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What happened on October 4? Trivia Quiz

See how much random history you know by taking this quiz about events related to October 4th, ranging from the American Revolution to televangelists.

A multiple-choice quiz by GWU_Boy. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
GWU_Boy

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
112,077

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
936

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Sputnik, the Russian word for 'satellite', was launched from the Kazakh Republic on October 4th of what year? Hint

1963

1955

1957

1960

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Question 2 of 10

2. On this day in 1965, the first reigning Pope visited the United States. What Pope was this, who schedule allowed him to go to St. Patrick's Cathedral, meet President Johnson, address the United Nations, attend a mass at Yankee Stadium, and visit the New York World's Fair? Hint

John Paul II

John IV

Leo IX

Paul VI

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Question 3 of 10

3. True or false: On October 4, 1993, Vice President Aleksandr Rutskoi and Chairman Ruslan Khasbulatov surrendered the White House parliament building to President Boris Yeltsin after a tank assault.

True

False

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Question 4 of 10

4. What battle during the American Revolution took place on this day in 1777 near British-occupied Philadelphia which was a patriot loss but nevertheless highlighted the strategic abilities of General George Washington to lead an army? Hint

Battle of Yorktown

Battle of Bunker Hill

Battle of Germantown

Battle of Saratoga

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Question 5 of 10

5. On October 4, 1970, Janis Joplin, a 1960s icon with her hit songs such as "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Piece of My Heart", died. What did she die from? Hint

heart attack

heroin overdose

suicide

car accident

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which one of these people, all with birthdays on October 4th, was NOT born after the year 1900? Hint

Armand Assante

Charlton Heston

Rutherford B. Hayes

Jackie Collins

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Question 7 of 10

7. Jim Bakker, famous televangelist, husband of Tammy Faye Bakker, and founder of Praise the Lord Ministries, was busted for mail and wire fraud on this day in what year? Hint

1990

1988

1992

1986

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Question 8 of 10

8. What television show premiered on October 4, 1957 and featured a "wholesome family" named the Cleavers?

Answer: (4 words)

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Question 9 of 10

9. On this day in 1983, the land speed record was set by Briton Richard Noble in his car, Thrust 2. Only Americans had held the land speed record up to that point ever since Chuck Yeager had the first supersonic flight in 1947. What was this new, record-setting speed? Hint

569.256 mph (916.127 kph)

843.167 mph (1356.942 kph)

751.562 mph (1209.519 kph)

633.468 mph (1019.465 kph)

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Question 10 of 10

10. What woman, born on October 4, 1946 is an Academy Award winner for the 1995 movie 'Dead Man Walking' and has starred in such movies as 'Little Women,' 'Thelma and Louise,' 'Witches of Eastwick,' and 'The Client'?

Answer: (initials are S.S.)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Sputnik, the Russian word for 'satellite', was launched from the Kazakh Republic on October 4th of what year?

Answer: 1957

The United States launched its first satellite, named Explorer, on January 31, 1958. The Soviets were strides ahead of America in terms of space exploration, and Sputnik was one of many 'firsts' for the USSR, which also included sending the first man into space, first woman, first to orbit the moon, first to impact Venus. Sputnik 2 was also launched in 1958, carrying the first dog.

Answer: Paul VI

Pope Paul VI lived from 1897 (born in Lombardy) until 1978. He became Pope in June 1963 and continued the reforms of John XXIII. A year later, on October 4, 1966, Pope Paul VI addressed more than 100,000 people in St. Peter's Square in Rome to call for an end to the war in Vietnam through negotiations.

Answer: True

Yeltsin dissolved the Russian Duma on September 21, 1993 and then Rutskoi was elected Russian president by hard-liners who had barricaded themselves inside the White House building. It took a tank assault by Yeltsin to get them out.

Answer: Battle of Germantown

Coupled with the October 17th battle at Bunker Hill, France was convinced into fighting on the side of the colonists, marking a turning point in the American Revolution. The commanding general on the British side at the Battle of Germantown was Sir William Howe.

5. On October 4, 1970, Janis Joplin, a 1960s icon with her hit songs such as "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Piece of My Heart", died. What did she die from?

Answer: heroin overdose

Janis Joplin was born in 1943 and became a symbol of rebelliousness with her album "Cheap Thrills", "I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!". Joplin was a heavy drinker and drug user and died before her album "Pearl" was finished.

6. Which one of these people, all with birthdays on October 4th, was NOT born after the year 1900?

Answer: Rutherford B. Hayes

Rutherford B. Hayes was born in 1822 and was President of the United States from 1877 to 1881. Charlton Heston, Academy Award winner for 'Ben-Hur', was born in 1924. Jackie Collins, author of such scandalous books such as 'Hollywood Wives' and 'Hollywood Husbands', was born in 1941. Armand Assante, actor in movies like 'Mambo Kings,' 'Hoffa,' 'Blind Justice,' and 'Fatal Instinct'.

7. Jim Bakker, famous televangelist, husband of Tammy Faye Bakker, and founder of Praise the Lord Ministries, was busted for mail and wire fraud on this day in what year?

Answer: 1988

The scandal broke out for Jim Bakker after it was revealed that he had had sex with a former secretary named Jessica Hahn. Bakker was convicted of defrauding his viewers and donors and was sentenced to 45 years in prison in 1989 but was released in 1994.

8. What television show premiered on October 4, 1957 and featured a "wholesome family" named the Cleavers?

Answer: 'Leave it to Beaver'

'Leave it to Beaver' aired from 1957 until 1963 and was brought back in 1985 (for one season) as 'New Leave It to Beaver'. It was also the first television program to show a toilet on air.

Answer: 633.468 mph (1019.465 kph)

Briton Richard Noble broke the 1970 land speed record set by Gary Gabelich of 631.367 mph (1016.084 kph). Noble later led another British team that set another land speed record, this time at 764.168 mph (1229.806 kph) in Arizona in 1997.

Answer: Susan Sarandon

Other people born on October 4th are Mike Adamle (1949; host of 'American Gladiators' and sportscaster), Jimmy Orr (1935; Baltimore Colts wide receiver and early Super Bowl player), Buster Keaton (1895; famous actor and grandfather of actor Michael Keaton), and Anne Rice (1941; author of horror books such as 'Vampire Chronicles', 'The Vampire Lestat', and 'The Queen of the Damned'.

Source: Author GWU_Boy

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor coolupway before going online.
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