ROUND 1 - Pairs

1.

To which composer is Radio Three dedicating the complete week of broadcasting at the moment?

2.

Give a year in the life of  the composer Franz Schubert.

3.

If you ordered bhindi from an Indian menu what would you be served with?

4.

If you ordered Matar from an Indian menu what would you be served with?

5.

Which garden bird has the scientific name Pica Pica?

6.

Which garden bird has the scientific name Erithacus Rubecula?

7.

Which US State, the fifth most populous, is known as the Prairie State?

8.

Which US State, the third least extensive in area, is known as the Constitution State?

1.

What is the traditional name for the plant Helleborus Orientalis?

2.

What is the traditional name for the plant Pulsatilla Vulgaris?

3.

Nicolas Sarkozy is President of France but who is his Prime Minister?

4.

Angela Merkel is Chancellor of Germany but who is the new President of Germany?

5.

Justin King is the Chief Executive of which major UK Company?

6.

Who recently resigned as Chief Executive of Tesco Ltd?

7.

Which National Trust property close to the Thames and to the North of Maidenhead was the home of Waldorf and Nancy Astor in the early 20th Century?

8.

Which House and Gardens, 2 miles east of Cliveden, was donated to the nation via the National Trust and is by tradition for the use of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and other senior ministers?  John Prescot was criticised when photographs were published of him playing croquet there.

ROUND 3 - Pot pourri

1.

Which Scottish golfer who was born in 1969 won the British Open in 1999?

2.

A hybrid of blackberry, raspberry and loganberry is known as what?  

3.

Soyuz is the name of a series of Russian spacecraft but what does it mean?   

4.

What is the covering at the end of a shoelace called? 

5.

Which bass player and band leader was known as 'The Angry Man of Jazz'?   

6.

Austria is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of which artist by issuing a series of 50 Euro gold coins?

7.

From which film does the song I Talk to the Trees come from? 

8.

Two jockeys rode Red Rum to victory in the Grand National.  Name either of them. 

ROUND 4 - Pot pourri

1.

Which is the most northerly of the 60 licensed UK horse racing courses?

2.

Which word does the Chambers dictionary define as 'the philosophy of the fine arts or the principles of taste and art'?

3.

After which queen did Josiah Wedgewood call his cream-coloured earthenware known as Queen’s Ware because she liked it so much? 

4.

The colon is the currency of which country? 

5.

Which very bitter herb used in medicine and mainly North African cuisine is known as 'The Herb of Grace'? 

6.

Which prison stood in Southwark by the London house of the Bishop of Winchester? 

7.

In 2009 the 85 years old Dorothy Hughes became the first woman to live where in London? 

8.

Which pastime was created by Alfred Mosher Butts in 1938?

ROUND 5 - Pot pourri

1.

Which city became the capital of Tanzania in 1996?

2.

Three towns were created  cities by the Queen recently as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.  One was St Asaph.  Name one of the other two.

3.

Which Irish-born Whig parliamentarian, philosopher and supporter of the American Revolution was known as the 'Dinner Bell' as many members left the chamber in order to dine when he got up to speak?

4.

Liverpool were first division champions in the 1981-82 season and also in the two subsequent seasons.  Two of the teams that were runners-up to Liverpool were managed at the time by future England managers and the side that was runner-up in the 1983-84 season was managed by a future England assistant manager.  All these sides now play in the championship .  Name two of the three teams.

5.

Dr Siegert invented this cocktail ingredient in Venezuela in 1830 but moved production to Trinidad and Tobago where it was one of the principal exports.  Because of a downturn in the Trinidad economy in 1970 British import tax on the product was abolished but re-imposed this year in the budget.  What is this ingredient?

6.

What is the highest point in Cheshire?

7.

The line "keep those dogies rolling" appears in the lyrics to the song Rawhide.  What exactly is a dogie?

8.

In the Gilbert and Sullivan opera HMS Pinafore Little Buttercup is described as a bum-boat woman.  What is a bum-boat?

ROUND 6 - Pot pourri

1.

Which two rivers have their confluence at Lyons?

2.

The Treaty of Ghent was signed on the 24th December 1814 by the UK and another country but the news didn't arrive in time to prevent a British defeat in a battle between the two countries on 8th January 1815.  What was this battle?

3.

Which historic figure's name translates as 'Oceanic Lord'?

4.

In which card game are the terms misère and abundance used?

5.

Berlin, Clarence, Tilbury, Victoria and Growler are all variants of what?

6.

General Toussaint Louverture was a revolutionary leader who fought for the independence of which country that finally became independent in 1804?

7.

Which English actor, born in 1940, star of TV, films, and member of the Royal Shakespeare Company provides the voice for the character Avery Bullock, deputy director of the CIA, in the American cartoon series American Dad?

8.

The supercluster of galaxies of which the Milky Way is an outlying member is given the name of the constellation in which it can be seen in the night sky.  The brightest star in the constellation which is also a sign of the zodiac is Spica.  What is its name?

ROUND 7 - Pairs

1.

What's the name of the Tory deputy treasurer who resigned recently over donations for influence?

2.

What was /is the name of the Labour fundraising politician most closely linked with 'cash for honours' in 2006-7?  He resigned from the role when Blair left office.

3.

Which 'hawk' now has a new heart?

4.

On Saturday, who checked out on T10-D16 ?

5.

The Pope of which church died on March 17th at the age of 88?

6.

What is the largest Christian sect in Lebanon?

7.

If the Queen wishes to go to Windsor by train which two London termini could she use?

8.

If the Queen wishes to go to Sandringham by train which two London termini could she use?

ROUND 8 - Pairs

1.

In which English musical work is 'Dorabella' to be found?

2.

In which Russian musical work is 'The Great Gate of Kiev' to be found?

3.

Between which two countries do the Malacca Straits lie?

4.

Where is Drake's Passage?

5.

Where is The Grotta Azzurra?

6.

Who directed the 1964 film Il Deserto Rosso?

7.

Which film ends with the line: "We'll go on forever, Pa, 'cause we're the people."?

8.

Which film ends with the line: "Hang on a minute lads, I've got a great idea."?

Spares

1.

Which nationality was the statesman and liberator Simon Bolivar? 

2.

Which of the halogens has the lowest number in the Periodic Table?

3.

The mascot on the bonnets of the cars produced between the wars by the Hispano-Suiza company was a bird (ciconia ciconia) which is also an emblem of Alsace.   What is its name?

4.

Which town lies between Milan and Turin and houses an ossuary which contains the bones of 9,000 soldiers? 

5.

Romeo loved Juliet in Verona but in which other of Shakespeare’s plays did Claudio love Juliet in Vienna?

Tiebreaker

How many parishes are there in the Anglican diocese of Manchester?

ROUND 1 - Pairs

1.

To which composer is Radio Three dedicating the complete week of broadcasting at the moment?

Franz Schubert

2.

Give a year in the life of  the composer Franz Schubert.

1797 - 1828

3.

If you ordered bhindi from an Indian menu what would you be served with?

Okra or Lady’s finger or Gumbo

(accept any of these)

4.

If you ordered Matar from an Indian menu what would you be served with?

Green peas

5.

Which garden bird has the scientific name Pica Pica?

Magpie

6.

Which garden bird has the scientific name Erithacus Rubecula?

Robin

7.

Which US State, the fifth most populous, is known as the Prairie State?

Illinois

8.

Which US State, the third least extensive in area, is known as the Constitution State?

Connecticut

1.

What is the traditional name for the plant Helleborus Orientalis?

Lenten Rose

2.

What is the traditional name for the plant Pulsatilla Vulgaris?

Pasqueflower

3.

Nicolas Sarkozy is President of France but who is his Prime Minister?

Francois Fillon

4.

Angela Merkel is Chancellor of Germany but who is the new President of Germany?

Joachim Gauck

5.

Justin King is the Chief Executive of which major UK Company?

Sainsbury’s

6.

Who recently resigned as Chief Executive of Tesco Ltd?

Richard Brasher

7.

Which National Trust property close to the Thames and to the North of Maidenhead was the home of Waldorf and Nancy Astor in the early 20th Century?

Cliveden

8.

Which House and Gardens, 2 miles east of Cliveden, was donated to the nation via the National Trust and is by tradition for the use of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and other senior ministers?  John Prescot was criticised when photographs were published of him playing croquet there.

Dorneywood

ROUND 3 - Pot pourri

1.

Which Scottish golfer who was born in 1969 won the British Open in 1999?

Paul Lawrie

2.

A hybrid of blackberry, raspberry and loganberry is known as what?  

Boysenberry

3.

Soyuz is the name of a series of Russian spacecraft but what does it mean?   

Union

4.

What is the covering at the end of a shoelace called? 

An aglet

(or aiglet)

5.

Which bass player and band leader was known as 'The Angry Man of Jazz'?   

Charles Mingus

6.

Austria is commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of which artist by issuing a series of 50 Euro gold coins?

Gustav Klimt

7.

From which film does the song I Talk to the Trees come from? 

Paint Your Wagon 

8.

Two jockeys rode Red Rum to victory in the Grand National.  Name either of them. 

(either)

Brian Fletcher

(or)

Tommy Stack

ROUND 4 - Pot pourri

1.

Which is the most northerly of the 60 licensed UK horse racing courses?

Perth 

2.

Which word does the Chambers dictionary define as 'the philosophy of the fine arts or the principles of taste and art'?

Aesthetics

3.

After which queen did Josiah Wedgewood call his cream-coloured earthenware known as Queen’s Ware because she liked it so much? 

Charlotte

(wife of George III)

4.

The colon is the currency of which country? 

Costa Rica

5.

Which very bitter herb used in medicine and mainly North African cuisine is known as 'The Herb of Grace'? 

Rue

6.

Which prison stood in Southwark by the London house of the Bishop of Winchester? 

The Clink

7.

In 2009 the 85 years old Dorothy Hughes became the first woman to live where in London? 

Royal Hospital Chelsea

8.

Which pastime was created by Alfred Mosher Butts in 1938?

Scrabble

ROUND 5 - Pot pourri

1.

Which city became the capital of Tanzania in 1996?

Dodoma

2.

Three towns were created  cities by the Queen recently as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.  One was St Asaph.  Name one of the other two.

(either)

Chelmsford

(or)

 Perth

3.

Which Irish-born Whig parliamentarian, philosopher and supporter of the American Revolution was known as the 'Dinner Bell' as many members left the chamber in order to dine when he got up to speak?

Edmund Burke

4.

Liverpool were first division champions in the 1981-82 season and also in the two subsequent seasons.  Two of the teams that were runners-up to Liverpool were managed at the time by future England managers and the side that was runner-up in the 1983-84 season was managed by a future England assistant manager.  All these sides now play in the championship .  Name two of the three teams.

(two from)

Southampton,

Watford,

Ipswich

5.

Dr Siegert invented this cocktail ingredient in Venezuela in 1830 but moved production to Trinidad and Tobago where it was one of the principal exports.  Because of a downturn in the Trinidad economy in 1970 British import tax on the product was abolished but re-imposed this year in the budget.  What is this ingredient?

Angostura bitters

6.

What is the highest point in Cheshire?

Shining Tor

7.

The line "keep those dogies rolling" appears in the lyrics to the song Rawhide.  What exactly is a dogie?

A motherless calf

(must be exact)

8.

In the Gilbert and Sullivan opera HMS Pinafore Little Buttercup is described as a bum-boat woman.  What is a bum-boat?

A boat that provides provisions to ships in a port

(accept also a scavenger boat on the Thames)

ROUND 6 - Pot pourri

1.

Which two rivers have their confluence at Lyons?

The Rhône and the Saône

2.

The Treaty of Ghent was signed on the 24th December 1814 by the UK and another country but the news didn't arrive in time to prevent a British defeat in a battle between the two countries on 8th January 1815.  What was this battle?

The Battle of New Orleans

3.

Which historic figure's name translates as 'Oceanic Lord'?

4.

In which card game are the terms misère and abundance used?

Solo whist

5.

Berlin, Clarence, Tilbury, Victoria and Growler are all variants of what?

Horse-drawn vehicles

(for conveying people)

6.

General Toussaint Louverture was a revolutionary leader who fought for the independence of which country that finally became independent in 1804?

Haiti

7.

Which English actor, born in 1940, star of TV, films, and member of the Royal Shakespeare Company provides the voice for the character Avery Bullock, deputy director of the CIA, in the American cartoon series American Dad?

Patrick Stewart

8.

The supercluster of galaxies of which the Milky Way is an outlying member is given the name of the constellation in which it can be seen in the night sky.  The brightest star in the constellation which is also a sign of the zodiac is Spica.  What is its name?

Virgo

ROUND 7 - Pairs

1.

What's the name of the Tory deputy treasurer who resigned recently over donations for influence?

Peter Cruddas

2.

What was /is the name of the Labour fundraising politician most closely linked with 'cash for honours' in 2006-7?  He resigned from the role when Blair left office.

(Michael) Lord Levy

3.

Which 'hawk' now has a new heart?

Dick Cheney

(who had a heart transplant last week)

4.

On Saturday, who checked out on T10-D16 ?

Jockey Wilson

(who died aged 62)

5.

The Pope of which church died on March 17th at the age of 88?

The Coptic Church

6.

What is the largest Christian sect in Lebanon?

The Maronites

7.

If the Queen wishes to go to Windsor by train which two London termini could she use?

Waterloo or Paddington

(in practice the monarch has normally used Paddington)

8.

If the Queen wishes to go to Sandringham by train which two London termini could she use?

Kings Cross or Liverpool St

(in actual practice the monarch uses King's Cross otherwise the Lord Mayor of London has to turn out in full regalia)

ROUND 8 - Pairs

1.

In which English musical work is 'Dorabella' to be found?

The Enigma Variations

(by Elgar)

2.

In which Russian musical work is 'The Great Gate of Kiev' to be found?

Pictures at an Exhibition

(by Mussorgsky)

3.

Between which two countries do the Malacca Straits lie?

Malaysia and Indonesia

4.

Where is Drake's Passage?

In the ocean between the southern tip of S America and Antarctica

(and between S Atlantic and Pacific)

5.

Where is The Grotta Azzurra?

The island of Capri

6.

Who directed the 1964 film Il Deserto Rosso?

(Michelangelo) Antonioni

7.

Which film ends with the line: "We'll go on forever, Pa, 'cause we're the people."?

The Grapes of Wrath

8.

Which film ends with the line: "Hang on a minute lads, I've got a great idea."?

The Italian Job

Spares

1.

Which nationality was the statesman and liberator Simon Bolivar? 

Venezuelan

2.

Which of the halogens has the lowest number in the Periodic Table?

Fluorine

3.

The mascot on the bonnets of the cars produced between the wars by the Hispano-Suiza company was a bird (ciconia ciconia) which is also an emblem of Alsace.   What is its name?

(White) Stork

4.

Which town lies between Milan and Turin and houses an ossuary which contains the bones of 9,000 soldiers? 

Magenta

5.

Romeo loved Juliet in Verona but in which other of Shakespeare’s plays did Claudio love Juliet in Vienna?

Measure for Measure

Tiebreaker

How many parishes are there in the Anglican diocese of Manchester?