand's worst mining accidents in nearly 100 years.What substance was mined at the location?

Coal

22.Drawing some parallels with 'The Iliad',which Sanskrit epic tells the story of Rama (an avatar of Vishnu), whose wife Sita is abducted by the demon king of Lanka?

Ramayana

23.Which artist and former inmate of Wormwood Scrubs prison,was awarded the inaugural Turner Prize in 1984?

Michael Morley

24.Maine is the only US state that has only one US land border.With which US state does it share this border?

New Hampshire

25.Located in the Rwenzori range on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo,which mountain,named after a famous British explorer is Africa's third highest?

Mount Stanley

26.In terms of area,which is the second smallest US state?

Delaware

27.Currently providing 29 of them,which country has the most 'Michelin 3-star' restaurants?

Japan

28.Collecting the Booker Prize in 1979 for her novel 'Offshore',she made the 'shortlist' the year before with the novel 'The Bookshop',becoming the last author to receive shortlist nominations in consecutive years.What is the name of this author,reported by 'The Times' as one of Britain's top 50 post-war writers?

Penelope Fitzgerald

29.Literally meaning 'New World',which Korean flagship store,located in Centum City,Busan,is the world's largest department store, surpassing the Macy's department store in New York City in 2009?

Shinsegae

30.Located on the river Piray,the city of Santa Cruz (or Santa Cruz de la Sierra),is the most poulated city in which South American country?

Bolivia

Sunday Quiz 62

2012-02-12T19:09:00.000-08:00

That time again.

Enjoy another 30 - there are some tough ones in there...................

1.Achieving the feat between 1985-1988,which artist holds the record for most consecutive number one singles on the US Billboard ('Hot 100') chart?

Whitney Houston

2.Which number links the third tallest building in the world,a fictional torture chamber and a 1989 live album and documentary by pop band Depeche Mode?

101 (One hundred and one)

3.Born in Paramaribo, Suriname,he played for the Netherlands national football team at two World Cup Final tournaments and at three European Championships Finals.His clubs,as a player,included Ajax,Lazio and Inter Milan and he won two UEFA cups and a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.He has also been the manager of Tornonto FC since 2007.What is the name of this footballer,who is currently the 8th most capped player for the Dutch national team?

Aron Winter

4.In the UK they are known as 'Thomson and Thompson',in France they are 'Dupont and Dupond' and in Germany they are 'Schultze and Schulze'.In which language are the incompetent detectives from Herge's Tintin books,known as 'Jansen and 'Janssen'?

Dutch

5.Also nominated for a 2012 'Best Picture' Academy Award,it was the winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2011 Cannes film festival.What is the name of this Terence Mallick film,starring Sean Penn and Brad Pitt,which is centred around a middle-aged man's thoughts of his childhood,interspersed with images of the origins of Earth and the universe?

The Tree of Life

6.Also known for having a daughter called Joanna 'The Mad',which 15th century king was responsible for the introduction of the Inquisition in 1478,expelling the Jews in 1492 and sponsoring Colombus' famous voyage later that year? (Regnal number not needed)

Ferdinand (he had several regnal numbers attributed to him)

7.How is the influential global figure, Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso better known?

(14th) Dalai Lama

8.Concerned with the active relationship between cosmic determinism and human freedom,what is the name of branch of philosophy,founded in Athens,by Zeno of Citium,in the early 3rd century BC?

Stoicism

9.Used in food,adhesives and photographic emulsions,what is the name of the protein,formed when collagen is boiled in water?

Gelatin(e)

10.Played on a board of eight ranks by twelve files,what name is given to the German variant of chess,that takes its name from the German word for a chess bishop?

Courier Chess

11.First passed by Lord Liverpool in 1815, in order to protect from less expensive foreign imports,what name was given to the series of Acts, that sharply restricted the import of grain into Britain?

Corn Laws

12.The subject of many songs,in which North American mountain range do the 'Blue Ridge Mountains' lie?

Appalachian Mountains

13.A spoof art prize founded in 1999,it has been described by organiser Trevor Prideaux as 'a crap art competition in which you can enter anything you like,but it must be rubbish'.Named after a vegetable,wht is the name of this 'prize'?

The Turnip Prize

14.Named after its scientist founder,this SI unit described as 'absorbed radiation dose of ionising radiation' (for example, X-rays).It is also defined as the absorption of one joule of ionising radiation by one kilogram of matter.What is the name of this unit,which is represented by the abbreviation 'Gy'?

Gray

15.First held in 1982, the United States Academic Decathlon National Championship,(as the name suggests),pits high school students from across the country, in a competition covering 10 academic subjects.Since its inception,only 3 different states have provided winners.Which US state has been the most successful,providing prestigious schools such as Moorpark,El Camino Real and WH Taft?

California

16.Serving over six years in the role,which British Conservative politician held the position of Foreign Secretary,for the longest period during the 20th century?

Geoffrey Howe

17.A prestigious series of competitions,the 'Four Hills' tournament,is one the most important events in the Ski-Jump World Cup calendar.In which two countries are the four hills (or mountains) located?

Austria and Germany

18.Named after an abduction at the Japanese Embassy in a South American country,what is the name of the phenomenon whereby abductors or captors develop a sympathy for their hostages?

Lima Syndrome

19.Its name is derived from its main ingredient of thin, cleaned strips of beef tripe,Flaki (or Flaczki) is a traditional stew from which European country?

Poland

20.With 60 stations and over 45km in length,which French city has the country's second largest metro system,behind Paris?

Lille

21.According to legend,which courtier of Dionysius of Syracuse,was given a lesson in the precarious nature of fortune,by sitting at the tyrant's throne,with a sword suspended over his head by a single horse hair?

Damocles

22.Usually administered through an inhaler,it is used in the treatment of respiratory conditions and relief of bronchospasm.What is the name of this widely used drug, with the chemical formula C13 H21 NO3?

Salbutamol

23.Originally made by nomadic peoples of Central Asia,it has been used as both medicine and as a beverage.What is the name of this fermented drink,obtained from an ass's or mare's milk?

Koumiss (or Kumiss)

24.A 16th century seaman,he made three attempts to look for the Northwest Passage.He is infamous for loading his ship with over 200 tons of 'ore',but on his return,he found it to be iron pyrite (or Fool's Gold).What is the name of this privateer,who was later knighted for his role in repelling the Spanish Armada and who also has a bay in the Labrador Sea named after him?

Martin Frobisher

25.The basis for several television series,films and even a theme park in Naantali, Finland,the 'Moomins' series of books and comic strips are the creation of which Swedish-Finn illustrator and writer?

Tove Jansson

26.Its magnets can be found in audio equipment,hard disks and electric motors.Which chemical element,discovered by Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach in 1885 has the atomic number 60 and has a name that translates from the Greek for 'new twin'?

Neodymium

27.Fought between 1939 and 1940,the Winter War,was a military conflict fought between the Soviet Union and which other country?

Finland

28.Home to the oldest botanical garden in the Western hemisphere,which city serves as the capital of St Vincent and the Grenadines?

Kingstown

29.Translated in English a 'young lord',what name was given to a member of the landed nobility of Prussia and eastern Germany that was particularly threatened during the late 19th century?

Junker

30.Appearing at the tournament in 1984,which international football player holds the record,for most goals scored at a UEFA European Championships finals tournament,with 9 goals?

Michel Platini

Thursday Quiz 64

2012-02-09T17:49:00.000-08:00

Here is another set for you to play with

Enjoy................

1.Following his doping ban in February 2012,Spanish cyclist Alberto Contador was stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title.Which rider from Luxembourg was subsequently awarded the title?

Andy Schleck (first name needed)

2.What word links the outermost layers of the sun's atmosphere,a brand of Mexican beer and a model of Toyota car, made between 1957 and 2002?

Corona

3.Excluding compilation albums,which of Madonna's 12 studio albums has sold most worldwide copies (to date)?

True Blue (c.25million)

4.Which Sri Lankan-born Canadian novelist is perhaps best known for his 1992 Booker Prize-winning novel, 'The English Patient',adapted into an Academy Award-winning film in 1996?

Michael Ondaatje

5.Acheiving the feat in Chicago in 1984,who was the last British male athlete to hold the world marathon record?

Steve Jones

6.Composed of hundreds of 15-second scenes that were recreated by its fans,it attracted a million views on YouTube in just 72 hours,in January 2012.Which classic 1970s film did it aim to replicate?

Star Wars

7.The 'Symphonie Fantastique',is one the most important works of the Romantic era.Who was its French composer?

Hector Berlioz

8.Used in many fantasy and science fiction novels of the 20th and 21st centuries,what name,derived from Jewish folklore,is used to describe an animated being or creature,created from inanimate matter?

Golem

9.Nominated by Albert Einstein for his 'exclusion principle',which Austrian theoretical physicist and pioneer of quantum physics,was awarded the 1945 Nobel Prize for Physics?

Wolfgang Pauli

10.Joined occasionally by Neil Young,the rock supergroup known as Crosby,Stills and Nash,have been active (on and off) since 1968 and have released 8 studio albums.What are the Christian names of 'Crosby,Stills and Nash'?

David Crosby ,Stephen Stills ,Graham Nash

11.Named after the American scientist who discovered it,what name is given to the SI unit of inductance?

Henry

12.With examples including protium,deuterium and tritium,which is the only chemical element that has different names for its isotopes,in common use today?

Hydrogen

13.The Dickin Medal was instituted in the UK in 1943 to honour the work of animals in war.Of the 63 recipients(to date),32 have been pigeons,27 are dogs and 2 are horses.Working aboard the HMS Amethyst during the 1949 Yangtze Incident,which other animal,named Simon,has received the award?

Cat

14.Derived from Greek,it is thought that he intended the name to mean 'all sweetness' .Which girl's forename is thought to have been invented by Sir Philip Sidney as a pivotal character in his epic prose work, 'The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia', written in the late 16th century?

Pamela

15.Which of the Central American countries,has the most unique land borders with other countries?

Guatemala (borders 4 countries)

16.Built in 1933 by the request and funding of a local female volunteer firefighter,it was designed by architects Arthur Brown Jr. and Henry Howard, with fresco murals by 27 different artists.What is the name of this iconic art deco tower, made of unpainted reinforced concrete and situated in the Telegraph Hill neighbourhood of San Francisco?

Coit Tower

17.Owned by L'Oreal since 1964,which French cosmetics brand was founded in 1935 by Armand Petitjean and is noted for its association with Isabella Rossellini?

Lancome

18.Holding the position since May 2011,which small European nation has Antoni Marti as its Prime Minister?

Andorra

19.Making its Broadway debut in 1976,which musical,written by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman,is set in 1853 and tells the story of the Westernisation of Japan,from the point of view of the Japanese?

Pacific Overtures

20.Last winning in 1998 and winning 13 times from 27 nominations,which country has won the most Academy Awards in the Category of 'Best Foreign Language film'?

Italy

21.Which acid forms the basis of the hallucinogenic narcotic 'LSD' ,also known colloquially as 'acid'?

Lysergic Acid

22.Which 18th century British Prime Minister was the country's first Tory Prime Minister and also the first Scottish Prime Minister since the 1707 Act of Union?

John Stuart or Earl of Bute

23.Which European Union member state has the smallest population?

Malta

24.Lasting over 56 years,who reigned as King of England for the longest period of time?

Henry III (1216-1272)

25.Best known for painting scenes of life in the industrial districts of Northern England during the early 20th century,the artist L.S Lowry is thought to have painted over 1000 pictures.For what do his initials,'L.S' stand?

Laurence Stephen

26.Sharing a name with a son of Theseus,which 3rd century Christian saint and writer,became the first 'antipope',giving opposition to Callixtus I,Urban I and Pontian as head of the Roman Catholic Church?

Hippolytus

27.Playing the eponymous 'Charlie Townsend' in the 1970s TV series Charlie's Angels,he also became an iconic figure in the 1980s TV soap opera Dynasty,by playing the role of patriarch 'Blake Carrington'.What is this actor's name?

John Forsythe

28.The 2002 film 'Frida',depicts the life and career of the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.Alfred Molina played the role of husband and artist Diego Rivera,but which Mexican actress played the title role,giving her only Academy Award nomination to date?

Salma Hayek

29.The main airport serving La Paz is known as El Alto International Airport.However in 1999,it officially changed its name in honour of a United States President,but due to public pressures the name is barely used.Which President has been 'honoured' by this airport?

John F Kennedy

30.In January 2012,which German Formula One racing driver was convicted of assault,following an incident after the 2011 Chinese Grand Prix?

Adrian Sutil

Sunday Quiz 61

2012-02-05T16:11:00.000-08:00

Here's some more questions for you to peruse.

I've included some of my earlier questions to test you

Enjoy................

1.Winning Q Magazine's 2011 award for 'Nest Best Thing',she was noted for her single 'Video Games earlier in the year,which was also successful across Europe.In 2012 her album reached number one in the UK charts.How is the American singer/songwriter Elizabeth Grant better known?

Lana Del Ray

2.Which 18th/19th century,classical composer, known as the 'Father of the Symphony' ,was responsible for writing the melody used in the German National anthem?

Franz Haydn

3. Which European capital city stands at the confluence of the Alzette and Petrusse rivers ?

Luxembourg City

4.Rehoboam was the ruler of Judah in 930 BC. Which biblical ruler was his father,who died in 931 BC?

Solomon

5.Which Anita Brookner novel won the 1984 Booker prize and was subsequently adapted for television in 1986,where it was nominated for 9 BAFTA awards?

Hotel Du Lac

6.With many of the traditions and language preserved,the town of Gaiman located in the Chubut province in Argentina,was founded by settlers from which of the home nations?

Wales

7.It's name is thought to have derived from the ancient Greek name for St John's Island in the Red Sea.It is a mineral,which is colourless in its pure form and has the chemical formula Al2 SiO4 (F,OH)2.Found in various locations around the world,what is the name of this mineral,which is number eight on the mohs scale and the birthstone for November?

Topaz

8. Which 19th Century poet released a collection of poems called 'Men And Women', which included the poems 'Love Among The Ruins and 'Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came'?

Robert Browning

9.Founded in 1912 and closing in 1935,this 'slapstick' film studio, produced silent pictures that started the careers of Harold Lloyd,Charlie Chaplin and Fatty Arbuckle ,amongst others.It also produced a namesake act.What is the name of these studios,based in Edendale,California?

Keystone Studios

10.In doing so at the 1980 Games in Lake Placid,Eric Heiden won a record 5 Gold Medals at a single Winter Olympics.In which specific sport did he compete?

Long Track Speed Skating

11.After being declared a Kingdom in 1881,it was a short lived monarchy, beginning under Carol I and finishing in 1947 with Michael I (in his second term). In which European country did this monarchy eventually fall, as communism took over, and has been a Republic ever since?

Romania

12.With approximately fifty percent taken up by resevoirs, what is the longest river on the Iberian peninsula?

Lozoya

13.Glorified after his death for his role as a messenger in the battles of Lexington and Concord,he is remembered for his 'midnight ride'.Who is this famous American hero also known for helping organize an intelligence and alarm system to keep watch on the British military?

Paul Revere

14.The Pali Canon or Tripitaka,is a collection of sacred texts followed by which religion?

Buddhism

15.In which Italian region will you find provinces including, Ancona,Macerata and Ascoli Piceno?

Marche

16.His conquests have included the Golden Gate Bridge,The Eiffel Tower and the Petronas Towers. What is the name of the renowned French climber, nicknamed 'Spiderman' for his reputation of climbing without ropes and who also suffers from vertigo?

Alain Robert

17.Which Swiss businessman, social activist and Nobel Laureate is regarded as the main inspiration for the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Geneva Convention?

Henri Dunant

18.In the film, Toy Story series of films, who provides the voice for the character Jessie?

Joan Cusack

19.In athletics,which is the only country other than the United States to have held the World Record for the Men's 4x400 metre relay,achieving the feat at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games?

Jamaica

20.Paget's disease is a chronic disease of which part(s) of the body?

Bones

21.Which pacific state was named 'The Friendly Islands' because of the friendly reception received by Captain James Cook on his arrival in 1773?

Tonga

22.Abdominoplasty is the medical term for which more commonly known, cosmetic surgery procedure?

Tummy Tuck

23.Of the five recognised dwarf planets, which is the largest ,both in terms of size and mass?

Eris

24.What name links the second largest city in Argentina by population, a department of Colombia and a province of Spain, as part of Andalusia?

Cordoba

25.In terms of population , what is the largest city in the European Union, that is NOT a Capital city?

Hamburg

26.Which self-proclaimed extremist was decisively defeated by Lyndon B.Johnson,(the biggest majority to date) at the 1964 US presidential election?

Barry Goldwater

27.Elected in 2004.President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is the political leader of which Asian country?

Indonesia

28.Augustine of Hippo was one of the great Latin church fathers. He was killed after the Vandals laid seige to the Phoenician city of Hippo Regius.In which modern day country would you find the site of Hippo Regius?

Algeria

29.Experimental Canadian poet Christian Bok wrote the poem 'And Sometimes' as part of his 'Eunoia' collection. It is experimental, because it does not contain, what?

Any (of the 5 English)vowels

30.It is the annual national pilgrimage of Ireland and held on the last Sunday of the month of July. Pilgrims climb Ireland's holiest mountain,Croagh Patrick in County Mayo, traditionally in their bare feet. It is held in honour of Saint Patrick with appoximately 20,000-30,000 pilgrims participating on the day. With a name sounding like an unpleasant smell what is this holy day called?

Reek Sunday (accept Garland Sunday)

Thursday Quiz 63

2012-02-03T18:05:00.000-08:00

Here is Thursday's Quiz as promised.

Also,good luck to those of you attending this weekend's Yorkshire Grand Prix.I hope to see you at Northampton next month.

Apologies for having two Gilbert and Sullivan questions (I need the practise)

Enjoy....................

1.With whom did Samuel Taylor Coleridge write a 1798 collection of poems,known as 'Lyrical Ballads',that includes 'Tintern Abbey' and 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner'?

William Wordsworth

2.Martins Dukurs is a Latvian competitor who has won the last 2 World Cup titles in his sport and is very much on course to retain his title in 2012.In which Winter sport he is currently the dominant force?

Skeleton

3.In old English script,seven vowel symbols were used - a,e,i,o,u and y.What symbol denoted the seventh?

Æ orAE (known as an 'ash')

4.According to 'The Iliad',which King of Sparta,central to the Trojan War,was the husband of Helen of Troy and brother of Agamemnon?

Menelaus

5.Set in the city of Boston and running between 1982-1988,in which US TV drama series did Denzel Washington rise to prominence,playing the character of Dr Phillip Chandler (in all six seasons)?

St Elsewhere

6.In Greek mythology,who were Clotho,Lachesis and Atropos?

The Fates

7.What is the name of the host,producer and creator of the long-running American musical show 'Soul Train',who in February 2011,was found dead following a self-inflicted gunshot wound?

Don Cornelius

8.Also home to Spain's largest glacier,which mountain is the highest peak in the Pyrenees?

Aneto

9.The name of which bird connects the island of Alcatraz,the former name of Sir Francis Drake's ship,'The Golden Hind' and a non-fiction division of Penguin Books that was discontinued in 1990?

Pelican (Alcatraz is Spanish for Pelican)

10.With the aspect ratio of 1:√2,for what everyday office item is the Lichtenberg ratio used?

Paper (sizes)

11.Which US politician acted as Vice-President under Jimmy Carter,suffered a landslide Presidential election defeat to Ronald Reagan in 1984 and was appointed by Bill Clinton as United States ambassador to Japan in 1993?

Walter Mondale

12.A subsidiary company of Vivartia S.A,it operates in several countries.In which European country does the restaurant chain, 'Goody's',serve as the largest fast food outlet?

Greece

13.If you had scotopic vision,what would you be able to do far better than an average sighted person?

See In the Dark

14.Presented annually by the King of Norway,the Abel Prize is an international award given to outstanding contributions in which field?

Mathematics

15.A Welsh author of thrillers and historical novels,he has sold more than 100 million copies of his works. Four of his books,including 'The Key to Rebecca' have reached the number one on the New York Times best-seller list.He is also noted for writing a version of 'Capricorn One',based on the film starring Elliott Gould.What is this author's name?

Ken Follett

16.Sharing its name with a neighbouring country,which Asian Gulf lies directly south of the Bay of Bengal and north of the South China Sea?

Bay of Thailand

17.Translated as 'Soldiers of Destiny',which Irish political party was formed in 1926 by Eamon de Valera?

Fianna Fail

18. The story concerns a band of immortal fairies who find themselves at odds with the House of Peers.Which of Gilbert and Sullivan operetta's is also known as 'The Peer and The Peri'?

Iolanthe

19.Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress,who played the role of Lisbeth Salander,alongside Daniel Craig,in the 2011 film 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'?

Rooney Mara

20.The Kingdom of the Netherlands is split into four main parts.Which Carribbean island is the smallest,in terms of population,of the four parts?

Sint Maarten

21.He was offered the throne during the first Barons' War.Which French King,in 1216, took control over half of England and was later proclaimed English King at St Paul's Cathedral,although he was never crowned?

Louis VIII

22.According to Gustav Holst's classical piece,'The Planets',which planet was known as The Magician?

Uranus

23.Bordered by Rajasthan to the north and Maharashtra to the south, its capital is Gandhinagar, while its largest city is Ahmedabad.What is the name of this state located in western India?

Gujarat

24.Marketed as a luxury vehicle,the 'Acura' is currently available in the USA,Canada,Mexico,China and Hong Kong.Which Japanese car manufacturer produce this vehicle?

Honda

25.Nicknamed 'The Menace',which English darts player became the first ever winner,of the PDC version,of the World Darts Championships, in 1995?

Dennis Priestley

26.Taking its current name in 1975,which African country has land borders with Niger,Nigeria,Togo and Burkina Faso?

Benin

27.Founded in 1876,it is among the oldest and most reputable Italian newspapers.What is the name of this Milan based publication,which translates in English as 'Evening Courier'?

Corrierre della Sera

28.It is mainly known for its international tourism and marine wildlife,but in 2008 it was ranked as the least affordable city in Australia.Mandurah is the second largest city,both in area and population,of which Australian state?

Western Australia

29.In the role between 1947-1954,he saw 18 different govenments under his 7 year tenure.Which French President served as the first President of the Fourth Republic?

Vincent Auriol

30.Which Gilbert and Sullivan opera,based on WS Gilbert's brief practice as a barrister,was written specifically to be a companion piece for Jacques Offenbach's La Perichole?

Trial By Jury

It's my birthday today

2012-02-02T16:29:00.001-08:00

As it's my birthday, I have had today off. I will post the quiz tomorrow.

Thanks
Paul

Sunday Quiz 60

2012-01-29T17:58:00.000-08:00

Here's your Sunday night/Monday morning quiz.

If you are interested,I am on 'Brain of Britain' on BBC Radio 4 Monday 30th Jan at 3.00pm GMT (or catch me on i-player -UK only). It only took me 4 years to get on.

Anyway enjoy this set.........

1.Which is the largest city in England,in terms of population,that has not provided an English Premier League football team?

Bristol

2.Preventing damage to leaves in hot weather,which process,similar to evaporation,describes the loss of water vapour from a plant?

Transpiration

3.Founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely,what is the oldest and smallest of Cambridge's traditional colleges?

Peterhouse

4.Made by Imperial Tobacco,which global cigarette brand was named after the last Dutch Director-General of the colony of New Netherland,which would later become New York?

Peter Stuyvesant

5.Lasting between c.3200BC-c.539BC,it was located in the south west of modern day Iran.What name was given,in antiquity,to the area that saw Susa as its main city and stretched from Babylonia in the east to Persepolis in the west?

Elam

6.The sovereignty of the South Kuril Islands is an on going dispute between Russia and which other country?

Japan

7.With the atomic number 92,which metallic element was discovered by Martin Heinrich Klaproth,in 1789,in the mineral pitchblende?

Uranium

8.It was created as a contingency in the event of a catastrophy destroying the presidential line of succession.Which two-word term is used in the United States to describe a member of the Cabinet, who is appointed to be at a physically distant, secure and undisclosed location when the president and the country's other top leaders are gathered at a single location?

Designated Survivor

9.The smallest of the Mascarene Islands,Rodrigues is a dependency of which African country?

Mauritius

10.Winning 8 in total,which female American athlete holds the record for winning the most Gold medals at the World Athletics Championships?

Allyson Felix

11.The name is familiar in the world of mobile phones,what is the SI derived unit of electrical conductance?

Siemens

12.Spanning the borders between Pakistan, India and China,in which mountain range can the world's second highest peak,K2,be located?

Karakoram Range

13.Occuring in January 2012,in which sea just off the shore of Isola del Giglio,did the ill-fated 'Costa Concordia' ocean liner,run aground and capsize,resulting in at least 16 deaths?

Tyrrhenian Sea

14.Mrs Johnstone and her twins Mickey and Edward are major characters in which long-running West End musical?

Blood Brothers

15.Located between the Chukchi and Beaufort seas,it is the most northern point of the United States.Named after a 19th century English statesman and geographer,what is the name of this headland?

Point Barrow

16.Slain by Perseus,which of the Gorgons in Greek mythology was the only mortal?

Medusa

17.With a name in common with a German composer,which French statesman was instrumental in the creation of both NATO and the European Union?

Robert Schuman (although composer is spelled Schumann)

18.What was the name of the Dominican monk,whose sale of indulgences, provoked Martin Luther to publish his Wittenberg theses?

Johann Tetzel

19.Often compared to the friendship shared by Achilles and Patroclus,what was the name of the Macedonian General and closest friend of Alexander The Great,who died suddenly at Ecbatana?

Hephaestion

20.Lionel Messi has won the prestigous FIFA 'Ballon d'Or' football award, (sometimes referred to as the European Player of The Year), for the past three seasons.Prior to Messi,who was the last Argentinian footballer to receive the award?

Alfredo di Stefano

21.An important step in the British acquisition of Bengal,it took place on the banks of the Bhagirathi River.Which 1757 battle saw a decisive British victory,led by Robert Clive over Siraj ud Daula,the Nawab of Bengal?

Battle of Plassey

22.Equal to one thousandth of a nanosecond, what is the unit of time equal to one trillionth of a second?

Picosecond

23.One of the earliest surviving works of literature in the world,which epic poem from Mesopotania tells the story of a titular king of Uruk and his quest for immortality?

The Epic of Gilgamesh

24.Starring Dennis Farina and Dustin Hoffman,it is centred around the world of horse racing.What is the name of this US TV drama series,that was first premiered in January 2012?

Luck

25.Known as the 'Pious',which son of Charlemagne became the second Holy Roman Emperor in 813?

Louis I

26.Which British author,born in 1928, is particularly noted for his 'Porterhouse Blue' and 'Wilt' series of novels?

Tom Sharpe

27.Serving as President between 1954-1989,he was eventually ousted by a coup d'etat led by General Andres Rodriguez.Of which country was Alfredo Stroessner the longest serving South American President in history?

Paraguay

28.Founded in 1795 and named after a kind of porridge,it is noted for its burlesque musicals and annual 'Man and Woman of the Year' awards.Former members have included Theodore Roosevelt,Randolph Hearst and Jack Lemmon.What is the name of this Harvard theatrical society,the oldest of its kind in America?

Hasty Pudding

29.Which of the Four Gospels of the New Testament,is not regarded as a 'synoptic' Gospel?

John

30.To date he is the youngest recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature.Who,in 1907 ,also became first English-language writer to receive the prize?

Rudyard Kipling

Thursday Quiz 62

2012-01-26T17:27:00.000-08:00

I'm finally back.

Thanks for waiting.I've had a hectic (and slightly ill) start to the year.

Anyway here is your next set of 30. I hope you enjoy.......................

1.Used in making cocktails such as the Margarita, White Lady, and Cosmopolitan,what flavour is the liqueur known as 'Triple sec'?

Orange

2.Premiered in 1893 under the baton of Richard Strauss,the opera 'Hansel and Gretel' gave fame to which German composer?

Engelbert Humperdinck

3.Used at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II,which Benjamin Britten opera depicts the declining relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and the Earl of Essex?

Gloriana

4.Which of William Shakespeare's plays has John Gower as its narrator and features the female characters Dionyza,Thaisa and Marina?

Pericles,Prince of Tyre

5.Nicknamed 'The Eagles of Carthage',which national football team created history at the 1978 World Cup finals in Argentina, by becoming the first African side to win a World Cup (finals) match, beating Mexico 3–1?

Tunisia

6.Positioned in the far south of the country,the city of Aqaba is well known today as a diving and beach resort.Located within its namesake Gulf,it is also the only seaport to be found in which Asian country?

Jordan

7.With an atomic number of 61,what is the name of the chemical element which has the symbol Pm?

Promethium

8.First used in 1906,the Wassermann test,is used to diagnose which disease?

Syphillis

9.'La Comedie Humaine' is a title given to the large body of work by which noted 19th century French novelist and playwright?

Honore de balzac

10.In which US city are the TV shows 'Frasier',Grey's Anatomy' and 'Reaper' all set?

Seattle

11.Which number links the element roentgenium ,Admiral Nelson and the emergency services in New Zealand?

111 (One hundred and eleven - 111 is a known as a 'nelson' in cricket)

12.A four-time Winter X Games gold medalist,she was a pioneer of the 'superpipe' skiing event.Which Canadian skier,one of the favourites for Gold at the 2014 Winter Olympics,was tragically killed in January 2012,following a training accident?

Sarah Burke

13.What is the name of the German mathematician and astronomer, who is best known for his sixteenth century eponymous laws of planetary motion?

Johannes Kepler

14.Named in honour of the second son of King George III,what is the capital city of the Canadian province of New Brunswick?

Fredericton

15.Used in many conflicts between the 15th and 17th centuries,what type of weapon was an 'arquebus'?

Firearm (forerunner of the musket)

16.Founded in 2005 by Kim Dotcom (born Kim Schmitz),which one of the internet's largest file-sharing sites was closed by the US Department of Justice on the grounds of copyright infringement and internet piracy in January 2012?

Megaupload

17.After convincing his friend Achilles to let him don his armour and lead the Myrmidons into combat,which son of Menoetius was slain by Hector,later resulting in Achilles avenging his death?

Patroclus

18.In physics,what two-word term is described as the speed needed to 'break free' from a gravitational field without further propulsion?

Escape Velocity

19.Playing a key role in ensuring a happy ending,in which of Charles Dickens' novels do the 'Cheeryble twins' appear?

Nicholas Nickleby

20.Since 1938, the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra has maintained a ban on performing which well known, 19th century composer's work,due to his association with anti-semitism?

Richard Wagner

21.Which historical figure married the 14 year old Elizabeth Marchant de Saint-Michel in 1655?

Samuel Pepys

22.During which decade did Martin van Buren,William Harrison,John Tyler,James Polk and Zachary Taylor all serve as President of the United States?

1840s

23.Which Jewish festival commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt?

Passover

24.Including,amongst others, Oceanus, Hyperion, Coeus and Cronus,what name was given to the race of powerful deities and descendants of Gaia and Uranus, that ruled during the legendary Golden Age?

Titans

25.Which acid,a form of Vitamin C,takes its name from the Latin phrase,meaning 'no scurvy'?

Ascorbic Acid (a scorbutus)

26.Depicted in Picasso's famous painting,in which of Spain's autonomous communities can the town of Guernica found?

Basque Country

27.Which spice of the ginger family and the world's third most expensive,shares a name with hills in Southern India and a mountain range in South West Cambodia?

Cardamom

28.Composing the song 'Al Otro Lado del Río' from The Motorcycle Diaries,Jorge Drexler became the first (and so far only) recipient of an Academy Award from which South American country?

Uruguay

29.Located to the south east of the Bay of Bengal,which sea is found to the south of Burma,the west of Thailand and the north of Indonesia?

Andaman Sea (accept Burma Sea)

30.Announced in January 2012,which Martin Scorcese adventure film was awarded 11 Academy nominations,the most of any of the year's nominated films?

Hugo

I'm back on Thursday!!!

2012-01-22T15:40:00.000-08:00

Finally feeling better so I can now concentrate on writing questions.

I certainly need to practise,if my showing at Saturday's Oxford Buzzer Quiz is anything to go by. (Great event by the way,even if it was extremely tough).

Once again thank-you for being patient in the past couple of weeks.

Paul

Sorry.Still not well

2012-01-16T14:15:00.000-08:00

Currently, I'm still unwell with tonsilitis,so I've not been in the best position to write questions.I hope to be back ASAP

Thanks for your patience
Paul

Sorry - I've had to postpone Thursday's quiz

2012-01-12T14:41:00.000-08:00

Unfortunatley I have been sick for the past couple of days,so not had a chance to get Thursday's quiz ready.

My aim is to put up a compilation quiz tomorrow and a new Sunday Quiz as normal.

Thanks
Paul

Sunday Quiz 59

2012-01-08T14:15:00.000-08:00

Here's your next batch

Enjoy...............

1.In January 2012,the 'Ramnit' worm,stole more than 45000 logins and passwords belonging to which social networking website?

Facebook

2.Used primarily during the Middle Ages,what name was given to the weapon, which consisted of a spiked metal ball-on-a-chain?

Flail

3.In 1929 George Arliss became the first British actor to win an Academy Award.He received the award playing the role of which British Prime Minister,in a film of the same name?

(Benjamin) Disraeli

4.Fought between forces from the United States and the United Kingdom,the War of 1812 is so called,because of the year it started.In which year did it end?

1815

5.Only two English players have played in Italy's top tier of football,Serie A,in the 21st century.David Beckham is one,who is the other,an England international who played for Perugia in the 2003-04 season?

Jay Bothroyd

6.Spending his working life as a lens grinder,which 17th century Dutch philosopher is best known for his posthumous magnum opus,entitled 'Ethics'?

Baruch Spinoza

7.Which Physicist won the 1922 Nobel Prize for physics for 'his services in the investigation of the structure of atoms and of the radiation emanating from them'?

Nils Bohr

8.Also known as the 'Citizen King',he reigned between 1830-1848.What is the name of the last king to rule France?

Louis Philippe I (Emperor Napoleon III was the last monarch,but not the last
king)

9.Making its debut in 2011,which female singer became the first winner of the American version of 'The X-Factor' and in doing so,received a $5million recording contract?

Melanie Amaro

10.Nicknamed 'The Munch',which American session musician is best known for his role as primary bassist for The Rolling Stones,since Bill Wyman's departure in 1993?

Darryl Jones

11.Which contagious (primarily childhood) disease,has the medical name 'epidemic parotitis'?

Mumps

12.Led by President Anote Tong,in which Pacific island state is 'The Pillars of Truth',the ruling political party?

Kiribati

13.First coined by J. D. Scott,the literary editor of The Spectator in 1954,what 'unoriginal' name was given to describe the group of English writers including Kingsley Amis, Philip Larkin, Donald Davie, D.J. Enright,Elizabeth Jennings and Robert Conquest?

The Movement

14.Following the method of her torture,the martyr St Apollonia,is now regarded as the patron saint of people suffering from which painful complaint?

Toothache

15.Portraying the characters Stephanie Zinone and Michael Carrington,who played the lead roles in the 1982 film sequel 'Grease 2'?

Michelle Pfeiffer and Maxwell Caulfield

16.In office between 1845-1849,which US President was nicknamed 'Young Hickory',because he was a particular protege of 'Old Hickory' Andrew Jackson?

James Polk

17.Prior to joining the Euro in 2009,what was the currency used in Slovakia?

Koruna

18.Which Islamic militant group is named after the Pashto word for 'Students'?

Taliban

19.In which of Shakespeare's plays does the character Petruchio,win a bet that his wife is the most docile?

The Taming of The Shrew

20.Housing one of the most extensive collections of artworks by Pablo Picasso,in which Spanish city can the Museo Picasso be found?

Barcelona

21.Bounded by the Balkan Mountains to the north,and the Aegean Sea to the south,in which modern day country can the majority of the historic region of Thrace be found?

Bulgaria

22.Located in the Himalayas in Western Tibet,it is a Holy mountain,visited by thousands of pilgrims every year.Loosely translated in English as 'jewel of the snow' ,it is sacred to followers of Buddhism,Jainism,Hinduism and Bon-po.What is this mountain's common name?

Mount Kailash

23.From which Leonard Bernstein musical is the hit Broadway song 'New York New York' taken?

On The Town

24.Sworn into office in March 2010,he was instrumental in the rescue of the miners at the 2011 Copiapo disaster.Who is the current President of Chile?

Sebastian Pinera

25.Which British author wrote the noted works of poetry,'Spirits in Bondage' and 'Dymer' ,under the pseudonym of Clive Hamilton in 1919 and 1926 respectively?

CS Lewis

26.Founded in 1905,which American magazine is noted for writing the headline,'Egghead Weds Hourglass',following the marriage of Arthur Miller to Marilyn Monroe in 1956?

Variety

27.Who was the last German football player to score in a FIFA World Cup Final?

Andreas Brehme

28.The title is inscribed in French at the top left corner of the painting.Which French artist created the famous piece of work 'Where Do We Come From?What Are We?Where Are We Going?'?

Paul Gauguin

29.What generic name was given by Allied forces in the South Pacific during World War II,to any (of approximately a dozen) English-speaking female broadcasters of Japanese propaganda?

Tokyo Rose

30.Formed in 1987,which American hip hop trio,best known for their 1989 album '3 Feet High and Rising', comprises the members Kelvin Mercer, David Jude Jolicoeur and Vincent Mason?

De La Soul

Thursday Quiz 61

2012-01-05T17:50:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately I cannot make the January Grand Prix event in Coventry,so I would like to wish those of you attending the best of luck.

Maybe this set will help.................

1.At the 2012 PDC World Darts Championship,which Australian player reached the semi-final of the competition,making him the most successful non-British player?

Simon Whitlock

2.The oldest person to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature,she is also the last British recipient,collecting the award in 2007.Who's best known novels include 'The Grass is Singing','The Golden Notebook' and the collection 'Canopus in Argos'?

Doris Lessing

3.Which Venetian opera librettist and poet,wrote librettos for 28 operas for 11 composers,most notably Mozart's,'Don Giovanni','The Marriage of Figaro' and 'Così fan tutte'?

Lorenzo Da Ponte

4.Which US state has the longest coastline of any of the 48 contiguous states?

Florida

5.The Central Broward Regional Park is a sports stadium located in Lauderhill, Florida.It is the only professional stadium in the USA that is dedicated to which sport?

Cricket

6.Fought in 1066,which historic battle took place at a village near York, where King Harald III of Norway (Hardrada) and Tostig Godwinson, (his English ally), fought and defeated the Northern Earls Edwin and Morcar?

Battle of Fulford

7.In mathematics,which Greek letter represents the SI prefix of 'micro' (or one millionth),the Mobius function in Number Theory and the coefficient of friction in physics?

Mu

8.In terms of population ,which is the smallest country where Portuguese is the official language?

Sao Tome and Principe

9.Located in the Amhara Region,it is the source of the Blue Nile.What is the name of the largest lake in Ethiopia?

Lake Tana

10.Produced by Glen A.Larson,the TV comedy show 'BJ and the Bear' was aired between 1979-1981.It was centred around a trucker named 'BJ' and his pet companion 'Bear'.Named after an Alabama football coach,what type of animal was 'Bear'?

Chimpanzee

11.The Mount Rushmore monument lies near the town of Keystone,in which US state?

South Dakota

12.Which multi-national Japanese electronics company,was the result of a 1939 merger between the companies Shibaura Seisakusho and Tokyo Denki?

Toshiba

13.Located in the Jotunheimen mountain area,which mountain is the highest peak of Norway, Scandinavia and Northern Europe?

Galdhopiggen

14.Which basis scientific unit,equal to 3.26 light years, is used to measure large astronomical distances?

Parsec

15.In 2011,which female pop singer supported her 11th studio album 'Aphrodite',with a World Tour of the same name?

Kylie (Minogue)

16.Holding the position between 1999-2008,who was the Prime Minister of New Zealand prior to John Key?

Helen Clark

17.In the 2010 film,'The King's Speech',which royal figure was played by Michael Gambon?

King George V

18.In Greek mythology,which King of Troy was husband to Queen Hecuba and a father to,(amongst others),Hector,Paris,Helenus and Cassandra?

King Priam

19.The title of a song on the Paul Simon album 'Graceland',the 'Gumboot' is a dance that was used by miners as a means of communication,.In which African country did it originate?

South Africa

20.The younger brother of Ridley Scott,what is the first name of the English film director whose films include 'Top Gun','Crimson Tide' and 'True Romance'?

Anthony (or Tony )Scott

21.Assuming the role of a Force Recon Marine called 'Alcatraz',which first-person shooter PC title,according to technology blog 'TorrentFreak',was the most pirated game of 2011,with over 3 million illegal downloads?

Crysis 2

22.In computing,a gigabyte is defined as one billion characters of information.Which term,abrreviated to 'EB' is used to describe one billion,billion characters of information?

Exabyte

23.Air France Flight 4590 was the last and fatal flight of the Concorde aircraft.Departing from Charles de Gaulle International Airport,which US airport was its intended destination?

John F. Kennedy International Airport

24.Alphabetically,which of the African capital cities comes last?

Yaounde

25.A Canadian born author,he won both the Nobel Prize for Literature and the Pulitzer Prize in 1976.Most famous for the 1975 work 'Humboldt's Gift',his work also includes 'Henderson the Rain King' and 'Herzog'.What is the name of this author who died in 2005?

Saul Bellow

26.Three chemical elements have symbols that are consecutive letters.Manganese (Mn) is one,name either of the other two?

Cadmium (Cd) and Nobelium (No)

27.The current World Record holder for the men's 50m and 100m freestyle,he is also the defending Olympic and World champion over the shorter distance.What is the name of Brazil's most successful male swimmer,who controversially competed at the 2011 World Swimming Championships,despite failing a drugs test earlier in the year?

Cesar Cielo

28.Adapted into an eight-part TV series in 2011,what is the name of the multi-award winning novel,by Australian author Christos Tsiolkas, that is centred around the controversial subject of striking a misbehaving child?

The Slap

29.Translated in English as 'Wild Beasts',which short-lived,early 20th century art movement ,was led by Henri Matisse and Andre Derain?

Fauvism (or Fauvres)

30.Which Archbishop of Canterbury presided over the (British) coronations of both King William IV and Queen Victoria?

William Howley

Sunday Quiz 58

2012-01-01T16:25:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to you all and thanks again for your support with the site.

Just one minor change (basically due to a variety of commitments).I will be printing 30 questions on Sundays instead of 40,although Thursdays will remain at 30.

Here is the first of the year.

I hope you enjoy.............

1.Following the death of his father earlier in the month,who in late December 2011,was officially declared the new Supreme Leader of North Korea?

Kim Jong Un

2.Bordering Michigan,Indiana,Kentucky,West Virginia and Pennsylvania,which US state was the first to be admitted to the Union during the 19th century and the 17th admitted overall?

Ohio

3.In 1942,which group of Alaskan islands,became the only part of the United States to be officially occupied during World War II?

Aleutian Islands

4.Returning to power in December 2011,she originally became her country's first female Prime Minister in 2006.Of which Commomwealth country is Portia Simpson-Miller the current political leader?

Jamaica

5.Using pelota,roller hockey and taekwondo,which was the last Summer Olympic Games to showcase 'demonstration sports'?

1992 Barcelona

6.The third largest company listed on the London Stock Exchange,which bank was founded in 1865 by Sir Thomas Sutherland?

HSBC (Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation)

7.Only two artists (to date) have both won the Turner Prize and been selected to exhibit at the Tate Modern Gallery's 'Turbine Hall'.Name either?

Anish Kapoor and Rachel Whiteread

8.With a population of around 58,000,which American territory,located north of Tonga,includes the main island of Tutuila,the Manu'a Islands,Rose Atoll and Swains Island?

American Samoa

9.Forming part of the international border between Latvia and Belarus,it also flows through parts of Russia.What is the name of this 1000km long river,which also flows through the Latvian capital of Riga?

Daugava River

10.The Abraj Al-Bait Towers,hold several world records,including the tallest hotel in the world,the tallest clock tower in the world, the world's largest clock face and the world's largest building floor area.It is also the second tallest (inhabited) building in the world. In which country is it located?

Saudi Arabia

11.Which international political leader was assassinated in 1995 by Yigal Amir?

Yitzhak Rabin

12.She first came to prominence in 1925 with her publication of poetry entitled 'Enough Rope.Since then she went on to write further poetic collections as well as writing plays.She also received Academy Award nominations for her 1937 screenplay 'A Star is Born and the 1941 film 'Smash Up,The Story of a Woman'.What is the name of this American writer,poet and satirist who later became 'blacklisted' from Hollywood due her Communist associations?

Dorothy Parker

13.Won by the Russian athlete Gulnara Samitova-Galkina,which athletics event made its debut for women at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing?

3000m Steeplechase

14.Playing the role of Jeffrey Goines,for which 1995 film,inspired by Chris Marker's 1962 short film 'La jetee',did Brad Pitt earn his first Academy Award nomination?

Twelve Monkeys

15.Which of the Ivy League universities lies furthest south?

University of Pennsylvania

16.The Treaty of which European capital city was used to end the Seven Years' War,the Crimean War and the Spanish-American War?

Paris

17.Taken from the Latin word for 'rustic',which poetic form is described as nineteen lines long, consisting of five stanzas of tercets,followed by one concluding quatrain?

Villanelle

18.Named after the Greek navigator that discovered it,the Juan de Fuca Strait separates which two countries?

USA and Canada

19.Which TV and film producer,thought to be one of the most successful of all time,has created blockbuster films including Beverley Hills Cop,Top Gun,Con Air and Armageddon?

Jerry Bruckheimer

20.Achieving it in the vehicle named 'Spirit of Australia',which world record,still standing today,was broke by Ken Warby in New South Wales,in 1978?

Water Speed Record

21.Which country's internet domain code is shared by the chemical symbol for maganese?

Mongolia (mn)

22.Which King of England was nicknamed the 'Be-shitten' in Ireland,after his abandonment of his Irish supporters following the Battle of the Boyne?

James II

23.Of the many moons of Uranus named after characters from Shakepspeare's plays,which is the only one to take its name from the play 'Hamlet'?

Ophelia

24.Al Jolson was born in the town of Seredzius in 1886.In which modern day European country is it located?

Lithuania

25.In Judaism,what is the name of the nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day holiday of Hanukkah?

Menorah (accept Hanukiah)

26.The subject of a play by Sophocles,which Greek hero killed Paris with Heracles' sword?

Philoctetes

27.A theological position concerning the relationship between 'the Creator' and the natural world,which religious philosophy,found in the 17th century,uses Thomas Paine's 'The Age of Reason' as one of its main texts?

Deism

28.Which 1981 song by 'The Who',became the first song to be played more than once on MTV?

You Better You Bet

29.In the novel by Charles Dickens,what name is given to the mother of David Copperfield who dies just after the birth of her second child?

Clara Copperfield

30.Chinese mythology has Chi You,Egyptian mythology has Anhur and the Aztecs have Huitzilopochtli.Of what,are these deities collectively associated?

War

Christmas Quiz

2011-12-24T16:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas to everyone!

Thank-you very much for the support you have given in the past year.

I now have readers from all around the globe,which is pleasing to know.

My Twitter quizzes will be back up from 26th December,so keep an eye out.

Below is a Christmas related quiz.(I promise not to ask the names of Santa's reindeer)

Hope you enjoy......................

1.The Hotelling-Faustmann model is a standard used by many countries,when deciding the price of which Christmas commodity?

Christmas Trees

2.The Christmas mountains,which have peaks including North Pole Mountain,Mount Prancer and Mount St Nicholas,can be found in which mountain range?

Appalachians

3.The Christmas carol 'In The Bleak Midwinter' was written by Christina Rossetti as a poem,which was published posthumously in 1904.Which British composer added the music two years later?

Gustav Holst

4.In which two of New Testament Gospels is the story of the nativity told?

Matthew and Luke

5.The 'Pasterka' is the midnight mass service in which European country,which also uses Christmas Eve day as a period of fasting?

Poland

6.Operation Christmas Drop,is an American Air Force training tradition,whereby members of the Andersen Air Force base and the residents of which of America's territories, drop gifts to remote islands throughout Micronesia?

Guam

7.What name is given to the date in the Christian calendar when Mary was visited by the Angel Gabriel?

The Annunciation

8.Who is the only British monarch,to be crowned at Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day?

William I (the conqueror)

9.Which actress born on Christmas Day 1949,has been nominated for six Academy Awards,winning Best Actress in 1980 for her part in 'The Coal Miner's Daughter?

Sissy Spacek

10.Elvis Presley had only one UK Christmas number one single in 1962,with which song?

Return To Sender

11.A collection of letters written and illustrated between 1920 and 1942 for his children, from 'Father Christmas'. They tell of the adventures and misadventures of Father Christmas and his helpers, including the North Polar Bear and his two sidekick cubs, Paksu and Valkotukka.Eventually published in 1976 and 2004,who was the well-known author?

JRR Tolkein

12.Its name meaning nativity in Portuguese,which large South American city was founded on Christmas Day 1599?

Natal

13.In the traditional song 'The Twelve Days of Christmas',how many animals are mentioned?

23 (Twenty three)

14.He played Prince Humperdinck in the film 'The Princess Bride' and was also nominated for an Academy Award for his part in 'Dog Day Afternoon',which actor performed the part of main character,Jack Skellington,in Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas?

Chris Sarandon

15.Which artist painted an 1894 nativity scene with a Tahitian scene,titled 'Be Be'?

Paul Gaugin

16.Based on the nativity,who wrote his first play in 1940 'Bariona, ou le fils du tonnerre ',which was written and performed during his time as a prisoner of war in a German stalag?

Jean Paul Sartre

17.The Australian Indian Ocean Territories consist of two island groups.Christmas Island is one,which is the other?

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

18.Cattleya Maxima is also known as Christmas flower.To which species of flower does it belong?

Orchid

19.The Belavezha Accords held in 1991,prompted the resignation of which President on Christmas Day of the same year?

Mikhail Gorbachev

20.Which type of Christmas decoration was founded in Lauscha,Germany in the nineteenth century and became globally popularised, when FW Woolworth began selling them in his shops?

Bauble

21.The son of Pepin the Short,which Holy Roman Emperor was crowned on Christmas Day 800AD.He is also known as Charles I of Germany?

Charlemagne

22.During the Boxing day 2004 tsunami,many Asian countries were hit,but which nation had the largest death toll, of the African nations hit?

Somalia

23.So called,because of their abundance at Christmas time,what type of insect,native to Australia,is from the genus Anoplognathus?

Beetle

24.Which Christmas character has been played on screen by Judy Cornwell in 1985,Elizabeth Mitchell in 2006 and Miranda Richardson in 2007?

Mrs Claus

25..According to tradition,this item was introduced in 1847 by Thomas Smith.Its original name was the 'Cosaque',but over time it gained its onomatopoeic name by which we know today.What Christmas item is this?

(Christmas)Cracker

26.Which explorer discovered Christmas Island in 1777?

Captain James Cook

27.Carlos Andres Perez died on Christmas Day 2010.He served two seperate terms as President and was eventually impeached in 1993.In which South American country did he hold office?

Venezuela

28.Killing an estimated 681 people in 1940,in which English City did the 'Christmas Blitz' occur?

Manchester

29.In which country is the traditional Christmas dessert known as Risalamande,where the finder of the almond in the centre is entitled to an extra present?

Denmark

30.Shunned by The Times,The Guardian and the BBC in many of their guides,what word,according to Millicent Fenwick's 1948 'Vogue Book of Etiquette' should never be used in Christmas greetings cards?

Xmas

31.An American football competition,the final is played between the top two high schools from two regions,Kanto and Kansai.In which country is the annual Christmas Bowl played?

Japan

32.Although he served in Turkey,what nationality was St Nicholas of Myra, from whom Santa Claus is said to have derived?

Greek

33.Haplochromis phytophagus or 'Christmas fulu' is native to Kenya,Uganda and Tanzania.Which type of animal is it?

Fish

34.Written in six parts,the Christmas Oratorio is a 1734 work by which composer who also wrote the Ascension Oratorio and Easter Oratorio, around the same time?

Johann Sebastian Bach

35.In most parts of China, Christmas is not a public holiday, but in which two administrative areas of China is the public holiday observed?

Hong Kong and Macau

36.In the novel 'A Christmas Carol' which character says 'God bless us, every one!' whilst eating Christmas dinner,a line Dickens repeats at the end of the story?

Tiny Tim

37.To the nearest 5 degrees south,what is the latitude of Christmas Island (Australian Territory)?

10 (ten) degrees and 30 minutes South

38.'Julemanden',literally 'The Yule Man ,is the Santa Claus equivalent in which Scandinavian country?

Denmark

39.Well known for his thriller novels,which American author wrote the Time Bestselling, comedy novel 'Skipping Christmas' in 2001,which was the basis of the 2004 film 'Christmas With The Kranks'?

John Grisham

40.Thought by many to be the worst construction of its kind and involving deaths during its testing,the Christmas Bullet,designed by Dr William Christmas, was what mode of transport?

Aircraft (fighter bi-plane)

Thursday Quiz 60

2011-12-22T17:44:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday Quiz of the year.

I hope you enjoy this set....................

1.A relative of black pepper,it is known for its narcotic and sedative properties.What is the name of the traditional Polynesian beverage,that is fermented by chewed or grated peeled roots of 'Piper methysticum'?

Kava

2.What unit of measurement,is equivalent to one tenth of a nautical mile?

Cable

3.What name was given to the part of France's American empire that comprised modern day Prince Edward Island,Nova Scotia and New Brunswick?

Acadia

4.Produced by Italian manufacturer Pagani between 1999-2011,it is a high-end (sports) road car.Originally named the 'Fangio F1' ,it was renamed,in 1995,after an air current above Argentina.What is the popular name of this vehicle?

(Pagani) Zonda

5.In which decade did UNICEF,Linus Pauling and Dag Hammarskjold all win the Nobel Peace Prize?

1960's

6.What name is given to the protective coat surrounding a cereal seed ,which is particulalrly well known for its high fibre content?

Bran

7.It has it's own parliament and can draw comparisons with the Isle of Man,in terms of governance.The Aland Islands,in the Baltic Sea, is ultimately under which country's sovereignty?

Finland

8.Which hugely successful rock group released their 9th and final studio album,entitled 'Coda',in 1982?

Led Zeppelin

9.The second most populated urban area in Castile and Leon,which city in western Spain,is home to the country's oldest university,founded in 1218?

Salamanca

10.In football,only two men have managed winning teams of both the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA World Cup.Name either?

Marcello Lippi and Vincente del Bosque

11.From which country,did Chad gain its independence in 1960?

France

12.Who was the British Prime Minister,at the time of the outbreak,of the Vietnam War?

Anthony Eden

13.In terms of population,which is the smallest Australian state capital city?

Darwin

14.One of the breakthrough British acts of 2011,what is the real surname of the British singer-songwriter known as Jessie J?

Cornish

15.Spotted by Sylvester Stallone whilst taking part in NBC's 'America's Toughest Bouncer',he is a 'tough guy actor',known for his distinctive haircut.By what name is Laurence Tureaud usually referred?

Mr T

16.Receiving 17 Emmy nominations in 2011,which US TV comedy series revolves around three families,inter-related through Jay Pritchett (played by Ed O'Neill) and his children?

Modern Family

17.Named after the number of women to attend the first meeting in 1929,it elected Amelia Earhart its first President two years later.Which organisation was created to provide mutual support and advancement for female pilots,primarily in America?

The Ninety Nines

18.Also known as the lancehead viper it is endemic to Martinique.By what French name is the venomous snake from the Bothrops lanceolatus species,usually referred?

Fer-de-lance

19.In line with Belfast and Newcastle Upon Tyne,which is the only mainland European capital city situated at 54 degress latitude?

Vilnius

20.Part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands,which island is served by the capital city of Oranjestad?

Aruba

21.The site of many rocket and space shuttle launches,in which US state is Cape Canaveral (Cape Kennedy between 1963-1973),found?

Florida

22.Since 1998,the world's busiest airport ,by passenger traffic,is located in Atlanta,Georgia.After which two former city mayors is the airport named?

(William)Hartsfield (Maynard)Jackson

23.The letters INRI are the first letters of the Latin wording placed on the cross of Jesus at Pilate's request.In Latin it says 'Iesus Nazarenus,Rex Iudaeorum'.How does this translate to English?

Jesus of Nazareth,King of the Jews

24.In 1901,Emil Adolf von Behring,became the first Nobel Prize winner of which category?

Physiology or Medicine

25.Winning 4 times in the 1970s and twice in the 2000's,which team holds the record for the most American football 'Superbowl' wins?

Pittsburgh Steelers

26.In tennis,which was the last year that the same country provided all four men's Grand Slam singles winners in the same year?

1988 (Mats Wilander won Aus,US and French.Stefan Edberg won Wimbledon)

27.In Greek mythology which Spartan king was the husband of Leda and father of Helen,Clytemnestra, Timandra, Phoebe,Philonoe,Castor and Polydeuces?

King Tyndareus

28.Effective from 1999,the Treaty of Ottawa,was agreed by over 150 nations,to put an end to the production and development of which type of weapon?

Land Mine (Anti-personnel)

29.In the Sergei Prokofiev work 'Peter and the Wolf',which character is portrayed by the bassoon?

Grandfather

30.In the Charles Dickens novel,what is the first name of the title character known as 'Little Dorrit'?

Amy

Sunday Quiz 57

2011-12-18T16:09:00.000-08:00

Hello,I have created a 2011 quiz this evening,with questions relating to events this year.

Also I thought i'd let you know of the quizzes over the Christmas period:

Thurs 22nd Dec - Thursday Quiz as normal
Sun 25th Dec - Christmas Quiz (As is traditional,it will largely be a repeat of last year's)
Thurs 29th Dec - No Quiz - On hols
Sun 1st Jan - Normal Quiz. First of 2012

Anyway I hope you enjoy this set.............

1.Her profile was boosted further in 2011 after marrying and divorcing basketball player Kris Humphries in just three months.Which US reality TV star,according to the 'Zeitgeist',was the most searched celebrity on Google in 2011?

Kim Kardashian

2. In October 2011,Richard Branson opened the world's first commercial spaceport,known as 'Spaceport America',where he is expected to begin commercial flights by 2013.In which US state is it located?

New Mexico

3.In August 2011,which 58 year old US sitcom star,most popular during the 1990s,announced on Jay Leno's 'The Tonight Show',that she would be running for US President at the 2012 election?

Roseanne Barr

4.Released in December 2011,what is the name of the successor to the Sony handheld game console known as the 'PSP' or Playstation Portable?

Playstation Vita (or PSV)

5.Both opening in the UK in 2011,which British architect designed both the 'Turner Contemporary',in Margate and the 'Hepworth Wakefield' art galleries?

David Chipperfield

6.Previously known under his stage name 'Sweet Mickey',the former recording artist,Michael Martelly became the President of which Central American country in May 2011?

Haiti

7.Also known as 'the lying down game',it became an internet sensation in 2011.First coined in Australia,what term is given to the action of lying face down with arms to the sides, in unusual public spaces and photographing it?

Planking

8.In May 2011,Malta held a referendum which resulted in the legalisation of divorce.At that time only two other countries in the world did not permit divorce.Vatican City was one,but which Asian country was the other?

Philippines

9.Much in the news in March 2011,what is the SI derived unit of dose equivalent radiation?

Sievert

10. In November 2011,the work entitled 'Rhein II',was sold for $4.3million (£2.7m) at Christies's in New York,becoming the most expensive photograph ever sold.It is a work created by which noted,German photographer?

Andreas Gursky

11.At the 2011 Academy Awards,which film provided the winners of both 'Best Supporting' acting roles,with Christian Bale and Melissa Leo the respective recipients?

The Fighter

12.Following the arrest of Dominique Strauss-Kahn in May 2011,which American economist became the interim Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund,before Christine Lagarde was appointed permanently in August of the same year?

John Lipsky

13.In October 2011,which European separatist militant organisation declared an end to its 43-year campaign of political violence, which has killed over 800 people since 1968?

ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna )

14.Currently creative director of fashion brand Alexander McQueen,who designed the wedding dress for (Catherine)Kate Middleton,for her marriage to Prince William in April 2011?

Sarah Burton

15.Created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich in 2005,it is an Emmy award-winning,adult comedy show,that parodies a number of pop culture conventions,using 'stop-motion' animation of toys, action figures, and 'claymation'.Known for using a host of cameo voices,it was to be the last role,before his death in 2011,of American actor Gary Coleman.What is this show's title?

Robot Chicken

16.Succeeding Alan Garcia in July 2011,Ollanta Humala became the President of which South American country?

Peru

17.Noted for his discovery of 'quasicrystals',in which Nobel Prize category was the Israeli professor,Dan Shechtman awarded in 2011?

Chemistry

18.Found in February 2011 amongst manuscripts bought by a children's book charity, the unpublished work entitled 'Mr Tumpy's Caravan',was created by which author?

Enid Blyton

19.Ending Lindsey Vonn's run of the last three years,which female German alpine skier became the 2011 Overall World Cup Champion?

Maria Riesch

20.Up to 14th December,which film was the highest grossing of 2011,that was not a sequel?

The Smurfs

21.Located in the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean,which island became the fifth French overseas department in March 2011?

Mayotte

22.Performing the song 'Running Scared',singers Eldar and Nigar were announced as winners of the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest.Which country did they represent,only the fourth time the country had entered?

Azerbaijan

23.In June 2011,Tea Obreht became the youngest author to win the Orange Prize for Fiction.What was the title of her debut novel?

The Tiger's Wife

24.At the 2011 World Athletics Championships,which Australian hurdler,later named 2011 IAAF 'Woman Athlete of the Year' took Gold in the 100 metres hurdles final?

Sally Pearson

25.The travelling companion of Che Guevara during their 1952 trip around Latin America,he authored the memoir 'Travelling with Che Guevara: The Making of a Revolutionary'.This served as a reference for the 2004 film 'The Motorcycle Diaries', in which he was played by Rodrigo de la Serna.What is the name of this Argentine-Cuban doctor,writer and scientist,who died in March 2011?

Alberto Granado

26.Constructed as a replacement for 'Challenger' ,which space shuttle,that made its first flight in 1992,was finally retired in June 2011?

Endeavour

27.Reaching the top 10 of the US Country music charts 5 times between 1969 and 1977, her biggest hit was 'Blanket on the Ground', which, became her only number one in 1975.She also released 17 studio albums between 1968-1983.What is the name of this American country star,known for her bluesy voice,who died in December 2011?

Billy Jo Spears

28.In July 2011,which former Wales rugby international,became the first person to complete the 'Explorers' Grand Slam,a challenge to reach the seven continental summits and both Poles in the same year? Richard Parks
29.In January 2011,Estonia became the latest country to join the Euro.What was the name of its previous currency?

Kroon

30.Also the name of her 2011 tour,which female American singer,released her seventh studio album, 'Femme Fatale', in 2011?

Britney Spears

31.According to the 2011 Forbes 'Rich List',Frenchman Bernard Arnault,is Europe's richest man.Of which French luxury goods conglomerate is he the CEO?

LVMH (Louis Vuitton and Moet Hennessy)

32.Beating Uruguayan team Penarol in the final,which Brazilian football team won the 2011 Copa Libertadores?

Santos

33.In October 2011,Tomas Transtromer,from Sweden,became a Nobel Laureate in which category?

Literature

34.Entering service in October 2011,which Asian airline provided the first commercial flight of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner?

All Nippon Airways

35.As part of the Arab Spring series of protests and revolutions in 2011,which African country ,became the first to overthrow their leader,Zine El Abidine Ben Ali,forcing him into exile in Saudi Arabia?

Tunisia

36.In April 2011,who became the first Spanish actress to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

Penelope Cruz

37.In October 2011,Helle Thorning-Schmidt,became the first ever female Prime Minister of which European country?

Denmark

38.Writing the novel,'A Sense of an Ending',who was awarded the 2011 Man Booker literary prize?

Julian Barnes

39.In November 2011,Ivian Sarcos became the latest winner of the Miss World beauty pageant.Which South American country did she represent?

Venezuela

40.Replacing the long-running Larry King Live, in January 2011,'Piers Morgan Tonight' made its TV debut on CNN.Which fellow TV chat show host was his first guest?

Oprah Winfrey

Thursday Quiz 59

2011-12-15T17:44:00.000-08:00

Here's another set of 30 to get you through the cold snap.

Enjoy.....................

1.In December 2011,which country became the first ever country to formally leave the Kyoto Protocol?

Canada

2.An American pioneer,he is known for his role in defending the Alamo during the Texas Revoulution,where he was killed in 1836.He is,however,best known as the inventor of a curved sheath knife bearing his name.What is his name?

James (Jim) Bowie

3.Completed by Ogden Nash in 1968.,the poem 'The Scoobious Pip', tells of an animal of unknown taxonomy and the attempts of the other animals of the world to classify it.Due to his death in 1888,it was,originally, the unfinished work of which English poet and illustrator?

Edward Lear

4.Formerly used as a whaling base,its largest island is Spitsbergen.What is the name of the archipelago,located in the Arctic Circle which constitutes the northernmost part of Norway?

Svalbard

5.Represented by Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland,which country won the 2011 Mens Golf World Cup in November 2011?

USA

6.The national flower of Russia,it belongs to the plant family Asteraceae.It is perhaps best known as a sleeping aid and as a popular herbal tea.By what name is it commonly known?

Chamomile

7.Common in South and Central America as well as Africa,what type of animal is a 'characin'?

Fish (similar to carp)

8.In 1939,which surrealist painter designed the set and wrote the libretto for a ballet entitled 'Bacchanale',based on Wagner's 'Tannhauser' and the myth of Leda and the Swan?

Salvadore Dali

9.Which scientific theory is largely associated with the American meteorologist Edward Lorenz,arising from his study of convection in the atmosphere?

Chaos Theory

10.Airing between 1997-2002,this US TV sitcom is centred around a couple who marry on their first date,despite being complete opposites.Starring Jenna Elfman and Thomas Gibson in the title roles,what is the show's name?

Dharma and Greg

11.In Greek mythology,what was the name of the wise centaur who taught many Greek heroes including Jason,Achilles,Perseus and Asclepius,at his school in Thessaly?

Chiron

12.Along with Judea it was renamed 'The West Bank' following the Jordanian conquest of 1948.What was the name of the capital city,of the ancient Kingdom of Israel?

Samaria

13.Much used in the Renaissance period,what is the name of the classical motif,in the style of a ram's horn,overflowing with fruit and flowers and symbolising abundance and plenty?

Cornucopia

14.Named as an imitation of Sierra Leone's capital,Freetown,which city serves as the capital of Gabon?

Libreville

15.The basis for a 1972 film,which American author's best known work is 'The Poseidon Adventure'?

Paul Gallico

16.Olympic art competitions formed part of the modern Olympic Games during its early years.The first was held in 1912 in Stockholm,but at which Summer Games,(also held in Europe),did it make its final appearance?

Helsinki (1952)

17.Derived from the Greek meaning 'to inscribe',what word is used to describe a brief, interesting and usually memorable statement,originally made on statues,but has since been used in a variety of texts?

Epigram

18.Originating in South Asia,it is an edible fat,derived from butter,by removing most of the water.What is the name of this foodstuff,whose name is taken from Sanskrit?

Ghee

19.Currently,which is the only country in South America where (male) homosexual acts are still illegal?

Guyana

20.Which of the great Greek tragedians wrote plays including 'Heracles','Hippolytus' and 'Phoenician Women'?

Euripedes

21.What three-word phrase (or term) connects a 1996 film starring Bruce Willis,a 2001 novel by David Baldacci and a 2011 US TV sitcom starring Tim Allen?

Last Man Standing

22.Meaning 'Way of the Warrior-Knight',which Japanese word was originally used to describe the code of conduct for a Samurai?

Bushido

23.Commonly known as rock salt,what is the scientific name given to the mineral form of sodium chloride?

Halite

24.Separated by the Qiongzhou Strait from the Leizhou Peninsula,it is comparable to Belgium in its size.Assuming Taiwan is accepted as the largest,which is the second largest Chinese island,in terms of area?

Hainan Island

25.Of the recording artists that made up the 1956 'Million Dollar Quartet',who was the oldest?

Johnny Cash

26.Queen Maud Land,is the most southerly territory to pass through the Prime Meridian.Located in Antarctica,it belongs to which European country?

Norway

27.He released his third album in 2008,entitled 'Year of the Gentleman'.This contained the singles 'Closer','Mad' and 'Miss Independent',which were top 20 hits on both sides of the Atlantic.Also known as an actor and songwriter for other artists,how is the American R&B star,Shaffer Chimere Smith Jr ,more commonly known?

Ne-Yo

28.Covering the entire compulsory school education period,the'Folkeskole', is a system whereby the student stays at the same school from the age of 6 through to 17 years of age.In which European country is it popular?

Denmark

29.It is a liquid obtained from coal tar and used in the production of dyes,plastics,insecticides and detergents.With the chemical formula C6H6,what is the name of this aromatic compound?

Benzene

30.Which wild west figure has been famously portrayed in films by Burt Lancaster (1957),Kurt Russell(1993) and Kevin Costner (1994)?

Wyatt Earp

Sorry for the delay....

2011-12-12T03:45:00.000-08:00

Due to some time constraints (I'll not bore you),I was unable to complete this Sunday's Quiz,however I have compiled a 'Best Of' quiz of 50 Questions used over the past year.

As it is coming up for Christmas,you may want this compilation set on a PDF format for use at work,home etc.If you do,let me know and I'll e-mail a copy over to you.(justquiz@hotmail.co.uk)

I hope you enjoy them and I'll be back as normal on Thursday

Many thanks
Paul

1.What two word phrase links a chain of clothing stores owned by Gap Inc, a hit single by the post-punk group The Boomtown Rats and a term used for a politically unstable country dependent upon limited agriculture?

Banana Republic

2.Of the five recognised dwarf planets, which is the largest ,both in terms of size and mass?

Eris

3.Gwyneth Lewis,Gwyn Thomas and (currently) Gillian Clarke have all held which important ,cultural post in Wales,since its inception in 2005?

National Poet

4.Born in Munchenbuchsee,Switzerland,which expressionist and surrealist painter's works include Rose Garden,Head of Man and Castle and Sun?

Paul Klee

5.With an atomic number of 76,it is twice as dense as lead.Which element,a part of the platinum family,is the densest natural element?

Osmium

6.It is the annual national pilgrimage of Ireland and held on the last Sunday of the month of July. Pilgrims climb Ireland's holiest mountain,Croagh Patrick in County Mayo, traditionally,in their bare feet. It is held in honour of Saint Patrick with appoximately 20,000-30,000 pilgrims participating on the day. With a name sounding like an unpleasant smell what is this holy day called?

Reek Sunday (accept Garland Sunday)

7.Rehoboam was the ruler of Judah in 930 BC. Which biblical ruler was his father,who died in 931 BC?

Solomon

8. In which of Shakespeare's plays would you find the characters Cloten,Imogen and Caius Lucius?

Cymbeline

9.This make of British sportscar is named after a former, multiple Formula One Champion. It was founded by Dutch millionaire Klaas Zwart in 1995 and the first models being the 'FGT' in 1995 then the 'Ecosse' in 1998. What is the name of this 'high end' vehicle manufacturer,based in Banbury?

Ascari Cars

10.With the only difference being a slightly darker tint of blue on the left hand vertical strip,which African country's flag is almost identical to that of Romania?

Chad

11.Noted for a number of works,he discovered Saturn's rings,the pendulum clock and wave theory, amongst others.Who is this 17th century Dutch scientist?

Christain Huygens

12.Its explosions are believed to be the origin of long-duration gamma ray bursts.Which astronomical term refers to an exceptionally large star that collapses at the end of its lifespan,specifically to an explosion with an energy of over 100 supernovae?

Hypernova

13.The last Brazilian film to have won an Academy Award was in 1985,when William Hurt won the award for Best actor. The film was also nominated in the Best Picture,Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay categories.Directed by Hector Babenco and based on the 1976 novel by Manuel Puig,what is the English title of this film,set in a Brazilian prison?

Kiss Of The Spider Woman

14.What name links a donkey from George Orwell's 'Animal Farm',one of the sons of the biblical figure Jacob and a slang term for an American hundred dollar bill?

Benjamin

15.Fought and won under the command of the Duke of Marlborough,during which conflict did the 1706 Battle of Ramillies take place?

War of Spanish Succession

16.With approximately fifty percent taken up by resevoirs, what is the longest river on the Iberian peninsula?

Lozoya

17. Still trying to seek independance,what is the name of the exclave and province of Angola, that is seperated from the rest of Angola, by a narrow strip belonging to the Democratic Republic of Congo?

Cabinda

18.A painter of the Pop Art movement,he was a contemporary of David Hockney and studied at Chelsea School of Art. His works include 'Still Life With Dagger', 'Sweet Bowl' and 'After Lunch'. What is the name of this artist, who won the Turner Prize in 1987 and died in 1995?

Patrick Caulfield

19.One of the largest toy manufacturers in the world, it was founded by Henry and Helal Hassenfeld in 1923. What is the name of this company ,whose products include Mr Potato Head , GI Joe and My Little Pony ,amongst others?

Hasbro

20.His most 'famous' work is The Origin of the Knights of Bath,he became poet laureate when he was 30 years, the youngest ever. Which 18th century poet gained this distinction?

Laurence Eusden

21.Sao Miguel,Pico and Terceira are the largest islands in which
archipelago,situated in the Atlantic Ocean?

The Azores

22.His conquests have included the Golden Gate Bridge,The Eiffel Tower and the Petronas Towers. What is the name of the renowned French climber, nicknamed 'Spiderman' for his reputation of climbing without ropes and who also suffers from vertigo?

Alain Robert

23.What is the capital city of ,the former Soviet state, Turkmenistan?

Ashgabat

24.Used everyday in hospitals and at doctors' surgeries, for what is a sphygmomanometer, used to measure?

Blood Pressure

25.In 'Peter and the Wolf,by Russian composer,Sergei Prokofiev,each animal is represented by an orchestral instrument.Which instrument,traditionally, represents the Wolf?

French Horn(s)

26.Which son of Gengis Khan,succeeded his father in 1229 and became the second 'Great Khan',of the Mongol Empire?

Ogedei Khan

27.Andrew Lloyd Webber has won an Oscar for best original song in Evita (1996) . Name of the other two musicals for which he has also received an Academy Award nomination?

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) Phantom of The Opera (2004)

28.Which chemical element is represented on the periodic table by the letter 'V'?

Vanadium

29.Who is the only FIFA World player of the year that has never played at a World Cup Finals?

George Weah

30.What is the name of the Christian denomination founded in Switzerland in 1693 by Jakob Ammann?

Amish

31.What name was given to the followers of a 14th century political and religious movement,led by John Wycliffe?

Lollards

32.Winning in 1902 in the category of physiology or medecine for his work on malaria,who became the first British person to be awarded a Nobel Prize?

Ronald Ross

33.With four category wins,which film,along with 'The King's Speech', picked up the most awards at the 2011 Academy award ceremony?

Inception

34.Which is the first chemical element,by atomic number,whose chemical symbol, is also an American state code abbreviation?

Neon (atomic number 10 - NE is zipcode for Nebraska)

35.Which one colour is common to the flags of Jamaica,Syria and the Bahamas?

Black

36.Produced by Italian brandy producer Arturo Vaccari, which yellow liquer named after a war hero, is a blend of herbs and fruits such as star anise and juniper?

Galliano

37.Which unit of weight is equal to 1/7000th of a pound?

A Grain

38. Which word, familiar to generations of British soldier, derives from a Hindustani word for home ?

Blitey

39.England played many of its early football international games at cricket grounds,but which was the first football stadium to host an England international football game (a stadium still in use today)?

Bramall Lane

40.The Golan Heights form a rocky plateau, that serves both as an area of strategic importance and as a popular tourist attraction.In which country is this area situated?

Syria

41.Maglev is currently the system used by the World's fastest commercial train,the Shanghai Maglev.For which two words is Maglev an abbreviation`?

Magnetic Levitation

42.Which American photographer was noted for his black and white depictions of the American West including the work 'Moon and Half Dome' and was also the pioneer of the Zone System photography technique?

Ansel Adams

43.Which team won the last ever East German football league title in 1991?

FC Hansa Rostock

44.Instrumental in retaining the right of Scottish banks to issue their own notes in 1826,who appears on every Scottish bank note?

Sir Walter Scott

45.Often referred to as the 'Father of Geometry',which Greek mathematician wrote his influential work 'Elements' in circa 300BC?

Euclid

46.In which modern day country can Mount Sinai,the location where Moses received the Ten Commandments, be found?

Egypt

47.Element 112 was previously known as ununbium until February 2010,when it was renamed after which scientist,on the 537th anniversary of his birth?

Nicolaus Copernicus (Copernicium)

48.Which Graham Greene novel features the character James Wormold,a vacuum cleaner salesman,who becomes caught up in the world of espionage?

Our Man in Havana

49.The first country to allow female Members of Parliament,which country was also the first European country to allow women to vote in parliamentary elections?

Finland

50.Based in Kazhakstan,it is the world's largest and also first space launch facility.It was where Sputnik 1 and Luna 1 launched and also saw Gagarin in Vostok 1 become the first man in space. What is the name of this facility, originally called Leninsk?

Baikonur Cosmodrome

Thursday Quiz 58

2011-12-08T18:03:00.000-08:00

Here's my next set

Enjoy...............

1.Which Shakespearean character shares the name with the second largest moon of Uranus?

Oberon

2.Which Japanese composer is particularly famous for his film soundtracks,including 'Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence'(1983),'The Last Emperor'(1987) and 'Snake Eyes'(1998)?

Ryuichi Sakamoto

3.Founded in 1997,it is now published in seven languages and has around 450,000 e-mail subscribers.The 'ZENIT' new agency aims to represent the views of which Christian denomination?

Roman Catholic

4.Within the arts in the UK,what position has been held,most recently, by Trevor Hands (1986-1991),Adrian Noble (1991-2003) and Michael Boyd since 2003?

Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company

5.Making their debut at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix,which country became the most recent to provide a driver in a Formula One race?

Russia (Vitaly Petrov)

6.Who was the British Prime Minister during the short reign of King Edward VIII?

Stanley Baldwin

7.Famous for developing the 'Android' mobile operating system,they are sometimes referred to as the 'OHA'.Which three-word name is given to the consortium of several companies,including, HTC,Motorola,Samsung Electronics and T-Mobile,which aims to develop open standards for mobile devices?

Open Handset Alliance

8.The Troodos Mountains are the location of the highest peak,whilst the Pedieos is the longest river.In which European country can these geographical features be found?

Cyprus

9.Which island nation located in the central Atlantic ocean,is an archipelago of 10 islands,with Santiago being the largest in terms of area and population?

Cape Verde

10.Only two men have been nominated for acting Academy Awards in five different decades.Unsurprisingly,Jack Nicholson is one,but who is the other?

Michael Caine

11.Based on a Gregory Maguire novel of 1995,which musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman explores the relationship between the misunderstood character Elphaba and the ambitious,glamourous character,Galinda Upland?

Wicked

12.Augusta Ada King,Countess of Lovelace,was best known for her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical computer, the analytical engine.Her mother was Anne Isabella Milbanke,but which poet,was her famous father?

Lord (George) Byron

13.Almost totally destroyed in 1887 by earthquake,it was its country's capital until 1997.The city of Almaty is the largest city,in terms of population,of which former Soviet state?

Kazakhstan

14.Sharing a name with a US state capital,which battle of 1776 saw George Washington command his first military action on American soil?

Battle of Trenton

15.Originally formed in 1995 as 'Kara's Flowers',which American pop/rock band,fronted by Adam Levine,have sold more than 15 million albums worldwide,with their releases, 'Songs About Jane'(2002),' It Won't Be Soon Before Long'(2007) and 'Hands All Over'(2010)?

Maroon 5

16.A 19th century American campaigner for women's rights and dress reforms,she founded the feminist paper 'The Lily' in 1849.In pursuit of dress equality,she is best known for wearing 'trousers for women',(which would later bear her name).What is this campaigner's name?

Amelia Bloomer (trousers known as Bloomers)

17.Which American statesman and soldier,was commander-in-chief during the Texan War,where his army defeated the Mexicans at the 1836 Battle of San Jacinto,paving the way for the Republic of Texas to become an independent country?

Sam Houston

18.Receiving an Honorary Academy Award in 2004,which American directed,amongst others,the films 'Breakfast at Tiffany's','Days of Wine and Roses' and the 'Pink Panther' series of films,starring Peter Sellars?

Blake Edwards

19.An Italian Jewish chemist and writer,he wrote novels, short stories, essays, and poems.He is best known for writing 'If This Is a Man',an account of the year he spent as a prisoner in the Auschwitz concentration camp.What is this writer's name?

Primo Levi

20.Beating Argentina 3-1 in the final,which country won the Davis Cup in December 2011?

Spain

21.Known for containing temple pyramids and the largest known Meso-American ballcourt,which ancient Mexican city served as the Mayan capital of the Yucutan peninsular,between (circa)the 11th and 13th centuries?

Chichen Itza

22.Used extensively in the cosmetic and health care sectors,by what name is the yellow waxy substance,secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals,usually referred?

Lanolin

23.Occupying most of the eastern part of the country,which historical province of the Czech Republic includes the cities of Brno,Ostrava and Olomouc?

Moravia

24.Found in most vertebrates,the are manufactured by bone marrow.By what three-word name are erythrocytes,usually referred?

Red Blood Cells

25.A British literary prize,it is awarded each year,by the Society of Authors,to the best writer,under the age of 35, of a book published in the past year.The winner receives a £12,000 prize,which must be spent on foreign travel.Which British author,born 1874,instituted this award in 1947?

Somerset Maugham

26.Rewarded for its people's brave defence against the Spanish in 1574,which city,(also the birthplace of Rembrandt),became the first Dutch university city in 1575?

Leydan

27.Which city serves as the capital of the Caribbean nation of Grenada?

St George's

28.In Hindu and Buddhist religious art,it is thought to help with prayer and meditation.Which general shape is represented by 'mandala'?

Circle (circular)

29.A global reality TV franchise,it is known as 'Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!' in Germany,'Kandisdjungeln' in Sweden and 'Bobo's in the Bush' in the Netherlands.How is it known in the UK and USA?

I'm A Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here!

30.The French culinary term,'beche-de-mer',refers to the food obtained from which marine animal,found in the South West Pacific?

Sea Cucumber

Sunday Quiz 56

2011-12-04T17:06:00.000-08:00

Hello again and thanks for waiting this week.Unfortunately,things have been a bit hectic this week,but I now have a set of 40 for you to have a go at.

Great to be back at a Grand Prix event this week as it seems ages since my last(in October).

Still waiting for my Brain of Britain date,but should hear soon,as I know I'm definitely on in January.I'll keep you posted.

Back to business(kudos awarded for linking the answers to Questions 26 and 27.I'll post that answer on Thursday).............

1.In December 2011,Brazilian football legend,'Socrates', died following complications from food poisoning.For which football club did he spent most of his career?

Corinthians

2.Mentioned in the New Testament,Simon of Cyrene was the person who helped Jesus carry the cross.In which modern day country could Cyrene be located?

Libya

3.What place name is shared by the capital city of Antigua and Barbuda and the capital of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador?

St Johns

4.In the 'Transformers' series of films,toys and TV shows,'Optimus Prime' is the leader of the heroic 'Autobots'.Who is the leader of the evil 'Decepticons'?

Megatron

5.Winning the Gambrinus liga for the first time in 2011,they made their Champions League debut in the 2011/12 season.In which European country does FC Viktoria Plzen play its domestic football?

Czech Republic

6.In terms of population,which is the largest of the French overseas departments?

Reunion

7.Famous for its 1854 battle and for its namesake type of hood,in which modern day country can the town of Balaclava be found?

Ukraine

8.Completed in 1986,which two Asian countries are connected by the The King Fahd Causeway?

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain

9.A ten-time Grammy Award winner,she gained fame,in the 1970s,as the frontwoman of the funk band Rufus.She has since has a successful solo career and released albums such as 'I Feel for You','Destiny' and 'CK'.By what stage name is the American soul singer Yvette Marie Stephens,better known?

Chaka Khan

10.Its leading members included Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, Theodore Rousseau, Jean-Francois Millet and Charles-Francois Daubigny.What name is given to this group of 19th century,French landscape painters,whose name is derived from the village near Fontainebleau Forest, where the artists gathered?

Barbizon School

11.Which US TV sitcom,first aired in 2000,has seen numerous cameo performances during its 11 year history, including Shaquille O'Neal,Alanis Morrisette,Martin Scorcese,Mel Brooks,Ben Stiller,Hugh Hefner and Ricky Gervais?

Curb Your Enthusiasm

12.In 1996 convicted murder Billy Bailey,was executed in the state of Delaware.He is noted as the last person in the United States,to be executed by which method?

Hanging

13.Prominent during the English Civil Wars,what was the name of the political movement,which emphasised popular sovereignty,equality before the law and religious tolerance, all expressed through their manifesto 'The Agreement of the People'?

The Levellers

14.Which African country links UK top 20 singles for Jimme Rodgers in 1958 and Michael Jackson in 1989?

Liberia (Woman from Liberia and Liberian Girl respectively)

15.Dying in in December 2011,who was the last Prime Minister of (The Socialist Federal Republic of) Yugoslavia,serving between 1989-1991?

Ante Markovic

16.In terms of scheduled passengers carried,which is the largest non-American airline in the world?

Lufthansa

17.In October 2004, during a qualifying for the UK Snooker Championship, Jamie Burnett became the first (and so far only) player to achieve what distinction,or record, in a competitive match?

Made a break over 147 (148 vs Leo Fernandez)

18.Extensively used in scientific research due to their ability to regenerate limbs,which species of salamander fails to undergo metamorphosis from its larvae,leaving the adults remaining aquatic and gilled?

Axolotl

19.The main functions of which organ in the human body are: removing old red blood cells,holding a reserve of blood and recycling iron?

Spleen

20.Literally meaning 'deceive the eye',which French term,describes an illusionistic painting effect,such as painting a ceiling to look as if it is open to the sky?

Trompe L'oeil

21.In 1876,who is reputed to have shot and killed American folk hero,Wild Bill Hickok,whilst playing poker in the Number Ten Saloon,in Deadwood?

(John) Jack McCall

22.Located in modern day Jordan,it is the highest point of the Pisgah range.Which mountain is mentioned in the Bible as the place where Moses was given a view of the Promised Land?

Mount Nebo

24.Named after a British politician and merchant,by what island name was Tuvalu known,prior to its independent status in 1974?

Ellice Islands

25.President of Haiti between 1971-1986,what was the real name of the notorious leader,nicknamed 'Baby Doc'?

Jean-Claude Duvalier

26.How is the character Cio-Cio San referred to,in the title of a famous Puccini opera?

Madame Butterfly

27.Founded in the American inner cities,what name is given to the game in which two long jump ropes turning in opposite directions, are jumped by one or more players simultaneously?

Double Dutch

28.In an attempt by the government to control information getting out of the country,in which Middle Eastern state were iPhones banned from use and import,in December 2011?

Syria
29.If someone was to be said to suffer from 'bradycardia',what would be their primary symptom?

(Abnormally) Slow Heart Beat

30.Adapted into a 2010 film starring Tilda Swinton,it tells the story of a fictional school massacre.What is the title of the 2005 Orange Prize (for Fiction) winning book,written by Lionel Shriver?

We Need To Talk About Kevin

31.Usually red in colour,although the Pope always wears white,what is the name of the small skullcap worn by clerics of the Roman Catholic Church?

Zucchetto

32.What word connects the US rappers O'Shea Jackson,Tracy Marrow and Robert van Winkle?

Ice (perform under the names Ice Cube,Ice-T and Vanilla Ice respectively)

33.Which Canadian Province,has the country's southernmost point?

Ontario

34.Which 1874 Thomas Hardy novel tells the love story between Gabriel Oak and Bathsheba Everdene?

Far From The Madding Crowd

35.During which 17th century conflict did the first and second Battles of Newbury occur?

English Civil War

36.Once a very common first name in early medieval times,what is the most popular surname in Spain?

Garcia

37.Best known for his compositions 'Symphonie fantastique' and 'Grande messe des morts',which French composer was once paid 20,000 francs by Paganini for the piece 'Harold en Italie'?

Hector Berlioz

38.According to Greek mythology,which of Jason's Argonauts was the son of King Aeacus and the father of Greek heroes Ajax the Great and Teucer the Archer?

Telamon

39.Originally fighting for a seperate state in 1949,it changed its aim in the 1970s to try to force a Federal system.In which country does the guerilla organisation known as the Karen National Union operate?

Burma (Myanmar)

40.Which is the only city to have hosted the World Athletic Championships twice?

Helsinki

An Amendment to this week's quiz schedule......

2011-11-30T15:15:00.000-08:00

I had to be away for a little longer than expected.Therefore I will not be able to put a Quiz up on Thurs 1st December,but I will put up a 40-question Quiz on Sunday 4th December.

Thanks
Paul

Sunday Quiz 55

2011-11-27T17:06:00.000-08:00

Just let you know.Next week will still have quizzes,but will be slightly shorter (20 on thurs/30 on Saturday).The reason is I'm away for a couple of days and I have a Grand Prix event.

Back to tonight.

I hope you enjoy this set...............

1.In 1993,which African nation,the continent's third smallest,became the most recent addition to the 'Arab League' economic organisation?

Comoros

2. In 1988,which TV show became the first and only television show to have its entire cast flown over to the UK to make an appearance at the Royal Variety Performance,in front of the Queen?

Neighbours

3.An important contributor to the De Stijl art movement,he went on to found Neo-Plasticism.Which 19th/20th century Dutch artist,is best known for his works that consist of a white background,with a painted grid of vertical and horizontal black lines and three solid primary colours?

Piet Mondrian

4.Recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru and Vanuatu,Abkhazia is an autonomous republic of Georgia.Which city serves as its capital?

Sukhumi

5.Three years after finishing as runner-up whilst playing for Crystal Palace,which Chinese footballer,(the only one to date),won the Asian player of the year in 2001,whilst playing for Dundee?

Fan Zhiyi

6.Which natural satellite of Neptune is named after any one of the sea nymphs that were the fifty daughters of Nereus and Doris?

Nereid

7.During which decade of the 20th century did the four-day 'Football War' between Honduras and El Salvador occur?

1960s (1969)

8.Named after its leaders,what was the popular name given German left-wing terrorist group,who were prevalent during the 1970s and who were also known as 'Rote Armee Fraktion'?

Baader-Meinhof

9.Of which South American country,is the Marxist-Leninist militant organisation,known as 'FARC',a fierce and long-standing opposer?

Colombia

10.With a market capitalisation of US$2.93 trillion,the pan-European stock exchange known as Euronex,is the 5th largest in the world.In which city is it based?

Amsterdam

11.Which 20th century conflict was ended by the Dayton Agreement?

Bosnian War

12.Premiered on Broadway in 1927,the George Kaufman and Edna Ferber play 'The Royal Family', ran for 345 shows.It was written as a parody of which legendary acting family of that era?

Barrymore Family

13.A prolific writer,especially short stories,he wrote two famous books set around the Klondike Gold Rush.What was the pseudonym used by the American author John Griffith Chaney,born in 1876?

Jack London

14.Immortalised by Ernest Hemingway in his novel 'The Sun Also Rises',which Italian city,is noted for its 'Fiesta of San Fermin',which is held in July and features a notorious bull run?

Pamplona

15.First appearing in the early 1980s,'The Lennon Wall', is an iconic feature,especially for young people and students.During the communist era it was a place to air grievances,but today is used to inspire peace and love.Featuring John Lennon-inspired graffiti,including song lyrics,in which European capital city can the wall be found?

Prague

16.Seen as the founding Empire of France and Germany,its beginning date is based on the crowning of Charlemagne and ends with the death of Charles the Fat.What name is given to this Middle Ages ruling Empire?

Carolingian Empire

17.Recorded in 1990,the 'Three Tenors' concert in Rome,is a record breaking and Grammy winning classical album.The singers are well known,but who was the Indian conductor of the performance?

Zubin Mehta

18.Making their first public performance at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival,which world famous,magical entertainment act,was known as the 'Asparagus Valley Cultural Society' until 1981,when they changed their name after fellow collaborator,Weir Chrisimer,left the act?

Penn and Teller

19.Until 2006,which Asian country was known as the only official Hindu state in the world,due to ninety percent of its population following the religion?

Nepal

20.'ECT',is a treatment used on patients with severe psychiatric disorders.It is applied by sending an electric current to the brain of an anaesthetized patient.For what does the abbreviation ECT stand?

Electroconvulsive Therapy

21.Catherine of Braganza was the wife of King Charles II of England.Her father,John IV,was the King of which country?

Portugal

22.Named after an ancient Greek city that placed emphasis on physical fitness,what was the name of the sporting games,held every four years in the former Soviet Union,(until 1979),for nationals only?

Spartakiad

23.Working closely with Gilbert and Sullivan,for what ,(occupation), was Frederick John D'Auban best remembered?

Choreographer

24.In terms of population,Manchester is the largest city of which US state?

New Hampshire

25.Located in East London,which world famous bell foundry, is known for casting notable bells such as 'Big Ben' and the 'Liberty Bell' in Philadelphia?

Whitechapel Bell Foundry

26.Taking its name from an art exhibit about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima,what is the title of the fourth studio album by U2,written in 1984 and featuring the anthemic single Pride (In The Name of Love)?

The Unforgettable Fire

27.Which Swiss city is home to the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee and also to a 28-station metro system, making it the smallest city in the world to have such a system?

Lausanne

28.Encephalitis is an inflammation of which organ of the human body?

Brain

29.The Director-General of the BBC between 1960-69,was the younger brother of which famous English author,born in 1904?

Graham Greene (brother of Hugh Greene)

30.In 1949,which former UK colony,became the tenth and latest province to enter the Canadian Confederation?

Newfoundland and Labrador

31.Isla de los Estados is an Argentine island that lies 29 km west of Tierra del Fuego, from which it is separated by the Le Maire Strait.It's name,when translated to English,is shared by which well known island of the United States?

Staten Island

32.Well known for her books about important historical characters,who was the second wife of the British playwright,Harold Pinter?

(Lady) Antonio Fraser

33.Which of William Shakespeare's comedies is centred around the two pairs of lovers, Benedick and Beatrice and Claudio and Hero?

Much Ado About Nothing

34.Born in 1972,which French male tennis player holds the record for playing in the most Grand Slam singles tournaments?

Fabrice Santoro (played in 70)

35.Her 1974 novel 'Tim',was made into a 1979 film starring Mel Gibson,although she is probably best known for writing 'The Thornbirds',which was turned into a 1983,Emmy Award winning TV mini-series.What is the name of this Australian author?

Collen McCullough(Robinson)

36.A complicated knot,it was used by a legendary King of Phrygia,to tie up his wagon.The oracle said that whoever untied the knot,would rule Asia.Which legendary knot was eventually cut by Alexander The Great, with his sword?

Goridian Knot

37.Slowly cooked at the table,in a mixture of soy sauce,sugar and minin,what meat is traditionally used in the Japanese Winter dish 'Sukiyaki'?

Beef (Pork used in some areas,but beef is traditional)

38.First aired in 2007,this American TV drama series follows ex-spy Michael Westen,who is trapped in Miami ,after mysteriously being dumped by the intelligence services.With Jeffrey Donovan in the lead role,what is the title of this show?

Burn Notice

39.What is the name of the influential American publisher who launched the famous American magazines, 'Time','Life','Fortune' and 'Sports Illustrated'?

Henry Luce

40.Known around the world,especially on the festival circuit,they released their UK number one,(debut) album 'We Started Nothing' in 2008.They also released singles including 'That's Not My Name','We Walk' and 'Shut Up And Let Me Go' .How are the musical duo of Katie White and Jules de Martino,better known?

The Ting Tings

Thursday Quiz 57

2011-11-24T17:22:00.000-08:00

I could call this the Heinz Quiz.

Anyway,enjoy this set..................

1.In November 2011,'The People's Party', led by Mariano Rajoy,won a majority in the General election of which European country?

Spain

2.With 1,196 inhabitants per square mile ,which is the most densely populated stae in the USA?

New Jersey

3.The most common type of which vegetable,is also known as Calabrese?

Broccoli

4.Which Shakespearean character name connects the title character in 'The Merchant of Venice',the brother of Leonato in 'Much Ado About Nothing' and the father of Proteus in 'the Two Gentlemen Of Verona'?

Antonio

5.Formed in 1984 by two former members of The Beat,they are a best known for their 1988,global number one album,'The Raw and the Cooked'.What is the name of this British band,who take their name from a 1960 film starring Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood?

Fine Young Cannibals

6.Originating in the Carpathian mountains,which Eastern European river runs through Ukraine and Moldova and also separates most of Moldova's territory from the breakaway de facto state of Transnistria?

Dniester River

7.Enid Bagnold was the author of the novel 'National Velvet' from which the 1944 film,starring Elizabeth Taylor was taken.She is also noted as the great-grandmother of which (current) public figure and famous wife?

Samantha Cameron

8.The French Impressionist painter,Berthe Morisot,became the sister- in-law of which noted French painter,after marrying his younger brother Eugene?

Eduoard Manet

9.Founded in 1921,the fashion house,Gucci,has become one of the top fashion brands in the world.Gucci was the surname of the founder,but what was his first name?

Guccio

10.Since the event became known as the America's Cup in 1851,only three countries outside the USA have held the trophy.Name two of them?

Australia,New Zealand and Switzerland

11.Widely considered as one of the most prestigious and selective universities in the world,in which US state is Stanford University located?

California

12.Responsible for the design of over 100 churches across the Netherlands,which 19th century,Dutch architect,is best known for designing Amsterdam Cental Station and for winning the contest to design the Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam) in 1876?

Pierre Cuypers

13.Beatified in 2000,he was also the last Pope to rule as the Sovereign of the Papal States.Serving for over 31 years,which 19th century Pope, holds the record for the longest elected papal reign?

Pius IX

14.14.Decided at the Battle of Bouvines,the 13th century Anglo-French War,was fought between the armies of King John of England and which French monarch?

Philip II

15.What official title is currently held by Pierre DesRuisseaux in Canada,Cilla McQueen in New Zealand and WS Merwin in the USA?

Poet Laureate

16.Who won Academy Awards in the category of 'Best Director' for the films 'Mrs Miniver'(1942),'Best Years of Our Lives'(1946) and 'Ben-Hur'(1959)?

William Wyler

17.Released in 1964,'Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M',was the debut album by which famous American duo?

Simon and Garfunkel

18.The scientific term, 'Terminal Velocity', describes a free falling object's downward force of gravity,when it is equal to an upward force of what?

Drag

19.What was Nelson Mandela's occupation,prior to his 28 year incarceration?

Lawyer

20.One of the longest running shows in Broadway history,it was written by Kenneth Tynan,with its title is taken from a painting by Clovis Trouille.What is the name of this avant garde theatrical revue,that consists of sketches in sex-related topics?

Oh! Calcutta!

21.Also a capital city,which is the largest city,by population,in the Caribbean?

Santo Domingo

22.Designed by Minoru Yamasaki,the Century Plaza Towers,have a common resemblance to his more famous work,'The World Trade Centre'.In television, the Towers were the headquarters of the fictional private detective Remington Steele.In which US city are they located?

Los Angeles

23.Originally called the Fitzroy Street School,its main exponents included Vanessa Bell,Eric Gill,John Nash and Kenneth Martin.Sharing its name with a square on the London edition of 'Monopoly',which 20th century art movement,aimed to counteract the tendencies of Surrealism and Abstractism by returning to more figurative forms of expression?

Euston Road School

24.Located at the southern tip of the British Virgin Islands archipelago,Norman Island is believed to be the inspiration of which 19th century novel?

Treasure Island

25.In November 2011,who was awarded the prestigious literary prize,the 'Prix Goncourt',for his novel,' L'Art francais de la guerre'?

Alexis Jenni

26.Stretching from the Baltic to the North Sea,what was the name given,to the economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds,that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe during the Late Middle Ages and early modern period?

Hanseatic League

27.Following on from her breakthrough role in 2000's Girlfight, she is best known for playing tough girl roles and starring in Hollywood blockbusters such as The Fast and the Furious, Resident Evil, S.W.A.T., Avatar and Machete.She is equally well known for her role as Ana Lucia Cortez in the television series Lost.What is the name of this American actress?

Michelle Rodriguez

28.Only second to Roger Federer (who has reached 23 to date),which male tennis player reached the final of 19 Grand Slam singles finals, in the open era,recording eight wins?

Ivan Lendl

29.A 16th century Italian painter,he was a pupil of Raphael and became a pioneer of the Mannerist painting style.His notable works include 'Isabella d'Este' and 'The Stoning of St Stephen'.What is the name of this influential painter,who is also mentioned in Shakespeare's 'Winter's Tale'?

Giulio Romano

30.Of which British Overseas Territory,is Road Town the capital?

British Virgin Islands

Sunday Quiz 54

2011-11-20T16:44:00.000-08:00

The next batch is ready.

Hope you enjoy.........

1.In November 2011,'The Polynesian Leaders Group', an eight member governmental co-operative,was formally launched.In which of its capital cities did it take place?

Apia (Samoa)

2.Which human reflex or convulsion,is also known as a 'sternutation'?

Sneeze

3.In 1520 Emperor Montezuma II was killed during the initial stages of the Spanish conquest of Mexico.It occurred when which Conquistador and his men,fought to escape from the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan?

Hernan Cortes

4.Which decade of the 17th century saw the founding of Harvard University,the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the start of building work on the Taj Mahal?

1630s

5.Best known these days as an actor,Jason Statham began his career as a World class athlete.In which sport did he represent Great Britain at the 1992 World Championships,where he finished in a credible 12th place?

Diving

6.The Sami people,are the indigenous people inhabiting the area of Sapmi in Northern Europe.By what common,(but now considered colloquial) name is Sapmi known?

Lapland

7.Doing so at the 2003 Wimbeldon Championships,who did Roger Federer beat in the final,to win the first of his Grand Slam singles titles?

Mark Philippoussis

8.Bad Mergentheim,located in the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg,is famous for being the last stronghold of which military order,dissolved by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1809?

Teutonic Knights (or Order)

9.Known in Arabic as Bab al Zakak,which narrow body of water connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean?

Strait of Gibraltar

10.In 1956, he won the Nobel Prize for Physics,for his involvement with the invention of the transistor.In 1972,he won the same prize,for his work on a fundamental theory of conventional superconductivity ,known as the 'BCS theory'.Who is this American,the only man to have received two Nobel Prizes for Physics?

John Bardeen

11.Literally translated in English as 'Orange tree Coast',which of the Spanish 'Costas' follows the coast of the province of Castellon,from Vinaros to Almenara?

Costa del Azahar

12.Released in 2008,which American singer and songwriter,created a US Billboard Chart record by staying in the singles charts for 76 weeks,with the song 'I'm Yours'?

Jason Mraz

13.The well known piano maker,Carl Bechstein,set out to manufacture a piano,able to withstand the great demands,imposed on the instrument by the virtuosi of the time.In 1857, Hans von Bulow gave the first public performance on a Bechstein grand piano by performing,his father-in-law's Piano Sonata in B minor.Who was von Bulow's famous composer relative?

Franz Liszt

14.In mathematics,what name is given to a number that has,both,a real and imaginary part,such as 5+2i?

Complex Number

15.The mountain known as Pico Duarte,is the highest in the Carribean.Lying in the Cordillera range,in which country is it found?

Dominican Republic

16.Sometimes disputed due to its bay location,which Venezuelan lake is generally considered to be the largest lake in South America?

Lake Maracaibo

17.Formed in 1962 and based in Miami,the paramilitary terrorist group known as Alpha 66,was set up to oppose which political leader?

Fidel Castro

18.In 1916,the only Nobel Prize awarded that year went to Verner von Heidenstam of Sweden.In which category did he receive the prize?

Literature

19.Identified as a daughter of Zeus and Hera,who war the Greek goddess of war?

Enyo

20.Based in Manchester,the UK independent record label,Factory Records,is known for giving catalogue numbers to everything,from posters to stationery,(as well as records).Which iconic Manchester venue,was given the catalogue number FAC51?

The Hacienda Club

21.Which Italian Prime Minister was kidnapped on March 16th 1978, by the left-wing Red Brigades,where he was later killed after 55 days of captivity?

Aldo Moro

22.Writing hit songs such as 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow' and 'Saving All My Love For You',what is the name of the lyricist partner and first husband of Carole King?

Gerry Goffin

23.Located in Arizona,after which US President, is there a namesake dam and lake?

Theodore Roosevelt

24.Established in 2009,after which European football legend does FIFA name an award,for the most aesthetically significant and 'most beautiful' goal of the year?

Ferenc Puskas

25.Influencing major trends such as Bauhaus and the De Stijl movement,which 1920s art movement,was developed at the Moscow Institute of Artistic Culture and pioneered by the sibling sculptors Antoine Pevsner and Naum Gabo?

Constructivism

26.Including its most northern outpost,Raoul Island,to which country do the Kermadec Islands belong?

New Zealand

27.Known for his criticism of social institutions and studies on human sexuality,which 20th century French philosopher's main works included, 'Madness and Civilization','The Order of Things' and 'The History of Sexuality'?

Michael Foucault

28.Which First World War poet is noted for his works including 'The Old Huntsman'(1917),'Counter Attack and Other Poems (1918) and 'Aftermath'(1920)?

Siegfried Sassoon

29.Home to the oldest boat club in the world,which Oxford College is (reputed to be) named after a bronze door knocker?

Brasenose College

30.Who won the Best Actor Academy Award for his role as Atticus Finch in the 1962 film adaptation of Harper Lee's novel, 'To Kill A Mockingbird'?

Gregory Peck

31.First published in 1881,which American author wrote the novel,'The Prince and The Pauper'?

Mark Twain

32.Written by Thomas Arne in 1740,the British patriotic song 'Rule Britannia',was originally part of which work,that tells the story of a well known 9th century figure?

Alfred (based on King Alfred the Great)

33.Fleeing Rome in 1606, after killing a man,which Italian painter died of a fever in Porto Ercole four years later,whilst on his way back to the capital,to receive a pardon?

(Michelangelo Merisi da) Caravaggio

34.In May 2011,the England cricketer Jonathan Trott,scored 203 runs during the first test against Sri Lanka.It was the highest batting score of any England player against Sri Lanka in test history.Who's 20 year old record did he surpass?

Graham Gooch

35.Occurring on 23rd April 1616,which famous European author is reputed to have died on the exact same day as William Shakespeare?

Miguel de Cervantes

36.The title of which song reached number two in the UK singles charts for
Madonna in 1985 and 1991 and for the band Let Loose in 1994?

Crazy For You

37.Accounting for around one fifth of the population,which Asian country's President,according to an agreement between the political and religious leaders,must be a Maronite?

Lebanon

38.Sharing its name with an area of Ireland,which German city was the location for the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia, that ended the Thirty Years' War in 1648?

Munster

39.With 200 representatives,which European country has a Parliament known as the 'Eduskunta'?

Finland

40.Founded in Metzingen,Germany in 1924,which high end fashion brand, has licensing agreements with various companies,including Samsung to produce its mobile phones,Movado to produce watches,and Safilo to produce sunglasses and eyewear?

Hugo Boss

Thursday Quiz 56

2011-11-17T16:38:00.000-08:00

Another batch.

Some of these are particularly tricky,but I hope you still enjoy them....................

1.In November 2011,which Pacific island state had three different Presidents in less than a week,after President Freddie Pitcher,was ousted after just six days?

Nauru

2.In Greek mythology,'The Mares' were man-eating horses,associated with Heracles' eighth labour.To which mythological giant did they belong?

Diomedes

3.Assuming office in December 2006,he was elected for a six-year term. A member of the Partido Accion Nacional (PAN),who is the current President of Mexico?

Felipe Calderon

4.Which African lake is divided among Burundi,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Zambia?

Lake Tanganyika

5.The female rowers,Elisabeta Lipa (1984-2004) and Georgeta Damian (2000-2008) have both won 5 Olympic Gold Medals,equalling Steven Redgrave's record in the Men's event.Which country did they both represent?

Romania

6.On the periodic table,what name is given to the series of fifteen metallic chemical elements with the atomic numbers 57-71?

Lanthanide

7.By winning Wimbledon Championships in 2011,who became the first Grand Slam event winner to be born in the 1990s?

Petra Kvitova

8.Founded by Richard Steele in 1709,which British literary and society journal,famous for its 'Little Black Book' of eligible young adults,primarily focuses on the glamorous lives and lifestyles of the upper class?

The Tatler

9.After Wyoming,which is the second least populated of the 50 US states?

Vermont

10.Airing between 1974-1975,it featured a young Helen Hunt as the protagonist's daughter.The American TV show 'Amy Prentiss',was a spin-off from which other 1960s and 1970s US detective series?

Ironside

11.Between 1690-1721,the import of what commodity, was banned in England by the Calico Acts?

Textiles

12.Derived from a venomous pit viper,what name was given to the vocal group of Democrats in the Northern United States who opposed the American Civil War?

Copperheads

13.Which atoll serves as the capital of Tuvalu?

Funafuti

14.Winning the Booker Prize in 1993,which Roddy Doyle novel has the synopsis,'The world as described, understood and misunderstood by a ten-year-old Dubliner'?

Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha

15.Which American actress played the title role in the 1992 film version of 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer'?

Kristy Swanson

16.Winner of the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1916,he also served as the society's president from 1923 until 1925.Which Danish born-Irishman,is best known for his monumental work,'The New General Catalogue',which was based on William Herschel's previous work, 'The General Catalogue'?

John Dreyer

17.Released in 1997,which Quentin Tarantino directed film is an adaptation of the novel 'Rum Punch',written by Elmore Leonard?

Jackie Brown

18.In terms of both land area and population ,which is the largest of the Dodecanese islands?

Rhodes

19.Which Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical,holds the record for most Broadway performances,giving over 9800 (to date)?

The Phantom of The Opera

20.Driven by Maurice Trintignant,which make of Italian sports car,made its only Formula One appearance at the 1956 French Grand Prix,where it failed to finish?

Bugatti

21.Mainly caused by caused by repetitive work in a certain position,what is the popular (or colloquial) name,for the medical condition known as prepatellar bursitis?

Housemaid's Knee

22.Occurring in important quantities in Russia and Greenland,what name is given to the mineral compound of sodium,aluminium and fluorine (NA3 AlF6),used in the smelting of aluminium ores?

Cryolite

23.Which country shares the longest land border with Brazil?

Bolivia

24.The Australian dollar is also used in three independent Pacific Island states.Name any two these states?

Tuvalu,Nauru,Kiribati

25.In which decade did Ernest Hemmingway,Boris Pasternak and Albert Camus all receive Nobel Prizes for Literature?

1950s

26.Considered an equivalent to the Nobel Prize,the Fields Medal,was first awarded in 1924 and is available to researchers under the age of forty.In which field is the prize awarded?

Mathematics

27.Which German composer, conductor, and founder of the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra,is best known for his operatic version of Shakespeare's comedy 'The Merry Wives of Windsor'?

(Carl)Otto Nicolai

28.In 1971,which politican,became the first aboriginal member of the Australian Parliament,after filling a casual vacancy,left by Liberal senator,Dame Annabel Rankin?

Neville Bonner

29.Derived from Anushtakin ad-Darazi,one of its early preachers,what is the name of the eclectic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged from Ismailism during the 11th century?

The Druze

30.In October 2011,after 27 years of marriage,the husband and wife members of this American new wave/punk band, Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore,announced their seperation.Formed in 1981,they have released 16 studio albums,including 'Evol'(1986),'Goo'(1990) and 'Rather Ripped'(2006).What is the band's name?

Sonic Youth

Sunday Quiz 53

2011-11-13T17:37:00.000-08:00

Here are your next batch of 40.

Have fun.........

1.Which former EU commissioner was asked ,in November 2011,to form a new government in Italy,following Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's resignation?

Mario Monti

2.Written in the Gospel of John,which figure from the town of Bethany, appears as the brother of Mary and Martha?

Lazarus

3.Awarded the prize for his performances in 1984,1985,1988 and 1992 films,which US actor holds the unenviable record, of receiving most Golden Raspberry Awards in the category of Worst Actor?

Sylvester Stallone

4.Prohibited by the 1919 Treaty of Versailles,what was the name given to the concept of union between Germany and Austria?

Anschluss

5.All won during the 21st century,which football player has played on more English FA Cup Final winning teams than any other?

Ashley Cole (3 for Arsenal and 3 for Chelsea)

6.First aired in 2011,it received 13 Primetime Emmy nominations.Based on George R. R. Martin's best-selling series of fantasy novels and starring Sean Bean,what is the name of this TV drama?

Game of Thrones

7.In Morocco,there are four Imperial cities,taking their status from the fact they were,or are capitals.Rabat and Marrakech are two,name either of the others?

Fes and Meknes

8.Particularly popular with US sports teams,who or what is the 'Oendan', in Japan?

Cheerleading Team

9.Which 19th century poet and humourist,noted for his works 'Whims and Oddities' and 'Odes and Addresses', is also remebered for his contributions to 'Punch' magazine,where it is thought he created the first 'picture pun'?

Thomas Hood

10.Released in May 2011,what was the subtitle,of the fourth and latest instalment of the 'Pirates of the Carribean' film franchise?

On Stranger Tides

11.Although believed to have over 850 languages spoken throughout the country,which nation's official languages are English,Tok Pisin and Hiri Motu?

Papua New Guinea

12.Behind 'Internet Explorer,what is currently,the world's second largest internet browser?

Mozilla Firefox

13.Serving between 1971-1989,which politician,was the last General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party,the head of state in East Germany?

Erich Honecker

14.Which notable 16th century figure,is the central character of the 2009 Man Booker winning novel, 'Wolf Hall'?

Thomas Cromwell

15.Born Dwight Arrington Myers in 1967,this American rapper and producer,(along with his backing group The Boyz),is most famous for creating the theme tune to American comedy series 'In Living Colour' and for recording the 1991 global hit single 'Now That We Found Love'.What is the name of this man,who died in 2011?

Heavy D

16.Located at the far south west of the Sar Mountain range,it is found on the Macedonian coat of arms.In forming a frontier,it is also the highest peak of both Macedonia and Albania.What is the name of this mountain?

Mount Korab

17.Named in honour of Ludwig Maximilians,which German University is noted for its association,(including students and teachers),with 34 Nobel Prize winners,including Max Planck,Wolfgang Pauli and Otto Hahn?

University of Munich

18.Perhaps the largest peasant uprising in European history,through which modern day country,between 1524-1525,did the conflict against the Swabian League,known as the Peasants' War take place?

Germany

19.A name derived from the Portuguese language,which city serves as the capital of Benin?

Porto Novo

20.Which Irish author is the creator of the 'Artemis Fowl' series of fantasy books?

Eoin Colfer

21.The drug atorvastatin,is sold by pharmaceutical company Pfizer, under the trade name 'Lipitor'.It is the world's biggest selling pharmaceutical drug.For what common condition,transported in the blood plasma of all mammals,is it primarily used to treat?

High Cholesterol

22.Also the subject of a 1987 film starring Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman,what was the name of the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility, love, war, and sex?

Ishtar

23.Excluding retirements due to injury,the world number one tennis player,Novak Djokovic has only lost two matches in 2011 (to date).One was to Roger Federer in the French Open semi-final,but which Japanese player beat Djokovic, to reach the final of the Swiss Indoor tournament,in Basle?

Kei Nishikori

24.With nine extant manuscripts,the oldest is held at the Bodleian Library at Oxford.What is the name of the oldest surviving major work of french Literature,that tells the story of a courageous titular knight during the Crusades?

Song Of Roland

25.Flying from Newark International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport,Beverly Burns became the first woman to captain what specific make of commercial airplane?

Boeing 747

26.Which British Nationalist political party,was founded in 1934 and has had continuous representation in parliament since 1967?

Scottish National Party

27.Flowing into the Sarpsfossen,Europe's greatest flowing waterfall,which river is the longest in Norway?

Glomma

28.Resulting in over 3500 deaths,during which 19th century conflict did the Battle of Shiloh occur?

American Civil War

29.Which French king was defeated by King Edward III of England during the Battle of Crecy in 1346?

Philip VI

30.Achieving the feat in Australia and Germany,what was the only number one single for the rock group Led Zeppelin?

Whole Lotta Love

31.Derived from its black colour and a term used by German miners,what is the more common name for the radioactive, uranium-rich mineral and ore,known as Uraninite?

Pitchblende

32.With reference to the human body,what,in general terms, is 'senescence'?

The Ageing Process

33.During which century did the Pope last use he regnal name 'Innocent'?

18th (Innocent XIII 1721-24)

34.The second longest mountain range in Europe,in which country do the majority of the Carpathian Mountains lie?

Romania

35.Which African country has borders with Western Sahara in the north, Algeria in the northeast,Mali in the east and south east and Senegal in the south west?

Mauritania

36.Measured in Pascals,what scientific term is given to 'the resistance of a fluid,which is being deformed, by either shear or tensile stress'?

Viscosity

37.Alphabetically,which US state capital comes second,behind Albany?

Annapolis (Maryland)

38.Richard Slaney,the husband of fellow 1980s athlete Mary Slaney (nee Decker),is probably best remembered for carrying his fiancee from the track,after she lay stricken during the 1984 Olympic Games 3,000m final.In which event, did he represent Great Britain at the same Games,where he finished 15th?

Discus

39.Home to the capital Suva,which is the largest of Fiji's islands,both in terms of area and population?

Viti Levu

40.Which historical conflict is commonly divided into the phases, 'The Edwardian War','The Caroline War' and 'The Lancastrian War'?

The Hundred Years War

Thursday Quiz 55

2011-11-10T16:04:00.000-08:00

Another set of 30.

Have fun..................

1.The busiest airport in Poland,the Warsaw-Okecie Airport,changed its name in 2001.It was renamed in honour of which famous 19th century Polish figure?

Frederic Chopin

2.Receiving a sentence of over 365 years imprisonment in 1977,what was the real name of the convicted serial killer,who dubbed himself the 'Son of Sam',in a note to the New York Police Department?

David Berkowitz

3.Against what type of human parasite would an 'Anthelmentic' be used to treat or kill?

Parasitic Worm

4.From the summit it is possible (on clear days) to see across the entire continent, from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea.In which country is Cerro Chirripo the highest mountain?

Costa Rica

5.Won by sibling players in 2009,which nation are the current holders of the Men's Golf World Cup?

Italy (represented by Edoardo Molinari and Francesco Molinari)

6.What is the name of the mountain range in the western part of the Alps,located across Valais in Switzerland and Piedmont and the Aosta Valley in Italy?

Penine Alps

7.For what do the initials 'PVA' stand when,describing a popular type of wood glue?

Polyvinyl Acetate

8.What was the name of the favourite mistress of King Louis XV of France,who in 1774,was tried before the Revolutionary Tribunal before being sent to the guillotine?

Madame (Marie Jeanne) du Barry

9.In terms of area,which US state is the 4th largest?

Montana

10.Taken from his 2002 debut album 'From Now On',which British male singer holds the record for the biggest-selling UK single of the 21st century (to date)?

Will Young (Evergreen/Anything is Possible)

11.Which star constellation includes,(amongst others), the stars 'Bellatrix','Rigel' and 'Saiph'?

Orion

12.In which African country do the Tigrinya people make up about 60% and Tigre people make up about 30% of the total population?

Eritrea

13.Considered an SI derived unit,which term, in mathematics,describes the ratio between the length of an arc and its radius?

Radian

14.Which of the six Marx Brothers was the youngest?

Zeppo (or Herbert)

15.Captured by French forces in 1994,he is known as one of the world's most notorious terrorists.What is the nationality of Ilich Ramirez Sanchez,better known as 'Carlos The Jackal'?

Venezuelan

16.Which 19th century English writer,who did not complete her first novel until middle age,created the novels 'Mary Barton,'Cranford' and 'North and South',amongst others?

Elizabeth Gaskell

17.Lending his name to certain orders of monks and nuns,which Saint founded his first monastery at Monte Cassino around 529AD?

St Benedict

18.Launched in the Netherlands in November 1988,it is seen on many types of food packaging throughout the world.In Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway and France it is called 'Max Havelaar'.In Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Italy, the United States, Canada and Japan,it is known as 'Transfair'.By what name is this trademark known in the UK and Ireland?

Fairtrade

19.Known primarily for his murals,which Mexican painter and active communist,was the husband of fellow Mexican painter,Frida Kahlo?

Diego Rivera

20.Which actor was nominated for a 'Best Actor' Academy Award in three successive years,for the films 'Becket'(1964) ,'The Spy Who Came In From The Cold'(1965) and 'Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf (1966)?

Richard Burton

21.The longest-serving Prime Minister of Spain,he served four successive mandates from 1982 to 1996.What is the name of this politician ,who was also the General Secretary of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party from 1974 to 1997?

Felipe Gonzalez

22.Which boxer beat Mike Tyson by a knockout in Tyson's final World Heavyweight title bout,in 2002?

Lennox Lewis

23.Based on the John Bunyan work,which British composer created the opera 'The Pilgrim's Progress',in 1951?

Ralph Vaughan Williams

24.A name given in 1920 by the critic Henri Collet,how were the composers,Georges Auric,Louis Durey,Arthur Honegger,Darius Milhaud,Francis Poulenc and Germaine Tailleferre collectively known?

Les Six

25.The protagonist of the 1885 novel 'King Solomon's Mines',which author created the character Allan Quatermain?

H.(Henry) Rider Haggard

26.Who,in November 2011,was named the new Prime Minister of Greece, following the resignation of George Papandreou?

Lucas Papademos

27.In general terms,what is practiced using 'Muay Thai' in Thailand, 'Pradal Serey' in Cambodia, 'Muay Lao' in Laos and 'lethwei' in Myanmar?

Martial Arts (specifically martial art boxing styles)

28.Running for five seasons between 1972 and 1977,which US TV police drama followed the fortunes of Lieutenant Mike Stone and Inspector Steve Keller?

The Streets of San Francisco

29.Nicknamed 'The Kingfish',he served as the 40th Governor of Louisiana from 1928–1932 and as a U.S. Senator from 1932-1935.Known for his leftist and populist ideals,he created the 'Share The Wealth program' in 1934,using the motto 'Every Man A King'.What is the name of this American political figure who was assassinated in 1935 by Carl Weiss?

Huey Long

30.In which religion are the festivals of Holla Mohalla,Vaisakhi and Parkash Utsav celebrated?

Sikhism

Sunday Quiz 52

2011-11-06T16:06:00.000-08:00

I'm back after a couple of days of being unwell.Thanks for waiting

Well done to all of those who took part in the weekend's European Quiz Championships.I hope to be in Tartu,Estonia in 2012.

Here's another 40. Hope you enjoy...............

1.Ridden by Christophe Lemaire and trained by Mikel Delzangles,which prestigious horse race was won by the French horse,Dunaden,in 2011?

Melbourne Cup

2.After its independence from Spain in 1821,to which country did Panama belong,before its official separation in 1903?

Colombia

3.If something is described as palmate,what (general) shape is it?

Leaf-shaped

4.Located in the north of the country,halfway between Brescia and Verona,which is the largest lake,in terms of surface area,in Italy?

Lake Garda

5.Replacing the individual pursuit, the points race, and the Madison at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games,what is the name of the indoor cycling competition,whereby riders will gain points in six seperate events to ascertian an overall winner?

Omnium

6.Liliane Bettencourt is one of the wealthiest women in the world.This is mainly due to her majority shareholding in which global cosmetics company?

L'Oreal

7.Which 18th/19th century German playwright and friend of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, wrote the notable works,'The Wallenstein Trilogy','Maria Stuart' and 'Wilhem Tell'?

Friedrich Schiller

8.His nickname,comes from the Norman-French,meaning 'short stockings'.Which Duke of Normandy and unsuccessful claimant to the English throne,was the eldest child of King William I and Matilda of Flanders?

Robert Curthose

9.Breaking out on the Easter of 1282,it was to start a subsequent eponymous war.What name was given to the successful rebellion on the island of Sicily,against the rule of King Charles I (of Anjou)?

Sicilian Vespers

10.Based on the comic book of the same name,it is an American TV horror series set in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse.Starring Andrew Lincoln and first aired in 2010,what is the title of this Golden Globe-winning show?

The Walking Dead

11.Which Italian composer wrote the musical scores for the spaghetti westerns 'A Fistful of Dollars','For A Few Dollars More' and 'The Good The Bad and The Ugly'?

Ennio Morricone

12.Which chemical element with the atomic number 106 and chemical symbol Sg,is named after a 1951 Nobel Laureate for Chemistry?

Seaborgium (after Glenn T Seaborg)

13.Adapted for a 1979 TV series,what is the name of the Raymond Bradbury short story collection, that follows the colonisation of Mars by humans and the conflict between themselves and the indigenous population?

The Martian Chronicles

14.In terms of population,which is the largest country to have a mainland border with Thailand?

Vietnam

15.Which eponymous character, created by Gaston Leroux in a 1910 novel,has been played on screen by Lon Chaney Sr in 1925,Claude Rains in 1943 and Herbert Lom in 1962?

The Phantom of The Opera (also known as Erik)

16.Which is the most populous city within the American region of New England?

Boston

17.Born in Miletus around 624BC,he was one of the Seven Sages of Greece.Which pre-Socratic philosopher, is regarded as the first philosopher in the Greek tradition?

Thales

18.Celebrated on october 19,in which country is Mother Teresa Day a public holiday?

Albania

19.Located in the Baltic Sea,Saaremaa and Hiiumaa are the two largest islands that belong to which country?

Estonia

20.Published in 1946,EV Rieu's version of 'The Oddessy',was the very first of which series of books,still in production today?

Penguin Classics

21.Named after a nephew of Charles I and the first Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company,what name was used to describe the territory in British North America, consisting of the Hudson Bay drainage basin?

Rupert's Land

22.Which distinguished German actress,the second wife of Bertolt Brecht,became Artistic Director of the Berliner Ensemble after her husband's death in 1956?

Helene Weigel

23.Named after a Serbian-born American inventor and rival to Thomas Edison,what is the SI unit for magnetic flux density (or magnetic induction)?

Tesla

24.Commonly used in physics,what is the 23rd and penultimate letter of the Greek alphabet?

Psi

25.In the 2011 film version of 'The Smurfs',which character was voiced by Jonathan Winters,the only cast member to reprise his role from the 1981 TV series?

Papa Smurf

26.Sometimes known as the 'blow-organ' or 'key-flute',it is a free-reed instrument that has a musical keyboard and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece in the side of the instrument.Popular in music education in Asia,it is also featured heavily on the 2001 Gorillaz single 'Clint Eastwood' and the 1983 Depeche Mode track 'Everything Counts'.What is the correct name for this instrument?

Melodica

27.One of the largest pilgrimages in the world,it is the fifth pillar of Islam.What is the name of the religious duty that must be carried out by every able-bodied Muslim (who can afford to do),at least once in their lifetime?

Hajj

28.What surname links the Italian economist and 1985 Nobel Laureate,a 19th /20th century Italian anthropologist,who worked primarily on Indonesian islands and a 20th century painter who created 'Nude Sitting on a Divan',one of the world's most expensive works of art?

Modigliani (Franco,Elio and Amedeo respectively)

29.After France and Spain,which nation has provided the most Tour de France winners?

Spain

30.Lake Okeechobee is the second largest freshwater lake located within the 48 contiguous states.The lake is is divided between Glades, Okeechobee, Martin, Palm Beach, and Hendry counties.In which US state is it found?

Florida

31.It has been held at the Drouant restaurant every December since 1903.Its notable winners have included Marcel Proust, Jean Fayard and Simone de Beauvoir.Named after a successful author and critic,what is the name of the most prestigious literature prize in France,won in 2011 by Alexis Jenni?

Prix Goncourt

32.In which modern day European country were the Piasts (960-1370) and the Jagiellons (1386-1572),the longest reigning dynasties?

Poland

33.Serving in his present role since 1982,he won his country's latest general election in October 2011,resulting in a sixth term in office.Of which African country is Paul Biya the President?

Cameroon

34.Which wild west character has been played in movies by Robert Wagner in 1957,Robert Duvall in 1972,Kris Kristofferson in 1986 and Brad Pitt in 2007?

Jesse James

35.Which is the only country on mainland Africa with Spanish as the official language?

Equatorial Guinea

36.Silicosis, also known as Potter's rot,is an occupational disease that affects which part of the human body?

Lungs (respitory system)

37.Located on the island of Luzon,it served as its capital between 1948-1976.Which city is the most populous in the Philippines?

Quezon City

38.Poets' Corner is the name traditionally given to a section of the South Transept of Westminster Abbey,due to the number of poets, playwrights, and writers buried and commemorated there.The first writer was interred there in 1400,although it is thought his burial may have been more likely linked to his position as Clerk of Works of the Palace of Westminster than to his fame as a writer.Who was this writer?

Geoffrey Chaucer

39.Native to Central and South America,what type of animal is a Tamandua?

Anteater

40.Founded in 1979,it first created games for the Atari 2600 console.Since then it has created games on various formats,including the big-selling 'Crash Bandicoot','Spyro The Dragon' and 'Call of Duty' franchises.What is the name of this company,the world's first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles?

Activision

Next Quiz will be Sunday 6th November

2011-11-02T16:34:00.000-07:00

The next quiz will be Sunday 6th November instead of Thursday 3rd November.

This is because I've been unwell this week.

Thanks
Paul

PS Good luck again to those of you attending this weekend's European Quiz Championship.I hope you all have a great time.

Sunday Quiz 51

2011-10-30T15:54:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to see Mastermind is back this Friday.

Also I think some of you are off to the European Quiz Championships this week,so in case you have left before Thursday night,I wish you all the best of luck.

Maybe these will help

Enjoy.........................

1.In October 2011,they won their 11th title.Which American baseball team,are only second to the New York Yankees on the all-time list of World Series winners?

St Louis Cardinals

2.The title of a 1987 novel by Tom Wolfe and a subsequent 1990 film starring Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis,what name is given to events,particularly in 15th century Italy,in which objects deemed to be sinful,such as art or books,are burnt?

Bonfire of the Vanities

3.Which city serves as the capital of Cape Verde?

Praia

4.Endemic to many parts of Latin America,the group of lizards known as Basilisks,are known for their ability to run,for short periods, across water.It is this ability that gives them which two-word nickname,the name by which it is commonly referred?

Jesus Christ (Lizard)

5.What is the name of the Italian Moto GP motorcyclist,who was tragically killed whilst competing at the Malaysian Grand Prix in October 2011?

Marco Simoncelli

6.First introduced by the Dutch artist Theo van Doesburg in 1930,what two-word term applied to artists,who argued that their particular form of abstractionism 'must be free of any symbolical association' ?

Concrete Art

7.One of the top ten most populated cities in Brazil,it is known as the 'Brazilian Venice',due to its many rivers, small islands and over 50 bridges,found in city centre.Translated in English as 'reef',what is this city's name?

Recife

8.What name links the second largest city in Azerbaijan,previously known as Kirovabad and the Sanskrit derived name for cannabis?

Ganja

9.Prevalent between 1397-1523,what was the name of the historical term,used to descibe the series of personal unions that united the Kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden?

Kalmar Union

10.Between 1701-1896,the Ashanti was a powerful military Empire,primarily due to their early adoption of European rifles.The Ashanti monarchy continues today as a constitutionally protected,sub-national state,located in which West African country?

Ghana

11.Landing in September 1959,what was the name of the Russian spacecraft,that became the first to reach the surface of the Moon?

Luna (2)

12.With the motto 'The Cross is steady while the world is turning',which monastic order was founded by Saint Bruno of Cologne in 1084?

Carthusian

13.Which three-word title links a 1988 Leonard Cohen album,a 1985 UK number one single by Wham and a minor 1986 single by Barry Manilow?

I'm Your Man

14.Which Argentine international footballer has scored the most goals at FIFA World Cup Finals?

Gabriel Batistuta (10 Goals)

15.Founded in 1834,it is now a subsidiary of Coty Inc.Which global cosmetics brand advertises with the tag-line 'Get The London Look'?

Rimmel

16.Self proclaimed as the Captain of Kent,who was the Irishman that lead the insurrection of 1450 against King Henry VI?

Jack Cade

17.Included in the 'Time 100:The Most Important People of the Century',what was the name of the American businessman,who took over the small-scale McDonald's Corporation franchise in 1954 and built it into the most successful fast food operation in the world?

Ray Kroc

18.Which of the four British home nations has the closest mainland to the Isle of Man?

Scotland

19.One of the 'Founding Fathers' of the United States of America,he became the first leader of the Federalist party.His death,in 1804,was a result of a wound obtained in a duel, with political adversary Aaron Burr.Which historical figure is commemorated on the US 10 dollar bill?

Alexander Hamilton

20.In January 2011,she was recognised as the best Sportsperson of the Year in China,in a non-Olympic sport.Who is the current female World Chess champion?

Hou Yifan

21.Consisting of the the Heer,the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe,what German name is given ,to describe the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945?

Wehrmacht

22.Part of the largest video game franchise of all-time,which character made his first appearance in 1981,when he was known as 'Jumpman'?

Mario

23.What is the mathematical formula used to calculate the volume of a cylinder?

V=∏r2h (volume=pi x radius squared x height)

24.Founded in the early 19th century,their name translates as the 'Charcoal burners'.What name is given to the groups of secret Italian revolutionary societies,who were influential in the process of Italian Unification and to whom a popular pasta dish's name is derived?

Carbonari

25.In October 2011,which Hindi science fiction, superhero film,became Bollywood's most expensive,by having an estimated budget of $39 million?

Ra.One

26.Which Italian composer wrote,amongst others, the 17th century operas 'Ormindo','Giasone' and 'La Calisto'?

Francesco Cavalli

27.Elected in October 2011,which politician will take over from Mary McAleese as the new President of Ireland from November 2011?

Michael Higgins

28.It is a medical condition,whereby the body develops ulcers on its extremities.Sometimes confused with frostbite and trench foot,its symptoms include redness, itching, blisters and inflammation and is typically developed after exposure to cold weather.What is the common name for the condition also known as 'perniosis'?

Chillblains

29.Wrote in 1811 under the pseudonym of 'A Lady' ,which was the first of Jane Austen's novels to be published?

Sense and Sensibility

30.The first prize was awarded jointly to Nelson Mandela and Anatoly Marchenko,with the 2011 prize going to five members of the 'Arab Spring'.Named after a Soviet scientist and dissident,what is the name of the annual award created by European Parliament,which honours individuals or organisations, who have dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights and freedom of thought?

Sakharov Prize

31.Mileva Maric and Elsa Lowenthal were the former wives of which noted Nobel Laureate,who died in 1955?

Albert Einstein

32.A winger who wore the number 11 shirt,he was known to fans as 'La Galerna del Cantabrico' (The Storm of Cantabrian).Which Spanish football legend,part of the dominant 1950's Real Madrid side,holds the record of winning 6 European Cup winners Medals?

Francisco Gento

33.Despite receiving many awards during his career,the musical composer Andrew-Lloyd Webber has won just one Academy Award,doing so in 1996.Which song won him (and Tim Rice) the award?

You Must Love Me

34.The coastline of which sea is made up from the Gulf of Gonave, Gulf of Venezuela, Gulf of Darien, Golfo de los Mosquitos, Gulf of Paria and the Gulf of Honduras?

Carribean Sea

35.Although it is situated on the African tectonic plate,the island of Socotra is officially a part of which Middle Eastern country?

Yemen

36.Brendan Cole, Craig Revel Horwood, Paul Mercurio and Alison Leonard are the resident judges on which country's version,of the TV franchise 'Dancing With The Stars'?

New Zealand

37.Of which rock-forming mineral,represented on the Mohs scale, is Moonstone a variant?

Feldspar

38.Prolific and noted during the late 18th and early 19th centuries,by what name was the French Rococo sculptor,born Claude Michel,commonly referred?

Clodion

39.The nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of which organ in the body?

Kidney

40.The 'Myth of Er' is a story whereby a soldier named Er recalls his journey in the afterlife, including an account of reincarnation and the celestial spheres of the astral plane. The influential story,introduced the idea that moral people are rewarded and immoral people are punished, after death.It is the concluding part of which classic book,first written around 380BC?

The Republic (Plato's Republic)

Thursday Quiz 54

2011-10-27T16:01:00.000-07:00

Another 30 for you.

Enjoy....................

1.First launched in 2008,to which mobile phone company does the smartphone brand known as 'Xperia' belong?

Sony Ericsson

2.Controversial at the time,'The Raft of the Medusa',was a 19th century painting,depicting the aftermath of a contemporary French shipwreck,in which the captain had left the crew and passengers to die.It also featured a young Eugene Delacroix,posing as one of the dying figures in the picture.Which pioneer of the Romantic art movement created this work in 1819?

Theodore Gericault

3.Which English king commanded the decisive English victory at the Battle of Crecy,during the Hundred Years' War?

Edward III

4.The third wife of another former President, which Argentine politician,became the first female President in the Americas,when she was elected to office in 1974?

Isabel Peron

5.Last played in 2008,which international team are the current holders of the Rugby League World Cup?

New Zealand

6.According the Alexandre Dumas novel,what is the name of the character who is transformed into 'The Count of Monte Cristo'?

Edmond Dantes

7.Named after a distinctive fungal growth in various areas of the body,white-nose syndrome is believed to have caused over 1 million deaths of which mammal,since it was first identified in 2006?

Bat

8.Spanning the borders between Pakistan, India and China,in which mountain range can the world's second highest peak,K2,be located?

Karakoram Range

9.Sandwiched between Mexico and Colombia,which is the largest,in terms of area,of the seven mainland countries of Central America?

Nicaragua

10.Featuring Jennifer Beals and Pam Grier,which American TV drama series,aired between 2004-2009,follows the loves and lives of a group of lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in West Hollywood?

The L Word

11.Following Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's successful 1953 ascent of Mount Everest,which country provided the next four climbers to reach the summit,doing so in a 1956 expedition?

Switzerland

12.In Greek mythology,what was the name of the notorious ferryman who carried souls of the newly deceased across the rivers Styx and Acheron?

Charon

13.With a career spanning 6 decades,he has completed 100 tours, had 18 platinum albums, and sold more than 110 million records.Who is the best selling French singer of all-time?

Johnny Hallyday

14.In which part of the human body can the Hyaloid canal be located?

The Eye

15.One of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico,in which Eastern state does the city of Cancun lie?

Quintana Roo

16.Created by Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg,the film 'The Adventures of Tintin',was released in October 2011.Which British actor is cast in the title role?

Jamie Bell

17.First identified in 1913 by Kasimir Fajans and Oswald Helmuth Gohring,it was originally named 'brevium'.Which chemical element,has the atomic number of 91 and the chemical symbol Pa?

Protactinium

18.A Frankish military and political leader,he served as Mayor of the Palace under the Merovingian kings.He is remembered for winning the Battle of Poitiers in 732,in which he defeated an invading Muslim army,halting northward Islamic expansion in Western Europe.Thought to be a founding figure of the Middle Ages,what was the name of this man,the father of Pepin the Short and grandfather of Charlemagne?

Charles Martel (or Charles the Hammer)

19.Unlike surveying,it takes into account the Earth's curvature.What name is given to the branch of science,concerning the size and shape of the Earth,its gravitational field and the location of fixed points?

Geodesy

20.Native to New Guinea and Australia,they have three species known as 'Northern','Southern' and 'Dwarf' and are thought to have the lowest bird-call to human ears.Behind the ostrich and emu,it is the third tallest bird.What is its name?

Cassowary

21.In ancient Rome,what name was given to the practitioners of the Etruscan system of divination,who would inspect the entrails of sacrificial animals?

Haruspices

22.In October 2011,the Boeing 787 Dreamliner,made it first ever commerical flight,flying between Haneda and Hong Kong.Through which airline,was the flight made?

All Nippon Airways

23.Which American composer won back to back Academy Awards for 'Best Original Song',with the tracks 'Moon River' in 1961 and 'Days of Wine and Roses' in 1962?

Henry Mancini

24.Particularly popular in Christian art,which term is used to describe a work of art that is divided into three sections or panels,which are hinged together and folded?

Triptych

25.Written in 1869,it was not published in English until the 20th century.Which Dostoyevky novel tells the story of Prince Myshkin's return to Russia from a Swiss sanatorium, only to find himself at the centre of an emotional struggle between a beautiful kept woman and a gorgeous, virtuous girl?

The Idiot

26.Also the current sponsor of Manchester City Football Club,which airline carries the flag of Abu Dhabi,in the United Arab Emirates?

Etihad

27.Under which US President did the Louisiana Purchase occur,where over 800,000 square miles of land was acquired by the US from France?

Thomas Jefferson

28.Also the name of a TV detective,what term,derived from Middle-Age heraldry, is used to describe the device whereby pictures are used instead of words?

Rebus

29.In winning the 2008 Womens Long Jump event,who became Brazil's first and (so far) only individual female Olympic champion?

Maurren Maggi

30.It makes frequent allusions to a very famous English poem,from which its title is derived.Written by Jez Butterworth,which West End and Broadway play,tells the story Johnny 'Rooster' Byron,a local waster and modern day pied-piper?

Jerusalem

Sunday Quiz 50

2011-10-23T16:13:00.000-07:00

Here it is.I apologise in advance for having 2 questions relating to Richard Branson.

Anyway I hope you enjoy this batch....................

PS As much as I like Autumnwatch,when is Mastermind going to be shown?It must be soon

1. In October 2011,Richard Branson opened the world's first commercial spaceport,known as 'Spaceport America',where he is expected to begin commercial flights by 2013.In which US state is it located?

New Mexico

2.The Nishan Sahib,is the official flag of which religion?

Sikhism

3.Often found in diabetics,which medical term is used,to describe the symptom in which the patient displays excessive thirst?

Polydipsia

4.Along with Richard Branson,he was the co-skipper of the Virgin Atlantic Challenger vessels, that attempted to break the Atlantic Ocean crossing record during the 1980s.He is better known for being the first person to sail non-stop westwards around the world, aboard the yacht 'British Steel'.What is this yachtsman's name?

Chay Blyth

5.Which three-word title connects the UK top 10 hit singles for Eurythmics in 1983,Madonna in 1987 and Eve in 2001?

Who's That Girl

6.Which Gothic horror character has been played on screen by Herbert Lom in 1970,Laurence Olivier in 1979 and Anthony Hopkins in 1992?

Abraham van Helsing

7.Created several years after the original went on sale,what name was given to the 4x4x4 cube,that acted as a 'sequel' to the Rubik's Cube?

(Rubik's) Revenge

8.Which of the 'Seven Wonders of The Ancient World',would be located in the Turkish city of Bodrum,if it was to exist today?

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

9.Which English writer is best known for her 1938 play,'Dear Octopus' and her 1956 children's novel,'The One Hundred and One Dalmations'?

Dodie Smith (Dorothy Gladys Smith)

10.A popular US TV series during the 1980s,it starred Tom Selleck in the titular role.Which US state was the setting for 'Magnum P.I'?

Hawaii

11.One of the most successful IndyCar racing divers of the 21st century,he is also the husband of the American actress,Ashley Judd.Which Scottish driver has won the Indianapolis on three occasions,as well as claiming the last three IndyCar Series titles?

Dario Franchetti

12.Its name is derived from a 16th century French Ambassador in Portugal,who promoted its medicinal properties to Catherine de Medici.Which substance and stimulant has the chemical formula C10 H14 N2?

Nicotene

13.One of the most important oil fields in the North Sea,to which country does Ekofisk belong?

Norway

14.Fought between 1700-21,which conflict began when an alliance of Denmark–Norway, Saxony, Poland-Lithuania and Russia declared war on the Swedish Empire?

Great Northern War

15.Winning 8 Gold medals,which country topped the final medals table at the 2011 World Track Cycling championsips,held in the Netherlands?

Australia

16.Born in 1916,which prolific film actor and three-time Academy Award nominee ,was born with the name Issur Danielovitch,but changed it when he joined the US Navy during World War II?

Kirk Douglas

17.In which two counties of Northern Ireland does the country's capital,Belfast,lie?

Antrim and Down

18.Born in 1870,which Italian physician,educator and noted humanitarian,is best known for her philosophy of education which bears her name in schools throughout the world?

Maria Montessori

19.Formerly known as Frunze,what is the capital and the largest city of Kyrgyzstan?

Bishkek

20.An ongoing series of international protests,they began in late September 2011.They are primarily against social and economic inequality, corporate greed and the influence of corporations on government.Following the lead taken by the Wall Street protest,by what name (or tag) are these series of demonstrations known?

'Occupy' (followed by location)

21.The 'Rocket-Powered Recoilless Weapon' was the brainchild of Dr Robert H. Goddard as a side project of his work on rocket propulsion.Also used to describe any shoulder-fired missile waepon,by what generic one-word name is this weapon known today?

Bazooka

22.Surpassing Nokia in 2011 to become the third largest smartphone maker in the world (behind Apple and Samsung),which Asian country is home to the telecommunications giants,'HTC'?

Taiwan

23.Since her 1998 debut with the single 'Poker Face',she has sold over 50 million records in Japan, making her the best selling solo singer in Japanese history.She has also made three of the world's top 20,most expensive pop videos ever.What is the name of this Japanese icon,known as 'Ayu' to her fans?

Ayumi Hamasaki

24.Which Hungarian-born,Israeli biochemist, was jointly awarded the 2004 Nobel Prize for Chemistry,along with Aaron Ciechanover and Irwin Rose, 'for the discovery of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation'?

Avram Hershko

25.The musical director of the English National Opera between 1979-1993,he has also been appointed principal conductor for several prestigious British Symphony orchestras during his career.Who was appointed chief conductor and musical director of the Halle Orchestra in 2000,a role he still holds today?

Mark Elder

26.Including two extant species,'North American' and 'Eurasian',which (primarily) nocturnal mammal is the second largest of the rodents,behind the Capybara?

Beaver

27.Located in the Malaysian Sarawak state,which city,in terms of population,is the largest in Borneo?

Kuching

28.They were political statements drafted in 1798 and 1799, in which two US state legislatures took the position that the federal 'Alien and Sedition Acts' were unconstitutional.(They argued that each individual state has the power to declare that certain federal laws are unconstitutional and void).Which two states drew up these historical resolutions,which were written secretly by Vice President Thomas Jefferson and James Madison?

Kentucky and Virginia

29.In 1949 the French philosopher,Gaston Bachelard,coined a term ' to refer to a belief that things and events could be known in advance.Derived from a Greek mythological character,who was cursed after spurning Apollo's advances,which female name is used to describe this complex or syndrome?

Cassandra (Complex or Syndrome)

30.An American author,essayist and playwright,he was born in 1925 and published his first book in 1946.His third novel, 'The City and the Pillar' (1948),outraged critics,as it was one of the first major American novels to feature unambiguous homosexuality.What is the name of this writer,whose other fictional works include 'Julian'(1964), 'Duluth'(1983) and 'Empire'(1987)?

Gore Vidal

31.Which gland in the human body,is a protrusion found at the bottom of the hypothalamus,at the base of the brain?

Pituitary Gland

32.Established in 1932,it was governed by Puyi,the last Qing Emperor.What was the name of this Japanese puppet state,which was abolished in 1945,due to the fall of the Imperial Japanese government?

Manchukuo

33.Currently ranked at number 12,which international team,according to the current FIFA football rankings,(23/10/11),is the highest ranked of the former Yugoslav Republics?

Croatia

34.Developed around the turn of the 20th century by a bartender working at the Long Bar in Raffles Hotel,what is the traditional spirit used in the cocktail,'Singapore Sling'?

Gin

35.How many different English kings,form the title of William Shakespeare's 'historical plays'?

7 (Seven - John,Richard I+II,Henry VI,V,VI+VIII)

36.Home to a famous coffee brand,Blue Mountain Peak is the second highest peak in the Caribbean.In which country is it located?

Jamaica

37.After heading a military coup deposing Emperor Pedro II,Manuel Deodoro da Fonseca became,in 1889, the first president of which country?

Brazil

38.Primarily served in Belgium and northern France,'Moules-Frites',is a popular dish consisting of French fries and what else?

Mussels

39.Which Canadian river originates in the Great Slave Lake, in the Northwest Territories and flows north into the Arctic Ocean?

McKenzie River

40.Released in 1984,it is set sometime between the fifth and sixth episodes of the Star Wars saga and located on the forest moon of Endor.Featuring iconic furry characters from 'Return of The Jedi',what is the title of this Star Wars spin-off?

Caravan of Courage :(An Ewok Adventure)

Thursday Quiz 53

2011-10-20T15:59:00.000-07:00

Time for another set.

Have fun with these........................

1.What was the title of the novel,for which Julian Barnes was awarded the 2011 Man Booker Prize?

A Sense of an Ending

2.What name lends itself to a Christian feast falling 50 days after Easter Sunday and an ancient Israeli feast celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai?

Pentecost

3.Of the 8 possibilites,which country has the longest land border with Serbia?

Romania

4.The symptoms of Psittacosis in humans,are often severe,initially mimicking typhoid fever,before developing into pneumonia.The disease is also known by what ornithological name,after the bird from which it is contracted?

Parrot's Disease

5.In Womens athletics only two women have ever cleared 4.90 metres,outdoors,in the pole vault.One is (not surprisingly) Yelena Isinbaeva of Russia.The other, is which American athlete,who achieved the feat twice in 2008,the same year in which she won a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics?

Jennifer Suhr

6.Created by the influential silent film producer,Wilhelm Murnau,which famous 18th century painting was the inspiration behind his debut film,'Knabe in Blau'?

The Blue Boy (Thomas Gainsborough)

7.Thought to be twice as deep a the Grand Canyon,it is also home to the Andean Condor.Which South American country's third most visited tourist attraction is the Colca River Canyon?

Peru

8.In 1984,from which country did Brunei gain its independence?

United Kingdom

9.Translated in English as 'King Charles',which city,in terms of population,is the 4th largest in Belgium and the largest in Wallonia?

Charleroi

10.He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the 1963 film 'Tom Jones' and later played the role of the magistrate in the 1968 film adaptation of 'Oliver!'.What is the name of this Welsh actor who also received an Academy Award for 'Best Supporting Actor' in the 1959 film 'Ben-Hur'?

Hugh Griffiths

11.Which singer-songwriter,a former pupil of the BRIT school,released her debut single,'Do It Like a Dude' in November 2010 and her debut album 'Who You Are' in February 2011?

Jessie J

12.In 1957,he led the Conservative Party to its first electoral victory in 27 years and continued to hold office for the next 6 years.Which Canadian Prime Minister,known for his stance on equality,appointed the country's first female minister to his Cabinet and the first aboriginal member of the Senate?

John Diefenbaker

13.Written by Igor Stravinsky in 1910,which was the first original score ballet performed by the famous Ballet Russes?

The Firebird

14.Loosely based on Joliet Prison,in Illinois,it is thought to have been named after a nearby river,a tributary of the Illinois River.What is the name of the fictional prison in the 2005-2009 US TV show 'Prison Break'?

Fox River (State Penetentiary)

15.Behind Elvis Presley,which artist has had the second most US Top 40 singles,with 56 in total?

Elton John

16.Which one the the Greek 'Pleiades',was the mother of Hermes the messenger?

Maia

17.Published in English over 70 years after it was originally written,it is known as 'Hitler's Second Book:The Unpublished Sequel to Mein Kampf'.What is the original German title of this work by Adolf Hitler?

Zweites Buch

18.What was the actual English surname,of the human rights activist Malcom X?

Little

19.The 'billycock' was a hat,originally made for the politician and soldier Edward Coke in 1849.By what name is this hat generally known today,especially in the UK?

Bowler Hat

20.In 2011,the Wiltshire town of Wootton Bassett,had the honour of receiving a'Royal' prefix to its name.It is only the third town in England to have been given this honour.Which other two English towns have also received this status?

Tunbridge Wells and Leamington Spa

21.Which 17th century cavalier poet is best known for his work 'To Althea From Prison',where he writes the memorable line 'Stone Walls do not a prison make'?

Richard Lovelace

22.In 'La Liga',Spain's top football league,only two non-Spanish players have scored more than 200 league goals.One played between 1953-66,the other 1981-94.Name either?

Alfredo di Stefano and Hugo Sanchez (respectively)

23.In Greek mythology,which Queen of Mycaenae was the wife of Agamemnon?

Clytemnestra

24.Sometimes called 'Operation Hummingbird,what 5 word phrase is used to describe the event in June 1934,when the SS,on Hitler's orders',murdered around 150 members of the Sturmabteilung?

Night of the Long Knives

25.Which country accounts for around 80% of the world's production of platinum?

South Africa

26.What name links the capital city of the Spanish region of Cantabria,a department of Colombia and,(according to Forbes magazine),the 13th largest public company in the world?

Santander

27.Celebrated four times a year,which Hindu festival,translated in English as 'nine nights',sees Shakti worshipped in nine different forms?

Navratri

28.A member of the genre,sometimes referred to 'New Journalism',which Pulitzer Prize winning writer,created the novels,'The Naked And The Dead'(1948),'The Executioner's Song'(1979) and 'Tough Guys Don't Dance(1984)'?

Norman Mailer

29.Founded in 2010,they released their debut,eponymous album in October 2011.What is the full name of the solo project set up by former Oasis member,Noel Gallagher and his new backing band?

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

30.Its meaning is literally translated as 'tied together'.Which Italian word indicates that musical notes are to be played (or sung) smoothly and connected?

Legato

Sunday Quiz 49

2011-10-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

A late one tonight.Busy weekend.

Here they are,so please enjoy this next batch..................

1.In 2011,American computer scientist Dennis Ritchie, died aged 70.He is most noted for his creation of which computer programming language,one of the most widely used of all time?

C (language)

2.The Rosetta Stone is an ancient Egyptian stele inscribed with a decree issued at Memphis in 196 BC.It was written on behalf of which ancient king?

Ptolemy V

3.An incredibly prolific musical director,he is,perhaps, best known for his work during the 1970s,with Stephen Sondheim, on productions such as 'Follies', 'A Little Night Music' and 'Pacific Overtures'.Most importantly he has received more individual Tony Awards,than anyone else in the history of the award.Who is this American director?

Harold 'Hal' Prince

4.Completed by his son Edward in 1870,which English architect's most famous work,is the design of the new Palace of Westminster,including the iconic Clock Tower that is home to 'Big Ben'?

Charles Barry

5.Playing at the highest level in France, Italy and Spain for over 15 seasons,he was a World Cup winner in 1998 and European Championship winner two years later.Having recorded an impressive 142 appearances,who is the most capped player in the history of the French national football team?

Lilian Thuram

6.Assassinated by a former student,on the steps of the University of Vienna in 1936,which German philosopher and physicist was one of the founding fathers of the 'Vienna Circle' of logical positivists?

Moritz Schlick

7.In which Pacific island group,is Saipan the major island,housing over 90% of the population?

Northen Mariana Islands

8.The coup of 18 Brumaire,was a 1799 coup d'etat that saw Napoleon Bonaparte finally overthrow which system of government,that was replaced by the French Consulate?

The French Directory (or Executive Directory)

9.Which famous 19th century author,wrote the unfinished book,'Billy Budd',that was published posthumously in 1924?

Herman Melville

10.The Grammis Awards have been presented annually (since the cermony's ressurection in 1987),to celebrate and honour the country's musical talent.Equivalent to the American 'Grammy' Awards,in which Northern European country are they held?

Sweden

11.Prior the The Reform Act of 1832,what two word term was used to describe an area in the United Kingdom, that had a very small electorate,that could be used by a patron to gain undue and unrepresentative influence within Parliament?

Rotten Borough

12.A noted explorer in his own right,he went to South America on behalf of Charles V of Spain in 1526.What was the first name of the explorer son of John Cabot?

Sebastian (Cabot)

13.Composer of the 19th century opera 'The Bartered Bride',what was the nationality of Bedrich Smetana?

Czech

14.Lofoten is an island group located in the 68th and 69th northern parallels.Found in the Arctic Circle,to which country do the islands belong?

Norway

15.The 'Camera d'Or' or 'Golden Camera',is a prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival.A better known recipient is Steve McQueen,who won this award in 2008 for the film 'Hunger'.For what,is this prize specifically awarded?

Best first feature film

16.In Greek mythology,it was encountered by Odysseus on his wanderings.What name is given to the huge whirlpool,located in the Straits of Medina,which swallowed ships whole?

Charybdis

17.Which English Liberal Member of Parliament,was the first person to win a solo Nobel Peace Prize,in 1903,for his work in international arbitration?

(William)Randal Cremer

18.What name is given to the spider,which attacks its prey by constructing a burrow with a cork-like lid made of soil?

Trapdoor Spider

19.Apart from Abu Dhabi and Dubai,name one of the other five emirates that form the United Arab Emirates?

Ajman,Fujairah,Ras al-Khaimah,Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain

20.Of the countries currently rated by credit agency 'Standard and Poor',which is the only country to hold a 'CC' credit rating,meaning it is 'currently highly vulnerable'?

Greece

21.A schismatic Berber Christian sect,it was particularly prevalent during the 4th and 5th centuries AD.Formed to rival the Bishop of Carthage and to oppose the persecutions of Christians under Diocletian,they were named after their first bishop.What name was given to this sect,who believed 'a church should be a church of saints and not of sinners?

Donatists

22.In 2009 at the UK Parliament's 'Prime Minister's Questions',an argument regarding a 15th/16th century painter's age at death occurred, when David Cameron attempted to ridicule (then Prime Minister) Gordon Brown's general factual accuracy.The debate spilt over onto the artist's entry on Wikipedia, when an editor from Conservative Party altered the dates to substantiate David Cameron's claim.Which artist was the subject of this debate?

Titian (Tiziano Vecelli )

23.The Mosconi Cup is 8-Ball Pool's equivalent of the Ryder Cup,whereby USA take on Europe at the sport.Since it was first played in 1994,three World Snooker Champions have taken part (all representing Europe).Steve Davis is perhaps the most famous.Name either of the other two?

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Alex Higgins

24.In Greek mythology,which one of the Muses was responsible for love poetry and hymns?

Erato

25.After William Shakepeare,which 20th century American author holds the record for most 'Penguin Classics' titles,with 23 in total?

John Steinbeck

26.A 16th century scholar,he was the first to make an English translation of the Bible,drawn directly from Hebrew and Greek texts.In 1530 he also wrote 'The Practyse of Prelates',opposing Henry VIII's divorce on grounds it contravened scriptual law.What is the name of this historical figure,who was tried for heresy in 1536,where he was strangled and burnt at the stake?

William Tyndale

27.A member of the Whig Party,who was the last US President that was neither a Republican or Democratic candidate?

Millard Fillmore

28.Sometimes known as Barnard 33,it is a dark nebula in the constellation Orion. It is one of the most easily identifiable nebulae,because of the shape of its swirling cloud of dark dust and gases.When viewed from Earth it's shape resembles the head of which animal,giving the nebula its common name?

Horse (Horsehead Nebula)

29.Named after a 17th century Italian physicist,which non-SI unit of pressure,has the ratio of 1 to 760 standard atmosphere,which equates roughly, to the fluid pressure exerted by a millimetre of mercury?

Torr (after Evangelista Torrecelli)

30.Which TV detective is the most famous creation of the crime writer Henning Mankell?

Kurt Wallander

31.Originating in Central Asia,they have become closely associated with a type of hat.What type of animal is a Karakul?

Sheep

32.Found in the Mexican state of Sinaloa,it is served by General Rafael Buelna International Airport and is a popular tourist destination.It is also the location of the largest Mexican seaport on the Pacific.What is the name of this city?

Mazatlan

33.What is the name of the French diplomat, who became responsible for developing the Suez canal in 1869, by joining the Mediterranean and Red Seas?

Ferdinand de Lesseps

34.Used thirteen times throughout history,which regnal name did Giovanni de Medici choose, after becoming Pope in 1513?

Leo (X)

35.Which two letters connect the chemical symbol of the element number 84,the title character in the 'Kung Fu Panda' film franchise and a percussion instrument originating in 19th century China,similar to cymbals?

Po

36.Which Middle-Eastern country has been ruled by the Al Thani royal family since 1825?

Qatar

37.'Le Boudin',is the traditional marching song of which elite,military unit?

French Foreign Legion

38.Featuring the principal song 'The Impossible Dream',which musical is based around the incarceration of Miguel de Cervantes,by the Spanish Inquisition?

Man of La Mancha

39.Commanded during the Spanish-American War by Colonel Leonard Wood and Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore Roosevelt,which two-word nickname,(used today as a suffix by several North American sports teams), was given to the First US Cavalry Regiment?

Rough Riders

40.In 1940,which Carribean island joined the British Windward Island administration from the British Leeward Island administration,before joining the West Indies Federation in 1958?

Dominica

Thursday Quiz 52

2011-10-13T16:08:00.000-07:00

Here's your Thursday (late)night set.

Have fun.........

1.Nominated for the Turner Prize in 1998,which artist's work has been chosen for the 2011/12 Turbine Hall exhibition at London's Tate Modern Gallery?

Tacita Dean

2.When Queen Elizabeth II was born in 1926,what was her position in line to the British throne?

Third (after her father -later King GeorgeVI and uncle Edward -later King Edward VIII)

3.Characterised by its distinctive yellow color,it is a popular drink in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and other states of the former Yugoslavia.From which fruit is the liqueur 'Kruskovac' distilled?

Pear

4.Located in the Southern Alps,how is the mountain,'Aoraki',known in English?

Mount Cook

5.In 2011,Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,was one of three recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize,for her work and campaign for women's rights.Of which country is she President,currently the only elected female head of state in Africa?

Liberia

6.Housing works by artists such as Barbara Hepworth,Ben Nicholson,Henry Moore and Alfred Wallis,in which English city can the avant-garde art
gallery 'Kettle's Yard' be located?

Cambridge

7.Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar,what is the name of the TV drama series,first aired in September 2011,that follows the lives of twin sisters Bridget Kelly and Siobhan Martin,(both of whom are played by Gellar)?

Ringer

8.Often used in science,to express sizes of structures including atoms, molecules and chemical bonds,which non-SI unit,represented by the Swedish letter 'A',is equal to 1 ten billionth of a metre?

Angstrom

9.In terms of surface area,which of North America's 'Great Lakes',is the smallest?

Lake Ontario

10.Based in the city of the Jaipur,which cricket team,captained and coached by the former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne,were the inaugural champions of the Indian Premier League in 2008?

Rajasthan Royals

11.With the atomic number 15,which chemical element was discovered in 1669 by Hennig Brand and takes its name from the Greek meaning 'light-bringer'?

Phosphorus

12.Home to the seat of the Archbishop of the Church of Sweden,it is also the location of the oldest university in Scandinavia.In terms of population,what is Sweden's 4th largest city?

Uppsala

13.In the Western Christian calendar,'Rogation days' are observed in the three days preceeding which Feast day,celebrated 40 days after Easter Sunday?

Ascension Day

14.In Norse mythology,what name is given to Thor's belt,which magnifies his strength?

Meginjord

15.With a total of 15 different individual names,which surname is (currently) represented on most Hollywood 'Walk of Fame' stars?

Williams

16.Mauritius,Reunion and Rodrigues are the major islands that form which Indian Ocean island group,lying east of Madagascar?

Mascarene Islands

17.After the capital,Sydney,which city,in terms of population,is the second largest in New South Wales?

Newcastle

18.Traditionally made from rice straw and covered with layers of soft rushes,they are built to a standard size,(equivalent to one sleeping space,described as '6 mat','8 mat' etc).What name is given to this traditional Japanese floor matting?

Tatami

19.Which well known 20th century composer wrote his first ballet, 'Grohg', in 1925 and his last ballet,'The Pied Piper' in 1951?

Aaron Copland

20.Doing so in 1980,which is the only African country to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest?

Morocco

21.One of the original members of the Iroquois League,they are indigenous people of North America,who call themselves Kanien'gehaga, meaning 'people of the place of the flint'.Fighting against the Americans during the American War of Independence,they eventually settled in Ontario.With a connection to hairdressing,how are these people better known?

Mohawk

22.Which 17th century physicist,is noted for his invention of the mercury barometer and for having a theorem in fluid dynamics named after him?

Evangelista Torricelli

23.The greatest distance between the capitals of two sovereign countries,that share a border,is 6423 km (or 3991 miles).Which two capital cities does this apply to?

Moscow (Russia) Pyongyang (North Korea)

24.Which Persian word,equivalent to the English word 'viceroy',was first used officially by the Ottoman government in 1867 and used subsequently by Ismail Pasha, and his dynastic successors until 1914?

Khedive

25.Celebrating the year's television and broadcasting,in which Commonwealth country are the prestigious Gemini Awards presented?

Canada

26.For which team did the 2010 and 2011 World Driver's Champion, Sebastian Vettel,make his Formula One debut,doing so at the 2007 United States Grand Prix?

(BMW) Sauber

27.It is recognised as the 'highest distinction in Computer science' and sometimes referred to as the 'Nobel Prize of computing'.Which annual award,given by the Association for Computing Machinery,is named in honour of a 20th century British scientist and mathematician,who spent much of World War II working at Bletchley Park's codebreaking centre?

Turing Award

28.What name is given to the war, which saw the unsuccessful revolt by the Greek states, from Macedon,following the death of Alexander the Great in 323AD?

Lamian War (or Hellenic War)

29.They were particularly noted for their advertising posters and the collage technique used to create them.By what 'family' name were late 19th/early 20th century illustrators William Nicholson and James Pryde,collectively known?

Beggarstaff Brothers (or Beggarstaff J&W)

30.Which Charles Dickens novel is set around the Maypole Inn and includes the families,the Willets,the Chesters and the Vardens?

Barnaby Rudge

Sunday Quiz 48

2011-10-09T16:25:00.000-07:00

Another set for you to enjoy............

1.The birthplace of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi,it was proclaimed as the new capital of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, following the capture of Tripoli, by forces loyal to the National Transitional Council.Which city?

Sirte

2.Located on the Central Line,which London Underground station,until 1937, was called 'Post Office' due to its proximity to the General Post Office headquarters in London's St Martin le Grand?

St Paul's

3.In 2006,the American entrepeneur,Randy Lerner,took over as owner of Aston Villa Football Club.He has also been the owner of which American Football team since 2002?

Cleveland Browns

4.Upto the atomic number 105,only two chemical elements have symbols made up of two different vowels.Gold (Au) is one,with the atomic number 63,what is the other?

Europium (Eu)

5.Selling more than 30 million records,she is among the most successful recording artists of all time in France. She also holds the record for the most number one hits in the French charts (which began in 1984), with twelve to date, eight of which were consecutive.Her most notable songs include 'Sans contrefacon', 'Libertine' and 'California'.Who is this prolific performer?

Mylene Farmer

6.Founded in the US in 2002,it is a social networking site,used primarily for business and professional networking.In 2011,it reported more than 120 million registered users,spanning more than 190 countries and territories worldwide.What is this site's name?

Linked In

7.In Chemistry what name is given to the atoms of chemical elements which have the same number of protons and electrons,but have a different number of neutrons in their nuclei?

Isotopes

8.Born Nathan Birnbaum,he was an actor,comedian and writer,who performed on television,radio,theatre,film and vaudeville.Who was (perhaps) best known for his partnership with wife,Gracie Allen during the first half of the 20th century?

George Burns

9.In classical antiquity,Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula.It is also the setting for which of Shakespeare's plays?

Twelfth Night

10.First aired in 2009,it stars Jason Schwartzman as a fictional writer based in Brooklyn, New York City, who moonlights as an unlicensed private detective.What is the name of this US comedy series,which also stars Ted Danson?

Bored to Death

11.In the United States,no one has been executed for a crime other than murder or conspiracy to murder, since James Coburn was executed in Alabama on 4th September 1964.For what crime,was he convicted?

Robbery

12.Horatio Gates was an American General,particularly noted for being defeated at two battles during the American War of Independence.Firstly,he was defeated at the First Battle of Saratoga, by the British,despite having significantly more troops.His second and final defeat occured during which 1780 Battle,(sharing a name with a London borough),which again resulted in a British victory?

Battle of Camden

13.Which actor,noted for his famous actress wife and his social network exploits,started his career in the TV show 'That 70s Show',playing the role of Michael Kelso?

Ashton Kutcher

14.Forming the northern half of the Ellsworth Mountains,which mountain range contains Vinson Massif,the highest peak in Antarctica?

Sentinel Range

15.Considered by many to be the greatest female player in the history of the game,Heather McKay (nee Blundell) is arguably Australia's greatest-ever sportswoman.Winning 16 consecutive British Open titles between 1962 and 1977,she also went unbeaten in for over 18 years in competitive matches.In which sport was she so dominant?

Squash

16.A daughter of George William Lyttelton, 4th Baron Lyttelton, she became Maid of Honour to Queen Victoria in 1863 and had an aunt who was married to William Ewart Gladstone.She is noted,herself,as a pioneer of women's education.What is the name of this figure,who also has a female only Cambridge College,named in her honour?

Lucy Cavendish

17.Particularly popular during the 1950s and 1960s,which fabric,developed by the British company ICI,was used in garments that required a permanently pressed look, such as skirts and trousers?

Crimplene

18.In 2005,a museum dedicated to the Swiss artist Paul Klee, was designed and built by the Italian architect Renzo Piano. Containing around 4,000 of the artists' works,in which city is the 'Zentrum Paul Klee' located?

Berne

19.Literally meaning 'seal pup bay',it is located immediatley south of Reykjavik.With a population of around 30,000,what is Iceland's second largest municipality?

Kopavogur

20.Performed by resident act,Cirque du Soleil at the Las Vegas hotel,the MGM Grand,it is a unique show,in that it is performed using several floating stages.Sharing its name with a letter of the Cyrillic alphabet and most Ayrshire postcodes in Scotland,what is the title of this show?

Ka

21.First discovered in 1832 by Carl Reichenbach,it is a chemical product formed by the distillation of a tar that remains heavier than water.It is found naturally from the burning of wood and coal in blast furnaces and fireplaces and is commonly found inside chimney flues.Deriving its name from the Greek meaning 'flesh preserver',how is this product known in English?

Creosote

22.Served by Faleolo International airport,it has the capital city of Apia.Which Polynesian country is made up of the two main islands,Upolu and Savai'i?

Samoa

23.The Bishop of London at the time,he was also entrusted with the roles of Lord High Treasurer of England and First Lord of the Admiralty.He was chosen by King Charles I to be on the scaffold and to offer the last rites before his execution.Who was later selected as the first Archbishop of Canterbury following the restoration?

William Juxon

24.Featuring the caldera known as 'Crater Lake' ,as its most notable feature,in which US state can the Crater Lake National Park be located?

Oregon

25.Which film has won more Academy Awards than any other musical film,winning in 10 categories?

West Side Story

26.It is traditional for the American Football team that wins the Superbowl, to have an audience with the US President at the White House,shortly after their win.However in 1986 this was not possible due to the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster.In October 2011,25 years after the event,which team finally got their audience with the President,himself a fan of the winning team?

Chicago Bears

27.On the periodic table,Tin has a chemical symbol of Sn.For what Latin word does The Sn stand?

Stannum

28.Who,according to the Old Testament,was the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau?

Rebekah

29.Reigning in the 6th century BC,which tyrant,overthrown in a popular uprising, was the seventh and last King of Rome?

Tarquinius Superbus

30.Adapted into a 1957 film starring Henry Fonda,who wrote the original play '12 Angry Men'?

Reginald Rose

31.The name of which country connects a 1994 John Updike novel,an Irish mythological island in the Atlantic and a famous Latin American song ,written by Ary Barroso in 1939?

Brazil

32.Historically it is the location of two Victoria Cross deeds,following the sinking of the Japanese cruiser 'Takao',in 1945.Which strait forms the border between the South of Malaysia and the North of Singapore?

Straits of Johor

33.After being held to a 2-2 draw by Guinea,which two-time tournament winner,failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations for the first time since 1986?

Nigeria

34.Which German-born,British biochemist shared the 1945 Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology with Howard Florey and Alexander Fleming,for their work and research of penecillin?

Ernst Chain

35.Which popular children's character,associated with Kensington Gardens, first appeared in the 1902 novel 'The Little White Bird',before appearing in his own novels and several subsequent films?

Peter Pan

36.Pyrope, almandine, spessartine, grossular, uvarovite and andradite are all common varieties of which group of minerals,commonly used as gemstones,(in particular to those born in January)?

Garnet

37.Thought to be the heaviest musical instrument,it is typically housed in a
free-standing bell tower, or the belfry of a church or other building. Made from a minimum of 23 cast bronze bells,they are played by striking a keyboard with the fists,activating levers and wires that connect to the metal clappers,which strike the bells.What is this instrument's name,particularly common in the Low Countries?

Carillon

38.In Rugby League's European Super League,St Helens hold the unfortunate record of losing the last five Grand Finals between 2007-2011.In 2006 ,however,they did win the final.Who did they beat on that occasion?

Hull

39.Translated in English as 'holy cross',which Spanish name is associated with many locations across Latin America,including the largest populated city in Bolivia?

Santa Cruz

40.In 1984,which Indian city,the capital of Madhya Pradesh, did a major industrial disaster occur,when poisonous gas escaped from the Union Carbide factory,killing around 2500 people?

Bhopal

A team request

2011-10-08T09:40:00.000-07:00

Hello, just a quick plea to anyone who is going tho the Oxford Open Tournament (buzzer quiz) in January and does not have a team.

I am looking to form a team/squad of 4-6 players.I also hope to write a packet (dependent on time/work etc) ,so costs could be reduced.

If you are interested please e-mail me ASAP,as places are becoming v.limited.

See http://users.ox.ac.uk/~quiz/

I am happy to join up with anyone of any ability,as I really want to go for the experience more than anything.(Although I will still be a little competitive,I imagine)

Thanks
Paul

PS New Quiz ,as usual tomorrow,late evening (BST)

Thursday Quiz 51

2011-10-06T14:30:00.000-07:00

Another batch to keep you entertained................

1.In October 2011,Tomas Transtromer,from Sweden,became a Nobel Laureate in which category?

Literature

2.The subject of a 1980 film,he was a member of the Bushveldt Carbineers,during the Second Boer War.Which English born,Australian army lieutenant was convicted and executed,along with Lieutenant Peter Hancock, on charges of war crimes against several Boer prisoners in 1902?

Harry 'Breaker' Morant

3.An American fashion designer,he started his couture house in Paris in 1930,after serving as editor-in-chief of the French edition of Vogue.Who is best known for designing the 1937 wedding dress of Wallis Simpson,Duchess of Windsor?

Mainbocher (or Main Rousseau Bocher)

4.Taking over office from Lars Lokke Rasmussen,who,in October 2011 became the first female Prime Minister of Denmark?

Helle Thorning-Schmidt

5.In 2010,Stacy Bromberg, became the first ever PDC Women's World Darts Champion, after defeating Tricia Wright 6-5 in the final.What is her nationality?

American

6.What name is given to the study of the history and geographical origin of all types of proper names?

Onomastics (or Onomatology)

7.Including fine restaurants, hotels, and stores,it is Chicago's busiest shopping district.It is also famous for including the prestigous buildings,such as the Wrigley Building,the John Hancock Centre, the Tribune Tower and the Allerton Hotel.What superlative name is given to this portion of Michigan Avenue,(a name that could also be said about Blackpool)?

Magnificent Mile

8.Thought to be the most proficient of his time,in which profession was the 16th/17th century figure,Richard Burbage,particulaly noted?

Acting

9.A political and military league of seven Swiss Catholic cantons,it was formed in 1845,to resist plans for a centralisation of government.What was the name of this league,who were defeated,following a namesake war two years later,which lead to the formation of a Swiss Federal state?

Sonderbund

10.The first of its kind in Europe,which British music awards cermony was established in 1995 by Kanya King and Andy Ruffell?

Music Of Black Origin Awards (commonly known as MOBOs)

11.A subsidiary of 'the company,'Limited Brands,it was founded in San Francisco,in 1977,by Roy Raymond,who felt embarrassed when buying lingerie for his wife in a department store environment.What is the name of this chain of shops,which has now become the largest lingerie retailer in the US,(as well as one of the largest in the world)?

Victoria's Secret

12.The 30th Governor of Rhode Island,he became a Union Army General during the American Civil War,but was heavily defeated at the Battle of Fredericksburg and Battle of the Crater.Since then,he has become better known for his facial hair.What is the name of this General?

Ambrose Burnside

13.Performed at London's Criterion theatre since 2006,it is a farce, adapted from a 1915 novel.The play is performed with a cast of only four. One actor plays the hero and protagonist, an actress plays the three women with whom he has romantic relations and two other actors play every other character in the show.Adapted,also,for the big screen in 1935,1959,1979 and 2008,what is the title of this work?

The 39 Steps

14.Which English monarch granted the Royal Charter to George Clifford,Earl of Cumberland,to form the 'Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading with the East Indies',later known as the East India Company?

Queen Elizabeth I

15.Which 18th century British Prime Minister was also the father of a future Prime Minister and the brother in-law of William Pitt the Elder?

George Grenville

16.Between the years of 1958-1984,by what name,relating to one of the country's major rivers,was Burkina Faso known?

Upper Volta

17.Named after a prophet,it consists of a single chapter, divided into 21 verses.What is the shortest book of the Old Testament?

Obidiah

18.During the 1930s,Ernest Walton became the first person in history to artificially split the atom.He is also noted as the only person, from which country, to have won a Nobel Prize in science?

Ireland

19.Since the first World Athletics Championship were staged in 1983,which event has provided most Gold medals for the UK (or Great Britain and N.Ireland)?

Mens Triple Jump (3 times)

20.The Sejm and the Senate are the two chambers which make up the National Assembly of which European country's parliament?

Poland

21.The 1999 UK number 3 single, 'The Great Beyond',was taken from 'The Man On The Moon' film soundtrack.It is the highest UK singles chart placing, for which world famous American band?

REM

22.After Tasmania,which is the second most populated Australian island?

Norfolk Island

23.NRK Classic is a European,government-owned radio station,playing classical music 24 hours a day.It is particularly noted as the world's first all-digital radio station.From which country does it broadcast?

Norway

24.Originating in the 1940s,it is known in Hawaii as 'Hawaiian Steak'Owned today, by the Hormel Foods Corporation,which foodstuff,the subject of many jokes (and a famous musical),sold its 7 billionth can in 2007?

Spam

25.In medicine,they are used in the treatment of heart failure,high blood pressure and fluid retention.What is the name the class of drugs that increase the production of urine?

Diuretics

26.Also known for his role in the 'Oceans' film series,which actor,the son of a 1970s Academy Award nominee, plays the role of 'Daniel 'Danno' Williams',in the 2010 remake of the 1960s/70s TV show,'Hawaii-Five-O'?

Scott Caan

27.A prolific 19th/20th century American composer,his works include 'A Symphony: New England Holidays' and 'The Unanswered Question'.In whose name is an annual music scholarship,awarded to young composers,by the American Academy of Arts and Letters?

Charles Ives

28.Located in the Kluane National Park and Reserve,in which one of Canada's three federal territories can Mount Logan,the country's highest mountain be found?

Yukon

29.In 1997,the film 'Titanic', received a record equalling 14 Academy Award nominations.It shares this feat with which 1950 Joseph L. Mankiewicz film,that starred Bette Davis?

All About Eve

30.Taken from the Hebrew meaning 'sitting together',what name was given to the was assembly of 23 judges appointed in every city in the Biblical Land of Israel?

Sanhedrin

Sunday Quiz 47

2011-10-02T17:11:00.000-07:00

Here's 40 more for you...........

Enjoy

1.Winning the 2011, International Bluegrass Music Association's Entertainer of the Year,which Hollywood actor and comedian plays banjo with the Grammy award winning group,'The Steep Canyon Rangers'?

Steve Martin

2.In 1976,Canada joined the G6 economic group,to make it the G7.Who was the Canadian Prime Minister at the time,a key figure during the process?

Pierre Trudeau

3.Making the news headlines in September 2011,which 'spiritual sounding',domestic Nepalese airline,crashed in the Mount Everest region,killing 19 people?

Buddha Airlines

4.Which 19th century churchman, poet and leader of the Oxford Movement, gave his name to College at Oxford University?

John Keble

5.Excluding penalty shoot-outs,who was the last Scottish footballer to have scored a goal in an English FA Cup Final?

Brian McClair (for Man Utd in 1994 final)

6.Now extinct,the only quagga to have been photographed alive, was at London Zoo in 1870.Of which extant animal is it a subspecies?

Zebra

7.First played in 1897,there has been 90 encounters.Both teams have won 43 games each,with 4 games tied.The Sawhorse Dollar trophy is an American Football rivalry game between Dartmouth College and which other Ivy League college?

University of Pennsylvania

8.Taken from the Persian meaning 'city of love',what is the capital of Turkmenistan?

Ashgabat

9.'Shakespeare's Globe' is a modern reconstruction of the 1614 Globe Theatre building.It was founded by the actor and director Sam Wanamaker and built approximately 230 metres from the site of the original theatre.Opened to the public in 1997,which of Shakespeare's historical productions,was the first to be performed there?

Henry V

10.In May 2011,a special edition of the BBC's political debate programme, Question Time,was recorded from which British prison?

Wormwood Scrubs

11.In terms of area,which is the largest landlocked African country?

Chad

12.Created after the dissolution of Gran Colombia,it existed until 1858.Which Republic consisted primarily of present-day Colombia and Panama, with smaller portions of modern Ecuador and Venezuela?

New Granada

13.Who,in 1943,suceeded Benito Mussolini as head of the Italian Government,(serving in the role of Prime Minister)?

Pietro Badoglio

14.Only two extant mammals are monotremes,whereby they give birth by laying eggs.The platypus is perhaps the best known,but with four monotreme species,which mammal,resembling a hedgehog,is the other?

Echidna (accept Spiny Anteater)

15.Nominated for five Golden Raspberry Awards,which 1986 film starred (then) newlyweds Sean Penn and Madonna,as well as George Harrison in the role of a nightclub singer?

Shanghai Surprise

16.A punning combination of a location in Chelsea, London and television cowboy,which term refers to a stereotype of young, upper class or upper-middle-class women or men,who share distinctive and common lifestyle traits?

Sloane Ranger

17.Founded in 1946,it is set of table top games simulating team sports such as association football, cricket,rugby and hockey.Failing to trademark the game under the name of 'hobby',it was renamed after the neo-Latin word for the 'Eurasian Hobby',bird of prey. What is the trademark name of this popular game?

Subbuteo

18.Which name links one of the mythological Pleiades,a play by Sophocles,a character in the musical 'Starlight Express' and a former member of the US female group, 'The Pussycat Dolls'?

Electra

19.Sudetenland is the German name,used in English during the first half of the 20th century, for the northern, southwest and western regions of which modern day country,inhabited mostly by ethnic Germans?

Czech Republic

20.In September 2011,China successfully launched the country's first space station module, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Gansu Province.What is the module's name (no need for number)?

Tiangong (1)

21.Usually taking place on the first Sunday in October,the prestigous horse race,the 'Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe',is run on which French racecourse?

Longchamp

22.Officially in use between 1930-1960,what was the name given to the Soviet government agency,responsible for setting up forced labour camps,notorious for housing political prisoners?

Gulag

23.Discovered in 1782 by Jons Jakob Berzelius,which chemical element,with the atomic number 52,is named after the Latin word for 'Earth'?

Tellurium

24.Eclipsing Steve Martin's previous record,which Hollywood actor,in September 2011, made his 16th appearance as host of US entertainment show,'Saturday Night Live'?

Alec Baldwin

25.Originally called the Uris Theatre,it was re-named in honour of a famous American composer.It has been the home to the musical 'Wicked' since October 2003 and is located on West 51st Street.Which Broadway theatre has the largest seating capacity?

Gershwin Theatre

26.Prior to the 2011 Rugby World Cup,which nation holds the record of making four quarter final appearances,without ever progressing any further?

Ireland

27.The noted Latin American writers Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda,received Nobel Prizes for Literature in 1945 and 1971 respectively,both under their pen names.From which country are they from?

Chile

28.Spanning the history of the Roman Empire from the death of Augustus in AD 14 to the death of emperor Domitian in AD 96,which Roman senator and historian is particularly noted for his works 'Annals' and 'Histories'?

(Gaius Cornelius)Tacitus

29.The highest mountain in the Alps,east of the Brenner Pass,Grossglockner is which European country's highest peak?

Austria

30.The British folk, pop and progressive rock group,'Sackridge',were mostly successful during the early 1970s. In 1970 they created history by being the first band, to play at which venue?

Glastonbury Festival

31.Which African language has six main varieties known as Tashelhit, Kabylian, Central Tamazight, Tarifit, Shawia, and Tuareg?

Berber

32.'Luncheon On The Grass','Olympia' and 'A Bar at the Folies-Bergere',are the English titles of major works by which 19th century Impressionist painter?

Edouard Manet

33.Occurring to some British politicians over the years,what is the maximum prison sentence,that can be given to a person convicted of perjury in the UK?

7 (Seven) Years

34.Following through Bolivia and Brazil,it is the biggest tributary of the River Amazon.Sharing it's name with an island in the North Atlantic,what is the name of this river?

Madeira River

35.Two winning titles of the (Man) Booker literary award,have been successfully adapted into Academy Award winning films,in the category of 'Best Picture'.Name either?

The English Patient ,Schindler's Ark (adapted to Schindler's List)

36.A member of 'The Five',which Russian composer wrote his first opera,'The Maid of Pskov'. whilst serving as an officer in the Imperial Russian Navy?

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

37.What medical name is given to the surgical operation, in which a bone flap is temporarily removed from the skull, to access the brain? Craniotomy
38.Which American actor and comedian,who died in 2009,is best known for playing the roles of Frank Catton ,in the 'Ocean's...' series of films and Jimmy Bosley in the Charlie's Angels films?

Bernie Mac (Bernard Jeffrey McCullough)

39.Of the six wives of King Henry VIII of England,which lived to the greatest age?

Catherine of Aragon (Died aged 50)

40.Home to one of the Baltic states' largest airports,it is located at the confluence of its country's two largest rivers.It is also the birthplace of LL Zamenhof,the creator of the Esperanto language.In which European country is the city of Kaunus?

Lithuania

Thursday Quiz 50

2011-09-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

Back after my holiday and I have a newly refreshed quiz head.

Also good to come back on a landmark Quiz number.

Well,I hope you enjoy this batch and I may see some of you in Rainhill for the Mersey GP this weekend.

Thanks again for your continuing support
Paul

1.Much in the news in 2011,what is the capital city of Yemen?

Sanaa (or spelling variation)

2.Originating in the Caucasus,what is the name of the fermented milk drink that is traditionally made from camel's milk and created by inocculating the 'milked' animals with special grains?

Kefir

3.Excluding the 'lost plays',two of William Shakepeare's plays were not published as part of the 'First Folio'.Name either?

Pericles, Prince of Tyre and The Two Noble Kinsmen

4.On 1st January 2011, Estonia became the most recent EU member state to adopt the Euro as its unit of currency.Which EU member state previously held this record,adopting the Euro on 1st January 2009?

Slovakia

5.Also one of the fastest half marathon runners of all time,which Kenyan athlete broke Haile Gebrselassie's world marathon record in Berlin in September 2011?

Patrick Makau (Musyoki)

6.Deriving their name from a king of Thessalian Phthia and son of Zeus,which legendary group of brave and skilled warriors were commanded by Achilles,as described in Homer's 'Iliad'?

Myrmidons

7.In which Eastern art,is the Yoshizawa-Randlett system, a series of diagrams,describing the art?

Origami

8.The 1994 film 'The Shawshank Redemption' was adapted from a 1982 Stephen King novella.The name of which legendary Hollywood actress, appeared in the title of the novella preceeding the words '...and the Shawshank Redemption'?

Rita Hayworth

9.The Peninsula of Musandam is an exclave, which has a strategic location on the Strait of Hormuz.It is separated from the rest of which country, by the United Arab Emirates?

Oman

10.Which comic strip began life in 1947 under the name of 'Li'l Folks',in the Minnesota based newspaper,the St Paul Pioneer Press?

Peanuts

11.Receiving the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1924,which Dutch doctor and physiologist invented the first practical electrocardiogram in 1903?

Willem Einthoven

12.The current Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard,represents which Australian state in Parliament?

Victoria

13.Since the 1707 Act of Union,who is the only British monarch not to have had children?

Edward VIII

14.Celebrated by the Christian Orthodox Church during Lent,it commemorates a miracle that took place in Bethany.Which feast day is traditionally celebrated on the day before Palm Sunday?

Lazarus Saturday

15.Generally accessed via Faro airport around 45km away,which fishing village,located in the south of Portugal,is the country's busiest seaside resort,attracting over 5 million visitors each year?

Albufeira

16.The River Danube passes through or flows in 10 different European countries.How many of those countries are not EU member states?

4 (Four - Croatia,Serbia,Moldova,Ukraine)

17.Known by the latin name 'Miliaria rubra',it is a common skin disorder,mainly found in tropical countries.Which medical condition results from obstruction to the ducts of the sweat glands,forming a crop of small red pimples,associated with itching?

Prickly Heat

18.Born in 1874 in Vienna,he became associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art and became a leader of the Second Viennese School.In 1907 he wrote his Chamber Symphony,which caused a riot at its first performance.Which innovative and sometimes controversial composer, is credited with the development of the 'twelve-tone technique'?

Arnold Schoenberg

19.Rene Goscinny is widely known for writing the 'Asterix' comic books until his death in 1977.Which person,the comic book's illustrator,took over the writing,until 2011?

Albert Uderzo

20.Celebrated on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Tishrei,it is one of the three biblically mandated festivals on which Jews were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.By what Jewish name is the Festival of Tabernacles or Festival of Booths known?

Sukkot

21.At the 2011 World Athletics Championships in Daegu, the only new World Record was set in which event?

Mens 4x100 metre relay (set by Jamaica)

22.With a connection to a South American bird,what is the name of the second largest of Saturn's moons?

Rhea

23.Presented annually since 1959,the 'TV Week' Logie Awards are the main television industry awards in which country?

Australia

24.Currently there have only been five detected,with one making headlines in 2011.What is particularly unique to a 'circumbinary planet'?

It orbits around two stars instead of one

25.Translated from the German meaning 'flank' or 'wing',what is the name of the brass musical instrument that resembles a trumpet,but has a wider, conical bore?

Flugelhorn

26.Structurally similar to a steroid,it is actually a secosteroid.Cholecalciferol is a form of which Vitamin?

Vitamin D (it is known as Vitamin D3)

27.The acronym STOL,is used in the field of aviation,usually when aircraft use is away from airports,or when runway use is limited.For what,do the letters STOL stand?

Short Take Off Landing

28.Developed in 1708 by Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus,it was the first European hard-paste porcelain.Renowned wordwide for its 'cross-swords' hallmark,which German town gives its name to this brand of porcelain?

Meissen

29.Located in the Orkney Islands,which body of water became known as the site of the United Kingdom's chief naval base during both World Wars and which also saw 74 German ships scuttled in 1919?

Scapa Flow

30.Originating in Los Angeles in 1983,they have received 7 Grammy Awards and sold over 65 million albums worldwide.Which US funk rock band,fronted by Anthony Kiedis,has released albums including 'Freaky Styley','Mother's Milk' and,in 2011,'I'm With You'?

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Thursday Quiz 49

2011-09-15T17:11:00.000-07:00

I'm now off on my holidays (at last),so the next quiz,after tonight's,will be on here on Thursday 29th September.

Please feel free to refresh your memory with the other 3500 questions on the site,in the meantime.

Here's my next batch...........

1.Which country of the Lesser Antilles has the largest population?

Trinidad and Tobago

2.Serving between 1975-2003,which Australian composer was the predecessor to Peter Maxwell-Davies as the Master of the Queen's Music?

Malcolm Williamson

3.Adapted into a film in 1996,in which 1961 Roald Dahl novel, do the main characters,James Henry Trotter,Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker appear?

James and The Giant Peach

4.Officially adopted in 1960,which is the only African country to have a green-coloured star on its national flag?

Senegal

5.Aired globally between 1984-1985, Glen A Larson produced this action adventure TV series.The basic plot sees the character Dani Reynolds, discovering that her husband was a CIA agent,who was murdered.Only lasting one series,the show is particularly remembered for the 'Holding Out For a Hero' theme tune and for the tragic death of one of its leading actors,Jon-Erik Hexum.What was this show's title?

Cover Up

6.Since the contest began in 1951,three countries have win the 'Miss World' beauty pageant for a record 5 times.The UK is one,name either of the other countries?(clue:one South American,one Asian)

Venezuela and India

7.Created by American author,Dan Brown,what is the name of the main protagonist of the novels 'The da Vinci Code','Angels and Demons' and 'The Lost Symbol'?

Robert Langdon

8.Apart from Alaska,only one US state lies north of the 49th parallel.Situated in Manitoba,the exclave of Elm Point,in Lake of the Woods County,belongs to which US state,nicknamed 'The Land of 10,000 Lakes'?

Minnesota

9.Synoptic is a term applied to three of the four New Testament gospels,due to the amount of common material they contain.Which one of the Gospels is not considered synoptic?

Gospel of John

10.The hepathlon was first contested at the Olympic level at the 1984 Summer Los Angeles Games,replacing the pentathlon as the primary women's combined event.Which two events were added to the pentathlon to create this new seven event contest?

Javelin and 800 metres

11.Also one of the largest cities in the Sahara,which city serves as the capital of Mauritania?

Nouakchott

12.Film director Roman Polanski,writer William Somerset Maugham and the English painter Ford Maddox Brown,were all born in which European country?

France

13.In 2011,South Sudan became the 193rd United Nations member states.Joining in 2006,which European nation was the 192nd member state?

Montenegro

14.Of the five extant species of ratite,the ostrich is the largest.Which ratite is the smallest?

Kiwi

15.In September 2011,which Russian film director won the prestigious 'Golden Lion',at the Venice Film Festival,for his adaptation of the German legend,'Faust'?

Alexander Sokurov

16.In 2010,the Playstation 3 game 'Killzone 2',became the first game soundtrack to be awarded which prestigious British music prize?

Ivor Novello Award ( or Ivor)

17.Named after the Spanish Queen that sponsored Christopher Columbus,which is the largest island of the Galapagos archipelago?

Isabela Island

18.Translated from the Italian for 'middle',it is often created in the form of a balcony.What name in architecture, is given to an intermediate floor between the main floors of a building?

Mezzanine (or entrosol)

19.Meaning 'new soldier',what was the name of the elite force of 14th century Turkish soldiers,employed as bodyguards to the Ottoman Sultan?

Janissary

20.Located in Russell Street, near Covent Garden,the Fortune Theatre is one of the smallest theatre's in London's West End.It is most notable for hosting which long running,Stephen Mallatratt play,first performed in 1989 and featuring a cast of only two actors?

The Woman In Black

21.What relation is Prince Philip,the Duke of Edinburgh to the 19th century British monarch, Queen Victoria?

Great-Great Grandson

22.Noted for painting macabre devils,imps and monsters,he took his adopted name from his birthplace.Which 15th/16th century painter,creator of 'The Garden of Earthly Delights',was born Jerome Van Aken?

Hieronymous Bosch

23.In physics,what name is given to the study of the production of very low temperature and the behavior of materials at those temperatures?

Cryogenics

24.In 1943 , a Dutch physician,Dr. Willem Kolff constructed the first working medical machine of its kind. Due to the scarcity of available resources,he had to improvise the building of the initial machine using sausage casings, beverage cans, a washing machine and various other items which were available at the time.Now used regularly all over the world,what medical machine did he invent?

Dialyser (Dialysis Machine)

25.Also used in the vulcanisation of rubber and the manufacturing of concrete,which inorganic chemical compound,when mixed with 0.5% of iron oxide is known as calamine?

Zinc Oxide

26.One of the most watched TV shows of the 1980s,'Dynasty' was a drama series that revolved around the Carringtons, a wealthy oil family .In which US state was the show set?

Colorado (Denver)

27.Following their first football league title,FC Otelul Galati,played their first UEFA Chammpions league game in September 2011.Based in the country's 7th largest city,by population,which European nation do they represent?

Romania

28.A popular frozen milk-based dessert from the Indian Subcontinent,it is often described as 'traditional Indian ice-cream'.It is not whipped and due to its density,takes longer to melt than traditional Western ice-cream.What is this dessert's name?

Kulfi

29.Using the calculations of Urbain Le Verrier, at the Berlin Observatory, in 1846,which German astronomer was the first person to view the planet Neptune?

Johann Gottfried Galle

30.Which 17th/18th century political activist,playwright,architect and Bastille inmate,is perhaps best known, for designing the English landmarks,Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard?

John Vanbrugh

Sunday Quiz 46

2011-09-12T08:40:00.000-07:00

Apologies for being a bit late,but here is Sunday's Quiz,

Hope you enjoy...........

1.Located in North East Papua New Guinea,it was the site for the Battle of Shaggy Ridge ,fought between Japanese and Australian soldiers in World War II.Also the name of a former shipping forecast area,which range of mountains,includes the highest (assumed) unclimbed peak in the world?

Finisterre Range

2.Entering the tournament,ranked 92 in the world,which German female tennis player narrowly missed out on the 2011 US Open final,after losing to Samantha Stosur in three sets in the semi-final?

Angelique Kerber

3.Endemic to certain islands of Indonesia,from where its name derives,what is the largest living species of lizard on Earth,growing up to 3 metres long in many cases?

Komodo Dragon

4.Based on a 19th century poem by Alexander Pushkin,what is the name of the Tchaikovsky opera,that tells the story of a bored St Petersburg dandy?

Eugine Onegin

5.Founded in 1983,'Just For Laughs' is the largest international comedy festival in the world.In which Canadian city is it held?

Montreal

6.An over-the-counter medicine,it is produced worldwide by Procter and Gamble,to treat minor digestive system upsets.Its active ingredient is bismuth subsalicylate,from which it derives its name.Which medicine is often nicknamed 'the pink stuff',following various advertising campaigns?

Pepto-Bismo

7.Rising to international fame with their debut album, 'Hybrid Theory'in 1996,they have since sold over 50 million albums worldwide and received two Grammy Awards.Which popular American rock band is led by vocalist,Chester Bennington?

Linkin Park

8.Originally the automobile manufacturing division of Swedish Airplane Limited,which Swedish car manufacturer was sold to General Motors in 1990,who in turn,sold it to Spyker Cars NV in 2010?

Saab

9.The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra is a professional orchestra based in which South African city?

Durban

10.Doing so in 1998,which Italian was the last cyclist to win both the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia in the same year?

Marco Pantani

11. 'An epic-drama of the war with Napoleon, in three parts, nineteen acts and one hundred and thirty scenes',was the self description of the ambitious play 'The Dynasts'.Written between 1904-1908,which novelist and writer was its creator?

Thomas Hardy

12.In Greek mythology,they were part of the Argonauts.Known as the Boreads,they were supernaturally gifted sons of Boreas and Oreithyia.Which one of the Boreads shares a name with a French port city?

Calais

13.In which country is the tallest 'skyscraper' building in South America located?

Chile (Gran Torre Santiago)

14.In one of the most iconic pictures of the 1990s,Liz Hurley was photographed in a revealing Versace black dress,held together by large gold safety pins.Which 1994 event was she attending,along with her boyfriend at the time,Hugh Grant?

(British) Premiere of the film 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'

15.Doing so in 2006,which Ken Loach film,set during the Irish War of Independence,was the last British winner of the 'Palme d'Or',the highest prize at the Cannes film festival?

The Wind That Shakes The Barley

16.Found in South America,it is the only member of the genus,'Vultur'.Which species of condor is the world's largest bird of prey?

Andean Condor

17.The only player to have been world championship runner-up in both snooker and billiards without winning either title,he is also unique,in that he is the only professional snooker player to have carried the flag at an Olympic Games.Who is this player?

Eddie Charlton (Australia)

18.Founded in 1884,it takes its name from a Roman General,its members have included George Bernard Shaw,HG Wells,Clement Atlee and Tony Blair.Which British socialist movement,best known for laying many of the foundations of the Labour Party?

Fabian Society

19.Of the three King Richards that served as English monarch,which was on the throne for the longest period?

Richard II

20.Rising to prominence in 1987,at the age of 14,she achieved a number one single in the French music chart for 11 weeks,with her worldwide hit 'Joe Le Taxi'.Since then, she went on to record many more hits,mainly in France,as well as becoming a model for Chanel.She is probably best known today as the long-term partner of Johnny Depp.What is her name?

Vanessa Paradis

21.His surname is familiar to astronomers.Playing for the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys,which American football linebacker,is noted as the only player to have won 5 'Superbowl' championships,doing so between 1989-1995?

Charles Haley

22.First coined in 1913 at the suggestion of British astronomer Herbert Hall Turner,which unit of length,equal to 3.26 light years,is used to measure large astronomic distances?

Parsec

23.Which country is the only one to have a land border with the West African nation of The Gambia?

Senegal

24.What is the most abundant halogen in the Earth's crust?

Fluorine (13th most abundant element)

25.Awarded annually,which literary prize consisting of £30,000 and a bronze sculpture called the 'Bessie',is given to a female author of any nationality, for the best original full-length novel,written in English,in the previous year?

Orange Prize For Fiction

26.In 1994 three men shared the Nobel Peace Prize for ' opening up opportunities, for a new development, towards fraternity in the Middle East'.One of the men was Yasser Arafat.Name either of the others?

Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres

27.A 20th century Mexican painter,she is best known for her self portraits and for her communist sympathies.She was married to the cubist painter,Diego Rivera and collectively they were known as 'the elephant and the dove'.What is the name of this enigmatic painter,the subject of a 2002 film starring Salma Hayek?

(Frida) Kahlo

28.Containing 50-70% of the world's lithium reserves,the Salar de Uyuni,is the world's largest salt flat.It lies in the southwest corner of which South American country, in the Potosi Department?

Bolivia

29.Similar to the Egyptian sphinx,which legendary creature,originating from medieval Persia,consists of the body of a lion,head of a human,porcupine's quills and the tail of a scorpion?

Manticore

30.A common human birth defect,it is a congenital deformity, involving one or both feet rotated internally at the ankle.What is the name of this defect,known in Latin as 'congenital talipes equinovarus'?

Club Foot

31.It was to be the last production by the partnership of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and was also the most expensive series ever produced for television up to that time.Which 1970s British science fiction show,starred Martin Landau as Commander John Koenig and Barbara Bain as Dr Helena Russell?

Space 1999

32.A large, secretive contract manufacturer,Taiwanese company Foxconn is best known for the manufacture of two extremely popular, everyday gadgets,used by several hundred million people worldwide.Name either gadget?

i-Phone or iPad (accept either)

33.Gregory Peck,Robert Mitchum and Martin Balsam played roles in both versions of which film,originally made in 1962 and recreated in 1991 by Martin Scorcese?

Cape Fear

34.Founded in 1979 by Curtis Sliwa,it started as an organisation to combat widespread violence and crime on the New York City Subways.It has now spread across the world,also providing education workshops for schools and businesses.What is the name of this organisation,easily recognisable by the red beret worn by its members?

Guardian Angels

35.Personally ordered by Adolf Hitler and planned by Major Harald Mors,The Gran Sasso raid (or Operation Eiche),was a 1943 mission by German paratroopers, to rescue which political leader?

Benito Mussolini

36.Other than in Romeo and Juliet,there is one other of Shakepeare's plays which includes a character called Juliet.It is a morality play set in Vienna,where Juliet is bethrohed to the character Claudio.What is its title?

Measure For Measure

37.First lauched in 1959,it saw service during the Vietnam War and the Gulf War of 1991.With a name in common with a Californian city,what was the name of the first nuclear powered warship?

USS Long Beach

38.Both were Republicans.Which is the only occurence of a US President being followed into office by another President whose surname starts with the same letter of the alphabet?(Need both Presidents)

James Madison followed by James Monroe

39.The 20th century musicians,Archie Camden,Maurice Allard and William Waterhouse are all notable exponents of which woodwind instrument?

Bassoon

40.Predominantly relating to the 17th century,for what is the British association,'The Sealed Knot',particularly noted for performing?

Battle Reenactments (English Civil War)

Thursday Quiz 48

2011-09-08T15:00:00.000-07:00

Straight to it.

Hope you enjoy..............

1.Invented between 1910 and 1911,the 'Schick Test',was used to determine,whether or not, a person was susceptible to which disease?

Diptheria

2.Originating in Argentina,it is rarely taller than eight hands in height (at the withers) and is thought to have only a few thousand in existance worldwide.Taking its name from one of the original breeders,what is the name of this minature horse, one of the smallest breeds of horse in the world?

Falabella

3.What three-word title is shared by a 1912 Thomas Mann novella,a 1971 film starring Dirk Bogarde and the 1973 opera written by Benjamin Britten,which was to be his last?

Death In Venice

4.One of the 48 constellations described by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy,which Northern hemisphere constellation, is taken from the Greek meaning 'herdsman' and contains Arcturus,the third brightest star in the night sky?

Bootes

5.With an estimated 102,400 members worldwide and known to the Japanese Police as 'boryokudan' (meaning violence group),what usual name is given to the members of the traditional organised crime syndicates in Japan?

Yakuza

6.How are the characters Dmitri,Ivan and Alexei referred to in a classic novel of 1880?

The Brothers Karamazov

7.Although Jefferson City is the capital,it is only the 15th largest city in the US state of Missouri,by population.Which city is the largest in the state?

Kansas City

8.Usually housing the credence table as well as seats for officiating and assisting ministers,what name is given to the space around the altar, in the sanctuary, at the east end of a traditional Christian church building?

Chancel

9.In the boardsports,such as surfing,a person who rides their respective board with the left leg positioned at the front,is known as 'regular'.Named after a Disney cartoon character,,what name is given to somebody who rides with their right leg positioned at the front?

Goofy

10.In 1994,the sport of Darts split to form two governing bodies and two different World Championships.Phil Taylor has won,by far,the most The Professional Darts Council(PDC) World titles.Who has won the most British Darts Organisation(BDO) World titles,with 4 wins,since the split?

Raymond Van Barneveld

11.Named after a reclusive priest,Friar Benedict,which South American country is host to the town of Fray Bentos,known for a 1997 plane crash,killing 74 and more famously its corned beef manufacture?

Uruguay

12.In 1890,King William III of the Netherlands died without a male heir,leaving his daughter Princess Wilhelmina,to become Queen.This led to the independence of which country,that was restricted to male heirs by the Nassau Family Pact?

Luxembourg

13.Sharing a name with a 1990s Welsh rock band,which mental condition sees patients experiencing an extreme loss of motor skills and sometimes holding rigid poses for hours,ignoring any external stimuli?

Catatonia

14.Which word or name links a horse racetrack in Baltimore,home to the Preakness Stakes,the only station on London Underground's Victoria Line to have no form of interchange and a 1949 Ealing comedy starring Stanley Holloway and Margaret Rutherford?

Pimlico (The film being Passport To Pimlico)

15.Prior to formation of 'The New Power Generation' in 1990,what was the name of Prince's first backing group,with which he had hits including,'Purple Rain','When Doves Cry' and 'Let's Go Crazy'?

The Revolution

16.After Athens,in terms of population,what is the second largest city in Greece?

Thessaloniki

17.Located in the province of Connacht,which Irish county is served by Castlebar as its county town?

County Mayo

18.Appointed Poet Laureate in 1813,which writer's noted works include,'The Fall of Robespierre',co-written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge,several biographies,including Horatio Nelson and the childrens story 'The Three Bears' (commonly referred to as Goldilocks)?

Robert Southey

19.Which landlocked country is the smallest,in terms of area,of the 7 countries to border Iran?

Armenia

20.Which South American country,despite facing criticism over plans to build a highway through the Amazon rainforest,had its first 'National Pedestrian Day',in September 2011,banning all motorised vehicles from roads,in a bid to promote environmental awareness?

Bolivia

21.Its name translates as 'The Five Treasures of Snows' and was first climbed in 1955 by Joe Brown and George Band.Which mountain,until 1852,was assumed to be the highest in the world?

Kanchenjunga

22.Born as Golda Mabovitch in 1898,which modern day country was the birthplace of the first female Prime Minister of Israel,Golda Meir?

Ukraine

23.During a prolific film career,spanning over 20 years,Brad Pitt has earned just two Academy Award nominations (without ever winning).The second was for 'Best Actor' in the 2008 film 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'.In which 1995 film, directed by Terry Gilliam, inspired by Chris Marker's 1962 short film 'La jetee',did he receive his first nomination,awarded in the category of 'Best Supporting Actor'?

Twelve Monkeys

24.The trial of which former French President,charged for embezzlement began in Paris in September 2011?

Jacques Chirac

25.A name in common with an English slang word for sleep,what is the unit of currency in Laos?

(Laos) Kip

26.Active during the French Renaissance,he was a 16th century architect appointed by King Francis I of France.His role was to take charge of the building projects at the Palais du Louvre,transforming the old chateau into the palace that we know today.What was the architect's name?

Pierre Lescot

27.She served as Secretary of Transportation under Ronald Reagan and Secretary of Labour under George H.W. Bush before becoming head of the American Red Cross.What is the name of this successful US politician,North Carolina's first female Senator from 2003 to 2009 and wife to the 1996 Republican presidential nominee?

Elizabeth Dole

28.Currently ranked 19th by the International Rugby Board,which will be the only country making its Rugby World Cup debut in 2011?

Russia

29.Based on the medieval legend of Genevieve of Brabant,it received its first performance in 1850.What is the title of Robert Schumann's only opera?

Genoveva

30.The actor Don Johnson is well known for playing the part of James 'Sonny' Crockett,In the 1980s US TV detective drama,'Miami Vice'.Which lesser known actor played his detective partner Ricardo 'Rico Tubbs?

Philip Michael Thomas

Sunday Quiz 45

2011-09-04T16:50:00.000-07:00

Up late writing this one as I'm catching up from the weekend's British Quiz Championships.

Well done to Pat Gibson on winning both the Individual Title and Pairs Title, along with current Mastermind Champion Ian Bayley (congrats to Ian too!)

Tough quiz,but a very enjoyable day.

Back to tonight.Hope you enjoy.....................

1.Two French football teams,hold the record for winning the most League Championships,since the professional era began in 1932.With 10 titles each,name either?

Marseille or St Etienne

2.The largest lake in South America,Lake Titicaca,lies on the border of which two countries?

Peru and Bolivia

3.With a title connected to an animal,the original production was most famous for having Meryl Streep and Sigourney Weaver in its ensemble.Which Stephen Sondheim musical, adapted from an Ancient Greek comedy by Aristophanes,was originally performed in Yale University's swimming pool in 1974?

The Frogs

4.Although he has never won an Academy Award,he has received several nominations,as well as numerous other film awards.Which producer,director and writer founded the 'Industrial Light and Magic' visual effects company in 1975,now one of the most successful in the industry?

George Lucas

5. The wife of a former English poet laureate,which female poet and author became,in 1982,the first poet to win a Pulitzer Prize posthumously, for 'The Collected Poems'?

Sylvia Plath

6.Which of the six alkali metals on the periodic table,comes last alphabetically?

Sodium

7.Appearing in 1999 on the Veronica TV channel,which European country was the original 'Big Brother' TV series first aired?

Netherlands

8.Located in the Pas-de-Calais department,in Northern France,which large French town will be home to the first of the Paris Louvre's satellite museums?

Lens

9.At the age of 18,William Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children.Give the name of two of the children?

Susanna,Hamnet,Judith

10.Located on the northern shore of the Great Slave Lake,this town's name is derived from the First Nation aboriginals, who made tools from regional copper deposits.What is the capital of Canada's Northwest Territories?

Yellowknife

11.Since July 2008 the company has been owned by the French firm Pernod Ricard.It is currently the third largest brand of alcoholic spirits in the world after Bacardi and Smirnoff.From which country does 'Absolut Vodka' originate?

Sweden

12.In Greek mythology,she was the daughter of King Aeetes of Colchis and granddaughter of the sun god Helios.Which sorceress,the title of a Euripides play,became the wife of the hero Jason and bore him two children, Mermeros and Pheres?

Medea

13.Subang Jaya,located in the state of Selangor,is the largest city ,in terms of population,of which Asian country?

Malaysia

14.Designed by Enrico Del Debbio,in 1927,it was originally known as the Stadio dei Centomila,until it changed its name in 1960.Which sports stadium,is home to the football teams,AS Roma and Lazio as well as the Italian national rugby union team?

Stadio Olimpico (accept Olympic Stadium)

15.In which 2001 comedy film,does ben Stiller play the title character,a dim-witted model,who gets caught up in a plot to assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia?

Zoolander

16.Located in Listowel,in Ireland,it was the world's first commerical system of its kind.Which specific type of transport system,named the Lartigue,was opened in 1888?

Monorail

17.Named after a manor house in Hoddesdon,Hertfordshire,which plot,led by members of the 'Country Party' (later becoming Whigs),saw the attempted assassination of King Charles II of England and his brother James, Duke of York?

Rye House Plot

18.After inspecting a DNA sample from his sister's great grandson,which Australian bushranger's remains, were foundin August 2011, in the former Melbourne prison,HM Pentridge?

Ned Kelly

19.Prior to becoming US President,in which US state, did Ronald Reagan serve as Governor, for two terms between 1967-75?

California

20.Which British band formed in 1977 ,fronted by founder member Green Gartside,take their name from a homage to the political writings, of Italian Marxist theorist, Antonio Gramsci?

Scritti Politti

21.Which US President was responsible for the implementation, of the economic recovery programme ,'The New Deal'?

Franklin D Roosevelt

22.Holding the posts of Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary, Leader of the House of Commons and Deputy Prime Minister,who was Margaret Thatcher's longest-serving Cabinet minister?

Geoffrey Howe

23.If the 'hallux' refers to a person's big toe,what Latin name refers to a person's thumb?

Pollex

24.Which drug, is the foremost cause of acute liver failure in the Western world and also accounts for the most drug overdoses in the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand?

Paracetamol (or acetaminophen)

25.Created by Damon Albarn and James Hewlett,they entered the 'Guiness Book of Records' for 'most successful virtual band',in 2007.How are the four animated members: 2D, Murdoc Niccals, Noodle and Russel Hobbs,collectively known?

Gorillaz

26.An interval of time from about 250 million to 65 million years ago,which geological era includes the Cretaceous,Jurassic and Triassic periods?

Mesozoic

27.Which economic and political agreement among Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay,was founded in 1991 by the Treaty of Asuncion?

Mercosur (or Mercosul)

28.Aside from race-walkers,Franka Dietzsch,holds the record of appearing at most World Athletics Championships,by competing at ten of them, between 1991-2011.In which event did she compete?

Discus

29.Playing the role of the self-absorbed teen,Courtney Walker,which member of the regular cast of 'Friends',began their TV career,in 1990,in the short-lived US TV sitcom, 'Molloy'?

Jennifer Aniston

30.Succeeded by Walter Ulbricht,in the new role of Chairman of the Council of States,which German politician and Communist became the first President of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) in 1949, an office abolished upon his death?

Wilhelm Pieck

31.In antiquity, it was known as the Thracian Chersonese.Which peninsula,the name and site of a famous World War I battle,is derived from the Greek meaning 'beautiful city'?

Gallipoli

32.Derived from the Old Norse term for landslide,what term is given to an accumulation of broken rock fragments at the base of crags, mountain cliffs, or valley shoulders?

Scree

33.Headquartered in Dublin,it is aFortune Global 500 company,that is the largest consulting firm in the world.Known for its association with the World Golf Championships and until 2009,Tiger Woods,what is the name of this large company?

Accenture

34.Co-writing the film with Dan Aykroyd,which actor played the role of Dr. Egon Spengler in the 1980s 'Ghostbusters' films?

Harold Ramis

35. Used by Allied forces in World War I to locate artillery and more recently used by scientists to monitor earthquakes,what is the name of the study if soundwaves that are lower in frequency than 20 Hertz per second,the 'normal' limit of human hearing?

Infrasonics (or Infrasound)

36.In geometry,what name is given to an angle that is greater than 180 degrees?

Reflex

37.On the Richter scale,earthquakes measuring 8.0-8.9 are known as 'major.Those between 9.0-9.9 are known as 'great'.Yet to be recorded,, what name is given to an earthquake measuring at 10.0 and above?

Massive

38.The equivalent to the London Underground or Paris Metro system,in which European capital city is the rapid transit railway system known as the U-Bahn?

Berlin

39.Published as part of her 1952 collection' The Apple Tree',which British author and playwright wrote the short story, 'The Birds' ,famously made into an Alfred Hitchcock directed film?

Daphne Du Maurier

40.Although it sounds like it should be at the end,which position,in fact, does the letter 'zeta' lie in the Greek alphabet?

6th (sixth)

Thursday Quiz 47

2011-09-01T15:45:00.000-07:00

I'm really looking forward to the British Quiz Championship on Saturday in Lichfield,(although I do feel a bit under-prepared).

Hope to see some of you there

Here's tonight's batch......................

1.Often alternating top billing for their screenplays,they share film credits for editor under the alias 'Roderick Jaynes'.What is the name of the Academy Award winning film producers,whose works include,'Fargo','The Big Lebowski' and 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?'

The Coen Brothers (Joel and Ethan)

2.Discovered in 2004,it has been identified as the thinnest, strongest and most conductive material in the world, which many believe could revolutionise electronics.Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov, both were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work with this substance in 2010.Which substance?

Graphene

3.In 2011,the New York Yankees became the only team,ever to hit three in one game.In Baseball,what constitutes a 'Grand Slam' home run?

A home run hit when all three bases are filled,so the maximum four points are scored (3 bases + hitter)

4.Designed by engineer Tommy Flowers,for what were 'Collosus' machines used,during the Second World War?

Codebreaking (reading encrypted German messages etc)

5.Apart from its coastline with the South China Sea,Brunei is completely surrounded by which state of Malaysia?

Sarawak

6.Which prominent Roman general and heir apparent,was the great-nephew of the Emperor Augustus,the nephew of Emperor Tiberius,the father of Emperor Caligula,the brother of the Emperor Claudius and the maternal grandfather of Emperor Nero?

Germanicus (full name Germanicus Julius Caesar)

7.Also known as Avogadro's number,what is the SI base unit of chemical substance?

Mole

8.Formed in 1949 with the amalgamation of Holyhead Grammar and St Cybi Secondary school,for what is Holyhead High School notable in British eductaion?

The UK's first recorded Comprehensive School

9.Occasionally known as a 'babakoto',by what name is the largest species of lemur,commonly known?

Indri

10.Declared a World Heritage site in 1979,El Djem is one of the world's most intact examples of a Roman amphitheatre.In which North African country is it located?

Tunisia

11.With Sid James in the title role,which 1974 'Carry On' film,was to be both his and Hattie Jacques' last, in the series of comedy films?

Carry On Dick

12.Who was the German chancellor at the time of the Re-Unification of Germany in 1990?

Helmut Kohl

13.Which larger island group includes the Gilbert Islands,the Marshall Islands,Nauru and Banaba as its associated islands?

Micronesia

14.Which 20th century composer, wrote ,amongst his works,the ballets 'Billy The Kid','Rodeo' and The Appalachian Trail'?

Aaron Copland

15.Which female American superstar singer has a male model alter-ego named 'Jo Calderone',making his/her most recent appearance at the 2011 MTV Music Awards?

Lady Gaga

16.Discovered in 1931,its main food source is in meat,dairy products and eggs,which vitamin is also known as Biotin?

Vitamin B7

17.In athletics,The United States hold the fastest eight times,ever recorded for the Mens 4x400metre relay.Which different country has recorded the 9th fastest,doing so at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games ?

Great Britain (and Northern Ireland -accept UK,but NOT England)

18.Invented and developed by Richard James in the early 1940s,which best-selling toy has also been used, by college professors to simulate the properties of waves,by United States troops in the Vietnam War as mobile radio antennas and by NASA in zero-gravity physics experiments, in the Space Shuttle?

Slinky (spring)

19.Which poetic Book of the Old Testament,mourning the destruction of Jerusalem,is written by the Jewish prophet Jeremiah?

(Book of)Lametations

20.Resulting in the abdication of the king,the proclomation of a republic and the establishment of a provisional government,in which European country did the the February Revolution of 1848 occur?

France

21.A Federal subject of Russia,Chechnya is located in the Northern Caucasus Mountains.Which city serves as its capital?

Grozny

22.A 17th century, cavalier poet,he fought on behalf of the king during the Civil war.Which writer is most noted for his works, 'To Althea From Prison' and 'Lucasta'?

Richard Lovelace

23.Which is the only South American country that uses the US dollar as its official currency?

Ecuador

24.From which country does the folk dance,the 'mazurka',originate?

Poland

25.One of the world's largest sportswear manufacturing companies,it was founded by Italian brothers in 1911.Noted for its endorsement of Bjorn Borg,what is the name of this company,that has been owned by and operated, from South Korea, since a takeover in 2007?

Fila

26.Which of the English Plantagenet monarchs,reigned for the longest?

Henry III

27.A generic description for some black-furred animal breeds and for the colour black in heraldry,what is the name of the species of marten,that inhabits forest environments, primarily in Russia and has also been historically harvested, for its highly valued fur?

Sable

28.Known in North Africa by the Arabic word 'qibli',it is also the name of a model of Volkswagen car.What is the name of the Mediterranean wind, that comes from the Sahara and reaches hurricane speeds in North Africa and Southern Europe?

Scirocco

29.In terms of both population and area,what is,by far,the largest of the Isles of Scilly?

St Mary's

30.Which 20th century, British author's most famous works include, 'A Town Like Alice','Requiem For A Wren' and 'On The Beach'?

Nevil Shute

Sunday Quiz 44

2011-08-28T16:55:00.000-07:00

Computer on special 'slow' mode tonight.

Warning:A bit of selfless promotion.

For those of you in the South West/West area of England,I have now returned to the running of Quiz Nights/Events.If you are interested or know someone who might be visit www.justquizevents.com for more info.(I've added a link)

Thanks

Back to the important stuff.Hope you enjoy this batch.................

1.Performed almost entirely in Japanese,which World War II drama,was the last Steven Spielberg, produced film, to be nominated for a 'Best Picture',Academy Award?

Letters From Iwo Jima

2.Ranked as the most influential person in Mumbai by a national daily newspaper,which prominent, Indian social activist,spent 288 hours on hunger strike,until Parliament passed strong anti-corruption laws in August 2011?

Anna Hazare (or Kisan Baburao Hazare)

3.In August 2011,scientists at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne announced their discovery of a planet,orbiting a pulsar.From which substance, (familiar to the Mohs scale),was the planet entirely made up of,only the second time such a planetary mass has been discovered?

Diamond

4.In James Joyce's novel, Ulysses,he uses modern literary devices to narrate a single day in the life of a Dublin businessman, named Leopold Bloom.This day ,intentionally, draws elaborate parallels to which Greek hero's '20 years of wandering'?

Odysseus

5.Which forename and surname is shared by an English rugby union player that represents Exeter and the England 'Sevens' side,an English golfer who plays on the European Tour and the British swimmer that holds the long and short course National records for the 50 metre Freeestyle and Butterfly?

Mark Foster

6.Located on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States,what became the 37th contiguous US state and the first new US state following the American Civil War,mainly as a result of the 1862 Homestead Act?

Nebraska

7.An organic compound with the chemical formula C6 H5 OH,it is a white crystalline solid and first extracted from coal tar.Which acid is also known as Phenol?

Carbolic Acid

8.Born in 1960,he has appeared in numerous TV shows and films,in a career of over 35 years,but is particularly remembered for 3 main roles.Which American actor played the characters, Bugsy Malone in the 1976 film adaptation, the Fonz's cousin 'Chachi',in Happy Days and the title character in the 80s sitcom 'Charles In Charge'?

Scott Baio

9.Used in Asia for passenger services between the many islands of Japan,(amongst other journeys),what specific type of vehicle is the Boeing 929?

Hydrofoil

10.Founded in 1990,it is accepted at around 11 million point of sale outlets worldwide.What is the name of Mastercard's main brand of debit card?

Maestro

11.Born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli,what was the regnal name of the Pope who served throughout the entire Second World War?

Pius XII

12.Founded by Robert Maxwell in 1990,it was a weekly newspaper,sold on Thursdays and billed as 'Europe's first national newspaper'.In 1996,edited by Andrew Neil, it was transformed into a high-end tabloid format,that was aimed at the business community.What was the name of this short-lived newspaper,which ceased production in 1998,due to poor sales?

The European

13.According to the Guinness Book of World Records,it was the most watched TV show of all time, with over 1.1 billion viewers around the world each week.Which 1990s American 'action-drama' series originated as a spin-off, from the 1989 TV film,'Panic at Malibu Beach'?

Baywatch

14.In UK legislative procedure,which stage of a bill follows the second reading and precedes the 'report' stage?

Committee Stage

15.With lyrics by Australian comedian and musician,Tim Minchin,it was originally performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company.Which of Roald Dahl's childrens books,was adapted into a musical in 2010,which will make its West End debut in October 2011?

Matilda

16.In August 2011,following the resignation of Steve Jobs,who became the new CEO of Apple Inc?

Tim Cook

17.Containing the destruction of the Walls of Jericho,which Book of the Old Testament can be split into the three parts - 'the conquest of Canaan','the distribution of the land' and 'the farewell address'?

Joshua

18.A name in common with a famous 16th century painting,which dark comedy, one of the masterpieces of Henry James's final period, follows the trip of Lewis Lambert Strether to Europe,in search of Chad,his widowed fiancee's wayward son?

The Ambassadors

19.Which of Shakespeare's plays is set,primarily, in the Forest of Arden?

As You Like It

20.A Brazilian footballer,he plays for F.C. Porto in the Portuguese first division.Born Givanildo Vieira de Souza,by what comic book nickname is he generally referred,due to his resemblance to actor Lou Ferrigno?

Hulk

21.The titular character of an 1843 play by Antonio Garcia Gutierrez and an 1857 Verdi Opera,what was the name of the first Doge of Genoa,fatally poisoned in 1363?

Simon(e) Boccanegra

22.Found in the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco and famously in Gibraltar,what is the name if the only free living primates in Europe, (besides humans)?

Barbary Apes (or Barbary Macaque)

23.With types such as coronary,ureteral and prostatic,what name is given to the artificial tube,inserted into a natural passage in the body to 'prevent, or counteract, a disease-induced, localised flow constriction'?

Stent

24.Prior to David Cameron,who was the last British Prime Minister to have been formally educated at Eton College?

Alexander Douglas-Home

25.Noted for his flamboyant style,his magnum opus was that of the Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) in Barcelona,which was unfinished at the time of his death in 1926.Who was its Spanish architect?

Antonio Gaudi

26.By some margin,which country has produced the most 'top prize' winning contestants, on the TV gameshow,'Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?

Japan

27.Which German city,the 7th largest by population, is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia and home to Europe's largest canal port?

Dortmund

28.Named after a 1952 and 1956 Olympic Champion,in which athletic event is the 'O'Brien shift',a common technique?

Shot Put

29.Located at at Kourou,in which French Overseas Territory can the European Space Agency's major spaceport be found?

French Guiana

30.In 1948,the artist Lucien Freud,married Kitty Garman,which would last for four years.Who was her famous father,an American-born, British sculptor ?

Jacob Epstein

31.Named after a former US President,what is the capital city of the US state of Wisconsin?

Madison

32.In the history of aviation,for what is Thomas Selfridge remebered, after an event of 1907?

First person to be killed in a plane crash

33.With the defeat of its army and the fall of the capital,which 19th century conflict was ended by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?

Mexican-American War

34.The outlaw and bank robber,Jesse James,was assassinated by which member of his gang in 1882?

Robert Ford

35.It is believed a 50-page speech folded over twice in the breast pocket and a metal glasses case slowed the bullet.Which US President,not only survived an assassination attempt by saloon-keeper John F Schrank,but continued with his speech,stating ,'It takes more than one bullet to bring down a Bull Moose'?

Theodore Roosevelt

36.Which Austrian city's International airport is also known as the 'Blue Danube' airport?

Linz

37.Which 19th century,British fashion designer,is widely considered the 'Father of Haute couture' and credited as the first designer, to put labels onto the clothing he manufactured?

Charles (Frederick) Worth

38.Closely related to the beluga whale,the males of which species of whale, in the Monodontidae family, are distinguished by a characteristic long, straight, helical tusk extending from their upper left jaw?

Narwahl

39.Named after a mythical ancient Greek king,this 64-gun,Royal Navy ship saw service in the American Revolutionary, French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.What is the name of the ship,remembered for being Nelson's favourite?

(HMS)Agamemnon

40.A record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, they are credited with contributing the sound for many successful hip hop, R&B and pop artists in the late 1990s and 2000s.They are also believed to be the most successful producers in music history.Named after a planet,by what pseudonym are they better known?

The Neptunes

Thursday Quiz 46

2011-08-25T16:15:00.000-07:00

Back to the usual format.I hope you didn't mind too much.

I've had a hectic few weeks,so had to 'chop and change' a bit with the format

Anyway,I hope you enjoy this new set of 30...........................

1.Endemic to New Zealand,it was large,ratite bird,believed to have become extinct in the 15th century.It was the only bird that didn't have any form of wings.What is this bird's name?

Moa

2.Since its inaugural ceremony in 1992,the annual Mercury Music Prize, has produced 18 different winners.Of these,only two have achieved a UK number one single.Name either?

Dizzie Rascal or Arctic Monkeys

3.An American poet,he was one of the leading figures of the Beat Generation in the 1950s.Who is best known for his epic poem 'Howl', in which he celebrated his fellow 'angel-headed hipsters'?

Allen Ginsberg

4.Believed to be anxiety related,which appropriate two-word syndrome,descibes a phenomenon,in which patients exhibit elevated blood pressure in a clinical setting, but not in other settings?

White Coat Syndrome

5.Taken from the Russian for 'Peace' or 'World',what was the name of the largest artificial satellite orbiting the Earth from 1986,until its deorbit in 2001?

Mir

6.With the chemical formula CaSO4 2H2O,it is found in alabaster and was used as a decorative stone in Ancient Egypt.What is the second softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness Scale?

Gypsum

7. An American songwriting and record producing partnership,they became synoymous with 1950's 'rock'n'roll'(although their catalogue,stretches over a far greater period).Writing songs including 'Hound Dog', 'Jailhouse Rock', 'Kansas City' and 'Stand By Me',what were the names of this duo,one of whom sadly passed away in August 2011?

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

8.What name, meaning 'ruler',has been given to several legendary, Greek Kings,inparticular,the brother of Jocasta,regent of Thebes,who awarded the throne to Oedipus?

Creon (Kreon)

9.Which is the only state of the Commonwealth of Nations,located on mainland South America?

Guyana

10.In August 2011,Lamine Diack of Senegal,was elected unopposed, to another term as President of which global,sporting governing body?

IAAF(International Association of Athletics Federations)

11.Written by Laozi in around the 6th century BC,the scripture known as Tao Te Ching,is regarded as the most important text of which religion?

Taoism

12.Separated from the mainland by the Euripus Strait,it is administered as part of the central Greece periphery.With the capital at Chalcis,which is the second largest Greek island,in terms of area and population?

Euboea

13.The medical abbreviation,IVF, is a process by which egg cells are fertilised by sperm outside the body.For what does the initials 'IVF' stand?

In Vitro Fertilisation

14.Born in Germany in 1738,he emigrated to the UK at the age of 19. Which noted astonomer,was also a talented musician and responsible for composing 24 (largely forgotten) symphonies?

(Frederick) William Herschel

15.He was due to appear in all three 'Godfather' films,but was written out,after a disagreement over wages.Which actor played the role of the Corleone family lawyer and adopted son,'Tom Hagen'?

Robert Duvall

16.The location of the country's largest airport,which city served as Uganda's capital,immediately prior to it's independence from the UK, in 1962?

Entebbe

17.Between 1643 and 1689,the mathematician, John Wallis, served as chief cryptographer for Parliament.He is also credited for introducing which mathematical symbol?

Infinity symbol

18.The principal gateway to Mecca, which city is the largest sea port on the Red Sea and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia,in terms of population,after the capital city, Riyadh?

Jeddah

19.Written by Andrew-Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton in 2000,this musical was set in 1969 and centred around a local football team,who aim to overcome religious intolerances.Lasting just 11 months in the West End,what was its title?

The Beautiful Game

20.A term coined by critic F. S. Boas inhis 1896 work 'Shakespeare and his Predecessors',how are the Shakesperean plays, 'All's Well That Ends Well', 'Measure for Measure' and 'Troilus and Cressida',often described?

Problem Plays

21.La Seigneurie is the capital of which small,inhabited Channel Island?

Sark

22.First played in 1896 and drawing parallels with football's FA Cup,the Rugby League Challenge Cup is a prestigious knockout competition,organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams, but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and which other country?

Russia

23.What surname links one of the guitarists in the rock band ZZ Top,a 16th/17th century English composer and organist and the author of the novel, 'Cold Comfort Farm'?

Gibbons (Billy,Orlando and Stella respectively)

24.Which English writer,born in Cairo,is known across the globe,for his creation of Captain Horatio Hornblower and for writing 'The African Queen',later adapted into a major Hollywood film?

CS Forester

25.Which global TV show franchise,originated in Japan under the (translated English) title of 'Tiger of Money'?

Dragons Den

26.With a population of just 15000,which city,granted its status by Queen Elizabeth II in 1994,is the least populated city of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland?

Armagh

27.Also known as the law of volumes,it is credited to an unpublished work of the 1780s.Who's law describes how gases tend to expand when heated?

(Jacques) Charles'

28.In Greek mythology,what name was given to the children of Gaia,led by Eurymedon,who waged war on the Olympian gods,only to be defeated and sent to the abyss of Tartarus?

Gigantes (or Giants)

29.Deriving its name from an Hitchiti term meaning 'big water',it is known locally as 'The Big O'.Which lake,with an average depth of just 9 feet (3m),is the largest freshwater lake in Florida and the second largest entireley within the 48 contiguous US states?

Lake Okeechobee

30.What is the name of the American conglomerate holding company,that has Warren Buffet,one of the world's richest men,as its Chairman and CEO?

Berkshire Hathaway

Back to normal

2011-08-22T14:48:00.000-07:00

I will now be reverting back to the usual format of 30 questions on Thursdays and 40 questions on Sunday

See you on Thursday for a new batch of questions.......

And again..................

2011-08-21T16:16:00.000-07:00

1.Originally called 'Lennox's Bridge',it was opened in 1851.Crossing the Yarra River,it has become an iconic part of Melbourne and inparticular a focal point for the 'Moomba' New Years Eve celebrations.After it was reconstructed in 1886,by John Grainger,it was renamed.By what 'royal sounding' name is this bridge now known?

Princes Bridge

2.In 2003,which large motor vehicle manufacturer became the sole parent company of Rolls Royce Motor Cars?

BMW

3.Hugely popular in Ireland,her 2008 album 'Love Tattoo' and 2010 follow-up 'Mayhem',both made number one in the Irish music charts.The latter also made the top 10 in the UK.Which Irish singer-songwriter,known for her rockabilly music style,won the 2009 Irish national music award 2009 Meteor Award in the category of 'Best Female' ?

Imelda May

4.In 1910,art critic Roger Fry coined which term,generally regarded as an art movement,to describe the more progressive forms of French painting in the late 19th century?

Post Impressionism

5.Taken from the latin word meaning 'the four ways',what word or term describes the four subjects,(astronomy,geometry,arithmetic and music),taught in medieval universities?

Quadrivium

6.Similar symptoms to 'carpal tunnel syndrome,it occurs when the ulnar nerve is obstructed during its path along the outer edge of the elbow. This compression of the nerve often leads to a tingling or 'pins and needles' sensation in the little and ring fingers.What name is given to this condition?

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

7.Taken from the description in his 'History of Animals',the Aristotle lantern is a complex jaw apparatus found on which spiny,marine invertebrate?

Sea Urchin

8.The phenomenon was identified by the 20th century American philologist, Maurice Bloomfield.He noticed words that eliminated a syllable when two consecutive identical or similar syllables occured.Examples include the word February becoming 'febury' and 'probably' becoming 'probly'.by what '-ology' is this phenomenen known?

Haplology

9.Ending as the result of an Act of Parliament,which UK institutions were the subject of the 'Binary Divide' between 1965-1992?

Polytechnics and Universities

10.A sea stack of red sandstone,it is perched on a plinth of igneous basalt rock and located close to Rackwick Bay, in the Orkney Islands.Popular with climbers and BASE jumpers,what is the name of this distinctive landmark,whose name derives from a William Daniell painting?

Old Man of Hoy

10 more

2011-08-20T16:06:00.000-07:00

Enjoy.......

1.Born in to a wealthy and well connected family in 1901,who became the chairman of the newspaper giant 'Mirror Group Newspapers' in 1951 and later,became chairman of the International Publishing Corporation between 1963-68?

Cecil Harmsworth King

2.A 1981 film,it features George C Scott and follows a group of military school students, who decide to take over their school in order to save it from closing.The film is notable as it saw Tom Cruise appear in only his second film role and Sean Penn in his first.What is the title of this film,which takes its name from the famous musical piece, played in the U.S. military, during flag ceremonies?

Taps

3.Which city serves as the capital of Montenegro?

Podgorica

4.A Norwegian explorer and scientist,he is remembered for his 1895 attempt to get to the North Pole,by letting his ship,'The Fram',get frozen into the ice,north of Siberia and then drift towards Greenland.What is the name of this man,who also received the 1922 Nobel Peace Prize for his Russian relief work?

Fridtjof Nansen

5.Located in Baffin Bay,it is one of the larger members of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and is also Canada's 6th largest island.Its most notable presence is that of the Haughton impact crater.Named after an English county,what is claimed to be the world's largest uninhabited island?

Devon Island

6.Likened to football's UEFA Champions League,the Heineken Cup is a European rugby tournament that started in 1996.Since then,which team have been most successful,by winning the tournament four times and beaten finalists twice?

Toulouse

7.Originally a money lender,who was appointed Lord Mayor of London in 1397,by Richard II,a position he held on a record equalling four occasions?

Richard 'Dick' Whittington

8.A myth taken from Hesiod's 'Works and Days','Pandora's Box' is said to have contained all the evils of the world. When Pandora opened the jar, all its contents except for one 'item' were released into the world.What 'item' was left at the bottom of the box?

Hope

9.Although received moderately at the box office,it went on to be a hugely successful cult film. Which 1982,Ridley Scott film,is set in a futuristic Los Angeles society and is based on the novel, 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?' by Philip K. Dick?

Bladerunner

10.One of the largest English festivals of its kind,it attracts over a million visitors every year.Which South of England Air Festival,made headlines in August 2011,when one of the pilots of the 'RAF Red Arrows' display team was killed in a plane crash?

Bournemouth Air Festival

Back Again

2011-08-19T15:56:00.000-07:00

As promised..............

1.Located at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway in Mountain View,California,what appropriate, numerical name is given to the corporate headquarters of the world's largest internet search engine?

Googleplex (Google being the search engine)

2.Mycology, is the branch of biology ,concerned with the study of which (generic) organisms?

Fungi

3.Commanded by Colonel Robert Clive,it saw a decisive victory for the British East India Company over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies,thus establishing Company rule in South Asia.During which 18th century conflict did the Battle of Plassey take place?

The Seven Years' War

4.Found in Christian churches,what name is given to the which small chest or cabinet, in which the consecrated hosts are kept?

Tabernacle

5.To date(August 2011),which is the only month of the year,NOT to be mentioned in the title of a UK top 40 single?

August

6.Running throught the Scandanavian peninsula,the Scandanavian mountains are located in several countries.Located in the county of Oppland,in which country is the highest peak found?

Norway

7.A natural organic compound,it is used as a food preservative.It has the chemical formula C6 H8 O2 and an 'E' number '200'.Which acid,first isolated from the unripe berries of the Rowan,takes its name from the tree's Latin name?

Sorbic Acid

8.In August 2011,the annual Pukkelpop music festival, was cancelled, after storms and high winds caused a stage to collapse,killing five people and injuring 71.The second largest,behind the Rock Werchter,in which European country is this festival held?

Belgium

9.Prior to Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko,who were the first pair of brothers to become World Heavyweight champions?

(Leon and Michael) Spinks

10.A British war artist,he later produced several portraits including 'Sir Winston Churchill' and 'Somerset Maughan'.Which 20th century artist is perhaps,most noted,for his large tapestry 'Christ In Majesty',which was created for Basil Spence's new Coventry Cathedral?

Graham Sutherland

Day off/out today,so more Questions tomorrow

2011-08-18T14:45:00.000-07:00

An opportunity I couldn't miss today,so I had to take a day off.

Back tomorrow!
Thanks

Next Batch

2011-08-17T16:10:00.000-07:00

Another 10...........

1.Rich in associated calcium and phosphorus,which protein makes up around 80% of proteins found in cows milk and is also the main protein found in cheese?

Casein

2.The ancient Greeks called it 'Lake Asphaltites'.In Hebrew and Arabic,it is sometimes referred to as the 'Sea of Lot'.By what name is this body of water most commonly known?

Dead Sea

3.As well as becoming Poet Laureate in 1638,following the death of Ben Jonson,which 17th century poet and playwright,is also known for having William Shakespeare as his godfather?

William Davenant

4.Only occurring in males,Orchitis (or orchiditis) is a condition involving the painful inflammation of which part of the body?

Testicle

5.One of golf's 'Majors',the 2011 USPGA tournament was won by Keegan Bradley.Finishing one shot behind,which Danish golfer finished the best of any European?

Anders Hansen

6.In August 2011,'Mr Tickle',the oldest of Roger Hargreaves' 'Mr Men' characters, celebrated his 40th birthday.First appearing 10 years later,who became the first 'Little Miss' character?

Little Miss Bossy

7.First appearing on TV in 2005,it follows the fortunes of CIA agent 'Stan Smith' and his family.What is the name of this an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane,the creator of 'Family Guy'?

American Dad

8.Translated to English as 'Federal Defence Force',what German name is used to describe the unified armed forces of Germany?

Bundeswehr

9.Named after the 5th President of the United States,Monrovia is the capital city of which African country?

Liberia

10.Known as the greatest comic actor in Rome,who was born as slave,but was freed by the dictator Sulla,in around the 1st century BC,due to his oustanding acting ability?

Roscius (Quintus Roscius Gallus)

More More More

2011-08-16T15:57:00.000-07:00

Enjoy...............

1.Released in 1988 and featuring on the 'Rattle and Hum' album,which song became the first UK number one for U2?

Desire

2.Which 17th century conflict is often divided into the four phases-The Bohemian Revolt, the Danish intervention, the Swedish intervention and the French intervention?

Thirty Years War

3.The ancient city of Antioch,was once one of the largest cities of the Near East and a chief city of early Christianity.In which modern day country is it located?

Turkey

4.In a reaction to the riots across parts of the UK in August 2011,British Prime Minister, David Cameron, hired the services of which 'supercop',a former Chief of the Los Angeles Police Depatment ?

Bill Bratton

5.Ranked at number 5 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness,which group of phosphate minerals,includes the major component of tooth enamel and bone mineral?

Apatite

6.The Igbo (or Ibo) people originate from West Africa,primarily Nigeria.Which short-lived,independent state were they responsible for establishing between 1960-1970?

Biafra

7.Starring Richard Gere and Vanessa Redgrave,this John Schlesinger film is set in a the village of Dobcross in North West England.The film focuses on three romances, taking place, as a result of the stationing of American troops in Britain, in the build up to the Normandy Landings.Written by Colin Welland,what is the title of this film?

Yanks

8.A pioneer in the fields of radioactivity and radiochemistry,which German chemist and Nobel Laureate,is credited with the discovery of nuclear fission,by a process of bombarding uranium atoms with neutrons?

Otto Hahn

9.Which 19th century poet includes amongst his greatest works,'Prometheus Bound',To a Skylark' and 'Adonais'?

Percy Shelley

10.Named after the Queen consort of King George III,it is the smallest capital of any Canadian Province.Which city is the capital of Prince Edward Island?

Charlottetown

Another 10 for you

2011-08-15T14:53:00.000-07:00

Here's the second batch of 10.Enjoy..............

1.A 6-a-side 'sport',it is split into two halves of 13 minutes each.Said to have originated in North East England as a way of improving soldiers' fitness,it held its first World Championship in Finland in 2000.At the 2005 event, it is believed that over 5000 players participated.Which unusual form of football is this?

Swamp Football

2.With a family connection,which 1960s and 70s American pop group contained the members Scott Engel,John Maus and Gary Leeds?

The Walker Brothers

3.Neil Armstrong made two spaceflights in his career,both of which were historical.In 1969,he walked on the moon,but in 1966,he was part of a crew that made the first ever docking between two spacecraft.What was the name of the spacecraft of which he was commander?

Gemini 8

4.After Kingston,the capital,which city,in terms of population, is the second largest in Jamaica?

Portmore

5.The last leader of the Fourth Republic,which French President was the immediate predecessor to Charles De Gaulle and his Fifth Republic?

Rene Coty

6.Finishing in 7th place in the 2004 edition of American Idol,which contestant went on to be nominated for an Academy Award,for her role alongside Beyonce Knowles and Jamie Foxx in the 2006 film ‘Dreamgirls’?

Jennifer Hudson

7.A Japanese puffer fish,it is eaten in special restaurants and served cooked,or in small slices,raw.Due to parts of the fish being poisonous,the fish is known to cause instant death,so is only prepared by staff who have passed an official examination and obtained a license.What is the name of this notorious Japanese delicacy?

Fugu

8.The subject of patent and design infringement lawsuits from Apple Inc,which company makes the 'Galaxy Tab' series of Android-based tablet computers?

Samsung

9.Since the presumed extinction of the Chinese River Dolphin in 2006,the remaining species' of river dolphin only reside in three freshwater rivers worldwide.Name two of these rivers?

Ganges,Indus,Amazon

10.A glacial lake in the south-east of Switzerland,it lies at the border between Switzerland and Italy.Named after the 9th most populous city in Switzerland,which lake is situated between Lake Como and Lake Maggiore?

Lake Lugano