ROUND 1

1.

Who wrote the poem that begins: “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”?

John Keats (Ode to Autumn)

2.

Who was the father of the disciples James and John?

Zebedee

3.

Why was Vivaldi nicknamed ‘the Red Priest’?

Because of the colour of his hair

4.

What is the English translation of the Russian word Bolshevik?

The majority

5.

According to the nursery rhyme what happened to Solomon Grundy on Wednesday?

He got married

6.

How many players are there in an Australian Rules football team?

18

7.

Name two of the earth signs in astrology.

(2 from) Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

8.

From which London railway station would you leave if you were travelling to Norwich?

Liverpool Street

ROUND 2

1.

The Germans call this Lake Bodensee.  What is it called in English?

Lake Constance

2.

Which product has been advertised for many years by a jolly fellow called Bibendum?

Michelin tyres (he is the Michelin Tyre Man)

3.

Which name links (a) a part of the English coast; (b) a Pacific island; (c) a type of coat?

Norfolk (Norfolk Broads; Norfolk Island; Norfolk Jacket)

4.

Which American State is the home of Southern Comfort whisky?

Louisiana

5.

Which monarch’s eldest son drowned in a shipwreck?

Henry I - his son William died in the The White Ship in 1120

6.

Why has the businessman Philip Meeson been in the news recently?

He’s the head of Jet2 who condemned the French strikes and called for “the lazy frogs to get back to work”

7.

Which hero of Greek mythology died when the prow of his ship fell on him?

Jason

8.

Of which organisation is Mark Thompson the head?

BBC

ROUND 3

1.

Which government post is held by Anne Owers?

Chief Inspector of Prisons

2.

Which hero of Greek mythology continued to sing even after his head had been cut off?

Orpheus

3.

What is the name of Turner’s painting which was sold for a record $20 million at auction in the US?

A View of Venice

4.

Which monarch had a son killed by a cricket ball?

George II - Frederick Louis was hit on the head in 1751

5.

Which American State is the home of Jack Daniels whisky?

Tennessee

6.

The name of which English city links (a) a shade of a colour; (b) a style of trousers; (c) a style of shoes?

Oxford (Oxford Blue; Oxford Bags; Oxford Brogues)

7.

Which product has been advertised for 75 years by Cornelius the Cockerel?

Kellogg’s Corn Flakes (he’s on every box)

8.

The Swiss call this Lake Leman. What is it called in English?

Lake Geneva

ROUND 4

1.

From which London railway station would you leave if you were travelling to Bournemouth?

Waterloo

2.

Name two of the water signs in astrology.

(2 from) Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio

3.

How many players are there on a British lacrosse team?

12

4.

According to the traditional version of the nursery rhyme, which day’s child is full of woe?

Wednesday’s child

5.

The official Soviet Party newspaper was called Pravda. What is the English translation of this word?

Truth

6.

Which classical composer had 20 children?

Johann Sebastian Bach - with a certain lack of originality 5 of his sons were named Johann and a daughter was called Johanna

7.

Which biblical heroine cut off the head of Holofernes?

Judith

8.

Who wrote the poem that begins: “The curfew bell tolls the knell of parting day”?

Thomas Grey (Elegy in a Country Churchyard)

1.

Who were known as Doughboys?

American soldiers who served in World War I (answer must specify World War I)

2.

Which country was invaded on Good Friday 1939?

Albania (by Italy)

3.

In which country was the body builder Charles Atlas born?

Italy

4.

Which two countries are linked by the Bremer Pass?

Italy and Austria

5.

Who was the first bowler to take 300 test wickets?

Fred Trueman

6.

According to the song in the musical Oklahoma how high did the corn grow?

“The corn grows as high as an elephant’s eye”

7.

In which year did Napoleon Bonaparte die?

1821

8.

What is the connection between the Rio Grande and the Rio Bravo in North America?

They are different names for the same river - to the Americans it’s the Rio Grande, to the Mexicans it’s the Rio Bravo

9.

In which country is Stockport Island?

Canada

10.

What is unusual about the pillar box outside the Museum of Science and Technology in Liverpool Road, Manchester?

It’s painted sky blue

11.

In the famous hymn what line follows “Abide with me”?

“Fast falls the eventide”

12.

What is the county town of West Sussex?

Chichester

13.

The Marquis of Douro is the official title of the eldest son of which nobleman?

Duke of Wellington

14.

What organisation was traditionally known as The Andrew?

The Royal Navy

15.

Which is the largest motor manufacturer in the world?

General Motors

16.

In the famous hymn what line comes before “Our hope for years to come”?

“Oh God our help in ages past”

17.

Who was the first jockey to be knighted?

Gordon Richards

18.

In which field is Renzo Piano a leading light?

Architecture - his current venture is designing the tallest building in London

19.

Which capital city is stands on the Vltava River?

Prague

20.

What was officially opened by the Queen in Manchester in 1992?

Metrolink

21.

It is a light metal and has the atomic number 3.  What is its name?

Lithium

22.

Which actor starred in the 2005 film Jarhead?

Jake Gyllenhaal

23.

What is the subject of the new Geraldine Brooks novel March?

It is supposedly the adventures of the father in Little Women while he’s away at the American Civil War

24.

In which classic children’s TV series does the Soup Dragon appear?

The Clangers

25.

For which invention was Elisha Otis responsible?

The first lift to be fitted with a safety device - do not accept just ‘lift’ as the answer

26.

Which two countries went to war in December 1939?

Russia and Finland

27.

In which part of the human body are the Islands of Langerhans located?

Pancreas

28.

Which common herb is known in France as the ‘King of Herbs’?

Tarragon

29.

Identify the missing word in yet another slogan for Shepherd Neame’s Spitfire Ale which was banned by the Advertising Standards Authority in the 1990s:

“No ……. comes near it”.

Fokker

30.

Last Saturday (8 April) marked the bi-centenary of the birth of which Great Briton?

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

31.

Which Shakespeare play has the alternative title What You Will?

Twelfth Night

32.

In the Roman Catholic Church what is the alternative name for Palm Sunday?

Passion Sunday

33.

Which football teams contested a local derby in the quarter finals of this year’s UEFA Cup?

Steaua Bucharest and Rapid Bucharest

34.

Which English city is 239 miles from Cardiff, 115 miles from Birmingham and 237 miles from Southampton?

Leeds

35.

What is a Robertson screw?

It’s a screw with a square hole in the head, requiring a screwdriver with a square point

36.

What is hedonics?

The study of pleasure (such as quizzing?)

37.

The 1930s youthful looking American gangster Lester Gillis was better known as who?

Baby Face Nelson

38.

Which group has had hits with Somebody Told Me, Mr Brightside and Jenny Was a Friend of Mine?

The Killers