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Quiz about Such a Life Such a Death
Quiz about Such a Life Such a Death

Such a Life, Such a Death Trivia Quiz


Some odd facts about the deaths of famous people. Can you identify them?

A multiple-choice quiz by fringe. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
fringe
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
95,532
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
5084
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 73 (10/10), Guest 175 (5/10), Guest 174 (10/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. This American dancer was killed by a scarf in 1927! As she drove away from her home in Nice, her neck was broken as her long scarf got caught in the wheel of the Amilcar sports car she was intending to buy. Who was this unlucky lady? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Which British Queen suffered from gout and had to be buried in an enormous square coffin because her body was so bloated? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. This Russian novelist suffered from epilepsy and long death-like trances, which caused him to dread being buried alive. In the event, he moved a heavy wardrobe which caused a fatal lung haemorrhage. His funeral procession was the largest ever seen in Russia. Who was this famous author of "Crime and Punishment"? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. This American author, who was born on the day that Halley's comet visited Earth, predicted that he would die when it returned. This he duly did, seventy four years later. He had refuted rumours of his earlier death with the words "Report of my death greatly exaggerated." Who was he? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. This Egyptian queen committed suicide by putting an asp to her breast and letting it bite her. Who was Antony's bereft lover?

Answer: (One Word)
Question 6 of 10
6. Which English poet, author of "Queen Mab" died in a boating accident and could only be identified by the books in his pockets, as his face had been so devoured by fishes? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Which Russian ruler suffered a fatal stroke in 1796 whilst sitting on the toilet? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. If he had fallen on the bed he would have lived, but when this French novelist's bedroom filled with carbon monoxide fumes from a faulty fire he fell to the floor. Who was this author of "Germinal"? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Following the death of this American inventor all non-essential lights in the USA were extinguished for one minute. The lights on Broadway were dimmed and the Statue of Liberty lost her torch. Holder of over 1,000 patents, his inventions included the phonograph and paper ticker tape. Who was this man with all the bright ideas? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. This magician and escapologist died trying to prove how strong he was, when a man took up the challenge of punching him in the stomach as hard as he could. Unfortunately our hero did not have time to tense his stomach muscles, and he died of peritonitis from the blow. He used a coffin in his 'buried alive' act - this now fulfulled its role! Who was Erich Weiss?

Answer: (One Word, seven letters, watch the spelling!)

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Most Recent Scores
Mar 21 2024 : Guest 73: 10/10
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 175: 5/10
Mar 17 2024 : Guest 174: 10/10
Mar 17 2024 : Guest 107: 7/10
Mar 17 2024 : Inquizition: 10/10
Mar 17 2024 : nerzack: 6/10
Mar 17 2024 : wjames: 10/10
Mar 17 2024 : verbatimsa: 7/10
Mar 17 2024 : singhmb: 8/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This American dancer was killed by a scarf in 1927! As she drove away from her home in Nice, her neck was broken as her long scarf got caught in the wheel of the Amilcar sports car she was intending to buy. Who was this unlucky lady?

Answer: Isadora Duncan

Born Angela Duncan in San Francisco in 1878, Isadora was as renowned for her flamboyant lifestyle as her revolutionary dance routines. She was described by George Bernard Shaw as "A woman whose face looked as if it had been made of sugar and someone had kicked it."
2. Which British Queen suffered from gout and had to be buried in an enormous square coffin because her body was so bloated?

Answer: Anne

Queen Anne was born in 1665 and suffered from ill health all her life. She had seventeen children, but all were either stillborn or died young - the longest survivor being William, Duke of Gloucester, who died at age 11, two years before Anne ascended the throne in 1702.
3. This Russian novelist suffered from epilepsy and long death-like trances, which caused him to dread being buried alive. In the event, he moved a heavy wardrobe which caused a fatal lung haemorrhage. His funeral procession was the largest ever seen in Russia. Who was this famous author of "Crime and Punishment"?

Answer: Fyodor Dostoevski

Dostoevski was born in Moscow in 1821 and was 59-years-old when he died. Although he had many admirers, he also alienated many people with his strident opinions and savage humour. D.H. Lawrence referred to him as a "rat slithering along in hate" and Turgenev thought of his as a "pimple on the face of literature."
4. This American author, who was born on the day that Halley's comet visited Earth, predicted that he would die when it returned. This he duly did, seventy four years later. He had refuted rumours of his earlier death with the words "Report of my death greatly exaggerated." Who was he?

Answer: Mark Twain

Born Samuel Longhorne Clemens in 1835, Mark Twain had a varied career before settling into writing. He was a Mississippi river pilot, a soldier in the Civil War, goldminer and publisher, during which time he published the Memoirs of President Ulysses Grant.
5. This Egyptian queen committed suicide by putting an asp to her breast and letting it bite her. Who was Antony's bereft lover?

Answer: Cleopatra

Cleopatra VII was born in 69BC and, in accordance with the customs of the time, married her brother. She later became the mistress of Julius Caesar and bore him a son. After his murder she lived with Mark Antony and had three children with him.
6. Which English poet, author of "Queen Mab" died in a boating accident and could only be identified by the books in his pockets, as his face had been so devoured by fishes?

Answer: Percy Shelley

Born in 1792, Shelley didn't receive great recognition while he was alive and he had to pay for 250 copies of "Queen Mab" to be published himself. After his death Byron asked for his skull, but this requested was refused by his friends, who had known Byron to use a skull to drink from.
7. Which Russian ruler suffered a fatal stroke in 1796 whilst sitting on the toilet?

Answer: Catherine the Great

Rumours surround the death of Catherine II, but she in fact died in St. Petersburg two days after falling off her commode following the stroke.
8. If he had fallen on the bed he would have lived, but when this French novelist's bedroom filled with carbon monoxide fumes from a faulty fire he fell to the floor. Who was this author of "Germinal"?

Answer: Emile Zola

Zola's wife, Gabrielle, did fall onto the bed and she survived.
9. Following the death of this American inventor all non-essential lights in the USA were extinguished for one minute. The lights on Broadway were dimmed and the Statue of Liberty lost her torch. Holder of over 1,000 patents, his inventions included the phonograph and paper ticker tape. Who was this man with all the bright ideas?

Answer: Thomas Edison

Thomas Alva Edison was born in Ohio in 1847 and during his lifetime managed to fill 3,400 notebooks with his ideas, of which he had many. His motto was, "Genius is one per cent inspiration and 99 per cent perspiration."
10. This magician and escapologist died trying to prove how strong he was, when a man took up the challenge of punching him in the stomach as hard as he could. Unfortunately our hero did not have time to tense his stomach muscles, and he died of peritonitis from the blow. He used a coffin in his 'buried alive' act - this now fulfulled its role! Who was Erich Weiss?

Answer: Houdini

Erich Weiss was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1874, emigrating to America some four years later. He took the name Houdini from a man he much admired - Robert Houdin, a French magician. He found fame through his amazing escapes and became known as "The Handcuff King". One of the pallbearers at his funeral was said to have whispered, "I bet you a hundred bucks he ain't in here."
Source: Author fringe

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