Mark Brader
2024-02-21 20:14:45 UTC
These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 2024-01-29,
and should be interpreted accordingly.
On each question you may give up to two answers, but if you give
both a right answer and a wrong answer, there is a small penalty.
Please post all your answers in a single followup to the newsgroup,
based only on your own knowledge. (In your answer posting, quote
the questions and place your answer below each one.) I will reveal
the correct answers in about 3 days.
All questions were written by members of the Misplaced Modifiers
and are used here by permission, but have been reformatted and may
have been retyped and/or edited by me. The posting and tabulation
of current-events questions is independent of the concurrent posting
of other rounds. For further information please see my 2023-05-24
companion posting on "Questions from the Canadian Inquisition
(QFTCI*)".
** Game 1, Round 9 - History - Dark Corners of the '50s
For many, the 1950s were a decade of peace and prosperity. But not
everyone was so fortunate.
1. The democratic government of this country nationalized its oil
and was consequently toppled in a UK/US-organized coup in 1953.
The authoritarian regime that followed stayed in place until
February 1979. Which country?
2. In 1954, another CIA-orchestrated coup replaced the democratic
government of Jacobo Árbenz with a long-lasting dictatorship.
In which Latin-American country did that happen?
3. A fight for independence in this African colony lasted from
1952 to 1960 and claimed 15,000 to 20,000 lives, including those
of more than 1,000 supposed rebels executed by the British.
What then-colony?
4. What war, waged from June 1950 to July 1953, cost between
2,500,000 and 3,000,000 lives?
5. 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 deaths resulted from a war of
independence, which lasted from 1954 to 1962 and brought about
the end of the French Fourth Republic. Name the then-colony.
6. Which Soviet leader sent in the tanks to crush the Hungarian
rebellion in 1956?
7. In 1953, a strongman overthrew democracy in Cuba and ruled as
a corrupt and murderous dictator till 1959. He was born Reubén
Zaldívar, but is better known by his chosen name, which is what?
8. From 1955 to 1959 the UK used torture and execution against
insurgents in one of their colonies. A peculiarity of this
struggle: the rebels were not fighting for independence, but
for the right to join another European country. Name the island
where this happened.
9. The Castle Bravo test of a hydrogen bomb on 1954-03-01 resulted
in radiation injury to Japanese fishermen, Pacific islanders,
and American technicians as far as 100 miles away. Name the
atoll where the test took place.
10. In 1959, a particularly brutal secret police was established
to terrorize and dispose of folks the dictator disliked. What
country was home to "Uncle Gunnysack"; i.e., the Tonton Macoutes?
** Game 1, Round 10 - Winter Challenge Round
* A. Literature
A1. Maxim de Winter, the master of Manderley, is the brooding
male protagonist of which classic novel of mystery and
suspense?
A2. Which Shakespeare play opens with these lines?
"Now is the winter of our discontent
made glorious summer by this sun of York"
* B. Military History
B1. When Napoleon and his army entered the abandoned city of
Moscow in September 1812, it was their intention to spend
the winter there. What prevented them?
B2. The Battle of Lake Peipus, fought in April 1242, is known as
the Battle on the Ice for the fact that much of it was fought
on a frozen lake. On the losing side of the battle were
the Teutonic Knights. Who was the hero of the Russian side?
* C. Entertainment
C1. Who wrote and sang the song "Hazy Shade of Winter"?
C2. Name the country music legend known for introducing Elvis
Presley to Colonel Tom Parker.
* D. Canadiana / Geography
D1. Among Canadian cities with a population over 500,000,
which has on average the coldest winters?
D2. The locality in Canada with the heaviest annual snowfall,
averaging 637.9 cm, or 21 feet, is Woody Point, population
282. In which province is Woody Point?
* E. Sports: Winter Olympics
E1. In the history of the Winter Olympics, from 1924 to 2022,
which country has won the most gold medals and the most
medals overall?
E2. What country has hosted the greatest number of Winter
Olympic Games?
* F. Science
F1. During the period from approximately 1300 to 1850, average
global temperatures dropped by as much as 2°C, particularly
in North America and Europe. By what name is this period
commonly known?
F2. What is the scientific word for the study of the behavior
of materials at very low temperatures? It derives from
the Greek word for frost.
and should be interpreted accordingly.
On each question you may give up to two answers, but if you give
both a right answer and a wrong answer, there is a small penalty.
Please post all your answers in a single followup to the newsgroup,
based only on your own knowledge. (In your answer posting, quote
the questions and place your answer below each one.) I will reveal
the correct answers in about 3 days.
All questions were written by members of the Misplaced Modifiers
and are used here by permission, but have been reformatted and may
have been retyped and/or edited by me. The posting and tabulation
of current-events questions is independent of the concurrent posting
of other rounds. For further information please see my 2023-05-24
companion posting on "Questions from the Canadian Inquisition
(QFTCI*)".
** Game 1, Round 9 - History - Dark Corners of the '50s
For many, the 1950s were a decade of peace and prosperity. But not
everyone was so fortunate.
1. The democratic government of this country nationalized its oil
and was consequently toppled in a UK/US-organized coup in 1953.
The authoritarian regime that followed stayed in place until
February 1979. Which country?
2. In 1954, another CIA-orchestrated coup replaced the democratic
government of Jacobo Árbenz with a long-lasting dictatorship.
In which Latin-American country did that happen?
3. A fight for independence in this African colony lasted from
1952 to 1960 and claimed 15,000 to 20,000 lives, including those
of more than 1,000 supposed rebels executed by the British.
What then-colony?
4. What war, waged from June 1950 to July 1953, cost between
2,500,000 and 3,000,000 lives?
5. 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 deaths resulted from a war of
independence, which lasted from 1954 to 1962 and brought about
the end of the French Fourth Republic. Name the then-colony.
6. Which Soviet leader sent in the tanks to crush the Hungarian
rebellion in 1956?
7. In 1953, a strongman overthrew democracy in Cuba and ruled as
a corrupt and murderous dictator till 1959. He was born Reubén
Zaldívar, but is better known by his chosen name, which is what?
8. From 1955 to 1959 the UK used torture and execution against
insurgents in one of their colonies. A peculiarity of this
struggle: the rebels were not fighting for independence, but
for the right to join another European country. Name the island
where this happened.
9. The Castle Bravo test of a hydrogen bomb on 1954-03-01 resulted
in radiation injury to Japanese fishermen, Pacific islanders,
and American technicians as far as 100 miles away. Name the
atoll where the test took place.
10. In 1959, a particularly brutal secret police was established
to terrorize and dispose of folks the dictator disliked. What
country was home to "Uncle Gunnysack"; i.e., the Tonton Macoutes?
** Game 1, Round 10 - Winter Challenge Round
* A. Literature
A1. Maxim de Winter, the master of Manderley, is the brooding
male protagonist of which classic novel of mystery and
suspense?
A2. Which Shakespeare play opens with these lines?
"Now is the winter of our discontent
made glorious summer by this sun of York"
* B. Military History
B1. When Napoleon and his army entered the abandoned city of
Moscow in September 1812, it was their intention to spend
the winter there. What prevented them?
B2. The Battle of Lake Peipus, fought in April 1242, is known as
the Battle on the Ice for the fact that much of it was fought
on a frozen lake. On the losing side of the battle were
the Teutonic Knights. Who was the hero of the Russian side?
* C. Entertainment
C1. Who wrote and sang the song "Hazy Shade of Winter"?
C2. Name the country music legend known for introducing Elvis
Presley to Colonel Tom Parker.
* D. Canadiana / Geography
D1. Among Canadian cities with a population over 500,000,
which has on average the coldest winters?
D2. The locality in Canada with the heaviest annual snowfall,
averaging 637.9 cm, or 21 feet, is Woody Point, population
282. In which province is Woody Point?
* E. Sports: Winter Olympics
E1. In the history of the Winter Olympics, from 1924 to 2022,
which country has won the most gold medals and the most
medals overall?
E2. What country has hosted the greatest number of Winter
Olympic Games?
* F. Science
F1. During the period from approximately 1300 to 1850, average
global temperatures dropped by as much as 2°C, particularly
in North America and Europe. By what name is this period
commonly known?
F2. What is the scientific word for the study of the behavior
of materials at very low temperatures? It derives from
the Greek word for frost.
--
Mark Brader | "I can direct dial today a man my parents warred with.
Toronto | They wanted to kill him, I want to sell software to him."
***@vex.net | -- Brad Templeton
My text in this article is in the public domain.
Mark Brader | "I can direct dial today a man my parents warred with.
Toronto | They wanted to kill him, I want to sell software to him."
***@vex.net | -- Brad Templeton
My text in this article is in the public domain.
