The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : What major civil rights event occurred in France on April 21, 1944?
Possible answers:
- The legalization of abortion
- The abolition of the death penalty
- The right to vote is granted to women
- The creation of the minimum wage
Explanation: The right to vote was granted to French women by ordinance of General de Gaulle on April 21, 1944. Women were able to exercise it for the first time during the municipal elections of April 1945, one year after this historic ordinance.
Question 2 : During the first round of the French presidential election on April 21, 2002, which candidate was surprisingly eliminated?
Possible answers:
- Jean-Pierre Chevènement
- François Hollande
- Lionel Jospin
- Ségolène Royal
Explanation: The elimination of Lionel Jospin in favor of Jean-Marie Le Pen had the effect of a political earthquake. This result, dubbed "21 April", has become an expression in French political vocabulary to designate an embarrassing electoral surprise for the left.
Question 3 : According to legendary tradition, which city was founded on April 21, 753 BC?
Possible answers:
- Carthage
- Athens
- Alexandria
- Rome
Explanation: The founding of Rome by Romulus is a legendary date set by the Romans themselves. In reality, archaeologists place the first permanent settlements on the Roman hills around the 9th century BC, well before this mythological date.
Question 4 : Which city became the capital of Brazil on April 21, 1960?
Possible answers:
- Rio de Janeiro
- São Paulo
- Brasilia
- Salvador de Bahia
Explanation: Brasilia was built in only 41 months on a desert plateau in central-western Brazil, under the impetus of President Juscelino Kubitschek. Designed by urban planner Lúcio Costa and architect Oscar Niemeyer, it is now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Question 5 : Which comic book magazine was first published on April 21, 1938?
Possible answers:
- Le Journal de Tintin
- Pilote
- Le Journal de Spirou
- Pif Gadget
Explanation: Le Journal de Spirou was launched in Belgium by the Dupuis publishing house. The character of Spirou, a mischievous hotel bellhop, was created by Rob-Vel. The magazine has since published iconic series such as Lucky Luke, The Smurfs and Gaston Lagaffe.
Question 6 : On April 21, 1967, what major political event occurred in Greece?
Possible answers:
- A popular revolution overthrows the monarchy
- A military coup establishes a dictatorship
- Greece joins the European Economic Community
- A referendum abolishes the constitution
Explanation: The Greek colonels' coup, led by Georgios Papadopoulos, established a military junta that governed Greece for seven years. This dictatorship ended in 1974 after the failure of a coup in Cyprus. Democracy was restored under the leadership of Konstantínos Karamanlís.
Question 7 : In 2019, who won the Ukrainian presidential election against incumbent president Petro Poroshenko?
Possible answers:
- Vitali Klitschko
- Yulia Tymoshenko
- Volodymyr Zelensky
- Arseniy Yatsenyuk
Explanation: Volodymyr Zelensky, a popular comedian known for playing the role of a president in the series "Servant of the People", won the election with nearly 73% of the votes. His unprecedented political career took on a global dimension from the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Question 8 : Which famous American singer, known for his provocative punk rock style, was born on April 21, 1947?
Possible answers:
- Lou Reed
- Iggy Pop
- David Bowie
- Patti Smith
Explanation: Iggy Pop, born James Newell Osterberg Jr., is nicknamed the "godfather of punk". Founder of the band The Stooges, he influenced generations of musicians with his wild stage energy and his classics like "Lust for Life" or "The Passenger".
Question 9 : In which country did Max Weber, famous sociologist born on April 21, 1864, develop his theories on bureaucracy and capitalism?
Possible answers:
- In Austria
- In France
- In Germany
- In Switzerland
Explanation: Max Weber is considered one of the founding fathers of modern sociology. His major work, "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism" (1905), established a link between the Protestant Reformation and the development of Western capitalism, a thesis still debated today.
Question 10 : Which portable game console, launched by Nintendo on April 21, 1989, revolutionized the video game market?
Possible answers:
- The Game Gear
- The Game Boy
- The Atari Lynx
- The Neo Geo Pocket
Explanation: The Game Boy was launched in Japan on April 21, 1989, then in the United States in July of the same year. With its grayscale screen and exceptional battery life, it stood out against more powerful competitors such as Sega's Game Gear. It sold more than 118 million units worldwide.
