Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In his lifetime (around 1330 - 1418 CE), this man was a scribe and a seller of manuscripts; it was only after his death that he gained notoriety in the field of alchemy. His death is shrouded in mystery, as his tomb is rumoured to have been found empty. Some believe that the man and his wife, Perenelle, now wander the Earth as immortal beings, thanks to his discovery of the Philosopher's Stone (or the Sorcerer's Stone in US publications). Who is this famous alchemist?
2. This actor was born Anthony Robert McMillan and made his television debut in 1980 on the BBC's "The Lost Tribe". In 1999 he reprised his 1995 "GoldenEye" role as Valentin Zukovsky alongside Pierce Brosnan in "The World is Not Enough". (Yes, this man has certainly seen stardom since the 1990s ... but it seems to me that he might be equally successful as a Keeper of Keys and Grounds.) Who is this actor?
3. This historical figure was a member of the Continental Army from 1775 - 1779, during the American Revolutionary War. Despite some amazing accomplishments, including the capture of Fort Ticonderoga early in the war, the general later found himself at odds with the Continental Army and in 1779 secretly began to work for the British. His act of treason was so great that even now, more than two centuries later, his name is synonymous with betrayal in the United States. (On the other hand, it would be an excellent name for a Pygmy Puff.) Which American historical figure fits the description above?
4. This next item is a relative of the Ford Prefect, but I don't mean Douglas Adams' character from "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". The vehicle in question was produced by Ford of Britain from 1939 until 1967 when it was replaced by the Ford Escort. All in all, there have been four different models of this particular car (although so far as I know, none have been able to fly). What kind of car is this?
5. What could be more frightening than this next creature? According to the "Oxford English Dictionary" the (English) name for this being first appeared in a 1734 publication entitled "Travels of Three English Gentlemen". In 1897 the most famous one terrorized London in a book that was written by an Irish author. (Many people assert that they don't actually exist ... but it seems to me that if I met one at a Christmas Party, I might not be so sanguine.) Can you name the monster?
6. While Latin is considered by many to be a "dead" language, we still encounter it from time to time, even in modern literature! Which of the following Latin words means "to summon" (for example, a broomstick, when you're in desperate need of one)?
7. This is one of the oldest domesticated species in the world. Sometimes they are kept as pets, but for millennia they have been husbanded for their milk, meat, skin and even their hair! Their appetites have caused some comment, although they tend to eat mainly the tips of shrubs and trees. (Occasionally one might eat something that makes it sick ... but it seems to me that you need not look farther than its own stomach for an antidote.) Which animal am I talking about?
8. The city of Marseille, France is famous for the creation of a certain fish stew. Ingredients include several kinds of local fish, Provençal herbs, vegetables, bread and rouille (herbed mayonnaise). The dish was originally a "poor man's" stew, but as the port city grew the recipe was adapted to include saffron and fish stock (as opposed to plain water), and is now considered a local delicacy. (Warning: this dish may attract Veela to your table). What dish is it?
9. In a 1982 cartoon movie, protagonist Peter Dickinson is transported back to a time when there was still magic in the world. With companions Smrgol, Aragh and Sir Orrin Neville-Smythe, Peter must travel to the Realm of Ommadon and recover the red wizard's crown. A mishap, however, leaves Peter trapped in the body of Gorbash, a young but mighty creature of magic (probably a Welsh Green or a Romanian Longhorn). What type of creature was Gorbash?
10. This castle, the second-largest inhabited castle in England, was built in 1096 as a fortification against Scottish invaders. In 1309 it was purchased from the Bishop of Durham by the Percy family and became the principal seat of the Earls, and later the Dukes, of Northumberland. After World War II the castle has been used as an educational facility and in 1981 it became an overseas campus of the St. Cloud State University (it was also a filming site for a popular 2001 movie). Which English castle have I just described?
Source: Author
LadyCaitriona
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
LeoDaVinci before going online.
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