The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : In what year was FIFA founded, and in which city did this take place?
Possible answers:
- In 1900 in London
- In 1908 in Zurich
- In 1904 in Paris
- In 1896 in Berlin
Explanation: FIFA was founded on May 21, 1904 in Paris by representatives of seven European nations. Its first president was Robert Guérin, a Frenchman. Today, FIFA has more than 200 member federations, making it one of the most important sports organizations in the world.
Question 2 : What aerial feat did Charles Lindbergh accomplish on May 20 and 21, 1927?
Possible answers:
- He made the first non-stop round-the-world flight
- He became the first pilot to fly solo from New York to Paris in 33h30
- He crossed the Pacific alone for the first time by plane
- He set an altitude record by reaching 15,000 metres
Explanation: Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo non-stop crossing of the North Atlantic aboard the Spirit of St. Louis, connecting New York to Paris in 33h30. On this occasion, he won the Orteig Prize, a $25,000 reward offered since 1919 for this challenge. His landing at Le Bourget was acclaimed by a huge crowd.
Question 3 : What did the Treaty of Troyes signed on May 21, 1420 between France and England stipulate?
Possible answers:
- It granted Normandy to England in exchange for peace
- It declared the dauphin illegitimate and entrusted the succession to the King of England
- It established a Franco-English dynastic union under a French crown
- It ended the Hundred Years' War and returned Aquitaine to France
Explanation: The Treaty of Troyes, signed under Charles VI of France known as "the Mad", recognized Henry V of England as heir to the French crown. It declared the Dauphin (future Charles VII) illegitimate. This humiliating treaty was largely overturned thanks to the action of Joan of Arc, who pushed the Dauphin to be crowned in Reims in 1429.
Question 4 : Who was the first woman to cross the Atlantic by airplane solo, on May 21, 1932?
Possible answers:
- Hélène Boucher
- Amelia Earhart
- Beryl Markham
- Jacqueline Cochran
Explanation: Amelia Earhart landed in an Irish field after her crossing, becoming the first woman to accomplish this feat solo. In 1937, she mysteriously disappeared over the Pacific during a round-the-world attempt. Her fate remains one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history.
Question 5 : What tragic event took place on May 21, 1991 near Madras, India?
Possible answers:
- A devastating earthquake struck the Madras region
- Rajiv Gandhi was the victim of a bombing
- A typhoon caused thousands of deaths in Tamil Nadu
- An industrial disaster contaminated the waters near Madras
Explanation: Rajiv Gandhi, former Indian Prime Minister and son of Indira Gandhi, was assassinated in a suicide bombing carried out by a militant of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). He was then on the campaign trail. This attack remains one of the deadliest in Indian political history.
Question 6 : What was the result of the referendum on Montenegro's independence on May 21, 2006?
Possible answers:
- Independence was rejected by 60% of voters
- Independence was approved by 55% of voters
- The vote was annulled for electoral fraud
- Independence was approved by 72% of voters
Explanation: The Montenegrin referendum was approved by 55.5% of voters, narrowly exceeding the 55% threshold required by the European Union to validate independence. Montenegro thus became the 192nd member state of the United Nations. Since then, it has begun a process of accession to the European Union.
Question 7 : The Boumerdès earthquake of May 21, 2003 in Algeria caused more than how many victims?
Possible answers:
- More than 500 dead and 2,000 wounded
- More than 2,000 dead and 10,000 wounded
- More than 5,000 dead and 20,000 wounded
- More than 1,000 dead and 4,000 wounded
Explanation: The Boumerdès earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.8, was one of the deadliest in Algeria since that of El Asnam in 1980. Beyond the 2,000 deaths, it caused considerable damage as far as Spain and generated a mini-tsunami in the Mediterranean. The tremors were felt as far as Italy and France.
Question 8 : Which famous Greek philosopher is traditionally associated with May 21 as his birth date?
Possible answers:
- Aristotle
- Socrates
- Plato
- Epicurus
Explanation: Plato, born around 428 or 427 BC, was the pupil of Socrates and the master of Aristotle. He founded the Academy in Athens, considered the first institution of higher education in the Western world. His dialogues, such as The Republic or The Symposium, deeply influenced Western philosophy.
Question 9 : Which major international institution was founded on May 21, 1388 in Cologne?
Possible answers:
- The Court of Justice of the Germanic Empire
- Cologne Cathedral
- The University of Cologne
- The Hanseatic Bank of Cologne
Explanation: The University of Cologne, founded in 1388, is one of the oldest universities in Germany. It was re-founded in 1919 after a long interruption. Today, it welcomes more than 50,000 students and is one of the largest universities in Europe. It is notably renowned for its law and economics faculties.
Question 10 : In what year was the Seventh-day Adventist Church officially established?
Possible answers:
- In 1830
- In 1889
- In 1848
- In 1863
Explanation: The Seventh-day Adventist Church was officially founded on May 21, 1863 in Battle Creek, Michigan, United States. It is notable for its observance of the Sabbath on Saturday and for its teachings on health. Today it has more than 20 million members worldwide.
