The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : In 1587, Elizabeth I of England signed the death warrant of Mary Queen of Scots. What family relationship connected these two sovereigns?
Possible answers:
- They were mother and daughter
- They were cousins
- They were sisters-in-law
- They had no family relationship
Explanation: Mary Queen of Scots was the granddaughter of Margaret Tudor, sister of Henry VIII, father of Elizabeth I. They were therefore first cousins once removed. Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded on 8 February 1587, a week after the signing of her death warrant.
Question 2 : On February 1st, 1669, the first public performance of a famous comedy by Molière was finally authorized. Which play was it?
Possible answers:
- The Miser
- The Misanthrope
- Tartuffe
- Don Juan
Explanation: Le Tartuffe had been banned since its first private performance in 1664 due to pressure from the clergy, who saw it as a satire of hypocritical devotion. Molière had to wait five years and three revised versions to obtain authorization from Louis XIV.
Question 3 : On February 1st, 1893, Thomas Edison had the world's first film studio built near his laboratory in New Jersey. What nickname did this studio receive?
Possible answers:
- The Dream Factory
- Black Maria
- The Edison Box
- The Silver Studio
Explanation: The studio built by Edison was nicknamed "Black Maria" because of its resemblance to the police wagons of the era. It rotated on a circular rail to follow sunlight, the only light source used for filming.
Question 4 : On February 1st, 1959, Swiss citizens rejected women's suffrage at the federal level by referendum. In what year was this right finally granted?
Possible answers:
- 1965
- 1968
- 1971
- 1975
Explanation: Switzerland only granted women the right to vote at the federal level in 1971, making it one of the last Western European countries to take that step. The canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden didn't grant it until 1990, following a decision by the Federal Court.
Question 5 : On February 1st, 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran after his exile. In which French city had he stayed before this triumphant return?
Possible answers:
- Lyon
- Neauphle-le-Château
- Versailles
- Bordeaux
Explanation: Khomeini had lived in Neauphle-le-Château, a small village in the Paris region, from November 1978 to February 1979. It was from there that he coordinated the Iranian revolution, receiving journalists and supporters from around the world.
Question 6 : On February 1st, 1958, Egypt and Syria formed a United Arab Republic. How long did this union last?
Possible answers:
- Three years
- Five years
- Six months
- Ten years
Explanation: The United Arab Republic, proclaimed under the impetus of Egyptian president Nasser, only survived until 1961, when Syria seceded after a military coup. Egypt nonetheless kept this official name until 1971.
Question 7 : On February 1st, 1954, Abbé Pierre launched a resounding appeal for the homeless during a severe cold snap. On which radio station was this appeal broadcast?
Possible answers:
- France Inter
- Radio Luxembourg
- RTF
- Europe n°1
Explanation: Abbé Pierre launched his appeal on February 1st, 1954, on Radio Luxembourg, reaching millions of listeners. This appeal sparked an unprecedented wave of solidarity and allowed Emmaüs to collect millions of francs within days to help the most destitute.
Question 8 : In 1946, Trygve Lie was elected the first Secretary-General of the United Nations. What was his nationality?
Possible answers:
- Swedish
- Danish
- British
- Norwegian
Explanation: Trygve Lie was Norwegian. A former Foreign Minister of Norway, he held the position of UN Secretary-General from 1946 to 1952. He resigned notably under Soviet pressure linked to his stance on the Korean War.
Question 9 : The space shuttle Columbia disintegrated during its return to Earth on February 1, 2003. How many astronauts were on board?
Possible answers:
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
Explanation: The 7 crew members of Columbia perished when the shuttle disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana. The disaster was caused by damage to the heat shield that occurred at launch, when a piece of insulating foam had struck the left wing.
Question 10 : Which Puccini opera was performed for the first time in Turin on February 1, 1896, two years after Manon Lescaut in the same city?
Possible answers:
- Tosca
- La Bohème
- Madame Butterfly
- Turandot
Explanation: La Bohème premiered on February 1, 1896 at the Teatro Regio in Turin, conducted by Toscanini. Initially met with a cold reception from critics, the work quickly became one of the most performed operas in the world, surpassing even Tosca and Madame Butterfly in popularity.
