The 10 quiz questions
Question 1 : What financial oversight instrument was created by Napoleon I on 16 September 1807?
Possible answers:
- The Bank of France
- The Court of Auditors
- The Commercial Court
- The Council of State
Explanation: The Cour des comptes, created by Napoleon, is a financial court responsible for auditing the management of public funds. It is based at the Palais de la Cité in Paris. Today, its role has expanded to include the evaluation of public policies.
Question 2 : What major American automobile company was founded on September 16, 1908?
Possible answers:
- Ford Motor Company
- Chrysler Corporation
- General Motors
- Studebaker
Explanation: General Motors (GM) was founded by William C. Durant in Flint, Michigan. It quickly brought together several brands like Buick, Cadillac, and Oldsmobile. GM would go on to be the world's largest automaker for several decades.
Question 3 : What event marked the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence on September 16, 1810?
Possible answers:
- The capture of Mexico City by the insurgents
- The Grito de Dolores
- The signing of the declaration of independence
- The assassination of the Spanish viceroy
Explanation: The Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores) was launched by priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla from the town of Dolores. This fiery speech called the Mexican people to rise up against Spanish rule. September 16 is today Mexico's national holiday.
Question 4 : Francis Scott Key completed on September 16, 1814 a poem that would become what?
Possible answers:
- The text of the American Constitution
- The text of the American Declaration of Independence
- The future national anthem of the United States
- President Madison's speech to Congress
Explanation: Francis Scott Key wrote this poem after witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. The text was set to music using a popular English tune. The Star-Spangled Banner did not officially become the American national anthem until 1931.
Question 5 : The Montreal Protocol, signed on September 16, 1987, aimed to tackle which environmental problem?
Possible answers:
- Global warming
- Tropical deforestation
- Ocean pollution
- The hole in the ozone layer
Explanation: The Montreal Protocol is considered one of the most successful environmental treaties in history. It aimed to reduce and then eliminate substances that deplete the ozone layer, particularly CFCs. Thanks to this agreement, the ozone layer is gradually recovering.
Question 6 : What famous ship left England on September 16, 1620, bound for the New World?
Possible answers:
- The Santa María
- The Mayflower
- The Golden Hind
- The Endeavour
Explanation: The Mayflower carried 102 passengers, mostly Puritan Pilgrims fleeing religious persecution in England. After a 66-day crossing, it docked at Plymouth, in present-day Massachusetts. There, the passengers drafted the Mayflower Compact, the first democratic governance document in America.
Question 7 : Arnold Schwarzenegger became an American citizen on September 16, 1983. How old was he at the time?
Possible answers:
- 32 years old
- 36 years old
- 40 years old
- 42 years old
Explanation: Born in Austria in 1947, Schwarzenegger had spent more than 15 years in the United States before obtaining his citizenship. Already famous as a bodybuilder and actor, he would go on to serve as Governor of California from 2003 to 2011, a position reserved for American citizens.
Question 8 : Which great Russian general, born on 16 September 1745, is famous for repelling Napoleon during the Russian campaign?
Possible answers:
- Alexander Suvorov
- Pyotr Bagration
- Mikhail Kutuzov
- Mikhail Barclay de Tolly
Explanation: Mikhail Kutuzov led the Russian army at the Battle of Borodino in 1812, then applied a retreat strategy that exhausted Napoleon's troops. He died in 1813, before seeing Napoleon's total defeat, but was recognized as the savior of Russia.
Question 9 : What international agreement, signed in 1985, was a key milestone in the free movement of people in Europe?
Possible answers:
- The Treaty of Rome
- The Schengen Agreement
- The Maastricht Treaty
- The Dublin Convention
Explanation: The Schengen Agreement, signed on 14 June 1985 in Luxembourg on a boat moored on the Moselle, laid the foundations for an area without internal borders. It came into force in 1995 and today brings together 27 European countries. It is considered one of the major achievements of European integration.
Question 10 : Which world-renowned French musician and conductor, trained in Paris, was born on September 16, 1887?
Possible answers:
- Lili Boulanger
- Nadia Boulanger
- Germaine Tailleferre
- Yvonne Lefébure
Explanation: Nadia Boulanger was one of the most influential music educators of the 20th century. She trained many famous composers such as Aaron Copland, Astor Piazzolla, and Philip Glass. She was also one of the first women to conduct major symphony orchestras in Europe and the United States.
