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Quiz about General Knowledge with a Swan Theme

General Knowledge with a Swan Theme Quiz

Some general knowledge questions from some of the various FunTrivia categories, with a reference (however tenuous) to swans.

A multiple-choice quiz by se01dct. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
se01dct

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
338,469

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Easy

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
787

Last 3 plays: Guest 217 (7/10), Guest 86 (5/10), Guest 80 (6/10).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. Animals - Swans are part of which Genus?
Hint

Chen

Cygnus

Anas

Callonetta

NEXT>

2. For Children - A young cygnet is the focus of this Hans Christian Andersen fable. What is the name of this story, first published in 1843? Hint

The Ugly Duckling

The Emperor's New Clothes

The Snow Queen

Thumbelina

NEXT>

3. Geography - This city has two swans on its coat of arms, but is better known as the capital city of Australia. What is it? Hint

Perth

Sydney

Canberra

Melbourne

NEXT>

4. Sports - Which championship football team, nicknamed the Swans, won the playoff final at Wembley and gained promotion to the Premier League in May 2011?
Hint

Nottingham Forest

Reading

Swansea City

Cardiff City

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5. People - Traditionally who owns all untagged mute swans in open water in the United Kingdom (although he/she shares this ownership with the Vintners' and Dyers' Companies)? Hint

English Heritage

The Prime Minister

The Monarch

The RSPB

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6. History - Julius Caesar noted that the British thought it unlawful to kill or eat swans. What did Caesar famously write about his short war with Pharnaces II of Pontus in 47BC? Hint

Et tu, Brute?

Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur

Mea culpa

Veni, vidi, vici

NEXT>

7. Movies - We've all heard of the 2010 film "The Black Swan," starring Natalie Portman, but what is the name of the ballet that is a major part of the plot? Hint

The Ugly Duckling

Swan Song

The Wild Swans

Swan Lake

NEXT>

8. Music - What animal is the subject (and title) of a Flanders and Swann song, in which it is mistaken for a bison, an elk and a hartebeest (which is in fact another name for a wildebeest)? Hint

Ocapi

Gnu

Woolloomooloo

Bok

9. World - Located in the municipality of Schwangau, this castle was the inspiration for the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty", as well as being home to Baron Bomburst in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". What is the name of the castle? Hint

Schloss Wei�enstein

Burg Falkenstein (Castrum Pfronten)

Irmelshausen

Schloss Neuschwanstein

NEXT>

10. General Knowledge - What word can mean an adult male swan, an ear of corn, a small stout horse or a Contingency Operating Base?

Answer: (3 Letters)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Animals - Swans are part of which Genus?

Answer: Cygnus

Cygnus is the Latin for swan. It is also where the word cygnet comes from.

2. For Children - A young cygnet is the focus of this Hans Christian Andersen fable. What is the name of this story, first published in 1843?

Answer: The Ugly Duckling

Some of his other well-known stories include "The Princess and the Pea" and "The Little Mermaid." Anderson died in 1875.

3. Geography - This city has two swans on its coat of arms, but is better known as the capital city of Australia. What is it?

Answer: Canberra

One of the swans is an Australian black swan, representing the Aborigines. The other is a European white swan, representing the white settlers.

4. Sports - Which championship football team, nicknamed the Swans, won the playoff final at Wembley and gained promotion to the Premier League in May 2011?

Answer: Swansea City

Swansea beat Nottingham Forest in 2011 to make it to the playoff final. An all Welsh final did not materialise, as Reading beat Cardiff in the other semi-final, but it was still a Welsh club who gained promotion to the Premiership after Swansea convincingly beat Reading 4-2 in the final at Wembley, making them the first Welsh side to reach the Premier League.

5. People - Traditionally who owns all untagged mute swans in open water in the United Kingdom (although he/she shares this ownership with the Vintners' and Dyers' Companies)?

Answer: The Monarch

This ownership dates back to the 12th century when a swan was considered a delicacy. It was often found at the monarch's table (on a plate, that is).

6. History - Julius Caesar noted that the British thought it unlawful to kill or eat swans. What did Caesar famously write about his short war with Pharnaces II of Pontus in 47BC?

Answer: Veni, vidi, vici

"Veni, vidi, vici" means "I came, I saw, I conquered". "Et tu, Brute" is often attributed as Caesar's last words, but most accounts of his death record him saying nothing - this phrase was made popular by William Shakespeare.

"Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur" means "if the world wants to be deceived, let it be deceived" and was probably coined in the first century AD.

"Mea culpa" means "my mistake", or "my fault".

7. Movies - We've all heard of the 2010 film "The Black Swan," starring Natalie Portman, but what is the name of the ballet that is a major part of the plot?

Answer: Swan Lake

"Swan Lake" was written by Pyotr Tchaikovsky and first performed in 1877. The story comes from Russian folk tales and sees a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorceress.

8. Music - What animal is the subject (and title) of a Flanders and Swann song, in which it is mistaken for a bison, an elk and a hartebeest (which is in fact another name for a wildebeest)?

Answer: Gnu

The inspiration for this song was a big car that was the bane of Flanders' existence and had the number plate 346 GNU. It may have belonged to the actress Samantha Eggar, who starred alongside Flanders in the film "Doctor in Distress".

Answer: Schloss Neuschwanstein

The castle was built by Ludwig II of Bavaria, who spent vast sums building a fairy-tale castle in homage to Wagner. After his death it was opened to the public and an estimated 60 million people have visited the castle.

10. General Knowledge - What word can mean an adult male swan, an ear of corn, a small stout horse or a Contingency Operating Base?

Answer: Cob

Hence corn on the cob (still on the 'ear', not on a male swan or horse!). Adult females are called pens.

Source: Author se01dct

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