The 15 quiz questions
Question 1 : In 1967, which NBA rule was introduced specifically because of Wilt Chamberlain who dunked his free throws?
Possible answers:
- 3-second limit in the offensive key
- Increasing the basket diameter to 46 cm
- Cannot cross the line before the ball hits the rim
- Creation of the 3-point line
Explanation: Wilt Chamberlain used to take a running start from the free throw line and dunk the ball. The NBA changed the rule in 1956, requiring players to stay behind the line until the ball hits the rim.
Question 2 : Which cricket player holds the record for the highest score in a single test match innings with 400 runs?
Possible answers:
- Brian Lara
- Don Bradman
- Virender Sehwag
- Sachin Tendulkar
Explanation: Brian Lara achieved this historic record of 400 not out against England in Antigua in 2004. This record still stands today in Test cricket.
Question 3 : In 1904, the Olympic marathon in St. Louis saw Thomas Hicks finish under the influence of which then-legal substance?
Possible answers:
- Diluted cocaine
- Liquid opium
- Sulfuric ether
- Strychnine and brandy
Explanation: His trainer gave him strychnine mixed with brandy during the race to keep him going. Hicks nearly died and had to be carried across the finish line. Such substances were legal at the time.
Question 4 : In 1970, which English goalkeeper made "the save of the century" on a Pelé header during the Brazil-England World Cup match?
Possible answers:
- Peter Shilton
- Peter Bonetti
- Gordon Banks
- Ray Clemence
Explanation: Gordon Banks made an extraordinary reflex save on a header from Pelé during the 1970 World Cup. Pelé himself said it was the greatest save he had ever seen.
Question 5 : Which boxer held his world heavyweight title for 25 consecutive defenses between 1937 and 1949?
Possible answers:
- Jack Dempsey
- Muhammad Ali
- Joe Louis
- Rocky Marciano
Explanation: Joe Louis, nicknamed "The Brown Bomber", defended his heavyweight title a record 25 consecutive times over nearly 12 years (1937-1949), a record that still stands.
Question 6 : In the 1999 Champions League final, how long did it take Manchester United to score their 2 decisive goals against Bayern Munich?
Possible answers:
- 45 seconds
- 2 minutes
- 5 minutes
- 8 minutes
Explanation: Manchester United scored 2 goals in stoppage time (91st and 93rd minute) to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 and win the Champions League in the most dramatic final ever.
Question 7 : In 1950, which team considered amateur caused the biggest upset in football history by beating England 1-0 in the World Cup?
Possible answers:
- The United States
- Switzerland
- South Korea
- Chili
Explanation: The United States, with a semi-professional team including several part-time players, beat England 1-0 in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history in Belo Horizonte.
Question 8 : How many goals did Archie Thompson score in the Australia vs American Samoa match in 2001, setting the world record?
Possible answers:
- 9 goals
- 11 goals
- 13 goals
- 15 goals
Explanation: Australia won 31-0, and Archie Thompson scored 13 of those goals, setting the world record for most goals in an international match. The game led FIFA to introduce qualifying rounds for Oceania.
Question 9 : In 1973, which televised sporting event "Battle of the Sexes" attracted 90 million viewers in the United States?
Possible answers:
- Super Bowl VII
- The Ali vs Frazier boxing match
- The NBA Finals Lakers vs Celtics
- The Riggs vs King tennis match
Explanation: The tennis match between Bobby Riggs (55, former champion) and Billie Jean King was one of the most watched sporting events in US history, symbolizing the fight for gender equality in sports.
Question 10 : Which Russian swimmer dominated the 50m and 100m freestyle during the 1990s, remaining undefeated in major competitions for nearly 8 years?
Possible answers:
- Aleksandr Sukharev
- Alexander Popov
- Denis Pankratov
- Vladimir Salnikov
Explanation: Alexander Popov, nicknamed "the Tsar", won Olympic titles in the 50m and 100m freestyle at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996, remaining unbeaten in major competitions for nearly 8 years.
Question 11 : In 1983, which country considered an outsider created a surprise by winning the Cricket World Cup against the favorites West Indies?
Possible answers:
- Australia
- India
- Pakistan
- England
Explanation: India, led by Kapil Dev, beat the two-time defending champions West Indies in the 1983 Cricket World Cup final at Lord's, triggering a cricket revolution in the subcontinent.
Question 12 : What is the only Olympic sport where athletes move backwards to advance toward the finish line?
Possible answers:
- Rowing
- Backstroke swimming
- Kayaking
- Archery
Explanation: In rowing, rowers face the stern (back) of the boat and pull the oars toward themselves, so they move backward relative to their body to propel the boat forward toward the finish line.
Question 13 : Which basketball player still holds the record for most points scored in an NBA playoff game with 63 points, set in 1986?
Possible answers:
- Wilt Chamberlain
- Michael Jordan
- LeBron James
- Kobe Bryant
Explanation: Michael Jordan scored 63 points against the Boston Celtics in a playoff game on April 20, 1986. Even in defeat, Larry Bird said: "That was God disguised as Michael Jordan."
Question 14 : Which country is recognized as the birthplace of curling, a Winter Olympic sport since 1998?
Possible answers:
- Canada
- Norway
- Sweden
- Scotland
Explanation: Curling originated in Scotland in the 16th century. The oldest known curling stone dates from 1511 and was found in a dried-up pond in Dunblane.
Question 15 : At the 2012 London Olympics, 8 players from which sport were disqualified for deliberately trying to lose their group matches?
Possible answers:
- Fencing
- Badminton
- Table tennis
- Judo
Explanation: Four badminton pairs (2 South Korean, 1 Chinese, 1 Indonesian) were disqualified for deliberately trying to lose their group matches to get a more favorable draw in the next round.
