The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : What major legal document came into force on 30 December 533, acquiring the force of law throughout the Eastern Roman Empire?
Possible answers:
- The Edict of Milan
- The Law of the Twelve Tables
- The Code of Justinian
- The Constitution of Theodosius
Explanation: The Code of Justinian, officially named the Corpus juris civilis, is a compilation of Roman law commissioned by Emperor Justinian I. It still forms the foundation of many legal systems in continental Europe and Latin America today.
Question 2 : What major event took place on December 30, 1922 in Soviet Russia?
Possible answers:
- The death of Lenin
- The official birth of the USSR
- The signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
- The abdication of Tsar Nicholas II
Explanation: The official birth of the USSR on December 30, 1922 initially brought together Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Transcaucasia. The Soviet Union lasted until December 1991, nearly 70 years of existence.
Question 3 : On December 30, 1968, Frank Sinatra went into the studio to record My Way. What French-language song was the basis for this worldwide hit?
Possible answers:
- La Bohème by Charles Aznavour
- Ne me quitte pas by Jacques Brel
- Comme d'habitude by Claude François
- Mon Dieu by Édith Piaf
Explanation: Paul Anka had bought the adaptation rights in Paris to the song Comme d'habitude, composed by Claude François and Jacques Revaux. He completely rewrote the lyrics in English, creating an anthem to personal willpower that would become one of the most played songs at funerals in Great Britain.
Question 4 : On December 30, 1924, Edwin Hubble announced a revolutionary astronomical discovery. What was it?
Possible answers:
- The existence of black holes in our galaxy
- The discovery of galaxies other than our own
- The expansion of the universe from a central point
- The presence of planets around distant stars
Explanation: Before Hubble, people thought the Milky Way made up the entire universe. By observing the Andromeda galaxy through the Mount Wilson telescope, he demonstrated that certain nebulae were actually distinct galaxies, radically transforming our vision of the universe.
Question 5 : On December 30, 1896, José Rizal was executed in the Philippines. What is the main reason he is considered a Filipino national hero?
Possible answers:
- He was the first president of the Republic of the Philippines
- He militarily led the resistance against American occupation
- He was a writer and activist who inspired Philippine independence from Spain
- He negotiated the peace treaty between Spain and the Philippines in 1895
Explanation: José Rizal was a doctor, writer, and activist. His novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo denounced Spanish colonization and the Catholic Church in the Philippines. His execution galvanized the Filipino independence movement, which led to the revolution against Spain in 1898.
Question 6 : On December 30, 1911, Sun Yat-sen took on a historic role in China. Which one?
Possible answers:
- First Secretary-General of the Chinese Communist Party
- First president of the Republic of China
- Last emperor of the Qing dynasty
- First prime minister of reunified China
Explanation: Sun Yat-sen became the first president of the Republic of China following the Xinhai Revolution, which overthrew the Qing dynasty. He only held the position for a few weeks, however, handing the presidency over to Yuan Shikai in February 1912. Today he is revered in both mainland China and Taiwan.
Question 7 : In 2011, December 30 was literally erased from the calendar in two Pacific countries. Which ones?
Possible answers:
- Fiji and Tuvalu
- Samoa and Tokelau
- Tonga and the Cook Islands
- French Polynesia and Kiribati
Explanation: Samoa and Tokelau jumped directly from December 29 to December 31, 2011 to place themselves on the same side of the international date line as their Australian, New Zealand and Asian trading partners. This decision allowed them to avoid a full day's offset in their economic exchanges.
Question 8 : Which influential figure at the court of Tsar Nicholas II was assassinated on 30 December 1916 in Petrograd?
Possible answers:
- General Brusilov
- Count Witte
- Rasputin
- Prince Lvov
Explanation: Rasputin, a Siberian mystic who became close to the imperial family, was assassinated by a group of nobles led by Prince Felix Yusupov. Legend has it that he was particularly difficult to kill: poisoned, shot multiple times, then drowned in the Neva. His influence over Tsarina Alexandra is often cited as a destabilising factor for the tsarist regime.
Question 9 : Rudyard Kipling, born on December 30, 1865, is best known for writing The Jungle Book. What other great honor was he awarded in 1907?
Possible answers:
- He was knighted by Queen Victoria
- He received the Nobel Prize in Literature
- He was elected to the Royal Academy of Arts in London
- He received the Booker Prize gold medal
Explanation: Rudyard Kipling was the first English-language writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1907, at just 41 years old. He is also the author of Kim and the poem If, considered one of the most famous in British literature.
Question 10 : In 1853, the United States purchased territory from Mexico in the Gadsden Purchase. What was the main goal of this transaction?
Possible answers:
- Exploit significant recently discovered gold deposits
- Secure a route to build a transcontinental railroad in the south
- Establish a buffer zone against raids by Native American tribes
- Control access to the Colorado River for irrigation
Explanation: The Gadsden Purchase covered about 76,000 km² of territory, corresponding to what is today southern Arizona and New Mexico. The United States wanted to secure a favorable route to build a transcontinental railroad in the southern part of the country. It is the last major territorial acquisition of the contiguous United States.
