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Quiz about Events That Shocked Nations
Quiz about Events That Shocked Nations

Events That Shocked Nations Trivia Quiz


A quiz containing 10 questions on tragedies that have happened worldwide.

A multiple-choice quiz by Eagle9a. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Eagle9a
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
322,680
Updated
Sep 04 23
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
4168
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 217 (1/10), Guest 44 (8/10), Guest 119 (6/10).
Question 1 of 10
1. In October 1966 a slagheap collapsed and wiped out a Welsh mining village, killing 144 people. What was the village called? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. In December 1988 Pan Am flight 103 exploded and crashed into a Scottish town, killing 270 people. What was this town called? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. In December 1984 a chemical works in Bhopal exploded, eventually killing over 3,000 people. In which country is Bhopal? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. In April 1986 a nuclear accident occurred which, at the time, was the worst ever. In which town did this happen? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. On the 26th December 2004 a Tsunami killed over 225,000 people in Asia. From which ocean did this originate? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. In April 1970 which Apollo mission suffered an explosion resulting in a perilous but eventually safe journey back to earth? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. In the UK, on 5th October 1999 two passenger trains collided, killing 31 people. Just outside which London mainline railway station did this occur? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. During May 1937, 36 people were killed when an airship burst into flames whilst landing in New Jersey, USA. What was the name of this craft? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Which two cities were destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD79? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Ireland 1845-1852: Which crop failed leading to the death of over 1,000,000 people? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 27 2024 : Guest 217: 1/10
Mar 26 2024 : Guest 44: 8/10
Mar 26 2024 : Guest 119: 6/10
Mar 23 2024 : Bowler413: 9/10
Mar 23 2024 : Guest 24: 7/10
Mar 23 2024 : cinnam0n: 9/10
Mar 21 2024 : Guest 185: 7/10
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 173: 7/10
Mar 20 2024 : rossian: 9/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In October 1966 a slagheap collapsed and wiped out a Welsh mining village, killing 144 people. What was the village called?

Answer: Aberfan

On the 21st October 1966 the community in South Wales was devastated when a slagheap (a huge pile of mining debris) collapsed, slid down a hillside and destroyed the village of Aberfan, including the village school. 116 of the dead were schoolchildren.
2. In December 1988 Pan Am flight 103 exploded and crashed into a Scottish town, killing 270 people. What was this town called?

Answer: Lockerbie

On route to JFK, New York, the Boeing 747 was destroyed by an explosion (later found to be the result of a bomb). The plane crashed into the village of Lockerbie killing all 243 passengers, 16 crew and a further 11 on the ground.
3. In December 1984 a chemical works in Bhopal exploded, eventually killing over 3,000 people. In which country is Bhopal?

Answer: India

This catastrophe happened at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. The plant was operated by Union Carbide. The official immediate death toll was 2,259 and the government later confirmed that a total of 3,787 deaths related to the explosion and exposure to the toxic gases released.
4. In April 1986 a nuclear accident occurred which, at the time, was the worst ever. In which town did this happen?

Answer: Chernobyl

On April 26, 1986 reactor number four at the Chernobyl plant, near Pripyat in the then Soviet Socialist Republic of Ukraine, exploded. The event resulted in a severe release of radioactivity following the destruction of one of the reactors. This caused more fallout than had been released by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Sadly, most fatalities from the accident were caused by radiation poisoning. It has been impossible to determine the final number of deaths directly related to this tragedy.
5. On the 26th December 2004 a Tsunami killed over 225,000 people in Asia. From which ocean did this originate?

Answer: Indian

This was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, The Maldives, India and Thailand were the countries most affected. It has been estimated that waves of up to 30 metres (100 feet) in height were generated.
6. In April 1970 which Apollo mission suffered an explosion resulting in a perilous but eventually safe journey back to earth?

Answer: Apollo 13

Apollo mission 11 landed on the moon and returned safely. Apollo mission 1 was a disaster with three astronauts dying on the launch pad. Apollo mission 17 was the last of the manned moonshots; it was a success. Apollo 13 suffered an explosion between the earth and the moon and had to return with limited power and oxygen supplies. Jim Lovell was the mission commander.
7. In the UK, on 5th October 1999 two passenger trains collided, killing 31 people. Just outside which London mainline railway station did this occur?

Answer: Paddington

At around 8.00am, a three-car diesel train, operated by Thames Trains collided with a First Great Western High Speed Train at Ladbroke Grove Junction, about two miles (3 km) west of the terminus at London Paddington station. The trains collided almost head-on with a combined closing speed close to 130 mph (210 km/h).

Although the number of fatalities was mercifully low, a further 227 were treated for serious injury and 296 for minor wounds.
8. During May 1937, 36 people were killed when an airship burst into flames whilst landing in New Jersey, USA. What was the name of this craft?

Answer: The Hindenburg

The disaster took place on Thursday 6 May 1937 as the Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed while attempting to dock with its mooring mast at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station. Of the 97 people on board, 35 people died. There was one fatality on the ground. To this day no-one has established the actual cause of the fire aboard The Hindenburg although theories range from sabotage to static electricity.
9. Which two cities were destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD79?

Answer: Pompeii and Herculaneum

It is estimated that between 10,000 and 25,000 people perished following this huge eruption of Europe's only, mainland, active volcano. Vesuvius last erupted in 1944 but to a much lesser degree than the AD79 event.
10. Ireland 1845-1852: Which crop failed leading to the death of over 1,000,000 people?

Answer: Potato

The Potato Famine changed Ireland in many a way. As well as the death toll, another million people were forced/chose to emigrate. It is estimated that the nation's population dropped by over 20% during the famine. The failure was caused by a new disease, known as blight (Phytophthora Infestans) which arrived in Ireland from mainland Europe.
Source: Author Eagle9a

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