ROUND 1 - ‘The High Road’

Each answer contains the name of a geographic area, town or city of Scotland

1.

Where do PC McGarry and Mr Carraway, the fishmonger live?

2.

Where is the WACA sports stadium?

3.

Which team are this season’s Nationwide Division 2 Champions?

4.

Who played the part of Patrick Trench, the next-door neighbour in One Foot in the Grave?

5.

Who is currently MP for the constituency of North Antrim?

6.

What was the name of the ship whose crew were famously rescued by the lighthouse keeper’s daughter, Grace Darling?

7.

The United Nations was established in 1944 at which international conference?

8.

What was Paul Hogan’s most famous film role?

ROUND 2 - Miscellany I

1.

We all know it’s Endeavour Morse, but what’s the full name of his assistant?

2.

We all know which fictional detective lived at 221B Baker Street, but what’s the full name of his assistant?

3.

What nationality was the creator of Inspector Maigret?

4.

Della Street turned down five proposals of marriage from which fictional detective?

5.

What was the first name of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple?

6.

What was the first name of Ruth Rendell’s Inspector Wexford?

7.

Who created the fictional detective Philip Marlow?

8.

Who was the author of The Woman in White and The Moonstone?

ROUND 3 - ‘Detect these’

Following the success of the 'Solve these' round last week, when Opsimaths and Albert Park managed an aggregate of 2 points, we have decided to revisit the theme, in the hope of scoring a few more

1.

We all know it’s Endeavour Morse, but what’s the full name of his assistant?

2.

We all know which fictional detective lived at 221B Baker Street, but what’s the full name of his assistant?

3.

What nationality was the creator of Inspector Maigret?

4.

Della Street turned down five proposals of marriage from which fictional detective?

5.

What was the first name of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple?

6.

What was the first name of Ruth Rendell’s Inspector Wexford?

7.

Who created the fictional detective Philip Marlow?

8.

Who was the author of The Woman in White and The Moonstone?

ROUND 4 - Miscellany II

1.

In which city did the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife the Duchess of Hohenberg take place?

2.

Who assassinated Robert Kennedy?

3.

Where would you find Hell, Julius Caesar, Birmingham, Billy and Archimedes?

4.

The Trojans are groups of asteroids that move in the same orbit as one of the planets.  Which planet?

5.

Where was the first public opera house opened?

6.

What famous opera house stands on the site of a church?

7.

What were Tabloids, Pups and Camels?

8.

The Germans called it the Siegfried Line.  What did the Allies call it?

ROUND 5 - ‘Accommodations’

All the answers in this round have some form of accommodation in the answer

1.

Now called the Golden Lion again, what was this pub on Wilmslow Road previously named?

2.

As well as the Withington Ale House, the White Lion has also been called what?

3.

What was designed by Sir Joseph Paxton, erected in Hyde Park in 1851, and later dismantled and re-erected at Sydenham Hill?

4.

Which is the largest house in Yorkshire?  An added clue is that many of the scenes for Brideshead Revisited were shot there.

5.

In 1964, which traditional song arranged by Alan Price, went to number 1 in the charts in the UK, the USA and several other countries?

6.

The pop group The Housemartins only ever had one No. 1 hit, which was in December 1986. What was it called?

7.

Which pop song has these as its opening lines: “On a dark desert highway / Cool wind in my hair / Warm smell of colitas / Rising up through the air”

8.

Which Beatles’ song includes the lines: “He went out tiger hunting with his elephant and gun / In case of accidents, he always took his mum”?

ROUND 6 - Miscellany III

1.

Which Rugby Union team plays its home games at the Causeway Stadium?

2.

Which Rugby Union team plays its home games at the Recreation Ground?

3.

Warren Street, Goodge Street, Tottenham Court Road...what comes next?

4.

King’s Cross, Angel, Old Street...what comes next?

5.

What town has the post code IM1?

6.

What town has the post code GY1?

7.

Which 2 parts of the British Isles are not within the European Union?

8.

Which territory withdrew from the EU (then called the European Community) on 1st February 1985?

ROUND 7 - ‘The Good Book’

All the answers in this round include the name of a book of the Bible (or, at least, make an oblique reference to one)

1.

Which 1958 epic novel by Leon Uris, was turned into a film in 1960 staring Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint?

2.

Of which film actress of the 40’s and 50’s was it said: “Wet she’s a star, dry she ain’t”?

3.

Which town is missing from this list: Giza, Babylon, Rhodes, Alexandria, Halicarnassus, Olympia?

4.

Who starred as James Herriot in the TV series All Creatures Great and Small?

5.

Who was famously executed on 13th July 1955?

6.

Which dreamer was famously assassinated on 4th April 1968?

7.

What is the name of the group of Pacific islands which has Honiara as its capital, and includes Guadalcanal, as one of its six main islands?

8.

What first name connects the star of the 1992 film The Last of the Mohicans and the author of the 1722 book The Journal of the Plague Year?

1.

Who was Helen’s twin sister and the wife of Agamemnon?

2.

What is the female equivalent of the Oedipus complex?

3.

What is the administrative centre and chief town of the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France?

4.

What is the administrative centre and chief town of the Provence-Côte d’Azur region in southern France?

5.

Who was the author of Billy Liar?

6.

Who was the author of Kes?

7.

What is the capital of Macedonia?

8.

What is the capital of Azerbaijan?

1.

How was Harry Longabaugh better known?

2.

Who was Boreas?

3.

What is the state capital of Iowa?

4.

Who dies saying “The rest is silence”?

5.

Born in 1924 as Betty Joan Perske, how was this film and stage actress better known?

6.

What are the next two lines to “Here I stand, head in hand / turn my face to the wall”?

7.

How is the city El Quds esh Sherif better known?

8.

What comes next: Toddington, Newport Pagnell, Northampton?

ROUND 1 - ‘The High Road’

Each answer contains the name of a geographic area, town or city of Scotland

1.

Where do PC McGarry and Mr Carraway, the fishmonger live?

Camberwick Green

2.

Where is the WACA sports stadium?

Perth

(Western Australia Cricket Test Match ground)

3.

Which team are this season’s Nationwide Division 2 Champions?

Plymouth Argyle

4.

Who played the part of Patrick Trench, the next-door neighbour in One Foot in the Grave?

Angus Deayton

5.

Who is currently MP for the constituency of North Antrim?

Ian Paisley

6.

What was the name of the ship whose crew were famously rescued by the lighthouse keeper’s daughter, Grace Darling?

SS Forfarshire

7.

The United Nations was established in 1944 at which international conference?

Dumbarton Oaks

8.

What was Paul Hogan’s most famous film role?

Crocodile Dundee

ROUND 2 - Miscellany I

1.

One of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales was told by a franklin.  In medieval times what was a franklin?

A freeholder i.e. someone free from feudal servitude

2.

One of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales was told by a manciple.  In medieval times what was a manciple?

A steward or someone whose job was to provide food or meals

3.

“If xn + yn = zn , n cannot be an integer greater than 2” is better known as what?

Fermat’s last theorem

4.

What 4 character binary number do you get if you apply the OR operand to 1100 and 0101?

1101

5.

What are the last 3 words of the second verse of William Blake’s Jerusalem?

“Dark satanic mills”

6.

What are the last 4 words of the last and fourth verse of William Blake’s Jerusalem?

“Green and pleasant land”

7.

Of which country is Paul Martin currently the Prime Minister?

Canada

8.

Who is currently Prime Minister of Australia?

John Howard

ROUND 3 - ‘Detect these’

Following the success of the 'Solve these' round last week, when Opsimaths and Albert Park managed an aggregate of 2 points, we have decided to revisit the theme, in the hope of scoring a few more

1.

We all know it’s Endeavour Morse, but what’s the full name of his assistant?

Robbie Lewis

(accept also Robert Lewis)

2.

We all know which fictional detective lived at 221B Baker Street, but what’s the full name of his assistant?

Dr John Watson

3.

What nationality was the creator of Inspector Maigret?

Belgian

(Georges Simenon)

4.

Della Street turned down five proposals of marriage from which fictional detective?

Perry Mason

5.

What was the first name of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple?

Jane

6.

What was the first name of Ruth Rendell’s Inspector Wexford?

Reg

7.

Who created the fictional detective Philip Marlow?

Raymond Chandler

8.

Who was the author of The Woman in White and The Moonstone?

Wilkie Collins

ROUND 4 - Miscellany II

1.

In which city did the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife the Duchess of Hohenberg take place?

Sarajevo

2.

Who assassinated Robert Kennedy?

Sirhan Bishara Sirhan

3.

Where would you find Hell, Julius Caesar, Birmingham, Billy and Archimedes?

On the Moon

(they are all lunar craters)

4.

The Trojans are groups of asteroids that move in the same orbit as one of the planets.  Which planet?

Jupiter

5.

Where was the first public opera house opened?

Venice

(Teatro San Cassiano, 1637)

6.

What famous opera house stands on the site of a church?

La Scala, Milan

7.

What were Tabloids, Pups and Camels?

Aircraft

(Single-seater RFC biplane scouts)

8.

The Germans called it the Siegfried Line.  What did the Allies call it?

The Hindenburg Line

ROUND 5 - ‘Accommodations’

All the answers in this round have some form of accommodation in the answer

1

Now called the Golden Lion again, what was this pub on Wilmslow Road previously named?

The Manor House

2.

As well as the Withington Ale House, the White Lion has also been called what?

The Pavilion

3.

What was designed by Sir Joseph Paxton, erected in Hyde Park in 1851, and later dismantled and re-erected at Sydenham Hill?

Crystal Palace

4.

Which is the largest house in Yorkshire?  An added clue is that many of the scenes for Brideshead Revisited were shot there.

Castle Howard

5.

In 1964, which traditional song arranged by Alan Price, went to number 1 in the charts in the UK, the USA and several other countries?

The House of the Rising Sun

6.

The pop group The Housemartins only ever had one No. 1 hit, which was in December 1986. What was it called?

Caravan of Love

7.

Which pop song has these as its opening lines: “On a dark desert highway / Cool wind in my hair / Warm smell of colitas / Rising up through the air”

Hotel California

(by the Eagles)

8.

Which Beatles’ song includes the lines: “He went out tiger hunting with his elephant and gun / In case of accidents, he always took his mum”?

The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill

(accept just Bungalow Bill)

ROUND 6 - Miscellany III

1

Which Rugby Union team plays its home games at the Causeway Stadium?

Wasps

2.

Which Rugby Union team plays its home games at the Recreation Ground?

Bath

3.

Warren Street, Goodge Street, Tottenham Court Road...what comes next?

Leicester Square

4.

King’s Cross, Angel, Old Street...what comes next?

Moorgate

5.

What town has the post code IM1?

Douglas

(on the Isle of Man)

6.

What town has the post code GY1?

St. Peter Port

(on Guernsey)

7.

Which 2 parts of the British Isles are not within the European Union?

The Isle of Man and the Channel Isles

8.

Which territory withdrew from the EU (then called the European Community) on 1st February 1985?

Greenland

ROUND 7 - ‘The Good Book’

All the answers in this round include the name of a book of the Bible (or, at least, make an oblique reference to one)

1.

Which 1958 epic novel by Leon Uris, was turned into a film in 1960 staring Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint?

Exodus

2.

Of which film actress of the 40’s and 50’s was it said: “Wet she’s a star, dry she ain’t”?

Esther Williams

3.

Which town is missing from this list: Giza, Babylon, Rhodes, Alexandria, Halicarnassus, Olympia?

Ephesus

(as in Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians)

4.

Who starred as James Herriot in the TV series All Creatures Great and Small?

Christopher Timothy

(as in Paul’s 2 Letters to Timothy)

5.

Who was famously executed on 13th July 1955?

Ruth Ellis

6.

Which dreamer was famously assassinated on 4th April 1968?

Martin Luther King

7.

What is the name of the group of Pacific islands which has Honiara as its capital, and includes Guadalcanal, as one of its six main islands?

The Solomon Islands

8.

What first name connects the star of the 1992 film The Last of the Mohicans and the author of the 1722 book The Journal of the Plague Year?

Daniel

(Day-Lewis & Defoe)

1.

Who was Helen’s twin sister and the wife of Agamemnon?

Clytemnestra

2.

What is the female equivalent of the Oedipus complex?

Electra

3.

What is the administrative centre and chief town of the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France?

Montpellier

4.

What is the administrative centre and chief town of the Provence-Côte d’Azur region in southern France?

Marseille

5.

Who was the author of Billy Liar?

Keith Waterhouse

6.

Who was the author of Kes?

Barry Hines

7.

What is the capital of Macedonia?

Skopje

8.

What is the capital of Azerbaijan?

Baku

1.

How was Harry Longabaugh better known?

The Sundance Kid

(as in Butch Cassidy and..)

2.

Who was Boreas?

The Greek god of the North Wind

3.

What is the state capital of Iowa?

Des Moines

4.

Who dies saying “The rest is silence”?

Hamlet

5.

Born in 1924 as Betty Joan Perske, how was this film and stage actress better known?

Lauren Bacall

6.

What are the next two lines to “Here I stand, head in hand / turn my face to the wall”?

“Now she’s gone I can’t go on / feeling two foot small”

7.

How is the city El Quds esh Sherif better known?

Jerusalem

8.

What comes next: Toddington, Newport Pagnell, Northampton?

Watford Gap

(M1 service stations)

Go back to Spare questions without answers