The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : At which battle did Alexander the Great win a decisive victory over Darius III on October 1st, 331 BC?
Possible answers:
- The Battle of Issus
- The Battle of Gaugamela
- The Battle of the Granicus
- The Battle of the Hydaspes
Explanation: The Battle of Gaugamela was one of Alexander the Great's greatest victories. It sealed the end of the Achaemenid Persian Empire and allowed Alexander to proclaim himself "King of Kings". The exact site of the battle, in northern present-day Iraq, was long debated by historians.
Question 2 : What major event took place in Beijing on October 1st, 1949?
Possible answers:
- The end of the Sino-Japanese War
- The proclamation of the People's Republic of China
- The signing of the peace treaty with Japan
- China's entry into the Korean War
Explanation: Mao Zedong proclaimed the People's Republic of China from Tiananmen Square. Zhou Enlai was appointed Premier of the State Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs. This date is still celebrated in China as National Day, often called the "Golden Week".
Question 3 : Which country gained independence from the United Kingdom on October 1st, 1978?
Possible answers:
- Fiji
- Tuvalu
- Kiribati
- Vanuatu
Explanation: Tuvalu, a Pacific archipelago, became independent in 1978. This micro-state is one of the smallest and most threatened in the world by rising sea levels due to climate change, with a maximum altitude of no more than 4.5 metres.
Question 4 : In what year was Stanford University, one of the most prestigious American universities, founded?
Possible answers:
- 1865
- 1876
- 1891
- 1901
Explanation: Stanford University was founded on October 1, 1891 by Leland Stanford, governor and senator of California, in memory of his only son who had passed away. Located in Palo Alto, California, it is today one of the most influential academic institutions in the fields of science and technology.
Question 5 : On October 1st, 1982, who became Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany?
Possible answers:
- Willy Brandt
- Gerhard Schröder
- Franz Josef Strauss
- Helmut Kohl
Explanation: Helmut Kohl came to power as Chancellor after a constructive vote of no confidence against his predecessor Helmut Schmidt. He remained in power until 1998, becoming the longest-serving German Chancellor of the XXe century. It was under his leadership that the reunification of Germany was accomplished in 1990.
Question 6 : Which public figure, born on October 1st, 1924, became the 39th president of the United States?
Possible answers:
- Gerald Ford
- Jimmy Carter
- Ronald Reagan
- Lyndon Johnson
Explanation: Jimmy Carter, originally from Georgia, served as president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. After his presidency, he distinguished himself through his humanitarian commitment, notably with the NGO Habitat for Humanity and as an international election observer, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
Question 7 : Which theme park opened its doors to the general public on October 1st, 1971 in Florida?
Possible answers:
- Universal Studios Florida
- Epcot Center
- Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort
- SeaWorld Orlando
Explanation: Magic Kingdom, the first park of the Walt Disney World Resort complex in Orlando, opened its doors in 1971. It was inspired by Disneyland in California, which opened in 1955, but on a much larger scale. Walt Disney, who died in 1966, never saw his Florida project come to life.
Question 8 : What was the first postcard in history, put into circulation on October 1st, 1869?
Possible answers:
- An illustrated card with a view of Paris
- An American commercial card for advertising
- An Austrian postcard without illustration
- A coded Prussian military card
Explanation: The first postcard was an idea by Heinrich von Stephan, Secretary of State for Posts of the German Empire, but it was Austria-Hungary that officially issued it first. This invention revolutionized written communication by offering a cheap and fast alternative to the traditional letter.
Question 9 : What medical discipline was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2018, given to James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo?
Possible answers:
- Robotic surgery
- Gene therapy
- Cancer treatment by stimulating the immune system
- The discovery of new antibiotics
Explanation: Allison and Honjo received the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for their work on cancer immunotherapy. Their research led to the development of drugs that "release the brakes" on the immune system so it attacks cancer cells, a revolutionary approach in the treatment of several cancers.
Question 10 : In which artistic field did Antonin Artaud, who published his manifesto on October 1st, 1932, mainly exert his influence?
Possible answers:
- Surrealist painting
- Avant-garde theater
- Naturalist literature
- Modernist architecture
Explanation: Antonin Artaud is one of the most influential theorists of 20th-century theatre. His 'Theatre of Cruelty' doesn't advocate violence but rather a total theatre, where the audience is immersed in an intense sensory experience. His ideas have profoundly shaped contemporary directors like Peter Brook and Jerzy Grotowski.
