Inquizition's Common Bond3

Answer: Nikolai Gogol

'Dead Souls' was his best known work. He wrote the first part of this when he lived in Rome from 1836-48. He initially wanted to become a poet and an actor and to emigrate to America but this fell through. In his later years he became a depressive and a religious maniac.

Answer: Three blind mice

Three blind mice, see how they run! They all run after the farmer's wife, Who cut off their tails with a carving knife, Did you ever see such a thing in your life, As three blind mice? To think we recite these to children. Jack falling down and breaking his crown in 'Jack and Jill', four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie 'Sing a Song of Sixpence' and not forgetting 'What are little boys made of? 'Frogs and snails and puppy-dog's tails.

Answer: Tee-hee

'Chortle' is a gleeful chuckle coined in 1871 by Lewis Carroll in 'Through the Looking-glass' (possibly a blend of chuckle and snort). 'Guffaw' is a crude, boisterous laugh. 'Hoo-ha' is a noisy commotion or fuss.

Answer: Quarrel

A 'quiver' is a case for arrows. 'Breach' can mean the act of a whale in breaking clear of the water.

Answer: Nick-nack

'Nick-nack' can also be spelt 'knick knack'. 'Nicky-tam' is a Scottish word for a strap secured round the trouser leg, below the knee, formerly worn by farm workers to keep the trouser bottoms clear of dirt.

Answer: Bambi and Thumper

Simba's parents were 'Mufasa and Sarabi'. 'Rafiki' is a mandrill and tribal shaman. 'Zazu' is a prim and proper hornbill. 'Timon' is a meerkat and 'Pumbaa' a warthog who sang 'Hakuna Matata', what a wonderful phrase, it means 'no worries for the rest of your days'.

Answer: Willard

Willard is a lonely young man who makes friends with a pack of rats. He trains rats as agents of revenge. A sequel, 'Ben' (1972) followed.

Answer: Broccoli

Kohlrabi is a variety of cabbage whose thickened stem is eaten as a vegetable. It is also known as the 'turnip cabbage'.

Answer: Auric

Georges Auric provided the memorable theme song to 'Moulin Rouge' (1952) which won an Oscar for its stunning art direction and costumes. The art direction created an impressive Montmartre in the 19th century.

Answer: James Bond

James Bond was the common link. Q1 General (Gogol) was the KGB chief in 'For Your Eyes Only', 'Octopussy', 'The Spy Who Loved Me', and 'A View To A Kill'. Q2 The 'Three blind mice' were supposedly blind beggars but were paid assassins working for 'Dr No'. Q3 'Tee Hee' was a henchman with a steel arm working for Dr Kananga in 'Live and Let Die'. Q4 'Quarrel' portrayed the part of a black, lazy Jamaican fisherman who worked for the CIA and Felix Leiter in 'Dr No'. Q5 'Nick Nack' is a pint-sized adversary who works for 'Scaramanga' as a cook, chef and chief bottle-washer in 'The Man With The Golden Gun'. Q6 'Bambi and Thumper' are two female gymnasts who give Bond a humiliating beating in 'Diamonds Are Forever'. Q7 (Willard) Whyte is the reclusive billionaire who is kidnapped by 'Blofeld' in 'Diamonds Are Forever'. Q8 Albert 'Cubby' (Broccoli) and partner Harry Saltzman turned the Bond movies into an international phenomenon. Q9 Who can forget (Auric) Goldfinger and his sidekick 'Oddjob'. Although this quiz gave me a licence to thrill I hope it left you shaken but not stirred.