The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : What major event takes place in Argentina on July 9, 1816?
Possible answers:
- The signing of a peace treaty with Spain
- The proclamation of independence
- The election of the first Argentine president
- The dissolution of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
Explanation: Argentina's independence is proclaimed in Tucumán during the congress that gathered the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata. José de San Martín, a national hero, played a key role in freeing the country from Spanish rule.
Question 2 : During the 2006 FIFA World Cup final, what does Zinédine Zidane do that earns him a red card?
Possible answers:
- He insults the referee on the pitch
- He kicks an opposing French player
- He headbutts the player Materazzi in the sternum
- He refuses to leave the pitch after a warning
Explanation: This headbutt on Marco Materazzi remains one of the most memorable moments in world football. Zidane reportedly reacted to insulting remarks about his sister. This act ended his international career in what was his last match.
Question 3 : Which African country gains its independence on July 9, 2011?
Possible answers:
- Eritrea
- South Sudan
- Somaliland
- Darfur
Explanation: South Sudan becomes the world's youngest country in 2011 following a referendum held in January of the same year. Juba is its capital. The country has since experienced a devastating civil war between 2013 and 2018.
Question 4 : In 1789, which French political institution declares itself the National Constituent Assembly on July 9?
Possible answers:
- The Parlement of Paris
- The King's Council
- The Estates-General
- The National Convention
Explanation: Initially convened to resolve the kingdom's financial crisis, the Estates-General first turned into the National Assembly on June 17, 1789, then into the National Constituent Assembly on July 9, marking a decisive break with the Ancien Régime.
Question 5 : Which song becomes the first rock single in history to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100, on July 9, 1955?
Possible answers:
- Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry
- Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley & His Comets
- Hound Dog by Elvis Presley
- Tutti Frutti by Little Richard
Explanation: Rock Around the Clock, performed by Bill Haley & His Comets, was also used in the film Blackboard Jungle (1955), which gave it enormous popularity. It is often considered the symbolic starting point of the rock 'n' roll era.
Question 6 : What historic event takes place on July 9, 1762, in Russia?
Possible answers:
- The death of Tsar Peter the Great
- The accession of Catherine II to the Russian throne
- The signing of the Treaty of Saint Petersburg
- The founding of Saint Petersburg
Explanation: Catherine II, known as Catherine the Great, ascends the throne following a coup that overthrows her husband, Tsar Peter III. She would reign until 1796 and turn Russia into a major European power, notably by seizing part of Poland and expanding the empire toward the Black Sea.
Question 7 : Born on July 9, 1956, which American actor is notably known for his roles in Forrest Gump and Cast Away?
Possible answers:
- Kevin Costner
- Tom Hanks
- Harrison Ford
- John Travolta
Explanation: Tom Hanks is one of Hollywood's most awarded actors. He won two consecutive Best Actor Oscars for Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994), a feat shared only with Spencer Tracy.
Question 8 : In 1472, which French heroine is celebrated for defending the town of Beauvais against the troops of Charles the Bold?
Possible answers:
- Jeanne des Armoises
- Jeanne of Flanders
- Jeanne Hachette
- Joanna of Penthièvre
Explanation: Jeanne Hachette, whose real name was Jeanne Laisné or Fourquet, became a symbol of female resistance. She is said to have snatched the Burgundian banner from a soldier's hands. Beauvais still celebrates this event today during an annual festival dedicated to her.
Question 9 : On July 9, 1955, a manifesto against nuclear weapons is made public in London. Who are the two famous figures who give it its name?
Possible answers:
- Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein
- Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein
- Bertrand Russell and Robert Oppenheimer
- Max Planck and Albert Einstein
Explanation: The Russell-Einstein Manifesto was signed by eleven renowned intellectuals, including Max Born and Linus Pauling. It would lead to the creation of the Pugwash Conferences, gatherings of scientists committed to peace and nuclear disarmament, which would receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995.
Question 10 : Which international organization is launched in Durban on July 9, 2002, succeeding the Organisation of African Unity?
Possible answers:
- The African Economic Community
- The Pan-African Parliament
- The African Union
- The African Conference of Nations
Explanation: The African Union (AU) was founded to promote the economic and political integration of the African continent. Unlike the OAU created in 1963, the AU equipped itself with more binding intervention tools, notably the right to intervene in cases of genocide or crimes against humanity.
