Subjects Learned at School Trivia Quiz

Answer: Oscar Wilde

'The Picture of Dorian Grey' by Oscar Wilde is a story about vanity, corruption, and the consequences of living without a moral compass. It follows a young man named Dorian Grey who becomes obsessed with staying youthful and beautiful forever. After having his portrait painted, he makes a wish that he could stay young while the portrait aged instead.

To his horror, his wish comes true. While he remains outwardly flawless, the portrait bears the marks of every sin, indulgence, and cruelty he commits. Over time, his pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of responsibility lead him down a self-destructive path.

Finally, he destroys the portrait that has been absorbing all the consequences of his actions, thinking that by doing so, he might free himself, but when he stabs the painting, he becomes a very old man, while the painting returns to its original form.

Answer: Porgy and Bess

'Porgy and Bess' is an American opera set in a Black community in Charleston, South Carolina, during the early 20th century. It tells the story of Porgy, a kind but disabled man, and his love for Bess, a woman entangled in a world of addiction and abusive relationships. The opera explores themes of love, poverty, resilience, and hope through a mix of classical music, jazz, and folk influences.

'Summertime' opens the opera, painting an image of peaceful life and carefree dreams, an emotional counterpoint to the hardships the characters will face. It's both a lullaby and a longing for a better life, echoing throughout the story.

Answer: Cation

A cation is just an atom or molecule that's missing some electrons, so it ends up with a positive charge. It is formed when an atom or molecule loses one or more electrons, which are negatively charged; thus, it gives up some electrons. The result is more positive than negative inside.

These charged particles pop up everywhere, from salt on your chips to the inner workings of human cells.

Answer: arithmetic sequence

An arithmetic sequence is a list of numbers that increases or decreases by the same amount each time. You start with a number and then you keep adding (or subtracting) a fixed value, known as the common difference. So every new number is built by adding that same amount to the one before it. For example: 2, 5, 8, 11 is an arithmetic sequence where the common difference is 3.

Answer: Germany

Albert Einstein was born in 1879 in Ulm, a southern German city in what was then the Kingdom of Württemberg, part of the German Empire. His family didn't stay long, but that year and place mark the start of his extraordinary journey. His family moved to Munich in 1880 when he was roughly a year old.

He later obtained his education in Munich's schools. He became a Swiss citizen in 1901 and an American citizen in 1940. He died in 1955, aged 76, in the United States.

Answer: Vincent van Gogh

In December 1888, Vincent van Gogh was living in Arles, France, sharing a house with fellow artist Paul Gauguin. Their relationship was intense and often stormy, with frequent arguments. One night, after a very bad one, van Gogh, emotionally fragile and likely in the grip of a mental health crisis, cut off part of his own left ear. He then wrapped it up and reportedly gave it to a woman at a nearby brothel.

This led to his hospitalisation and marked a turning point in his life. Gauguin left Arles soon after, and van Gogh's mental health continued to decline. Despite this, he kept painting, producing some of his most famous works during this turbulent period.

There are still debates about what exactly happened that night; some even suggest Gauguin might have been involved, but the widely accepted version is that van Gogh harmed himself during a breakdown.

Answer: Lymphocyte

Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell found in your blood and lymphatic system. They aren't parts inside a cell. They are entire cells themselves. Their main job is to help protect the body from harmful invaders like viruses and bacteria. Think of them as defenders patrolling your immune system, ready to launch an attack when they spot trouble.

Answer: St Paul's Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral is a landmark of London. It was rebuilt after the 1666 Great Fire. Known for its grand dome and striking design, it stands as a symbol of the city's recovery and spirit. Sir Christopher Wren, a scientist-turned-architect, led the cathedral's design.

He played a major role in rebuilding post-fire London and blended classical beauty with cutting-edge ideas. St Paul's Cathedral was his greatest triumph.

Answer: Salween

The Salween River starts high in the mountains of Tibet and winds its way south through rugged terrain in China and Myanmar, eventually reaching the Andaman Sea. Unlike many major rivers in the region, it hasn't been heavily dammed, so it still flows freely across much of its course.

It supports diverse wildlife and remote communities along its path. It never crosses into India, even though it runs relatively close.

Answer: phenomena

The word phenomenon (which is Latin in origin) refers to a single event, fact, or occurrence that can be observed, especially something unusual or remarkable. When you see or experience something that stands out and invites attention or curiosity, that's a phenomenon. The plural form of it is phenomena, used when talking about multiple such instances.