ROUND 1 - Hidden theme

1.

What is the name of the sea-captain in the Tin-Tin stories?

2.

In which mythical thoroughfare does the action of Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess take place?

3.

What strait separates Tasmania and Australia?

4.

In Coronation Street, who plays Ken Barlow?

5.

Which comic opera by Benjamin Britten tells of the election of a May King in the town of Loxford?

6.

Ian Lavender played which character in Dad’s Army?

7.

In the Frost TV series starring David Jason, what is the name of Frost’s boss (played by Bruce Alexander)?

8.

Which boxer defeated Jack Dempsey in 1926 to become World Heavyweight champion?

ROUND 2 - Pot pourri

1.

What is the name of Dennis the Menace’s pet pig?

2.

Who wrote Tarzan of the Apes?

3.

Who played Patch Adams in the 1999 film of the same name?

4.

Which Rhythm and Blues singer called his guitar Lucille?

5.

Who released early 1980’s albums called Signing Off and Baggariddim?

6.

In Internet ‘speak’, what do the letters ‘URL’ mean?

7.

From which musical does the song, You’ll Never Walk Alone come?

8.

How many actual fences are there on Aintree’s Grand National Course (not the number the horses attempt to clear)?

ROUND 3 - Pairs

1.

Who was known as ‘The Father of the United Nations’?

2.

Who was known as ‘The Father of the Common Market’?

3.

Who wrote the television series Porridge? (both writers’ names required)

4.

Who wrote the television series It Ain’t Half Hot Mum? (both writers’ names required)

5.

In what year was the battle of Stirling Bridge? (allow 1 year either side)

6.

In what year was the battle of Rorke’s Drift? (allow 1 year either side)

7.

Which film star’s last words were, reputably, said to be “I should never have switched from Scotch to Martinis”?

8.

Whose last words were “On the whole, I’d rather be in Philadelphia”?

ROUND 4 - Pot pourri

1.

Which is the highest capital in Europe, situated some 655m above sea level on an elevated plateau?

2.

When England last won the Ashes in Australia who was the Australian captain?

3.

Which American astronomer provided the first evidence of the expansion of the universe and is considered to be the founder of extra galactic astronomy?

4.

In heraldry, what colour is murrey?

5.

Which fantasy novel, published in 1937, has an alternative title There and Back Again?

6.

The Taj Mahal is situated on the bank of which river?

7.

Which invention of Whitcomb Judson of Chicago, in 1891, was originally called ‘the clasp locker and unlocker of shoes’?

8.

Les Fauves was the name given to a group of artists that included Matisse.  What does the word Fauves mean?

ROUND 5 - Hidden theme

1.

Which part of what meat is now, traditionally, used to make Irish Stew?

2.

In the Wizard of Oz, what did Scarecrow long for?

3.

The Italian region of Calabria is also known as what?

4.

Which Sir Walter Scott novel takes its title from an old Edinburgh Tolbooth (prison)?

5.

What did Nelson lose at Tenerife in 1797?

6.

What unit of measurement is used to determine the height of a horse/pony?

7.

Where were 200 Sioux men, women, and children massacred by US soldiers on 29 December 1890?

8.

What term does the following describe: ‘general guidance, based on experience or practice, rather than theory’?

ROUND 6 - Pot pourri

1.

Which island group gave its name to the decisive naval engagement fought in the Atlantic in December 1914, in which four German cruisers were sunk, with no loss to the British fleet?

2.

Which city is the capital of Japan’s northernmost island, Hokkaido, and was the venue for the 1972 Winter Olympics?

3.

What, in 1934, connected the Coliseum, the Louvre Museum, a symphony by Strauss, a Shakespeare sonnet, and Mickey Mouse?

4.

Which actor, who appeared in Scarface, Name of the Rose, and Bonfire of the Vanities, won an Oscar in 1985 for his performance as the composer, Salieri, in the film, Amadeus?

5.

What is the alternative name for the plant Michaelmas Daisy?

6.

Jacobson’s organ is found in the mouths of certain creatures and enables them to follow scent trails.  What sort of creatures?

7.

What is the free end of a flag called?

8.

Which Queen was at one time erroneously thought to have been buried under Platform 9 at King’s Cross station?

ROUND 7 - 'A Question of Sport' (Summer 2005)

1.

How many wickets did Shane Warne take in the Ashes series?

2.

How many wickets did Andrew Flintoff take in the Ashes series?

3.

Name two of Liverpool’s 3 scorers in the Champions League final.

4.

Who scored twice for AC Milan in the Champions League final (excluding the shoot-out)?

5.

Name 2 of the 3 counties promoted from Division 2 of the County Cricket Championship.i

6.

Name 2 of the 3 teams relegated to Division 2 of the County Cricket Championship.

7.

Who won the US PGA championship?

8.

Who was the runner up in the British Open Golf Championship?

1.

Which actress divorced Dennis Quaid in 2001?

2.

What is the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet?

3.

The French word for paperclip is the same as the English word for which musical instrument?

4.

What was the name of the Swedish Prime Minister assassinated in 1986?

5.

In Greek mythology, which goddess is the avenger of crime and dispenser of justice?

6.

In Heraldry, if an animal is described as urinant what is it doing?

7.

In the 3rd century AD which Roman soldier became the first Christian martyr in Britain, and has a town named after him?

8.

In Holst’s Planet Suite, which planet is the magician?

1.

When estate agent Suzy Lamplugh disappeared, she had gone to show a house to whom?

2.

Carmina Burana is the best-known work of which German composer who died in 1982?

3.

She became Mrs Anne Laurence in 1992.  How is she better known?

4.

In which city is the Dome of the Rock mosque?

5.

Which American musician, composer and bandleader, born 1912 and died 1979, originated progressive jazz?

6.

In which part of the body is the talus bone?

7.

What is the sixth letter of the Greek alphabet?

8.

Which king originated the George Cross?

ROUND 1 - Hidden theme

1.

What is the name of the sea-captain in the Tin-Tin stories?

Captain Haddock

2.

In which mythical thoroughfare does the action of Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess take place?

Catfish Row

3.

What strait separates Tasmania and Australia?

Bass Strait

4.

In Coronation Street, who plays Ken Barlow?

William Roache

5.

Which comic opera by Benjamin Britten tells of the election of a May King in the town of Loxford?

Albert Herring

6.

Ian Lavender played which character in Dad’s Army?

Private Pike

7.

In the Frost TV series starring David Jason, what is the name of Frost’s boss (played by Bruce Alexander)?

Superintendent Mullet

8.

Which boxer defeated Jack Dempsey in 1926 to become World Heavyweight champion?

Gene Tunney

Theme: Each answer contains the name of a fish

ROUND 2 - Pot pourri

1.

What is the name of Dennis the Menace’s pet pig?

Rasher

2.

Who wrote Tarzan of the Apes?

Edgar Rice-Burroughs

3.

Who played Patch Adams in the 1999 film of the same name?

Robin Williams

4.

Which Rhythm and Blues singer called his guitar Lucille?

BB King

5.

Who released early 1980’s albums called Signing Off and Baggariddim?

UB40

6.

In Internet ‘speak’, what do the letters ‘URL’ mean?

Uniform Resource Locator

7.

From which musical does the song, You’ll Never Walk Alone come?

Carousel

8.

How many actual fences are there on Aintree’s Grand National Course (not the number the horses attempt to clear)?

16

ROUND 3 - Pairs

1.

Who was known as ‘The Father of the United Nations’?

Cordell Hull

2.

Who was known as ‘The Father of the Common Market’?

Jean Monnet

3.

Who wrote the television series Porridge? (both writers’ names required)

Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais

4.

Who wrote the television series It Ain’t Half Hot Mum? (both writers’ names required)

Jimmy Perry and David Croft

5.

In what year was the battle of Stirling Bridge? (allow 1 year either side)

1297

(accept 1296 – 1298)

6.

In what year was the battle of Rorke’s Drift? (allow 1 year either side)

1879

(accept 1878 – 1880)

7.

Which film star’s last words were, reputably, said to be “I should never have switched from Scotch to Martinis”?

Humphrey Bogart

8.

Whose last words were “On the whole, I’d rather be in Philadelphia”?

WC Fields

ROUND 4 - Pot pourri

1.

Which is the highest capital in Europe, situated some 655m above sea level on an elevated plateau?

Madrid

2.

When England last won the Ashes in Australia who was the Australian captain?

Allan Border

3.

Which American astronomer provided the first evidence of the expansion of the universe and is considered to be the founder of extra galactic astronomy?

(Edwin) Hubble

4.

In heraldry, what colour is murrey?

Purple/red

(Mulberry)

5.

Which fantasy novel, published in 1937, has an alternative title There and Back Again?

The Hobbit

6.

The Taj Mahal is situated on the bank of which river?

Jumna

7.

Which invention of Whitcomb Judson of Chicago, in 1891, was originally called ‘the clasp locker and unlocker of shoes’?

The zip fastener

8.

Les Fauves was the name given to a group of artists that included Matisse.  What does the word Fauves mean?

Wild animals

ROUND 5 - Hidden theme

1

Which part of what meat is now, traditionally, used to make Irish Stew?

Neck of Lamb

(it used to be kid as sheep were too valuable)

2.

In the Wizard of Oz, what did Scarecrow long for?

A Brain

3.

The Italian region of Calabria is also known as what?

The Toe of Italy

4.

Which Sir Walter Scott novel takes its title from an old Edinburgh Tolbooth (prison)?

Heart of Midlothian

5.

What did Nelson lose at Tenerife in 1797?

His right arm

(accept his arm)

6.

What unit of measurement is used to determine the height of a horse/pony?

Hand

7.

Where were 200 Sioux men, women, and children massacred by US soldiers on 29 December 1890?

Wounded Knee Creek

8.

What term does the following describe: ‘general guidance, based on experience or practice, rather than theory’?

Rule of thumb

Theme: Each answer contains the name of a part of the body

ROUND 6 - Pot pourri

1

Which island group gave its name to the decisive naval engagement fought in the Atlantic in December 1914, in which four German cruisers were sunk, with no loss to the British fleet?

(The battle of) The Falkland Islands

2.

Which city is the capital of Japan’s northernmost island, Hokkaido, and was the venue for the 1972 Winter Olympics?

Sapporo

3.

What, in 1934, connected the Coliseum, the Louvre Museum, a symphony by Strauss, a Shakespeare sonnet, and Mickey Mouse?

The lyrics of the song You’re the Top

(by Cole Porter from Anything Goes)

4.

Which actor, who appeared in Scarface, Name of the Rose, and Bonfire of the Vanities, won an Oscar in 1985 for his performance as the composer, Salieri, in the film, Amadeus?

F  Murray Abraham

5.

What is the alternative name for the plant Michaelmas Daisy?

Aster

6.

Jacobson’s organ is found in the mouths of certain creatures and enables them to follow scent trails.  What sort of creatures?

Snakes

7.

What is the free end of a flag called?

The fly

8.

Which Queen was at one time erroneously thought to have been buried under Platform 9 at King’s Cross station?

Boadicea

ROUND 7 - 'A Question of Sport' (Summer 2005)

1.

How many wickets did Shane Warne take in the Ashes series?

40

2.

How many wickets did Andrew Flintoff take in the Ashes series?

24

3.

Name two of Liverpool’s 3 scorers in the Champions League final.

(2 from)

Gerrard, Smicer, Alonso

4.

Who scored twice for AC Milan in the Champions League final (excluding the shoot-out)?

Crespo

5.

Name 2 of the 3 counties promoted from Division 2 of the County Cricket Championship.i

(2 from)

Lancashire, Yorkshire, Durham

6.

Name 2 of the 3 teams relegated to Division 2 of the County Cricket Championship.

(2 from)

Surrey, Gloucestershire, Glamorgan

7.

Who won the US PGA championship?

Phil Mickelson

8.

Who was the runner up in the British Open Golf Championship?

Colin Montgomery

1.

Which actress divorced Dennis Quaid in 2001?

Meg Ryan

2.

What is the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet?

Gimmel

3.

The French word for paperclip is the same as the English word for which musical instrument?

Trombone

4.

What was the name of the Swedish Prime Minister assassinated in 1986?

Olaf Palme

5.

In Greek mythology, which goddess is the avenger of crime and dispenser of justice?

Nemesis

6.

In Heraldry, if an animal is described as urinant what is it doing?

Diving

(Latin: urinare = to dive)

7.

In the 3rd century AD which Roman soldier became the first Christian martyr in Britain, and has a town named after him?

St Alban

8.

In Holst’s Planet Suite, which planet is the magician?

Uranus

1.

When estate agent Suzy Lamplugh disappeared, she had gone to show a house to whom?

Mr Kipper

2.

Carmina Burana is the best-known work of which German composer who died in 1982?

Carl Orff

3.

She became Mrs Anne Laurence in 1992.  How is she better known?

The Princess Royal

(she married Tim Laurence in 1992)

4.

In which city is the Dome of the Rock mosque?

Jerusalem

(built 688-692)

5.

Which American musician, composer and bandleader, born 1912 and died 1979, originated progressive jazz?

Stan Kenton

6.

In which part of the body is the talus bone?

Ankle

7.

What is the sixth letter of the Greek alphabet?

Zeta

(accept ‘Z’)

8.

Which king originated the George Cross?

King George VI

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