The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : In 1908, a cosmic fireball exploded over Tunguska, in Siberia. What was the approximate power of this explosion?
Possible answers:
- About 20 megatons, a thousand times the Hiroshima bomb
- About 2 megatons, a hundred times the Hiroshima bomb
- Around 200 megatons, or ten thousand times the Hiroshima bomb
- About 0.2 megatons, or ten times the Hiroshima bomb
Explanation: The Tunguska event remains the largest cosmic impact in recorded human history. Despite its colossal power, no crater was ever found, which suggests the object disintegrated before reaching the ground, probably a comet or a small asteroid.
Question 2 : On June 30, 1827, a giraffe given by the pasha of Egypt Muhammad Ali arrived in Paris. Which king of France was it meant for?
Possible answers:
- Louis XVIII
- Napoleon III
- Louis-Philippe
- Charles X
Explanation: This giraffe, nicknamed Zarafa, became a genuine Parisian star and sparked a fashion craze called "à la girafe". A second giraffe from the same gift was sent to King George IV of England and housed at Windsor. It is one of the earliest examples of modern animal diplomacy.
Question 3 : June 30, 1934 is known as the "Night of the Long Knives". Which Nazi paramilitary group was the main target of this purge ordered by Hitler?
Possible answers:
- The Gestapo
- Röhm's SA
- The Hitler Youth
- The Wehrmacht
Explanation: The SA (Sturmabteilung), led by Ernst Röhm, was a force of several million men that Hitler saw as a threat to his power. This purge allowed Himmler's SS to establish itself as the dominant armed force of the Nazi regime and reassured the regular German army.
Question 4 : On June 30, 1559, King Henry II was seriously wounded during a horseback joust in Paris. What was the official reason for this festive event?
Possible answers:
- The French victory at the Battle of Calais
- The coronation of the Dauphin Francis
- The signing of the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis and royal marriages
- The alliance with the Ottoman Empire against Spain
Explanation: Henry II died ten days later, on July 10, 1559, from an eye wound caused by the lance of the Count of Montgomery. His death marked the end of chivalric tournaments in France and led his widow Catherine de' Medici to demolish the Hôtel des Tournelles, on the site of the present-day Place des Vosges.
Question 5 : On June 30, 1643, Molière founded a theatre company that would become famous. What was the name of this troupe?
Possible answers:
- The King's Troupe
- The Palais-Royal Theatre
- The Illustre Théâtre
- The Comédie de Paris
Explanation: The Illustre Théâtre, founded with Madeleine Béjart and other actors, quickly ran into financial trouble and went bankrupt by 1645. Molière had to flee his creditors and spent about fifteen years in the provinces before triumphing in Paris. The Comédie-Française, founded in 1680, claims his legacy.
Question 6 : On June 30, 1960, the Congo Kinshasa gained independence. Who was the Congolese Prime Minister during the ceremonies in Léopoldville?
Possible answers:
- Mobutu Sese Seko
- Laurent-Désiré Kabila
- Lumumba
- Étienne Tshisekedi
Explanation: At this ceremony, Patrice Lumumba gave a memorable, improvised speech denouncing the suffering of Belgian colonization, before the eyes of King Baudouin. His assassination in January 1961, with the suspected complicity of the CIA and Belgium, remains one of the major political tragedies of African decolonization.
Question 7 : On June 30, 1971, three Soviet cosmonauts died inside their space capsule. What was the name of this tragic mission?
Possible answers:
- Soyuz 1
- Soyuz 11
- Vostok 7
- Mir 3
Explanation: Cosmonauts Georgi Dobrovolski, Vladislav Volkov and Viktor Patsayev died from a depressurization of the capsule during atmospheric reentry. This disaster led the USSR to change its spacesuits and reentry procedures. They remain the only humans to have died beyond the Kármán line.
Question 8 : On June 30, 2012, a pioneering digital communication service was permanently shut down in France after 30 years of operation. Which service was it?
Possible answers:
- The digital telegraph
- The Minitel
- The Audiotel service
- The Transpac network
Explanation: The Minitel, launched in 1982 by France Télécom, was a worldwide forerunner of the internet, providing access to online services over the telephone network. At its peak, it had 9 million terminals in France. Paradoxically, its success is said to have delayed the adoption of the internet in France compared with other countries.
Question 9 : The famous swimmer Michael Phelps, the all-time record holder for Olympic medals, was born on June 30, 1985. In which discipline did he win the most Olympic titles?
Possible answers:
- Open water swimming
- Pool swimming (butterfly and medley)
- Synchronized swimming
- Water polo
Explanation: Michael Phelps won 23 Olympic gold medals in total, an all-time record across every discipline. He specialized in the butterfly and the combined events (medley). His exceptional arm span of 2.01 m, greater than his height, gave him a remarkable natural biomechanical advantage.
Question 10 : In 1520, the Spanish were driven out of Tenochtitlan by the Aztecs during an episode called the "Noche Triste". Who commanded the Spanish troops during this episode?
Possible answers:
- Francisco Pizarro
- Hernán Cortés
- Pedro de Alvarado
- Diego de Velázquez
Explanation: Hernán Cortés had to retreat hastily from Tenochtitlan on the night of June 30 to July 1, 1520, losing about half his men and a large part of the Aztec treasure in the city's canals. A year later, he returned with reinforcements and native allies to take the Aztec capital for good in August 1521.
