The Daily Teaser and the Friday Question Set — 16-12-2011

You know, I’ve GOT to admit — and that’s becoming a bit of a catchphrase, I know — I think I’ve just pulled off an achievement.

Well …

A very MINOR achievement, I should add, here.

You’ve probably noticed it’s Friday, haven’t you … ?

And you’ve probably ALSO worked out that I hand out a free set of quiz questions, on a Friday: I used to run pub quizzes, and know how tricky it is, finding questions sets. At least without paying through the nose for them.

Well, I’ve managed to finish off this years Christmas quiz.

Putting those links in is always a chore … !

Let’s move on, shall we … ?

‹‹•››

Yes, let’s …

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi — I really don’t where she gets the energy! — putting her answers: and, on top of trying out her Esperanto, also bagging 7 out of 7.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video …

Q1) 16th December, 1497, saw Vasco Da Gama round the Cape of Good Hope: on which continent is the Cape of Good Hope?

Q2) 16th December, 1984, saw Mikhail Gorbachev make a successful visit to the UK: who was Soviet Russian leader, at the time … ?

Q3) 16th December is a Bollywood film about the (fictional) nuclear bombing of whichIndian city: New Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata … ?

Q4) 16th December, 1969, saw the UK’s Parliament vote in favour of abolishing the death sentence for murder: in which year did the UK stop the death sentence for Treason … ?

Q5) And finally … 16th December, 1773, is the date of the Boston Tea Party: the revolutionaries who carried this out were disguised as what … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 15th December, 2009, saw the maiden flight of the 787 Dreamliner: which company built it?

A1) Boeing.

Q2) More to the point, which US state did that flight take place in … ?

A2) Washington.

Q3) 15th December, 1973, saw the American Psychiatric Association remove what from their list of psychiatric disorders?

A3) Homosexuality.

Q4) 15th December, 1859, saw the birth of linguist, Ludwig Lazarus Zamenhof: which constructed language did he famously invent … ?

A4) Esperanto.

Q5) More to the point, how does one say Hello, in that language … ?

A5) Saluton.

Q6) 15th December, 2010 saw the death of American director, Blake Edwards: what was the name of the second Pink Panther film … ?

A6) A Shot In The Dark.

Q7) And finally … 15th December, 1982, saw Spain open its borders with where … ?

A7) Gibraltar.

And here — Friday, remember? — is the Christmas-themed, Friday question set for struggling pub quiz-masters: covered, as ever, by the same license as usual.

ROUND ONE: GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.

Q1) In which decade of the 19th century, were electric lights first used on Christmas trees?

A1) The 1890’s

Q2) Christmas takes place in December of each year. Which Jewish festival also takes place around then?

Q2) Hanukkah.

Q3) Which pagan festival occurs at the same time of year as Christmas?

A3) Yule.

Q4) The name of which Israeli town translates as ‘House of Bread?’

A4) Bethlehem.

Q5) Which horse gave his backers a surprise early Christmas, at the 1964 Epsom Derby?

A5) Santa Clause.

Q6) On average, how many Christmas trees are grown annually, in the UK?

A6) 70 million.

Q7) What does the Queen traditionally do, after Christmas dinner?

A7) Watch herself on TV. (She does it to review he performance)

Q8) In 1978, when the Star of Bethlehem was reportedly seen over the Vatican, the Italian government sent up what?

A8) Fighter planes.

Q9) What, in meteorology, is ‘…the Christmas Child’?

A9) El Ninõ.

Q10) What type of Egg was once described as ‘…the world’s most expensive Christmas Present’?

A10) A Faberge Egg.

ROUND TWO: AT THE YULETIDE MOVIES

Q11) Which Xmas movies sees Tom Hanks playing six different characters?

A11) The Polar Express.

Q12) What’s the name of Aardman Animation’s 2011 Christmas film … ?

A12) Arthur Christmas.

Q13) What was the name of the 1984 Christmas themed slasher film, that generated 4 sequels?

A13) Silent Night, Deadly Night.

Q14) Which 1964 science fiction clunker regularly crops up on 100 Worst Movie-lists … ?

A14) Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

Q15) What was the name of the (rather unsuccessful) 1994 Christmas film that sees Steve Martin playing the man in charge of a phone help-line: Roasted Chestnuts, Mixed Nuts or Santa’s Little Helpers?

A15) Mixed Nuts.

Q16) In A Muppet Christmas Carol, Kermit and Miss Piggy’s family are either piglets or froglets: which ones are the girls?

A16) The piglets.

Q17) More to the point: who played Scrooge, in that film … ?

A17) Michael Caine.

Q18) Joyeux Noël is a 2005 film about the famed Christmas truce, during which war … ?

A18) World War 1.

Q19) 2003 Christmas film, Blizzard, sees an aunt telling her niece a story about an ice-skater: which Star Trek: The Next Generation star directed it … ?

A19) LeVar Burton: otherwise known as Geordie LaForge: and ALSO remembered as Kunté Kinte, in the series, Roots.

Q20) Gift Wrapped is a 1952 short, about the Christmas aventures of which two Looney Tunes animals?

A20) Sylvester and Tweety Pie.

ROUND THREE: CHRISTMAS STUFFING

Q21) Damper has been served for many years: but as a Christmas dish in which country … ?

A21) Australia.

Q22) Rutabaga — or Swede, as it’s called in the UK — casserole is a popular christmas dish in which European country … ?

A22) Finland. (Nina tells the the Finnish name for the dish is LANTTULAATIKKO: which could well be a bonus point, it yo‘re feeling REALLY nasty …)

Q23) Curried goat — as well as Christmas ham — are popular Christmas dishes on which Caribbean island?

A23) Jamaica.

Q24) If you were eating Pigs in a Blanket, what are you eating … ?

A24) Sausages wrapped in bacon.

Q25) More to the point … where?

A25) The UK.

Q26) Name any of the traditional Thirteen Desserts common at Christmas time, in the Provence region of France.

A26) walnut, quince cheese, almond, raisin, casse-dents of Allauch (biscuit), calisson of Aix-en-Provence, nougat blank, nougat noir au mile, apple, pear, orange, winter melon and fougasse..

Q27) Lutefisk — fish that’s been preserved with Lye, of all things — is popular in Finland, Sweden … and where else … ?

A27) Norway. (And in the US.)

Q28) In which US state is Dungeness Crab a popular Christmas dish … ?

A28) California. (The crab is ALSO the State Crustcean of Oregon.)

Q29) Telera — popular in the Dominican Republic, this time of year — has its origins in which Central American country … ?

A29) Mexico.

Q30) In which European country is the Gourmet the usual form of christmas dinner … ?

A30) The Netherlands.

ROUND FOUR: DING DONG, CHRISTMAS SONGS!

Q31) Ring Out solstice Bells was a Christmas hit for which prog rock band?

A31) Jethro Tull.

Q32) What was George Harrison’s only Christmas song called?

A32) Ding Dong Ding Dong”.

Q33) John Lennon and Yoko Ono had a Christmas hit, in 1972: with what song?

A33) Happy Christmas (War is Over.)

Q34) Which Welsh rocker had a Christmas hit with Merry Xmas, Everyone?

A34) Shakin’ Stevens.

Q35) It’ll be Lonely This Christmas was a hit for Elvis Presley, and which glam rock band?

A35) Mud.

Q36) In which year of the 1980s did The Pretenders have a Christmas hit with 2000 Miles?

A36) 1983.

Q37) What’s the only Xmas hit to contain the line “…you cheap lousy faggot”?

A37) A Fairytale of New York, by the Pogues & Kirsty McColl. (1987)

Q38) When did Wizzard last have a hit with I Wish It Could Be Xmas Everyday?

A38) 1984.

Q39) In what year was I’m Dreaming of A White Christmas first released?

A39) 1942.

Q40) Which Soul great died on Christmas Day, 2006?

A40) James Brown.

ROUND FIVE: JINGLING ALL THE WAY.

Q41) Microsoft cut the price of which of their products, in 2008?

A41) The Xbox 360.

Q42) True or false: In Snakes and Ladders, Snakes go up, and Ladders go Down.

A42) False, it’s the other way round.

Q43) The Pokemon computer games are made by which company?

A43) Nintendo.

Q44) What toy was invented by Danish brothers, Olé & Godtfred Christiansen?

A44) Lego.

Q45) The world’s oldest toyshop is in Regent’s Street, in London; what’s it called?

A45) Hamleys.

Q46) Where does a Steiff Teddy Bear have its label of authenticity?

A46) In its ear.

Q47) What children’s toy was invented in 1900 by Frank Hornby?

A47) Meccano.

Q48) What name is given to the small discs used in a game of Tiddlywinks?

A48) Winks.

Q49) TSR Ltd found fame producing which game?

A49) Dungeons & Dragons.

Q50) What type of game is known by the initials, ‘RPG’?

A50) A role–playing game.

ROUND SIX: GENERAL IGNORANCE.

Q51) Gaja Kristnako means Happy Christmas in which language

A51) Esperanto.

Q52) Until the Second World War, St. Nick has only one helper. When the Netherlands was liberated in 1945, the liberators reinstated Sinterklaas for the sake of local children. Unaware of tradition, these liberators thought that if one helper was fun, several helpers would be even better, hence we now think of little helpers rather than a helper. Who were the liberators?

A52) The Canadians.

Q53) In which year’s Queens Speech, did Queen Elizabeth II refer to having an Anus Horribilis?

A53) 1992.

Q54) In North America, which organisation is always the first to spot that Santa is underway?

A54) NORAD: or North American Radar And Defense, if you’re feeling picky.

Q55) In which country were Christmas trees banned from the early 1920s until 1935?

A55) Soviet Union.

Q56) Which Christmas figure wore green in Victorian Britain?

A56) Father Christmas.

Q57) What kind of water is added to high quality marzipan?

A57) Rose Water.

Q58) Which European country have Christmas parties been cancelled due to the 2008 Credit Crunch?

A58) Croatia.

Q59) What kind of net, found on many a Christmas tree in the Ukraine, is supposed to bring good luck?

A59) A spiders web.

Q60) In The Christmas Song — Chestnuts roasting on an open fire … ), what are the “folks dressed up like”?

A60) Eskimos.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later.

After I’ve gently suggested you check out a chap on Jamendo, called Alexander Blu.

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