The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : Which Portuguese navigator first set off on an expedition on July 8, 1497?
Possible answers:
- Christopher Columbus
- Ferdinand Magellan
- Vasco da Gama
- Pedro Álvares Cabral
Explanation: Vasco da Gama opened the sea route to India by rounding the Cape of Good Hope, reaching Calicut in India in 1498. This voyage upended global trade by bypassing the overland routes controlled by the Ottomans.
Question 2 : On July 8, 1709, the Battle of Poltava pitted Tsar Peter the Great against which king?
Possible answers:
- Frederick II of Prussia
- Charles XII of Sweden
- Augustus II of Poland
- Philip V of Spain
Explanation: The Battle of Poltava, in Ukraine, saw the defeat of Charles XII of Sweden by Peter the Great of Russia. This Russian victory marked the end of Swedish dominance over Northern Europe and established Russia as a major continental power.
Question 3 : Born on July 8, 1621, which famous French author is known for his Fables featuring animals?
Possible answers:
- Molière
- Jean Racine
- Jean de La Fontaine
- Nicolas Boileau
Explanation: Jean de La Fontaine drew heavily on Aesop and Phaedrus for his Fables, published between 1668 and 1694. These texts, seemingly aimed at young readers, are in fact sharp satires of 17th-century society and the court of Louis XIV.
Question 4 : On July 8, 1982, in the World Cup semifinal in Seville, France faced which team in a match remembered as the "Night of Seville"?
Possible answers:
- Italy
- Argentina
- Brazil
- West Germany
Explanation: This France vs West Germany match is often cited as the greatest in football history. France led 3-1 in extra time before losing on penalties. The brutal foul by German goalkeeper Schumacher on Battiston, which went unpunished, remains one of the most notorious refereeing controversies in world sport.
Question 5 : On July 8, 1853, Commodore Perry arrived with his "Black Ships" in which Japanese bay?
Possible answers:
- Osaka Bay
- Tokyo Bay, at Uraga
- Nagasaki Bay
- Yokohama Bay
Explanation: Matthew Perry's arrival at Uraga Bay, near Tokyo, forced Japan to open its ports to American trade after two centuries of isolation. This event triggered a deep political crisis in Japan that led to the Meiji Restoration in 1868 and the country's rapid modernization.
Question 6 : Born on July 8, 1831, John Stith Pemberton is known for inventing the original recipe of which world-famous drink?
Possible answers:
- Pepsi-Cola
- Coca-Cola
- Dr Pepper
- Ginger ale
Explanation: An American pharmacist, Pemberton created the original Coca-Cola formula in 1886, initially sold as a medicinal syrup for headaches. He sold his rights shortly before his death in 1888, never realizing the worldwide success his drink would achieve.
Question 7 : On July 8, 2023, Edgars Rinkēvičs became president of Latvia and is notably known for being the first head of state in the European Union to have which distinction?
Possible answers:
- Being the youngest president in the EU
- Being openly gay
- Being the first president elected with 100% of the vote
- Being a former soldier turned diplomat
Explanation: Edgars Rinkēvičs, Latvia's former foreign minister, had publicly announced he was gay back in 2014 via Twitter, a brave move in a Baltic country still marked by conservative attitudes. His election to the presidency is a symbolic milestone for LGBTQ+ rights in Eastern Europe.
Question 8 : On July 8, 1943, Jean Moulin, a major figure of the French Resistance, died. In which town was he arrested by the Gestapo shortly before his death?
Possible answers:
- In Paris
- In Marseille
- In Caluire, near Lyon
- In Bordeaux
Explanation: Jean Moulin was arrested on June 21, 1943, in Caluire-et-Cuire, near Lyon, during a meeting of Resistance leaders. Tortured by Klaus Barbie, known as the "Butcher of Lyon," he died without betraying his comrades. His ashes were transferred to the Panthéon in 1964 during a memorable ceremony.
Question 9 : Born on July 8, 1838, Ferdinand von Zeppelin is famous for developing which type of aircraft?
Possible answers:
- The first jet aircraft
- Modern hot-air balloons
- Powered gliders
- Rigid airships
Explanation: Ferdinand von Zeppelin developed the rigid airships with metal frames that bear his name. The first flight of a zeppelin took place in 1900 over Lake Constance. These craft were used for bombing raids during World War I, then as luxurious transatlantic transport in the 1930s.
Question 10 : On July 8, 2018, a rescue that made headlines worldwide began in Thailand to save children trapped in what situation?
Possible answers:
- Trapped in a flooded railway tunnel
- Trapped in a flooded cave
- Lost in the forest after an earthquake
- Shipwrecked on an island after a typhoon
Explanation: Twelve children and their football coach had been trapped in the Tham Luang cave by sudden flooding since June 23, 2018. The rescue, which ended on July 10, mobilized specialist divers from around the world. One of the Thai divers, Saman Kunan, lost his life during the operation.
