ROUND 1 - Hidden theme

1.

Which 1985 novel by John Irving, featuring Homer Wells and Dr Wilbur Larch, was made into a film of the same name in 1999?

2.

The night he was arrested for the murder of John Lennon, Mark Chapman was found with a copy of which book?

3.

Whose principal antagonist was District Attorney Hamilton Burger?

4.

What name has been shared by five fictional cats in the Simpson family in the TV show The Simpsons?

5.

Which song was the Four Seasons’ first British hit and a number one in the USA?      

6.

Which song, a top ten hit of 1973, opens by relating the robbery of Captain Farrell?

7.

Which semi-soft cheese from Brittany has a distinctive orange crust and was originally invented by Trappist monks?

8.

Which American anthropologist who lived between 1901 and 1978 wrote many reports about the purportedly healthy attitude towards sex in South Pacific and Southeast Asian traditional cultures?

ROUND 2

1.

Who was assassinated on 6 September 1901 by Leon Czogolz?

2.

Who was assassinated on 20 August 1940 by Ramon Mercador?

3.

Which scientific term is given to the measure of energy required for a substance to change state… e.g. boiling water to steam, freezing water to ice?

4.

Which scientific term is used to describe methods of separation of liquids… e.g. spreading component parts of ink across a filter paper?

5.

Which Salford prison opened in 2000?

6.

Which north-west prison was given a new role as a Category C prison for adult males in 2000?      

7.

In which castle on the Isle of Wight was Charles I imprisoned for fourteen months before his execution in 1649?

8.

In 1400 Richard II died within the walls of which Yorkshire castle?

ROUND 3

1.

How is Ohm’s law denoted?

2.

How is Newton’s Second Law denoted?

3.

Which celebrated English oil painting of c.1770 is thought to be a portrait of Jonathan Buttell, the son of a wealthy hardware merchant?

4.

Which celebrated Degas painting of 1876 was originally called A Sketch of a French Café?

5.

Which flower has a name which means ‘nose twister’ because of its strong smell?

6.

Which flower has a name which means ''a little sword' because of the shape of its leaves?

7.

With which act of historical infamy are the names of Reginald Fitzurse, Hugh de Moreville, William de Tracy and Richard le Breton associated?

8.

What name was given to the instrument of the counter-Reformation that was convened by the Roman Catholic Church from 1545 to 1563?

ROUND 4

1.

Which three words appearing consecutively in the dictionary are defined as:

a) the scientific study of old age

b) to manipulate so as to gain advantage

c) a form of a verb, grammatically functioning as a noun?

2.

Which three words appearing consecutively in the dictionary are defined as

a) a bacterial disease

b) consecutive vowels requiring a one-syllable speech sound

c) a giant, plant-eating dinosaur?

3.

What did Montreal and Hereford get in 1809 that London got 32 years later?

4.

Buried underneath which monument in London are a set of morning newspapers from 1878, a set of coins, a razor, a box of pins, four Bibles in different languages, Bradshaw’s Railway Guide and photographs of 12 of the best-looking Englishwomen of the day?

5.

Which is the heaviest of the inert gases?  

6.

Which inert gas was first discovered in the spectrum of the Sun?

7.

England has seven, Wales 14 and Scotland 284; what are they?

8.

Where in Britain are the Cuillin Hills?

ROUND 5 - Hidden theme

1.

Who directed the 2003 Oscar-winning film Lost in Translation?

2.

Which 1984 film directed by Wim Wenders featured a distinctive score by Ry Cooder?

3.

Between 1997 and 1998 which football striker, then playing for Coventry, won four caps for England but was controversially excluded from the World Cup squad of 1998?

4.

Which football left back made 213 appearances for Tottenham from 1990, was transferred to Portsmouth in 2000 and became a manager in 2003?

5.

Which psychological phenomenon derives its name from the geographical location of a bank robbery in 1973?

6.

Of which newspaper was Ben Bradlee the editor from 1968 to 1991?

7.

What, having the nickname the 'Wimpy', was the only British bomber plane to be produced for the entire duration of WWII?

8.

During the Falklands War of 1982 which ocean liner, nicknamed the Great White Whale, did the Ministry of Defence requisition as a troopship?

ROUND 6

1.

Myositis is a general term for the inflammation of what?

2.

Orchitis refers to inflammation of which part of the body?

3.

Which country did the USA invade under Operation Just Cause on December 20 1989?

4.

What was Operation Thunderbolt carried out successfully in Africa on July 3 1976?

5.

Drambuie is a malt whisky liqueur flavoured with herbs and spices and which other ingredient?       

6.

With which fruit is the liqueur Mirabelle flavoured?

7.

Which comedy/drama film starring Will Smith as a vigilante superhero was the fourth biggest worldwide box office hit of 2008?

8.

Which film starring Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark, a technologically advanced superhero, was the fifth biggest worldwide box office hit of 2008?

ROUND 7 - Picture Round

1.

The artwork is by E R Geiger… but name the 1970’s album and group.

2.

The Smiths' Girlfriend in a Coma, 1987 … but who is the local British playwright depicted on the album cover?

3.

The record sleeve from The Smiths' single Last Night I Dreamt that Somebody Loves Me, released in December 1987, features a photo of whom?

4.

Name the artist responsible for this record sleeve.

5.

Used for the sleeve of a worldwide high selling album of 2008, who painted Liberty Leading the People?

6.

Who released an album with this cover?

7.

Who were British Prime Minister and US President when this album was released?

8.

Who were British Prime Minister and US President in the year when this album was released?

ROUND 8

1.

Which soap was shown for the last time on BBC television on February 8 2008?

2.

Which spin-off of Holby City and Casualty was first shown on BBC TV in 2007 but was axed in 2008?

3.

Which Australian author wrote Schindler’s Ark which won the Booker Prize in 1982?

4.

Which English author wrote, amongst others, the novels The Echo, The Ice House and The Sculptress which won the Edgar Allan Poe award for the best crime novel published in America in 1993?

5.

In which Wagner opera of 1843 does the central cursed hero attain salvation by the death of Senta?    

6.

In which Verdi opera of 1853 does Violetta fall in love with Alfredo?

7.

Which metallic element has the highest melting point of all metals?      

8.

Which metallic element has the greatest density?

Spares

1.

Give a year in the life of Archimedes.

2.

What was the entry charge to a tree museum in 1970 according to Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi?

3.

Which trade union leader has been in the news recently for taking a 17% pay rise and continuing to live in a £800,000 'grace and favour' house in Berkhamstead?

4.

Which public figure, born in 1947, owned, or owns, Ruby, Teddy, Offa, Lucy and Sadie?

ROUND 1 - Hidden theme

1.

Which 1985 novel by John Irving, featuring Homer Wells and Dr Wilbur Larch, was made into a film of the same name in 1999?

The Cider House Rules

2.

The night he was arrested for the murder of John Lennon, Mark Chapman was found with a copy of which book?

Catcher in the Rye

3.

Whose principal antagonist was District Attorney Hamilton Burger?

Perry Mason

4.

What name has been shared by five fictional cats in the Simpson family in the TV show The Simpsons?

Snowball

5.

Which song was the Four Seasons’ first British hit and a number one in the USA?      

Sherry

6.

Which song, a top ten hit of 1973, opens by relating the robbery of Captain Farrell?

Whiskey in the Jar

7.

Which semi-soft cheese from Brittany has a distinctive orange crust and was originally invented by Trappist monks?

Port Salut

8.

Which American anthropologist who lived between 1901 and 1978 wrote many reports about the purportedly healthy attitude towards sex in South Pacific and Southeast Asian traditional cultures?

Margaret Mead

ROUND 2

1.

Who was assassinated on 6 September 1901 by Leon Czogolz?

US President William McKinley

2.

Who was assassinated on 20 August 1940 by Ramon Mercador?

Leon Trotsky

3.

Which scientific term is given to the measure of energy required for a substance to change state… e.g. boiling water to steam, freezing water to ice?

latent heat

4.

Which scientific term is used to describe methods of separation of liquids… e.g. spreading component parts of ink across a filter paper?

Chromatography

5.

Which Salford prison opened in 2000?

Forest Bank

6.

Which north-west prison was given a new role as a Category C prison for adult males in 2000?      

Risley

7.

In which castle on the Isle of Wight was Charles I imprisoned for fourteen months before his execution in 1649?

Carisbrooke

8.

In 1400 Richard II died within the walls of which Yorkshire castle?

Pontefract

ROUND 3

1.

How is Ohm’s law denoted?

V=IR, or I=V/R or R=V/I

(I is current, V voltage R resistance)

2.

How is Newton’s Second Law denoted?

F=ma, or m=F/a, or a=F/m

(F force, m mass, a acceleration)

3.

Which celebrated English oil painting of c.1770 is thought to be a portrait of Jonathan Buttell, the son of a wealthy hardware merchant?

The Blue Boy

(by Gainsborough)

4.

Which celebrated Degas painting of 1876 was originally called A Sketch of a French Café?

The Absinthe Drinker or L’Absinthe

5.

Which flower has a name which means ‘nose twister’ because of its strong smell?

Nasturtium

6.

Which flower has a name which means ''a little sword' because of the shape of its leaves?

Gladiolus

7.

With which act of historical infamy are the names of Reginald Fitzurse, Hugh de Moreville, William de Tracy and Richard le Breton associated?

Assassination of Thomas à Becket in 1170

8.

What name was given to the instrument of the counter-Reformation that was convened by the Roman Catholic Church from 1545 to 1563?

Council of Trent

ROUND 4

1.

Which three words appearing consecutively in the dictionary are defined as:

a) the scientific study of old age

b) to manipulate so as to gain advantage

c) a form of a verb, grammatically functioning as a noun?

gerontology;

gerrymander;

gerund

2.

Which three words appearing consecutively in the dictionary are defined as

a) a bacterial disease

b) consecutive vowels requiring a one-syllable speech sound

c) a giant, plant-eating dinosaur?

diphtheria;

diphthong;

diplodocus

3.

What did Montreal and Hereford get in 1809 that London got 32 years later?

Nelson’s Column

4.

Buried underneath which monument in London are a set of morning newspapers from 1878, a set of coins, a razor, a box of pins, four Bibles in different languages, Bradshaw’s Railway Guide and photographs of 12 of the best-looking Englishwomen of the day?

Cleopatra’s Needle

5.

Which is the heaviest of the inert gases?  

Radon

6.

Which inert gas was first discovered in the spectrum of the Sun?

Helium

7.

England has seven, Wales 14 and Scotland 284; what are they?

Mountains over 3,000 feet or 914.4m

8.

Where in Britain are the Cuillin Hills?

Isle of Skye

ROUND 5 - Hidden theme

1

Who directed the 2003 Oscar-winning film Lost in Translation?

Sofia Coppola

2.

Which 1984 film directed by Wim Wenders featured a distinctive score by Ry Cooder?

Paris, Texas

3.

Between 1997 and 1998 which football striker, then playing for Coventry, won four caps for England but was controversially excluded from the World Cup squad of 1998?

Dion Dublin

4.

Which football left back made 213 appearances for Tottenham from 1990, was transferred to Portsmouth in 2000 and became a manager in 2003?

Justin Edinburgh

5.

Which psychological phenomenon derives its name from the geographical location of a bank robbery in 1973?

Stockholm Syndrome

6.

Of which newspaper was Ben Bradlee the editor from 1968 to 1991?

Washington Post

7.

What, having the nickname the 'Wimpy', was the only British bomber plane to be produced for the entire duration of WWII?

(Vickers) Wellington

8.

During the Falklands War of 1982 which ocean liner, nicknamed the Great White Whale, did the Ministry of Defence requisition as a troopship?

SS Canberra

ROUND 6

1

Myositis is a general term for the inflammation of what?

Muscles

2.

Orchitis refers to inflammation of which part of the body?

Testicles

3.

Which country did the USA invade under Operation Just Cause on December 20 1989?

Panama

4.

What was Operation Thunderbolt carried out successfully in Africa on July 3 1976?

Israeli commando raid to rescue hostages at Entebbe

5.

Drambuie is a malt whisky liqueur flavoured with herbs and spices and which other ingredient?       

Honey

(heather-flavoured)

6.

With which fruit is the liqueur Mirabelle flavoured?

Plum

7.

Which comedy/drama film starring Will Smith as a vigilante superhero was the fourth biggest worldwide box office hit of 2008?

Hancock

8.

Which film starring Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark, a technologically advanced superhero, was the fifth biggest worldwide box office hit of 2008?

Iron Man

ROUND 7 - Picture Round

1.

The artwork is by E R Geiger… but name the 1970’s album and group.

Brain Salad Surgery by Emerson Lake and Palmer

(1973)

2.

The Smiths' Girlfriend in a Coma, 1987 … but who is the local British playwright depicted on the album cover?

Shelagh Delaney

3.

The record sleeve from The Smiths' single Last Night I Dreamt that Somebody Loves Me, released in December 1987, features a photo of whom?

Billy Fury

4.

Name the artist responsible for this record sleeve.

Roger Dean

(Pathways from Yessongs, 1973)

5.

Used for the sleeve of a worldwide high selling album of 2008, who painted Liberty Leading the People?

Eugène Delacroix

(1830)

6.

Who released an album with this cover?

The Velvet Underground and Nico

(both names required)

7.

Who were British Prime Minister and US President when this album was released?

Heath, Nixon

(28 March 1973, Houses of the Holy by Led Zeppelin)

8.

Who were British Prime Minister and US President in the year when this album was released?

Wilson, Johnson

(5 August 1966, Revolver by The Beatles)

ROUND 8

1.

Which soap was shown for the last time on BBC television on February 8 2008?

Neighbours

2.

Which spin-off of Holby City and Casualty was first shown on BBC TV in 2007 but was axed in 2008?

Holby Blue

3.

Which Australian author wrote Schindler’s Ark which won the Booker Prize in 1982?

Thomas Keneally

4.

Which English author wrote, amongst others, the novels The Echo, The Ice House and The Sculptress which won the Edgar Allan Poe award for the best crime novel published in America in 1993?

Minette Walters

5.

In which Wagner opera of 1843 does the central cursed hero attain salvation by the death of Senta?    

The Flying Dutchman

6.

In which Verdi opera of 1853 does Violetta fall in love with Alfredo?

La Traviata

7.

Which metallic element has the highest melting point of all metals?      

Tungsten

8.

Which metallic element has the greatest density?

Osmium

1.

Give a year in the life of Archimedes.

287 to 212 BC

2.

What was the entry charge to a tree museum in 1970 according to Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi?

Dollar and a half

3.

Which trade union leader has been in the news recently for taking a 17% pay rise and continuing to live in a £800,000 'grace and favour' house in Berkhamstead?

Derek Simpson

(leader of the Unite union)

4.

Which public figure, born in 1947, owned, or owns, Ruby, Teddy, Offa, Lucy and Sadie?

David Blunkett

(they are, or were, his guide dogs)

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