The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : On July 15, 1804, Napoleon presided over the first distribution of the Legion of Honor. At which Parisian venue did this ceremony take place?
Possible answers:
- The Palais-Royal
- The Palace of Versailles
- Les Invalides in Paris
- Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris
Explanation: The Legion of Honor was created by the law of May 19, 1802. Napoleon chose the Invalides, a symbolic site of military glory, for this first ceremony. The order still has five ranks today: chevalier, officier, commandeur, grand officier, and grand-croix.
Question 2 : On July 15, 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte surrendered aboard which British ship?
Possible answers:
- HMS Victory
- HMS Bellerophon
- HMS Northumberland
- HMS Téméraire
Explanation: After Waterloo, Napoleon hoped to find refuge in America, but the British naval blockade prevented him. He finally surrendered aboard the HMS Bellerophon. He was then exiled to Saint Helena, where he died in 1821.
Question 3 : On July 15, 1975, the Apollo-Soyuz mission was launched. What was it?
Possible answers:
- The first joint American-Soviet moon landing
- A joint space mission between the Soviet Union and the United States
- The launch of the first international space station
- A joint meteorological satellite program
Explanation: Apollo-Soyuz was the first joint space mission between the United States and the USSR, a symbol of Cold War détente. The two spacecraft docked in orbit on July 17. It was also the last American spaceflight using an Apollo capsule.
Question 4 : July 15, 1918 marks the beginning of an important battle of World War I. Which one?
Possible answers:
- The Battle of Verdun
- The Battle of the Somme
- The Battle of Flanders
- The Second Battle of the Marne
Explanation: The Second Battle of the Marne (July-August 1918) was one of the last major German offensives. It ended in a decisive failure for Germany and is often considered the turning point that hastened the end of the war in November 1918.
Question 5 : On July 15, 1606, a famous painter was born. Who is he?
Possible answers:
- Johannes Vermeer
- Rembrandt van Rijn
- Peter Paul Rubens
- Frans Hals
Explanation: Rembrandt van Rijn, born in Leiden in the Netherlands, is considered one of the greatest masters of the Dutch Baroque. Despite his recognized genius, he died in poverty in 1669. His most famous works include The Night Watch and numerous self-portraits.
Question 6 : On July 15, 2006, which famous social network was officially launched?
Possible answers:
- YouTube
Explanation: Twitter was founded by Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams. The first tweet was posted by Jack Dorsey on March 21, 2006, but the platform was publicly launched on July 15, 2006. In 2022, the network was acquired by Elon Musk and rebranded as X in 2023.
Question 7 : On July 15, 2018, the French football team won the World Cup in Russia. What was the final score against Croatia?
Possible answers:
- 2 goals to 1
- 3 goals to 1
- 3 goals to 2
- 4 goals to 2
Explanation: The final took place at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Rain made an appearance during the trophy presentation. Among the French scorers, there was an own goal by Mandžukić, a penalty by Griezmann, and goals by Pogba and Mbappé. It was France's 2nd world title after 1998.
Question 8 : The Battle of Grunwald, which took place on July 15, 1410, pitted Polish troops against which military order?
Possible answers:
- The Knights of Saint John
- The Teutonic Knights
- The Knights Templar
- The Knights of the Order of Malta
Explanation: The Battle of Grunwald, also known as the Battle of Tannenberg, was one of the greatest medieval battles in Europe. The victory of King Władysław II Jagiełło put a stop to the expansion of the Teutonic Knights in central Europe and is still celebrated in Poland today.
Question 9 : What scientific term was created on July 15, 1944 by botanists H. A. Hyde and D. A. Williams?
Possible answers:
- Phytology
- Palynology
- Ethnobotany
- Dendrochronology
Explanation: Palynology is the science that studies pollens and spores. It's used in archaeology to reconstruct paleoenvironments, in medicine to identify allergens, and even in criminology to place a suspect at a crime scene thanks to pollens found on their clothes.
Question 10 : In France, what tax was created on July 15, 1914, shortly before the outbreak of World War I?
Possible answers:
- Value added tax (VAT)
- Inheritance tax
- Income tax
- Customs duties
Explanation: Income tax was introduced in France by the Caillaux law, named after Finance Minister Joseph Caillaux, its main architect. Long opposed by conservative circles, it was finally adopted as the war was approaching, with the government needing new tax revenues.
