Quizology.Online

A Serious Pursuit of the Trivial

  • Oddities II — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Michael’s Gate and tower, Bratislava, Slovakia.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Continuing from yesterday with some more ‘Oddities’ which are described as such as they are only connected by being ‘Odds and Ends’. Similar to yesterday, these are all true or false questions.

    One

    Is it true or false that although an estimated 90% of bird species partner up for life, only 20 to 25% of all mammal species do?

    Answer: False.

    Only a small percentage of mammals, approximately 3% to 5%, form lifelong monogamous relationships, often driven by practical needs rather than romantic notions. Notable examples of mammals that mate for life include those with various relationship types. Monogamous: Wolves —Alpha pairs mate for life, leading the pack and raising pups together. Socially monogamous: Beavers — Pairs collaborate to build and maintain their lodges, sharing parenting duties. Long-term monogamous: Gibbons — Known for their duet singing, which strengthens their bond and territory claims.

    Two

    Is it true or false that Gregory Peck portrayed infamous Nazi and Auschwitz doctor Josef Mengele in the 1978 film The Boys from Brazil?

    Answer: True.

    Josef Mengele, known as the ‘Angel of Death’, was a German physician and Nazi officer at Auschwitz during the Holocaust. He conducted inhumane experiments on prisoners. After the war, he fled to South America, evading capture until his death in 1979. His remains were identified in 1985 and 1992.

    Three

    Is it true or false that a bat mitzvah is a coming-of-age ritual in Judaism?

    Answer: True

    In Judaism Bat Mitzvah is the feminine equivalent of Bar mitzvah. These occur at 13 for boys and bat mitzvah at 12 for girls in Orthodox communities, or 13 for both in most others, it marks Jewish coming of age and accountability. The ceremony usually occurs on the first Shabbat after the birthday.

    Four

    Is it true or false that Michael’s Gate, pictured above, is in Bratislava, Slovakia?

    Answer: True.

    Michael’s Gate in Bratislava, Slovakia, is the only preserved medieval city gate, dating back to around 1300. Baroque reconstructions in 1758 added the statue of St. Michael and the Dragon. It houses the Exhibition of Weapons of Bratislava City Museum. The town once had four fortified gates.

    Five

    Is it true or false that the largest member of the dolphin family (Delphinidae) is an apex predator?

    Answer: True.

    The orca (Orcinus orca), or killer whale, is the largest oceanic dolphin, known for its black and white pigmentation. Apex predators with diverse diets, they form matrilineal pods and exhibit unique cultures. Conservation status is data deficient; some populations are endangered. Revered by indigenous peoples in Australia, Peru and the Pacific Northwest of North America.

  • Oddities II

    Michael’s Gate and tower.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Continuing from yesterday with some more ‘Oddities’ which are described as such as they are only ‘Odds and Ends’. Similar to yesterday, these are all true or false questions.

    One

    Is it true or false that although an estimated 90% of bird species partner up for life, only 20 to 25% of all mammal species do?

    Two

    Is it true or false that Gregory Peck portrayed infamous Nazi and Auschwitz doctor Josef Mengele in the 1978 film The Boys from Brazil?

    Three

    Is it true or false that a bat mitzvah is a coming-of-age ritual in Judaism?

    Four

    Is it true or false that Michael’s Gate, pictured above, is in Bratislava, Slovakia?

    Five

    Is it true or false that the largest member of the dolphin family (Delphinidae) is an apex predator?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Oddities — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    The Monkees.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Some random oddities for you today.

    One

    Is it true or false that Shorty Blackwell, a track on The Monkees 1969 album Instant Replay was inspired by and named after a school teacher?

    Answer: False.

    Micky Dolenz wrote Shorty Blackwell about his life and cat, recording piano in January 1968 and expanding it beyond five minutes with added instrumentation. Shorty Rogers arranged brass, strings, percussion, cello and flute; Rubini and Tommy Tedesco contributed. Micky and Coco recorded vocals in May; Micky finished it in June, later dismissing it as a Sgt. Pepper attempt.

    Two

    Is it true or false that the sea lion is the only marine member of the family Felidae?

    Answer: False.

    Sea lions are pinnipeds in family Otariidae with external ear flaps, long fore-flippers, four-legged movement, short hair and large chests; six extant and one extinct species span subarctic to tropical waters except the northern Atlantic.

    Three

    Is it true or false that in tennis Stirling Moss won the men’s singles at Wimbledon in 1969?

    Answer: False.

    Stirling Moss, a British driver and broadcaster, won 212 races including 16 Formula One Grands Prix. Runner-up to Juan Manuel Fangio and Mike Hawthorn, he retired after a 1962 accident. He was BBC Sports Personality of the Year and entered the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

    Four

    Is it true or false that in the classic World War II love story Casablanca (1942), Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) says ‘Play it again, Sam’?

    Answer: False.

    A line closely associated with Casablanca—”Play it again, Sam”—is not spoken in the film. When Ilsa first enters the Café Américain, she spots Sam and asks him, “Play it once, Sam, for old times’ sake.” After he feigns ignorance, she responds, “Play it, Sam. Play ‘As Time Goes By’.” Later that night, alone with Sam, Rick says, “You played it for her, you can play it for me”, and “If she can stand it, I can! Play it!”
    — Wikipedia

    Five

    Is it true or false that Australia has three locations where New Year’s Eve occurs three times annually?

    Answer: True.

    New Year’s Eve is celebrated three times each year in Cameron Corner, Poeppel Corner and Surveyor Generals Corner, because three states, which are in three time zones, meet at each of these corners. Cameron Corner, Queensland is adjacent to the borders with New South Wales and South Australia. Poeppel Corner in Queensland is where it meets South Australia and the Northern Territory. Surveyor Generals Corner is the meeting of South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

  • Oddities

    The Monkees.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Some random oddities for you today.

    One

    Is it true or false that Shorty Blackwell, a track on The Monkees 1969 album Instant Replay was inspired by and named after a school teacher?

    Two

    Is it true or false that the sea lion is the only marine member of the family Felidae?

    Three

    Is it true or false that in tennis Stirling Moss won the men’s singles at Wimbledon in 1969?

    Four

    Is it true or false that in the classic World War II love story Casablanca (1942), Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) says ‘Play it again, Sam’?

    Five

    Is it true or false that Australia has three locations where New Year’s Eve occurs three times annually?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Ologies II — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Tree Cookie.
    A cross-section of a Coast Douglas-fir tree.
    Royal Ontario Museum, Canada.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are further study of Ologies.

    One

    What is defined as ‘the study of the mechanics of body movements’ (Oxford English Dictionary)?

    Answer: Kinesiology.

    kinesiology /kɪˌniːsiˈɒlədʒi , kʌɪˌniːsiˈɒlədʒi /
    ▸ noun [mass noun] the study of the mechanics of body movements.

    – ORIGIN
    late 19th century: from Greek kinēsis ‘movement’ (from kinein ‘to move’) + -logy.
    – DERIVATIVES
    kinesiological ▸ adjective
    kinesiologist ▸ noun 

    — Oxford English Dictionary

    Two

    What does an ichthyologist study?

    Answer: Fish.

    An ichthyologist is a scientist who studies fish, while ichthyology is the branch of zoology devoted to the study of fish. The word ichthyology comes from the Greek ichthys, meaning ‘fish’, and –logia, meaning ‘study of’. An ichthyologist may study the anatomy, behaviour, evolution, classification, ecology, distribution, or conservation of all major groups of fish, including bony fish (Osteichthyes), cartilaginous fish (such as sharks and rays), and jawless fish (such as lampreys and hagfish). Because fish make up more than half of all known vertebrate species, ichthyology is one of the largest and most diverse fields within zoology.

    Three

    Nosology is the scientific study of which of these?

    • Diseases
    • Nasal biology
    • Negativity

    Answer: Diseases.

    nosology /nɒˈsɒlədʒi /
    ▸ noun [mass noun] the branch of medical science dealing with the classification of diseases.

    – ORIGIN
    early 18th century: from Greek nosos ‘disease’ + –logy.
    – DERIVATIVES
    nosological /ˌnɒsəˈlɒdʒɪkl / ▸ adjective
    nosologist /nɒˈsɒlədʒɪst / ▸ noun
    — Oxford English Dictionary 

    Four

    What is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as the ‘science or technique of dating events, environmental change, and archaeological artefacts by using the characteristic patterns of annual growth rings in timber and tree trunks’?

    Answer: Dendrochronology.

    Dendrochronology, or tree-ring dating, is the scientific method of dating tree rings to the exact year they formed. Because trees produce one growth ring per year, the technique can precisely determine the age of wood and the timing of environmental changes, particularly past climate conditions. It is widely used in archaeology, art history, architecture, and to calibrate radiocarbon dating. Continuous tree-ring records in some regions extend back nearly 14,000 years, while newer isotope-based methods can date samples unsuitable for traditional ring analysis.

    Five

    Selenology is the scientific study of what?

    Answer: The moon.

    Selenology is derived from the Greek words Selēnē, meaning “Moon”, and –logia, meaning ‘the study of’ or ‘discourse concerning’. Literally, selenology means ‘the study of the Moon’. Selene was the ancient Greek goddess of the Moon, and her name became the root for several lunar-related scientific terms, including selenography (mapping or describing the Moon’s surface) and selenophysics (the physical study of the Moon). The term selenology came into scientific use in the 19th century, when lunar observation and mapping were becoming increasingly systematic. Today it refers to the branch of planetary science that studies the Moon’s geology, surface features, internal structure, origin, and evolution.

  • Ologies II

    Tree Cookie.
    A cross-section of a Coast Douglas-fir tree.
    Royal Ontario Museum, Canada.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are further study of Ologies.

    One

    What is defined as ‘the study of the mechanics of body movements’ (Oxford English Dictionary)?

    Two

    What does an ichthyologist study?

    Three

    Nosology is the scientific study of which of these?

    • Diseases
    • Nasal biology
    • Negativity

    Four

    What is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as the ‘science or technique of dating events, environmental change, and archaeological artefacts by using the characteristic patterns of annual growth rings in timber and tree trunks’?

    Five

    Selenology is the scientific study of what?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Gallimaufry XIII — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    United Nations Building, New York City.
    See question five.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Five unassociated questions.

    One

    Travelling west along the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) from its western terminus, how many provincial and territorial capitals do you pass through, and what, in geographical order, are their names along with their respective province or territory?

    Answers: Six; Victoria, British Columbia; Regina, Saskatchewan; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Québec City, Quebec; Fredericton, New Brunswick; St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

    The Trans-Canada Highway is a transcontinental highway system spanning all ten Canadian provinces, with its main route covering 7,821 kilometres from Victoria, British Columbia, to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Construction began in 1950, the highway officially opened in 1962, and the final section was completed in 1971. The entire system, including routes such as the Yellowhead Highway, totals about 12,800 kilometres. Design standards vary along its length, although most sections remain two-lane, undivided highways. The longest continuous divided section extends for about 1,500 kilometres from the Rocky Mountains to the Manitoba–Ontario border. Although the network does not extend into Canada’s three territories or to the U.S. border, it forms part of the National Highway System. In addition to passing through six provincial capitals, the Trans-Canada Highway also serves Canada’s national capital, Ottawa.

    Two

    A fictitious error deliberately placed in a reference work is a what?

    • Ballicatter
    • Frauendienst
    • Mountweazel

    Answer: Mountweazel.

    A fictitious entry is a deliberate error in reference works used as a copyright trap. Types include Mountweazel, trap street, and paper town. Henry Alford coined “Mountweazel” after a fake entry in the 1975 New Columbia Encyclopaedia. These entries are also known as nihilartikel.

    Three

    The title of a 2017, single by Drake shares its name with a fruit, the flower of which is shown above. What was the title of the single?

    Answer: Passionfruit.

    Passionfruit by Drake, featuring Zoë Kravitz, is a tropical house, R&B, pop, and dancehall song from his 2017 mixtape More Life. It peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the Canadian Hot 100.

    Four

    Three questions based the standard UK and US editions of monopoly. 

    • What on the UK edition is the equivalent of the American Marvin Gardens?
    • The British Leicester Square is the equivalent of what on the American edition?
    • What colour are these properties on both the British and American versions?

    Answers

    • Piccadilly
    • Atlantic Avenue
    • Yellow

    Monopoly, derived from Lizzie Magie’s 1903 game, involves moving tokens to buy properties and bankrupt opponents. Parker Brothers published it in 1935; Hasbro acquired it in 1991. It has sold 275 million copies across 113 countries.

    Five

    In this post, No. 3 was appointed on 30 November 1962. The first, Gladwyn Jebb, serving in an ‘acting’ capacity and therefore unnumbered, held the post for 101 days in 1945/46. Nos. 1 and 2 were Scandinavian, while No. 3 was the first non-European. What is this post, who was No. 3, and what was his nationality?

    Answers: Secretary-General of the United Nations; U Thant and Burmese.

    The secretary-general of the United Nations oversees the Secretariat under Chapter XV of the Charter, appointed by the General Assembly after a Security Council recommendation, with any permanent member able to veto. Precedent excludes permanent members’ citizens, favours regional rotation and gender equality, and all appointees are career diplomats. Since 1971, five-year terms are standard, with reselection common. The secretary-general’s duties include advocacy, diplomacy, and civil service, with informal powers for dispute prevention.

  • Gallimaufry XIII

    United Nations Building, New York City.
    See question five.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Five unassociated questions.

    One

    Travelling west along the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) from its western terminus, how many provincial and territorial capitals do you pass through, and what, in geographical order, are their names along with their respective province or territory?

    Two

    A fictitious error deliberately placed in a reference work is a what?

    • Ballicatter
    • Frauendienst
    • Mountweazel

    Three

    The title of a 2017, single by Drake shares its name with a fruit, the flower of which is shown above. What was the title of the single?

    Four

    Three questions based the standard UK and US editions of monopoly. 

    • What on the UK edition is the equivalent of the American Marvin Gardens?
    • The British Leicester Square is the equivalent of what on the American edition?
    • What colour are these properties on both the British and American versions?

    Five

    In this post, No. 3 was appointed on 30 November 1962. The first, Gladwyn Jebb, serving in an ‘acting’ capacity and therefore unnumbered, held the post for 101 days in 1945/46. Nos. 1 and 2 were Scandinavian, while No. 3 was the first non-European. What is this post, who was No. 3, and what was his nationality?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • In olden days a glimpse of stocking / Was looked on as something shocking — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Flag of Côte d’Ivoire/Ivory Coast.
    See question three.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of these questions relate to today’s date, 7 August.

    One

    In what sport could a ‘Salchow’ be performed?

    Answer: Ice skating.

    Swedish skater Ulrich Salchow, born 7 August 1877. The salchow, named the Salchow, an edge jump, after him. It is the easiest figure skating jump. It involves taking off from the back inside edge of one skate, completing one or more full turns, and landing on the back outside edge of the opposite skate. American skater Theresa Weld was reprimanded at the 1920 Olympics for performing a single Salchow jump because her skirt would fly up to her knees, creating an image deemed too risqué.

    Two

    The six-month-long Battle of Guadalcanal, which began on 7 August 1942, unfolded in which country?

    Answer: Solomon Islands.

    Guadalcanal Island, the largest island in the Solomon Islands, is situated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The Battle of Guadalcanal, occurring from August 1942 to February 1943, involved a series of World War II land and sea engagements between Allied and Japanese forces on and around Guadalcanal, one of the southern Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. Alongside the naval Battle of Midway, the combat on Guadalcanal signified a turning point in favour of the Allies in the Pacific War.

    Three

    In 1960, the country represented by the flag shown above gained independence from France. What country is it?

    Answer: Côte d’Ivoire/Ivory Coast.

    Côte d’Ivoire, located on the western coast of Africa, was previously a French colony. Abidjan functions as the de facto capital, while Yamoussoukro has been the administrative capital since 1983. Known as Ivory Coast, this West African nation is the leading cocoa exporter globally and has seen substantial economic growth since 2011. Nonetheless, 46.1% of its population remains in poverty. The economy is predominantly dependent on agriculture, especially smallholder cash-crop production.

    Four

    How many persons were onboard Thor Heyerdahl’s balsa wood raft, Kon-Tiki when it reached Raroia in the Tuamotu Islands after sailing 4,300 mile (7,000 km) in 101-days?

    Answer: Six.

    The Kon-Tiki expedition in 1947, led by Thor Heyerdahl, was a raft journey from South America to Polynesia. Named after the Inca god Viracocha, it inspired Heyerdahl’s book and a 1950 Oscar-winning documentary. A 2012 dramatised film was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film.

    Five

    In 1926, in motor racing the first British Grand Prix was held. Where was the race held? 

    Answer: Brooklands.

    Built in 1907 near Weybridge, Surrey, Brooklands was the first purpose-built motor racing venue and one of the UK’s first airfields. The British Grand Prix debuted there on 7 August 1926, won by Robert Sénéchal and Louis Wagner. The second race, on 1 October 1927, was also held there.

    Bonus Question

    The post title is two lines taken from a popular song, what song?

    In olden days a glimpse of stocking 
    Was looked on as something shocking

    It is part of the lyrics from Anything Goes from the Cole Porter musical of the same name. It is used here only as an oblique remark about Ms Weld’s risqué performance; see answer one.

    Anything Goes

    By Cole Porter

    [RENO]
    Times have changed,
    And we’ve often rewound the clock,
    Since the Puritans got a shock,
    When they landed on Plymouth Rock.
    If today,
    Any shock they should try to stem,
    ‘Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock,
    Plymouth Rock would land on them. 

    In olden days a glimpse of stocking
    Was looked on as something shocking,
    But now, God knows,
    Anything Goes. 

    Good authors too who once knew better words,
    Now only use four letter words
    Writing prose, Anything Goes. 

    The world has gone mad today
    And good’s bad today,
    And black’s white today,
    And day’s night today,
    When most guys today
    That women prize today
    Are just silly gigolos
    And though I’m not a great romancer
    I know that you’re bound to answer
    When I propose,
    Anything goes 

    When grandmama whose age is eighty
    In night clubs is getting matey with gigolo’s,
    Anything Goes. 

    When mothers pack and leave poor father
    Because they decide they’d rather be tennis pros,
    Anything Goes. 

    If driving fast cars you like,
    If low bars you like,
    If old hymns you like,
    If bare limbs you like,
    If Mae West you like
    Or me undressed you like,
    Why, nobody will oppose!
    When every night,
    The set that’s smart
    Is intruding in nudist parties in studios,
    Anything Goes. 

    [RENO, PASSENGERS & CREW]
    The world has gone mad today
    And good’s bad today,
    And black’s white today,
    And day’s night today,
    When most guys today
    That women prize today
    Are just silly gigolos
    And though I’m not a great romancer
    I know that you’re bound to answer
    When I propose,
    Anything goes 

    [RENO]
    If saying your prayers you like,
    If green pears you like
    If old chairs you like,
    If back stairs you like,
    If love affairs you like
    With young bears you like,
    Why nobody will oppose! 

    [ALL]
    And though I’m not a great romancer
    And though I’m not a great romancer
    I know that you’re bound to answer
    When I propose,
    Anything goes…
    Anything goes!
    — All Musicals

  • In olden days a glimpse of stocking / Was looked on as something shocking

    Flag of ?
    See question three.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of these questions relate to today’s date, 7 August.

    One

    In what sport could a ‘Salchow’ be performed?

    Two

    The six-month-long Battle of Guadalcanal, which began on 7 August 1942, unfolded in which country?

    Three

    In 1960, the country represented by the flag shown above gained independence from France. What country is it?

    Four

    How many persons were onboard Thor Heyerdahl’s balsa wood raft, Kon-Tiki when it reached Raroia in the Tuamotu Islands after sailing 4,300 mile (7,000 km) in 101-days?

    Five

    In 1926, in motor racing the first British Grand Prix was held. Where was the race held? 

    Bonus Question

    The post title is two lines taken from a popular song, what song?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.