The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : What major event of the French Revolution took place on July 27, 1794, corresponding to 9 Thermidor Year II?
Possible answers:
- The proclamation of the French Republic
- The storming of the Bastille
- The arrest of Maximilien de Robespierre
- The execution of Louis XVI
Explanation: The fall of Robespierre marks the end of the Terror. The next day, 10 Thermidor, he is guillotined at the Place de la Révolution along with Saint-Just and Couthon. This date gives birth to the term 'Thermidorian' to describe a conservative reaction after an intense revolutionary period.
Question 2 : The Battle of Bouvines, on July 27, 1214, saw the victory of which King of France?
Possible answers:
- Louis IX (Saint Louis)
- Philip II Augustus
- Charles VII
- Louis VI the Fat
Explanation: Philip II Augustus won a decisive victory that consolidated French royal power. This battle put an end to English ambitions on the continent and marginalized the Germanic Empire. It is often cited as one of the founding battles of the French nation.
Question 3 : In what year was the Bank of England founded, on July 27?
Possible answers:
- 1658
- 1694
- 1720
- 1776
Explanation: Founded on July 27, 1694, the Bank of England is one of the oldest central banks in the world. It was created to finance the war against Louis XIV's France. To this day, it plays a key role in the United Kingdom's monetary policy.
Question 4 : Which famous cartoon character made their first appearance in Tex Avery's short film 'A Wild Hare' on July 27, 1940?
Possible answers:
- Daffy Duck
- Porky Pig
- Elmer Fudd
- Bugs Bunny
Explanation: Bugs Bunny was officially born in this short film produced by Warner Bros. His famous 'What's up, Doc?' appears for the first time in this film. Bugs Bunny would go on to become one of the most popular animated characters of the XXth century, a symbol of American pop culture.
Question 5 : In 1953, the armistice ending the Korean War was signed in which city?
Possible answers:
- Seoul
- Tokyo
- Panmunjeom
- Pyongyang
Explanation: The Panmunjeom Armistice, signed on July 27, 1953, is not an official peace treaty. Technically, the two Koreas are still at war. Panmunjeom is a locality situated in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), on the border between the two countries, and remains a symbol of the division of the Korean Peninsula.
Question 6 : Which French actor and singer, born on July 27, 1917, is known for his comic roles in cinema as well as for his songs?
Possible answers:
- Fernandel
- Louis de Funès
- Bourvil
- Jean Gabin
Explanation: Bourvil, whose real name was André Raimbourg, is one of the most beloved comedians in French cinema. He starred notably in 'La Grande Vadrouille' (1966) alongside Louis de Funès, which remains one of the greatest successes in French cinema. He died in 1970 from bone cancer.
Question 7 : In 1990, Citroën stopped production of the legendary 2CV. How many units had been sold since 1949?
Possible answers:
- 3 million
- 5 million
- 7 million
- 10 million
Explanation: The 2CV, nicknamed 'la Deuche', was one of France's most iconic popular cars. The last one rolled out of a factory in Mangualde, Portugal, on July 27, 1990. Originally designed to motorize post-war rural France, it embodied simplicity and freedom for decades.
Question 8 : Charlotte Corday, born on 27 July 1768, is famous for what historical act?
Possible answers:
- Having led the republican armies in the Vendée
- Having assassinated the deputy Jean-Paul Marat
- Having organized the flight of Louis XVI to Varennes
- Having written the Declaration of the Rights of Woman
Explanation: Charlotte Corday assassinated Jean-Paul Marat in his bathtub on 13 July 1793, convinced he was responsible for the Girondin Terror. She was guillotined four days later. Her life inspired many artistic works, including the famous painting 'The Death of Marat' by Jacques-Louis David.
Question 9 : In what context did the Centennial Olympic Park bombing on July 27, 1996 occur?
Possible answers:
- During the FIFA World Cup in the United States
- During a G8 summit in Atlanta
- During the Olympic Games in Atlanta
- During the Republican Party national convention
Explanation: The attack killed 2 people and injured 111 during the Atlanta Olympics. The main suspect, Eric Rudolph, was arrested in 2003 and sentenced to life in prison. A security guard, Richard Jewell, was falsely accused at first before being cleared, which inspired the Clint Eastwood film in 2019.
Question 10 : 9 Thermidor, which generally corresponds to July 27 in the French republican calendar, was officially named the day of which fruit or plant?
Possible answers:
- Raspberry
- Blackberry
- Fig
- Redcurrant
Explanation: The republican calendar, established in 1793, assigned a plant, an animal, or a tool to each day of the year, replacing the saints of the Catholic calendar. The month of Thermidor (July-August) was associated with summer heat. This calendar was abolished by Napoleon on January 1, 1806.
