The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : In 1763, King Louis XV of France signed the Treaty of Paris, ending the Seven Years' War. What did he give up in exchange for keeping the West Indies?
Possible answers:
- Louisiana
- New France
- French Guiana
- Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon
Explanation: The Seven Years' War (1756-1763) pitted France against Great Britain, among others, for colonial domination. By losing New France, Louis XV sacrificed a vast territory covering present-day French-speaking Canada, which Voltaire summed up ironically as 'a few acres of snow'.
Question 2 : On February 10, 1906, HMS Dreadnought was launched by the British Royal Navy. What major technical innovation characterized this warship?
Possible answers:
- Stainless steel armor and electric propulsion
- The use of long-range torpedoes as the main armament
- Steam turbine propulsion and multiple guns of a single large caliber
- A gyroscope navigation system and telescopic guns
Explanation: The Dreadnought was powered by steam turbines and armed exclusively with identical large-caliber guns, giving it an unprecedented uniform firepower. It was so revolutionary that it gave its name to an entire category of battleships, the 'dreadnoughts', making all previous battleships obsolete.
Question 3 : On February 10, 1840, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom got married. What is the name of her husband?
Possible answers:
- Edward of Kent
- William of Nassau
- Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
- Frederick of Prussia
Explanation: Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha became Prince Consort of the United Kingdom. Their union was much loved and they had nine children. After Albert's death in 1861, Victoria wore mourning for forty years. Their descendants spread through the European royal families, earning Albert the nickname 'grandfather of Europe'.
Question 4 : On February 10, 1996, world chess champion Garry Kasparov faced the computer Deep Blue for the first time. What was the result of this historic confrontation?
Possible answers:
- The computer Deep Blue won
- The game ended in a draw
- Kasparov won against Deep Blue
- The match was cancelled due to a technical failure
Explanation: Kasparov won that inaugural match in February 1996 by 4 to 2. However, in the rematch in 1997, Deep Blue, improved by IBM, got its revenge with a score of 3.5 to 2.5, marking the first victory of a computer in an official match against a reigning world champion, a symbolic turning point in the history of artificial intelligence.
Question 5 : On February 10, 1881, a posthumous performance of a fantasy opera was given at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. Which composer are we talking about?
Possible answers:
- Georges Bizet
- Hector Berlioz
- Charles Gounod
- Jacques Offenbach
Explanation: Jacques Offenbach died in October 1880 before he could see the premiere of The Tales of Hoffmann. This opera, considered his masterpiece, is based on short stories by the German Romantic writer E.T.A. Hoffmann. The aria 'Belle Nuit, Ô Nuit d'Amour', known as the Barcarolle, is one of the most famous airs in the operatic repertoire.
Question 6 : On February 10, 1258, Hulagu Khan seized an iconic city of the medieval Muslim world. Which city was it?
Possible answers:
- Damascus
- Baghdad
- Samarkand
- Alexandria
Explanation: The Mongol capture of Baghdad in 1258 marked the end of the Abbasid Caliphate, which had lasted more than five centuries. Caliph Al-Musta'sim was executed and the library of the House of Wisdom, one of the greatest centers of knowledge in the world, was destroyed. This event is often considered the end of the Islamic Golden Age.
Question 7 : Born on February 10, 1967, Vince Gilligan is a world-famous American screenwriter and director. What TV series is he known for?
Possible answers:
- The Wire
- Dexter
- Breaking Bad
- Desperate Housewives
Explanation: Breaking Bad, aired from 2008 to 2013, tells the story of a chemistry teacher with cancer who transforms into a drug lord. The series won 16 Emmy Awards and is regularly cited as one of the best series in television history. Vince Gilligan also created the spin-off Better Call Saul.
Question 8 : On February 10, 1970, a deadly avalanche hit a ski resort in France. Which establishment was particularly affected, killing 39 people?
Possible answers:
- A primary school in the municipality
- A luxury hotel at the slopes
- The UCPA center of Val-d'Isère
- The resort's cable car station
Explanation: The Val-d'Isère disaster in 1970 devastated the UCPA (Union Nationale des Centres Sportifs de Plein Air) center, which mainly hosted young people. This event, which occurred around 8 in the morning, raised national awareness about avalanche risks and accelerated the development of building regulations in at-risk zones in the Alps.
Question 9 : On February 10, 1940, the very first episode of a famous animated duo was broadcast. Which duo is it?
Possible answers:
- Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck
- Tom and Jerry
- Woody Woodpecker and Buzz Buzzard
- Popeye and Brutus
Explanation: The short film 'Puss Gets the Boot' marks the birth of the cat Tom and the mouse Jerry, created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera for MGM. This duo would become one of the most popular in animation history, with more than 160 short films produced and seven Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film won.
Question 10 : In 2005, Saudi Arabia held elections for the first time in its history. What type of elections were these first ones?
Possible answers:
- Partial legislative elections
- Consultative presidential elections
- Municipal elections
- Elections for a national consultative council
Explanation: These 2005 municipal elections were very limited: only adult men could vote, and only for half of the municipal council seats (the other half being appointed by the government). Women didn't get the right to vote and run in municipal elections until 2015, ten years later.