20th Century Mixed Bag, 1904-1905 Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. January 18 1904, saw the birth of which British-born Hollywood star?

Answer: Cary Grant

Cary Grant was born in Bristol, England. His real name was Archibald Leach. Cary had his first credited screen appearance in the 1932 movie "This Is the Night". In 1933 he had his first major role with Mae West in "She Done Him Wrong". He was nominated twice for Best Actor Oscar losing out both times, but he was awarded an honorary Oscar in 1970. Cary Grant died of a massive stroke on November 29 1986. Douglas Fairbanks was born Douglas Elton Thomas Ulman in Denver, Colorado, on May 23 1883. Bob Hope was born Leslie Townes Hope in Eltham, England, on May 29 1903. Charlie Chaplin was born Charles Spencer Chaplin in Walworth, London, on April 16 1889.

2. Formal US occupation of which Caribbean island ended on February 5 1904?

Answer: Cuba

The US occupation of Cuba dated from 1898, when they had helped the Cubans gain independence from Spain, then occupied the island themselves. In 1904 Thomas Palma became the first President of the
Republic of Cuba.

3. On April 30 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt opened the World Fair. In which US city was the 1904 World's Fair held?

Answer: St. Louis

St. Louis was definitely the place to be in 1904, not only did the city stage the World Fair, it also hosted the Olympic Games. Chicago hosted the World Fair in 1893; Seattle in 1962; and New York in 1939 and 1964.

4. On July 15 1904, the author of "The Seagull" died. Which Russian author and playwright wrote "The Seagull"?

Answer: Anton Chekhov

Considered one of Russia's greatest writers Anton Chekhov was born in Taganrog, Ukraine on January 17 1860. From 1879 Chekhov studied at Moscow University Medical School, where he eventually qualified as a doctor. Among his best known works are "Uncle Vanya" and "The Cherry Orchard". Alexander Sumarokov died in 1777, Alexander Pushkin in 1837 and Nikolai Gogol in 1852.

5. Who was the Democratic Party candidate defeated by Theodore Roosevelt, in the presidential election on November 8 1904?

Answer: Alton B Parker

Theodore Roosevelt won the 1904 election easily, gaining 56.4% of the popular vote and 336 of the 476 electoral votes. His Democratic Party opponent, Alton B. Parker, was a lawyer and member of the Supreme Court of New York State . Martin Van Buren defeated William H Harrison in 1836, Abraham Lincoln defeated Stephen Douglas in 1860, Grover Cleveland defeated Benjamin Harrison in 1892.

6. On February 7 1905, the US Congress passed the Statehood Bill, admitting New Mexico and one other state to the union. Which?

Answer: Oklahoma

Although the Statehood Bill was passed in 1905, Oklahoma was not admitted to the union until November 16 1907 and New Mexico over four years later, on January 6 1912. Nebraska acquired statehood on March 1 1867, Idaho on July 3 1890 and Utah on January 4 1896.

7. On March 24 1905, the author of "Five Weeks in a Balloon" died. Who was he?

Answer: Jules Verne

Jules Verne and H G Wells are considered by many to be the "fathers of science fiction". Jules Verne's first novel "Five Weeks in a Balloon" was published in 1863. Among his other works are "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" published in 1864, "From the Earth to the Moon" (1866) and "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" (1873).

8. On April 27 1905, the Liege International Exhibition opened. The purpose of the exhibition, was to celebrate 75 years of Belgian independence from which other European country?

Answer: Holland

Belgium declared independence from Holland on October 4 1830. Belgian independence was ratified by the London Conference held in December 1830. Holland formally recognised Belgian Independence on April 19 1836. The Liege Universal and International Exhibition, held between April 27 and November 6 1905, attracted 31 participating countries and 7,000,000 visitors.

9. On October 26 1905, King Oscar II formally abdicated the throne of which European Country?

Answer: Norway

Oscar II succeeded to the thrones of both Sweden and Norway on the death of his brother King Charles XV in 1872. In 1905 the Norwegian legislature, the Storting, declared the union between the two countries void and dissolved it. Oscar II remained King of Sweden until 1907, he was succeeded by his son Gustavus V.

10. On December 10 1905, Bertha von Suttner was awarded the Nobel Prize. Which of the Nobel Prizes did she win?

Answer: Peace

Bertha von Suttner (1843-1914) was one of the leading figures in the peace movement in the 19th and early 20th centuries. For a short time in 1876 she worked as secretary to Alfred Nobel. In 1889 she wrote "Lay Down Your Arms" ("Die Waffen nieder") a novel whose heroine suffers all the horrors of war.

At the time of its publication it was seen as an indictment of growing nationalism and militarism in Europe.

Source: Author gerry01

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

The third in a series of quizzes, one for every two years of the last century. The questions and additional information are primarily but not exclusively based on the book "Chronicle of the 20th Century" by Derrick Mercer.

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