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Log inWednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
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Kris
Idéfix
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Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Idéfix Tue Sep 11, 2012 11:06 pm
It looks like Wednesday Trivia has gone through a little hiatus. So I am posting the trivia again this Wednesday. Many of the questions draw from my recent vacation, and one question has a connection to 9/11. As usual, please no googling.
1. What is common to the following cities? Alexandria, Antwerp, Florence, Jerusalem, Kyoto, Mecca, Paris, Ujjayini and Washington DC.
2. As “synthesis” goes, this site is a prime example. It was originally a pagan temple. When the Visigoths conquered Spain, a church was built on top of the temple. A few centuries later, one of the world’s largest mosques was built on top of the Visigothic church. The mosque had a unique design, with an expansive horizontal layout with over a thousand pillars, unlike other grand mosques that soared vertically. Centuries later yet, the center of the mosque was ripped out to put in a Roman Catholic cathedral. Mohammad Iqbal visited the site and was deeply moved by the beauty of the mosque, much of which still stands around the superimposed cathedral. What city is this Mosque-Cathedral located in?
3. Of the top 5 countries that won the most medals at all modern editions of the Summer Olympics combined, just one is not a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Which country is it? Which permanent member of the UNSC is not among the top-5 most medal-winning countries in the Summer Olympics?
4. The Roman name for this city was Hispalis – which shares the same root as the word Hispanic. The modern Spanish name of the city sounds like “this city” in French, but it is actually the Spanish adaptation of the Arabic adaptation of the name Hispalis. For two centuries, the city enjoyed an official monopoly on trade with Spain’s colonies in the Americas, making it the largest and wealthiest city in Spain. Miguel de Cervantes lived in this city (and served time in its prison). Name the city.
5. The Four Corners Monument marks the only point where the boundaries of four different American states meet. Name any of the four states whose boundaries meet at this point.
6. United Provinces is the former name of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Earlier in time, the term United Provinces was the name of a country. Which country was called United Provinces in the 17th and 18th centuries?
7. When this word first became part of English, it used to mean “a hunting trip.” In a native language of the area where it was coined, the word means “journey.” The word’s origin can be traced to Arabic. The Arabic word also made its way into Urdu. What is the word, and what native language did English borrow it from?
8. This city is named for a barrier built on a river. Although Venice is known for its canals, this city built out of low-lying swampland actually has more canals. Its inner ring of medieval canals is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In its heyday, the city was home to a fleet that dominated the seas and controlled trade between Europe and Asia. Name the city.
9. His mathematical book Treatise on Probability was described by Bertrand Russell as “impossible to praise too highly.” He wrote the book in his spare time while working at the India Office. One of his lesser known books is Indian Currency and Finance. Before the word globalization became popular, he made a fortune for himself trading in international currencies and commodities. But he carried out his trading activities on the side as well, while he was still in bed in the morning for less than an hour each day. He was on the British team that negotiated the Treaty of Versailles, and then wrote the book on how the treaty was an awful thing indeed. He knew Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt, Bertrand Russell and Virginia Woolf, Pablo Picasso and E.M. Forster. He married a ballerina and was an avid art collector, but he is now remembered mostly as an economist. Name him.
10. Prior to India’s independence, the Secretary of State for India, or India Secretary, was a British cabinet minister responsible for the government of India, Burma and one city outside the subcontinent. The city lay on the sea route from England to India, and most ships plying that route stopped at its port. Legend has it that the biblical brothers Cain and Abel are buried there. The Chinese sailor Zheng He went there in the 15th century, in perhaps the western-most outreach by China before modern times. The city lies about equidistant from the Suez Canal, Mumbai and Zanzibar (all British possessions at the time), which explains its strategic significance. Later, it became the capital of a communist state backed by the Soviet Union. Al Qaeda’s first known terrorist attack took place in this city. Name the city.
1. What is common to the following cities? Alexandria, Antwerp, Florence, Jerusalem, Kyoto, Mecca, Paris, Ujjayini and Washington DC.
2. As “synthesis” goes, this site is a prime example. It was originally a pagan temple. When the Visigoths conquered Spain, a church was built on top of the temple. A few centuries later, one of the world’s largest mosques was built on top of the Visigothic church. The mosque had a unique design, with an expansive horizontal layout with over a thousand pillars, unlike other grand mosques that soared vertically. Centuries later yet, the center of the mosque was ripped out to put in a Roman Catholic cathedral. Mohammad Iqbal visited the site and was deeply moved by the beauty of the mosque, much of which still stands around the superimposed cathedral. What city is this Mosque-Cathedral located in?
3. Of the top 5 countries that won the most medals at all modern editions of the Summer Olympics combined, just one is not a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Which country is it? Which permanent member of the UNSC is not among the top-5 most medal-winning countries in the Summer Olympics?
4. The Roman name for this city was Hispalis – which shares the same root as the word Hispanic. The modern Spanish name of the city sounds like “this city” in French, but it is actually the Spanish adaptation of the Arabic adaptation of the name Hispalis. For two centuries, the city enjoyed an official monopoly on trade with Spain’s colonies in the Americas, making it the largest and wealthiest city in Spain. Miguel de Cervantes lived in this city (and served time in its prison). Name the city.
5. The Four Corners Monument marks the only point where the boundaries of four different American states meet. Name any of the four states whose boundaries meet at this point.
6. United Provinces is the former name of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Earlier in time, the term United Provinces was the name of a country. Which country was called United Provinces in the 17th and 18th centuries?
7. When this word first became part of English, it used to mean “a hunting trip.” In a native language of the area where it was coined, the word means “journey.” The word’s origin can be traced to Arabic. The Arabic word also made its way into Urdu. What is the word, and what native language did English borrow it from?
8. This city is named for a barrier built on a river. Although Venice is known for its canals, this city built out of low-lying swampland actually has more canals. Its inner ring of medieval canals is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In its heyday, the city was home to a fleet that dominated the seas and controlled trade between Europe and Asia. Name the city.
9. His mathematical book Treatise on Probability was described by Bertrand Russell as “impossible to praise too highly.” He wrote the book in his spare time while working at the India Office. One of his lesser known books is Indian Currency and Finance. Before the word globalization became popular, he made a fortune for himself trading in international currencies and commodities. But he carried out his trading activities on the side as well, while he was still in bed in the morning for less than an hour each day. He was on the British team that negotiated the Treaty of Versailles, and then wrote the book on how the treaty was an awful thing indeed. He knew Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt, Bertrand Russell and Virginia Woolf, Pablo Picasso and E.M. Forster. He married a ballerina and was an avid art collector, but he is now remembered mostly as an economist. Name him.
10. Prior to India’s independence, the Secretary of State for India, or India Secretary, was a British cabinet minister responsible for the government of India, Burma and one city outside the subcontinent. The city lay on the sea route from England to India, and most ships plying that route stopped at its port. Legend has it that the biblical brothers Cain and Abel are buried there. The Chinese sailor Zheng He went there in the 15th century, in perhaps the western-most outreach by China before modern times. The city lies about equidistant from the Suez Canal, Mumbai and Zanzibar (all British possessions at the time), which explains its strategic significance. Later, it became the capital of a communist state backed by the Soviet Union. Al Qaeda’s first known terrorist attack took place in this city. Name the city.
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Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Guest Tue Sep 11, 2012 11:32 pm
safari?panini press wrote:7. When this word first became part of English, it used to mean “a hunting trip.” In a native language of the area where it was coined, the word means “journey.” The word’s origin can be traced to Arabic. The Arabic word also made its way into Urdu. What is the word, and what native language did English borrow it from?
*i will be very proud of myself if i've got this right*
Guest- Guest
Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Kris Wed Sep 12, 2012 1:26 am
.
1. What is common to the following cities? Alexandria, Antwerp, Florence, Jerusalem, Kyoto, Mecca, Paris, Ujjayini and Washington DC.
2. As “synthesis” goes, this site is a prime example. It was originally a pagan temple. When the Visigoths conquered Spain, a church was built on top of the temple. A few centuries later, one of the world’s largest mosques was built on top of the Visigothic church. The mosque had a unique design, with an expansive horizontal layout with over a thousand pillars, unlike other grand mosques that soared vertically. Centuries later yet, the center of the mosque was ripped out to put in a Roman Catholic cathedral. Mohammad Iqbal visited the site and was deeply moved by the beauty of the mosque, much of which still stands around the superimposed cathedral. What city is this Mosque-Cathedral located in?
>>>>Istanbul?
3. Of the top 5 countries that won the most medals at all modern editions of the Summer Olympics combined, just one is not a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Which country is it? Which permanent member of the UNSC is not among the top-5 most medal-winning countries in the Summer Olympics?
>>>>Germany, France
4. The Roman name for this city was Hispalis – which shares the same root as the word Hispanic. The modern Spanish name of the city sounds like “this city” in French, but it is actually the Spanish adaptation of the Arabic adaptation of the name Hispalis. For two centuries, the city enjoyed an official monopoly on trade with Spain’s colonies in the Americas, making it the largest and wealthiest city in Spain. Miguel de Cervantes lived in this city (and served time in its prison). Name the city.
>>>>Seville
5. The Four Corners Monument marks the only point where the boundaries of four different American states meet. Name any of the four states whose boundaries meet at this point.
>>>>Utah
7. When this word first became part of English, it used to mean “a hunting trip.” In a native language of the area where it was coined, the word means “journey.” The word’s origin can be traced to Arabic. The Arabic word also made its way into Urdu. What is the word, and what native language did English borrow it from?
>>>>shikar, Hindi?
8. This city is named for a barrier built on a river. Although Venice is known for its canals, this city built out of low-lying swampland actually has more canals. Its inner ring of medieval canals is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In its heyday, the city was home to a fleet that dominated the seas and controlled trade between Europe and Asia. Name the city.
>>>>Rotterdam?
10. Prior to India’s independence, the Secretary of State for India, or India Secretary, was a British cabinet minister responsible for the government of India, Burma and one city outside the subcontinent. The city lay on the sea route from England to India, and most ships plying that route stopped at its port. Legend has it that the biblical brothers Cain and Abel are buried there. The Chinese sailor Zheng He went there in the 15th century, in perhaps the western-most outreach by China before modern times. The city lies about equidistant from the Suez Canal, Mumbai and Zanzibar (all British possessions at the time), which explains its strategic significance. Later, it became the capital of a communist state backed by the Soviet Union. Al Qaeda’s first known terrorist attack took place in this city. Name the city.
>>>.Dar-ees-salaam ?
1. What is common to the following cities? Alexandria, Antwerp, Florence, Jerusalem, Kyoto, Mecca, Paris, Ujjayini and Washington DC.
2. As “synthesis” goes, this site is a prime example. It was originally a pagan temple. When the Visigoths conquered Spain, a church was built on top of the temple. A few centuries later, one of the world’s largest mosques was built on top of the Visigothic church. The mosque had a unique design, with an expansive horizontal layout with over a thousand pillars, unlike other grand mosques that soared vertically. Centuries later yet, the center of the mosque was ripped out to put in a Roman Catholic cathedral. Mohammad Iqbal visited the site and was deeply moved by the beauty of the mosque, much of which still stands around the superimposed cathedral. What city is this Mosque-Cathedral located in?
>>>>Istanbul?
3. Of the top 5 countries that won the most medals at all modern editions of the Summer Olympics combined, just one is not a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Which country is it? Which permanent member of the UNSC is not among the top-5 most medal-winning countries in the Summer Olympics?
>>>>Germany, France
4. The Roman name for this city was Hispalis – which shares the same root as the word Hispanic. The modern Spanish name of the city sounds like “this city” in French, but it is actually the Spanish adaptation of the Arabic adaptation of the name Hispalis. For two centuries, the city enjoyed an official monopoly on trade with Spain’s colonies in the Americas, making it the largest and wealthiest city in Spain. Miguel de Cervantes lived in this city (and served time in its prison). Name the city.
>>>>Seville
5. The Four Corners Monument marks the only point where the boundaries of four different American states meet. Name any of the four states whose boundaries meet at this point.
>>>>Utah
7. When this word first became part of English, it used to mean “a hunting trip.” In a native language of the area where it was coined, the word means “journey.” The word’s origin can be traced to Arabic. The Arabic word also made its way into Urdu. What is the word, and what native language did English borrow it from?
>>>>shikar, Hindi?
8. This city is named for a barrier built on a river. Although Venice is known for its canals, this city built out of low-lying swampland actually has more canals. Its inner ring of medieval canals is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In its heyday, the city was home to a fleet that dominated the seas and controlled trade between Europe and Asia. Name the city.
>>>>Rotterdam?
10. Prior to India’s independence, the Secretary of State for India, or India Secretary, was a British cabinet minister responsible for the government of India, Burma and one city outside the subcontinent. The city lay on the sea route from England to India, and most ships plying that route stopped at its port. Legend has it that the biblical brothers Cain and Abel are buried there. The Chinese sailor Zheng He went there in the 15th century, in perhaps the western-most outreach by China before modern times. The city lies about equidistant from the Suez Canal, Mumbai and Zanzibar (all British possessions at the time), which explains its strategic significance. Later, it became the capital of a communist state backed by the Soviet Union. Al Qaeda’s first known terrorist attack took place in this city. Name the city.
>>>.Dar-ees-salaam ?
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Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Jeremiah Mburuburu Wed Sep 12, 2012 1:40 am
8. rotterdam;
9. keynes;
10. aden.
9. keynes;
10. aden.
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Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Jeremiah Mburuburu Wed Sep 12, 2012 1:52 am
3. germany; france;
2. istanbul; the cathedral is that of st. sophia;
1. each city has/had the largest library in the world, at one time in history; currently, it's the library of congress in dc. (just a guess.)
2. istanbul; the cathedral is that of st. sophia;
1. each city has/had the largest library in the world, at one time in history; currently, it's the library of congress in dc. (just a guess.)
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Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Guest Wed Sep 12, 2012 1:58 am
panini press wrote:
2. As “synthesis” goes, this site is a prime example. It was originally a pagan temple. When the Visigoths conquered Spain, a church was built on top of the temple. A few centuries later, one of the world’s largest mosques was built on top of the Visigothic church. The mosque had a unique design, with an expansive horizontal layout with over a thousand pillars, unlike other grand mosques that soared vertically. Centuries later yet, the center of the mosque was ripped out to put in a Roman Catholic cathedral. Mohammad Iqbal visited the site and was deeply moved by the beauty of the mosque, much of which still stands around the superimposed cathedral. What city is this Mosque-Cathedral located in?
Córdoba, Spain? (watched a documentary on this a few weeks ago)
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Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by indophile Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:02 am
2. Cordoba, Spain
3. South Korea, France
5. Colorado
6. Canada
7. Shikaar
10. Aden (also Bombay High Court had Appeals jurisdiction over Aden)
3. South Korea, France
5. Colorado
6. Canada
7. Shikaar
10. Aden (also Bombay High Court had Appeals jurisdiction over Aden)
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Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Idéfix Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:52 am
Safari is the correct answer. As BW and you guessed on chat, Swahili is the language it comes from. It comes from the same Arabic root from which the Hindi word safar is derived.Huzefa Kapasi wrote:safari?panini press wrote:7. When this word first became part of English, it used to mean “a hunting trip.” In a native language of the area where it was coined, the word means “journey.” The word’s origin can be traced to Arabic. The Arabic word also made its way into Urdu. What is the word, and what native language did English borrow it from?
*i will be very proud of myself if i've got this right*
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Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Idéfix Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:55 am
No.Kris wrote:2. Istanbul?
Germany is correct. France is a good guess -- I was surprised when I saw France in the list of top-5 medal winners, so that's not the correct answer.Kris wrote:3. Germany, France
Correct!Kris wrote:4. Seville
Correct.Kris wrote:Utah
No, it is safari, from Swahili.Kris wrote:7. shikar, Hindi?
Close, but not quite.Kris wrote:8. Rotterdam?
No.Kris wrote:10. Dar-ees-salaam ?
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Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Idéfix Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:56 am
Close, but not quite there.Jeremiah Mburuburu wrote:8. rotterdam;
Correct.Jeremiah Mburuburu wrote:9. keynes;
Correct.Jeremiah Mburuburu wrote:10. aden.
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Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Idéfix Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:56 am
Correct.Jeremiah Mburuburu wrote:5. colorado.
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Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Idéfix Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:57 am
Germany is correct. France is not.Jeremiah Mburuburu wrote:3. germany; france;
Good guess, but it is not Istanbul and the Aya Sofya.Jeremiah Mburuburu wrote:2. istanbul; the cathedral is that of st. sophia;
Good guess, but no.Jeremiah Mburuburu wrote:1. each city has/had the largest library in the world, at one time in history; currently, it's the library of congress in dc. (just a guess.)
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Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Idéfix Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:57 am
Correct!blabberwock wrote:panini press wrote:
2. As “synthesis” goes, this site is a prime example. It was originally a pagan temple. When the Visigoths conquered Spain, a church was built on top of the temple. A few centuries later, one of the world’s largest mosques was built on top of the Visigothic church. The mosque had a unique design, with an expansive horizontal layout with over a thousand pillars, unlike other grand mosques that soared vertically. Centuries later yet, the center of the mosque was ripped out to put in a Roman Catholic cathedral. Mohammad Iqbal visited the site and was deeply moved by the beauty of the mosque, much of which still stands around the superimposed cathedral. What city is this Mosque-Cathedral located in?
Córdoba, Spain? (watched a documentary on this a few weeks ago)
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Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Idéfix Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:59 am
Correct.indophile wrote:2. Cordoba, Spain
No.indophile wrote: 3. South Korea, France
Correct.indophile wrote:5. Colorado
Canada once used the United Provinces name, but not in the time frame mentioned in the question (17th and 18th centuries). I am looking for another country that was referred to as the United Provinces.indophile wrote:6. Canada
No.indophile wrote:7. Shikaar
Correct -- I didn't know that bit about appellate jurisdiction!indophile wrote:10. Aden (also Bombay High Court had Appeals jurisdiction over Aden)
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Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Idéfix Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:05 pm
Here is an update with hints.
1. What is common to the following cities? Alexandria, Antwerp, Florence, Jerusalem, Kyoto, Mecca, Paris, Ujjayini and Washington DC.
Hint: The common feature is a role each city played in the science of geography.
3. Of the top 5 countries that won the most medals at all modern editions of the Summer Olympics combined, just one is not a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Which country is it? Which permanent member of the UNSC is not among the top-5 most medal-winning countries in the Summer Olympics?
Hint: Germany is among the top 5 medal-winning countries. France is as well, for now.
5. The Four Corners Monument marks the only point where the boundaries of four different American states meet. Name any of the four states whose boundaries meet at this point.
Hint: This has already been answered in the way it was posed. Utah and Colorado are both correct answers. Anybody wants to name the other two states.
6. United Provinces is the former name of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Earlier in time, the term United Provinces was the name of a country. Which country was called United Provinces in the 17th and 18th centuries?
Hint: The country is now a kingdom, and is referred to by two different names (neither of them United Provinces) today.
8. This city is named for a barrier built on a river. Although Venice is known for its canals, this city built out of low-lying swampland actually has more canals. Its inner ring of medieval canals is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In its heyday, the city was home to a fleet that dominated the seas and controlled trade between Europe and Asia. Name the city.
Hint: The city was the headquarters of the world's first multinational corporation, whose name translates to United East India Company in English. It is not Rotterdam.
1. What is common to the following cities? Alexandria, Antwerp, Florence, Jerusalem, Kyoto, Mecca, Paris, Ujjayini and Washington DC.
Hint: The common feature is a role each city played in the science of geography.
3. Of the top 5 countries that won the most medals at all modern editions of the Summer Olympics combined, just one is not a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Which country is it? Which permanent member of the UNSC is not among the top-5 most medal-winning countries in the Summer Olympics?
Hint: Germany is among the top 5 medal-winning countries. France is as well, for now.
5. The Four Corners Monument marks the only point where the boundaries of four different American states meet. Name any of the four states whose boundaries meet at this point.
Hint: This has already been answered in the way it was posed. Utah and Colorado are both correct answers. Anybody wants to name the other two states.
6. United Provinces is the former name of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Earlier in time, the term United Provinces was the name of a country. Which country was called United Provinces in the 17th and 18th centuries?
Hint: The country is now a kingdom, and is referred to by two different names (neither of them United Provinces) today.
8. This city is named for a barrier built on a river. Although Venice is known for its canals, this city built out of low-lying swampland actually has more canals. Its inner ring of medieval canals is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In its heyday, the city was home to a fleet that dominated the seas and controlled trade between Europe and Asia. Name the city.
Hint: The city was the headquarters of the world's first multinational corporation, whose name translates to United East India Company in English. It is not Rotterdam.
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Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Obnoxious Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:24 pm
panini press wrote:Here is an update with hints.
3. Of the top 5 countries that won the most medals at all modern editions of the Summer Olympics combined, just one is not a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Which country is it? Which permanent member of the UNSC is not among the top-5 most medal-winning countries in the Summer Olympics?
Hint: Germany is among the top 5 medal-winning countries. France is as well, for now.
My bet is on UK. My second guess would be China('cos China's resurgence is rather new).
5. The Four Corners Monument marks the only point where the boundaries of four different American states meet. Name any of the four states whose boundaries meet at this point.
Hint: This has already been answered in the way it was posed. Utah and Colorado are both correct answers. Anybody wants to name the other two states.
AZ & NM
6. United Provinces is the former name of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Earlier in time, the term United Provinces was the name of a country. Which country was called United Provinces in the 17th and 18th centuries?
Hint: The country is now a kingdom, and is referred to by two different names (neither of them United Provinces) today.
Netherlands? My second guess would be Thailand.
8. This city is named for a barrier built on a river. Although Venice is known for its canals, this city built out of low-lying swampland actually has more canals. Its inner ring of medieval canals is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In its heyday, the city was home to a fleet that dominated the seas and controlled trade between Europe and Asia. Name the city.
Hint: The city was the headquarters of the world's first multinational corporation, whose name translates to United East India Company in English. It is not Rotterdam.
I expect this to be somewhere in the middle east on Silk route.
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Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Idéfix Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:27 pm
China is the correct answer. They will likely get into the top 5 with the 2016 Olympics.Silk Smitha wrote:3. My bet is on UK. My second guess would be China('cos China's resurgence is rather new).
Correct.Silk Smitha wrote:5. AZ & NM
The Netherlands is the correct answer.Silk Smitha wrote:6. Netherlands? My second guess would be Thailand.
Actually it is not.Silk Smitha wrote:8. I expect this to be somewhere in the middle east on Silk route.
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Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Idéfix Wed Sep 12, 2012 1:47 pm
The following questions remain.
1. What is common to the following cities? Alexandria, Antwerp, Florence, Jerusalem, Kyoto, Mecca, Paris, Ujjayini and Washington DC.
Hint 1: The common feature is a role each city played in the science of geography.
Hint 2: The same role is now played by a small town on the outskirts of London.
8. This city is named for a barrier built on a river. Although Venice is known for its canals, this city built out of low-lying swampland actually has more canals. Its inner ring of medieval canals is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In its heyday, the city was home to a fleet that dominated the seas and controlled trade between Europe and Asia. Name the city.
Hint 1: The city was the headquarters of the world's first multinational corporation, whose name translates to United East India Company in English. It is not Rotterdam.
Hint 2: The city is rather close to Rotterdam.
1. What is common to the following cities? Alexandria, Antwerp, Florence, Jerusalem, Kyoto, Mecca, Paris, Ujjayini and Washington DC.
Hint 1: The common feature is a role each city played in the science of geography.
Hint 2: The same role is now played by a small town on the outskirts of London.
8. This city is named for a barrier built on a river. Although Venice is known for its canals, this city built out of low-lying swampland actually has more canals. Its inner ring of medieval canals is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In its heyday, the city was home to a fleet that dominated the seas and controlled trade between Europe and Asia. Name the city.
Hint 1: The city was the headquarters of the world's first multinational corporation, whose name translates to United East India Company in English. It is not Rotterdam.
Hint 2: The city is rather close to Rotterdam.
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Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Hellsangel Wed Sep 12, 2012 2:05 pm
panini press wrote:The following questions remain.
1. What is common to the following cities? Alexandria, Antwerp, Florence, Jerusalem, Kyoto, Mecca, Paris, Ujjayini and Washington DC.
Hint 1: The common feature is a role each city played in the science of geography.
Hint 2: The same role is now played by a small town on the outskirts of London. Greenwich? The location of the Prime Meridian?
8. This city is named for a barrier built on a river. Although Venice is known for its canals, this city built out of low-lying swampland actually has more canals. Its inner ring of medieval canals is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In its heyday, the city was home to a fleet that dominated the seas and controlled trade between Europe and Asia. Name the city.
Hint 1: The city was the headquarters of the world's first multinational corporation, whose name translates to United East India Company in English. It is not Rotterdam.
Hint 2: The city is rather close to Rotterdam. Amsterdam?
Hellsangel- Posts : 14721
Join date : 2011-04-28
Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Idéfix Wed Sep 12, 2012 2:50 pm
Correct. All the cities on this list were used by various scientists as the prime meridian. For instance, Ujjayini was used as the prime meridian by Indian scientists.Hellsangel wrote:1. Greenwich? The location of the Prime Meridian?
Correct.Hellsangel wrote:8. Amsterdam?
All questions have been answered now.
Idéfix- Posts : 8808
Join date : 2012-04-26
Location : Berkeley, CA
Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Idéfix Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:08 pm
Here are answers.
1. What is common to the following cities? Alexandria, Antwerp, Florence, Jerusalem, Kyoto, Mecca, Paris, Ujjayini and Washington DC.
Answer: All these cities were used as the prime meridian in various systems. Ujjayini was used by Indian scientists as the prime meridian. Mercator used Antwerp. And Washington, DC has multiple prime meridians that have been used in the past; one going through the White House, one through the Capitol, etc.
2. As “synthesis” goes, this site is a prime example. It was originally a pagan temple. When the Visigoths conquered Spain, a church was built on top of the temple. A few centuries later, one of the world’s largest mosques was built on top of the Visigothic church. The mosque had a unique design, with an expansive horizontal layout with over a thousand pillars, unlike other grand mosques that soared vertically. Centuries later yet, the center of the mosque was ripped out to put in a Roman Catholic cathedral. Mohammad Iqbal visited the site and was deeply moved by the beauty of the mosque, much of which still stands around the superimposed cathedral. What city is this Mosque-Cathedral located in?
Answer: The monument is called the Mezquita ("mosque") and it is located in Cordoba in Spain. Iqbal wrote a poem about the mosque.
3. Of the top 5 countries that won the most medals at all modern editions of the Summer Olympics combined, just one is not a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Which country is it? Which permanent member of the UNSC is not among the top-5 most medal-winning countries in the Summer Olympics?
Answer: Germany is not a permanent member of the UNSC, but is one of the top 5 medal-winning countries. China is not among the top 5 medal-winners, but will get there soon.
4. The Roman name for this city was Hispalis – which shares the same root as the word Hispanic. The modern Spanish name of the city sounds like “this city” in French, but it is actually the Spanish adaptation of the Arabic adaptation of the name Hispalis. For two centuries, the city enjoyed an official monopoly on trade with Spain’s colonies in the Americas, making it the largest and wealthiest city in Spain. Miguel de Cervantes lived in this city (and served time in its prison). Name the city.
Answer: Sevilla. The Arabic form of Hispalis was Ishbiliya, and from that it became Sevilla.
5. The Four Corners Monument marks the only point where the boundaries of four different American states meet. Name any of the four states whose boundaries meet at this point.
Answer: The four states are: Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.
6. United Provinces is the former name of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Earlier in time, the term United Provinces was the name of a country. Which country was called United Provinces in the 17th and 18th centuries?
Answer: The Netherlands was known by that name when it was a republic.
7. When this word first became part of English, it used to mean “a hunting trip.” In a native language of the area where it was coined, the word means “journey.” The word’s origin can be traced to Arabic. The Arabic word also made its way into Urdu. What is the word, and what native language did English borrow it from?
Answer: Safari, from Swahili. It has the same Arabic root as the Urdu word safar which means journey.
8. This city is named for a barrier built on a river. Although Venice is known for its canals, this city built out of low-lying swampland actually has more canals. Its inner ring of medieval canals is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In its heyday, the city was home to a fleet that dominated the seas and controlled trade between Europe and Asia. Name the city.
Answer: The city is Amsterdam. It means "dam on the Amstel river". The city was the headquarters of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) which ruled the seas and controlled trade between Europe and Asia in the 17th century. At that time, the merchant fleet of the Netherlands was larger than the fleets of England and France combined.
9. His mathematical book Treatise on Probability was described by Bertrand Russell as “impossible to praise too highly.” He wrote the book in his spare time while working at the India Office. One of his lesser known books is Indian Currency and Finance. Before the word globalization became popular, he made a fortune for himself trading in international currencies and commodities. But he carried out his trading activities on the side as well, while he was still in bed in the morning for less than an hour each day. He was on the British team that negotiated the Treaty of Versailles, and then wrote the book on how the treaty was an awful thing indeed. He knew Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt, Bertrand Russell and Virginia Woolf, Pablo Picasso and E.M. Forster. He married a ballerina and was an avid art collector, but he is now remembered mostly as an economist. Name him.
Answer: John Maynard Keynes
10. Prior to India’s independence, the Secretary of State for India, or India Secretary, was a British cabinet minister responsible for the government of India, Burma and one city outside the subcontinent. The city lay on the sea route from England to India, and most ships plying that route stopped at its port. Legend has it that the biblical brothers Cain and Abel are buried there. The Chinese sailor Zheng He went there in the 15th century, in perhaps the western-most outreach by China before modern times. The city lies about equidistant from the Suez Canal, Mumbai and Zanzibar (all British possessions at the time), which explains its strategic significance. Later, it became the capital of a communist state backed by the Soviet Union. Al Qaeda’s first known terrorist attack took place in this city. Name the city.
Answer: Aden. It was the capital of the communist South Yemen in the Cold War years.
1. What is common to the following cities? Alexandria, Antwerp, Florence, Jerusalem, Kyoto, Mecca, Paris, Ujjayini and Washington DC.
Answer: All these cities were used as the prime meridian in various systems. Ujjayini was used by Indian scientists as the prime meridian. Mercator used Antwerp. And Washington, DC has multiple prime meridians that have been used in the past; one going through the White House, one through the Capitol, etc.
2. As “synthesis” goes, this site is a prime example. It was originally a pagan temple. When the Visigoths conquered Spain, a church was built on top of the temple. A few centuries later, one of the world’s largest mosques was built on top of the Visigothic church. The mosque had a unique design, with an expansive horizontal layout with over a thousand pillars, unlike other grand mosques that soared vertically. Centuries later yet, the center of the mosque was ripped out to put in a Roman Catholic cathedral. Mohammad Iqbal visited the site and was deeply moved by the beauty of the mosque, much of which still stands around the superimposed cathedral. What city is this Mosque-Cathedral located in?
Answer: The monument is called the Mezquita ("mosque") and it is located in Cordoba in Spain. Iqbal wrote a poem about the mosque.
3. Of the top 5 countries that won the most medals at all modern editions of the Summer Olympics combined, just one is not a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Which country is it? Which permanent member of the UNSC is not among the top-5 most medal-winning countries in the Summer Olympics?
Answer: Germany is not a permanent member of the UNSC, but is one of the top 5 medal-winning countries. China is not among the top 5 medal-winners, but will get there soon.
4. The Roman name for this city was Hispalis – which shares the same root as the word Hispanic. The modern Spanish name of the city sounds like “this city” in French, but it is actually the Spanish adaptation of the Arabic adaptation of the name Hispalis. For two centuries, the city enjoyed an official monopoly on trade with Spain’s colonies in the Americas, making it the largest and wealthiest city in Spain. Miguel de Cervantes lived in this city (and served time in its prison). Name the city.
Answer: Sevilla. The Arabic form of Hispalis was Ishbiliya, and from that it became Sevilla.
5. The Four Corners Monument marks the only point where the boundaries of four different American states meet. Name any of the four states whose boundaries meet at this point.
Answer: The four states are: Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.
6. United Provinces is the former name of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Earlier in time, the term United Provinces was the name of a country. Which country was called United Provinces in the 17th and 18th centuries?
Answer: The Netherlands was known by that name when it was a republic.
7. When this word first became part of English, it used to mean “a hunting trip.” In a native language of the area where it was coined, the word means “journey.” The word’s origin can be traced to Arabic. The Arabic word also made its way into Urdu. What is the word, and what native language did English borrow it from?
Answer: Safari, from Swahili. It has the same Arabic root as the Urdu word safar which means journey.
8. This city is named for a barrier built on a river. Although Venice is known for its canals, this city built out of low-lying swampland actually has more canals. Its inner ring of medieval canals is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In its heyday, the city was home to a fleet that dominated the seas and controlled trade between Europe and Asia. Name the city.
Answer: The city is Amsterdam. It means "dam on the Amstel river". The city was the headquarters of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) which ruled the seas and controlled trade between Europe and Asia in the 17th century. At that time, the merchant fleet of the Netherlands was larger than the fleets of England and France combined.
9. His mathematical book Treatise on Probability was described by Bertrand Russell as “impossible to praise too highly.” He wrote the book in his spare time while working at the India Office. One of his lesser known books is Indian Currency and Finance. Before the word globalization became popular, he made a fortune for himself trading in international currencies and commodities. But he carried out his trading activities on the side as well, while he was still in bed in the morning for less than an hour each day. He was on the British team that negotiated the Treaty of Versailles, and then wrote the book on how the treaty was an awful thing indeed. He knew Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt, Bertrand Russell and Virginia Woolf, Pablo Picasso and E.M. Forster. He married a ballerina and was an avid art collector, but he is now remembered mostly as an economist. Name him.
Answer: John Maynard Keynes
10. Prior to India’s independence, the Secretary of State for India, or India Secretary, was a British cabinet minister responsible for the government of India, Burma and one city outside the subcontinent. The city lay on the sea route from England to India, and most ships plying that route stopped at its port. Legend has it that the biblical brothers Cain and Abel are buried there. The Chinese sailor Zheng He went there in the 15th century, in perhaps the western-most outreach by China before modern times. The city lies about equidistant from the Suez Canal, Mumbai and Zanzibar (all British possessions at the time), which explains its strategic significance. Later, it became the capital of a communist state backed by the Soviet Union. Al Qaeda’s first known terrorist attack took place in this city. Name the city.
Answer: Aden. It was the capital of the communist South Yemen in the Cold War years.
Idéfix- Posts : 8808
Join date : 2012-04-26
Location : Berkeley, CA
Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Idéfix Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:10 pm
Here is the updated schedule for trivia posting.
Sep 19: Indo
Aug 26: BW
Oct 3: PI
Oct 10: PP
Oct 17: Indo
Oct 24: BW
Oct 31: PI
Nov 7: PP
HK, I know we talked about this before, but do you want your own spot on the schedule, or do you want to continue to work with BW to post questions?
Sep 19: Indo
Aug 26: BW
Oct 3: PI
Oct 10: PP
Oct 17: Indo
Oct 24: BW
Oct 31: PI
Nov 7: PP
HK, I know we talked about this before, but do you want your own spot on the schedule, or do you want to continue to work with BW to post questions?
Idéfix- Posts : 8808
Join date : 2012-04-26
Location : Berkeley, CA
Re: Wednesday Trivia #37: Sep 12, 2012
by Guest Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:57 pm
i want to continue to work with BW.
Guest- Guest
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