Friday 30 September 2016

Buzzer Set


I attended the Light Speed Quiz event last weekend over in Church Fenton. As always with these events, the players set the questions so thought I would share my normal round (I also set a special....to follow)


1.       This European city is the capital of its nation, but not the seat of government. It has a name deriving from the river on which it stands. The oldest stock exchange in the world can be found here and it’s name forms the title of a Booker Prize winning novel of the 1990s.This cities canals are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Famous residents of this city include Baruch Spinoza, Rembrandt and Anne Frank. Name this city that is the capital of the Netherlands?

 

Amsterdam

 

2.       This African nation has a flag containing 6 stars and a picture of a silk cotton tree. Its leader is currently the longest serving President in the world.  It lies on the West Coast and is made up of 5 volcanic islands and the mainland called Rio Muni. It is the only country in Africa in which Spanish is an official language.  Name this country who’s capital city is Malabo?

 

Equatorial Guinea

 

 

3.       Name the year in which the following occurred – The Liberal Democrats party was formed, Perestroika began in the Soviet Union, Celine Dion won the Eurovision Song contest, Benazir Bhutto was sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan,  the Netherlands won the European Football Championships and the Summer Olympic Games were held in Seoul?

1988

 

4.       This US State is the eighth biggest by area and has a history of mining and digging for gold. The Peaks Pike Gold Rush occurred in this state which borders New Mexico, Arizona and Utah amongst others. It recently became the first US State to legalize the use and possession of Marijuana. Name this Us State in which Denver is the largest city?

Colorado

 

 

 

 

5.       Born in 1981, this comedian embarked on the “Back Door Tour” in 2014, the year after her popular sketch show made its first appearance on TV. In 2016 she released her autobiography the title of which plays on the Steig Larson Millennium Trilogy – “The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo”. She hosted the 2015 MTV Movie Awards, the same year in which her debut feature film “Trainwreck” was released. Name this American comedian whose name follows the word “Inside___” in the title of her most successful sketch show.

 

Amy Schumer

 

6.       Born in Suffolk, this British composer was chosen as one of ten figures to feature on the royal Mail series of Postage Stamps to commemorate “Great Britons” in 2013.  The 2009 play “The Habit of Art” by Alan Bennett tells the tale of this composer  meeting with WH Auden.  In 1976 he became the first composer to be given a life peerage, the same year in which he passed away. Born in 1913, name this British Composer who’s most notable works include Death in Venice, Peter Grimes and The Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra?

 

Benjamin Britten

 

7.       This American TV Comedy was created by the same team who produced the “Thick of It”. It recently won its second Emmy award for Outstanding Comedy Series  and follows the story of Selina Meyer in her rise from Vice President to President of the US. Starring Julia Louise Drefyus name this US Comedy?

 

Veep

 

8.       This national football team were the last team to defeat England in a World Cup or European Championship Qualifying match.  They first appeared in a World Cup in 2006 where they lost to Italy in the quarter finals. They then made their European Championship debut in 2012, where they lost to England despite being one of the co hosts of the tournament. Name this national team whose leading scorer of all time is Andrey Schvenchenko?

 

Ukraine

 

 

 

9.       What number links – the number of current British Overseas Territories, the number of the Beethoven Piano Sonata known as “moonlight”,  the traditional shirt number of the Right Winger in a  game of Rugby Union , the atomic number of silicon and in Christianity the number of Stations of the Cross?

 

14

 

10.   This band formed in 1986 and a musical based on their work was released on Broadway in 2010.  They appeared in the Simpsons Movie and in 2009 released their highest charting album “21st Century Breakdown”. However, it is their 2004 album “American Idiot” that is perhaps better known as well as their breakthrough  1994 album “Dookie”. Name this band fronted by Billie Joe Armstrong?

 

Greenday

 

 

11.   Released in 1974, this was the second James Bond film to star Roger Moore. In the film Bond is sent after the Solex Agitator and encounters Fransisco Scaramanga played by Christopher Lee. Name this Bond film?

 

The Man With the Golden Gun

 

12.   This cocktail has a name which the SAS also used to refer to C4 explosives. It is made by adding Galliano to ingredients of a Screwdriver cocktail.  Name this cocktail, with a two word name, which is made up of orange juice, vodka and Galliano?

 

Harvey Wall banger

 

 

 

13.   This is one of only 12 people to have won an Oscar, a Grammy, an Emmy and a Tony Award. He won his Grammy in the year 2000 for his spoken comedy album “The 2000 year old man”. In  1968 he won an Emmy for his role in the comedy “Mad About You”. Both his Oscar and Tony were awarded for versions of the same production. He was also married to the Oscar Winning Actress Anne Bancroft until her death in 2005. Name this actor, writer and filmmaker who was responsible for The Producers and Blazing Saddles?

 

Mel Brooks

 

14.   In 2015, this car manufacturer produced 9.9 million vehicles making them the world’s second largest car manufacturer behind Toyota. Vehicles produced by this manufacturer include the Caddy, the Up and the Amorak. Founded in Berlin in 1937, name this German car manufacturer who are best known for their Golf, Passat and Polo models?

Volkswagen

 

15.   This weekend, which Premier League manager is taking charge of his 1000th career match as manager.  His first post was at Bournemouth in 1992 with his most recent three jobs being in the Premier League. He was awarded the 2013-2014 Manager of the Season award when he guided Crystal Palace to 11th place. He guided Stoke  to their first FA Cup Final in 2011. Who is the current manager of West Bromwich Albion?

Tony Pulis

 

16.   This film was released in 1997 and grossed over $500 million worldwide.  The movie ends with one of the main characters waking up from an alleged 30 year coma. The theme song for the film was a hit single for one its main stars. Name this film directed by Barry Sonnenfield and starring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smiths?

Men in Black

Monday 19 September 2016

North East Quizzes

When I first started this blog a number of years ago, one of my main aims was to review local quizzes and make sure people living in the north east area, who read this blog, had a rough idea of quizzes in their local area which were worth a look.

You may remember the Quiz Trek series from a few years ago for example.

In the next few weeks I am intending to embark on a similar theme of posts to really get a good collection of posts together about quizzes in the area. Often they are not very well advertised and many times I have turned up and the quiz hasn't been on as advertised.

I aim to start in a few weeks time and am looking to build together a database of quizzes to attend. Hence, if you have any quiz recommendations in the North East Area then please let me know either on here or via email at Daniel@thequizaddict.com

Thursday 8 September 2016

Quiz/Trivia Podcast Suggestion

Minds Over Matter

I enjoy listening to the odd podcast or two, and have been hunting for a while for a really good Quiz/Trivia based podcast and recently came across Minds Over Matter which is an American show, pretty sure its San Francisco based, which airs for one hour each Sunday and seemingly has been doing so for over 20 years.

I have listened to around 4-5 episodes now and have been really enjoying it. It's ad free if you listen on the podcast and every episode as a ton of great questions to get stuck into. Callers phone in with trivia, questions are left open and it runs at a really good pace. Yes, there are several questions which are just "too-trivial" and naturally a lot of US-based stuff I can't get anywhere near, but the core of each show has some great questions and I have been learning a ton from each episode.

Well worth a listen to!

Link is HERE




Wednesday 7 September 2016

Trivial Pursuit 2000s

Image result for trivial pursuit 2000s
 
 
You may have noticed in the last few weeks, that a version Trivial Pursuit, titled "2000s" started to appear in stores. I had been looking for a new trivia board game to add to my collection and having seen a post from a fellow quizzer on Facebook, advertising that he had written questions for the game, I decided to buy it and have been playing over the weekend with a non-quizzing partner....a reluctant one at that.
 
I am in two minds about my opinion on this....
 
Firstly, the negatives are that the format is not great. Gone are the old Trivial Pursuit Rules that were simple and created longer games. This is very much a "quick fix" sort of game. Although it takes longer to set up that play sometimes!!!
 
The game involves the usual, collecting the wedges, and the categories are pretty much the same as the normal game. But what makes the game so quick is that not only do you collect wedges by merely passing certain squares, but there are a lot of multiple choice and true and false questions, not to mention the difficulty level is lowered. So, even with a non quizzer, some of these games were lasting a matter of mere minutes before we both nearly had full racks.
 
There is a whole element of seeing the category and choosing not to answer, passing onto your opponent. If they get it wrong you win a wedge...
 
Has there ever been a game of trivial pursuit where you can win easily by only answering one question?
 
There are always 2-3 good questions per card which is the one saving grace.
 
Taking my non quiz-fan hat off for the moment....this is probably most suited to families and casual players. My non-quizzing playing partner enjoyed it, the questions were pitched right for her and it did make for a fun few geames but I can't see myself going back to it in a rush!





Monday 5 September 2016

Buzzer Questions


In terms of size this is island is the seventh largest in Scotland. It is often referred to as “Scotland in miniature”  and is separated from the mainland by the Kilbrannan Sound. Name the Scottish Island that has Brodick as its capital and Goatfell as its highest point?

 

Arran

 

This author was born in 1958 and has since wrote 10 adult novels many of which have been turned into films. He won the Man Booker Prize in 1993 for a novel about a 10 year old boy living in Barrytown although perhaps his most famous novel tells the story of a group of unemployed Irishmen who form a Soul Band. Who is the author of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha HA and The Commitments?

 

Roddy Doyle

 

Which American Physicist, born in 1904, and often referred to as “the father of the atomic bomb”, was appointed as director of Eisenhower’s Manhattan Plan in 1941 that sought to create American Nuclear weapons?

 

Robert Oppenheimer

 

Which British Formula 1 Driver who drove for Mclaren, Ferrari and Williams won the World Championship in 1992?

 

Nigel Mansell

 

Which Actress, born in 1944, took her name from a character in the The Great Gatsby and made her film debut in the 1977 Woody Allen film “Annie Hal” although her most famous role was as Reipley in the Alien series?

 

Sigourney Weaver

 

Name the country. This country became a constitutional monarchy in 1952 and its national day falls on December 5th. Over 90% of the population are Buddhists and chief exports include rice, rubber and precious stones. It has borders with Laos and Cambodia amongst others and has the Baht as currency. Its capital city is Bangkok.

 

Thailand

 

Name the year. Geoffrey Fisher retired as the archbishop of Canterbury, the World Wildlife Fund was founded, Private Eye was published for the first time, Elvis Presley had 4 UK Number 1’s and Yuri Gargarin became the first man in space?

 

1961

 

At 3,776m tall, this mountain is the tallest in its country and was last week announced as a World Heritage Site by Unesco. Its name translates as “wealth” or “abundant” in English and along with Mount Tate and Mount Haku it is considered as one of the “Three Holly Mountains” in its country. Located on Honshu Island, what is the largest mountain in Japan?

 

Mt. Fuji

 

What name is shared by one of the leaders of the Peasants' Revolt in 1381 and a Labour politician born in 1946 who served as both Home and Foreign Secretary under tony Blair?


Jack Straw

 

In April 1974, the radio broadcast of a song by the folk protest singer Zeca Afonso, signalled the start of the Carnation Revolution which took place in which country?

 

Portugal

 

Which long running BBC Radio 4 show was created by Ian Messiter and first broadcast in 1967? The show has had the same host since its inception and guests on the first episode included Derek Nimmo and Clement Freud.  The object of the game is for panellists to talk about a subject without repetition, hesitation or deviation  for an assigned period of time. Name the radio show of which Nicolas Parson has been host from 1967 until the present day?#

 

Just a Minute

 

What number is the tenth lowest prime number, the number that might lead a bingo caller to announced “In Your Prime”, the atomic number of copper, and the number of days in February in a leap year?

29