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Questions
2016–17 Season
Week 18

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Specialist Rounds
General Knowledge

2016–17 Season: Week 18 – 21 March 2017

Specialist Rounds

Round 1:  Sport

1 Which sportsman retired in December of last year (2016), just five days after becoming world champion?
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2 At which Macclesfield church did Olympic gold medal winning cyclists Laura Trott and Jason Kenny 'tie the knot' in September of last year (2016)? Comments on the question
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3 Which famous horse race is known as The Run for the Roses?
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4 Doggett's Coat and Badge is the prize and the name of the world's oldest race in what sport?
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5 Located at Royal Troon golf club, what popular name has been given to the eighth hole, the shortest hole in Open Championship golf?
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6 What is the final event in the ladies' heptathlon?
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7 Which stadium was built for the 1908 London Olympic Games, hosted one game in the 1966 FIFA world cup finals, and was demolished in 1985?
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8 Since the end of World War II the Formula One British grand prix has taken place on three circuits. Brands Hatch and Silverstone are two; what is the other?
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Supplementaries:

9 Which sporting venue is nicknamed 'Billy Williams's Cabbage Patch'?
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10 Which team was the losing finalist in this year's American Football Superbowl?
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Round 2: Arts & Entertainment

1 To whom did Beethoven originally dedicate his Eroica symphony?
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2 Which film of 1979 features Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries being played by an American helicopter gunship squadron as it attacks a village during the Vietnam war?
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3 What is the title of Sir Antony Gormley's work of 100 cast iron figures mounted on Crosby Beach, north of Liverpool?
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4 Which former British heavyweight boxing champion struck the gong at the opening credits to films produced by the Rank Organisation? Click for more information
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5 What is the sub–title of the Harry Potter play currently being staged at London's West End Palace theatre?
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6 What is Charles Dickens's only novel with a female character name in the title?
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7 In what field has Annie Leibovitz made her name?
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8 VAROOM!, basically a pop art painting of an explosion, is a work by which artist?
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Supplementaries:

9 Dutch artist Jan Vermeer lived and worked for most of his life in which Dutch town or city?
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10 Moab Is My Washpot is the title of the autobiography of which actor, presenter and writer?
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Round 3: History

1 In which city was Osama Bin Laden killed in 2011?
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2 Who assassinated Robert Kennedy in 1968?
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3 The Darien scheme was an ill–fated attempt by which European country in the late 17th and early 18th centuries to establish a colony on the border of present day Panama and Colombia?
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4 Who was the last British king to lead his troops into battle?
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5 To what was Queen Mary (wife of George V) referring when she said "Well Mr. Baldwin, this is a pretty kettle of fish"?
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6 During the Falklands war, which BBC news reporter became famous for the statement "I'm not allowed to say how many planes joined the raid, but I counted them all out and I counted them all back"?
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7 Captain Robert Falcon Scott led two expeditions to the Antarctic, sailing on the RRS Discovery on the first expedition (1901–04). On what ship did he sail on the second ill–fated expedition of 1910–13?
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8 In ancient Egypt, what was stored in Canopic Jars?
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Supplementaries:

9 In which city were the majority of the kings of France crowned?
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10 Which royal house ruled Italy between 1861 and 1946?
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Round 4: Science

1 What is the name of NASA's car–sized robotic rover that landed on planet Mars on 6th August 2012 and is still gathering information on the surrounding geology and climate?
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2 The last man to walk on the moon died in January. What was his name?
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3 What is the common name for the green plover or peewit?
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4 The adjective 'vulpine' refers to which animal?
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5 What is recorded by means of a Campbell–Stokes recorder?
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6 Pitchblende is the main ore of which metallic element?
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7 The name of which element is derived from the German for 'goblin'?
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8 What is measured on the Stanford–Binet scale?
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Supplementaries:

 

9 What is measured on the Fujita scale?
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10 Who is credited with the invention of the battery and the discovery of methane?
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Round 5: Geography

1 What name is given to natives of Sydney, Australia?
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2 What name is given to natives of Phoenix, Arizona?
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3 What is the only African country to use Spanish as an official language? Click for more information
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4 Sweden and Finland are two of the three countries that share a land border with Norway. What is the other?
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5 The Ordnance Survey bases all elevations in Great Britain (i.e. the UK excepting Northern Ireland) on the mean sea level at which Cornish town?
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6 What name do the French give to the Straits of Dover?
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7 Greece shares land borders with four countries. Albania, Macedonia and Turkey are three; what is the other?
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8 The shipping forecast area formerly known as Finisterre is now known by what name?
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Supplementaries:

9 Named after a Prussian naturalist, geographer and explorer, what is the name of the major ocean current that flows north along the Pacific coast of South America from the southern tip of Chile to northern Peru?
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10 What is the name of the narrow strait that separates Russia and Alaska, USA?
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Round 6: The Name's the Same

In each question you will be given a brief description of two different people who share the same surname. All that is required is the common surname.

For example: Current US president – British snooker player. Answer: Trump. (Donald and Judd)

Variant spellings of the surname may occur.

1 20th century U.S. president; first bowler to take 300 cricket test match wickets.
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2 Railway pioneer; wife of Billy Connolly
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3 World War II British soldier; captain of the 2010 European Ryder cup team
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4 Head of RAF Bomber Command in World War II; notorious Chelsea defender of the 1960s and 70s
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5 Member of England's 1966 world cup winning side; leader of the 1953 British Everest conquering expedition
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6 Welsh–born cricketer, captain of the England test team 1972–73; American inventor of the machine gun used by the British Army in both world wars
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7 BBC radio presenter, died November 2016; first winner of Pop Idol on UK TV
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8 Government minister responsible for introducing the breathalyzer in the UK; multi–talented musician and entertainer, founder of the only UK charity to focus solely on lung cancer care
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Supplementaries:

9 First UK winner of the Eurovision song contest; first person to have been awarded both an Oscar and a Nobel prize
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10 Author listed by Guinness World Records as the best selling novelist of all time; serial killer hanged in 1953 for the murder of at least eight people
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Round 7: Firing Blanks

In each case you will be given the name of an author and a respective book title – but with a word deleted and the word BLANK substituted. Supply the missing word wherever BLANK occurs.

Foe example: Umberto Eco – the BLANK of the Rose (Name)

1 John Irving – The World According To BLANK
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2 Kazuo Ishiguro – The BLANK Of The Day
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3 Hilary Mantel – Bring Up The BLANK
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4 Keri Hulme – The BLANK People
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5 Mark Haddon – The Curious Incident Of The BLANK In The Night Time
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6 Douglas Adams – So Long And Thanks For All The BLANK
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7 Chuck Palahniuk – Fight BLANK
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8 Paul Torday – Salmon Fishing In The BLANK
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Supplementaries:

9 Marina Lewycka – A Short History Of Tractors In BLANK
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10 Nick Hornby – High BLANK
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Round 8: Animal Magic

All answers contain the name of a type of creature. Full answer required, not just the animal.

For example: An aid to night driving patented by Percy Shaw in 1934 – Cats Eyes

1 Scene of the battle in 1982 in which British Army Lieutenant–Colonel 'H' Jones was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.
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2 Who is the current Chief Scout of the Scouting Association?
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3 Though no longer part of the main signposted route between Manchester and Sheffield, what name is given to the section of the A57 between Ladybower reservoir and Glossop?
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4 The scene of the assassination of William McKinley in 1901, what is the second most populous city in New York state after New York City?
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5 An expression that originated on the New York stock exchange to indicate a temporary recovery in prices (after a substantial fall) caused by speculators buying in stock that they have sold at a higher level
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6 The name of the most southerly tip of mainland UK
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7 Capital of Canada's Yukon territory
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8 A person who selfishly keeps something that he of she does not really need or want so that others may not use or enjoy it
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Supplementaries:

9 The common name for the orca, the largest member of the dolphin family Comments on the question
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10 According to current TV commercials, what is the USA's best selling adhesive?
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General Knowledge

1 Who is currently the British No. 2 male tennis player?
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2 The current British No. 1 female tennis player, Johanna Konta, was born in which country?
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3 As well as being secretary of state for justice, what other official position is held by Liz Truss – the first woman to do so?
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4 Who is the current leader of UKIP?
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5 All the members of which band have the surname Followill?
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6 The band Heaven 17 took their name from that of a fictional band in which controversial novel?
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7 The quetzal is the unit of currency in which Central American country?
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8 The name of which European capital city translates to 'Smoky Bay'?
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9 By which professional name is singer Rory Graham better known?
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10 BBC Radio 6 presenter Tom Ravenscroft is the son of which former Radio 1 presenter?
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11 The name of which European capital city means 'Merchants Harbour'?
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12 What stretch of water divides the North and South Islands of New Zealand?
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13 Known as the 'Scottish Pompeii' because of its excellent preservation, what is the name of the stone–built neolithic settlement located on the main island of the Orkney Isles?
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14 What mark indicates that an object was hallmarked by the Birmingham Assay Office?
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15 Pyrosis is the medical term for what common complaint?
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16 Who was the first of Henry VIII's children to become monarch?
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17 In which city is the U.S. TV crime drama series The Wire set?
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18 What spice is produced from the seed of the nutmeg, along with the nutmeg itself?
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19 What comes next in the following list: Angus, Barbara, Conor, ... ?
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20 In which fictional New England town is the US crime drama TV series Murder, She Wrote set?
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21 Rigel is the brightest star in which constellation?
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22 By what name is the city that was Stalingrad now known?
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23 Who was the England goalkeeper on the wrong end of Diego Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God' goal in the 1986 World Cup finals?
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24 How often does Halley's Comet visit planet Earth? Comments on the question
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25 Invariably a fund rising exercise, what test of endurance in the UK is popularly known as Le Jog?
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26 Bill English is the current Prime Minister of what country? Click for more information
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27 Fatima is a place of pilgrimage in which European country?
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28 How many pairs of ribs are there in the human body?
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29 In David Hockney's painting of Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy, who or what is Percy?
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30 Which Rugby League club are the current World Club Champions?
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31 What does the letter 'F' stand for in the name of the Government department DEFRA?
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32 What is the name of the farm that hosts the Glastonbury Festival?
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33 Camp David is the title of the 2012 autobiography of which comedy actor and author?
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34 Camp David, the country retreat of the US president, is in which state?
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35 To which Tory MP was Denis Healey referring when he once said "being criticised by him is like being savaged by a dead sheep"?
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36 Which Irish food dish is similar to 'bubble and squeak', being comprised of mashed potato, cabbage and various other vegetables and then fried?
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37 In Scotland, what is a 'but and ben'? Click for more information
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38 What is the most northerly city in the UK?
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39 The Soldier's Song is the national anthem of what country?
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40 What does the letter 'P' stand for, in the name of P. L. Travers, the creator of Mary Poppins?
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41 Alfred Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk commences at St Bees in Cumbria and ends at which village on the coast of North Yorkshire?
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42 By what professional name is singer/songwriter Damon Gough better known?
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43 Who was the host and presenter of the BBC TV game show Every Second Counts?
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44 Who was the first protestant Archbishop of Canterbury?
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45 There are just four surviving copies of the original Magna Carta. Two are in the British Library, one at Lincoln cathedral, and one at which other cathedral?
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46 What was the name of the Russian nuclear powered cruise missile submarine that was lost with all hands when it sank in the Barents Sea on 12th August 2000 following an onboard explosion?
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47 In which German city was Albert Einstein born?
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48 Who was the original host and presenter of ITV's The Krypton Factor?
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49 How many litres are there in a hectolitre?
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50 On what river does Victoria Falls stand?
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51 The 'Spinnaker Tower' is a landmark observation tower in which UK city?
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52 At the end of World War II, what was Operation Paperclip?
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53 On this day (21 March) Alcatraz prison was closed – in what year?
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54 On this day (21 March) the social media site Twitter was founded – in what year?
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55 Western House in London, the home of BBC Radio 2, was renamed last November to honour the life and career of whom?
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56 What is the name of the accountancy company that was held responsible for handing the wrong envelope to the presenters of the best picture award at the recent Oscars ceremony?
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57 This Boy, Please Mister Postman and The Long and Winding Road are the titles of the three volumes of memoirs by which former Labour Home Secretary?
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58 Which 20th century UK Prime Minister is buried in Worcester Cathedral?
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59 Woburn Abbey is the ancestral home of which Duke?
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60 How many acres are there in a square mile?
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61 On what racecourse does the Irish Grand National take place?
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62 In which town or city is the National Library of Wales located?
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63 What is the name of the farm in George Orwell's Animal Farm?
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64 What two–word rhyming phrase, used in English to describe meaningless language and practices, is thought to have originated with the native Mandinka tribe in West Africa?
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65 Which creature is featured on the flag of the Falkland Islands?
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66 The logo of which film studio features a mountain peak surrounded by a circle of stars?
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67 What is the name of the island off the south–west coast of the Isle of Man?
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68 Which architect designed Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill?
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69 What name is given to the holes in the side of a ship that allow sea water to drain from the deck?
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70 Which battle took place in 1314?
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71 Who preceded George Osborne as MP for Tatton?
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72 According to the Bible, who was the wife of Abraham?
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73 What two–word, hyphenated rhyming phrase is derived from the combination of culinary styles from either side of the Rio Grande river?
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74 Which golf club has been readmitted into the list of Open Championship venues after changing its rules on female membership?
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75 Which English golfer won the 2016 Masters tournament at Augusta, the first Englishman to do so since Nick Faldo in 1996?
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76 Lugworms would be of the greatest interest to people with what hobby?
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77 The SI unit of electrical conductance is named after the founder of which major electrical and telecommunications company?
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78 In which German city does the Porsche motor company have its HQ?
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79 What mark indicates an object was hallmarked by the London Assay Office?
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80 The dance Paso Doble is modelled on the sound, drama and movement of what activity?
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81 Also the surname of a former US president, what is the middle name of both Bill Clinton and William Hague?
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82 Who is the only person, to date, to have served as both vice–president and president of the USA without being elected to either office?
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83 What is the name of Mo Farah's American coach – currently accused of drug irregularities?
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84 The SI unit of electrical capacitance is named after which British scientist and inventor?
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85 The equator passes through three South American countries. Brazil and Ecuador are two; what is the other?
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86 The equator meets the Indian Ocean on the coast of which East African country?
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87 Which actor submitted scripts to the BBC for suggested comedy sketches under the name of Gerald Wiley?
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88 There and Back Again is the subtitle to which fantasy novel, first published in 1937?
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89 What misfortune befell Le Bateau (The Boat), a work by the French artist Henri Matisse, when it went on display in New York City in 1961?
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90 What is the name of the open air museum near the town of Stanley in County Durham that replicates life and conditions of the Industrial Revolution and the early 20th century?
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91 Concord is the capital of which US state?
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92 What is the title of the album by Adele that was named Best Album at the Grammy awards last month?
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93 Name either of the two former Manchester United players who are attempting to get planning permission to build two skyscrapers, a five star hotel, restaurant and flats in central Manchester.
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94 What is the name of the parliamentary constituency in Cumbria that was won by the Tories in a by–election last month – the first by–election gain for a governing party since 1982?
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95 Which West African country is the smallest country on mainland Africa?
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96 How many candles were displayed at the back of the altar at Ronnie Corbett's funeral in March of last year?
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Supplementaries:

1 Which city in the North West Punjab, India, is the centre of the Sikh religion? Comments on the question
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2 What name is given to a female hedgehog?
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3 What is North America's highest mountain?
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4 Released in 1992, the final film in the Carry On series was based on the exploits of which explorer?
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5 Who hosted the recent (2017) Oscars ceremony?
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6 Madras was the former name of which Indian city?
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7 What was the first man–made object to leave the solar system?
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8 Which international rugby team are known as the Brave Blossoms?
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9 What does the letter 'D' stand for, in the name of the English crime writer P. D. James?
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© Macclesfield Quiz League 2017