Thursday 3 March 2011

Quz 11

Right. That’s that then. My final quiz has been delivered, and is replicated below for your entertainment. Given what happened last time, I shall wait a full fortnight before handing out the answers (YOU’RE WELCOME).


This time round the winners scored 32, with three other teams scoring 31, 30 and 30. Be warned: the last round is a pisser. I've also included the bonus round, in which no team scored higher than 4.

(Particularly observant readers will note a common theme here: me. I figured I may as well go out with a grotesquely self-absorbed bang).


Round 1: Words (Each word contains the letters “RIC”)

1. A fruit with a scientific name which means “Armenian plum”, and which is believed to have been introduced to Greece by Alexander the Great. Apricot

2. A set of instructions, such as those found on an exam paper, which are often in a different colour to the rest of the text. Rubric

3. A member of the ginger family, which when boiled and dried can be crushed into an orange-yellow powder which is used as a spice and a colouring, and was once used as a cheap alternative to saffron. Tumeric

4. To be expressing thoughts or feelings in a particularly beautiful way, perhaps most obviously in the context of songs. Lyrical

5. A description given to the method of imparting information in a non-literal way, so that characters, events or objects can be used to represent particular qualities or ideas. Allegorical (or metaphorical)


Round 2: Mathematicians

1. In which country did mathematicians first use “zero” as a number, and not merely a symbol for separation? India

2. Which third century BC mathematician and inventor was killed by a Roman Centurion during the Siege of Syracuse, with his last words according to legend being “Do not disturb my circles!” Archimedes

3. The Chinese mathematician and astrologer Zu Chongzhi created an approximation for the value of pi, which he found by dividing twenty-two by what other whole number? Seven

4. What was the cause of death of the mathematician and staunch Republican Evariste Galois, who died at twenty in circumstances some believed to have been arranged by the French Secret Police? Shot in a duel

5. Which mathematician co-authored the papers “Random Walks with Restraining Barrier as Applied to the Biased Binary Counter” and “The Distribution of the Number of Locally Maximal Elements in a Random Sample”, before going on to write such songs as “The Elements”, “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park” and “The Masochism Tango”? Tom Lehrer


Round 3: Leaving

1. Which band released “Leaving New York” in 2004, the first single from their thirteenth album Around the Sun? R.E.M.

2. Which Shakespeare character notes that “Parting is such sweet sorrow?” Juliet Capulet

3. The poem “The God Abandons Antony”, by Constantine P. Cavafy, recounts the tale of how Marc Antony was abandoned by Bacchus, who left with a parade of people from which city, being held at the time by Antony against a siege by Octavian? Alexandria

4. According to legend, Winston Churchill once claimed that the best way to make a martini was to pour gin into a glass and simply look a bottle of what other beverage, thus leaving it out of the cocktail entirely? Vermouth

5. Which country did the British Empire not leave until 1936, despite having installed Sultan Hussein Kamel there in 1914? Egypt


Round 4: Ends of Eras

1. Which geological era was brought to an end by the meteorite impact at Chixulub about 65 million years ago? Mesozoic (though I accepted Cretaceous, because Gin-Soaked Boy asked me to, and he wrote this round)

2. A major factor in the end of the Communist era in Russia, what policy and movement meant, in English, 'restructuring'? Perestroika

3. In which year did the Shearer era end, when Alan Shearer retired from playing professional football? 2006

4. The end of the She-Ra Ee-Ra occurred in 1987 when the cartoon was cancelled, but of whom was She-Ra the twin sister? He-Man/Prince Adam

5. Due to an administrative error; we now have a question on the ends of ears: what 'c' is the innermost organ of the human ear? Cochlea


Round 5: Egomania

1. The proud and handsome Narcissus was made to fall in love with his own reflection by the Gods as a punishment for his mistreatment of which nymph? Echo

2. Sapamurat Niyazov spent 21 years as first President and then President for Life of which country, during which time he had a giant golden statue of himself made, which rotated to follow the Sun? Turkmenistan

3. By what method does the narcissist and hedonist Dorian Gray take his own life? (Be specific) Stabbed his portrait in the heart

4. Which Beatle announced to the world that the group was “More popular than Jesus” in 1966? John Lennon

5. Which US President and former Five Star General, who among other accomplishments concluded negotiations with China to end the Korean War, said “Any man who wants to be President is either an egomaniac or crazy”? Dwight D Eisenhower


Round 6: Warwick

1. On which river is Warwick located? Avon

2. The Lady Ethelfleda, sister to Edward the Elder and daughter to Alfred, is believed to have founded Warwick as a fortification to drive out the Vikings from which Anglo-Saxon kingdom to which she belonged? Mercia

3. Which famous resident of Warwick (but born in nearby Coventry) was offered the position of Poet Laureate upon the death of John Betjeman, though he turned the role down? Philip Larkin

4. White Koan is a modern arts sculpture outside the Warwick Arts Centre which is intended to represent the quest for “koans”, or questions without answers; an idea which is important in which religion? Buddhism

5. What title does Warwick University graduate Gus O’Donnell hold in the Civil Service? Cabinet Secretary


General Knowledge

1. (Watership Down) What property is shared by all of the rabbits who are to be stolen from the totalitarian warren Efrafa? They're all female

2. From which English county does Stinking Bishop cheese originate? Gloustershire


3. What kind of creature is Nils Olaf, a resident of Edinburgh Zoo who holds both a knighthood and an honorary commission in the Norwegian King’s Guard? A penguin


4. What is the sum in degrees of the internal angles of a regular hexagon? 720


5. Who directed The King’s Speech, which won four Oscars on Sunday? Tom Hooper


6. What is the closest member of the Local Group? The Milky Way (yes, yes, I know...)

7. The name “Molotov cocktail” was coined by the Soviet Union’s enemies during the Winter War to mock Soviet Prime Minister Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov. Who were the Soviets fighting? The Fins


8. The financial sector often refer to companies or economic sectors that rise early after downturns as being what kind of flower, referencing its ability to thrive in late winter and early spring? Crocuses

9. The trans-Neptunian dwarf planet FY9 was originally codenamed “Easter Bunny” after discovery, but was officially named Makemake in 2008 following the convention of naming such objects after creation deities. From what place does the myth of Makemake originate? Easter Island


10. How many hearts does a squid have? 3


Bonus Round: Cider (Five words for cider; I want the language)


1. Cidre (French)

2. Apfelwein (German)

3. Saidaa (Japanese)

4. Sidro (Italian)

5. Seidr (Welsh)

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Round 2: Mathematicians
1. India
2. Archimedes

Round 4: Ends of Eras
1. Cretaceous era
2. Perestrojka
4. He-Man

Round 5: Egomania
1. Echo
4. John Lennon

General Knowledge
3. Penguin
7. Finland

SpaceSquid said...

All nine correct. We're off and running.

BigHead said...

Bonus round Q3 must, of course, be imagined to be pronounced in an OTT borderline-racist accent to fully appreciate Squid's delivery.


Hmm, my verification word is "torieses". I am now imagining a right-wing Gollum.

SpaceSquid said...

It's really hard to pronounce saida so that you get the right vowel combinations without it sounding awful. Ironically, my attempt to say is sans accent just made me sound like an appalling racial stereotype.

Anonymous said...

1. date?

3. turmeric
4. lyrical
5. metaphorical

r2
1. Hm … India?
2. I’d guess Pythagorus except he was Greek
3. 7
4. ?
5. Tom Lehrer

R3
1. U2?
2. Juliet Capulet
3. ?
4. ?
5. Mesopotamia? (Iraq)

R4
1. Mesozoic (random guess)
2. Glasnost
3. 2000?
4. He-Man
5. cochlea

r5
1. Echo
2. ?
3. burn the paintng?
4. Lennon

R6
1. ?
2. Mercia
3. ?
4. Taoism?
5. ?

GK
1. eh?!
2. Durham?
3. sounds human
4. 720?
5. ?
6. Mars?
7. \finland
8. snowdrop?
9. ?
10. 1?


BR
1. French
2. German
3. Norwegian?
4. Italian
5. ?

SpaceSquid said...

That's 15 for Lynda (plus three in the bonus round), for a current total of 18.

I apologise; I forget to mention what book the first GK question is on. It's Watership Down; I'll add it to the post.

Dan Edmunds said...

Ignoring ones that seem to already be got

Round 1:

1. Apricot
2. Metric?

Round 3:

1. REM
4. Vermouth - Given it's the only other ingredient and he is very much right the less of it the better

Round 4:

3. 2005 (I recall it was just after I left Uni)?
4. I would argue Prince Adam is the more correct answer

Round 5:

3. Depending on how you view it, he either stabs his likeness in the painting or stabs himself in the heart.
5. Eisenhower

General Knowledge

1. They were all female.
4. 720
5. Tom Hooper
7. Is annoying because you've told me it before

SpaceSquid said...

That's another seven, putting the combined Team Squid score at 25.

And if Prince Adam is anyone's twin brother, it's surely Princess Adora.

Dan Edmunds said...

I think my argument hinges around the notion that He Man and She Ra are the alter ego's and therefore not their real names. Princess Aurora is the twin sister of Prince Adam - Fact. The fact they both gained swords of power and adopted such personas is kind of by the by.

But I would admit that accepting both answers is the right thing for a quiz master to do.

SpaceSquid said...

Gasp! Senior Spielbergo's secret identity is revealed at last!

There is definitly some (rather unimportant) debate to be had about whether Prince Adam and He-Man are the same person or not (particularly if you watch the 21st Century remake). Nevertheless, as you say, both answers should be accepted. And would have been, had the situation required it.

Allen Shone said...

Right quick fire answers, unless I know instantly and quick fire only. Will miss the chance to do these since neither Erica or Michael post on-line,

1.2 Rubric
1.3 tumeric

2.1 France
2.2. Archimides
2.3. 7
2.4 Duel in a love triangle
2.5 Tom Lehrer

3.2. Romeo
3.3 Alexandria
3.4 Vermouth
3.5 Iraq

4.1 Triassic
4.2 Prerestroika
4.3 1992
4.4 He-man/ Adam
4.5 Conichia

5.1 Echo
5.2 Azerbaijan
5.3 Stabs cursed portrait of himself
5.4 Lennon
5.5 Eisenhower

6.2. Mercia
6.3 Auther Miller
6.4 Confuscism
6.5 Cabinet secretary

GR 2. Durham
3. Polar bear
4. 720
6. M31, though LMC/SMC may also count as separate
7. Czech republic in Prague Spring
8. Snow drops
9. Australia
10. 3

Beer/
1. French
2. German
3. Dutch
4. Spanish
5. Russian

Midget_Yoda said...

Round 1:
1) Apricot?
2) Rubric
3) Tumeric (sp?)
4)
5) Metaphoric(al)(y)

Round 2: (please dont' let me show myself up too much)
1) India
2) Archimedes
3) 7
4) Shot in a duel (although I think the shooting induced fatal peritonitis rather than, say, massive bloodloss)
5) Taking Round 1 as inspiration: Ric Crossman?

Round 3:
1)?
2) Romeo
3) Alexandria?
4) Vodka
5) Iraq?

Round 4:
1) Triassic
2) Glasnost
3) 1989
4) He Man
5) ?

Round 5:
1)
2) I don't know but I want to visit
3) He destroys the portrait (by slashing it with a knife?)
4) John Lennon
5)

Round 6:
1) The Cov?
2) Covinarus (can you see a pattern forming here)
3)
4) Buddism
5) First Lord of the Paperclips?

General Knowledge:
1) They can talk?
2) Yorkshire
3) Penguin?
4) 720
5)
6) The (small?) Magellenic Cloud
7)
8) Snowdrops?
9) Australia?
10) 2?


Bonus:
1) French
2) German
3)
4) Spanish
5) Irish

SpaceSquid said...

18 for Allen - though only because he is overthinking the 6th General Knowledge question (give it another go!) - and two on the bonus round.

15 for M_Y, and also two in the bonus round. And no, I didn't write those papers, though the first one certainly sounds in my field.

The running total is now 31, which puts you in joint second place. Nice work!

Dan Edmunds said...

From your clue I'm going to guess The Milky Way for the 6th question in General knowledge?

SpaceSquid said...

Correct! 32, beetches!

Chemie said...

Truly your self-indulgence on leaving rivals even Russell T Davies!

From Tomsk + Chemie:

R1

1. Apricot
2. Rubric
3. Tumeric
4. Lyrical
5. Allegoric

R2.

1. Persia
2. Archimedes
3. 7
4. Died in a duel
5. Tom Lehrer

R3.

1. REM
2. Romeo
3. Alexandria
4. Vermouth
5. Iraq

R4.

1. Cretaceous
2. It's either glasnost or perestroika, hmmm. Let's go perestroika.
3. 2003
4. He-Man
5. Cochlea

R5.

1.
2. Turkmenistan
3. Destroys his portrait?
4. John Lennon
5. Dwight Eisenhower

R6.

1. Trent?
2. Mercia?
3. Auden?
4. Buddhism?
5. Cabinet secretary

GK.
1. One eared
2. Gloucestershire
3. Penguin
4. 720
5. Tom Hooper
6. Andromeda
7. Finland
8. Daffodil
9. Polynesia
10. None

Bonus:

1. French
2. German
3.
4. Spanish
5.

Chemie said...

And Milky Way is certainly not correct for GK Q6! This is almost as contentious as He-Man...

Tomsk

Tomsk said...

Though having looked it up now I admit that Andromeda would still be a hopeless answer even if the semantics were interpreted correctly...

SpaceSquid said...

That's 28 right, and a Team Squid total of 34. That already puts you in first place, but that might go higher still, since when anyone gave me "Polynesia" for GK9 I asked them to be more specific.

You're not close to something that you're in? Maybe not, I suppose. Still, if you'd wanted me to listen you shouldn't have let your wife get in that gratuitous cheap shot comparing me to an egotistical self-indulgent fatso who never knows when to shut up. How can anyone possibly think that of me?

(At least my final quiz was actually a quiz, and not just forty-five questions that all asked "Wasn't I a great quiz master?")

Oh, you got 2 in the bonus round, as well.

Tomsk said...

Even worse, despite appearances the gratuitous cheap shot was my doing. Although I did have to ask Chemie what that guy's name was.

To be fair to That Guy, there's no way he'd have written 45 questions that all asked "Wasn't I a great quiz master?". He'd have made it to at least triple that.

We've already wikipedia'd Makemake I'm afraid so no more points there.