Grand Christmas Quiz

In my spare time, I am secretary for a group of Alumni of the London School of Economics. We held a short quiz for our members justt before Christmas last year. There were no prizes, and there are none here. But you can have a go in aswering these questions.

British politicians
1. Which prime minister was booed by the 10,000 assembled members of the women's           institute?

2.   Which two politicians were prime minister on three or more occasions in the 19th Century.

3.   How many ministers for housing have there been since the 2010 general election?

4.   Who is the current minister?

5.   What is the fourth largest group in the House of Commons?

Science
Which of these statements is true?
1.    Short people have on average a longer life-expectancy than tall people.
 
3.    People lose an average of a centimetre height during the day because of the effect of gravity.

4.    Bananas and carrots are radioactive.

5.    The Atlantic Ocean is growing wider by an inch and a half each year.


Connections
What do the following have in common?
1.    Mrs Glum, Mrs Daley, Elizabeth Mainwaring, Maris Frazier..

2.    Robert Peston, David Miliband, Oliver Letwin, Emily Thornberry.

3.    Lagos, Auckland, Zurich, Rangoon.

       
Geography
1.    Which historic English county is named after a river which flows between two different counties?

2.    Which Asian country is named after a river which flows entirely through another country?

3.    Which European country is named after a river which flows entirely through a neighbouring country?

4.    Which country has the largest banana plantation in Europe?


The arts
1.    Which European city is the location (in or near) of five grand operas?

2.    What was the nationality of prima ballerina assoluta Alicia Markova?

3.    What are the national origins of the following dances: the tango; the salsa; the rumba; and the samba?.

4.    Which famous impressionist painting includes the oldest registered trademark in the UK?

5.    What is the more familiar name of Ozymandias, King of Kings?


Wars
Which decades did these wars begin?
1.    The War of Jenkyn’s Ear?

2.    The Taiping Rebellion?

3.    The Grand Chaco War?

4.    The Great African War?


Quotes
1.    Who wrote: “History is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies and misdeeds of mankind”.

2.    Who described whom as being: “Mad, bad and dangerous to know”.

3.    Who started a work of fiction with: “It was a dark and stormy night”?


Last words
1.    Whose last words were (allegedly): “Bugger Bognor” or “God damn you”.

2.    Whose last words were these (allegedly) “I am dying beyond my means. I can't even afford to die.” or “My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or other of us has got to go.”

3.    Which film ends with the leading man saying: “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a dam”.

4.    Which comedy film ends with “Nobody’s perfect”.