Cool Zooms, Part XXXVII Trivia Quiz

Answer: Madagascan

The extinct Caspian tiger (Panthera tigris virgata) lived in areas surrounding the Caspian Sea, including parts of Turkey, Iran, Mesopotamia, the Caucasus, Afghanistan and China. Genetic studies utilising museum samples show little difference between Caspian and Siberian tigers.

The Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) has an endangered conservation status. It is native to parts of Russia, China and Korea.

The Javan tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica) was native to the island of Java in Indonesia, but was hunted to extinction in the 1970s. It was one of three tiger subspecies living in the Sunda Islands along with Bali (extinct) and Sumatran (critically endangered) tigers.

There is no recognised Madagascan tiger.

Written and produced by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, 'Tiger' was recorded by ABBA and appeared on their 'Arrival' (1976) album. The song also features in the docu-drama 'ABBA: The Movie' (1977).

"I am behind you, I always find you
I am the tiger
People who fear me never come near me
I am the tiger"

Phoenix Rising's ailurophilic psnz showed his true stripes and was delighted to get his teeth into this question.

Answer: lari lira rial

The lari is the currency of Georgia, and the lira is the currency of Turkey, Lebanon, and Syria. Georgia and Turkey are neighboring countries in the region where Eastern Europe meets Western Asia. Several countries use the rial, including Iran, Oman, Yemen, Morocco, and Tunisia.

'Money, Money, Money' was released as a single by ABBA in 1976. The inimitable Meryl Streep sang the song in the 2008 film version of the popular musical, 'Mamma Mia!'.

This question was legally tendered by Phoenix Rising's JCSon.

Answer: Bindi Irwin

Bindi Sue Irwin is the daughter of Steve Irwin who became famous worldwide for the television series 'The Crocodile Hunter', which ran from 1996 until 2007. Bindi was born in 1998. Bindi, her brother Robert, and mother Terri are passionate wildlife conservationists and run Australia Zoo located on Steve Irwin Way at Beerwah in Queensland, Australia.

At the age of nine Bindi hosted her own television show called 'Bindi the Jungle Girl' and has since taken on varied roles such as hosting, acting, singing and dancing in television and movies. Because she was a minor while competing on 'Dancing with Stars', special permission from the California Courts was required.

Bindi must be entitled to be called a "Dancing Queen", as, like the girl in the ABBA song, she was 17 when she won 'Dancing with Stars'.

This question danced its way into the quiz with the help of Phoenix Rising member lg549 who lives "just down the road" from the Irwins (60 km is just down the road in Australia when there's not many turns).

Answer: Speedy Gonzales

Hailed as "The Fastest Mouse in all Mexico", Speedy Gonzales appeared in the 'Looney Tunes' and 'Merrie Melodies' series of cartoons. Apart from his yellow sombrero, he is usually seen wearing a white shirt and trousers and, around his neck, is a red handkerchief. Whilst he constantly outwits Sylvester the cat, whom he calls "El Gringo Pussygato", and, at times, the "loco duck" (Daffy Duck), life has not always been sweet for the speedy rodent. Concerns soon surfaced that he was an offensive Mexican stereotype and, when the Cartoon Network obtained the exclusive rights to the crafty cheese chaser in 1999, they promptly shelved him. However, outrage from fans saw his return to the screens in 2002, though the opening credits were filled with a lengthy disclaimer.

The sombrero provided our link to ABBA in this question. The song 'Put on Your White Sombrero' appears on the group's 1980 album 'Super Trouper'.

After getting the message "Andale, andale" from his teammates, Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 managed to squeak out this question.

Answer: Matilda

'Matilda' is a 1988 children's novel by celebrated author, Roald Dahl. The story centres around a young girl of high intelligence, who forms a bond with her teacher, Miss Honey. The novel received immediate critical acclaim in the genre of young adult and children's books and has won many awards, including the De Prijs van de Nederlandse Kinderjury 1989 for ages 10-12 and 13-16.

The novel has been adapted into an audio book, movie, stage and musical productions.

Swedish group ABBA released 'Honey, Honey' off their 'Waterloo' album in 1974, following the success of the title track.

This question was submitted by the not-so-sweet Phoenix Rising member leith90.

Answer: Send assistance

A Morse Code transmission of "CQD" was understood by wireless operators around the turn of the 20th century to mean, "All stations: distress." "CQ" (seek you) was paired with "D" (distress or danger) to create the distress/danger call. Morse Code was developed by American inventor Samuel Morse during the 1830s for electrical telegraphy, and revised by a gathering of European nations in 1851 to include codes for letters with diacritic marks.

The CQD appeal for assistance was what was initially transmitted when the Titanic started to sink. However, a new international series of signals (still using Morse Code symbols) had been adopted at the International Radiotelegraphic Convention, held in Berlin in 1906, and it was here that SOS was formally adopted as the international distress call. This created confusion amongst radio operators and even though the telegraph operators on the Titanic switched between SOS and CQD, their message was not properly understood. The telegraph waves at that time were not particularly strong, and the signal was also interfered with by amateur radio operators.

ABBA had a major worldwide hit in 1975 with 'SOS', from their third album, entitled 'ABBA'.

This question was written Phoenix Rising team member, ...- . --. . -- .. - . -.- .. -..

Answer: David Livingstone

Located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Victoria Falls, on the Zambezi River, is one of the largest waterfalls in the world. Named after Queen Victoria by Dr David Livingstone, who is considered to be the first European to see them, they have a more African name, in the Sotho language, of Mosi-oa-Tunya - "The Smoke That Thunders".

Dr Livingstone was a Scottish explorer who made his name as a hero of the time exploring Africa, attempting to find the source of the Nile. Opposing the slave trade, he used his influence to remedy what he saw as a great evil.

The other gentlemen mentioned were also great explorers of Africa.

From their 1974 album 'Waterloo', ABBA's 'What About Livingstone' was an instructional song, to remonstrate with Swedish youth about their perceived lack of interest in historic explorers.

smpdit presumed to add this question to the quiz.

Answer: Mahalia Jackson

Mahalia Jackson would leave a musical legacy in her own right. She was already famous and known as the Queen of Gospel when she was invited, in 1956, by the Reverend Ralph Abernathy, director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), to appear in Montgomery, Alabama to support the bus boycott in that city. It was here she met Martin Luther King for the first time. She became his favourite opening act at his rallies and, on August 28, 1963, she performed 'I've Been 'Buked, and I've Been Scorned' (as requested by Dr King) before an audience of 250,000 just before his speech.

Ms Jackson was just as familiar with Dr King's repertoire as he was with her musical repertoire. So just as Dr King did not hesitate in telling her what to sing, Jackson felt a similar comfortable feeling in telling him in which direction to take that speech: Ms Jackson shouted out to him from behind the podium on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, "Tell them about the dream, Martin." As recorded by many films that recorded the event, he put aside his prepared notes to give a more improvised speech that started as "And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream".

ABBA had a 1979 hit with 'I Have a Dream'.

Question dreamed up by Phoenix Rising team member 1nn1, who boycotted no buses in developing this question.

Answer: 3

Three of the forty total spaces on a standard Monopoly board are 'Chance' spaces, and three more are 'Community Chest' spaces. Of the 34 remaining spaces, 22 are occupied by colored property spaces, 4 are railroads, 2 are utilities, 2 are spaces that issue tax penalties, and the remaining 4 are the corner squares. The first 'Chance' space is 7 spaces from the starting 'Go' space, so chances are reasonably high that a player will take a 'Chance' on their first turn of the game. The Monopoly Junior board does away with 'Community Chest' spaces and features 6 'Chance' spaces instead.

ABBA's 'Take a Chance on Me' (1978) was the second single off of their 1977 album, 'ABBA: The Album'. The original working title of the song was 'Billy Boy'. 'Take a Chance on Me' peaked at number one in the UK, and number three in the US, Canada, and Germany.

Phoenix Rising team member Rizeeve rolled the dice on this question, and will forever associate Monopoly 'Chance' cards with ABBA.

Answer: Ballet

Born in Georgia in 1963, Nina has been hailed by many critics as one of the greatest ballet performers of all time. She started her career with the Bolshoi Theatre in the Soviet Union and was guided by Raisa Struchkova and Marina Semenova, both considered legends in their own right. Barely nineteen years of age, and still as a corps member, she scored her first principal role, playing Odette in 'Swan Lake', in 1982. She soon rose to "prima ballerina" and, in 1988, became the first Soviet dancer to appear as a guest performer with the New York City Ballet, after receiving astonishing reviews for her 1987 performance in 'Giselle'. In 2004 she was appointed artistic director of the National Ballet Ensemble of Georgia and has done enormous work to lift both the standards and repertoire of the Georgian State Ballet.

I wonder if ABBA had her on their minds when they sat down to write 'Nina, Pretty Ballerina' for their debut album 'Ring Ring' in 1972.

Phoenix Rising's double left-footed pollucci19, somehow managed to "glissade" this question before your eyes.

Answer: Pozzo, Lucky and a Boy

'Waiting for Godot' was originally written in French and first staged in Paris in 1953 under the title 'En Attendant Godot'. The English-language version debuted two years later in London in 1955. The full character list of the play consists of Vladimir, Estragon, Pozzo, Lucky and A Boy - although there is some doubt (for both the characters and the audience) as to whether the boy that appears in Act I is the same as the one in Act II. The plot revolves around Vladimir and Estragon's conversation while they are both apparently waiting for a person named Godot despite the fact that they're not sure who he is or whether he will ever turn up. In addition to just chatting to each other, the pair also have a couple of somewhat bewildering encounters with a man named Pozzo and his slave, Lucky, a boy who claims to be Godot's goatherd (Act I) and a boy who tells them that Godot isn't coming (Act II).

The incorrect options were all characters from different Shakespeare plays: Baptista, Bianca and a Pedant are from 'The Taming of the Shrew'; Berowne, Costard and Moth appear in 'Love's Labour's Lost'; and Elbow, Escalus and Pompey Bum can be found in 'Measure for Measure'.

ABBA's 'I've Been Waiting for You' was the B-side to their 1974 single 'So Long', a track on their 1975 album 'ABBA', and performed (with new lyrics) in the 2018 movie 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again'.

This question was written by Phoenix Rising's Fifiona81 after a really long wait for just the right quiz to put it in.

Answer: King Kong

'King Kong' (2005) was a "monster" adventure film and another remake of the 1933 original featuring the giant gorilla, "Kong". Jackson co-wrote, directed and produced this version, which starred Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Adrien Brody and Andy Serkis. The film's three Academy Awards were for Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing and Best Visual Effects.

Peter Jackson co-wrote and directed 'Heavenly Creatures' (1994) which garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers' (2002) was the second part of the 'Lord of the Rings' film trilogy, with Jackson directing, co-writing and co-producing. It won two Academy Awards (Best Visual Effects and Best Sound Editing) from a total of six nominations.

'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' (2012) was the first of a three-part adaption of J. R. R. Tolkien's 1937 book 'The Hobbit'. Jackson co-wrote and directed the film which received three Academy Award nominations for Best Visual Effects, Best Production Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

'King Kong Song' was the work of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. ABBA recorded the song and included it on their second studio album, 'Waterloo' (1974). The track was later released as a single at the time of Dino De Laurentiis' 1976 remake of the 1933 movie.

Phoenix Rising team member and proud Kiwi psnz was pleased to co-write and direct this New Zealand-related question into the quiz.

Answer: Thank You

'Thank You' is a song written by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page for the heavy rock band Led Zeppelin's second studio album 'Led Zeppelin II' (1969). It was the first Led Zeppelin song for which he wrote all the lyrics. The song is unusual as it features a Hammond organ coda by John Paul Jones.

'Thank You' was the third single from the 'II' 1994 album by the American vocal group Boyz II Men. It reached number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1995.

'Thank You' was the lead single from Dido's 1999 debut album 'No Angel'. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 2001 and held that spot for three weeks. It reached number two in the UK and number one in several European countries.

'Thank You' was the second album and the third single for Jamelia. It was her highest charting single in the UK, as it reached number two. It received the 2004 MOBO Award for Best Single.

In 1977 ABBA had a minor hit with "Thank You For The Music".

Question submitted with thanks by Phoenix Rising team member 1nn1 who is still shuddering about the fact that there is a musical connection between Led Zep and Boys II Men.

Answer: King James IV

King James IV (1473-1513) ascended the Scottish throne at the age of 15 when his father, James III, was killed fighting rebellious Scots at the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488. His regency was well-regarded as he showed an aptitude for statecraft as well as supporting science and the arts. He married Henry VIII's sister, Margaret Tudor, by proxy in 1502 and in person in 1503. His desire for peace with England eventually fell foul of the machinations of the Italian Wars when he was placed into a position of having to choose between long term ally France and recent partner England, although the latter relationship had soured significantly when Henry VIII took the crown in 1509 from his father Henry VII. He chose France and was eventually killed in September 1513 at the disastrous (for the Scots) Battle of Flodden in Northumberland.

The title of ABBA's 1979 song 'The King Has Lost His Crown' from the 'Voulez-Vous' album seems appropriate to the theme of this question!

This question was piped into this quiz by MikeMaster99 who is still searching for the Scottish equivalent of Anglophile!

Answer: Eagle

Saint John the Evangelist is traditionally identified as the Beloved Disciple and the author of the Gospel of John, the epistles John I-III, and Revelation. The description in Revelation 4:7 includes four creatures - the first like a lion, the second like an ox, the third with the face of a man, and the fourth like an eagle in flight. Interestingly, John's vision parallels those of Isaiah 6:2-3 and Ezekiel 1:5-15.

John is often symbolized by an eagle, sometimes thought of as the king of the birds, because it is known for its strength, grace, and keen vision.

'Eagle' was recorded by ABBA in 1977 and released on their fifth studio album, 'ABBA: The Album'.

This question was contributed by Phoenix Rising's JCSon, who's probably more of a pigeon?

Answer: Its wings spin at different speeds, creating an elliptical flight path

A boomerang is a type of "throwing stick" and the iconic boomerang is a "returning" boomerang, i.e., one that returns to the point of origin if thrown properly. Boomerangs used for hunting, however, are typically non-returning types and so are meant to fly straight.

Perhaps not obvious to someone who's never thrown one, a returning boomerang, when thrown correctly, is released in a vertical orientation, and not horizontally like a Frisbee. The two "wings" (or airfoils) of a boomerang spin at different relative speeds to the boomerang's overall motion through the air - that is the top wing is moving through the air faster than the bottom one.

In 1975, the group ABBA released their first album, 'ABBA', which included the song, 'Bang-A-Boomerang' which was also released the same year as a single with 'SOS' on its B-side.

Phoenix Rising's mike32768 again finds himself writing a question for a team quiz about ABBA, so I guess he's "returning" to the scene of the crime.

Answer: Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso was born in Oviedo, Spain in 1981. His first Formula One race came at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix as a member of the Minardi team. Alonso joined the Renault team in 2002 (as a test driver) and he achieved his first Formula One world championship in 2005 after he won an impressive seven of 19 races. The 2006 season came to an end with Alonso once again taking the title after he won seven of the 18 races. In addition to his success on the Formula One circuit, Alonso was also a member of the winning team of the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in 2018 and 2019.

In addition to a well-known racecar driver, Fernando is also the title of a hit song by the Swedish pop group ABBA. Released in 1975, 'Fernando' sold more than ten million physical copies. The song's title is said to have been inspired by the name of a bartender in Stockholm.

After a few pit stops this question was raced into the quiz by Phoenix Rising team member Triviaballer, who has never owned a manual-transmission car let alone driven a racecar.

Answer: Elaine

'Seinfeld' was an American sitcom, broadcast from 1989 to 1998. A total of 180 episodes were produced. Protagonist Jerry Seinfeld (played by himself) featured with three friends, George Costanza (Jason Alexander), Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) and Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). The series has been frequently described as "a show about nothing."

ABBA recorded 'Elaine', a song written and produced by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. Originally, it was released as the B-side to the single 'The Winner Takes It All' (1980). Later, when ABBA's seventh studio album 'Super Trouper' (1980) was reissued in 2001, 'Elaine' was included as a bonus track. This song has been described as a "devil-may-care path in pursuit of love".

After researching this question, Phoenix Rising's psnz was left wondering "What's the deal with Elaine?"

Answer: Cassandra

'The Sims' and its sequels are "life simulation" games with an open-ended style of play. Options include micro-managing the day-to-day activities of a single sim, a whole family or entire neighbourhoods; simply sitting back and watching what happens if sims are given free will and self-autonomy; or dispensing with the people altogether and just getting creative with building and designing homes and neighbourhood features. You also have the option of designing your own sims or playing with the lives of the ready-made families, such as the Goths, that came with the games.

In the original 'The Sims' game, released in 2000, the Goth family included just Mortimer Goth, his wife Bella and daughter Cassandra, but it was expanded in 'The Sims 2' (2004) and 'The Sims 4' (2014) to give Cassandra a younger brother named Alexander. The storyline of 'The Sims 3' was a "prequel" that featured Mortimer and Bella as children. In all of the games though, the Goth family are characterised by their wealth and their somewhat gloomy taste in interior design.

ABBA's 'Cassandra' is about the unfortunate prophetess from Greek mythology who was never believed. It was released as the B-side to their 1982 single 'The Day Before You Came' and later appeared as a bonus track on a 2001 re-release of the album 'The Visitors'.

Phoenix Rising's Fifiona81 brought this question about simulated virtual life into the, er, real world of FunTrivia.

Answer: Vote for single candidate; candidate with most votes wins

Plurality voting is a simple system, where the candidate with the most votes, wins. Each voter has one selection, and there can be multiple candidates, making it possible to win with only a small proportion of the total poll. It is also known as 'first past the post' voting. Countries that use the system include the UK, USA and Tonga.

Majoritarian voting requires the winner to score more than 50% of the votes. In a multi-candidate field, the lowest-scoring person is eliminated, and their votes are divided up between the remaining candidates, according to their predetermined wishes. This system continues until one candidate has a majority of the votes. It is also known as 'preferential' voting. This system is used in Australia.

Voting for a pair of candidates is a variant on the preferential system, where every candidate is ranked against every other candidate. It is also known as Condorcet method.

ABBA's song, 'The Winner Takes It All' is a lovely description of plurality voting.

This question voted in by Phoenix Rising member, ozzz2002, who is by no means a psephologist.