The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : What major event took place on July 13, 1793, in Paris?
Possible answers:
- The storming of the Bastille by the people of Paris
- The execution of Louis XVI on the Place de la Révolution
- The assassination of the revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat
- The royal family's flight to Varennes
Explanation: Jean-Paul Marat was stabbed to death in his bathtub by Charlotte Corday, a young Girondin woman from Normandy. He took medicinal baths to treat a skin condition. His assassination was immortalized by Jacques-Louis David's painting, 'The Death of Marat'.
Question 2 : Which French politician, born on July 13, 1927, became the first president of the European Parliament?
Possible answers:
- Édith Cresson
- Simone Veil
- Yvette Roudy
- Michèle Alliot-Marie
Explanation: Simone Veil presided over the European Parliament from 1979 to 1982. She is also famous for getting the law legalizing abortion passed in France in 1975. She was moved to the Panthéon in 2018 alongside her husband Antoine.
Question 3 : The Live Aid concert, held on July 13, 1985, took place simultaneously in two cities. Which ones?
Possible answers:
- London and Paris
- New York and Los Angeles
- Wembley (England) and Philadelphia (United States)
- Berlin and New York
Explanation: Live Aid was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds against the famine in Ethiopia. The televised broadcast reached nearly 1.9 billion viewers in 150 countries and raised about 150 million dollars.
Question 4 : Which treaty signed in 1713 ended the War of the Spanish Succession and ceded Gibraltar to Great Britain?
Possible answers:
- The Treaty of Westphalia
- The Treaty of Utrecht
- The Treaty of Paris
- The Treaty of Rastatt
Explanation: The Treaty of Utrecht profoundly reshaped the map of Europe. Philip V remained king of Spain but renounced his rights to the French crown. Gibraltar, ceded to Great Britain, is still a British overseas territory today, despite Spanish claims.
Question 5 : On July 13, 1380, which famous Constable of France died during the siege of Châteauneuf-de-Randon?
Possible answers:
- Jean de Dunois
- Olivier de Clisson
- Bertrand Du Guesclin
- Pierre de Terrail, lord of Bayard
Explanation: Bertrand Du Guesclin, nicknamed 'the Eagle of Brittany' or 'the Good Constable', was a major military strategist of the Hundred Years' War. Charles V had him appointed Constable in 1370. According to legend, the keys to the town were handed over to him after his death, and he was buried in the Basilica of Saint-Denis.
Question 6 : Which Hungarian inventor, born on July 13, 1944, is world-famous for creating a celebrated three-dimensional puzzle?
Possible answers:
- László Polgár
- Ernő Rubik
- Imre Makovecz
- Zoltán Kodály
Explanation: Ernő Rubik, a Hungarian architect and sculptor, invented his cube in 1974, initially as a teaching tool for his design students. The Rubik's Cube was put on the market starting in 1980 and became the best-selling toy in history, with more than 450 million units sold.
Question 7 : On July 13, 2016, Theresa May became the second woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Who was the first?
Possible answers:
- Elizabeth II
- Barbara Castle
- Margaret Thatcher
- Shirley Williams
Explanation: Margaret Thatcher, nicknamed 'the Iron Lady', was Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990. Both she and Theresa May came from the Conservative Party. May had to handle the Brexit process after the referendum of June 2016 and resigned in 2019.
Question 8 : Harrison Ford, born on July 13, 1942, is famous for his movie roles. Which iconic character did he play in the 'Star Wars' saga?
Possible answers:
- Luke Skywalker
- Han Solo
- Obi-Wan Kenobi
- Darth Vader
Explanation: Harrison Ford played Han Solo starting in 1977 in 'Star Wars'. He is also known for his role as Indiana Jones. Before becoming a full-time actor, he worked as a carpenter and was spotted by George Lucas during a casting.
Question 9 : The Mexican painter Frida Kahlo died on July 13, 1954. What type of work is she mainly known for?
Possible answers:
- Her landscapes inspired by the Mexican jungle
- Her monumental political murals
- Her self-portraits blending realism and Mexican symbolism
- Her abstract sculptures in pre-Columbian ceramic
Explanation: Frida Kahlo created about 55 self-portraits out of 143 paintings. She started painting after a serious bus accident in 1925. Her husband, the muralist Diego Rivera, was a major influence on her life and work. She is today one of the most iconic artists of the 20th century.
Question 10 : July 13 is associated with the probable birth of Julius Caesar. Around what period was he born, according to historians?
Possible answers:
- Around 150 BC
- Between 102 and 100 BC
- In 44 BC
- Around 75 BC
Explanation: Julius Caesar was born between 102 and 100 BC. His cognomen 'Caesar' gave rise to the words 'kaiser' in German and 'tsar' in Russian, designating emperors. He was assassinated on the Ides of March (March 15), 44 BC, by a group of senators including Brutus, his protégé.
