The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : Which famous baroque composer was born on March 4, 1678 in Venice?
Possible answers:
- Johann Sebastian Bach
- Georg Friedrich Handel
- Antonio Vivaldi
- Arcangelo Corelli
Explanation: Antonio Vivaldi, nicknamed 'Il Prete Rosso' (the red priest) because of his hair color, is one of the most prolific composers of the baroque era. He is best known for his Four Seasons, composed around 1723.
Question 2 : Which famous ballet by Tchaikovsky was performed for the first time on March 4, 1877?
Possible answers:
- The Nutcracker
- Sleeping Beauty
- Giselle
- Swan Lake
Explanation: The premiere of Swan Lake took place at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Despite a lukewarm reception at the time, this ballet is today one of the most performed in the world. Tchaikovsky also composed The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker.
Question 3 : What major milestone in U.S. history does March 4, 1789 mark?
Possible answers:
- The signing of the Declaration of Independence
- The election of George Washington as president
- The first session of the American Congress declaring the Constitution in effect
- The ratification of the Bill of Rights
Explanation: The first session of the American Congress, held in New York, marked the official entry into force of the U.S. Constitution, adopted in convention in 1787. For a long time, March 4 was the inauguration date for American presidents, before being replaced by January 20 in 1937.
Question 4 : On March 4, 1933, which American president took office and launched the New Deal?
Possible answers:
- Herbert Hoover
- Harry S. Truman
- Franklin Roosevelt
- Woodrow Wilson
Explanation: Franklin D. Roosevelt took the presidency in the middle of the Great Depression. His New Deal was a set of economic and social reform programs aimed at reviving the American economy. He was the only president elected four consecutive times in the United States.
Question 5 : Which film won the Oscar for Best Picture at the 90th Academy Awards ceremony on March 4, 2018?
Possible answers:
- Dunkirk
- Coco
- Phantom Thread
- The Shape of Water
Explanation: The Shape of Water, directed by Guillermo del Toro, also won the Oscar for Best Director that night. This romantic fantasy film follows a mute cleaning woman who falls in love with an aquatic creature, set against the backdrop of the Cold War.
Question 6 : On March 4, 1681, King Charles II of England granted a vast territorial charter in America to William Penn. Which present-day American state was born from this concession?
Possible answers:
- Virginia
- Pennsylvania
- Maryland
- Delaware
Explanation: The territory granted to William Penn, a devout Quaker, became the colony of Pennsylvania, whose name was given in honor of his father, Admiral William Penn. The city of Philadelphia, founded by Penn in 1682, was its capital and notably hosted the drafting of the American Constitution.
Question 7 : On March 4, 1938, the Dammam no 7 well successfully produced oil for the first time. In which country is it located?
Possible answers:
- Iran
- Iraq
- Kuwait
- Saudi Arabia
Explanation: This discovery in Saudi Arabia radically transformed the economy of the country and the region. The Dammam no 7 well, nicknamed 'Prosperity Well', was the first Saudi commercial well operated by the California Arabian Standard Oil Company, the forerunner of Aramco.
Question 8 : On March 4, 1919, what international organization of the communist movement was founded in Moscow?
Possible answers:
- The Second International
- The Cominform
- The Third International (Comintern)
- The Warsaw Pact
Explanation: The Third International, also known as the Comintern (from the Russian abbreviation of Kommunistichesky Internatsional), was founded by Lenin to coordinate communist parties around the world. It was dissolved by Stalin in 1943 to reassure the Western Allies during World War II.
Question 9 : Which silent horror film, first screened on March 4, 1922, is considered a masterpiece of German Expressionist cinema?
Possible answers:
- The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
- Nosferatu the Vampire
- Metropolis
- The Golem
Explanation: Nosferatu the Vampire, directed by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, is an unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel Dracula. Actor Max Schreck plays Count Orlok. The film was initially ordered to be destroyed following a lawsuit brought by Bram Stoker's widow for copyright infringement.
Question 10 : Blanche of Castile, born on March 4, 1188, served as regent of France twice. Which future king was she the mother of?
Possible answers:
- Louis VIII
- Philip IV the Fair
- Louis IX (Saint Louis)
- Charles IV
Explanation: Blanche of Castile was the mother of Louis IX, better known as Saint Louis, canonized in 1297. Granddaughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England, she served as regent of the kingdom during her son's minority and then during his participation in the 7th Crusade and his captivity in Egypt.