The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : What major event concerning slavery took place on February 4, 1794?
Possible answers:
- The ban on the slave trade in French ports
- The Convention abolishes slavery in France and its colonies
- The liberation of all slaves in the French West Indies
- The signing of a Franco-British treaty against the slave trade
Explanation: The 1794 abolition, decided by the Montagnard Convention, was the first legal abolition of slavery in French history. It was however overturned by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, before a definitive abolition in 1848 under the IIe République, championed by Victor Schœlcher.
Question 2 : On February 4, 2004, a major social network was officially created by Mark Zuckerberg. In what university setting was it launched?
Possible answers:
- At MIT in Boston
- At Stanford University in California
- At his American university, Harvard
- At Columbia University in New York
Explanation: Facebook was first reserved for Harvard students before gradually opening to other American universities, then to the general public in 2006. In 2024, the parent company Meta had more than 3 billion monthly active users worldwide.
Question 3 : What did Hugo Chávez attempt on February 4, 1992 in Venezuela?
Possible answers:
- A military coup against the sitting president
- A constitutional reform by referendum
- A declaration of independence for the State of Miranda
- A national general strike to bring down the government
Explanation: This failed coup earned Hugo Chávez two years in prison. Released in 1994, he turned to politics and was elected president of Venezuela in 1998, a position he held until his death in 2013. His 1-minute televised speech after the failed putsch, in which he took responsibility, paradoxically made him popular.
Question 4 : On February 4, 1945, a conference bringing together Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin opened in Crimea. What is the name of this historic conference?
Possible answers:
- The Potsdam Conference
- The Tehran Conference
- The Yalta Conference
- The Casablanca Conference
Explanation: The Yalta Conference lasted from February 4 to 11, 1945. It reshaped the post-war world order: the division of Europe into spheres of influence, the conditions for the USSR's entry into the war against Japan, and the foundations of the future United Nations. Roosevelt died two months later, on April 12, 1945.
Question 5 : On February 4, 1912, Franz Reichelt made a jump from the Eiffel Tower. What was the tragic outcome?
Possible answers:
- He lands safely after gliding for several seconds
- His parachute partially opens, seriously injuring him
- He crashes to the ground, his parachute having failed to open
- He is stopped by the authorities before jumping
Explanation: Franz Reichelt, an Austrian tailor nicknamed 'the flying tailor', had convinced Parisian authorities to let him test his parachute suit from the 1st floor of the Eiffel Tower. In front of photographers and journalists, he jumped from 57 metres and crashed to the ground. His fall was filmed and remains one of the most well-known historical videos.
Question 6 : On February 4, 1789, George Washington was elected the first president of the United States. What other role had been proposed to him beforehand?
Possible answers:
- Governor-General for life of New England
- King of the United States
- Supreme Commander of the armed forces for life
- President of the Continental Congress in perpetuity
Explanation: George Washington flatly refused to become king of the United States when some officers in his army made him that proposal in 1782 (the letter from Lewis Nicola). He is often celebrated for this refusal as an embodiment of American republican values. He also established the tradition of a maximum of two presidential terms, respected until Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Question 7 : On February 4, 1995, which French female athlete won her 5th consecutive European Figure Skating Championship title?
Possible answers:
- Philippe Candeloro
- Surya Bonaly
- Laëtitia Hubert
- Vanessa Gusmeroli
Explanation: Surya Bonaly, born in 1973, is one of the most famous French figure skaters. Despite her 5 consecutive European titles (1991-1995) and 3 World Championship silver medals, she never won an Olympic medal. She is particularly known for her back flip, an acrobatic move that is banned in official competition.
Question 8 : In what year did the Scottish Parliament legalize same-sex marriage, on February 4?
Possible answers:
- 2010
- 2012
- 2014
- 2017
Explanation: Scotland was the first country in the United Kingdom to legalize same-sex marriage through parliament, on February 4, 2014. England and Wales had passed a similar law a few days earlier, in July 2013, but it came into force in March 2014. Northern Ireland only legalized same-sex marriage in 2020.
Question 9 : Which major British car company filed for bankruptcy on February 4, 1971?
Possible answers:
- Austin Motor Company
- Rolls-Royce
- British Leyland
- Aston Martin
Explanation: The bankruptcy of Rolls-Royce in 1971 caused considerable shock in the United Kingdom. Edward Heath's Conservative government, despite being opposed to nationalizations, was forced to nationalize the aeronautics division to save the Pegasus engine program intended for the American aircraft Lockheed L-1011. The automotive branch was separated and privatized later.
Question 10 : What major American stock exchange dedicated to technology companies opened for the first time on February 4, 1971?
Possible answers:
- The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
- The Chicago Mercantile Exchange
- The NASDAQ
- The American Stock Exchange (AMEX)
Explanation: The NASDAQ (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations) was the first fully electronic stock market in the world. Created in 1971, it became the symbol of the digital economy by welcoming giants like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Google. Today, it's the 2nd largest stock market in the world by market capitalization, after the NYSE.