Quizology.Online

A Serious Pursuit of the Trivial

  • Once Upon A Time — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    The Fairy Tale, a painting by James Sant in 1845.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Once upon a time, on today’s date, a wedding which was described as a fairy tale was celebrated. The first question is about that wedding, while the remainder are about opening lines which could be considered modern versions of ‘Once Upon A Time’.

    One

    This actress, who had starred in High Noon in 1952 and won the Best Actress Academy Award for The Country Girl in 1954, retired from acting in 1956 to marry in Europe. Who is she, and who did she marry?

    Answer: Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco.

    Grace Kelly made her film debut in Fourteen Hours (1951) and quickly rose to stardom with roles in High Noon (1952) and Mogambo (1953). Her performance in The Country Girl (1954) earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress. In Monaco on 18 April 1956, she married Prince Rainier III in a civil ceremony, with a second religious ceremony taking place the next day. Now known as Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco, she and her husband had three children. Grace focused on children’s rights and the arts, founding the Princess Grace Foundation and AMADE Mondiale. She died in a car crash in 1982, aged 52. Her son, Prince Albert established the Princess Grace Awards in 1984.

    The remaining questions are about opening words, which could be considered a modern equivalent of ‘Once Upon a Time’.

    Two

    What work of historical fiction published in the mid-nineteenth century opens with the line ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…’, and who wrote it?

    Answers: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

    A Tale of Two Cities, published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, is a historical novel set in London and Paris during the French Revolution. It follows Doctor Manette’s 18-year imprisonment in the Bastille and his reunion with his daughter Lucie in London. The novel explores the conditions leading to the Revolution and the Reign of Terror. Renowned as Dickens’s best-known historical fiction, it ranks 63rd on the BBC’s The Big Read poll and has inspired numerous adaptations.

    Three

    This Lego product, which debuted in 2001 in an online game, has appeared in comics, books, movies, and animations where it is associated with the opening words ‘In the time before time …’. What product is this?

    Answer: Bionicle.

    Bionicle, a discontinued Lego line launched in 2001, featured biomechanical heroes called Toa. The theme, which included books, comics, games and films, was a major success and influenced later Lego themes.

    Four

    In the Star Wars universe what ten words open the nine ‘Skywalker saga’ films?

    Answer: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

    Each Star Wars film, from the original episodes IV, V, and VI; the prequels, I, II, and III; and the sequels, VII, VIII, and XI, opens with the same text, logo, episode number, subtitle, and a three-paragraph summary beginning with ‘A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…’

    Five

    In music, which 1971 chart-topper begins with the phrase ‘A long, long time ago…’, and what singer-songwriter wrote and recorded it?

    Answer: American Pie by Don McLean.

    American Pie by Don McLean, released in 1971, became a number-one hit in the US in 1972 and topped charts in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. It reached number 2 in the UK. The song, at 8 minutes and 42 seconds, was the longest to reach number one until 2021. Its lyrics, including the phrase ‘the day the music died’, reflect cultural changes and loss of innocence after the 1959 plane crash in which Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper all died. McLean’s original recording was preserved in the US National Recording Registry in 2017. He celebrated its 50th anniversary with a 2022 European tour.

  • Once Upon A Time

    The Fairy Tale, a painting by James Sant in 1845.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Once upon a time, on today’s date, a wedding which was described as a fairy tale was celebrated. The first question is about that wedding, while the remainder are about opening lines which could be considered modern versions of ‘Once Upon A Time’.

    One

    This actress, who had starred in High Noon in 1952 and won the Best Actress Academy Award for The Country Girl in 1954, retired from acting in 1956 to marry in Europe. Who is she, and who did she marry?

    The remaining questions are about opening words, which could be considered a modern equivalent of ‘Once Upon a Time’.

    Two

    What work of historical fiction published in the mid-nineteenth century opens with the line ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…’, and who wrote it?

    Three

    This Lego product, which debuted in 2001 in an online game, has appeared in comics, books, movies, and animations where it is associated with the opening words ‘In the time before time …’. What product is this?

    Four

    In the Star Wars universe what ten words open the nine ‘Skywalker saga’ films?

    Five

    In music, which 1971 chart-topper begins with the phrase ‘A long, long time ago…’, and what singer-songwriter wrote and recorded it?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Double Trouble — Answers

    Here are the answers for today’s questions.

    The first question today relates to the date, April 17th. The rest follows a theme but I’m not going to say what that theme is. 

    Martin Luther appearing before Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, at the Diet of Worms.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    On 17 April 1521, Martin Luther made his initial appearance at the Diet of Worms which eventually found him to be a heretic and enemy of the state. In what modern country is Worms?

    Answer: Germany.

    Martin Luther, a German priest and theologian, was a key figure in the Protestant Reformation. He challenged the Catholic Church’s teachings, particularly on indulgences and papal authority, and translated the Bible into German, making it more accessible to ordinary people. Luther’s beliefs, emphasising justification by faith alone and the authority of the Bible, laid the foundation for Lutheranism.

    Following on in the theme …

    Two

    Ben Ainslie is the most successful sailor in Olympic history. In what two classes did he win his four gold and one silver medal?

    Answer: Laser and Finn.

    Sir Charles Benedict Ainslie is a British competitive sailor and the most successful Olympian in sailing history. He is CEO of Athena Sports Group and a Patron of the 1851 Trust which supports young people in sailing and STEM education. 

    Three

    List the stages of a butterfly’s life cycle?

    Answer: Eggs, caterpillar larva, pupa and adult (or butterfly).

    Butterflies undergo complete metamorphosis through a four-stage life cycle like other holometabolous insects.  Winged adults lay eggs on plant leaves where their caterpillars, or larvae, will feed.  These caterpillars grow rapidly and eventually pupate in a chrysalis.  Once metamorphosis is complete the pupal skin splits revealing the adult butterfly which then climbs out, dries its wings and flies away.

    Four

    Name the planets in the solar system?

    Answer: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

    The Solar System, formed 4.6 billion years ago, consists of the Sun and orbiting bodies, including eight planets. The Sun, comprising 99.86% of the system’s mass, fuses hydrogen into helium, creating the heliosphere. The system also includes dwarf planets, small bodies like asteroids and comets, and natural satellites, or moons.

    Five

    Can you name the states between Louisiana and Ohio in an alphabetical list of US states?

    Answer: Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina and North Dakota.

    Sixteen states, eight with names starting with M and, eight with N.

    Double Trouble

    Today’s title refers to each question doubling the number of answers. Question one has only one answer which was obvious in the question and then number two asks for two answers. You had to work out that the remaining double each time so four, eight and finally sixteen for question five.

  • Double Trouble

    The first question today relates to the date, April 17th. The rest follows a theme but I’m not going to say what that theme is. 

    Martin Luther appearing before Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, at the Diet of Worms.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    On 17 April 1521, Martin Luther made his initial appearance at the Diet of Worms which eventually found him to be a heretic and enemy of the state. In what modern country is Worms?

    Following on in the theme …

    Two

    Ben Ainslie is the most successful sailor in Olympic history. In what two classes did he win his four gold and one silver medal?

    Three

    List the stages of a butterfly’s life cycle?

    Four

    Name the planets in the solar system?

    Five

    Can you name the states between Louisiana and Ohio in an alphabetical list of US states?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Spreading One’s Wings — Answers

    Here are today’s answers.

    Harriet Quimby, prior to her English Channel flight, 1912.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    The first question today relates to the date, April 16th, with the remainder following the theme created by the first.

    One

    On this day in 1912, American aviator Harriet Quimby became the first woman to fly across an arm of the Atlantic Ocean from one country to another. What was the body of water she crossed, and what countries did she fly between?

    Answers: English Channel; England to France.

    Harriet Quimby, born in 1875, was an American aviator and the first female pilot to cross the English Channel. Initially a writer and drama critic, she became interested in aviation by 1910 and earned her pilot’s license in 1911. On April 16, 1912, she flew her Blériot monoplane from Dover to Hardelot, achieving international acclaim. Quimby participated in several air meets but tragically died on July 1, 1912, when she lost control over Dorchester Bay.

    The remaining questions continue the aviation theme.

    Two

    The first major aerial combat involving jet fighters took place between US F-86 Sabres and Russian MiG-15s. Which conflict and decade did this occur in?

    Answers: Korean War; 1950s.

    F-86 Sabres, despite being outmatched in some areas, achieved air superiority over MiG-15s in Korea due to superior handling. In 1958, Sabres, flown by Chinese Nationalists, became the first jets to fire guided missiles in combat.

    Three

    What V/STOL aircraft developed in the UK in the 1960s was used by both the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy and later by the US Marine Corps?

    Answer: Harrier.

    The Hawker Siddeley Harrier is a British jet-powered attack aircraft known for its V/STOL capabilities, developed from the Hawker Siddeley Kestrel. First flown in 1967, it entered RAF service in 1969 and was used by the USMC as the AV-8A. Positioned in West Germany during the Cold War, it provided close air support and dispersed forces. The Harrier and Sea Harrier were crucial in the 1982 Falklands War. Later, it evolved into the AV-8B Harrier II and British Aerospace Harrier II.

    Hughes H-4 Hercules Spruce Goose.
    Image 19fortyfive.com

    Four

    Howard Hughes’s H-4 Hercules flying boat, the ‘Spruce Goose’, was made almost entirely of what wood?

    Answer: Birch.

    The Hughes H-4 Hercules, also known as the Spruce Goose (registration NX37602), is a prototype strategic airlift flying boat by Hughes Aircraft Company. Designed for transatlantic transport during World War II, it was completed too late for wartime use. The aircraft made its only flight on November 2, 1947, and the project remained a prototype, never advancing further. Built from birch using the Duramold process due to wartime aluminium restrictions, the aircraft was nicknamed the Spruce Goose despite being mostly birch. Mechanics allegedly called it the Birch Bitch. The Hercules, the largest seaplane ever built, held the record for the largest wingspan until the Stratolaunch flew in 2019. It remains in good condition, displayed in Long Beach from 1980 to 1992, then moved to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in Oregon. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2024.

    Five

    In what decade of the 20th century did Igor Sikorsky fly the prototype of the first mass-produced helicopter?

    Answer: 1930s.

    In 1939 Sikorsky designed and flew the Vought-Sikorsky VS-300, the first viable American helicopter. This pioneering design introduced the single main rotor and single antitorque tail rotor configuration that’s standard in most helicopters today. Sikorsky then modified the VS-300 into the Sikorsky R-4, which became the world’s first mass-produced helicopter in 1942.

  • Spreading One’s Wings

    Harriet Quimby.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    The first question today relates to the date, April 16th, with the remainder following the theme created by the first.

    One

    On this day in 1912, American aviator Harriet Quimby became the first woman to fly across an arm of the Atlantic Ocean from one country to another. What was the body of water she crossed, and what countries did she fly between?

    The remaining questions continue the aviation theme.

    Two

    The first major aerial combat involving jet fighters took place between US F-86 Sabres and Russian MiG-15s. Which conflict and decade did this occur in?

    Three

    What V/STOL aircraft developed in the UK in the 1960s was used by both the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy and later by the US Marine Corps?

    Hughes H-4 Hercules Spruce Goose.
    Image 19fortyfive.com

    Four

    Howard Hughes’s H-4 Hercules flying boat, the ‘Spruce Goose’, was made almost entirely of what wood?

    Five

    In what decade of the 20th century did Igor Sikorsky fly the prototype of the first mass-produced helicopter?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Annus Horribilis — Answers

    Today’s answers are shown below.

    The first two questions today relate to this date, April 15th. The remainder follow in the same unfortunate theme.

    Notre-Dame de Paris, 2019.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In 2019, the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris was very badly damaged by fire. On what island is the cathedral located?

    Answer: Île de la Cité.

    Notre-Dame de Paris, a medieval Catholic cathedral on Île de la Cité, in the River Seine, exemplifies French Gothic architecture with its rib vaults, flying buttresses, and rose windows. Construction began in 1163, completed by 1260, and it underwent restorations, notably after Victor Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame inspired interest. Damaged in a 2019 fire, it reopened in 2024. A symbol of Paris, it was a minor basilica since 1805 and attracts 12 million visitors annually. Owned by the French government, it houses significant relics.

    Two

    On this day, the RMS Titanic sank two hours and forty minutes after hitting an iceberg. During her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York, USA, which two ports did she visit?

    Answer: Cherbourg, France, and Queenstown, Ireland (now Cobh).

    The RMS Titanic sank on 15 April 1912 after hitting an iceberg on 14 April, during her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. With over 2,200 on board, up to 1,635 died, making it a deadly maritime disaster. Despite seven ice warnings, Titanic travelled at 22 knots. Her inadequate lifeboat system left many without refuge. RMS Carpathia rescued 710 survivors. The tragedy led to global outrage and the 1914 SOLAS convention for maritime safety.

    Three

    What event prompted the opening of parts of Buckingham Palace to the public for paid tours?

    Answer: Windsor Castle fire (1992).

    On 20 November 1992, a major fire broke out in Windsor Castle, affecting over 100 rooms, including St George’s Hall and the Grand Reception Room. Over 200 firefighters controlled the blaze after 15 hours. While much of the Royal Collection was saved, some significant works were lost. The fire led to public debate on royal funding, prompting Queen Elizabeth II to pay income tax. Restoration, completed in 1997, cost £36.5 million and was led by Donald Insall Associates. The fire occurred during what the Queen later described as her annus horribilis.

    Four

    In 1626, 20,000 people died when a factory in Wanggongchang, China exploded destroying part of the city. What was the factory manufacturing?

    Answer: Gunpowder.

    The Wanggongchang Explosion occurred on May 30, 1626, in Beijing, killing around 20,000 people. Located 3 km southwest of the Forbidden City, it was a major gunpowder production centre. The cause remains uncertain, but it was a key storage facility for the Shenjiying defending the capital.

    Five

    During what 1979 yachting race, with a course of 605 miles, did a storm in the Celtic Sea cause 21 fatalities?

    Answer: Fastnet Race.

    The 1979 Fastnet Race, the 28th edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s event, was a 605-nautical-mile course from Cowes to Fastnet Rock and Plymouth, marking the Admiral’s Cup climax. A severe windstorm on the third day caused chaos, resulting in 21 fatalities—15 yachtsmen and 6 spectators—on 14 August in the Celtic Sea. The largest peace-time rescue operation involved 4,000 people, including the Irish Naval Service, lifeboats, commercial boats, and helicopters.

    Annus Horribilis

    The post title is related to how Queen Elizabeth II referred to 1992. Not only was Windsor Castle the scene of a large fire but she also had the domestic problems of three of her children to contend with and said

    1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an annus horribilis.

    — Elizabeth II

  • Annus Horribilis

    The first two questions today relate to this date, April 15th. The remainder follow a familiar, unfortunate theme.

    Notre-Dame de Paris, 2019.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In 2019, the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris was very badly damaged by fire. On what island is the cathedral located?

    Two

    On this day, the RMS Titanic sank two hours and forty minutes after hitting an iceberg. During her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York, USA, which two ports did she visit?

    Three

    What event prompted the opening of parts of Buckingham Palace to the public for paid tours?

    Four

    In 1626, 20,000 people died when a factory in Wanggongchang, China exploded destroying part of the city. What was the factory manufacturing?

    Five

    During what 1979 yachting race, with a course of 605 miles, did a storm in the Celtic Sea cause 21 fatalities?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Aquarius — Answers

    Here are the answers to the earlier questions.

    The Picnic (1846) by Thomas Cole. See questions five.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s first question is related to the date, April 14th, and the answer is an acronym. The following questions are not date-related but are all in a similar abbreviated vein, be they acronyms, initialisms, or abbreviations.

    One

    Juice is an European Space Agency spacecraft launched in April 2023 to study Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa for potential habitability. What four words does Juice represent?

    Answer: Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer.

    Juice was originally JUICE, a complicated acronym for JUpiter ICy moons Explorer. ESA has since simplified the name to Juice, the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer. (The Planetary Society). Juice was launched in April 2023 to study Jupiter’s icy moons Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa for potential habitability. It will reach Jupiter in July 2031 and enter orbit around Ganymede in December 2034.

    The remaining questions while not date-related continue the same abbreviated theme.

    Two

    Soweto, an urban complex in Gauteng province, South Africa, has a name that was derived from what? 

    Answer: South-Western Townships.

    Soweto, the largest Black urban complex in South Africa, originated from shantytowns and slums. It became notable for the 1976 Soweto Rebellion, a protest against Afrikaans in schools. Initially designated for Black residents by the apartheid government, Soweto is in Gauteng province, bordering Johannesburg. The name is formed from SOuth-WEstern TOwnships. Post-apartheid, municipal services were decentralised, dividing Soweto between two Greater Johannesburg regions, highlighting its historical and socio-political importance.

    Three

    What does the acronym NATO stand for, and in what decade was it founded? 

    Answer: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; 1940s.

    NATO, founded in 1949 to counter Soviet threats, evolved into a cooperative-security entity with 32 members, focusing on collective defence under Article 5. First invoked after the 9/11 attacks, it expanded by 16 members, including former Warsaw Pact states. Relations with Russia deteriorated post-Crimea and Ukraine invasion, leading to Finland and Sweden’s membership. NATO intervened in conflicts like Bosnia and Afghanistan, with headquarters in Brussels. Members pledge 5% GDP to defence, ensuring readiness.

    Four

    Doctor Who flits about the universe in all its dimensions in the TARDIS. What six words does this name represent?

    Answer: Time And Relative Dimensions In Space.

    The TARDIS — Time And Relative Dimensions In Space — a fictional time machine and spacecraft from the British sci-fi series Doctor Who, debuted in 1963. It typically resembles a police box, a British telephone kiosk from the 1940s and 50s, and is “bigger on the inside.” The police box shape is now more linked to the TARDIS than its original purpose. The TARDIS’s name and design are BBC trademarks, though initially created by the Metropolitan Police Service.

    Five

    In computing, especially in customer support, what six words does the error PICNIC translate to?

    Answer: Problem in chair not in computer.

    Some User Errors are … 

    • PICNIC ‘Problem in chair, not in computer’
    • PEBMAC: ‘Problem exists between monitor and chair’
    • IBM Error ‘Idiot in machine error’

    Aquarius

    The post title is itself an acronym, albeit a rather convoluted one:
    Abbreviations Quiz: Users Adroitness Regarding Initialisms Under Scrutiny.

  • Aquarius

    The Picnic (1846) by Thomas Cole. See questions five.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s first question is related to the date, April 14th, and the answer is an acronym. The following questions are not date-related but are all in a similar abbreviated vein, be they acronyms, initialisms, or abbreviations.

    One

    Juice is an European Space Agency spacecraft launched in April 2023 to study Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa for potential habitability. What four words does Juice represent?

    The remaining questions while not date-related continue the same abbreviated theme.

    Two

    Soweto, an urban complex in Gauteng province, South Africa, has a name that was derived from what? 

    Three

    What does the acronym NATO stand for, and in what decade was it founded? 

    Four

    Doctor Who flits about the universe in all its dimensions in the TARDIS. What six words does this name represent?

    Five

    In computing, especially in customer support, what six words does the error PICNIC translate to?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.