The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : In 1961, which British journalist and lawyer launched an appeal in The Observer for 'forgotten prisoners', giving birth to Amnesty International?
Possible answers:
- Bertrand Russell
- Peter Benenson
- George Orwell
- Arthur Koestler
Explanation: Peter Benenson was moved by the fate of two Portuguese students sentenced to seven years in prison for toasting freedom under Salazar's dictatorship. His appeal 'The Forgotten Prisoners' led to the creation of Amnesty International, which now has more than 10 million members worldwide.
Question 2 : On 28 May 1987, young amateur pilot Mathias Rust pulled off a stunning feat: where did he land illegally after crossing Soviet airspace?
Possible answers:
- At Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow
- On Red Square in Moscow
- On Palace Square in Leningrad
- On the roof of the Kremlin
Explanation: Mathias Rust, aged 18, took off from Helsinki and managed to land on Red Square in Moscow in a small Cessna 172, exposing the gaping holes in Soviet air defense. The incident led to the dismissal of many high-ranking military officers and had repercussions on the disarmament negotiations between Reagan and Gorbachev.
Question 3 : What event officially ended the Paris Commune on 28 May 1871?
Possible answers:
- Signing of an armistice between Versaillais and Communards
- Capture of the last barricade and execution of the last fighters
- Flight of the Communard government to Lyon
- Arrest of the Commune leader, Louis Blanqui
Explanation: The Paris Commune lasted 72 days, from 18 March to 28 May 1871. Its repression, known as the 'Bloody Week', killed between 10,000 and 30,000 Communards. The last fighters were shot at Père-Lachaise cemetery, against a wall that became the 'Communards' Wall', a symbol of the workers' movement.
Question 4 : On 28 May 1830, which US legislative act ordered the deportation of Native American peoples west of the Mississippi River?
Possible answers:
- The Native Land Act
- The Manifest Destiny Act
- The Indian Removal Act
- The Frontier Settlement Act
Explanation: The Indian Removal Act, signed by President Andrew Jackson, led to the infamous 'Trail of Tears', during which tens of thousands of Native Americans from the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Chickasaw and Seminole tribes were forced to leave their lands. Several thousand are estimated to have died of cold, hunger and disease during those forced marches.
Question 5 : On 28 May 1892, John Muir founded a nature conservation organization in the United States. What is the name of this organization, still active today?
Possible answers:
- Sierra Club
- Nature Conservancy
- Wilderness Society
- National Audubon Society
Explanation: The Sierra Club, founded by Scottish naturalist and explorer John Muir, is one of the oldest and most influential environmental organizations in the United States. Muir, nicknamed 'the father of American national parks', played a decisive role in the creation of Yosemite National Park.
Question 6 : In 1998, which country became the seventh nuclear power in the world by carrying out five nuclear tests on 28 May?
Possible answers:
- Iran
- Israel
- North Korea
- Pakistan
Explanation: Pakistan conducted its first nuclear tests in response to those carried out by India a few days earlier. The blasts took place in the Balochistan region. The announcement triggered heavy economic sanctions from the United States and the G7, and heightened tensions with India over the Kashmir region.
Question 7 : On 28 May 2017, which film won the Palme d'Or at the 70th Cannes Film Festival, whose director would repeat the feat exactly five years later?
Possible answers:
- Fahrradroman
- The Square
- Force Majeure
- Tourist
Explanation: Ruben Östlund is one of the rare filmmakers to have won two Palmes d'Or: first with 'The Square' in 2017, then with 'Triangle of Sadness' in 2022, exactly five years later. He joins a very narrow circle of doubly-palmed directors, like Michael Haneke (The Piano Teacher and The White Ribbon) and the Dardenne brothers (Rosetta and L'Enfant).
Question 8 : In what context did Germany officially acknowledge, on 28 May 2021, having committed a genocide between 1904 and 1908?
Possible answers:
- A genocide against the Zulus in South Africa
- A genocide against the Herero and Nama in Namibia
- A genocide against the Mau Mau in Kenya
- A genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda under Belgian mandate
Explanation: Germany acknowledged having committed a genocide against the Herero and Nama peoples in its former South West African colony, a territory that corresponds to present-day Namibia. More than 80,000 people had been killed. Berlin pledged to pay 1.1 billion euros over 30 years to Namibia, without however speaking of 'reparations' in the legal sense, which was criticized by representatives of the communities concerned.
Question 9 : Ian Fleming, born on 28 May 1908, is famous for creating one of the most well-known fictional characters in the world. What is this character?
Possible answers:
- Hercule Poirot
- James Bond
- Jason Bourne
- George Smiley
Explanation: Ian Fleming created James Bond, the British secret agent registered as 007, who first appeared in the novel 'Casino Royale' in 1953. Fleming was partly inspired by secret agents he had known during the Second World War, a period during which he worked for the British Royal Navy intelligence services.
Question 10 : Michelin, founded on 28 May 1889, is today world-famous for its tires, but also for a gastronomic guide. What does the first star of the Michelin Guide stand for?
Possible answers:
- Exceptional cuisine worth the journey
- A very good restaurant in its category
- A restaurant recommended by the editors
- Excellent cuisine worth a detour
Explanation: The Michelin Guide was created in 1900 to encourage motorists to travel, and thus to wear out their tires. The first star means 'a very good restaurant in its category', the second 'excellent cooking, worth a detour' and the third 'exceptional cuisine, worth the journey'. In France, a Michelin star can increase a restaurant's turnover by 20 to 30%.
