ROUND 1

1.

The first three films to gross $100 million were: Gone with the Wind, The Sound of Music and The Godfather.  What was the fourth?

Jaws

2.

Which two Central American countries border Mexico?

Guatemala and Belize

3.

Which US music legend (famous for always playing a guitar called Lucille) recorded an album with Eric Clapton in 2000?

B B King

4.

In which Shakespeare play does Sir Toby Belch appear?

Twelfth Night

5.

In Trumpton, what was the occupation of the Mintons, father and son?

Carpentry

6.

Which 18th century physician bequeathed a highly profitable biscuit recipe to his coachman?

Dr (William) Oliver

7.

Which composer, known among other things for The Death and the Maiden Quartet, helped carry the coffin of Ludwig van Beethoven?

Schubert

8.

Which politician said last weekend that global warming was a good thing?

John Redwood

ROUND 2

1.

Which metaphor from the animal kingdom describes a logical fallacy in which one purports to prove a point by means of irrelevant argument?

Red Herring

2.

The Epsom Derbies of 2001 and 2002 were won by a great scientist and a dodgy US TV show respectively.  Name either.

Galileo and High Chapparal

3.

What is now the most populous city in the world?

Mumbai (Bombay)

4.

The wine region Wairu Valley is in which country?

New Zealand

5.

In New York which district occupies the triangle below Canal Street?

TriBeCa

6.

Which poet authored the collection Fivemiletown, named after the town in Northern Ireland?

Tom Paulin

7.

What is the, possibly oxymoronic, name of George Clooney’s latest film?

The Good German

8.

In which war were Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick and King Frederick II of Prussia important commanders?

The Seven Years War

ROUND 3

1.

Which philosopher wrote A Critique of Pure Reason in 1781?

Kant

2.

Which 2005 film tells the story of boxer Jim Braddock?

Cinderella Man

3.

What was the birthplace of both Joe and Jarvis Cocker?

Sheffield

4.

Which never knowingly underfed cricketer made 207 versus India at Madras in 1984?

Mike Gatting

5.

Which architect designed the Albert Memorial?

Gilbert Scott

6.

What expression is given to the whisky which evaporates in the barrel during maturation?

The Angels’ Share

7.

What animal nickname is give to Mr Malloy (“No taller than 6 feet 6 and no bigger than a beer truck”) in Chandler’s novel Farewell My Lovely?

Moose

8.

Westminster has the most, followed by Kensington & Chelsea, and Camden. Nobody can have more than one of them.  What are they?

Blue Plaques

ROUND 4

1.

Who presents Shake Rattle and Roll on Radio 2?

Mark Lamarr

2.

What hit song contains the lyrics which translate from French as: “You are the wave, I am the naked island”?

Je t’aime, moi non plus

3.

Which French city’s airport has the IATA code SXB?

Strasbourg

4.

Which fictional dog travelled by boat from Kingston to Oxford?

Montmorency

5.

On what lake does Milwaukee stand?

Lake Michigan

6.

Who scored the only goal in the 1978 FA Cup final?

Roger Osborne

7.

How is rock singer Ian Kilminster better known?

Lemmy

8.

Lionel Blair has one, Pete Tong has one and J. Arthur Rank has at least two. What?

Rhyming slang expressions based on their names

ROUND 5

1.

Only three films have grossed over $1 billion: Titanic, Lord of the Rings (Return of the King) and which other?

Pirates of the Carribean II (Dead Man's Chest)

2.

Which country consists of four major islands and 6,848 smaller ones?

Japan

3.

Which US music legend made an album, The Road to Escondido, with Eric Clapton in 2006?

J J Cale

4.

In which Shakespeare play does Lancelot Gobbo appear?

The Merchant of Venice

5.

In Camberwick Green, what was the occupation of Mickey Murphy?

Baker

6.

What image is imprinted in the centre of Bath Oliver biscuits?

A Roman soldier

7.

Which composer, the ‘father of the symphony and string quartet’, died as the French besieged Vienna in 1800?

Haydn

8.

What did Fabulous Willy win on Sunday evening?

Best in Show at Crufts

ROUND 6 

1.

Which metaphor from the animal kingdom describes a supposedly valuable possession whose upkeep exceeds its usefulness and is therefore a liability?

White Elephant

2.

Flat racing over a mile was dominated by two geographical features in 2000 and 2002.  Name either.

Giant’s Causeway and Rock of Gibraltar

3.

Which country has the greatest density of population per square kilometre?

Monaco

4.

The wine region Famatina Valley is in which country?

Argentina

5.

In New York, how does the district of SoHo get its name?

It’s the area South of Houston Street

6.

Which poet wrote the collection The Whitsun Weddings?

Philip Larkin

7.

Which film took the Oscars for both Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor this year?

Little Miss Sunshine

8.

In which European war did Generals Tilly, Wallenstein and Mansfeld play a major role?

The Thirty Years War

ROUND 7

1.

Which philosopher wrote Being and Nothingness in 1943?

Sartre

2.

Which 1956 film told the story of boxer Rocky Graziano?

Somebody Up There Likes Me

3.

What country of birth is shared by Peter Alliss, Gyles Brandreth and Anne Frank?

Germany

4.

For which country does 19 stone bowler Dwayne Leverock play cricket?

Bermuda

5.

Which architect designed the Cenotaph in Whitehall?

Lutyens

6.

What was the first malt whisky to be licensed (in 1884)?

Glenlivet

7.

In Chandler’s The Long Goodbye, the four characters Loring, Varley, Verringer and Vukanich (all pretty reprehensible) share a profession.  What is it?

They are all medical doctors

8.

Which London borough was formed from a merger of East Ham and West Ham?

Newham

ROUND 8

1.

Who presents Sounds of the Sixties on Radio 2?

Brian Matthew

2.

What hit song contains the lyric translating from Spanish as “I’m not a sailor, I’m not a sailor, I’m the Captain, I’m the Captain”?

La Bamba

3.

Which European city’s airport has the IATA code SZD?

Sheffield

4.

Which fictional cat was “outwardly respectable”?

Macavity

5.

On what lake does Lausanne stand?

Lake Geneva

6.

Who scored the winning goal in the 1979 FA Cup final?

Alan Sunderland

7.

How is rock singer Derek Dick better known?

Fish

8.

Chris Evans had one, Henry VIII had one, Roman Polanski had one and Charlie Chaplin had three of them but not all at the same time.  What?

Teenage brides

SPARES

1.

Which country singer’s name was used for a famous genetic experiment?

Dolly Parton’s (Dolly the sheep was cloned from a breast cell, hence...)

2.

The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves comes from which opera?

Nabucco, by Verdi

3.

Who played Tony Blair in the 2006 film The Queen?

Michael Sheen

4.

In which city would you find Robert Gordon University?

Aberdeen

5.

Who won the 1991 Rugby Union World Cup?

Australia

6.

Who succeeded Augustus as Roman Emperor?

Tiberius