The Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser — 30-12-2015: Back In The USSR

Blimey, I’m rushing … !

Well, I’ve got an excuse: I’m working today: and want to make sure I’m on time.

But … ?

It’s a Wednesday … 

Which means only one thing … !

~≈Â≈~

Yes …

It’s time for the Brentwood Gazette’s Weekly Teaser.

Here’s this week’s, covered by the usual Creative Commons License* …

Q1) 30 December saw the formal foundation — and declaration of — the USSR.   In which year of the 1920s?

Q2) What did ‘USSR’ stand for … ?

Q3) The Revolutionaries that set up the USSR — and who were led by Vladimir Lenin — were whom: the Mensheviks, Bolsheviks or Milosheviks … ?

Q4) Following the death of Vladimir Lenin, in 1924, three men assumed power in the newly founded USSR.   Which of them, in one of his last letters, did Lenin warn the Soviet government about?

Q5) What — from 1924 onwards — was the highest law-making body of the USSR: the Presidium, the Council of Ministers or Supreme Soviet … ?

Q6) Which Moscow landmark housed the USSR’s government for many years … ?

Q7) How original founding member republics formed the USSR: three, four or five?

Q8) Name one of them.

Q9) What — in Russian — is the acronym — or initials — for the ‘USSR’?

Q10) In which year of the 1990s did the USSR formally dissolve … ?

Here’s last weeks questions and answers …

Questions.

Q1) 23rd December saw the publication of ‘A Visit from Saint Nicholas’: what’s it’s opening line?

Q2) In which year of the 1820s was it published?

Q3) True or false: the poem was originally published anonymously.

Q4) Confusingly, the poem was attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, a New York based professor of Greek Literature.   In which year of the 1830s?

Q5) The poem was published in the ‘Troy Sentinel.’   Troy is in which US state?

Q6) According to the poem, Saint Nicholas has a sleigh pulled by how many reindeer: seven, eight or nine?

Q7) Name one of them.

Q8) Was Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer one of them?

Q9) The poem is sometimes better known under a name taken from its first line.   What IS that name?

Q10) Finally … In 2013, MIT student, Phillip M. Cunio, wrote a short article based on the poem, concluding that the reindeer pulling the sleigh were what: the sleigh’s propulsion, or navigation?

Answers.

A1) “’Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro’ the house”.

A2) 1823.

A3) True.

A4) 1837.

A5) New York.

A6) Eight.

A7) Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dunder and Blixem.   (That’s from the original 1823 version of the poem.   Later versions use the German versions of the names, Thunder and Lightening: Donner and Blitzen.)

A8) No.   He was first written about in 1939: some 126 years later after ‘A Visit From Saint Nicholas.’

A9) “’Twas the night before Christmas.”

A10) Propulsion.   (Santa steers.   The reindeer pull.   Anything else would be stupid … )

Have a good week: enjoy whatever party you’re off to, tomorrow …

*        In other words, you’re free to copy, use, alter and build on each of my quizzes: including the Teasers, Gazette Teasers and the Friday Question Sets.   All I ask in return is that you give me an original authors credit on your event’s flyers or posters, or on the night: and, if you republish them, give me an original authors credit AND republish under the same license.   A link back to the site — and to the Gazette’s, if that’s where you’ve found these — would be appreciated: as would pressing my donate button, here.   Every penny is gratefully received.