ROUND 1 - Themed

 The answer to Question 1 provides the theme for the rest of the round

1.

Founded in Newcastle, this group moved to London in 1963, and had a No. 1 hit with their first single Baby, Let Me Take You Home.  In 1964 they had a No. 1 in both the UK and USA with their version of a song that had been a hit in 1941 for a group which included Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger.  Name the group.

2.

Name the city.  Set at the western end of the Erie Canal in New York State, it was the scene of the assassination of President McKinley in 1901.

3.

Which English religious leader founded the Society of Friends (Quakers)?

4.

Which animal appears in the titles of a trilogy written by John Updike and published in 1960, 1971 and 1981?

5.

Which hand-operated textile-spinning machine did James Hargreaves invent in about 1764?

6.

Which film won the 1991 Best Film Oscar?

7.

What name is given to the paper size 23 inches by 28 inches?

8.

Bruce Wayne is the alter ego of which cartoon superhero?

ROUND 2 - Paired

1.

What was Elvis Presley’s first film?

2.

What was Hayley Mills’ first film?

3.

Hyperion is a satellite of which planet?

4.

Galatea is a satellite of which planet?

5.

Whose nickname was ‘The Father of Greek Tragedy’?

6.

Whose nickname was ‘The Father of Frozen Food’?

7.

Which writer’s real name was Mrs. Daryl Walters?

8.

What is the current Pope’s real name?

ROUND 3 - Paired

1.

Of the 15 countries in the EU, before the recent 10 additions, which 3 are still not using the euro?

2.

There are 25 nations in the EU but only 20 official languages.  Name 4 without their own official language.

3.

Which European country has a Prime Minister who was previously a King?

4.

Of which European country is Ferenc Gyurcsany the Prime Minister?

5.

Which actor plays the part of Frank Gallagher in the C4 drama Shameless?

6.

Anne-Marie Duff, who plays Fiona in Shameless, starred in which 2003 film about Irish laundries?

7.

Which English word derives from the name of a small shield used to deflect sword blows?

8.

Which word derives from two Greek words meaning ‘rubbed smooth’ and ‘again’?

ROUND 4 - Numbers round

Every answer contains a number – a couple you may regard as a little sneaky!!

1.

In chess, how many options can a player choose from on his initial move?

2.

On a chessboard, how many pieces can only ever move one square?

3.

In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, what is the answer to life, the universe and everything?

4.

How many books are there in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series?

5.

In cricket, the maximum number of runs that a batsman can make in a normal six ball over is 36 i.e. 6 sixes.  What is the next highest possible score?

6.

In cricket, (not counting the umpires) what is the highest number of players that can be on the field at one time?

7.

How many bottles of champagne are there in a Jeroboam?

8.

How many bottles of champagne are there in a Solomon?

ROUND 5 - Themed

The answer to Question 1 provides the theme for the rest of the round

1.

Founded in LA in 1964, this group had hits with their versions of Mr. Tambourine Man and Turn! Turn! Turn! in 1965, before having hits with their own compositions The World Turns All Around Her, I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better Now and Set You Free This Time.  Name the group

2.

For which film did Gregory Peck win the 1962 Best Actor Oscar?

3.

Who designed the Windsor Guild Hall, where Charles and Camilla are getting married?

4.

In Greek mythology, Jupiter changed into what type of bird to seduce Leda?

5.

In South Manchester, several roads cross the B5167, but only three have the same name on both sides of the crossings.  These are the A5145, Spath Road and which other road?

6.

What was the name of the world’s first operational fixed wing V/STOL strike fighter?

7.

Which company built, among others, the cruise liner Mauritania, launched in 1906, and the aircraft carrier Ark Royal, launched in 1985?

8.

Dick Grayson is the alter ego of which cartoon superhero?

ROUND 6 - Paired

1.

Which Scottish island has an area of land called ‘The Oa’ and a main town called Bowmore?

2.

The islands of Eriskay, Vatersay and Mingulay are part of which specific group of Scottish islands?

3.

Which well-known businesswoman is Chief Executive of the Pearson Media Group?

4.

Which woman currently edits the Sun?

5.

Which 13th century King of England was forced by his barons, including Simon de Montfort, to agree to the Provisions of Oxford?

6.

According to recent suggestions what title might Prince Charles adopt as king rather than Charles III?

7.

What did the TV sitcom Dead Belgians Don’t Count become?

8.

By what nickname did the LDV become known?

ROUND 7 - Paired

1.

How was Dolores Haxe better known in an eponymous novel published in 1955?

2.

What is the name of the first Mrs De Winter commemorated in the title of a 1938 novel?

3.

What term is applied to a lake formed from the cut-off meander of a river?

4.

In the Lake District which body of water lies above Great Langdale in the shadow of Pavey Ark?

5.

Cinnabar is a red crystalline form of the ore of which metal?

6.

What is the main ore of aluminium and its compounds?

7.

In grammar which tense is expressed by use of the word ‘had’ followed by the past participle?

8.

In grammar which case is used for the indirect object of a sentence (e.g. 'her' in 'I asked her the question')?

1.

In cockney rhyming slang, what are ‘bacon and eggs’?

2.

In cockney rhyming slang, what is ‘bread and cheese’?

3.

In music, what does ‘a cappella’ mean?

4.

In music what does ‘rallentando’ mean?

5.

Who recorded an album called Blue is the Colour?

6.

Who recorded an album called Bloody Tourists?

7.

In the proverb, what does an old poacher make?

8.

In the proverb, what do fair words do?

1.

Who is the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated?

2.

Where was Spencer Perceval assassinated?

3.

What is a written sign to show changes in sound and pronunciation called?

4.

By what term is a newly conceived word that has been generally accepted called?

5.

Which famous school is situated in rural Lancashire on the River Hodder not far from Whalley and Clitheroe?

6.

Before becoming Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Basil Hume was abbot of which abbey and school?

7.

Redpoint, Prusik knot and Munter hitch are terms from which outdoor activity?

8.

Royal fork, Fianchetto and En prise are terms from which game?

ROUND 1 - Themed

 The answer to Question 1 provides the theme for the rest of the round

1.

Founded in Newcastle, this group moved to London in 1963, and had a No. 1 hit with their first single Baby, Let Me Take You Home.  In 1964 they had a No. 1 in both the UK and USA with their version of a song that had been a hit in 1941 for a group which included Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger.  Name the group.

The Animals

(the second single was of course The House of the Rising Sun)

2.

Name the city.  Set at the western end of the Erie Canal in New York State, it was the scene of the assassination of President McKinley in 1901.

Buffalo

3.

Which English religious leader founded the Society of Friends (Quakers)?

George Fox

4.

Which animal appears in the titles of a trilogy written by John Updike and published in 1960, 1971 and 1981?

Rabbit

(Rabbit Run, Rabbit Redux and Rabbit is Rich)

5.

Which hand-operated textile-spinning machine did James Hargreaves invent in about 1764?

Spinning Jenny

6.

Which film won the 1991 Best Film Oscar?

The Silence of the Lambs

(Dances with Wolves was the previous year)

7.

What name is given to the paper size 23 inches by 28 inches?

Elephant

8.

Bruce Wayne is the alter ego of which cartoon superhero?

Batman

ROUND 2 - Paired

1.

What was Elvis Presley’s first film?

Love Me Tender

(1956)

2.

What was Hayley Mills’ first film?

Tiger Bay

(1959)

3.

Hyperion is a satellite of which planet?

Saturn

4.

Galatea is a satellite of which planet?

Neptune

5.

Whose nickname was ‘The Father of Greek Tragedy’?

Aeschlyus

6.

Whose nickname was ‘The Father of Frozen Food’?

Clarence Birdseye

7.

Which writer’s real name was Mrs. Daryl Walters?

Enid Blyton

8.

What is the current Pope’s real name?

Karol Wojtyla

ROUND 3 - Paired

1.

Of the 15 countries in the EU, before the recent 10 additions, which 3 are still not using the euro?

UK, Denmark and Sweden

2.

There are 25 nations in the EU but only 20 official languages.  Name 4 without their own official language.

(4 from)

Luxemburg, Cyprus, Belgium, Ireland and Austria

3.

Which European country has a Prime Minister who was previously a King?

Bulgaria

(Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, formerly King Simeon)

4.

Of which European country is Ferenc Gyurcsany the Prime Minister?

Hungary

5.

Which actor plays the part of Frank Gallagher in the C4 drama Shameless?

David Threlfall

6.

Anne-Marie Duff, who plays Fiona in Shameless, starred in which 2003 film about Irish laundries?

The Magdalene Sisters

7.

Which English word derives from the name of a small shield used to deflect sword blows?

Swashbuckler

(a buckler is a small shield)

8.

Which word derives from two Greek words meaning ‘rubbed smooth’ and ‘again’?

Palimpsest

(a parchment that has been erased and rewritten)

ROUND 4 - Numbers round

Every answer contains a number – a couple you may regard as a little sneaky!!

1.

In chess, how many options can a player choose from on his initial move?

20

(8 pawns, each moving one or two squares, and 2 knights, each with two options)

2.

On a chessboard, how many pieces can only ever move one square?

None

(pawns can move two squares on their initial move and kings can move two when castling)

3.

In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, what is the answer to life, the universe and everything?

42

4.

How many books are there in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series?

4

(it’s described as ‘A trilogy in four parts’)

5.

In cricket, the maximum number of runs that a batsman can make in a normal six ball over is 36 i.e. 6 sixes.  What is the next highest possible score?

35

(5 sixes and, if the ball hits a helmet left on the field, another five)

6.

In cricket, (not counting the umpires) what is the highest number of players that can be on the field at one time?

15

(11 bowling and fielding, 2 batsmen and 2 runners)

7.

How many bottles of champagne are there in a Jeroboam?

6

8.

How many bottles of champagne are there in a Solomon?

24

ROUND 5 - Themed

The answer to Question 1 provides the theme for the rest of the round

1

Founded in LA in 1964, this group had hits with their versions of Mr. Tambourine Man and Turn! Turn! Turn! in 1965, before having hits with their own compositions The World Turns All Around Her, I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better Now and Set You Free This Time.  Name the group

The Byrds

2.

For which film did Gregory Peck win the 1962 Best Actor Oscar?

To Kill A Mockingbird

3.

Who designed the Windsor Guild Hall, where Charles and Camilla are getting married?

Sir Christopher Wren

4.

In Greek mythology, Jupiter changed into what type of bird to seduce Leda?

Swan

5.

In South Manchester, several roads cross the B5167, but only three have the same name on both sides of the crossings.  These are the A5145, Spath Road and which other road?

Lapwing Lane

(the B5167 is Palatine Road and the A5145 is Barlow Moor Road)

6.

What was the name of the world’s first operational fixed wing V/STOL strike fighter?

Harrier

7.

Which company built, among others, the cruise liner Mauritania, launched in 1906, and the aircraft carrier Ark Royal, launched in 1985?

Swan Hunter

8.

Dick Grayson is the alter ego of which cartoon superhero?

Robin

(of Batman and Robin fame)

ROUND 6 - Paired

1

Which Scottish island has an area of land called ‘The Oa’ and a main town called Bowmore?

Islay

2.

The islands of Eriskay, Vatersay and Mingulay are part of which specific group of Scottish islands?

The Outer Hebrides

(or Eilean Siar if you prefer the Gallic)

3.

Which well-known businesswoman is Chief Executive of the Pearson Media Group?

Marjorie Scardino

4.

Which woman currently edits the Sun?

Rebekah Wade

5.

Which 13th century King of England was forced by his barons, including Simon de Montfort, to agree to the Provisions of Oxford?

Henry III

6.

According to recent suggestions what title might Prince Charles adopt as king rather than Charles III?

George VII

7.

What did the TV sitcom Dead Belgians Don’t Count become?

Drop the Dead Donkey

8.

By what nickname did the LDV become known?

'Dad’s Army'

ROUND 7 - Paired

1.

How was Dolores Haxe better known in an eponymous novel published in 1955?

Lolita

2.

What is the name of the first Mrs De Winter commemorated in the title of a 1938 novel?

Rebecca

3.

What term is applied to a lake formed from the cut-off meander of a river?

Ox-bow

4.

In the Lake District which body of water lies above Great Langdale in the shadow of Pavey Ark?

Stickle Tarn

5.

Cinnabar is a red crystalline form of the ore of which metal?

Mercury

6.

What is the main ore of aluminium and its compounds?

Bauxite

7.

In grammar which tense is expressed by use of the word ‘had’ followed by the past participle?

Pluperfect

(or Past Perfect)

8.

In grammar which case is used for the indirect object of a sentence (e.g. 'her' in 'I asked her the question')?

Dative

1.

In cockney rhyming slang, what are ‘bacon and eggs’?

Legs

2.

In cockney rhyming slang, what is ‘bread and cheese’?

Sneeze

3.

In music, what does ‘a cappella’ mean?

Unaccompanied

4.

In music what does ‘rallentando’ mean?

Becoming slower

5.

Who recorded an album called Blue is the Colour?

Beautiful South

6.

Who recorded an album called Bloody Tourists?

10 cc

7.

In the proverb, what does an old poacher make?

The best game-keeper

8.

In the proverb, what do fair words do?

Butter no parsnips

1.

Who is the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated?

Spencer Perceval

(1812)

2.

Where was Spencer Perceval assassinated?

In the lobby of the House of Commons

3.

What is a written sign to show changes in sound and pronunciation called?

Diacritical mark

4.

By what term is a newly conceived word that has been generally accepted called?

Neologism

5.

Which famous school is situated in rural Lancashire on the River Hodder not far from Whalley and Clitheroe?

Stoneyhurst College

6.

Before becoming Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Basil Hume was abbot of which abbey and school?

Ampleforth

7.

Redpoint, Prusik knot and Munter hitch are terms from which outdoor activity?

Rock Climbing

8.

Royal fork, Fianchetto and En prise are terms from which game?

Chess

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