1.

Give a year in the life of Robert Burns.

2.

Burns wrote a ‘grace’, famous for its recitation at Burns Night suppers.  What is its name?

3.

Where in Scotland was Robert Burns born?

4.

What is the nickname of Ayr United Football Club?

5.

Which Burns was the lead-singer of Ulster punk band Stiff Little Fingers?

6.

Which Burns was the lead-singer of Liverpool new-wave band Dead or Alive, that had a no.1 hit in 1985 with You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)?

7.

What, in some Christian churches, is the name given to a group of 3 days in each season observed as days of fasting and prayer now associated almost entirely with the ordination of ministers?

8.

Where is this?  Situated on the River Wharfe between Grassington and Appletreewick and on the B6160 between Bolton Abbey and Kilnsey with a 3-arched bridge over the river and a large pub called the Red Lion Hotel?

1.

How much (amount and correct currency) did Shylock lend the Merchant of Venice?

2.

What name links a film if 1993, a blues band of the 60’s and 70’s, and a rodent also known as a woodchuck?

3.

Who said “I sometimes think that God, in creating Man, somewhat overestimated his ability”?

4.

Which book has just been awarded this year’s Whitbread Prize for Literature?

5.

Which car marque manufactures a model called the Fabia?

6.

Which element has the symbol Sb and atomic no. 51?

7.

Which actress played the part of Mrs. Robinson’s daughter in the film The Graduate?

8.

Who was the first monarch of all England between 925 and 939?

1.

Before Sunday’s F.A Cup 5th Round draw, what were the odds on Manchester City being drawn away to Newcastle United?

2.

To within 5 years either way, which year was the worlds’ first antiseptic operation performed?

3.

Which vocalist sang: “200 degrees. That’s why they call me Mr. Fahrenheit. I’m travelling at the speed of light”?

4.

Give a year in the life of King Canute.

5.

Which 3 consecutive dictionary entries have the following meanings:

- to abrogate, revoke or cancel

- the act or an instance of rewriting

- to save, set free or bring away from custody, danger or harm

6.

What is the currency of Malaysia?

7.

What is the capital of Armenia?

8.

Which theatrical troupe’s so-far 7-years' run in the West End promises “37 plays in 97 minutes”?

1.

What is the name of the schools examination company accused of incompetence over the setting and marking of papers recently?

2.

Which word represents the letter K in the international alphabet?

3.

What is the name of the stock-market-quoted conglomerate whose fashion-retail empire includes Top Shop and Dorothy Perkins?

4.

What is the title of the newly-released film, directed by Robert Altman, in which Alan Bates and Derek Jacobi play butlers in a 1930’s stately home?

5.

Which Scottish town is the home of Albion Rovers Football Club?

6.

Which group have had over 30 Top 30 hits since 1968, but only one no. 1 (in 1974)?

7.

How many bottles of champagne are there in a nebuchadnezzar?

8.

Which 2 economic indicators are increasing to fulfil the economist’s description, 'stagflation'?

1.

Who is the only test cricketer to have scored a century and taken 8 wickets in a single innings, both in the same test match?

2.

Which county has won the Cricket County Championship most often?

3.

Who concluded there would have been no deaths on Bloody Sunday in 1972 if those who “organised the illegal march had not thereby created a dangerous situation”?

4.

Which actor played the part of M P Ivan Cooper in ITV’s recent drama documentary Bloody Sunday?

5.

In which year was the Arab-Israeli Six Day War?

6.

Gibraltar was ceded to Britain under the terms of which treaty?

7.

In which country are the African Nations Cup currently taking place?

8.

In which city will the Winter Olympics take place this year?

1.

Which casket did Bassanio choose in The Merchant of Venice?

2.

What name links a band of the late 60’s and early 70’s and the creator of a seed drill invented in 1700?

3.

Who said “Historical phenomena always happen twice – the first time as tragedy, the second as farce”?

4.

Which British actor won a Golden Globe last week for his performance in the film Iris?

5.

Which car marque launches its new model called the Stilo, this Friday?

6.

Which element has the symbol W and atomic no. 74?

7.

Which Oscar-winning actor lived as a child in St. Paul’s Road, Withington?

8.

King Athelstan, first monarch of all England, was from which royal house that ruled over England and various parts of it, from 802 – 1066?

1.

Before Sunday’s FA Cup 5th Round draw, what were the odds on Manchester City being the 4th team drawn out of the tacky, plastic ball-mixer?

2.

Which renowned British biologist wrote The Selfish Gene in 1976, a book that did much to popularise the theory of socio-biology?

3.

Who recently sang: “Tonight, for the first time, just about half-past ten, for the first time in history”?

4.

Give a year in the life of Cleopatra.

5.

Which 3 consecutive dictionary entries have the following meanings:-

- an organised massacre

- deeply moving

- a shrub with large scarlet or pink bracts

6.

What is the currency of Zimbabwe?

7.

What is the capital of Azerbaijan?

8.

Who or what connects the play The Ghost Train with the TV comedy series Dad’s Army?

1.

What is the name of the London hospital currently at the centre of a political row over its alleged treatment of a 94 years old patient?

2.

Which word represents the letter U in the international alphabet?

3.

What is Alan Greenspan’s job-title within the USA economy?

4.

In which 1993 film did Anthony Hopkins play James Stevens, a butler?

5.

Which Scottish town is the home of East Fife Football Club?

6.

Which one-hit wonder had a top 5 hit in 1977 with Torn Between Two Lovers?

7.

How many bottles of champagne are there in a rehoboam?

8.

Name the 3 EU countries which have NOT adopted the euro as their chief currency.

1.

Who sent a recent text-message, signing himself “Johnny Dole-Queue?

2.

Which major retailer in the UK was declared bankrupt last week?

3.

How many letters of the alphabet are used as Roman numerals?

4.

What does the acronym UNICEF stand for?

5.

On board ship how long does a dog watch last?

6.

What is the common name of the flower Hyacinthoides non-Scripta?

7.

In which country was the landau invented?

8.

The Swiss town of Interlaken takes its name from its position between which 2 lakes?

1.

Give a year in the life of Robert Burns.

1759 – 1796

2.

Burns wrote a ‘grace’, famous for its recitation at Burns Night suppers.  What is its name?

The Selkirk Grace

3.

Where in Scotland was Robert Burns born?

Ayr

4.

What is the nickname of Ayr United Football Club?

'The Honest Men'

(from Burns’ Tam O’Shanter)

5.

Which Burns was the lead-singer of Ulster punk band Stiff Little Fingers?

Jake Burns

(first name required)

6.

Which Burns was the lead-singer of Liverpool new-wave band Dead or Alive, that had a no.1 hit in 1985 with You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)?

Pete Burns

(first name required)

7.

What, in some Christian churches, is the name given to a group of 3 days in each season observed as days of fasting and prayer now associated almost entirely with the ordination of ministers?

Ember Days

8.

Where is this?  Situated on the River Wharfe between Grassington and Appletreewick and on the B6160 between Bolton Abbey and Kilnsey with a 3-arched bridge over the river and a large pub called the Red Lion Hotel?

Burnsall

1.

How much (amount and correct currency) did Shylock lend the Merchant of Venice?

3,000 ducats

2.

What name links a film if 1993, a blues band of the 60’s and 70’s, and a rodent also known as a woodchuck?

Groundhog

3.

Who said “I sometimes think that God, in creating Man, somewhat overestimated his ability”?

Oscar Wilde

4.

Which book has just been awarded this year’s Whitbread Prize for Literature?

The Amber Spyglass

(by Philip Pullman)

5.

Which car marque manufactures a model called the Fabia?

Skoda

6.

Which element has the symbol Sb and atomic no. 51?

Antimony

7.

Which actress played the part of Mrs. Robinson’s daughter in the film The Graduate?

Katharine Ross

8.

Who was the first monarch of all England between 925 and 939?

Athelstan

1.

Before Sunday’s F.A Cup 5th Round draw, what were the odds on Manchester City being drawn away to Newcastle United?

1 in 30

(1/15 being drawn against Newcastle x ½ it being away)

2.

To within 5 years either way, which year was the worlds’ first antiseptic operation performed?

1867

(accept 1862-1872)

3.

Which vocalist sang: “200 degrees. That’s why they call me Mr. Fahrenheit. I’m travelling at the speed of light”?

Freddie Mercury

(Don’t Stop Me Now)

4.

Give a year in the life of King Canute.

994 - 1035

5.

Which 3 consecutive dictionary entries have the following meanings:

- to abrogate, revoke or cancel

- the act or an instance of rewriting

- to save, set free or bring away from custody, danger or harm

Rescind;

Rescript;

Rescue

6.

What is the currency of Malaysia?

Ringgit

7.

What is the capital of Armenia?

Yerevan

8.

Which theatrical troupe’s so-far 7-years' run in the West End promises “37 plays in 97 minutes”?

The Reduced Shakespeare Company

1.

What is the name of the schools examination company accused of incompetence over the setting and marking of papers recently?

EDEXEL

2.

Which word represents the letter K in the international alphabet?

Kilo

3.

What is the name of the stock-market-quoted conglomerate whose fashion-retail empire includes Top Shop and Dorothy Perkins?

Arcadia

4.

What is the title of the newly-released film, directed by Robert Altman, in which Alan Bates and Derek Jacobi play butlers in a 1930’s stately home?

Gosford Park

5.

Which Scottish town is the home of Albion Rovers Football Club?

Coatbridge

6.

Which group have had over 30 Top 30 hits since 1968, but only one no. 1 (in 1974)?

Status Quo

7.

How many bottles of champagne are there in a nebuchadnezzar?

20

8.

Which 2 economic indicators are increasing to fulfil the economist’s description, 'stagflation'?

Prices and Unemployment

1.

Who is the only test cricketer to have scored a century and taken 8 wickets in a single innings, both in the same test match?

Ian Botham

2.

Which county has won the Cricket County Championship most often?

Yorkshire

(29 times)

3.

Who concluded there would have been no deaths on Bloody Sunday in 1972 if those who “organised the illegal march had not thereby created a dangerous situation”?

Lord Widgery

4.

Which actor played the part of M P Ivan Cooper in ITV’s recent drama documentary Bloody Sunday?

James Nesbitt

5.

In which year was the Arab-Israeli Six Day War?

1967

6.

Gibraltar was ceded to Britain under the terms of which treaty?

Treaty of Utrecht

7.

In which country are the African Nations Cup currently taking place?

Mali

8.

In which city will the Winter Olympics take place this year?

Salt Lake City, USA

1.

Which casket did Bassanio choose in The Merchant of Venice?

Lead

(not gold or silver)

2.

What name links a band of the late 60’s and early 70’s and the creator of a seed drill invented in 1700?

Jethro Tull

3.

Who said “Historical phenomena always happen twice – the first time as tragedy, the second as farce”?

Karl Marx

4.

Which British actor won a Golden Globe last week for his performance in the film Iris?

Jim Broadbent

5.

Which car marque launches its new model called the Stilo, this Friday?

Fiat

6.

Which element has the symbol W and atomic no. 74?

Tungsten

7.

Which Oscar-winning actor lived as a child in St. Paul’s Road, Withington?

Robert Donat

8.

King Athelstan, first monarch of all England, was from which royal house that ruled over England and various parts of it, from 802 – 1066?

The House of Wessex

1.

Before Sunday’s FA Cup 5th Round draw, what were the odds on Manchester City being the 4th team drawn out of the tacky, plastic ball-mixer?

1 in 16

2.

Which renowned British biologist wrote The Selfish Gene in 1976, a book that did much to popularise the theory of socio-biology?

Richard Dawkins

3.

Who recently sang: “Tonight, for the first time, just about half-past ten, for the first time in history”?

Geri Halliwell

(It’s Rainin’ Men)

4.

Give a year in the life of Cleopatra.

69 – 30 B.C

5.

Which 3 consecutive dictionary entries have the following meanings:-

- an organised massacre

- deeply moving

- a shrub with large scarlet or pink bracts

Pogrom;

Poignant;

Poinsettia

6.

What is the currency of Zimbabwe?

Dollar 

7.

What is the capital of Azerbaijan?

Bakou

8.

Who or what connects the play The Ghost Train with the TV comedy series Dad’s Army?

Arnold Ridley

(wrote play and played Private Godfrey. Answer must state his real name)

1.

What is the name of the London hospital currently at the centre of a political row over its alleged treatment of a 94 years old patient?

The Whittington Hospital

2.

Which word represents the letter U in the international alphabet?

Uniform

3.

What is Alan Greenspan’s job-title within the USA economy?

Chairman of the Federal Reserve

4.

In which 1993 film did Anthony Hopkins play James Stevens, a butler?

The Remains of the Day

5.

Which Scottish town is the home of East Fife Football Club?

St. Andrews

6.

Which one-hit wonder had a top 5 hit in 1977 with Torn Between Two Lovers?

Mary McGregor

7.

How many bottles of champagne are there in a rehoboam?

6

8.

Name the 3 EU countries which have NOT adopted the euro as their chief currency.

UK/Denmark/Norway

1.

Who sent a recent text-message, signing himself “Johnny Dole-Queue?

John Gregory

 (Former Aston Villa football manager)

2.

Which major retailer in the UK was declared bankrupt last week?

K-mart

3.

How many letters of the alphabet are used as Roman numerals?

7

(I,C,D,L,M,V,X)

4.

What does the acronym UNICEF stand for?

United Nations’ International Children’s Emergency Fund

5.

On board ship how long does a dog watch last?

2 hours

6.

What is the common name of the flower Hyacinthoides non-Scripta?

Bluebell

7.

In which country was the landau invented?

Germany

8.

The Swiss town of Interlaken takes its name from its position between which 2 lakes?

Brienz and Thun