Wednesday Trivia: Dec 21, 2011

Blabberwock and I are taking turns posting trivia. This week is my turn, so here goes. As usual, no internet searches please. I am traveling tomorrow, but will provide hints on Thursday if needed.

1. This disease was thought to be caused by bad air, as indicated by its name. It has been suggested as one of the major causes for both Alexander’s retreat from India and the decline of the Roman Empire. It is considered both a cause and an effect of poverty; one study concluded that countries where this disease is endemic underperformed other countries by a factor of six, measured in terms of growth rate of per-capita GDP. The entire lifecycle of this disease was established by an India-born scientist who did much of his research in today’s Hyderabad. He received the Nobel Prize for medicine and was knighted for his efforts. Name the disease and the scientist.

2. Konrad Korzeniowski was born near Kiev, Ukraine. His father translated Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens and Shakespeare and tried to cultivate his son’s interest in literature. The son had other dreams, including one of exploring the unexplored regions of Africa. Orphaned at 11, he began a seafaring career at 16 that took him to, among other places, England, Colombia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, Australia and Central Africa. A suicide attempt and a couple of shipwrecks later, he changed his name and began writing novels that he is primarily known for today. What is the more famous name of this writer?

3. This office in British government started out unofficially, as the term used by detractors to describe a particularly powerful First Lord of the Treasury in a derogatory manner. The only official residence allotted to this office is Chequers, a country house in Buckinghamshire outside London. This office was first mentioned officially in a royal warrant in 1905. In recent times, every holder of this office has also concurrently been the First Lord of the Treasury. What is this office in British government?

4. This country is the most populous among countries that have French as their official language. However, it was never a colony of France. After the independence of South Sudan, it is now Africa’s second-largest country behind Algeria. Beginning in 1998, it was the theater of “the African World War” which saw nine countries and over 20 armed groups fight the world’s bloodiest conflict since World War II. Name this country, and the colonial power that ruled it prior to 1960.

5. The French name for this substance is caoutchouc, borrowed from a Native American language in which it literally means “wood that weeps.” The British name includes the word “India” in it. The purified form of this substance is polyisoprene, which is now produced synthetically for the most part. Name this substance that made modern transportation possible.

6. Formed from a merger of the British Togoland and Gold Coast colonies, this country is surrounded by Togo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and the Gulf of Guinea. Named after an ancient West African empire, this country was the first in sub-Saharan Africa to attain independence. Name this country.

7. Five ships – Concepción, San Antonio, Santiago, Trinidad and Victoria – set sail from Seville with about 250 people under the command of a Portuguese sailor. Just one of them – Victoria – made it to the destination with 18 survivors, after the original leader of the expedition died on the way. What remarkable feat did this expedition accomplish?

8. Captain James Cook came upon these islands when looking for the Northwest Passage. He named them after his benefactor, the First Lord of the Admiralty who provided government funding for Cook’s Pacific exploration. The natives referred to the islands by a word which meant “homeland” to them. Cook lost his life in a violent confrontation with the natives, but the name he gave stuck for the next 100+ years. The native name eventually became more popular. What do we know these islands as today? What was the name Cook gave them?

9. One of the most celebrated men of the 20th century said this about another: “generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.” Who about whom?

10. John F. Kennedy closed his famous Berlin speech with the words “Ich bin ein Berliner.” Before he spoke that line, he established some context with a much older line that in his words was the proudest boast two thousand years ago. According to the Bible, Paul of Tarsus used this line in his defense. What was that line? English translation will suffice.

1. This disease was thought to be caused by bad air, as indicated by its name. It has been suggested as one of the major causes for both Alexander’s retreat from India and the decline of the Roman Empire. It is considered both a cause and an effect of poverty; one study concluded that countries where this disease is endemic underperformed other countries by a factor of six, measured in terms of growth rate of per-capita GDP. The entire lifecycle of this disease was established by an India-born scientist who did much of his research in today’s Hyderabad. He received the Nobel Prize for medicine and was knighted for his efforts. Name the disease and the scientist.

>>>MAL ARIA and Ronald Ross


4. This country is the most populous among countries that have French as their official language. However, it was never a colony of France. After the independence of South Sudan, it is now Africa’s second-largest country behind Algeria. Beginning in 1998, it was the theater of “the African World War” which saw nine countries and over 20 armed groups fight the world’s bloodiest conflict since World War II. Name this country, and the colonial power that ruled it prior to 1960.

>>>TUNISIA?

5. The French name for this substance is caoutchouc, borrowed from a Native American language in which it literally means “wood that weeps.” The British name includes the word “India” in it. The purified form of this substance is polyisoprene, which is now produced synthetically for the most part. Name this substance that made modern transportation possible.

>>>INDIA RUBBER?


7. Five ships – Concepción, San Antonio, Santiago, Trinidad and Victoria – set sail from Seville with about 250 people under the command of a Portuguese sailor. Just one of them – Victoria – made it to the destination with 18 survivors, after the original leader of the expedition died on the way. What remarkable feat did this expedition accomplish?

Magellan's voyage.


9. One of the most celebrated men of the 20th century said this about another: “generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.” Who about whom?

>>> Einstein on Gandhiji

1. This disease was thought to be caused by bad air, as indicated by its name. It has been suggested as one of the major causes for both Alexander’s retreat from India and the decline of the Roman Empire. It is considered both a cause and an effect of poverty; one study concluded that countries where this disease is endemic underperformed other countries by a factor of six, measured in terms of growth rate of per-capita GDP. The entire lifecycle of this disease was established by an India-born scientist who did much of his research in today’s Hyderabad. He received the Nobel Prize for medicine and was knighted for his efforts. Name the disease and the scientist.

>> Malaria and Ronald Ross



2. Konrad Korzeniowski was born near Kiev, Ukraine. His father translated Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens and Shakespeare and tried to cultivate his son’s interest in literature. The son had other dreams, including one of exploring the unexplored regions of Africa. Orphaned at 11, he began a seafaring career at 16 that took him to, among other places, England, Colombia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, Australia and Central Africa. A suicide attempt and a couple of shipwrecks later, he changed his name and began writing novels that he is primarily known for today. What is the more famous name of this writer?

>> Joseph Konrad?



3. This office in British government started out unofficially, as the term used by detractors to describe a particularly powerful First Lord of the Treasury in a derogatory manner. The only official residence allotted to this office is Chequers, a country house in Buckinghamshire outside London. This office was first mentioned officially in a royal warrant in 1905. In recent times, every holder of this office has also concurrently been the First Lord of the Treasury. What is this office in British government?

>> Lord of the Exchequer?



6. Formed from a merger of the British Togoland and Gold Coast colonies, this country is surrounded by Togo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and the Gulf of Guinea. Named after an ancient West African empire, this country was the first in sub-Saharan Africa to attain independence. Name this country.

>> Ghana?

1)malaria and don't have a clue
2) einstien, gandhi
4) nigeria?

[quote="Impedimenta"]

Last edited by Impedimenta on Wed Dec 21, 2011 8:09 am; edited 1 time in
total (Reason for editing : cause i have butter fingers...)

LoL - is that why you do thAyE yasodha so well ;-}

..veNNai veNNai tarum enrAn veNNai tandAl tinruviTTu peNNai tArum enru kETTu kaNNaDikkirAn

1. This disease was thought to be caused by bad air, as indicated by its name. It has been suggested as one of the major causes for both Alexander’s retreat from India and the decline of the Roman Empire. It is considered both a cause and an effect of poverty; one study concluded that countries where this disease is endemic underperformed other countries by a factor of six, measured in terms of growth rate of per-capita GDP. The entire lifecycle of this disease was established by an India-born scientist who did much of his research in today’s Hyderabad. He received the Nobel Prize for medicine and was knighted for his efforts. Name the disease and the scientist.
>>>>>>Malaria , Sir Ronald Ross.It was in Secunderabad not in Hyderabad.


2. Konrad Korzeniowski was born near Kiev, Ukraine. His father translated Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens and Shakespeare and tried to cultivate his son’s interest in literature. The son had other dreams, including one of exploring the unexplored regions of Africa. Orphaned at 11, he began a seafaring career at 16 that took him to, among other places, England, Colombia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, Australia and Central Africa. A suicide attempt and a couple of shipwrecks later, he changed his name and began writing novels that he is primarily known for today. What is the more famous name of this writer?
>>>>>>>>Joseph Conrad.

3. This office in British government started out unofficially, as the term used by detractors to describe a particularly powerful First Lord of the Treasury in a derogatory manner. The only official residence allotted to this office is Chequers, a country house in Buckinghamshire outside London. This office was first mentioned officially in a royal warrant in 1905. In recent times, every holder of this office has also concurrently been the First Lord of the Treasury. What is this office in British government?
>>>>>>>>>Prime Minister.

4. This country is the most populous among countries that have French as their official language. However, it was never a colony of France. After the independence of South Sudan, it is now Africa’s second-largest country behind Algeria. Beginning in 1998, it was the theater of “the African World War” which saw nine countries and over 20 armed groups fight the world’s bloodiest conflict since World War II. Name this country, and the colonial power that ruled it prior to 1960.
>>>>>>>>>Congo. Belgium.


6. Formed from a merger of the British Togoland and Gold Coast colonies, this country is surrounded by Togo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and the Gulf of Guinea. Named after an ancient West African empire, this country was the first in sub-Saharan Africa to attain independence. Name this country.

>>>>>GHana

7. Five ships – Concepción, San Antonio, Santiago, Trinidad and Victoria – set sail from Seville with about 250 people under the command of a Portuguese sailor. Just one of them – Victoria – made it to the destination with 18 survivors, after the original leader of the expedition died on the way. What remarkable feat did this expedition accomplish?

>>>>>>>>>>Discovering West Indies?


8. Captain James Cook came upon these islands when looking for the Northwest Passage. He named them after his benefactor, the First Lord of the Admiralty who provided government funding for Cook’s Pacific exploration. The natives referred to the islands by a word which meant “homeland” to them. Cook lost his life in a violent confrontation with the natives, but the name he gave stuck for the next 100+ years. The native name eventually became more popular. What do we know these islands as today? What was the name Cook gave them?

>>>>>>>>>>>Hawaii.

9. One of the most celebrated men of the 20th century said this about another: “generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.” Who about whom?
Einstein about Gandhi?

blabberwock wrote:1. This disease was thought to be caused by bad air, as indicated by its name. It has

You got 1, 5 and 9 right. For 7, you identified the voyage correctly. What feat did that voyage accomplish?

Merlot Daruwala wrote:1. This disease was thought to be caused by bad air, as indicated by its name. It has been suggested as

6. Formed from a merger of the British Togoland and Gold Coast colonies, this country is surrounded by Togo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and the Gulf of Guinea. Named after an ancient West African empire, this country was the first in sub-Saharan Africa to attain independence. Name this country.

>> Ghana?

You got 1, 2 and 6 right.

PseudoIntellectual wrote:1. This disease was thought to be c y bad air, as indicated by its name. It has been suggested as one of the major causes for both Alexander’s retreat from India and the decline of the Roman Empire. It is considered both a cause and an effect of poverty; one study concluded that countries where this disease is endemic underperformed other countries by a factor of six, measured in terms of growth rate of per-capita GDP. The entire lifecycle of this disease was established by an India-born scientist who did much of his research in today’s Hyderabad. He received the Nobel Prize for medicine and was knighted for his efforts. Name the disease and the scientist.
>>>>>>Malaria , Sir Ronald Ross.It was in Secunderabad not in Hyderab

Great job. You got 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 9 right. 8 is also correct but the answer is incomplete. What was the name Cook gave?

7, 8 and 10 remain. Hint for 10... JFK mentioned 2000 years ago for a reason. What boast back then would be in line with his German line?

charvaka wrote:7, 8 and 10 remain. Hint for 10... JFK mentioned 2000 years ago for a reason. What boast back then would be in line with his German line?

Acts 22:27

Impedimenta wrote:1)malaria and don't have a clue
2) einstien, gandhi
4) nigeria?

You got 1 and 9 right. Congo is the right answer for 4.

charvaka wrote: What feat did that voyage accomplish?

Circumnavigate the world for the first time.

It also accomplished another feat. What was that?:-

I am sorry I shouldn't have posed a question here. Since I did that I might as well provide the answer.

After Magellan started believing he was a "kaaraNa-janma" (born for a reason) and started converting people in the Phillippines, a little fight broke out and he was killed. Also back then, the Portuguese were on their ass because Magellan's crew was Spanish. So when fleeing Phillippines with just one ship, they went south in the Pacific, and then going west, completely skirted Indonesia (Portuguese stronghold) and crossed the Indian Ocean, rounded the Cape of Good Hope went north in the Atlantic ocean and stopped for the first time at the Cape Verde Islandas. That stands till today as the longest open sea voyage ever underataken. Of course, they did it for their dear lives.

Hellsangel wrote:

charvaka wrote:7, 8 and 10 remain. Hint for 10... JFK mentioned 2000 years ago for a reason. What boast back then would be in line with his German line?

Acts 22:27

Haha. You don't want to give a direct answer?

indophile wrote:I am sorry I shouldn't have posed a question here. Since I did that I might as well provide the answer.

After Magellan started believing he was a "kaaraNa-janma" (born for a reason) and started converting people in the Phillippines, a little fight broke out and he was killed. Also back then, the Portuguese were on their ass because Magellan's crew was Spanish. So when fleeing Phillippines with just one ship, they went south in the Pacific, and then going west, completely skirted Indonesia (Portuguese stronghold) and crossed the Indian Ocean, rounded the Cape of Good Hope went north in the Atlantic ocean and stopped for the first time at the Cape Verde Islandas. That stands till today as the longest open sea voyage ever underataken. Of course, they did it for their dear lives.

Correct. No issues with posting the additional question... I didn't know that that record still stands! I would have thought all those nuclear warships that stay away from port for months on end beat that record by now!

Hint for the unanswered portion of 8... what was the name James Cook gave the Hawaiian islands? The hint is that the guy the islands were named for also got a very common food item named after him, although he did not invent it. He merely ate a lot of it while playing cards without interruption.

PI, for 1, you are right... Ross did his research in Secunderabad. That is why I explicitly said "today's Hyderabad" instead of just Hyderabad . Secunderabad is now just a neighborhood in the growing metropolis that Hyderabad has become.

1. This disease was thought to be caused by bad air, as indicated by its name. It has been suggested as one of the major causes for both Alexander’s retreat from India and the decline of the Roman Empire. It is considered both a cause and an effect of poverty; one study concluded that countries where this disease is endemic underperformed other countries by a factor of six, measured in terms of growth rate of per-capita GDP. The entire lifecycle of this disease was established by an India-born scientist who did much of his research in today’s Hyderabad. He received the Nobel Prize for medicine and was knighted for his efforts. Name the disease and the scientist.

>>>cholera

2. Konrad Korzeniowski was born near Kiev, Ukraine. His father translated Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens and Shakespeare and tried to cultivate his son’s interest in literature. The son had other dreams, including one of exploring the unexplored regions of Africa. Orphaned at 11, he began a seafaring career at 16 that took him to, among other places, England, Colombia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, Australia and Central Africa. A suicide attempt and a couple of shipwrecks later, he changed his name and began writing novels that he is primarily known for today. What is the more famous name of this writer?

>>>Tolstoy

3. This office in British government started out unofficially, as the term used by detractors to describe a particularly powerful First Lord of the Treasury in a derogatory manner. The only official residence allotted to this office is Chequers, a country house in Buckinghamshire outside London. This office was first mentioned officially in a royal warrant in 1905. In recent times, every holder of this office has also concurrently been the First Lord of the Treasury. What is this office in British government?

>>..Chancellor of the exchequer

4. This country is the most populous among countries that have French as their official language. However, it was never a colony of France. After the independence of South Sudan, it is now Africa’s second-largest country behind Algeria. Beginning in 1998, it was the theater of “the African World War” which saw nine countries and over 20 armed groups fight the world’s bloodiest conflict since World War II. Name this country, and the colonial power that ruled it prior to 1960.

>>>>Congo, Belgium

5. The French name for this substance is caoutchouc, borrowed from a Native American language in which it literally means “wood that weeps.” The British name includes the word “India” in it. The purified form of this substance is polyisoprene, which is now produced synthetically for the most part. Name this substance that made modern transportation possible.

>>>India rubber

6. Formed from a merger of the British Togoland and Gold Coast colonies, this country is surrounded by Togo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and the Gulf of Guinea. Named after an ancient West African empire, this country was the first in sub-Saharan Africa to attain independence. Name this country.

>>>>Ghana

7. Five ships – Concepción, San Antonio, Santiago, Trinidad and Victoria – set sail from Seville with about 250 people under the command of a Portuguese sailor. Just one of them – Victoria – made it to the destination with 18 survivors, after the original leader of the expedition died on the way. What remarkable feat did this expedition accomplish?

>>>vasco da gama, navigatde around the southern tip of south america

8. Captain James Cook came upon these islands when looking for the Northwest Passage. He named them after his benefactor, the First Lord of the Admiralty who provided government funding for Cook’s Pacific exploration. The natives referred to the islands by a word which meant “homeland” to them. Cook lost his life in a violent confrontation with the natives, but the name he gave stuck for the next 100+ years. The native name eventually became more popular. What do we know these islands as today? What was the name Cook gave them?

>>> Hawaii, christmas islands

9. One of the most celebrated men of the 20th century said this about another: “generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.” Who about whom?

>>> einstein, gandhi

10. John F. Kennedy closed his famous Berlin speech with the words “Ich bin ein Berliner.” Before he spoke that line, he established some context with a much older line that in his words was the proudest boast two thousand years ago. According to the Bible, Paul of Tarsus used this line in his defense. What was that line? English translation will suffice.

>>> I am a roman

Most of the above were guesses

Kris wrote:1. This disease was thought to be caused by bad air, as indicated by its name. It has been suggested as one of the major causes for both Alexander’s retreat from India and the decline of the Roman Empire. It is considered both a cause and an effect of poverty; one study concluded that countries where this disease is endemic underperformed other countries by a factor of six, measured in terms of growth rate of per-capita GDP. The entire lifecycle of this disease was established by an India-born scientist who did much of his research in today’s Hyderabad. He received the Nobel Prize for medicine and was knighted for his efforts. Name the disease and the scientist.

>>>cholera

2. Konrad Korzeniowski was born near Kiev, Ukraine. His father translated Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens and Shakespeare and tried to cultivate his son’s interest in literature. The son had other dreams, including one of exploring the unexplored regions of Africa. Orphaned at 11, he began a seafaring career at 16 that took him to, among other places, England, Colombia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, Australia and Central Africa. A suicide attempt and a couple of shipwrecks later, he changed his name and began writing novels that he is primarily known for today. What is the more famous name of this writer?

>>>Tolstoy

3. This office in British government started out unofficially, as the term used by detractors to describe a particularly powerful First Lord of the Treasury in a derogatory manner. The only official residence allotted to this office is Chequers, a country house in Buckinghamshire outside London. This office was first mentioned officially in a royal warrant in 1905. In recent times, every holder of this office has also concurrently been the First Lord of the Treasury. What is this office in British government?

>>..Chancellor of the exchequer

4. This country is the most populous among countries that have French as their official language. However, it was never a colony of France. After the independence of South Sudan, it is now Africa’s second-largest country behind Algeria. Beginning in 1998, it was the theater of “the African World War” which saw nine countries and over 20 armed groups fight the world’s bloodiest conflict since World War II. Name this country, and the colonial power that ruled it prior to 1960.

>>>>Congo, Belgium

5. The French name for this substance is caoutchouc, borrowed from a Native American language in which it literally means “wood that weeps.” The British name includes the word “India” in it. The purified form of this substance is polyisoprene, which is now produced synthetically for the most part. Name this substance that made modern transportation possible.

>>>India rubber

6. Formed from a merger of the British Togoland and Gold Coast colonies, this country is surrounded by Togo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and the Gulf of Guinea. Named after an ancient West African empire, this country was the first in sub-Saharan Africa to attain independence. Name this country.

>>>>Ghana

7. Five ships – Concepción, San Antonio, Santiago, Trinidad and Victoria – set sail from Seville with about 250 people under the command of a Portuguese sailor. Just one of them – Victoria – made it to the destination with 18 survivors, after the original leader of the expedition died on the way. What remarkable feat did this expedition accomplish?

>>>vasco da gama, navigatde around the southern tip of south america

8. Captain James Cook came upon these islands when looking for the Northwest Passage. He named them after his benefactor, the First Lord of the Admiralty who provided government funding for Cook’s Pacific exploration. The natives referred to the islands by a word which meant “homeland” to them. Cook lost his life in a violent confrontation with the natives, but the name he gave stuck for the next 100+ years. The native name eventually became more popular. What do we know these islands as today? What was the name Cook gave them?

>>> Hawaii, christmas islands

9. One of the most celebrated men of the 20th century said this about another: “generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.” Who about whom?

>>> einstein, gandhi

10. John F. Kennedy closed his famous Berlin speech with the words “Ich bin ein Berliner.” Before he spoke that line, he established some context with a much older line that in his words was the proudest boast two thousand years ago. According to the Bible, Paul of Tarsus used this line in his defense. What was that line? English translation will suffice.

>>> I am a roman

Most of the above were guesses

4, 5, 6, 9 and 10 are correct. 8 is partly correct. I posted a hint for Cook's name for Hawaii, see above.

charvaka wrote:Hint for the unanswered portion of 8... what was the name James Cook gave the Hawaiian islands? The hint is that the guy the islands were named for also got a very common food item named after him, although he did not invent it. He merely ate a lot of it while playing cards without interruption.

This is the only question that remains unanswered.

charvaka wrote:

charvaka wrote:Hint for the unanswered portion of 8... what was the name James Cook gave the Hawaiian islands? The hint is that the guy the islands were named for also got a very common food item named after him, although he did not invent it. He merely ate a lot of it while playing cards without interruption.

This is the only question that remains unanswered.

>>>Sandwich. What is #3? I was probably more certain on this than some of the others. My answer was 'chancellor of the exchequer'.

Kris wrote:

charvaka wrote:

charvaka wrote:Hint for the unanswered portion of 8... what was the name James Cook gave the Hawaiian islands? The hint is that the guy the islands were named for also got a very common food item named after him, although he did not invent it. He merely ate a lot of it while playing cards without interruption.

This is the only question that remains unanswered.

>>>Sandwich. What is #3? I was probably more certain on this than some of the others. My answer was 'chancellor of the exchequer'.

Sandwich Islands is correct. For 3, the answer is Prime Minister. The Chancellor is the Second Lord of the Treasury.

Here are the answers, in bold.

1. This disease was thought to be caused by bad air, as indicated by its name. It has been suggested as one of the major causes for both Alexander’s retreat from India and the decline of the Roman Empire. It is considered both a cause and an effect of poverty; one study concluded that countries where this disease is endemic underperformed other countries by a factor of six, measured in terms of growth rate of per-capita GDP. The entire lifecycle of this disease was established by an India-born scientist who did much of his research in today’s Hyderabad. He received the Nobel Prize for medicine and was knighted for his efforts. Name the disease and the scientist.

Malaria, Ronald Ross.

2. Konrad Korzeniowski was born near Kiev, Ukraine. His father translated Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens and Shakespeare and tried to cultivate his son’s interest in literature. The son had other dreams, including one of exploring the unexplored regions of Africa. Orphaned at 11, he began a seafaring career at 16 that took him to, among other places, England, Colombia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, Australia and Central Africa. A suicide attempt and a couple of shipwrecks later, he changed his name and began writing novels that he is primarily known for today. What is the more famous name of this writer?

Joseph Conrad. Many of his works are based on his various voyages. His most famous work, The Heart of Darkness, is based on his voyage up the Congo River in what was the Congo Free State, today's Democratic Republic of Congo.

3. This office in British government started out unofficially, as the term used by detractors to describe a particularly powerful First Lord of the Treasury in a derogatory manner. The only official residence allotted to this office is Chequers, a country house in Buckinghamshire outside London. This office was first mentioned officially in a royal warrant in 1905. In recent times, every holder of this office has also concurrently been the First Lord of the Treasury. What is this office in British government?

Prime Minister.

4. This country is the most populous among countries that have French as their official language. However, it was never a colony of France. After the independence of South Sudan, it is now Africa’s second-largest country behind Algeria. Beginning in 1998, it was the theater of “the African World War” which saw nine countries and over 20 armed groups fight the world’s bloodiest conflict since World War II. Name this country, and the colonial power that ruled it prior to 1960.

Democratic Republic of Congo, which used to be a colony of Belgium. Many of the questions in this week's quiz were from a book I just finished reading, called King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild, a wonderful book about the history of the Congo Free State.

5. The French name for this substance is caoutchouc, borrowed from a Native American language in which it literally means “wood that weeps.” The British name includes the word “India” in it. The purified form of this substance is polyisoprene, which is now produced synthetically for the most part. Name this substance that made modern transportation possible.

Natural rubber, also known as India rubber.

6. Formed from a merger of the British Togoland and Gold Coast colonies, this country is surrounded by Togo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and the Gulf of Guinea. Named after an ancient West African empire, this country was the first in sub-Saharan Africa to attain independence. Name this country.

Ghana.

7. Five ships – Concepción, San Antonio, Santiago, Trinidad and Victoria – set sail from Seville with about 250 people under the command of a Portuguese sailor. Just one of them – Victoria – made it to the destination with 18 survivors, after the original leader of the expedition died on the way. What remarkable feat did this expedition accomplish?

Circumnavigation of the globe, started under the command of Magellan and finished under his deputy Elcano.

8. Captain James Cook came upon these islands when looking for the Northwest Passage. He named them after his benefactor, the First Lord of the Admiralty who provided government funding for Cook’s Pacific exploration. The natives referred to the islands by a word which meant “homeland” to them. Cook lost his life in a violent confrontation with the natives, but the name he gave stuck for the next 100+ years. The native name eventually became more popular. What do we know these islands as today? What was the name Cook gave them?

Hawaii, earlier known in English as the Sandwich Islands.

9. One of the most celebrated men of the 20th century said this about another: “generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.” Who about whom?

Albert Einstein on Mohandas Gandhi

10. John F. Kennedy closed his famous Berlin speech with the words “Ich bin ein Berliner.” Before he spoke that line, he established some context with a much older line that in his words was the proudest boast two thousand years ago. According to the Bible, Paul of Tarsus used this line in his defense. What was that line? English translation will suffice.

Civis Romanus sum -- I am a citizen of Rome. Being considered a citizen of Rome was a privilege in the Roman empire. This status was not automatically granted to all subjects of the empire; an elite class that had direct links to the capital or were wealthy had that privilege.

To clarify #3, 10 Downing Street is the official residence allotted to the First Lord of the Treasury, an office that is now held concurrently by the Prime Minister during his term in the latter office.