General Knowledge 47

Question 1

Who married archaeologist Max Mallowan in 1930 after meeting him at an archaeological dig?

Answer 1

Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie is a famous British author known for her detective novels.

Question 2

Name the first ever UK Prime Minister with a science degree.

Answer 2

Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher studied chemistry at the University of Oxford.

Question 3

Pomodoro is Italian for which fruit?

Answer 3

Tomato

The term ‘Pomodoro’ is also associated with a time management technique.

Question 4

What in the UK, is 518 feet tall and was opened in May 1894?

Answer 4

Blackpool Tower

Blackpool Tower is a famous landmark located in Blackpool, England.

Question 5

Which sitcom character did not know his father because ‘he died a couple of years before he was born’?

Answer 5

Trigger (Only Fools and Horses)

Trigger is a character from the British sitcom ‘Only Fools and Horses’.

Question 6

L.S. Lowry’s 1953 painting Going to the Match, depicts fans going to watch which team play at their home ground of Burnden Park?

Answer 6

Bolton Wanderers

The painting captures the essence of football culture in England.

Question 7

Musth or must is characterized by aggressive behaviour in which animal?

Answer 7

Elephants (male elephants)

Musth is a periodic condition in bull elephants, marked by increased testosterone levels.

Question 8

From August 1960 to December 1962, the Beatles regularly performed at different clubs in which German city?

Answer 8

Hamburg

Hamburg was significant in the early development of the Beatles as a band.

Question 9

J.K. Rowling wrote the first part of Harry Potter in The Elephant House café in which British city?

Answer 9

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is known for its rich literary history and vibrant café culture.

Question 10

Which footballer’s daughter Suzanne was a weather forecaster for the BBC during the 1990s?

Answer 10

Bobby Charlton

Bobby Charlton is a legendary English footballer and World Cup winner.

Question 11

Norman Wisdom was a cult figure in which European country?

Answer 11

Albania

Norman Wisdom’s appeal in Albania was particularly strong due to his slapstick comedy.

Question 12

What food is nicknamed ‘Yorkshire caviar’?

Answer 12

Mushy peas

Mushy peas are a traditional British dish often served with fish and chips.

Question 13

The title of which play, written in 1911 by Edward Knoblauch, means ‘Fate’ or ‘Destiny’ in Urdu and Turkish?

Answer 13

Kismet

Kismet explores themes of fate and destiny in its narrative.

Question 14

Which famous ship was named after the short shirt of the fictional witch in Robert Burns’s 1791 poem ‘Tam o’ Shanter’?

Answer 14

Cutty Sark

The Cutty Sark is a historic clipper ship now preserved as a museum ship.

Question 15

Which two colours are on a semaphore flag?

Answer 15

Red and yellow

Semaphore flags are used for visual signaling in maritime communication.

Question 16

Which two bones make up the forearm?

Answer 16

Radius and ulna

These bones are essential for the movement of the wrist and elbow.

Question 17

Which two famous German Baroque composers were born in the same year, 1685?

Answer 17

Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel

Both composers made significant contributions to classical music.

Question 18

Which two metals are alloyed to make bronze?

Answer 18

Copper and tin

Bronze is an important material historically used for tools and weapons.

Question 19

In Scrabble, which two letters are worth ten points?

Answer 19

Q and Z

These letters are among the least frequently used in the English language.

Question 20

Which two planets in our solar system do not have moons?

Answer 20

Mercury and Venus

These inner planets are unique in their lack of natural satellites.

Question 21

Who are the two most translated English writers?

Answer 21

William Shakespeare and Agatha Christie

Both authors have had a profound impact on literature worldwide.

Question 22

What were the two former names of Istanbul?

Answer 22

Byzantium and Constantinople

The city has a rich history, serving as a capital for multiple empires.

Question 23

Which two U.S. cities are mentioned in the Rolling Stones song ‘Honky Tonk Women’?

Answer 23

Memphis and New York City

The song references different cultural and musical influences.

Question 24

Which two elements are liquids at room temperature?

Answer 24

Mercury and Bromine

These elements have unique properties that distinguish them from most others.

Question 25

What is the name of the street newspaper founded by John Bird and Gordon Roddick in September 1991?

Answer 25

The Big Issue ## Footnote The Big Issue aims to help homeless individuals by providing them with a source of income.

Question 26

What stars Jeff Bridges as 'The Dude', a Los Angeles slacker and avid bowler?

Answer 26

The Big Lebowski ## Footnote This film has become a cult classic since its release.

Question 27

Who is known as the American musician Jiles Perry Richardson Jr.?

Answer 27

The Big Bopper ## Footnote The Big Bopper was a prominent figure in early rock and roll music.

Question 28

What is referred to as the winter of 1962–1963 in the UK?

Answer 28

The Big Freeze ## Footnote This period was marked by severe cold weather and heavy snowfall.

Question 29

What is an index which is a way of measuring Purchasing Power Parity between different countries?

Answer 29

The Big Mac index ## Footnote The Big Mac index uses the price of a Big Mac to compare economies.

Question 30

What is the nickname for the city of New Orleans, Louisiana?

Answer 30

The Big Easy ## Footnote This nickname reflects the city's laid-back culture and lifestyle.

Question 31

What is the largest self-storage company in the United Kingdom?

Answer 31

The Big Yellow ## Footnote The Big Yellow offers various self-storage solutions for businesses and individuals.

Question 32

Who was a boilermaker in the Glasgow shipyards in the early 1960s?

Answer 32

The Big Yin (Billy Connolly) ## Footnote Billy Connolly is a famous Scottish comedian and actor.

Question 33

What Agatha Christie novel featuring Hercule Poirot was first published in 1927?

Answer 33

The Big Four ## Footnote This novel involves a conspiracy of four criminal masterminds.

Question 34

What is the nickname of the New York Stock Exchange?

Answer 34

The Big Board ## Footnote The Big Board is a key component of the global financial market.