Questions of the Week

Each week, the quiz society includes a set of questions in our newsletter (click here to sign up). You can find the archived questions on this page. The current Questions of the Week are also available and may be completed online.

22/10/07

Ironic Quotations

In honour of our new quiz venue, last week's questions were on famous cricketers. Congratulations to Alasdair Campbell who knew that:

1. Often referred to as the greatest batsman of all time, which Australian cricketer had a test batting average of 99.94?
Sir Donald Bradman
2. Which English cricketer was known by various nick-names including 'the Doctor', 'The Old Man' and 'The Champion'?
William Gilbert (W.G.) Grace
3. Who is the only cricketer to have scored a quadruple century in a test match?
Brian Charles Lara (400* v England at the Recreation Ground, St John’s Antigua, April 2004)
4. Who, in 2002, did Wisden choose as the greatest One Day International batsman of all time?
Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards
5. Who was second in that 2002 list, also appearing in second place in Wisden's greatest Test Cricket batsman list produced the same year?
Sachin Tendulkar

10/07/07

Ironic Quotations

Last week we had five questions on ironic quotations. Congratulations to Khurram Malik, Shefaly Yogendra, Paul Beecher and Maggie Tighe who all knew that:

1. Who said "It seems to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will be interested in the musings of a thirteen year old school girl"?
Anne Frank
2. Who said "I would not wish to be Prime Minister, dear."?
Margaret Thatcher
3. A spokesperson for Decca Records failed to sign which band, instead saying "Guitar bands are passé"?
The Beatles
4. About which star of stage and screen was it written "Can’t act. Can’t Sing. Slightly bald. Can dance a little."?
Fred Astaire
5. Which film did a company insider not want to make saying "Forget it. No Civil War film ever made a nickel"
Gone With the Wind

03/07/07

Disney Films

Last week we had five questions on Disney films. Congratulations to Andy Pilkington and Khurram Malik who both knew that...

1. Which Disney film was the first animated picture to be nominated in the ‘Best Picture’ category at the Academy Awards?
Beauty and the Beast
2. Who was the voice of the genie in Aladdin?
Robin Williams
3. Which Disney film is the 14th highest grossing film ever, with a massive $865 million?
Finding Nemo
4. Who was the name of Tom Hanks’ character in Toy Story?
Woody
5. Which film featured the voices of Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Rowan Atkinson and Whoopi Goldberg?
The Lion King

26/06/07

Holiday Destinations

Last week we had five questions on summer holidays. Specifically, we asked you to name the top 5 places to visit according to a 2005 survey for the Expedia.co.uk website. Congratulations to Paul Beecher, Misha Leybovich and Khurram Malik who got that...

1. Overshadowed in recent years by its Eastern European neighbour Prague, this city is finally moving into its well deserved limelight. Cheap drink, great food and an exciting nightlife mixed with stunning architecture and an idyllic setting make this city the top destination in 2005.
Budapest
2. Sitting comfortably between the Mediterranean and Tyrrhenian Sea’s, this island is an un-spoilt oasis of calm and relaxation. Rugged natural beauty mixes effortlessly with quaint coastal fishing villages perched quietly on the edge of deep blue water, creating quite simply a holiday heaven.
Sardinia
3. At number three, this place has moved with ease into the premier league of travel destinations in recent years. Bright sunshine, sandy white beaches and clear blue seas go hand-in-hand with top class hotels and some of the best shopping in the world.
Dubai
4. The city that never sleeps has been charming visitors for decades and has consistently held its place as one of the top city destinations in the world.
New York
5. Placed at number 5 on the list, this city currently sits right on the forefront of world travel; an exhilarating, vibrant and diverse city of colour and endless charm it boasts some of the best beaches, restaurants and nightlife on the planet. Something exciting is happening in this sleeping giant; just make sure you’re there to experience it.
Rio de Janeiro

19/06/07

Fictional Bears

Last week was national 'Bring Your Bear' week and so, in recognition, five questions on fictional bears. Sadly no one got all five correct, but well done to all who tried. The answers were:

1. Name the bear, who taught Mowgli the Law of the Jungle in Rudyard Kipling's 'The Jungle Book'
Baloo
2. Name the bear created by Mary Tourtel
Rupert
3. Name the bear which was the eponymous hero of a book by Richard Adams
Shardik
4. Which anthropomorphised bear is honoured by a bronze statue at a London train station?
Paddington Bear
5. Which Shakespeare play famously includes the stage direction 'Exit, pursued by a bear'?
The Winter's Tale

12/06/07

Croquet

Last week we had five questions on croquet. We had a couple of good trys, but no one managed to get all five correct. The answers were:

1. Where is the game of croquet said to have been invented in the 1830s?
Ireland
2. The winning side is the first to score how many points?
26 (12 hoop points and the peg point with each ball)
3. Croquet was a sport at the 1900 Olympics. Who won all the medals?
France - they were the only country to field contestants, so naturally won everything!
4. Which science-fiction author wrote ‘The Croquet Player’ in 1936, in which croquet is used as a metaphor for the way in which man confronts the very problem of his own existence?
H. G. Wells
5. How many hoops are there on the court for Association Croquet, the standard form of the game?
6

05/06/07

Dog Breeds

Last week was national 'Hearing Dog Week' and so we had five questions on dog breeds. We had several entries this week, but congratulations to Julia Gin who was the only one who knew that

1. What is the oldest American breed of dog?
the American Foxhound dating back to 1650
2. What is the smallest breed of dog?
Chiuahua
3. Which breed of dog has webbed feet?
Newfoundlands
4. Name the four types of Belgian Shepherd dogs.
Groenendael, Tervueren, Malinois and Laekenois
5. Which breed was the heaviest dog on record, weighing 156kg?
Old English Mastiff

28/05/07

Bank Holidays

Monday 28th May was a Bank Holiday and so we had five questions on the history of Bank Holidays in the UK. Congratulations to Khurram Malik who knew that

1. When were Bank Holidays introduced in the United Kingdom?
1871
2. Which act is the current statutory basis for bank holidays in England?
The Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971
3. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Christmas Day and Good Friday are not Bank Holidays; what sort of holidays are they?
Common Law holidays
4. In 2002, there was an extra Bank Holiday to mark the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. How was this holiday designated?
By Royal Proclaimation
5. Which Bank Holiday in Northern Ireland is proclaimed annually by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland?
The Battle of the Boyne holiday

22/05/07

Noise Awareness Week

Last week was 'National Noise Awareness week' and so, in honour of this, we asked you to arrange 5 instruments in order from quietest to loudest (when they produce their loudest note). As last week, no one managed to answer all five questions correctly. For those interested, the answer was:

1. Violin
82 - 92dB
2. Flute
92 -103dB
3. Bass drum
106dB
4. Cello
85 -111dB
5. Clarinet
85 - 114dB

14/05/07

Nettles

Last week was 'Be Nice to Nettles' week and so, to celebrate this truly bizarre awareness event, we had five questions on the humble stinging nettle. Sadly no one knew that

1. What is the Latin name for the nettle, and what does it mean?
Urtica Dioica meaning 'Two Houses'
2. How can nettles help relieve arthritis?
The sting helps draw blood to the affected area which can ease the pain.
3. Which common British moth, which uses the nettle as a major source of food, is a master of camouflage resembling a broken branch?
The Spectacle
4. Breeders of which animal have often added nettle seeds to their feeds to give the animals a sleek coat?
Horses
5. Cloth made from nettle fibres was used as a substitute for cotton by which country when making uniforms for their army during World War I?
Germany

01/05/07

Azerbaijan

Regulars at the Bun Shop will know that we are currently making our way around the world in 80 Quizzes. Last week's questions were on Azerbaijan. Congratulations to Fayyaz Muddassir Mubeen who knew that:

1. Who is the current president of Azerbaijan?
Ilham Aliyev
2. After the Azerbaijani, what is the largest ethnic group in Azerbaijan?
Russian
3. Azerbaijan won their first ever away football match against which team?
Kazakhstan
4. Which Azerbaijani won the 1962 Nobel Prize for Physics for their work on superfluidity?
Lev Davidovich Landau
5. Which recently Cellist who died this week was born in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan?
Mstislav Rostropovich

12/03/07

Commonwealth of Nations

The last Questions of the Week were on the Commonwealth of Nations. Congratulations to Fayyaz Muddassir Mubeen and Lee Zhao who both knew that

1. What was the name commonly used in the 1960s and 1970s to refer to predominantly Asian, African and Caribbean nations which joined the Commonwealth at that time as a result of decolonization?
New Commonwealth
2. Which former Dominion was a member of the Commonwealth until 1949?
Newfoundland
3. Commonwealth Day is held on the second Monday of March and is marked by a multi-faith service held where?
Westminster Abbey
4. Commonwealth Day evolved from 'Empire Day'; when was Empire Day?
24th May
5. How many independent nations make up the Commonwealth?
53

06/03/07

George Formby

The last Questions of the Week were on the life and works of George Formby. Congratulations to Fayyaz Muddassir Mubeen and Lee Zhao who both knew that

1. . Many of George's songs - including 'Leaning on a Lamp-Post' - were written by which successful British composer of the 1930's and 40's?
Noel Gay
2. Which George Formby film was the last in which he co-stared with his wife, Beryl?
Off the Dole
3. Where was George Formby born?
Wigan
4. How many sisters did George have?
4
5. In which year did Formby win the Stalin Prize?
1944

27/02/07

John Steinbeck

The last Questions of the Week were on the life and works of John Steinbeck. Congratulations to Fayyaz Muddassir Mubeen, Danny McMillan and Lee Zhao who all knew that

1. In 1967, John Steinbeck went to report from Vietnam at the behest of which New York magazine?
Newsday
2. Which Steinbeck book's title is an allusion to a poem Robert Burns?
Of Mice and Men
3. Who wrote the ballad 'Tom Joad' which summarised the plot of Steinbeck's classic novel, 'The Grapes of Wrath'
Woody Guthrie
4. How old was Steinbeck when he died?
66
5. In which year did Steinbeck with the Nobel Prize for Literature
1962

20/02/07

Pancakes

The last Questions of the Week were on Pancakes. We gave you the name of a type of pancake and simply asked that you give us the country or region where the pancake originated. We had lots of entries, but congratulations to Arshad Islam who was the only one to get all 5 correct. He knew that

1. Crepes
France
2. Palatschinken
Austria/Hungary
3. Plättar
Sweeden
4. Injera
Ethopia
5. Blintz
Russia

13/02/07

Get a Different Name Day

The last Questions of the Week celebrated 'Get a Different Name Day'. Congratulations to Felicity Marsden, Shefaly Yogendra, Calum Aikman, Khurram Malik, Lee Zhao and Paul Buckley who all knew the following celebrities from their birth name:

1. Betty Joan Perske
Lauren Bacall
2. David Robert Jones
David Bowie
3. Eleanora Fagan Gough
Billie Holiday
4. Barry Alan Pinkus
Barry Manilow
5. Stevland Hardaway Judkins
Stevie Wonder

05/02/07

National Bramley Apple Week

The last Questions of the Week celebrated National Bramley Apple Week and we asked you five questions themed on Apples. No one managed to get all 5 correct - better luck next time! The answers were:

1. Where did the Bramley Apple orginate
Southwell, Nottinghamshire, UK
2. What are the Pantone colours used in the official logo of the Bramley Apple Trade Campaign?
PMS Rubine Red and PMS 382
3. How many apple pies are bought each year in the UK?
64.5 million
4. Where were the Brammy Awards held in 2006?
Top London Restaurant, Angela Harntnett at the Connaught
5. Bramleys are the UK's most popular cooking apple - for what percentage of the cooking apple market do they account?
95%

30/01/07

National Storeytelling Week

The last Questions of the Week celebrated National Storeytelling Week and we asked you to decipher five anagrams of Brothers Grimm fairy tales. No one managed to get all 5 correct - better luck next time! The answers were

1. Trillionth Dire Dodge
Little Red Riding Hood
2. Him sly card
Mary's Child
3. Malnourished twice fun
The Wonderful Musician
4. Tin whistle towel
Little Snow White
5. Sprinkle MIT slut
Rumpelstiltskin

22/01/07

Scots Words

The last Questions of the Week celebrated Burns Night and we asked you to give us the standard English definition of a selection of Scots words. We had several entries, but no-one managed to get them all right. The correct translations are

1. Blellum
silly, talkative person
2. Clanjamfrie
a crowd; a rabble
3. Fairn-Yeir
cast year
4. Kebbuck
cheese
5. Yowie
fir cone

17/01/07

The ICC

The last set of Questions of the week were on the history of the Intercollegiate Challenge. Congratulations to Khurram Malik who knew that:

1. How many different colleges have won the Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Challenge in its history?
8
2. What was the score line in the 2004 final?
Emma 190 - 145 Downing II
3. Who did Trinity beat in the final of the first ever ICC?
Corpus
4. Who posted the highest ever individual score in the ICC?
Phil Grant
5. How many players appearing in last year's final went on to represent the University in the 2006 Varsity match?
2

27/11/06

Sweeden

The last set of Questions of the week were on Sweden. We had lots of answers over the Christmas break and Shefaly Yogendra, Paul Beecher, Calum Aikman and Richard Neale all knew that

1. Who was the prime minister of Sweden from 1969-1976 and 1982 until his assassination in 1986?
Olof Palme
2. What are the two largest islands in Sweden?
Gotland and Otland
3. Who was the first Swedish king from the House of Bjällbo?
Birger Jarl
4. Who is the current speaker of the Swedish Unicameral Riksdag?
Per Weseterberg
5. Name the Swedish pop act that comprised Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle.
Roxette

21/11/06

Plays of Bertolt Brecht

The last set of Questions of the week were on quotes from the plays of Bertolt Brecht. We asked for the English translation of each quote, and the play from which the quotation was taken. Perhaps this was a tad too cultured for our readers as we didn't get any correct entries at all this week. The correct answers were:

1. 'Verschiedene Weine zu mischen mag falsch sein, aber alte und neue Weisheit mischen sich ausgezeichnet.'
'Mixing one's wines may be a mistake, but old and new wisdom mix admirably' - THE CAUCASSIAN CHALK CIRCLE
2. 'Unglucklich das Land, das Helden notig hat.'
'Unhappy the Land that needs heros' from LIFE OF GALILEO
3. 'Was muß ich dir geben daß du meine Frau nimmst?'
'What must I give you to take my wife?' - BAAL
4. 'Fürchtet doch nicht so den Tod und mehr das unzulängliche Leben!'
'Don't be afraid of death so much as an inadequate life.' - THE MOTHER
5. 'Und der Haifisch, der hat Zähne // Und die trägt er im Gesicht // Und MacHeath, der hat ein Messer // Doch das Messer sieht man nicht'
'Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear // And he shows them pearly white // Just a jackknife has Macheath, dear // And he keeps it out of sight.' - THE THREEPENNY OPERA

13/11/06

Czech Republic

Last week we had 5 questions on the Czech Republic. Congratulations to genuine Czech, Petr Steiner and QuizSoc committee member, Paul Beecher who both knew that:

1. The Czech National Anthem is 'Kde domov muj?'. What is the English translation of this title?
'Where is my home?'
2. Which product do Czechs consume in greater quantities (per capita) than anywhere else in the world?
Beer
3. What public holiday will the Czechs celebrate this week?
Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day
4. Which Czech beauty is the current Miss World?
Tatjana Kucharova
5. Which widely-used product was invented by Professor Otto Wichterle in Czechoslovakia in 1961?
Soft contact lenses

06/11/06

Liechtenstein

Last week we had 5 questions on Europe's fourth smallest country, Liechtenstein. We had lots of answers this week, but only Shefaly Yogendra got all five right. The correct answers were

1. What feature does Liechtenstein share with Uzbekistan?
Both are doubly landlocked
2. The Prince of Liechtenstein is the world's 5th wealthiest Head of State. Who is the wealthiest?
King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, king of Saudi Arabia worth ~$21 billion
3. Liechtenstein is Europe's fourth smallest country, by land area. Which three countries are smaller, in order from smallest to largest?
Vatican City, Monaco, San Marino
4. Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein, but which town actually has the largest population?
Schaan
5. FC Vaduz qualified for the UEFA Cup Winner's Cup for the first time in 1992. What was their aggregate score in that competition?
They lost 1-12 (on aggregate) to FC Choronomoret Odesa of Ukraine

30/10/06

Halloween

Last week we had 5 questions on Halloween. Bad luck to Donna Roser who got one question wrong, but congratulations to Tina Morrell who knew that:

1. Which Pope moved the old Christian feast of All Saints Day to 1st November to give Halloween a Christian interpretation?
Gregory III
2. Name the creature of Celtic folklore by whose name Halloween is known in some parts of Ireland.
Puca (Pooky Night)
3. Which city in Minnesota is the self proclaimed 'Halloween Capital of the World'?
Anoka
4. How heavy was the largest pumpkin ever measured?
The 2005 World record is 1469 lbs, although a pumpkin weighing in at 1502 lbs was shown in New York this year!
5. 'Souling' was a European custom which resembled which modern Halloween activity?
Trick or Treat

23/10/06

Greece

Last week we were visiting Greece on our trip round the world in 80 quizzes. Nobody got all five questions on the Greek myths correct, although congratulations to Julia Gin who got 4! The answers were:

1. The Homeric Hymns is a collection of how many poems
34 (33 celebrate the Gods, one addresses the hosts)
2. Which poem by Hesiod is the fullest surviving account of the Greek Gods?
Theogony
3. According to Hesiod, who were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, goddess of memory?
The Muses (Pierides)
4. . Which goddess's name means 'Mother Earth', and of what is she the goddess?
Demetra, goddess of agriculture
5. Which God, famed for his fantastic solitary exploits, had an enormous appetite and rustic character, making him a popular figure for comedy?
Heracles

16/10/06

Turkey

Last week we were visiting Turkey on our trip round the world in 80 quizzes. Congratulations to Khurram Malik and Calum Aikman who knew that:

1. Who was the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey?
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
2. What are the two telephone dialing codes for Istanbul?
(+90)212 -European side; (+90)216 - Asian side
3. Through which treaty did the western powers seek to partition the Ottoman Empire following the First World War?
Treaty of Sevres (1920)
4. When did the use of surnames become a legal requirement in Turkey?
1935
5. Which Turkish author won this year's Nobel Prize for Literature?
Orhan Pamuk

09/10/06

Israel

Last week we were visiting Israel on our trip round the world in 80 quizzes. No one got all 5 questions right, but a special mention to David Jordan who pointed out that Golda Meir was in fact the third female prime minister.

1. Which grandson of Abraham is said to be the father of the nation of Israel?
Jacob
2. In which year did the Jewish state of Judea become part of the Roman province of Palestine?
63BC
3. In 1969, Golda Meir became the world's second female Prime Minister. Who was the first and of which country?
Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka
4. What do you call a soup made from Jerusalem artichokes?
Palestine (or Lebanese) Soup
5. How many times has Israel won the Eurovision song contest?
3

02/10/06

World Animal Day

Last week we were celebrating 'World Animal Day' on 4th October. Congratulations to Khurram Malik who knew that:

1. World Animal Day coincides with the saint's day of which saint, the patron saint of animals and the environment?
St. Francis of Assisi
2. In which year was World Animal Day started?
1931
3. What is the most common mammal in the US?
Mouse
4. Which is the smallest species of snake?
Brahminy blind snakes
5. What colour is a purple finch?
Crimson

25/09/06

Tunisia

Last week were visiting Tunisia as part of our epic 'Around the World in 80 Quizzes'. Congratulations to Khurram Malik who knew that

1. Tunisia is divided into how many governorates (administrative divisions)?
24
2. Which city in Tunisia is considered by many Sunni Muslims to be the fourth holiest city of Islam?
Kairouan
3. Which Indiana Jones movie was filmed in Tunisia?
Raiders of the Lost Ark
4. The Tunisian desert was the set for which mythical planet from the Star Wars: The Phantom Menace?
Tatooine
5. Which Tunisian city is home to a 35,000 seater Roman amphitheater?
El Djem

19/09/06

Pirates

Last week's questions were all on the theme of pirates in honour of 'International Talk Like A Pirate Day' on 19th September! Congratulations to Lucy Inkster, Khurram Malik, Nick Carey and Julia Gin who knew where the following pirates first appeared:

1. Captain Flint and Long John Silver
Treasure Island
2. Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbossa
Pirates of the Caribbean
3. Mr Smee and Black Murphy
Peter Pan
4. The Pirate King, Samuel and Frederic
Pirates of Penzance
5. Captain Nancy and Mate Peggy Blackett
Swallows and Amazons

14/06/06

Famous Pupils

In honour of National School Grounds Week, the last set of questions were on famous pupils of fictional schools. Given the school, we asked you to simply name the most famous pupil! Congratulations go to Sinead Matthews, Khurram Malik and Felicity Marsden who got all five correct. The answers were:

1. Bikini Bottom Elementary School
Spongebob Squarepants
2. Bayside High School
Zack Morris
3. Hill Valley High School
Marty McFly
4. Hillridge Junior High
Lizzie McGuire
5. Beauxbatons Academy of Magic
Fleur Delacour

05/06/06

Hearing Dog Week

Last week's questions were in aid of 'Hearing Dog Week' and, given the name of a dog, we simply asked you to name the breed. Jessica Arnold and Khurram Malik got all five correct - well done to both of them.

1. Lassie
Collie
2. Scooby-Doo
Great Dane
3. Fang
Boarhound
4. Beethoven
St. Bernard Dog
5. Shep
Border Collie

31/05/06

UK Beaches

Last week's questions were inspired by the Bank Holiday and required you to name the county where the following beaches were. Congratulations to Callum Aikman and Khurram Malik who got them all correct.

1. Bigbury-on-Sea
Devon
2. Filey
North Yorkshire
3. Skegness
Lincolnshire
4. Hornsea
East Riding of Yorkshire
5. Sheringham
Norfolk

23/05/06

Teenage Mutant Hero/Ninja Turtles

Last week's questions in aid of World Turtle Day posed no problems at all for lots (and lots) of people as 13 got all five right. Andrew Sanderson, Donnacha Kirk, L.R. Inkster, Jonathan De-Souza, Fran Lofts, Lee Eccleston, Shefaly Yogedra, Steve Burgess, Mark Rodgers, Dom Waller, Geoff Lam, Tom Ford and Khurram Malik all knew the names of the character from Teenage Mutant Hero/Ninja Turtles from the details given below - congratulations to all of them!

1. The defacto leader of the turtles
Leonardo
2. He wears a purple mask
Donatello
3. He wields a pair of sai
Raphael
4. He has an unhealthy addiction to pizza
Michelangelo
5. The turtles' adoptive father
Splinter

08/05/06

Flowers

Last week's green fingered questions were inspired by National Compost Week. Given the French name, we simply asked for the more common English equivalent. Three people got all five correct, so congratulations go to Natalie Sheehan, Shefaly Yogendra and Gloria Dawson who knew:

1. Narcisse des près
Daffodil
2. Digitale
Foxgloves
3. Lis
Lily
4. Pensée
Pansy
5. Galanth perce-neige
Snowdrop

02/05/06

Doughnut Chains

Last week, in honour of National Doughnut (or Donut) Week, we asked you to name the country of origin of the following Doughnut chains. Congratulations to Shefaly Yogendra who got all five correct.

1. Krispy Kreme
USA
2. Dunkin' Donuts
USA
3. Dinky Donuts
UK
4. Tim Hortons
Canada
5. Arnolds
Finland

25/04/06

Kings and Queens

Last week's questions were on which monarch was reigning in England for the given dates and we had loads of replies. Everyone who entered got at least four out of five correct, with the only one causing problems being who was on the throne in 1700? The answer was William III and NOT William III and Mary II as Mary died in 1694. So congratulations go to Michael Dnes, Edward Carlsson Browne, P.A. Gilbert, Paul Beecher, Khurram Waqas Malik and Andrew Chapman. The answers were:

1. 1500
Henry VII
2. 1600
Elizabeth I
3. 1700
William III
4. 1800
George III
5. 1900
Victoria

14/03/06

Commonwealth Games

This set of questions were based on Commonwealth Games past and future: given the year, you simply had to name the host city. Congratulations to Khurram Waqas Malik, P.A. Gilbert, Andrew Chapman and Valerie Yang who got the lot.

1. 1990
Auckland
2. 1994
Victoria
3. 1998
Kuala Lumpur
4. 2002
Manchester
5. 2006
Delhi

06/03/06

Smoking Ban

No-one managed to get all the questions correct on the smoking ban that was voted on last month. The answers were:

1. When was the vote that banned smoking in all pubs, clubs and workplaces?
14th February
2. What was the majority of the vote for a total ban on smoking?
328
3. What is the proposed fine for lighting up in a banned area?
£50
4. When is the ban expected to come into force?
Summer 2007
5. Who was the health secretary at the time of the vote?
Patricia Hewitt

27/02/06

The 27th February

Last week's questions were all on events that happened on the 27th February. We simply asked for the year in which all these events occurred. The questions posed no problems for Roxanne Stockdale, P.A. Gilbert, Khurram Waqas Malik and Andrew Chapman who answered all five correctly.

1. Rowan Williams is enthroned as the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury
2003
2. The British labour party is founded
1900
3. Exxon are indicted on five counts for the Exxon Valdez oil spill
1990
4. People magazine is first published
1974
5. The first Mardi Gras is celebrated in New Orleans
1827

20/02/06

National Days

The last questions of the week on 'national days' didn't cause too many problems as Jessica Arnold, P.A. Gilbert, Andrew Chapman, Jessica Williams and Khurram Waqas Malik got all five right. Given the capital, they named both the country and the when their national day was!

1. Bandar Seri Begawan
Brunei; 23rd Feb
2. Santo Domingo
Dominican Republic; 27th Feb
3. Tallinn
Estonia; 24th Feb
4. Georgetown
Guyana; 23rd Feb
5. Castries
St. Lucia; 22nd Feb

13/02/06

Love Quotes from Shakespeare

These five questions about love quotes from Shakespeare were set just before Valentine's Day, 2006. You were asked to name the work and three people got all five correct. Congratulations to Adam Carter, Khurram Waqas Malik and Andrew Chapman who worked out:

1. Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind
A Midsummer Night's Dream
2. Love is a spirit all compact of fire
Venus and Adonis
3. Love sought is good, but given unsought, is better.
Twelfth Night
4. The sight of lovers feedeth those in love
As You Like It
5. ...Love is not love // Which alters when it alteration finds,
Sonnet 116

06/02/06

Maladies

Only one correct entry from last week's questions on various maladies. Shefaly Yogendra knew that the modern names for the following five illnesses were:

1. Mania
Insanity
2. Nostalgia
Homesickness
3. Rose cold
Hay Fever
4. Screws
Rheumatism
5. Winter fever
Pneumonia

30/01/06

January

Four people managed to get all five questions on 'January' correct. Congratulations to Andrew Chapman, Mark Sankey, Khurram Waqas Malik and P.A. Gilbert, who knew that:

1. January is named after 'Janus', who in Roman mythology was the God of what?
Beginnings, and doorways
2. According to the Saxons, when in January was the unluckiest day of the year? (those unfortunate enough to be born on this day could expect to die an unpleasant death!)
January 2
3. Astrologically speaking, the month of January begins in Capricorn and ends in what?
Aquarius
4. In a standard year (365 days), January begins on the same day of the week as which other month(s)?
October
5. In a leap year, January begins on the same day of the week as which other month(s)?
April & July

23/01/06

Died on this Day...

This week, four people got all five questions correct on the happy topic of people who died on January 23rd. A few got four out of five correct and incorrectly answered question five but congratulations go to Humphrey Waddington, Andrew Chapman, P. Gilbert and Khurram Waqas Malik who got the lot!

1. Died 1989: an important Catalan painter best known for his surrealist works.
Salvador Dali
2. Died 1803: founder of a famous drinks company which takes his name.
Arthur Guinness
3. Died 1944: Norwegian painter and printmaker whose most famous piece is 'missing'
Evard Munch
4. Died 1931: famous Russian ballet dancer whose showpiece was 'The Dying Swan'.
Anna Pavlova
5. Died 1622: English navigator and explorer who has a strait and a bay named after him.
William Baffin

17/01/06

Born on this Day...

We had a lot of entries into last week's Qs of the Week and quite a few got them all right. Shefaly Yogendra, P. Gilbert, Mike Smail, Khurram Waqas Malik and Andrew Chapman identified all of the following people that were born on 17th January:

1. Lived 1863 - 1945. Was the last member of the Liberal party to be UK Prime Minister and was the PM at the end of World War 1
David Lloyd George
2. Born in 1942. The sportsman of the 20th century (according to BBC Sports Personality and Sports Illustrated)
Muhammad Ali
3. Lived 1899 - 1947. An American gangster, who was known as 'Scarface'
Al Capone
4. Lived 1820 - 1849. Was a novelist and a poet, and was the youngest of a literary family
Anne Bronte
5. Born in 1962. Best known for his manic, slapstick performances in comedy films; this Canadian's first names are James Eugene
Jim Carrey

29/11/05

Christmas Carols

The Christmas carol questions appeared to pose few problems. Iain Mansfield, Mark Sankey, Khurram Waqas Malik, Jenny Archibald, Louise McMillan, Mark Thebridge, Dan Meyer, Caroline Snelgrove and Rachel Till got them all right. They worked out which carols the following lines cam from:

1. Looked down where He lay
Away in a Manger
2. Fa la la la la, la la la la
Deck the Halls
3. Brightly shone the moon that night
Good King Wenceslas
4. Joyful, all ye nations rise
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
5. To touch their harps of gold
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
6. Born the King of angels
O Come All Ye Faithful
7. That mourns in lonely exile here
O Come O Come Emmanuel
8. Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
O Little Town of Bethlehem
9. Where a mother laid her baby
Once in Royal David's City
10. For mighty dread
While Shepherds Watched

21/11/05

Charity Singles

Last week's questions were inspired by National Television Day, and you were asked to name the shows which all the following characters were in. Congratulations to Tia, Rachel and Honey who knew that:

1. Dave Lister
Red Dwarf
2. Evil Edna
Willo the Wisp
3. Beth Jordache
Brookside
4. Mrs. Goggins
Postman Pat
5. Fleegle
Banana Splits

15/11/05

Charity Singles

No-one quite managed to get all five right last week, but a few got 4/5. The five charity singles were:

1. Comic Relief in 2005
McFly (It's All About You / You've Got a Friend)
2. Children in Need in 2004
Girls Aloud (I'll Stand by You)
3. Sport Relief in 2004
Rachel Stevens (Some Girls)
4. Artists Against AIDS Worldwide in 2004
All Star Tribute (What's Going On?)
5. Asian Tsunami Relief in 2004
One World Project (Grief Never Grows Old)

08/11/05

Road Safety Week

Rather worryingly, despite many attempts no-one managed to get all the answers to last week's driving theory test questions correct... the answers are:

1. At a pelican crossing, the flashing amber light means you MUST...?
Give way to pedestrians ALREADY on the crossing (it is common courtesy to give way to those waiting as well)
2. A flashing green beacon on a vehicle means... ?
Ambulance or Doctor
3. Diamond shaped signs give instructions to... ?
Trams
4. You see a pedestrian with a white stick and red band. This means that the person is... ?
Blind and Deaf
5. What is the shortest overall stopping distance on a dry road from 60 mph?
240ft

01/11/05

World Vegan Day

No-one got all the vegan questions correct last week - so no-one gets the privilege of getting their name on the website. The answers were:

1. In which city will the main Australian WVD celebrations be taking place?
Melbourne
2. What is the theme of the 2005 event?
Diversity
3. The first WVD was celebrated to mark what event?
The 50th anniversary of the Vegan Society
4. Where in Essex is the main WVD event in the UK being held?
Brentwood
5. When was the first WVD?
1994

25/10/05

United Nations Day

These questions were on UN day, specifically about the newest members. You just had to name the year in which the country became a member and also its capital. Michael Hoenig came close, but congratulations to Humphrey Waddington who got everything correct:

1. Timor-Leste
27th Sept 2002, Dili
2. Switzerland
10th Sept 2002, Bern
3. Tuvalu
5th Sept 2000, Funafuti
4. Serbia and Montenegro
1st Nov 2000, Belgrade
5. Tonga
14th Sept 1999, Nuku'alofa

17/10/05

World Food Day

Last week's culinary experts were J.D. De Souza, Bilen Ahmet and Khurram Waqas Malik who managed to get all five questions correct. They knew the origins of the following national dishes:

1. Clootie Dumpling
Scotland
2. Poutine
Quebec (In Canada)
3. Pavlova
New Zealand (although Australia apparently also claim it)
4. Cheese Fondue
Switzerland
5. Donut
USA

10/10/05

Plants

Cambridge people are obviously not very green fingered as only one person managed to name all the plants correctly. Rob Harris knew that the more common names for the following plants were:

1. Dianthus
Carnation
2. Pelargonium
Geranium
3. Dendranthema
Chrysanthemum
4. Convallaria majalis
Lily of the Valley
5. Hortensia
Hydrangea

Questions of the Summer 2005

'Easy' Quiz

The 'easy questions' set for the Summer proved to be not that easy. Although we had over 50 entries, only two people managed to get all ten correct. Congratulations to Mustafa Anjari and Shefaly Yogendra who worked out / googled the following:

1. Since 1921, in which country has the Encyclopedia Britannica been published?
USA
2. The Canary Islands are named after which animal?
The Dog
3. Which country makes Panama hats?
Ecuador
4. What was the name of the ship in the film 'Mutiny on the Bounty'?
The Bounty
5. From which animals do we get 'catgut'?
Horses and sheep
6. What was King George VI's first name?
Albert
7. Who composed Ravel's Bolero?
Ravel
8. How long was the Hundred Years War?
116 years
9. In which season does Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' take place?
Spring
10. What colour is the black box on an aeroplane?
Orange

06/06/05

Cambridge

The Cambridge questions of the week obviously didn't prove too much of a challenge as Mark Sankey, Emma McIlroy and Paul Beecher all managed to get all five answers correct. They knew that:

1. Which is the oldest college?
Peterhouse
2. The university was set up by scholars in 1209 who fled the hostile townspeople of which English city?
Oxford
3. Who is the present Lucasian professor of Mathematics?
Steven Hawking
4. To the nearest million, how many volumes does the University Library (including the dependent libraries) house?
Seven
5. Who won the first boat race?
Oxford

30/05/05

What's the question...?

The response to last week's answers of the week was astounding, but the best by a mile came from Michael Dnes who came up with the following questions:

1. France
Which country is home to the largest number of twins of British towns?
2. Orange
Which mobile phone company was born out of a Rabbit and brought up by Frenchmen?
3. Brussel Sprouts
Which vegetable was introduced into the US by President Thomas Jefferson?
4. Kingston Park
Ariel
5. Robert Kilroy-Silk
The Church of the Militant Elvis recently offered 72 virgins to anyone who killed which aspiring MP?

24/05/05

Rugby Union

Rugby Union is obviously not a strong subject for most based on the lack of answers received. but there was one bright spark who knew all five! Congratulations to Martin Jenkins who knew which clubs played their home games at the following grounds:

1. Welford Road
Leicester Tigers
2. Donnybrook
Leinster
3. Hughendon
Glasgow
4. Kingston Park
Newcastle Falcons
5. St. Helens
Neath-Swansea Ospreys

16/05/05

Eurovision

Oh dear - the Eurovision Song Contest is over for another year, and all that is left to do is announce the winners of the Eurovision questions of the week. Peter Pemberton-Ross and Shefaly Yogendra knew no shame and admitted that they knew the songs that these artists sang at Eurovision. Congratulations to them both.

1. Javine
Touch My Fire
2. Bucks Fizz
Making Your Mind Up
3. Celine Dion
Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi
4. ABBA
Waterloo
5. Cliff Richard
Congratulations and Power to All Our Friends

09/05/05

Train Stations across Europe

Several people got all the answers to last week's questions of the week - with reasons including a combination of being a geography student, going inter-railing, being clever and using Google. Anyway, congratulations to Peter Pemberton-Ross, Jessica Arnold, Graham Bates and Shefaly Yogendra who knew that:

1. Sants
Barcelona
2. Termini
Rome
3. 'Zoo'
Berlin
4. Midi
Brussels
5. Heuston
Dublin

02/05/05

Cryptic Football League Teams

Congratulations to Tom Rosoman and Andee Pilkington who last week managed to decrypt all five of the following British league football teams:

1. All the clues together
Leeds
2. Bobby fit
Charlton Athletic
3. Look after deep well
Motherwell
4. White birds spot Paris
Swansea City
5. Stolen goods about community
Luton Town

24/04/05

The Papal Election

Congratulations to the two people who got all 5 answers about the new Pope correct - several people were very close but didn't quite get The Sun's headline right. Anyway, Michael Hoenig and James Watson knew that:

1. What is shouted from the balcony following a successful vote by the cardinals?
Habemus Papam
2. In what year was Joseph Ratzinger born?
1927
3. Where was he made a cardinal of in 1977?
Munich
4. When was the last Pope Benedict in residence at the Vatican?
1922
5. What was The Sun's headline following the new Pope's election?
From Hitler Youth to Papa Ratzi

07/03/05

News Quiz: These questions all relate to news stories from the week.

1. Wales rugby star, Gavin Henson, has been photographed on nights out with which singer?
Charlotte Church
2. Which breakfast TV presenter has announced that he is quitting next month?
Eamonn Holmes
3. Which contestant was the first to be booted out of celebrity Fame Academy?
Al Murray
4. Who will be representing Great Britain at this year's Eurovision Song Contest?
Javine
5. Which Friend's star is set to appear in a play in the West End?
Ross/ David Schwimmer

28/02/05

Oscars: Name these films which won Oscars in 2005 from just one or two of the characters?

1. Margie Hendricks
Ray
2. Ava Gardner
The Aviator
3. Clementine Kruczynski
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
4. Lucius Best and Buddy Pine
The Incredibles
5. J. Jonah Jameson
Spider-Man 2

21/02/05

NHL Ice Hockey: In which city do the following NHL ice hockey teams play?

1. Thrashers
Atlanta
2. Canucks
Vancouver
3. Blackhawks
Chicago
4. Blues
St. Louis
5. Kings
Los Angeles

15/02/05

The Grammies

1. Who, at the age of 14, was the youngest artist to win a top Grammy Award?
Leanne Rimes in 1997
2. How many Grammy Awards did Jimi Hendrix win?
None
3. Which solo artist has won the most Grammy's?
Stevie Wonder
4. Which actress on the US TV series 'The Facts of Life' won a Grammy Award nomination in 1984 for 'Best Inspirational Performance'?
Lisa Whelchel with ' All Because of You'
5. Who famously accepted their life time achievement award without thanking anyone?
Bob Dylan in 1991

07/02/05

Pot Luck

1. The word 'art' is derived from the Latin for what?
skill/craft/to fit
2. The word 'science' is derived from the Greek for what?
to know/knowledge
3. Which encyclopedia was first published in 1768?
Britannica
4. Which team sport has periods of play called 'chukkas'?
Polo
5. In which country did the board game Chess originate?
Highly debatable - but generally seen to be India

02/02/05

The start of Lent

1. The word Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for which season?
Spring
2. What is the last day of Lent?
It is generally seen as Holy Saturday (the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday), but in the Roman Catholic Church, Lent officially ends at sundown on Maundy Thursday with the beginning of the Last Supper.
3. How long is Lent?
40 days (it is actually 46 days, but we skip Sundays as they commemorate the resurrection)
4. What are rabbits used to symbolize?
Fertility
5. Why was Easter Island called Easter Island?
It was discovered on Easter Sunday, 1722

25/01/05

Pot Luck

1. What's the collective name for a group of horses?
Harras (or team or stud...)
2. Who or what lives in a Holt?
Otter
3. What's the scientific name for the lower jaw?
The Mandible
4. What's a female lobster called?
A Hen
5. What is the name of the porcupine in the Jungle Book?
Ikki (Sahi in Jungle Book 2)

29/11/04

Christmas: Below are 10 ways to say 'Merry Christmas'... all we need to know is the language.

1. I'd Miilad Said Oua Sana Saida
Arabic
2. Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
Cornish
3. Hyvaa joulua
Finnish
4. Kala Christouyenna
Greek
5. Gledileg Jol
Icelandic
6. Linksmu Kaledu
Lithuanian
7. Sarbatori Fericite
Romanian
8. Nollaig chridheil huibh
Scots Gaelic
9. Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Turkish
10. Nadolig Llawen
Welsh

08/11/04

Cryptic Cities in the UK

1. Not and old fortification
Newcastle
2. Tracking down the college lecturer
Huntington
3. Entry for the male sheep
Ramsgate
4. A saucy one
Worcester
5. Enjoying a book
Reading
6. Hoard drink on left side
Stockport
7. Followed by police in enquiries
Leeds
8. Starve the ringer
Belfast
9. People's rock
Folkestone
10. Partner of a wise man
Morecambe