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Quiz about First Among Equals by Jeffrey Archer
Quiz about First Among Equals by Jeffrey Archer

"First Among Equals" - by Jeffrey Archer Quiz

Four men entering Westminster in the 1960s, competing against themselves and their colleagues in the pursuit of the top job, that of Prime Minister. Who got there? Read the book and find out!

A multiple-choice quiz by craigles. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
craigles
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
278,035
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
12 / 20
Plays
326
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Question 1 of 20
1. Simon Kerslake rejected an offer of scholarship from a university by return of post. Which university? Hint


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Question 2 of 20
2. Kerslake met a lady named Elizabeth who said she distrusted media men and detested politicians. What did Kerslake do? Hint


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Question 3 of 20
3. By what name did Alison McKenzie's father refer to Andrew Fraser's father? Hint


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Question 4 of 20
4. What's the name of Mandy the prostitute's friend? Hint


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Question 5 of 20
5. Did Charles Seymour find himself enjoying his job in the Whip's office?


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Question 6 of 20
6. Who said to Andrew "I always vote Fraser. Labour for parliament, Tory for the local council." Hint


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Question 7 of 20
7. What did the Gentleman Usher of Black Rod wear? Hint


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Question 8 of 20
8. What did Louise Fraser decide her baby son was going to be after being home for a few weeks? Hint


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Question 9 of 20
9. Charles Seymour came home unexpectedly one morning, brimming with news about his promotion to his first Minister position. What did he find? Hint


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Question 10 of 20
10. How was Andrew Fraser able to help poor Mrs Bloxham? Hint


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Question 11 of 20
11. Did Raymond Gould like dressing up in white tie and tails and mixing with London society?


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Question 12 of 20
12. How did Archie Milburn react to Charles Seymour's phone call regarding Simon Kerslake and the selection process for the seat of Pucklebridge? Hint


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Question 13 of 20
13. Raymond Gould received a birthday parcel from his wife in the post. What had he done with it? Hint


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Question 14 of 20
14. Jock McPherson and his team of seven had a meeting with Andrew Fraser one evening. What was the main thrust of this meeting? Hint


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Question 15 of 20
15. Did Joyce Gould like her husband Ray's new blue shirt?


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Question 16 of 20
16. The Chief Whip's secretary, Miss Norse, had a favourite way of greeting people arriving at her desk. What was this phrase? Hint


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Question 17 of 20
17. Fiona was finally detected as an adulteress and Charles allowed Fiona a week to remove all trace of herself from the house. What did Fiona take that she had no legal right to? Hint


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Question 18 of 20
18. How did Elizabeth Kerslake manage to find herself another job? Hint


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Question 19 of 20
19. Why would Amanda Seymour, nee Wallace, pour out all her gossip on the ears of Alec Pimkin? Hint


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Question 20 of 20
20. Which monarch made the final decision on who was to become Prime Minister? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Simon Kerslake rejected an offer of scholarship from a university by return of post. Which university?

Answer: Durham

 Kerslake, being ambitious, rejected Durham with the lofty phrase "Future Prime Ministers aren't educated at Durham" to his mother. He coveted a place at Oxford, and got there after a lot of legwork.
2. Kerslake met a lady named Elizabeth who said she distrusted media men and detested politicians. What did Kerslake do?

Answer: He married her

 Kerslake may well have laughed and bought a drink, but those reactions weren't the answer. He must have had some good points for Elizabeth to agree to marry him.
3. By what name did Alison McKenzie's father refer to Andrew Fraser's father?

Answer: Old Dungheap

 Naturally, Alison liked him immediately; he reminded her of her father!
4. What's the name of Mandy the prostitute's friend?

Answer: Sylv

 Presumably short for Sylvia. Raymond made a big mistake picking up Mandy, he could have been in BIG trouble.
5. Did Charles Seymour find himself enjoying his job in the Whip's office?

Answer: Yes

Charles had made a very poor speech in the House and this led to his shifting to the Whips in a reshuffle. The job itself brought back memories of his days in the Guards - order, discipline and camaraderie.
6. Who said to Andrew "I always vote Fraser. Labour for parliament, Tory for the local council."

Answer: Mrs Foster's next door neighbour

 Andrew Fraser and wife Louise are pounding the pavements ostensibly to count supporters for the upcoming election. Mrs Foster's neighbour's name is not actually mentioned - pity! Mr McGregor was Andrew's opponent. The Tory Fraser in the question was Andrew Fraser's father.
7. What did the Gentleman Usher of Black Rod wear?

Answer: Black clothing

 Black topcoat, black waistcoat, black knee breeches, black stockings, black shoes and carrying a thin black rod, hence the name. A ceremonial role, with a long history and actually still in use. Archer's research for this novel must have been painstaking.
8. What did Louise Fraser decide her baby son was going to be after being home for a few weeks?

Answer: A politician

 Why? I quote, "He never stops shouting at everyone, he's totally preoccupied with himself and he falls asleep as soon as someone else offers an opinion".
What a great line!
9. Charles Seymour came home unexpectedly one morning, brimming with news about his promotion to his first Minister position. What did he find?

Answer: His wife in bed with another man

 Charles and Fiona never did have much in common, except both being fearful snobs.
10. How was Andrew Fraser able to help poor Mrs Bloxham?

Answer: He sent a man from Christies' auction house

 Mrs Bloxham had an antique table which Andrew had admired on visiting her, and knowing that she was struggling with money, he contacted Christies' auction house and they sold the table for 1400 pounds. This book was first published in 1984 - that money would have been worth a bit then.
11. Did Raymond Gould like dressing up in white tie and tails and mixing with London society?

Answer: Yes

Interesting what a man can get used to! I get the impression from re-reading that he didn't like it at first but it grew on him.
12. How did Archie Milburn react to Charles Seymour's phone call regarding Simon Kerslake and the selection process for the seat of Pucklebridge?

Answer: Milburn took an opposing view to Seymour's advice

 Milburn said to Kerslake "I knew you were the right man for the job as soon as Charles Seymour phoned and warned me to avoid you like the plague."
13. Raymond Gould received a birthday parcel from his wife in the post. What had he done with it?

Answer: He'd forgotten to open it

 Gould was, by now, sleeping with Kate Garthwaite in London and almost completely forgetting his wife in Yorkshire.
14. Jock McPherson and his team of seven had a meeting with Andrew Fraser one evening. What was the main thrust of this meeting?

Answer: They wanted Fraser to defect to their SNP party as party leader.

 Jock was leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party and felt that Fraser would never rise high in the Labour party but would be a significant gain to the SNP. Their reaction to Fraser's rejection was extreme in its anger.
15. Did Joyce Gould like her husband Ray's new blue shirt?

Answer: Yes

Strange that Joyce did not think it strange on him, who would always have worn white shirts. This one was bought by Kate, the mistress.
16. The Chief Whip's secretary, Miss Norse, had a favourite way of greeting people arriving at her desk. What was this phrase?

Answer: "I hope I find you in rude health"

 My dictionary gives one definition of the word 'rude' as 'robust', which in turn is defined 'strong and healthy'. I like it!
17. Fiona was finally detected as an adulteress and Charles allowed Fiona a week to remove all trace of herself from the house. What did Fiona take that she had no legal right to?

Answer: The family's collection of paintings

 Fiona didn't have enough time to disperse them all. Charles and the private detective managed to steal the paintings back again, except one, and that one was possibly the most valuable to the Seymour family.
18. How did Elizabeth Kerslake manage to find herself another job?

Answer: She applied in her maiden name of Drummond

 She had replied to the advertised vacancy, then bought a wig, applied too much makeup, wore a dress she didn't like and managed to say 'Good morning' to her husband in the street without him recognising her. After being granted the job she then confessed her real identity and kept the job!
19. Why would Amanda Seymour, nee Wallace, pour out all her gossip on the ears of Alec Pimkin?

Answer: She knew that Pimkin was gay

 Amanda would have worked out that because Pimkin was gay, he therefore had no interest in her body and she would always meet other men when he was around.
20. Which monarch made the final decision on who was to become Prime Minister?

Answer: King Charles III

 Archer's last chapter is just as intensely readable as the rest of the book. So who became PM? Read the book and find out - you'll enjoy it!
Source: Author craigles

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