Mark Brader
2024-02-04 05:07:21 UTC
These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 2023-11-27,
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 Usual Suspects 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*)".
I wrote 6 of the 12 pairs in this set.
** Final, Round 7 - Literature
* A. More Italian Literature
A1. See: Loading Image...
This Italian was born in Cuba but moved with his family
to Italy as a child. He initially wrote in a realist
or neorealist style with such works as "The Crow Comes
Last", which dealt with his experiences in World War II.
His later work was influenced by more experimental writers
such as Roland Barthes. Name him.
A2. See: Loading Image...
Who was the controversial poet, playwright, journalist,
and movie director whose first novel, "Hustlers", was
published in 1955? One of his best-known films is "The
Gospel According to St. Matthew". He died in violent and
never-explained circumstances in 1975.
* B. If You See It in the ""Sun""
There have been a number of newspapers called the "Sun", but these
questions are about the very popular one that started in New York
City in 1833 and was published until 1950.
B1. See: Loading Image...
In 1897 the "Sun" received a letter reading in part, "Papa
says 'If you see it in the Sun, it's so'". What question
did the writer want answered?
B2. See: Loading Image...
In 1835 the "Sun" ran a series of 6 articles detailing
discoveries supposely made by Sir John Herschel using a
new telescope. What did they say he had discovered?
* C. Daylight and Darkness and Newspapers
C1. See: Loading Image...
Which national capital city has a daily newspaper whose
motto is "Democracy Dies in Darkness"?
C2. See: Loading Image...
Which national capital city has a daily newspaper whose
motto is "Fair Play and Daylight"?
* D. More Travel Writing
D1. See: Loading Image...
This British-born author of South Asian descent has spent
much of his adult life in the US and Japan as well as the
UK, and is a long-time friend of the Dalai Lama. His travel
writings look at a variety of countries from an outsider or
cross-cultural perspective. He even wrote about Canada,
of all places. One of his best-known books is 2001's
"The Global Soul", a meditation on cultural globalization.
Name him.
D2. See: Loading Image...
"Black Lamb and Grey Falcon" is Dame Rebecca West's
over-1,000-page account of a trip to which country in 1937?
The country no longer exists.
* E. Isaac Asimov
E1. See: Loading Image...
Isaac Asimov's ["AZ-im-ov'z"] best-known works include his
short stories and novels about robots. When he started
writing them, other writers often produced stories where
robots ran amok. Asimov decided it would be more interesting
to write about robots with built-in ethical principles --
principles that he called what?
E2. See: Loading Image...
What fictional technology did Asimov's robots use to
accomplish reasoning? On "Star Trek: The Next Generation",
Commander Data used the same technology.
* F. Authors by European Background
In each case, name them.
F1. See: Loading Image...
This German-speaking Bohemian author worked for many years
in the insurance business in his hometown of Prague.
The protagonists in his novels and short stories often
face weird or surrealistic quandaries and incomprehensible
entanglements with bureaucracy. He died in 1924 from
tuberculosis.
F2. See: Loading Image...
This Polish author had to learn English fluently in order
to fit into the genteel British environment he eventually
found himself in -- and became one of the most esteemed
writers in English literature. His most famous work was
inspired by a time years before, when he lived in Africa
and served on a steamer going up and down the Congo River.
** Final, Round 8 - History
* A. The Ones Before
A1. Before the US adopted its constitution in 1789, there were
14 presidents of the Continental Congress. Name *any one*.
A2. Before the Norman conquest under William I in 1066, there
were 19 men who are sometimes considered kings of England.
Name *any one*; his first name will be sufficient.
* B. International Organizations Formed
B1. The European Union now has 27 member countries. Within 1,
in 1957, how many countries formed what was then called
the European Common Market?
B2. The United Nations now has 193 member countries. Within 5,
how many member countries were there when it was formed
in 1945?
* C. More Economists
In each case, name them.
C1. See: Loading Image...
This British economist and politician developed a series
of proposals in 1942 that formed the basis of the UK's
post-war welfare state. Though he lost his own seat,
running as a Liberal, in 1945, the newly-elected Labour
government largely implemented the program he had set out.
C2. See: Loading Image...
This media-friendly left-leaning Canadian economist worked
for the Centre for Policy Alternatives for several years,
until 2017. She now holds a fellowship with the Atkinson
Foundation and researches workers and technology. She is
a frequent contributor to the "Toronto Star" and the CBC.
* D. Canadiana: A Year Ending in 0
D1. In a certain year ending in 0, Britain ceded control of
the Arctic Archipelago to Canada, and Edward (Ned) Hanlan
became the first Canadian world champion in any sport,
which, of course, was rowing. What year was it?
D2. In another year ending in 0, the oldest Canadian company
still existing was founded. Its original name was rather
long and included the words "Adventurers of England". If you
go to what is now the company's main building in Toronto,
you will see several signs mentioning the date of founding.
What year was it?
* E. British Historians
In each case, name them.
E1. See: Loading Image...
This Briton, born in 1948, spent most of his career at New
York University. He was known for his writings on modern
European history, including "Postwar", concerning Europe
after 1945. He died of ALS in 2010.
E2. See: Loading Image...
This British historian trained in medieval history, but in
the 1970s turned his attention toward Nazi Germany, and is
now known particularly for his biographies of Adolf Hitler.
He promoted the "working toward the Führer" concept, which
suggested that, rather than by direct orders from the top,
the Third Reich operated mostly by officials implementing
policies that the leader would approve of.
* F. Colonial Powers
F1. In Africa, which country colonized what are now Benin
and Mali?
F2. Which country colonized what is now Angola, in Africa,
as well as Macau, which is now part of China?
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 Usual Suspects 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*)".
I wrote 6 of the 12 pairs in this set.
** Final, Round 7 - Literature
* A. More Italian Literature
A1. See: Loading Image...
This Italian was born in Cuba but moved with his family
to Italy as a child. He initially wrote in a realist
or neorealist style with such works as "The Crow Comes
Last", which dealt with his experiences in World War II.
His later work was influenced by more experimental writers
such as Roland Barthes. Name him.
A2. See: Loading Image...
Who was the controversial poet, playwright, journalist,
and movie director whose first novel, "Hustlers", was
published in 1955? One of his best-known films is "The
Gospel According to St. Matthew". He died in violent and
never-explained circumstances in 1975.
* B. If You See It in the ""Sun""
There have been a number of newspapers called the "Sun", but these
questions are about the very popular one that started in New York
City in 1833 and was published until 1950.
B1. See: Loading Image...
In 1897 the "Sun" received a letter reading in part, "Papa
says 'If you see it in the Sun, it's so'". What question
did the writer want answered?
B2. See: Loading Image...
In 1835 the "Sun" ran a series of 6 articles detailing
discoveries supposely made by Sir John Herschel using a
new telescope. What did they say he had discovered?
* C. Daylight and Darkness and Newspapers
C1. See: Loading Image...
Which national capital city has a daily newspaper whose
motto is "Democracy Dies in Darkness"?
C2. See: Loading Image...
Which national capital city has a daily newspaper whose
motto is "Fair Play and Daylight"?
* D. More Travel Writing
D1. See: Loading Image...
This British-born author of South Asian descent has spent
much of his adult life in the US and Japan as well as the
UK, and is a long-time friend of the Dalai Lama. His travel
writings look at a variety of countries from an outsider or
cross-cultural perspective. He even wrote about Canada,
of all places. One of his best-known books is 2001's
"The Global Soul", a meditation on cultural globalization.
Name him.
D2. See: Loading Image...
"Black Lamb and Grey Falcon" is Dame Rebecca West's
over-1,000-page account of a trip to which country in 1937?
The country no longer exists.
* E. Isaac Asimov
E1. See: Loading Image...
Isaac Asimov's ["AZ-im-ov'z"] best-known works include his
short stories and novels about robots. When he started
writing them, other writers often produced stories where
robots ran amok. Asimov decided it would be more interesting
to write about robots with built-in ethical principles --
principles that he called what?
E2. See: Loading Image...
What fictional technology did Asimov's robots use to
accomplish reasoning? On "Star Trek: The Next Generation",
Commander Data used the same technology.
* F. Authors by European Background
In each case, name them.
F1. See: Loading Image...
This German-speaking Bohemian author worked for many years
in the insurance business in his hometown of Prague.
The protagonists in his novels and short stories often
face weird or surrealistic quandaries and incomprehensible
entanglements with bureaucracy. He died in 1924 from
tuberculosis.
F2. See: Loading Image...
This Polish author had to learn English fluently in order
to fit into the genteel British environment he eventually
found himself in -- and became one of the most esteemed
writers in English literature. His most famous work was
inspired by a time years before, when he lived in Africa
and served on a steamer going up and down the Congo River.
** Final, Round 8 - History
* A. The Ones Before
A1. Before the US adopted its constitution in 1789, there were
14 presidents of the Continental Congress. Name *any one*.
A2. Before the Norman conquest under William I in 1066, there
were 19 men who are sometimes considered kings of England.
Name *any one*; his first name will be sufficient.
* B. International Organizations Formed
B1. The European Union now has 27 member countries. Within 1,
in 1957, how many countries formed what was then called
the European Common Market?
B2. The United Nations now has 193 member countries. Within 5,
how many member countries were there when it was formed
in 1945?
* C. More Economists
In each case, name them.
C1. See: Loading Image...
This British economist and politician developed a series
of proposals in 1942 that formed the basis of the UK's
post-war welfare state. Though he lost his own seat,
running as a Liberal, in 1945, the newly-elected Labour
government largely implemented the program he had set out.
C2. See: Loading Image...
This media-friendly left-leaning Canadian economist worked
for the Centre for Policy Alternatives for several years,
until 2017. She now holds a fellowship with the Atkinson
Foundation and researches workers and technology. She is
a frequent contributor to the "Toronto Star" and the CBC.
* D. Canadiana: A Year Ending in 0
D1. In a certain year ending in 0, Britain ceded control of
the Arctic Archipelago to Canada, and Edward (Ned) Hanlan
became the first Canadian world champion in any sport,
which, of course, was rowing. What year was it?
D2. In another year ending in 0, the oldest Canadian company
still existing was founded. Its original name was rather
long and included the words "Adventurers of England". If you
go to what is now the company's main building in Toronto,
you will see several signs mentioning the date of founding.
What year was it?
* E. British Historians
In each case, name them.
E1. See: Loading Image...
This Briton, born in 1948, spent most of his career at New
York University. He was known for his writings on modern
European history, including "Postwar", concerning Europe
after 1945. He died of ALS in 2010.
E2. See: Loading Image...
This British historian trained in medieval history, but in
the 1970s turned his attention toward Nazi Germany, and is
now known particularly for his biographies of Adolf Hitler.
He promoted the "working toward the Führer" concept, which
suggested that, rather than by direct orders from the top,
the Third Reich operated mostly by officials implementing
policies that the leader would approve of.
* F. Colonial Powers
F1. In Africa, which country colonized what are now Benin
and Mali?
F2. Which country colonized what is now Angola, in Africa,
as well as Macau, which is now part of China?
--
Mark Brader | "In the land of truth, my friend,
Toronto | the man with one fact is king."
***@vex.net | --"In the Loop", Jesse Armstrong et al.
My text in this article is in the public domain.
Mark Brader | "In the land of truth, my friend,
Toronto | the man with one fact is king."
***@vex.net | --"In the Loop", Jesse Armstrong et al.
My text in this article is in the public domain.
