Would You Take August 27 On A Date? Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. On August 27, 2003 people on planet earth could observe an unusually bright, reddish object in the night sky. Actually it was a planet which reached its closest distance from Earth in about 60,000 years. Which planet was it?

Answer: Mars

The distance between Earth and Mars on August 27, 2003 was approximately 56 million km, only slightly more than it was around September 12, 57,617BC. The next time a similar approach will occur is on August 28, 2287.

For additional reading we recommend http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2003/18jun_approachingmars/

2. On August 27, 1883 parts of the Krakatoa archipelago vanished from the face of the earth as a result of a series of volcanic eruptions. Where is the Krakatoa archipelago located?

Answer: Sunda Strait, west of Java, Indonesia

The volcanic activity in the region culminated on August 27, 1883 with a deafening series of explosions heard as far as Perth, Australia and Mauritius, both about 5,000 km away. At least 36,000 humans lost their lives as a result of the eruptions and its effects (e.g. tsunami waves and subsequent flooding).

In 1927, an island resurfaced in the area, named Anak Krakatau ("the child of Krakatoa") which has in the meantime reached a height of about 300m above sea level.

3. On August 27, 1991, a few days after the botched coup d'�tat in Russia, a new state declared its independence from the Soviet Union. Its flag and language are almost similar to the Romanian ones. Which state was it?

Answer: Moldova

The original Moldovan declaration of independence was destroyed in the 2009 riots in the country's capital, Chisin�u. Moldova is still seeking stability and resolution of its various ethnic issues and disputes. It is still considered one of the poorest European countries with GDP per capita estimated at $2,500US (2009) a year.

4. August 27 is the birth date of Deco, Dietmar Hamann and Sulley Muntari, who are well known figures in which sports?

Answer: Football (soccer)

German footballer Didi Hamann's (b. 1973) best of times was with Liverpool (1999-2006). With a broken toe, he converted the first penalty in the shootout of the unforgettable 2005 UCL final (3:0 Milan HT, 3:3 FT AET, 3:2 Liverpool P). Brazilian born Portuguese footballer Deco (b.1977) won the UCL with two teams in three seasons (Porto 2004, Barcelona 2006) and was a member of the Chelsea team that won the 2010 UK double. Ghanaian Sulley Muntari (b.1984) won the FA cup with Portsmouth (2008) and was a member of Jose Mourinho's Inter squad which took the treble in 2010.

5. August 27, 1950 is known as "the day television crossed the Channel". Which is the "Channel" in question?

Answer: The English Channel

On August 27, 1950 the BBC conducted its first ever transmission of audiovisual TV across the English Channel. A BBC crew aired the live show from Calais marking the centenary of the first submarine telegraph signal transmitted between England and France.

Interesting info including footage is found on the BBC site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/27/newsid_3032000/3032714.stm

6. Which of the following aeronautical events did NOT occur in August 27?

Answer: First manned moon landing (1971)

Man first landed on the moon on July 21, 1969.

The first hydrogen balloon flight was an unmanned experiment which took place in Paris. The balloon reached an altitude of about 900m. One of the spectators was Benjamin Franklin who served as US ambassador to France at the time.

US probe Mariner 2 was directed at Venus and indeed passed by it in December 1962.

German Hans von Ohain and English Sir Frank Whittle are considered independent inventors of the jet engine with von Ohain's plane first taking off in 1939.

7. August 27, 1896 was the date of a very short war fought off the eastern shores of Africa between the UK and Zanzibar. By which name is this skirmish best known?

Answer: The 38 minute war

9:02AM-9:40AM is commonly accepted as the official time span of this war. Three days prior to the war, the Zanzibari sultan, who had strong ties and co-operated with the British colonial rule, died. His nephew took control in a coup, however the British favoured another cousin and set an ultimatum to that effect.

When the time came, a heavy shelling of the palatial quarter resulted in the temporary ruler taking refuge in the German embassy leaving about 500 of his people dead. The war was over.

8. On August 27, 1952 Czech athlete Emil Zatopek won the Olympic marathon in Helsinki. By what nickname is Zatopek known?

Answer: Czech Locomotive

Zatopek's time in the Helsinki marathon was an impressive, record-setting 2:23:03.2. Moreover, it was his first ever marathon (!). He was the first athlete to win the marathon, the 10,000m run and the 5,000m run in the same olympics. His nickname stemmed from his running style, full of panting, wheezing and general agony.

9. On August 27, 1979 two terrorist attacks took place which claimed the lives 18 British soldiers, a British Lord, two teenagers and an elderly lady. Which organization was responsible for these attacks?

Answer: Irish Republican Army (IRA)

The boat of Lord Louis Mountbatten (1900-1979), the Queen's cousin, was detonated while sailing in Donegal Bay off the Irish west coast killing him, his grandson Nicholas (14), Irish boat boy Paul Maxwell (15) and family member Lady Brabourne (82). On the same day, the IRA carried out two roadside bombings at Warrenpoint (Northern Ireland) which left 18 British soldiers dead.

10. Which of the following music related events did NOT occur on August 27?

Answer: Release of aid single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (1984)

Strat master Stevie Ray Vaughn's chopper crashed shortly after take-off en route to Chicago. Brian Epstein's death is presumed to have been caused by an accidental sleeping pill overdose ("If anyone was the Fifth Beatle, it was Brian", Paul McCartney 1997). Phil Shulman is one of three brothers who headed the magnificent progrock band Gentle Giant. Being a Christmas song in essence, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" was release on 29 November 1984.

Source: Author gentlegiant17

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

My elder daughter was born on August 27. We joined hands to research which other events, negligible as they may be, occurred on this date. You are invited to play and share with our new found knowledge.

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