The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : Which major event for Brexit took place on 29 March 2017?
Possible answers:
- Prime Minister Theresa May launched the procedure for the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU
- The Brexit referendum was held
- British MPs voted in favour of the withdrawal agreement
- Boris Johnson was appointed chief Brexit negotiator
Explanation: On 29 March 2017, Theresa May officially triggered Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, thus launching the procedure for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. This process was supposed to last two years but was extended several times, with the United Kingdom finally leaving the EU on 31 January 2020.
Question 2 : In 1949, which French magazine was launched on 29 March with Winston Churchill on its cover?
Possible answers:
- L'Express
- Paris Match
- Le Point
- Le Nouvel Observateur
Explanation: Paris Match made its debut on newsstands on 29 March 1949 with Winston Churchill on the cover. The magazine stood out from its very first edition by publishing colour photographs of the Élysée Presidential Palace for the first time. Paris Match is still today one of the most widely read news magazines in France.
Question 3 : Which major archaeological discovery took place on 29 March 1974 near Xi'an in China?
Possible answers:
- The Great Wall of China was inscribed on the World Heritage List
- Ancient manuscripts of the Han dynasty were found
- A terracotta army was discovered near Xi'an
- A Buddhist temple dating from the 2nd century was unearthed
Explanation: On 29 March 1974, peasants digging a well unearthed the first statues of what would become one of the most spectacular archaeological discoveries of the 20th century: the Terracotta Army. This mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang includes more than 8,000 terracotta soldiers, horses and chariots, all with unique faces, dating from the 3rd century BC.
Question 4 : Which famous figure born on 29 March 1790 became the 10th president of the United States?
Possible answers:
- James Monroe
- James K. Polk
- Martin Van Buren
- John Tyler
Explanation: John Tyler, born on 29 March 1790, became the 10th president of the United States from 1841 to 1845. He acceded to the presidency after the death of President William Henry Harrison, who died only 31 days after his inauguration. Tyler was the first vice-president to become president following the death of his predecessor, which earned him the nickname "His Accidency".
Question 5 : On 29 March 1882, which Catholic organisation was founded in the United States?
Possible answers:
- The Knights of Columbus
- The Legion of Mary
- Opus Dei
- The Knights of Malta
Explanation: The Knights of Columbus were founded on 29 March 1882 in New Haven, Connecticut, by Father Michael J. McGivney. This Catholic fraternity, the largest in the world, today has more than two million members. It is known for its charitable works and support for Catholic families in need.
Question 6 : Which event marked 29 March 2004 concerning NATO enlargement?
Possible answers:
- Three Baltic countries joined NATO
- Seven countries including Bulgaria, Estonia and Romania joined NATO
- Poland and Hungary joined NATO
- Ukraine and Georgia obtained the status of NATO candidates
Explanation: On 29 March 2004, seven Central and Eastern European countries joined NATO: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. This enlargement, the largest in the history of the Alliance, brought the number of members to 26 countries. It was part of the Euro-Atlantic integration movement of the former Soviet bloc countries.
Question 7 : In which year did astronomer Heinrich Olbers discover the asteroid Vesta on 29 March?
Possible answers:
- 1797
- 1807
- 1815
- 1821
Explanation: Heinrich Wilhelm Matthias Olbers discovered the asteroid Vesta on 29 March 1807. Vesta is the second most massive object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, after Ceres. NASA's Dawn spacecraft orbited it from 2011 to 2012, revealing a surface covered in craters and a complex geology. Olbers is also known for the paradox bearing his name.
Question 8 : Which French Prime Minister took office on 29 March 1993?
Possible answers:
- Alain Juppé
- Pierre Bérégovoy
- Édouard Balladur
- Michel Rocard
Explanation: Édouard Balladur became Prime Minister on 29 March 1993, in the context of a cohabitation with President François Mitterrand, after the right-wing victory in the legislative elections of March 1993. His government carried out important economic reforms and he then ran for the 1995 presidential election, which he lost to Jacques Chirac in the second round.
Question 9 : The Wars of the Roses, which saw the Battle of Towton on 29 March 1461, opposed which English royal houses?
Possible answers:
- The houses of Tudor and Plantagenet
- The houses of Norman and Saxon
- The houses of Windsor and Hanover
- The houses of Lancaster and York
Explanation: The Wars of the Roses (1455-1485) opposed the royal houses of Lancaster (symbolised by a red rose) and York (symbolised by a white rose) for control of the English crown. The Battle of Towton on 29 March 1461 was one of the bloodiest of this war, with about 28,000 dead. It enabled Edward IV of York to establish himself as king. The war ended with the victory of Henry VII Tudor.
Question 10 : Vangelis, born on 29 March 1943, is particularly famous for the music of which Oscar-winning film of the 1980s?
Possible answers:
- Chariots of Fire
- Star Wars
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- The Lord of the Rings
Explanation: Vangelis (Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou) composed the soundtrack of the film "Chariots of Fire" in 1981, which won him the Oscar for Best Original Score in 1982. This Greek composer was also known for his electronic compositions, notably the music for the film "Blade Runner" (1982) by Ridley Scott and his involvement in the group Aphrodite's Child in the 1960s-70s.
