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1. Who was the first female British Prime Minister?


answer Answer: Margaret Thatcher

Interesting Information:
Margaret Thatcher, nicknamed The Iron Lady, began her job as Prime Minister on May 4, 1979 and continued until November 28, 1990. She was the first female to hold any of the four Great Offices--Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary, and Home Secretary. Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Victoria, Kim Campbell, Margaret Beckett

2. What is the name of President Barack Obama's Portuguese Water Dog?


answer Answer: Bo

Interesting Information:
This was the Obamas' choice of dog since it is hypoallergenic. It was born on October 9, 2008. Difficulty: Average.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Mo, Toto, Bob

3. Which US agency is tasked with investigating federal crimes?


answer Answer: FBI

Interesting Information:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigates federal crimes. The Central Intelligence Agency collects information on governments and people outside of the United States. The National Security Agency is tasked with information on foreign communication. The Department of Homeland Security is a department created to protect the United States from terrorist attacks and natural disasters. Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
CIA, NSA, DHS

4. Which Asian country has the only non-rectangular flag in the world?


answer Answer: Nepal

Interesting Information:
The flag of Nepal is the only national flag which is not rectangular or square. It consists of two triangular pennants, one above the other. Its colours are red, white and blue. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Pakistan, Myanmar, Brunei

5. In what country is the Mercedes Benz company based?


answer Answer: Germany

Interesting Information:
Mercedes Benz is a division of Daimler, an automotive, truck, and bus company based in Germany. The first automobile in the world was created by Karl Benz in 1886, and the first Mercedes began sales in 1901.
Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
England, Japan, United States

6. Who was the first female Chancellor of Germany?


answer Answer: Angela Merkel

Interesting Information:
Angela Merkel (born 17 July 1954), member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), became the first female Chancellor of Germany on 22 November 2005.

Rita Süssmuth, member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), was German Federal Minister of Youth, Family and Health from 1985 to 1988.
Hera Lind is a German bestselling author.
Golda Meir was the fourth Prime Minister of the State of Israel from 1969 to 1974. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Rita Süssmuth, Hera Lind, Golda Meir

7. Whose face is found on most Indian Rupee notes?


answer Answer: Mahatma Gandhi

Interesting Information:
This Indian freedom fighter who preached non violence, is found on almost all Indian paper money. Difficulty: Hard.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Bhagat Singh, Rajendra Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru

8. Which world statesman and national hero was formerly known as Prisoner 46664?


answer Answer: Nelson Mandela

Interesting Information:
Nelson Mandela received the number from the South African authorities because he was the 466th prisoner sent to Robben Island in 1964. The number was used as the title for a series of concerts held throughout the world, both hosted by and in honour of Mandela. The concerts aimed to raise funds for AIDS charities. Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Jeffrey Archer, Paul Keating, Gerry Adams

9. What is the longest line of constant latitude of the Earth?


answer Answer: Equator

Interesting Information:
As one moves away from the equator, north or south, all lines of latitude become shorter. The prime meridian is a line of longitude passing through Greenwich, England. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Prime Meridian, Tropic of Cancer, Arctic Circle

10. What US president, commonly known by his initials, was elected to office for a record 4 terms?


answer Answer: Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Interesting Information:
FDR was in office for four consecutive terms from 1933-1945. He was the President through the Great Depression and World War II. He is thought of by many as being one of the greatest presidents in history. Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Richard Milhous Nixon, Thomas Woodrow Wilson

11. Which Asian country's flag has a picture of Angkor Wat on it?


answer Answer: Cambodia

Interesting Information:
The colors that appear on a Cambodia flag are red, blue and white. The Angkor Wat temple was built by the Khmer people in the 12th century under the reign of King Suryavarman II. Difficulty: Hard.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar

12. If you were in Ireland and saw some people reeling and jigging, in what activity would they be engaged?


answer Answer: Dancing

Interesting Information:
Reels and jigs are traditional types of dance in Ireland and other Celtic countries. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Singing, Fighting, Drinking

13. Croissant is a type of pastry. In French, what does the word "croissant" mean?


answer Answer: Crescent

Interesting Information:
The food got its name from its crescent-shaped appearance. They originated in Vienna, Austria, and were created to celebrate the Austrians defeating the Turks (whose symbol was the crescent). Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Crust, Crimson, Cramp

14. Which three U.S. Presidents passed away on the 4th of July?


answer Answer: Jefferson, Adams and Monroe

Interesting Information:
Jefferson and Adams died on July 4, 1826, 50 years to the day after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Both gentlemen were on the three-man drafting committee, along with Benjamin Franklin. The fifth President, James Monroe, died five years to the day later in 1831. Difficulty: Hard.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Washington, Adams and Lincoln, Madison, Hayes and Ford, None died on the 4th of July

15. Which American president coined the term "axis of evil" in his 2002 State of the Union speech?


answer Answer: George W Bush

Interesting Information:
George W Bush coined the term to refer to governments which he claimed were aiding and abetting terrorism. He specifically named North Korea, Iran and Iraq. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan

16. The symbol for which car manufacturer is four linked circles?


answer Answer: Audi

Interesting Information:
The Audi company is part of the Volkswagen group. Its headquarters are in the Bavarian area of Germany. Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Ford, Toyota, Rolls Royce

17. Which Russian newspaper, translated as "truth", was the USSR's voice of communism during the Cold War?


answer Answer: Pravda

Interesting Information:
The paper was shut down in 1991 by Russia's first elected president, Boris Yeltzin. Mir, translated as "peace" or "world", was the Soviet space station that was occupied continuously for just less than ten years. Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Zvezda, Dyen, Mir

18. Which international organization has won the Nobel Peace Prize the most often?


answer Answer: International Red Cross

Interesting Information:
The International Red Cross received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1917 and 1944 for their work caring for the wounded and the prisoners of war during World War I and II; the organization received the award again in 1963 for overall recognition and appreciation during its centennial year. Additionally, Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross, was a co-recipient of the first Nobel Peace Prize awarded in 1901. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Greenpeace, International Children's Fund, Oxfam

19. In a bullfight what is the name of the person on horseback who uses a spear?


answer Answer: picador

Interesting Information:
The torero or matador uses a sword with the bull at the end of the corrida or bullfight. Before killing the bull, the bullfighter has a "muleta" which is a red cape over a stick which is used just before the end. The bandillero comes in earlier to help weaken the bull before the bullfighter begins his 'pasos' with the red cape. Difficulty: Average.
 
Some incorrect choices:
torero, matador, bandillero

20. In 1967, Carl Stokes was the first black man to be elected mayor of a major U.S. city. What city was it?


answer Answer: Cleveland

Interesting Information:
He took office in 1968 and served until 1971. Difficulty: Average.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Miami, Dallas, Seattle

21. In bullfighting, what is the term for the horse-mounted torero who uses a lance to weaken the bull?


answer Answer: Picador

Interesting Information:
Picadores are mounted toreros (bullfighters) who use a long lance to fatigue the bull, damage its neck muscles, and by virtue of those two aspects, force the bull to have its head lowered. This weakening takes place before the more iconic display of the matador, who is the main torero, killing the bull (or being injured or killed by it).
Difficulty: Hard.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Matador, Banderillero, Torero major

22. Who was the first British Prime Minister?


answer Answer: Sir Robert Walpole

Interesting Information:
Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington was the 2nd Prime Minister, Henry Pelham was the 3rd Prime Minister and Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle was the 4th Prime Minister. Difficulty: Average.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, Henry Pelham, Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle

23. Which former leader of a Middle Eastern country was known to some of his enemies as the "Ace of Spades"?


answer Answer: Saddam Hussein

Interesting Information:
The U.S. Military created a set of playing cards to help troops identify the most wanted members of President Saddam Hussein's government during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Mohammad Khatami, Muhammad Hosni Mubarak, Ahmet Necdet Sezer

24. The Latin phrase "alma mater" refers to the former school or college that a person attended. What does "alma mater" mean in English?


answer Answer: Nourishing mother

Interesting Information:
For example, we say Harvard Law School was President Barack Obama's alma mater. Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Bringing father, Promising sister, Visiting brother

25. Which color is present in all five of the flags of the permanent UN Security council members (USA, Russia, France, China, Great Britain) ?


answer Answer: red

Interesting Information:
Red is the most common color present on flags - 152 of the 195 sovereign countries (as of June 2009) have some shade of red in their flags (the second most common color is white, present on 148 flags, but often only in very small amounts). Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
yellow, green, black

26. Which manufacturer of dental care products claims to be "the brand more dentists use"?


answer Answer: Oral-B

Interesting Information:
Oral-B started life as a family-owned company after Dr. Robert Hutson designed and patented the first Oral-B toothbrush in 1950. In 1969, Oral-B earned the distinction of being the first toothbrush to visit the moon, when it accompanied the astronauts of the Apollo 11 lunar mission. The company was acquired by Gillette in the 1980s, and by Procter & Gamble in 2005. Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Oral-A, Oral-C, Oral-E

27. What is the oldest science academy in the world?


answer Answer: The Royal Society of London

Interesting Information:
The Royal Society (technically the Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge) was established in 1660 or 1661. It is a non-governmental non-profit institution but does play the role of the U.K.'s science academy and as such receives public funding to provide advice to the government. Election to membership as a Fellow is a high honor. It is a self-sustaining honorific society, meaning membership is awarded by vote of the existing Fellows.
Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
The U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Soviet Academy of Sciences, The Royal Society of Canada

28. Ayatollah Khomeini was a Shi'a Muslim leader who led an Islamic revolution in 1979. In which country did this revolution take place?


answer Answer: Iran

Interesting Information:
Ayatollah Khomeini was an Iranian Shi'a Muslim leader who returned from exile in 1979 and led the Islamic revolution to overthrow the Pahlavi monarchy that had ruled for about 54 years. He relentlessly pursued the war with Iraq which lasted from 1980 to 1988. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait

29. You may have heard of "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat". Which of following is this famous catch-phrase from?


answer Answer: ABC's Wide World of Sports

Interesting Information:
This was the promo delivered at the beginning of the show each week by host Jim McKay.
"Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport... the thrill of victory... and the agony of defeat... the human drama of athletic competition... This is ABC's Wide World of Sports!"
The line "agony of defeat" has used at least three different clips, the most prominent being a dramatic wipe out by ski jumper Vinko Bogataj. Difficulty: Hard.
 
Some incorrect choices:
The World Cup, Garry Kasparov vs. Deep Blue, Coke commercial

30. Which airline's logo features a white kangaroo on a red background?


answer Answer: Qantas

Interesting Information:
As the national airline of Australia, it seemed only fitting that Qantas adopted Australia's national symbol for its logo. The kangaroo first appeared on the logo in 1944, and even featured wings between 1947 and 1984, earning the airline the nickname "The Flying Kangaroo". In 1988, Qantas received widespread publicity when Dustin Hoffman proclaimed "Qantas never crashed" in the movie "Rain Man". Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Air Niugini, Air Canada, Qatar Airways

31. Who was the British Prime Minister during the Falklands War?


answer Answer: Margaret Thatcher

Interesting Information:
Prime Minister Thatcher's popularity as the "iron lady" zoomed after Britain's victorious war against Argentina over the Falkland Islands. Major succeeded Thatcher as Prime Minister in the early 90s. Churchill was Britain's World War II Prime Minister and Eden briefly succeeded Churchill in the wake of his return to power. Difficulty: Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
John Major, Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden

32. Who was the first Supreme Leader of Iran?


answer Answer: Ruhollah Khomeini

Interesting Information:
Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was the leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which overthrew the Western-supported leader, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The Supreme Leader is the highest ranking political and religious authority of Iran. After his death, he was replaced by Ali Khamenei. Difficulty: Average.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Saddam Hussein, George Bush

33. Which famous business, in the city of Dublin, only pays a fixed £45 a year rent, after they signed a 9000 year lease on their premises in 1759?


answer Answer: Guinness

Interesting Information:
The Guinness Brewery is in St. James' Gate, Dublin, and is the largest brewer of stout in the world.
The 9000 year lease on the premises was signed by the company founder Arthur Guinness.
In 1759, £45 was a large sum, but in today's terms it is 'pocket change' and will decrease in value in real terms as time passes. Difficulty: Very Easy.
 
Some incorrect choices:
McDonalds, Starbucks, Leprechauns R Us

34. In a piston automobile engine, what does the camshaft do?


answer Answer: Opens valves

Interesting Information:
In a modern piston engine, the valves are normally closed, and held there by very stiff springs. The camshaft is the device that pushes the valves open either directly (as in an "overhead cam" or OHC design), or through something like pushrods (as in an "overhead valve" or OHV design). Difficulty: Hard.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Drives turbocharger, Regulates charging current, Controls fuel flow

35. Who was the first Prime Minister to live at No.10 Downing Street?


answer Answer: Sir Robert Walpole

Interesting Information:
Originally three houses, 10 Downing Street consisted of a cottage, a mansion and a townhouse. Offered to Sir Robert Walpole in 1732 by King George II for services to the nation, Walpole only accepted on the condition that the Crown give the properties to the Office of First Lord of the Treasury. Although Walpole resided there as incumbent First Lord (widely regarded as the first PM), he would vacate it for the next one. Difficulty: Average.
 
Some incorrect choices:
Margaret Thatcher, Charles Townshend, Gordon Brown
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