The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : What major treaty for Europe was signed on February 7, 1992?
Possible answers:
- The Treaty of Rome
- The Treaty of Lisbon
- The Treaty of Maastricht
- The Treaty of Amsterdam
Explanation: The Maastricht Treaty officially founded the European Union and introduced European citizenship. It also laid the groundwork for economic and monetary union, leading to the creation of the euro in 1999.
Question 2 : On February 7, 1971, women gained the right to vote at the federal level in Switzerland. Which Western country is known for granting this right even later than Switzerland?
Possible answers:
- Spain
- Portugal
- Liechtenstein
- Greece
Explanation: Liechtenstein didn't grant women the right to vote until 1984, thirteen years after Switzerland. Switzerland itself was one of the last Western European countries to take this step, despite its democratic reputation.
Question 3 : Which astronaut performed the first untethered spacewalk on February 7, 1984?
Possible answers:
- Neil Armstrong
- Bruce McCandless II
- Buzz Aldrin
- Ed White
Explanation: Bruce McCandless II used the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), a kind of nitrogen-propelled chair, to float freely in space about 100 meters from the shuttle Challenger. The image of his lone silhouette in the void of space became iconic.
Question 4 : Le long-métrage d'animation Pinocchio est sorti aux États-Unis le 7 février 1940. Sur quelle œuvre littéraire ce classique Disney est-il basé ?
Possible answers:
- A tale by the Brothers Grimm
- A fable by Hans Christian Andersen
- A novel by Jules Verne
- A novel by Carlo Collodi
Explanation: Pinocchio est adapté du roman « Les Aventures de Pinocchio » écrit par Carlo Collodi et publié en Italie entre 1881 et 1883. Dans la version originale, l'histoire est beaucoup plus sombre que dans le film Disney, Pinocchio y étant notamment pendu à un arbre.
Question 5 : Which famous British novelist, author of Oliver Twist and David Copperfield, was born on February 7, 1812?
Possible answers:
- Thomas Hardy
- Charles Dickens
- William Thackeray
- Anthony Trollope
Explanation: Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth and became one of the greatest Victorian writers. His novels sharply depicted the social inequalities of industrial England. He notably worked in a boot-blacking factory at the age of 12, an experience that deeply shaped his work.
Question 6 : On February 7, 1914, which iconic silent film character appeared on screen for the first time?
Possible answers:
- Fantômas
- Charlie Chaplin
- Zorro
- Buster Keaton
Explanation: The character of the Tramp, with his cane, bowler hat, and oversized shoes, appeared for the first time in the short film 'Kid Auto Races at Venice'. Charlie Chaplin played this character for more than 25 years, making him one of the most recognizable figures in world cinema.
Question 7 : On February 7, 1497, Girolamo Savonarola organized a famous 'Bonfire of the Vanities' in which Italian city?
Possible answers:
- Rome
- Venice
- Florence
- Milan
Explanation: Savonarola, a Dominican friar, had objects deemed immoral burned in the Piazza della Signoria in Florence: mirrors, cosmetics, works of art, and secular books. Ironically, he himself was condemned and burned on that same square the following year, in 1498.
Question 8 : Which sailor broke the solo round-the-world sailing record on February 7, 2005?
Possible answers:
- Isabelle Autissier
- Ellen MacArthur
- Florence Arthaud
- Maud Fontenoy
Explanation: Ellen MacArthur completed her round-the-world voyage in 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds, beating the record set by Francis Joyon. She was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II shortly after this achievement. Since then, she has retired from competition to focus on environmental sustainability.
Question 9 : On February 7, 1831, the National Congress adopted the Belgian Constitution. What revolution had led to the creation of this independent state a few months earlier?
Possible answers:
- The Belgian revolution of 1830
- The industrial revolution of 1820
- The Congress of Vienna of 1815
- The French revolution of 1789
Explanation: The Belgian revolution of August-September 1830 was inspired by the July Revolution in France. It broke out after a performance of the opera 'La Muette de Portici' in Brussels and led to Belgium's independence from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Question 10 : On February 7, 1986, Jean-Claude Duvalier fled Haiti. What nickname was this dictator known by?
Possible answers:
- El Jefe
- Baby Doc
- Le Bébé
- Tonton Macoute
Explanation: Jean-Claude Duvalier was nicknamed 'Baby Doc', a reference to his father François Duvalier known as 'Papa Doc'. He had inherited power at the age of 19 upon his father's death in 1971. He went into exile in France, where he lived until 2011, the date of his controversial return to Haiti.