The Misplaced General Knowledge Quiz: Vol. 9

Answer: Gerry Marsden

Gerry Marsden, lead singer of Gerry and The Pacemakers, was born in Liverpool, England, on September 24 1942. Gerry and The Pacemakers were the first act to top the UK Singles Chart with their first three releases. "How Do You Do It", number one for three weeks in 1963, "I Like It", number one for four weeks in 1963 and "You'll Never Walk Alone" number one for four weeks in 1963.

Tom Jones was born in Treforest, Wales, on June 7 1940.

John Lennon was born in Liverpool, England, on October 9 1940.

Cliff Richard was born in Lucknow, India, on October 14 1940.

Question submitted by shipyardbernie

Answer: True

Her Majesty's Hospital Ship Britannic was the third vessel of the White Star Line's Olympic class of steamships. It was built at Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK, a sister ship to the Olympic and Titanic. Rumor was that she was originally named "Gigantic", but changed after the sinking of the Titanic, but no documented proof of this exists.

Launched just before WWI, she never sailed as a passenger liner, and was requisitioned as a hospital ship in 1915.

In November of 1916 she struck a naval mine near the Greek island of Kea, in the Aegean Sea and sank 55 minutes later, killing 30 people.

Question submitted by kennell

Answer: Yangtze

The Yangtze is the world's third longest river at 6300 km. It is also the longest river in Asia, and the longest river contained inside one country, China.

The Mississippi in the U.S.A. is 3766 km long.

The Volga in Russia is 3530 km long.

The Mekong in China, Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnam, is 4350 km long.

Question submitted by nebwary

Answer: 1950s

The 1950s is correct, Robert Menzies first took office 1939 - 1941. He then served again from December 1949 and served continuously until January 1966. He was Australia's Prime Minister for a total of 18 years.

The 1930s saw Joe Lyons, Earl Page and Robert Menzies serve. The 1970s and 1990s both had three serving Prime Ministers. Since 2000 to the time of this quiz Australia has had eight Prime Ministers, we don't keep them very long.

Question submitted by Desimac

Answer: Lesser water boatman

The Lesser water boatman beetle (Micronecta scholtzi), was first described by the German botanist and entomologist Franz Xaver Fieber, in 1860.

It is common in waters across Europe. It's a mere 12th of an inch long (2mm) and can make a noise up to 99.2 decibels: louder than a freight train or a full orchestra.

It makes this noise when trying to attract a mate, by rubbing its penis on its abdomen.

Question submitted by Waitakere

Answer: Liverpool and Manchester

The Liverpool and Manchester railway, opened in 1830, was the world's first steam powered railway designed to carry both passengers and goods. It ran from Edge Hill station in Liverpool to Liverpool Road station in Manchester.

William Huskisson, MP for Liverpool, was mortally injured on the opening day when he fell in front of George Stephenson's locomotive Rocket. He died from his injuries later that evening.

The Stockton to Darlington steam railway opened in 1825 but only carried goods. Passengers were carried in coaches drawn by horses until 1833.

Question submitted by shipyardbernie

Answer: Sandra Day O'Connor

Sandra Day O'Connor was born March 26, 1930 in El Paso, Texas. Her family moved to a cattle Ranch in Arizona, where she was the oldest of three children. She attended Stanford University in California, where she earned a BA in economics in 1950 and a law degree in 1952. While at Stanford Law School she served on the Stanford Law Review alongside future Supreme Court chief Justice William Rehnquist. She met and married fellow law school student John Jay O'Connor III and they had three sons together. She became an associate Justice in 1981 and served until 2006.

Hillary Rodham Clinton is a lawyer and was the First Lady while husband Bill Clinton served as the 42nd President of the USA.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an associate Justice of the Supreme Court from 1993 to 2020.

Jeannette Pickering Rankin was the first women elected to the United States House of Representatives. She represented the state of Montana from 1917 - 1919 and again from 1941 - 1943.

Question submitted by dekeaunt

Answer: Adrian Belew

Adrian Belew was born Robert Steven Belew in Covington, Kentucky, USA, on December 23 1949. He is a singer, songwriter, record producer and a multi-instrumentalist.

He will be best known for his career as singer and guitarist in the progressive rock group King Crimson, between the years 1981 and 2009. Adrian Belew has also been a session and touring musician with Frank Zappa, David Bowie and Talking Heads. He has also played on records by the Tom Tom Club and even Paul Simon's "Graceland".

Question submitted by JamesFree

Answer: Van Heflin

Yes, only Van Heflin. Van won for his portrayal of the alcoholic sidekick Jeff Hartnett, to Robert Taylor's gangster Johnny Eager, in the 1941 film "Johnny Eager". A very polished performance by an actor who was not always offered the plum roles.

Robert Mitchum was nominated for his role as Lt./Capt. Bill Walker, in the 1945 film "The Story of G. I. Joe".

Richard Widmark was nominated for his role as mad killer, Tommy Udo, in the 1947 film "Kiss of Death".

Robert Ryan was nominated for his role as the bigot Private "Monty" Montgomery, in the 1947 film "Crossfire".

The three losing actors all lost to good performances by the winners. Robert Mitchum lost out to James Dunn for his role as the drunken father Johnny Nolan in the 1945 film "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and Richard Widmark and Robert Ryan both lost to Edmund Gwenn for his portrayal of Santa Claus in the 1947 film "Miracle on 34th Street".

These actors were never again to receive an academy award nomination in any field.

There are a number of men and women who have won an acting Oscar at their only nomination, I guess they are the "one hit wonders" of the Academy Awards.

Question submitted by Desimac

Answer: Congo

King Leopoldo II of Belgium was granted control over the area he named the Congo Free State in 1885, which he personally owned until 1908. At that time the Belgian government took control and it became a Belgian colony. During Leopold's reign he appointed the Force Publique to uphold laws in the area but their true purpose was to force the native population to work for the King.

Any infraction, such as failing to meet quotas of ivory or rubber production, would result in death. It is estimated that between five and ten million natives died during Leopold's reign due to harsh living conditions and murder by the Force Publiqu, (Colonial Military). The Congo, renamed Zaire in 1971, is now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and gained its independence from Belgium in 1960.

Angola, now the Republic of Angola, was a Portuguese colony until 1975.
Nigeria, now the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was a British colony until 1962.
Morocco, now the Kingdom of Morocco, was a French colony until 1956.

Question submitted by dekeaunt