ROUND 1

1.

Name either scorer of Argentina’s goals against England on Saturday.

2.

In which film of 1991 does Robert de Niro play the character Max Cady?

3.

Which rock group is made up of brother and sister Jack and Meg White?

4.

In which German city did the rebuilt Frauenkirche recently reopen?

5.

Whose recent autobiography is titled Extreme?

6.

Which geological period or age immediately follows the Jurassic and saw the dinosaurs reaching their peak before rapid extinction?

7.

Which horse won the 2005 Derby?

8.

Which TV family are the best known residents of the Chatsworth Estate?

ROUND 2 - 'Alliterative Answers'

Each answer consists of two words beginning with the same letter

1.

What is the real name of Spiderman?

2.

In the Basque language Donostia is the name of which city, home of Real Sociedad?

3.

In which opera, set on HMS Indomitable, do the characters John Claggart and Captain Vere appear?

4.

The fictional Starkadders family lived on which farm?

5.

Which Championship team was founded in 1877 and was originally known as St Luke’s?

6.

Who composed the ballet The Miraculous Mandarin and a Concerto for Orchestra?

7.

Which Portuguese sauce’s main ingredients are dried red chillis and olive oil (and/or vinegar)?

8.

Which character, created by C S Forester first appeared in The Happy Return?

ROUND 3

1.

Only two countries in the world can be described as ‘double landlocked’, that is, surrounded entirely by countries that are themselves landlocked.  Name either.

2.

Which 1969 novel opens with the words: “Amergo Bonasera sat in New York Criminal Court Number 3 and waited for justice; vengeance on the men who had so cruelly hurt his daughter, who had tried to dishonor her”?

3.

Which city was known to the Romans as Lugdunum?

4.

Which structure in the brain is so named because it is almond shaped?

5.

Name three counties bordering Hertfordshire.

6.

What was unique about the 1953 Queen’s Christmas Broadcast?

7.

Verdi’s opera Rigoletto is based on a drama called Le Roi s’amuse by which famous French author?

8.

Which famous photographer (who died in 1994) said: “The negative is comparable to the composer's score and the print to its performance.  Each performance differs in subtle ways.”?

ROUND 4

1.

Nina and Santa Maria were two of Columbus’s ships in 1492.  What was the name of the third?

2.

Which Prussian general came to the assistance of Wellington at the battle of Waterloo?

3.

Great Britain won just one athletics medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.  Who won it?

4.

In the world of football Cameroon, Scotland and Senegal have been the last three what?

5.

In Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, what was the name of the malevolent housekeeper?

6.

In Hitchcock’s screen adaptation of Rebecca, who played the female lead?

7.

Who is David Cameron’s campaign manager?

8.

Who is the current Father of the House?

ROUND 5

1.

Name either of England’s try scorers against Australia on Saturday.

2.

Name the character played by Robert de Niro in Taxi Driver.

3.

Who is the lead singer of The Darkness?

4.

In which city is Maximillian Strasse the main thoroughfare?

5.

What is the title of the recently published book by David Bowie, which is subtitled The Life and Times of Ziggy Stardust?

6.

Which geological period or age comes between the Devonian and Permian and saw the first land vertebrates?

7.

Which horse won the 2005 Grand National?

8.

Which TV characters live in Herby City?

ROUND 6

1.

The two largest landlocked countries in the world are both in Asia.  Name either.

2.

Which 1976 book opens with the words: “Intelligent life on a planet comes of age when it first works out the reason for its own existence.  If superior creatures from space ever visit earth, the first question they will ask, in order to assess the level of our civilization, is: ‘Have they discovered evolution yet?’”?

3.

Which city was known to the Romans as Olisipo?

4.

Which structure in the brain is so named because it supposedly resembles a seahorse in shape?

5.

Which county links Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire?

6.

Who wrote the 1932 King’s Christmas Broadcast?

7.

Verdi’s opera La Traviata is based on the novel La Dame aux Camellias by which famous French author?

8.

Which famous photographer (who died in 2004) said: “Actually, I’m not all that interested in the subject of photography.  Once the picture is in the box, I’m not all that interested in what happens next.  Hunters, after all, aren’t cooks.”

ROUND 7

1.

Which English philosopher lived from 1632 to 1704 and wrote amongst other things An Essay concerning Human Understanding?

2.

Which English philosopher lived from 1806 to 1873 and wrote amongst other things an essay entitled Utilitarianism?

3.

Which Roman Emperor was the son of Marcus Aurelius?

4.

What was significant about the Roman Emperor Romulus Augustulus who died in 476 AD?

5.

Where or what is the longest bridge in the world according to Guinness Book of Records?

6.

The St Gotthard tunnel in Switzerland was until 2000 the longest road tunnel in the world.  In which country is the current longest road tunnel?

7.

Which of these herbs is the odd one out because it belongs to a different plant family:  basil, oregano, dill, sage?

8.

Which of these vegetables is the odd one out because it belongs to a different plant family: cabbage, spinach, cauliflower, turnip?

1.

Which pair were presenting the BBC news when the studio was invaded by lesbians?

2.

Who did Anna Ford throw a drink over when sacked by TVam?

3.

Which civil servant was thrust into the spotlight during the Falklands war as a daily TV spokesman for the MOD?

4.

Which civil servant infamously described 9/11 as “a good day to bury bad news”?

5.

Who presents the BBC weekday 10 o'clock news?

6.

How old is Huw Edwards?

7.

Which pair are the main presenters of Radio 5 Live’s weeknight Drive programme between 4 and 7pm?

8.

Jane Garvey has a celebrity broadcasting husband, also with the BBC, who is he?

1.

Actor Elmer Dresslar died in October this year. He is the best known as the voice of which advertising character?

2.

The adjective ceratorhine means relating to or resembling which creature?

3.

All quizzers should know by now that the maximum possible score for a cribbage hand is 29. Which combination of cards must be held in the hand to have a chance of scoring the maximum?

4.

What links Tom Jones (1966), Dave Edmunds (1970), Human League (1981) and Whitney Houston (1992)?

ROUND 1

1.

Name either scorer of Argentina’s goals against England on Saturday.

(one of )

Hernan Crespo or Walter Samuel

2.

In which film of 1991 does Robert de Niro play the character Max Cady?

Cape Fear

3.

Which rock group is made up of brother and sister Jack and Meg White?

The White Stripes

4.

In which German city did the rebuilt Frauenkirche recently reopen?

Dresden

(it was destroyed in the war)

5.

Whose recent autobiography is titled Extreme?

Sharon Osbourne

6.

Which geological period or age immediately follows the Jurassic and saw the dinosaurs reaching their peak before rapid extinction?

Cretaceous

7.

Which horse won the 2005 Derby?

Motivator

8.

Which TV family are the best known residents of the Chatsworth Estate?

Gallaghers

(Shameless)

ROUND 2 - 'Alliterative Answers'

 Each answer consists of two words beginning with the same letter

1.

What is the real name of Spiderman?

Peter Parker

2.

In the Basque language Donostia is the name of which city, home of Real Sociedad?

San Sebastian

3.

In which opera, set on HMS Indomitable, do the characters John Claggart and Captain Vere appear?

Billy Budd

4.

The fictional Starkadders family lived on which farm?

Cold Comfort

(by Stella Gibbons)

5.

Which Championship team was founded in 1877 and was originally known as St Luke’s?

Wolverhampton Wanderers

6.

Who composed the ballet The Miraculous Mandarin and a Concerto for Orchestra?

Bela Bartok

7.

Which Portuguese sauce’s main ingredients are dried red chillis and olive oil (and/or vinegar)?

Piri-Piri

8.

Which character, created by C S Forester first appeared in The Happy Return?

Horatio Hornblower

ROUND 3

1.

Only two countries in the world can be described as ‘double landlocked’, that is, surrounded entirely by countries that are themselves landlocked.  Name either.

(one of)

Liechtenstein or Uzbekistan

2.

Which 1969 novel opens with the words: “Amergo Bonasera sat in New York Criminal Court Number 3 and waited for justice; vengeance on the men who had so cruelly hurt his daughter, who had tried to dishonor her”?

The Godfather

(by Mario Puzo)

3.

Which city was known to the Romans as Lugdunum?

Lyon

4.

Which structure in the brain is so named because it is almond shaped?

Amygdala

5.

Name three counties bordering Hertfordshire.

(3 from)

Essex, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire or Greater London

(Middlesex is acceptable instead of, but not as well as, London)

6.

What was unique about the 1953 Queen’s Christmas Broadcast?

It was the only one made from outside the UK

(from Auckland, New Zealand in fact)

7.

Verdi’s opera Rigoletto is based on a drama called Le Roi s’amuse by which famous French author?

Victor Hugo

8.

Which famous photographer (who died in 1994) said: “The negative is comparable to the composer's score and the print to its performance.  Each performance differs in subtle ways.”?

Ansel Adams

ROUND 4

1.

Nina and Santa Maria were two of Columbus’s ships in 1492.  What was the name of the third?

Pinta

2.

Which Prussian general came to the assistance of Wellington at the battle of Waterloo?

General Blücher

3.

Great Britain won just one athletics medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.  Who won it?

Brendan Foster

4.

In the world of football Cameroon, Scotland and Senegal have been the last three what?

Opening match opponents for the holders in the last 3 world cup tournaments

5.

In Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, what was the name of the malevolent housekeeper?

Mrs Danvers

6.

In Hitchcock’s screen adaptation of Rebecca, who played the female lead?

Joan Fontaine

7.

Who is David Cameron’s campaign manager?

George Osborne

8.

Who is the current Father of the House?

Dennis Skinner

ROUND 5

1

Name either of England’s try scorers against Australia on Saturday.

(one of)

Ben Cohen or Mark Cueto

2.

Name the character played by Robert de Niro in Taxi Driver.

Travis Bickle

3.

Who is the lead singer of The Darkness?

Justin Hawkins

4.

In which city is Maximillian Strasse the main thoroughfare?

Munich

5.

What is the title of the recently published book by David Bowie, which is subtitled The Life and Times of Ziggy Stardust?

Moonage Daydream

6.

Which geological period or age comes between the Devonian and Permian and saw the first land vertebrates?

Carboniferous

7.

Which horse won the 2005 Grand National?

Hedgehunter

8.

Which TV characters live in Herby City?

Lou and Andy

(Little Britain)

ROUND 6

1

The two largest landlocked countries in the world are both in Asia.  Name either.

(one of)

Kazakhstan or Mongolia

2.

Which 1976 book opens with the words: “Intelligent life on a planet comes of age when it first works out the reason for its own existence.  If superior creatures from space ever visit earth, the first question they will ask, in order to assess the level of our civilization, is: ‘Have they discovered evolution yet?’”?

The Selfish Gene

(by Richard Dawkins)

3.

Which city was known to the Romans as Olisipo?

Lisbon

4.

Which structure in the brain is so named because it supposedly resembles a seahorse in shape?

Hippocampus

5.

Which county links Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire?

Northamptonshire

6.

Who wrote the 1932 King’s Christmas Broadcast?

Rudyard Kipling

(after all he did such a good job with the cenotaph!)

7.

Verdi’s opera La Traviata is based on the novel La Dame aux Camellias by which famous French author?

Alexandre Dumas

8.

Which famous photographer (who died in 2004) said: “Actually, I’m not all that interested in the subject of photography.  Once the picture is in the box, I’m not all that interested in what happens next.  Hunters, after all, aren’t cooks.”

Henri Cartier-Bresson

ROUND 7

1.

Which English philosopher lived from 1632 to 1704 and wrote amongst other things An Essay concerning Human Understanding?

John Locke

2.

Which English philosopher lived from 1806 to 1873 and wrote amongst other things an essay entitled Utilitarianism?

John Stuart Mill

3.

Which Roman Emperor was the son of Marcus Aurelius?

Commodus

(in real life as well as in Gladiator and The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire)

4.

What was significant about the Roman Emperor Romulus Augustulus who died in 476 AD?

He was the last emperor in the West

5.

Where or what is the longest bridge in the world according to Guinness Book of Records?

The Lake Pontchartrain causeway near Los Angeles

(nearly 24 miles long)

6.

The St Gotthard tunnel in Switzerland was until 2000 the longest road tunnel in the world.  In which country is the current longest road tunnel?

Norway

(the Laerdal tunnel linking Bergen and Oslo is 15.3 miles long - St Gotthard is 10.6 miles long)

7.

Which of these herbs is the odd one out because it belongs to a different plant family:  basil, oregano, dill, sage?

Dill

(it belongs to the umbelliferae or apiaceae also known as the carrot family - the others belong to the mint family scientifically known as lamiaceae or labiates)

8.

Which of these vegetables is the odd one out because it belongs to a different plant family: cabbage, spinach, cauliflower, turnip?

Spinach

(it belongs to the Goosefoot family or Chenopodiaceae - the others are brassicaceae, formerly cruciferae, i.e. the cabbage family)

1.

Which pair were presenting the BBC news when the studio was invaded by lesbians?

Sue Lawley and Nicholas Witchell

2.

Who did Anna Ford throw a drink over when sacked by TVam?

Jonathan Aitken

3.

Which civil servant was thrust into the spotlight during the Falklands war as a daily TV spokesman for the MOD?

Ian Macdonald

4.

Which civil servant infamously described 9/11 as “a good day to bury bad news”?

Jo Moore

5.

Who presents the BBC weekday 10 o'clock news?

Huw Edwards

6.

How old is Huw Edwards?

44

7.

Which pair are the main presenters of Radio 5 Live’s weeknight Drive programme between 4 and 7pm?

Jane Garvey and Peter Allen

8.

Jane Garvey has a celebrity broadcasting husband, also with the BBC, who is he?

Adrian Chiles

1.

Actor Elmer Dresslar died in October this year. He is the best known as the voice of which advertising character?

The Jolly Green Giant

2.

The adjective ceratorhine means relating to or resembling which creature?

Rhinoceros

3.

All quizzers should know by now that the maximum possible score for a cribbage hand is 29. Which combination of cards must be held in the hand to have a chance of scoring the maximum?

Three fives and a jack

(all of different suits)

4.

What links Tom Jones (1966), Dave Edmunds (1970), Human League (1981) and Whitney Houston (1992)?

They all had Christmas number ones in the UK

(respectively The Green Green Grass of Home, I Hear You Knockin’, Don’t You Want Me? and I Will Always Love You)

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