The Friday Question Set — 10-8-2012

Hmmm … 

I have to admit, I’ve got — quietly, in the background — the 70s era BBC version of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

And I tell you what.

It actually looks a lot less seedy the movie version … !

But still just as rivetting: and with the added bonus of quite a few big names, Sir Alec, and Sir Ian, not least … !

And one of those few times when I can recommend both the film and TV versions of a novel to you: as being EQUALLY worth your time.

⌘⌘⌘

At ANY rate, that’s not quite the thing I was going do with this post.

Of course not.

After all, it IS Friday: and that, of course mean’s it’s time for the Friday Question Set … !

Here’s those questions, along with the usual License …

Online 163.

ROUND ONE.   GENERAL KNOWLEDGE. 

Q1) Which BBC soap opera was first broadcast on 19 February 1985?   

A1) EastEnders.

Q2) What kind of marine creature is a spotted wobbegong?   

Q2) A shark.

Q3) In cockney rhyming slang, what is a ‘country cousin’?   

A3) A dozen.

Q4) According to the Bible, how old was Noah when he died?   

A4) 950

Q5) Which of Tchaikovsky’s symphonies is known as the Pathetique: the 6th, 7th, or 8th?   

A5) Symphony No. 6.

Q6) In which castle was Edward II murdered: Leeds Castle, Berkeley Castle or Glamis Castle?   

A6) Berkeley Castle.

Q7) In cookery, what does the term al forno mean?   

A7) From the oven.

Q8) Who was the Greek hero who fell in love with his own reflection?   

A8) Narcissus.

Q9) Upon which newspaper magnate’s life was the film Citizen Kane loosely based?   

A9) William Randolph Hearst.

Q10) What do you call a curve formed by cutting a circular cone with a plane parallel to the sloping side of the cone?   

A10) A parabola.

ROUND TWO.   FOOD AND DRINK.   

Q11) A Batavia is a variety of what leafy green vegetable?   

A11) Lettuce.

Q12) Rennet is used to make cheese – but is obtained from the young of which animal is it obtained from?   (Bonus point for what part of the animal.)   

A12) Cow. (Their stomachs)

 Q13) Which fast food chain opened its first UK outlet, in 1954: Wimpy, McDonalds or Taco Bell?   

A13) Wimpy.

Q14) The Chinese name for which implements translates as Lively fellows?   

A14) Chopsticks.

Q15) White beet is used to make which foodstuff: sugar, salt, or starch?   

A15) Sugar.

Q16) Finings are made from fish: what type of beer are they an ingredient of?   

A16) Real Ale.

Q17) Fortified wines, like Sherry, have got added what: alcohol, sugar, or anti-freeze?   

A17) Alcohol.

Q18) Ham comes from what, the hind legs, front legs or rump of a pig?   

A18) The hind legs.

Q19) What is basmati?   

A19) Rice.

Q20) What type of meat is brisket?   

A20) Beef.

ROUND THREE.   AROUND EUROPE.   

Q21) Name any of the three Baltic states.   (Two points for both.)   

A21) Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

Q22) The River Douro reaches the Atlantic Ocean: but in which West European country?   

A22) Portugal.

Q23) In which German forest does the River Danube start?   

A23) The Black Forest.

Q24) On which Mediterranean island were the Mafia founded?   

A24) Sicily.

Q25) Which Northern city is the UK’s chief Atlantic port?   

A25) Liverpool.

Q26) The French town of Limorges is famous for what?   

A26) Porcelain.

Q27) Monasgasque is spoken where?   

A27) Monaco.

Q28) The Cortés is the parliament of which European country?   

A28) Spain.

Q29) Which republic lies between Poland, and Hungary?   

A29) The Czech Republic.

Q30) How many Benelux countries are there?   

A30) 3.   Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

ROUND FOUR.   HOBBIES AND LEISURE.   

Q31) How many skittles do you have to knock down, in a game of skittles?   

A31) Nine.

Q32) Which Cluedo weapon is nearest the start of the alphabet?   

A32) The Candlestick.

Q33) If you were making a leaf rib, or a banjo cable, what hobby would you be pursuing?   

A33) Knitting.

Q34) In poker, what hand ranks higher, a flush or a straight?   

A34) A flush.

Q35) In baccarat, what is the value of the ace?   

A35) One.

Q36) A numismatist collects coins, and what else?   

A36) Medals.

Q37) Brass rubbing usually takes place in what sort of building?   

A37) A church.

Q38) Which board game involves collecting coloured wedges?   

A38) Trivial Pursuits.

Q39) Which pier is to the north of Blackpool’s Central Pier?   

A39) North Pier.

Q40) In the game referred to as D & D, what does the first D stand for?   

A40) Dungeons.

ROUND FIVE.   SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND NATURE.   

Q41) What metal has the atomic number 50, and the chemical symbol, Sn?   

A41) Tin.

Q42) The Devil’s Dogs are an African nickname for which animal?   

A42) The Hyena.

Q43) What name is given to the drinkable form of alcohol, Ethanol, or Methanol?   

A43) Ethanol.  (Also called ethyl alcohol.)

Q44) What metal is usually used to make light bulb filaments Tungsten, Aluminium, or Iron?   

A44) Tungsten.

Q45) What imperial weight is equal to 1016.5 kilograms?   

A45) An imperial ton.

Q46) What’s the other name for the sternum?   

A46) The breastbone.

Q47) Light amplified by stimulated emission of radiation is also known as what?  

A47) A laser beam.

Q48) What is the usual colour of laburnum flowers?   

A48) Yellow.

Q49) Bill Tainton was the first man to do what: appear on TV, climb Ben Nevis or make a cd recording?   

A49) Appear on TV.  (He got 2 shillings & 6d, to sit in front of John Logie Baird’s first TV camera.)

Q50) In feet and inches, how deep is a fathom?   

A50) 6 foot.  (Or 1.82 metres.)

ROUND SIX.   GENERAL IGNORANCE.

Q51) In the nursery rhyme, how many blackbirds were baked in a pie?   

A51) 24

Q52) Spell this out! CHRLCHN is either a famous fictional detective with all the vowels missing; name him.   

A52) Charlie Chan.

Q53) Who was Vice President when Ronald Reagan was President?   

A53) George Bush, Senior.

Q54) By what name was the Scottish outlaw Robert McGregor better known?   

A54) Rob Roy.

Q55) Which scheme allows a person’s legal costs to be paid by public funds?

A55) Legal Aid.

Q56) Which of the following is the smallest paper size: A3, A4, or A5?   

A56) A5.

Q57) Whose catchphrases include “Eat my shorts”?   

A57) Bart Simpson.

Q58) In which war was the Battle of Edgehill fought?   

A58) The English Civil War.

Q59) In which Shakespeare play does the stage direction ‘Exit, pursued by a bear’ appear: A Winter’s Tale, Romeo & Juliet, or

 The Tempest?    A59) A Winter’s Tale.

Q60) Who is the patron saint of lost causes: St Jude, St James or Saint Jeremiah?  

A60) St Jude.

Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll leave you with a taster of what I’ve got on …