Sorry about the delay - I’ve been busy doing reports in the last week of term. :o
- History:
What was a main cause of the first English Civil War? (1642-1646):
a) The King tried to confiscate the property and wealth of the Church
b) Parliament challenged the King over policy, especially wars
c) There was no clear successor to the throne
c)
The others have happened in English history e.g. Stephen + Mathilda went at it in the 1100’s.
What is King Alfred reputed to have done to annoy a wife?
a) burnt some cakes
b) accused her of being a witch
c) broken wind repeatedly
a)
Just an anecdote, but we learnt it in school.
- Geography:
England is surprisingly warm, considering its Northern latitude. This is mainly due to:
a) being an island
b) mountain ranges
c) the Gulf Stream
c)
Although it does indeed rain a lot here, and never gets very hot, we would be far colder without that ocean current.
England is part of:
a) Great Britain
b) The United Kingdom
c) The Commonwealth
All of them!
England + Scotland + Wales = Great Britain
Great Britain + Northern Ireland = The United Kingdom
All the countries in the United Kingdom, plus many places British armies have ‘visited’ form the Commonwealth.
- Mathematics:
In 1971, England changed the way it calculated one of the following. Which one?:
a) currency
b) road speeds
c) land measuring
All of them!
We used to have 12 pence = 1 shilling and 20 shillings = 1 pound (£1).
Now we have 100 pence = 1 pound (£1).
If this interests you, look up ‘guinea’, half-crown’, ‘farthing’ and ‘threepenny bit’!
What is 42 the answer to?
a) The number of people in the Cabinet
b) The number of profession football clubs
c) Life, the Universe and Everything
c)
My cite is the excellent series ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ by Douglas Adams. (His computer, Deep Thought, was undoubtedly the inspiration for Deep Blue, the chess playing computer from IBM.)
- English
‘Cockneys’ use a sort of dialect including rhyming slang. How do you become a true ‘Cockney’?
a) be born within the sound of Bow Bells
b) be born in London AND be working class
c) live in the East End of London
a)
Bow Bells is a Church in the East End of London. Cockney is just a tradition, but still gets referenced occasionally.
Which of the these authors uses the phrase ‘nice set of wheels, John’?
N.B. Spelling has been modernised to give no clues!
a) Chaucer
b) Shakespeare
c) Dickens
None of them! :o
This modern slang simply means ‘I don’t know you, but I like your car.’
- Television
When the British Broadcasting Corporation first started a news bulletin in 1954, in the first few weeks the newsreaders had to wear:
a) a suit and tie
b) a dinner jacket
c) they weren’t seen on screen
c)
The BBC started showing pictures to accompany the news. When newsreaders did appear, they were initially expected to wear dinner jackets.
‘Doctor Who’ has recently returned to delight a new generation of youngsters with his incredible TARDIS. What does this acronym stand for?
a) Time and Relative Dimensions in Space
b) Tremble as revolting Daleks invade successfully
c) United Network Command for Law and Enforcement
An easy one!
We used to hide behind the sofa in the 1960’s when Dr Who was first on. Wobbly sets? Check! Rubber monster suits? Check! Scary music? Check!
The fine US series, the Man from Uncle, was also popular decades ago.
- Government
a) The English constitution states that the (hereditary) Monarch rules the country
b) The English constitution states that the Prime Minister has ultimate power
c) there is no English constitution
c)
We’ve never got around to writing it down. We do have centuries of precedent and sort of ‘know’ who’s in charge…
Who summons members of the House of Commons at the the state opening of parliament?
a) The Speaker of the House of Commons
b) Black Rod
c) The senior Knight of the Garter
b)
An elderly gentleman, who knocks on doors etc.
There really is an Order of the Garter’, whose motto is ‘Honi soit qui mal y pense’ = ‘evil be to him who thinks it’.
- Culture
Britain’s oldest orchestra is based in which city?
a) Edinburgh
b) Manchester
c) London
d) Liverpool
Thanks to Gorillaman for this questions and answer (given above).
Only one of these cathedrals is situated in a city. Which one?
a) Rochester
b) Wells
c) Bury St Edmunds
d) Blackburn
Thanks to Gorillaman for this questions and answer (given above).
- Miscellaneous
What was or is the Windrush?
a) A ship
b) A weather system
c) A plant
d) A farming method
Thanks to Gorillaman for this questions and answer (given above).
Until 1949, twelve Members of Parliament were chosen not by a public vote, but by…?
a) Senior members of the army & navy
b) A vote in the House of Lords
c) Universities
d) The Prime Minister
Thanks to Gorillaman for this questions and answer (given above).
- Sport
England have won the football World Cup in 1966, and the Rugby World Cup in 2003. Which uncle and nephew played in the respective finals?
a) William and Jonny Wilkinson
b) George and Ben Cohen
c) Bobby and Brian Moore
d) Corin and Steve Redgrave
b)
George played full back (=defence) in 1966, Ben played winger in 2003.
Jonny Wilkinson scored the winning points in 2003. I made up William.
Bobby Moore was the captain in 1966. Brian (no relation as far as I know) played rugby for England, but was retired by 2003. He may well have commentated on the final.
Corin is an actor. Sir Steve (no relation as far as I know) won gold medals for rowing in 5 successive Olympiads.
Which of these is NOT a term or phrase used in cricket?
a) silly mid-on
b) bowling a maiden over
c) midfield dynamo
d) leg before wicket
[/QUOTE]
c)
A ‘midfield dynamo’ is typically a footballer with stamina who tackles well and inspires the team.
‘Silly mid on’ is a fielding position in cricket. Possibly silly means here close to the batsman, so you may get hit by the ball.
‘Bowling a maiden over’ means conceding no runs (maiden) in a set of 6 balls (an over).
‘Leg before wicket’ means you stopped the ball hitting the wicket with your leg. You are then out.
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