ROUND 1 - Hidden theme

1.

On receiving her MBE, who got a kiss on the cheek from the Queen?

2.

She created Oh, What A Lovely War!  Who was she?

3.

Which troubleshooter died in January 2008?

4.

Which politician, born in 1888, attained the posts of Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, and Home Secretary?

5.

Alfred Wainwright was the Borough Treasurer of which town?

6.

Who won the World Snooker title 3 times, in 1969, 1971 and 1977, and died in 2006?

7.

Which 19th-century British explorer could apparently speak 29 languages and famously made a secret trip to Mecca?

8.

Fernando Rey played the villain in which film?

ROUND 2

1.

Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss is on the sound track of which Stanley Kubrick film?

2.

The adagietto from Mahler’s 5th Symphony was made famous by which Visconti film?

3.

In horse racing what is the shortest distance over which a National Hunt race is run in the UK?

4.

In horse racing what is the shortest distance over which a Flat race is run in the UK?

5.

Meadow cranesbill is a form of which garden plant?

6.

Larkspur is the annual variety of which garden plant?

7.

In which group of islands is Bikini Atoll?

8.

What is the name of the stretch of water between Indonesia and Malaysia?

ROUND 3 - Themed - 'Double take'

1.

Who was appointed the 6th Secretary of the United Nations on 1 January 1992?

2.

In Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly, what is the eponymous heroine’s real name?

3.

What phrase links a GPS navigation system and a percussion instrument?

4.

This hit musical comedy, with lyrics by Irving Caesar and Otto Harbach, was first produced at London’s Palace Theatre on 11 March 1925; it included the well-known songs: Tea for Two and I Want to be Happy. What was the musical called?

5.

In Offenbach’s, Orpheus in the Underworld, which dance-rhythm is heard during the overture?

6.

Who was Paris Hilton’s famous film star great-aunt?

7.

Formed in 1978, this band’s hit singles include: Girls on Film, Rio, Hungry Like a Wolf and the James Bond theme, A View to Kill, in 1985. Name the band.

8.

By what name is the dolphinfish known in this country?

ROUND 4

1.

Cover point, point, third man and centre are positions in which sport?

2.

What is the name given to the 12 fasting days falling in sets of three following the first Sunday in Lent, Whitsunday, Holy Cross Day and St Lucia’s day?

3.

Of which organisation is Jim Kufuor the chairman?

4.

Which sporting event will be held at Lord’s cricket ground during the 2012 Summer Olympics?

5.

There are three main legal requirements to become US President: the first is to be born a US citizen, the second is to be over 35. What is the third?

6.

By describing, or by performing, the action, how do you indicate to the air rescue service in the Alps that you do not require assistance?

7.

In the history of the English crown there has only been one occasion in which a monarch has succeeded his brother-in-law. Who are the kings in question?

8.

A whist or bridge hand with no card higher than a nine is named after the peer who used to give odds of 1000 to 1 against its occurrence.  What is its name?

ROUND 5

1.

Give either christian name of showman P T Barnum.

2.

The old niblick club approximates to which modern golf club?

3.

Which London underground line terminates at Brixton in the south and Walthamstow Central in the north?

4.

Which cricketer wrote the autobiography Beyond Ten Thousand?

5.

In Greek mythology who was Earth Goddess and mother to the 12 Titans?

6.

Which General was defeated at the Battle of Zama in 202BC?

7.

Ignoring Sanditon, which title from Jane Austen’s six popular novels is missing from this list: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey?

8.

Who was the author of the book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus?

ROUND 6

1.

Of whom was Churchill speaking when he described him as the only man who could lose the First World War in an afternoon?

2.

Which Oscar-winning US actress described Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers thus: “She gives him sex, he gives her class”?

3.

Who according to Forbes magazine has been the most powerful woman in the world for the last two years?

4.

What is the name of the pre-eminent 18th century Swiss mathematician who solved the problem of the Seven Bridges of Konigsberg and made significant advances in almost all branches of mathematics?  He used to appear on the Swiss 10 Franc note.

5.

There are two reasons why peers may sit in the House of Commons - Lord Palmerston and Lord North being examples of each.  Name one of the reasons.

6.

In which city was Benazir Bhutto assassinated?

7.

Which telecommunications company founded in 1998 takes its name from an ancient village in Sardinia?

8.

Complete the following sequence: Six bagger, five bagger, four bagger, turkey, double.

ROUND 7

1.

Who is the only title character of a Disney animated feature film that does not speak?

2.

Who was the only American President to be a bachelor throughout his term of office?  (Hint: He was one of the insignificant presidents between Van Buren and Lincoln)

3.

Who is the only person to have won an Oscar, both of whose parents had also won Oscars?

4.

What was governed by the Hays Code?

5.

Which two places does the Appian Way link?

6.

What facial characteristic is lacked by almost all the characters in The Simpsons apart from Milhouse and his parents?

7.

What links Sam the Eagle, Amik the Beaver, Misha the Bear and Hodori the Tiger?

8.

Who are the 40 immortals of linguistic purity?

ROUND 8

1.

Which 19th-century novel, published in 1871, has the alternative title A Study of Provincial Life?

2.

What are inside a carpetbag steak?

3.

Who, in a song in 1972, wanted to marry her Uncle Ray?

4.

Which Chinese expression meaning ‘work together’ is used in English to denote mindless enthusiasm?

5.

Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No.4 in B Flat and Ravel’s Piano Concerto in D Major were both written for Paul Wittgenstein.  What is unusual about them?

6.

A francophone is a person who speaks French.  What language does a lusophone speak?

7.

What is Postman Pat’s surname?

8.

What were, according to Lord Reith, the three verbs describing the purpose of the BBC - and are still in the BBC’s mission statement?

1.

Which Mitford sister is missing from this list: Nancy, Jessica, Deborah, Pamela, and Unity?

2.

Rhytiphobia might be feared by Hollywood stars and narcissists (amongst many others).  Of what is it the fear?

3.

Gaetano Donizetti is probably best-known for composing operas.  How many did he actually compose? (allow + or – 2)

4.

In finance, what is an SIV?

5.

In finance, what type of fund is an OEIC?

6.

What is the maximum numbers of friends allowed on Facebook? (allow + or - 200)?

7.

Pentheraphobia might be feared by married couples. Of what is it a fear?

ROUND 1 - Hidden theme

1.

On receiving her MBE, who got a kiss on the cheek from the Queen?

Zara Phillips

2.

She created Oh, What A Lovely War!  Who was she?

Joan Littlewood

3.

Which troubleshooter died in January 2008?

John Harvey Jones

4.

Which politician, born in 1888, attained the posts of Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, and Home Secretary?

Herbert Morrison

5.

Alfred Wainwright was the Borough Treasurer of which town?

Kendal

6.

Who won the World Snooker title 3 times, in 1969, 1971 and 1977, and died in 2006?

John Spencer

7.

Which 19th-century British explorer could apparently speak 29 languages and famously made a secret trip to Mecca?

(Sir Richard) Burton

8.

Fernando Rey played the villain in which film?

The French Connection

Theme: Each answer contains the name of a shop or chain of shops/supermarkets

ROUND 2

1.

Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss is on the sound track of which Stanley Kubrick film?

2001: A Space Odyssey

2.

The adagietto from Mahler’s 5th Symphony was made famous by which Visconti film?

Death in Venice

3.

In horse racing what is the shortest distance over which a National Hunt race is run in the UK?

2 miles

4.

In horse racing what is the shortest distance over which a Flat race is run in the UK?

5 furlongs

5.

Meadow cranesbill is a form of which garden plant?

(Hardy) Geranium

6.

Larkspur is the annual variety of which garden plant?

Delphinium

7.

In which group of islands is Bikini Atoll?

Marshall Islands

8.

What is the name of the stretch of water between Indonesia and Malaysia?

Strait of Malacca

ROUND 3 - Themed - 'Double take'

1.

Who was appointed the 6th Secretary of the United Nations on 1 January 1992?

Boutros Boutros Ghali

2.

In Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly, what is the eponymous heroine’s real name?

Cho Cho San

3.

What phrase links a GPS navigation system and a percussion instrument?

Tom Tom

4.

This hit musical comedy, with lyrics by Irving Caesar and Otto Harbach, was first produced at London’s Palace Theatre on 11 March 1925; it included the well-known songs: Tea for Two and I Want to be Happy. What was the musical called?

No, No Nanette

5.

In Offenbach’s, Orpheus in the Underworld, which dance-rhythm is heard during the overture?

Can-can

6.

Who was Paris Hilton’s famous film star great-aunt?

Zsa Zsa Gabor

7.

Formed in 1978, this band’s hit singles include: Girls on Film, Rio, Hungry Like a Wolf and the James Bond theme, A View to Kill, in 1985. Name the band.

Duran Duran

8.

By what name is the dolphinfish known in this country?

Mahi mahi

(delicious - available from Sainsbury's fresh fish counters - recipes available from Roz on request)

ROUND 4

1.

Cover point, point, third man and centre are positions in which sport?

(Women’s) Lacrosse

2.

What is the name given to the 12 fasting days falling in sets of three following the first Sunday in Lent, Whitsunday, Holy Cross Day and St Lucia’s day?

Ember days

3.

Of which organisation is Jim Kufuor the chairman?

The African Union

4.

Which sporting event will be held at Lord’s cricket ground during the 2012 Summer Olympics?

Archery

5.

There are three main legal requirements to become US President: the first is to be born a US citizen, the second is to be over 35. What is the third?

To have been resident in the United States for at least 14 years

(Note to question master: do not worry too much about them getting the 14 right)

6.

By describing, or by performing, the action, how do you indicate to the air rescue service in the Alps that you do not require assistance?

By holding one arm vertically above the head and holding the other arm pointing towards the ground parallel to the body

(holding both arms above the head indicates that assistance is required)

7.

In the history of the English crown there has only been one occasion in which a monarch has succeeded his brother-in-law. Who are the kings in question?

Edward the Confessor and King Harold II

8.

A whist or bridge hand with no card higher than a nine is named after the peer who used to give odds of 1000 to 1 against its occurrence.  What is its name?

Yarborough

ROUND 5

1

Give either christian name of showman P T Barnum.

Phineas or Taylor

2.

The old niblick club approximates to which modern golf club?

8 or 9 Iron

3.

Which London underground line terminates at Brixton in the south and Walthamstow Central in the north?

Victoria line

4.

Which cricketer wrote the autobiography Beyond Ten Thousand?

Allan Border

5.

In Greek mythology who was Earth Goddess and mother to the 12 Titans?

Gaea

6.

Which General was defeated at the Battle of Zama in 202BC?

Hannibal

7.

Ignoring Sanditon, which title from Jane Austen’s six popular novels is missing from this list: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey?

Persuasion

8.

Who was the author of the book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus?

John Gray

ROUND 6

1

Of whom was Churchill speaking when he described him as the only man who could lose the First World War in an afternoon?

(Admiral Lord) Jellicoe

2.

Which Oscar-winning US actress described Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers thus: “She gives him sex, he gives her class”?

Katharine Hepburn

3.

Who according to Forbes magazine has been the most powerful woman in the world for the last two years?

Angela Merkel

4.

What is the name of the pre-eminent 18th century Swiss mathematician who solved the problem of the Seven Bridges of Konigsberg and made significant advances in almost all branches of mathematics?  He used to appear on the Swiss 10 Franc note.

(Leonhard) Euler

5.

There are two reasons why peers may sit in the House of Commons - Lord Palmerston and Lord North being examples of each.  Name one of the reasons.

(either)

Being an Irish peer

(or)

being a peer with a courtesy title

(i.e. the eldest sons of certain peers)

6.

In which city was Benazir Bhutto assassinated?

Rawalpindi

7.

Which telecommunications company founded in 1998 takes its name from an ancient village in Sardinia?

Tiscali

8.

Complete the following sequence: Six bagger, five bagger, four bagger, turkey, double.

A strike

(in 10 Pin Bowling a double is two strikes in a row, a turkey is three strikes in a row, etc.)

ROUND 7

1.

Who is the only title character of a Disney animated feature film that does not speak?

Dumbo

2.

Who was the only American President to be a bachelor throughout his term of office?  (Hint: He was one of the insignificant presidents between Van Buren and Lincoln)

James Buchanan

3.

Who is the only person to have won an Oscar, both of whose parents had also won Oscars?

Liza Minelli

4.

What was governed by the Hays Code?

Morals in US Films

5.

Which two places does the Appian Way link?

Rome and Brindisi

6.

What facial characteristic is lacked by almost all the characters in The Simpsons apart from Milhouse and his parents?

Eyebrows

7.

What links Sam the Eagle, Amik the Beaver, Misha the Bear and Hodori the Tiger?

They are all Olympic Games mascots

8.

Who are the 40 immortals of linguistic purity?

L'Academie Francaise

ROUND 8

1.

Which 19th-century novel, published in 1871, has the alternative title A Study of Provincial Life?

Middlemarch

2.

What are inside a carpetbag steak?

Oysters

3.

Who, in a song in 1972, wanted to marry her Uncle Ray?

Clair

(by Gilbert O' Sullivan)

4.

Which Chinese expression meaning ‘work together’ is used in English to denote mindless enthusiasm?

Gung ho

5.

Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No.4 in B Flat and Ravel’s Piano Concerto in D Major were both written for Paul Wittgenstein.  What is unusual about them?

They are written for the left hand only

(Wittgenstein lost his right arm in the First World War)

6.

A francophone is a person who speaks French.  What language does a lusophone speak?

Portuguese

7.

What is Postman Pat’s surname?

Clifton

8.

What were, according to Lord Reith, the three verbs describing the purpose of the BBC - and are still in the BBC’s mission statement?

Entertain, inform, educate

1.

Which Mitford sister is missing from this list: Nancy, Jessica, Deborah, Pamela, and Unity?

Diana

2.

Rhytiphobia might be feared by Hollywood stars and narcissists (amongst many others).  Of what is it the fear?

Wrinkles

3.

Gaetano Donizetti is probably best-known for composing operas.  How many did he actually compose? (allow + or – 2)

53

4.

In finance, what is an SIV?

Structured Investment Vehicle

5.

In finance, what type of fund is an OEIC?

Open-Ended Investment Company

6.

What is the maximum numbers of friends allowed on Facebook? (allow + or - 200)?

5000

7.

Pentheraphobia might be feared by married couples. Of what is it a fear?

Mothers-in-law

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