The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : What is the international significance of March 8, officially recognized by the United Nations in 1977?
Possible answers:
- International Day of Peace
- World Health Day
- International Women's Day
- International Day of Solidarity
Explanation: It was Lenin who declared March 8 International Women's and Working Women's Day in 1921. The United Nations officially recognized it in 1977, and France observed it for the first time only in 1982.
Question 2 : In 1910, Élisa Deroche made history by becoming the first woman to obtain a pilot's licence. Where did this event take place?
Possible answers:
- At Le Bourget aerodrome
- At the Châlons camp
- At the Versailles Military School
- On the Reims-Gueux circuit
Explanation: Élisa Deroche, also known as Baroness de Laroche, obtained her licence at the Camp de Châlons. She was also the first woman to fly a plane solo, in 1909, and died in 1919 in an aviation accident.
Question 3 : On March 8, 1817, a major financial institution was founded in New York. What institution is it?
Possible answers:
- The US Federal Reserve
- The Bank of New York
- The Nasdaq
- The New York Stock Exchange
Explanation: The New York Stock Exchange, founded on March 8, 1817, is today the world's largest stock exchange in terms of market capitalization. It was preceded by the Buttonwood Agreement of 1792, which laid the first foundations of an organized market in New York.
Question 4 : On March 8, 1862, the Civil War was marked by a historic naval battle at Hampton Roads. What was special about this battle?
Possible answers:
- It's the first nighttime naval battle in American history
- It's the first combat between military submarines
- It's the first clash between ironclads in history
- It's the largest naval battle of the Civil War
Explanation: The Battle of Hampton Roads was the first clash between ironclad warships in history: the Union's Monitor and the Confederate Virginia (formerly the Merrimack). This confrontation revolutionized the design of military fleets around the world.
Question 5 : In 1971, the "fight of the century" in boxing pitted Joe Frazier against Mohamed Ali in New York. What was the result?
Possible answers:
- Muhammad Ali wins by KO in the 12th round
- The fight ends in a draw
- Joe Frazier wins by KO in the 15th round
- Joe Frazier retains his title by the referee's decision
Explanation: Joe Frazier won this legendary fight by judges' decision after 15 rounds, retaining his world heavyweight championship title. This match at Madison Square Garden remains one of the most watched sporting events in history.
Question 6 : On March 8, 1983, Ronald Reagan used for the first time a now-famous expression to describe the Soviet Union. What was it?
Possible answers:
- "The axis of evil"
- "Evil Empire"
- "The Iron Curtain"
- "The Red Menace"
Explanation: Ronald Reagan delivered this speech before the National Association of Evangelicals in Orlando, Florida. The phrase, inspired by the work of C.S. Lewis, marked a rhetorical turning point in the Cold War and sparked strong reactions both in the United States and in the USSR.
Question 7 : What major event for French transport was inaugurated on March 8, 1974?
Possible answers:
- Paris-Orly airport
- Lyon-Part-Dieu TGV station
- Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport
- The Channel Tunnel
Explanation: Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Pierre Messmer. Designed by architect Paul Andreu, its cylindrical Terminal 1 has become an architectural icon. It is today the 2nd busiest airport in Europe in terms of traffic.
Question 8 : Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 mysteriously disappeared on March 8, 2014. Over which geographic area did it vanish?
Possible answers:
- Over the South China Sea
- Over the Indian Ocean
- Over the Gulf of Thailand
- Over the Strait of Malacca
Explanation: Flight MH370 disappeared over the Gulf of Thailand while operating the Kuala Lumpur-Beijing route. Despite years of searches in the Indian Ocean, the plane and the majority of its 239 passengers and crew members were never found.
Question 9 : Which inventor, born on March 8, 1839, is known for creating a household appliance that is now essential in most homes?
Possible answers:
- The washing machine
- The electric refrigerator
- The household vacuum cleaner
- The dishwasher
Explanation: Josephine Cochrane, born on March 8, 1839, invented the first effective mechanical dishwasher. Tired of seeing her fine china damaged by her servants, she patented her invention in 1886 and presented it at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, winning first prize.
Question 10 : What is the meaning of the name given to March 8 in the French Republican calendar, officially assigned to that day?
Possible answers:
- Day of the violet
- Day of the scarlet pimpernel
- Day of the narcissus
- Day of the lily of the valley
Explanation: In the French Revolutionary calendar, each day bore the name of a plant, an animal, or a tool. March 8 generally corresponded to 18 Ventôse, dubbed 'day of the chickweed'. This calendar, established in 1792, was abandoned by Napoléon in 1806.