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Questions
2016–17 Season
Week 8

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Specialist Rounds
General Knowledge

2016-17 Season: Week 9 - 13 December 2016

Specialist Rounds

Set by the Brewers.

Round 1: History - Today's the Day

1 "Dia do Marinheiro" (translated – "Sailor's Day") is celebrated on the 13th December in which South American country to commemorate their Navy? Click to show or hide the answer
2 In which year during World War 2 did the Kingdoms of Hungary and Romania declare war on the United States on December 13th? Click to show or hide the answer
3 Which country declared itself as a republic on 13th December 1974 but has remained within the Commonwealth of Nations ever since? Click to show or hide the answer
4 In which decade of the 16th Century did Sir Francis Drake set sail from Plymouth, on his round-the-world voyage on December 13th? Click to show or hide the answer
5 On the 13th December 2002, the EU announced that ten countries would become members from May 1st 2004. Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Malta, Hungary & Poland were five of them. Name one of the other five. Click to show or hide the answer
Click to show or hide the answer
Click to show or hide the answer
Click to show or hide the answer
Click to show or hide the answer
6 Operation Red Dawn was an American military operation conducted on 13th December 2003 that led to capture of whom? Click to show or hide the answer
7 Which American actor and comedian, who starred in the 1963 film Bye Bye Birdie and the Night at the Museum film series, was born on this date in 1925? Click to show or hide the answer
8 Which famous English poet and lexicographer (born 1709), died on this date in 1784? Click to show or hide the answer

Supplementaries:

1 St. Lucy's Day is a National day, celebrating their patron saint on December 13th on which Caribbean island? Click to show or hide the answer
2 Which African-American civil and human rights activist, who was born on December 13th 1903, and died on December 13th 1986, is considered "one of the most important African–American leaders of the 20th Century and perhaps the most influential woman in the Civil Rights Movement"? Click to show or hide the answer

Round 2: NOW! (That's What I Call) Christmas

Every question relates to a band, artist(s) or song that has topped the Christmas charts since the charts began.

1 Here In My Heart by Al Martino, became the first UK chart Christmas No. 1 in which year? Click to show or hide the answer
2 Whose 1993 novelty song denied Take That's hit Babe the Christmas No. I spot? Click to show or hide the answer
3 Who, in 1973, became the first band to reach No.I with a Christmas-themed song? Click to show or hide the answer
4 Who are the only act to have had a Christmas No. 1 on FOUR separate occasions? Click to show or hide the answer
5 Which is the only record to have reached No. 1 at Christmas-time twice? Click to show or hide the answer
6 In which year did Rage Against The Machine's 1992 single Killing In The Name reach No. 1, becoming the first group to get a Christmas No. 1 with a download–only single? Click to show or hide the answer
7 Who became the first act to claim the Christmas No. 1 spot after winning a reality TV contest? Click to show or hide the answer
8 Which song became both Christmas No. 1 and No.2 in 2008? Click to show or hide the answer

Supplementaries:

1 Cliff Richard has spent four Christmases at number one; two as a solo act, one as part of Band Aid 2 and one with which group? Click to show or hide the answer
2 In 2012, The Justice Collective released a cover of He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, as a fund-raiser for charities associated with what? Click to show or hide the answer

Round 3: Science and Nature

1 Which scientist inaugurated the Christmas Lecture at The Royal Institution in 1825? Click to show or hide the answer
2 Rangifer taranoui is the scientific name for which animal associated with Christmas? Click to show or hide the answer
3 Nordestina, Pega and Paulista are breeds of which animal associated with the Christmas story? Click to show or hide the answer
4 Which tree found in Britain has leaves which are 'oblong and tooted with a pointed tip, and feature around 20 pairs of prominent parallel veins'? Click to show or hide the answer
5 The main constituents of what are needle, column, plate and rime? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
6 Which root vegetable has varieties including Hollow Crown, All American and The Student? Click to show or hide the answer
7 The Hellebore plant is more commonly called? Click to show or hide the answer
8 The Poinsettia originally comes from which country? Click to show or hide the answer

Supplementaries:

1 Salt is a mineral composed primarily of what compound? Click to show or hide the answer
2 French, Spanish and Coriscan are subspecies of which gamebird? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer

Round 4: Sport

1 Who will Australia host in the Test Match set to start on 26th December 2016? Click to show or hide the answer
2 Totalling 630 nautical miles where does the traditional Christmas yacht race from Sydney end? Click to show or hide the answer
3 The King George VI Chase takes place at which racecourse on Boxing Day? Click to show or hide the answer
4 Which former Football League club will Macclesfield Town play on December 26th this year? Click to show or hide the answer
5 The Parliamentary tile of 'Chief Whip' refers to the role of the 'Whipper-in' in which sport? Click to show or hide the answer
6 Christmas Day 1971, with a running time of 82 minutes and 40 seconds, saw the longest game of what completed in the United States? Click to show or hide the answer
7 1965 saw the last Christmas Day feature played in the English Football League, name either of the sides involved? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
Click to show or hide the answer
8 Speed Skating was developed as a sport in the Seventeenth century, but in which European country? Click to show or hide the answer

Supplementaries:

1 In which year did the 1st Winter Olympics take place at Chamonix in France? Click to show or hide the answer
2 Which winter sport is defined as being where 'the competitor rides head-first and prone (lying face down) on a flat sled? Click to show or hide the answer

Round 5: Geography 

1 Which main river on the Isle of Wight shares its name with an Asian city? Click to show or hide the answer
2 'Whip Ma Whop Ma Gate' is found in which English city? Click to show or hide the answer
3 New Zealand and California are suburbs of which English city? Click to show or hide the answer
4 After Great Britain and the island of Ireland, which Scottish island is the third largest of the British Isles? Click to show or hide the answer
5 Which English town is served by Mumps station? Click to show or hide the answer
6 Which capital is overlooked by the Elburz mountains? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
7 Asmara is the capital of which African country? Click to show or hide the answer
8 Arcuate, Cuspate and Bird's Foot are types of which geographical feature? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer

Supplementaries:

1 Mount Redoubt is a volcanic peak found in which American state? Click to show or hide the answer
2 On which island of the Phillipines is Manila? Click to show or hide the answer

Round 6: Arts & Entertaiment: Xmas Films

1 Which film directed by Frank Capra tells the story of George Bailey? Click to show or hide the answer
2 Which actor, better known for his horror film roles, provided the voice of the Grinch in the 1966 version of the story? Click to show or hide the answer
3 Which British actor played the title role in the 1951 version of Scrooge? Click to show or hide the answer
4 Which Christmas film of 1988 was played out in and around the Nakatomi Plaza Building? Click to show or hide the answer
5 Jack Skellington is the main character in which Tim Burton movie? Click to show or hide the answer
6 Edmund Green played Kris Kringle opposite a nine year old Natalie Wood in which 1947 film? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
7 In which 1942 film was the song White Christmas first performed? Click to show or hide the answer
8 In which film, starring Tim Allen, do the elves cut through prison bars using tinsel? Click to show or hide the answer

Supplementaries:

1 Who played a drunken Santa in the 1983 comedy Trading Places? Click to show or hide the answer
2 Will Ferrell plays the title role in which film? Click to show or hide the answer

Round 7: What We All Wanted for Christmas

1 In which year of the 1980s did the Cabbage Patch riots take place? Click to show or hide the answer
2 Which ongoing series of films and animated tv series comes from the must have Christmas toy of 1986 about robots which could change into trucks and cars? Click to show or hide the answer
3 Which bear featured a cassette tape in its back and told stories and synchronised the audio with its moving lips? Click to show or hide the answer
4 The Nintendo Gaine Boy trounced everything else as the must have, but in which year? Click to show or hide the answer
5 This talking purple dinosaur ruled the present lists in 1992, but what was its name? Click to show or hide the answer
6 These colour coded fighting heroes made the grade in 1994 through a hit tv series, but what were they called? Click to show or hide the answer
7 These collectible stuffed animals appeared in 1995 and at one point accounted for 10% of all sales on ebay, but what were they? Click to show or hide the answer
8 This Sesame Street character made parents laugh and cry in 1996, but what was the full title of this must have toy? Click to show or hide the answer

Supplementaries:

1 Appearing from Japan these digital pets needed constant attention to stay healthy and nourished, what were they called? Click to show or hide the answer
2 In 2002 this toy let you launch spinning tops and battle each other by smashing them into each other, but what were they called? Click to show or hide the answer

Round 8: It's In the Bible - It Must Be True

1 Which city did Joseph originate from? Click to show or hide the answer
2 What is a manger? Click to show or hide the answer
3 Who did Mary go to see after her visit from the angel Gabriel? Click to show or hide the answer
4 Who were the first to hear of Jesus' birth? Click to show or hide the answer
5 Which gift given to Jesus represented the idea of Deity? Click to show or hide the answer
6 Which two of the Gospels tell the story of the birth of Jesus? (both required)? Click to show or hide the answer
Click to show or hide the answer
7 Which Old Testament prophet foretold the coming of Jesus and is mentioned in Matthew's Gospel? Click to show or hide the answer
8 Which Roman Emperor is mentioned at the beginning of this particular story? Click to show or hide the answer

Supplementaries:

1 Who ordered the killing of all children under the age of two? Click to show or hide the answer
2 To which country did Mary and Joseph take Jesus to escape the killing? Click to show or hide the answer

General Knowledge

Set by the Pack Horse Bowling Club.

1 The world's first Ice Hotel was built in which country? Click to show or hide the answer
2 What would you do with a rambutan? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
3 Off the coast of which country did the Battle of Trafalgar take place? Click to show or hide the answer
4 Where in the body would you find the pituitary gland? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
5 In which African country is the Nubian Dessert? Click to show or hide the answer
6 The opening sequence of which American TV series showed the silhouette of a falling businessman against a backdrop of posters from the 1960s? Click to show or hide the answer
7 The first Paralympic Games which was not open solely for war veterans was held in Rome in which year? Click to show or hide the answer
8 Where is the plaque which reads "We came in peace for all mankind"? Click to show or hide the answer

9 In cricket the fielding position Backward Point is now usually called what? Click to show or hide the answer
10 If High Tide is at mid–day, when will the next high tide be (to the nearest half hour)? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
11 In the year 2000, composer Colin Matthews added Pluto to which famous piece of music? Click to show or hide the answer
12 The world's largest public beer festival is held in Munich each autumn. What is it called? Click to show or hide the answer
13 Who wrote the opera from which comes the melody commonly known as Here Comes The Bride? Click to show or hide the answer
14 The books Out of Africa and Born Free are both set in which country? Click to show or hide the answer
15 The Saffir–Simpson scale measures the severity of damage caused by what? Click to show or hide the answer
16 Which Spanish artist designed the dream sequences in Alfred Hitchcock's film Spellbound? Click to show or hide the answer

17 The largest museum complex in the world is in Washington DC. What is it called? Click to show or hide the answer
18 Most of the world's caviar comes from Russia and which other country? Click to show or hide the answer
19 Which character was played by Helena Bonham Carter in Tim Burton's 2010 version of Alice in Wonderland? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
20 In 2004, who became the first black woman to win a Best Actress Oscar? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
21 Which word for a low pressure belt of surface winds at the equator can also describe a bout of emotional depression? Click to show or hide the answer
22 Which British politician won the 1959 general election with the slogan "You've never had it so good"? Click to show or hide the answer
23 What was returned to Piccadilly Circus in 1947 after being kept hidden during WW2? Click to show or hide the answer
24 The name of which percussion instrument is derived from the Greek words for wood and sound? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer

25 If your soil has a pH of 4, what colour are your hydrangeas likely to be? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
26 Lara's Theme was the title music from which 1965 film? Click to show or hide the answer
27 In which year did regular live TV broadcasts from the House of Commons begin? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
28 On which river is Baghdad located? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
29 The game of Polo is divided into eight periods called what? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
30 Which actor was in both the Magnificent Seven and the Dirty Dozen Films? Click to show or hide the answer
31 Which monarch was the intended victim of the Gunpowder Plot? Click to show or hide the answer
32 Which rock bands 4th album was untitled save for 4 symbols? Click to show or hide the answer

33 Which celebrity TV chef set up the Fifteen charity? Click to show or hide the answer
34 Chert is a type of what? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
35 Which indoor game was invented by British army officers in India in 1875? Click to show or hide the answer
36 What would you do with an Epilator? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
37 By what name is the Nepalese philosopher Prince Gautama Siddhartha better known to the world? Click to show or hide the answer
38 Which former sprinter claimed to start running "on the B of bang"? Click to show or hide the answer
39 What is the highest score attainable with the final 3 darts in a game of 501? Click to show or hide the answer
40 What is unusual about the trains on the London Docklands Light Railway? Click to show or hide the answer

41 What sporting event is sometimes referred to as The October Classic? Click to show or hide the answer
42 Name either of the independent candidates who stood in the recent US Presidential election. Click to show or hide the answer
Click to show or hide the answer
43 What is the Collins dictionary word of the year for 2016? Click to show or hide the answer
44 Which UKIP politician accompanied Nigel Farage when they met Donald Trump in November? Click to show or hide the answer
45 Which famous 17th century event was said to have taken place at Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire? Click to show or hide the answer
46 Often referred to as the most influential scientist you've never heard of, name the British physicist whose 1928 equation predicted the existence of anti­ matter. Click to show or hide the answer
47 The character Robert Langdon has been played by Tom Hanks on three occasions; he is the main protagonist of novels by which author? Click to show or hide the answer
48 In the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, what type of animal is Hobbes? Click to show or hide the answer

49 What is the name of Prince Harry's new girlfriend, (who looks uncannily like a composite of Kate and Pippa Middleton)? Click to show or hide the answer
50 Which South American mammal is the world's largest rodent? Click to show or hide the answer
51 What is the name of Whitney Houston's older and equally famous cousin? Click to show or hide the answer
52 The start of the 2005 Grand National was delayed by 25 minutes because of which event? Click to show or hide the answer
53 For what purpose is an Aldis lamp used? Click to show or hide the answer
54 Which bacillus infection causes Typhoid fever? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
55 Which river enters the ocean at Montevideo? Click to show or hide the answer
56 What type of fuel is used in jet engines? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer

57 In which TV show did Matt Lucas play George Dawes? Click to show or hide the answer
58 What is parsimony? Click to show or hide the answer
59 Which strip cartoon began life as Li'l Folks? Click to show or hide the answer
60 Which "space-rock" band led by Dave Brock celebrated 45 years in the business in 2014? Click to show or hide the answer
61 Australian cricketer Shane Warne played for which county between 2000 and 2007? Click to show or hide the answer
62 What collective nickname, relating to their hair, was given to young RAF officers during WW2? Click to show or hide the answer
63 Which Anglo-Saxon King of England was canonised in the 12th century and remains the patron saint of the Royal Family? Click to show or hide the answer
64 The river Rhone meets the river Saone in which French city? Click to show or hide the answer

65 Which small, quiet war time aircraft was used to land & pickup agents in France? Click to show or hide the answer
66 Which was the first sport to be covered live on radio in 1927? Click to show or hide the answer
67 Who was the only British monarch of the house of Saxe-Coburg Gotha ? Click to show or hide the answer
68 The Drakensberg Mountains are in 2 countries, name either? Click to show or hide the answer
69 Four C's are used to grade diamonds. Colour, Clarity and Carat are three of them; what is the fourth? Click to show or hide the answer
70 Which London area based tourist attraction has a large Red Pagoda in its extensive grounds? Click to show or hide the answer
71 Which English town has an area famous for antique dealers called The Lanes? Click to show or hide the answer
72 Which hallmark symbol is used only by the London Assay Office? Click to show or hide the answer

73 Which flowering plant is carved on the capitals (tops) of Corinthian columns? Click to show or hide the answer
74 Italy was united under which king in 1870? Click to show or hide the answer
75 What in the human body is regulated by circadian rhythms? Click to show or hide the answer
76 Which US president is portrayed on a one dollar bill? Click to show or hide the answer
77 Who won the 2016 I'm a celebrity get me out of here? Click to show or hide the answer
78 Which annual event was first held in Islington in 1886, moved to Olympia, then Earls Court and is now held at the NEC Birmingham? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
79 Which state ceremony in London marks the Queen's official birthday? Click to show or hide the answer
80 In which year did the Queen and President Mitterrand open the Channel Tunnel? Click to show or hide the answer

81 The Grand Union Canal connects London to which other English city? Click to show or hide the answer
82 Othello and Falstaff were late-period operas by which composer? Click to show or hide the answer
83 In which craft is a "Gob" collected on a metal tube known as a "Punty"? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
84 Which social reformer is commemorated by the statue of Eros in London's Piccadilly Circus? Click to show or hide the answer
85 In which African country did the Hutu and Tutsi tribes fight a civil war in the 1990's? Click to show or hide the answer
86 Which lake forms part of the border between Germany, Austria and Switzerland? Click to show or hide the answer
87 Which historica l figure was played by Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett in 1998 and Helen Mirren in 2005? Click to show or hide the answer
88 What do 00, HO and N have in common? Click to show or hide the answer

89 Which Bohemian prince commanded the royalist cavalry in the English civil war? Click to show or hide the answer
90 Who sued the Marques of Queensbury for libel in 1895, but lost the action at great cost to himself? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
91 What instrument has Mick Jagger played on several Rolling Stone recordings? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
92 Which bird makes the nests used in the Chinese dish Birds Nest Soup? Click for more information Click to show or hide the answer
93 Which gas is produced by the action of ultraviolet radiation on Oxygen? Click to show or hide the answer
94 Who, in children's fiction, had a special friend called Peter the goatherd? Click to show or hide the answer
95 What was Paul O'Grady's stage name for his one-time female impersonation character? Click to show or hide the answer
96 In which country were the Carnatic Wars fought in the 18th century? Click to show or hide the answer

Supplementaries:

1 Which royal dynasty ruled England from 1154 to 1485? Click to show or hide the answer
2 Which electrical device in a car is located between the coil and the spark plugs? Click to show or hide the answer
3 How was singer Tony Bennett officially associated with the 2001 Kentucky Derby? Click to show or hide the answer
4 Which scientist discovered vaccination and used cowpox injections to cure smallpox? Click to show or hide the answer

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