The 15 quiz questions
Question 1 : "Veni, vidi, ___" (Julius Caesar), What is the missing word?
Possible answers:
- vici
- fugi
- bibi
- amavi
Explanation: "I came, I saw, I conquered", Caesar's message to the Senate after his swift victory at Zela (47 BC).
Question 2 : "Liberty, Equality, ___", What is the third word?
Possible answers:
- Justice
- Fraternité
- Solidarité
- Dignité
Explanation: Motto of the French Republic, enshrined in the Constitution and on public buildings since 1848.
Question 3 : "Imagination is more important than ___" (Einstein), What is the missing word?
Possible answers:
- courage
- pouvoir
- savoir
- talent
Explanation: A quote by Albert Einstein valuing creativity: knowledge is limited, imagination embraces the entire world.
Question 4 : "I think, therefore I ___" (Descartes), What is the missing word?
Possible answers:
- doute
- peux
- vis
- suis
Explanation: Descartes' Cogito (1637): thought is the only certainty that proves our existence.
Question 5 : "The State, it is ___" (Louis XIV), What is the missing word?
Possible answers:
- moi
- lui
- eux
- nous
Explanation: A phrase attributed to Louis XIV symbolizing royal absolutism: the king embodies the entire State.
Question 6 : "One small step for man, one giant ___ for mankind.", What is the missing word?
Possible answers:
- pas
- bond
- saut
- envol
Explanation: Neil Armstrong's words as he set foot on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
Question 7 : "Hell is other ___" (Sartre), What is the missing word?
Possible answers:
- flammes
- silences
- autres
- regrets
Explanation: Conclusion of No Exit (1944): the gaze of others judges and traps us.
Question 8 : "We must cultivate our ___" (Voltaire), What is the missing word?
Possible answers:
- esprit
- âme
- terre
- jardin
Explanation: End of Candide (1759): after all misadventures, only concrete work brings happiness.
Question 9 : "One sees clearly only with the ___" (Saint-Exupéry), What is the missing word?
Possible answers:
- cœur
- temps
- silence
- recul
Explanation: The fox's lesson in The Little Prince: what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Question 10 : "Life is a long ___ river", What is the missing word?
Possible answers:
- solitaire
- tranquille
- mystérieux
- tumultueux
Explanation: Title of Étienne Chatiliez's film (1988), which became an ironic everyday expression.
Question 11 : "Paris is well worth a ___" (Henry IV), What is the missing word?
Possible answers:
- guerre
- victoire
- messe
- couronne
Explanation: Henry IV converted to Catholicism in 1593 to become king, ending the Wars of Religion.
Question 12 : "Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is ___" (Lavoisier), What is the missing word?
Possible answers:
- renouvelle
- détruit
- recommence
- transforme
Explanation: Fundamental principle of modern chemistry, stated by Antoine de Lavoisier in the 18th century.
Question 13 : "Know ___" (inscription at the Temple of Delphi), What is the missing word?
Possible answers:
- toi-même
- ton maître
- les autres
- ton destin
Explanation: Maxim inscribed on the front of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, adopted by Socrates as the foundation of wisdom.
Question 14 : "Fluctuat nec ___" (motto of Paris), What is the missing word?
Possible answers:
- cadit
- mergitur
- perit
- cedit
Explanation: "Tossed by the waves but does not sink", motto of the city of Paris since the Middle Ages.
Question 15 : "Alea iacta ___" (Julius Caesar), What is the missing word?
Possible answers:
- erat
- sit
- est
- fuit
Explanation: "The die is cast", phrase spoken by Caesar as he crossed the Rubicon in 49 BC, triggering the civil war.
