Opposites Attract Trivia Quiz

Answer: Little

In 1957 a landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. Nine African American students bravely paved the way for desegregation in the American South when they tried to enrol and enter at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Their attempt was met with fierce resistance from segregationists and even the governor, Orval Faubus, who deployed the National Guard to block their entry.

The students, known as the Little Rock Nine, eventually entered the high school under the protection of federal troops ordered by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Answer: Good

In the musical "Wicked," which is based on Gregory Maguire's novel of the same name, Glinda undergoes a transformation from the popular and superficial student at Shiz University to the Good Witch of the North.

Her interaction with Elphaba, who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West, is the basis for the musical which explores the power of friendship, social expectations and the consequences of one's choices and actions.

In L. Frank Baum's "The Wizard of Oz," on which it is based, Glinda is initially introduced as the Good Witch of the South who rules over the Quadling Country.

Answer: Poor

"Poor Richard's Almanack" is a collection of writings by Benjamin Franklin published annually from 1732 to 1758. Franklin wrote under the pseudonym Richard Saunders and the almanac contained a mix of practical advice, weather forecasts, proverbs and humorous anecdotes.

The almanac played a significant role in shaping Franklin's public image and contributed to his reputation as a self-made man and a proponent of common sense and practical wisdom.

One of its notable features was its use of witty sayings, many of which have become well-known over the years. Two famous ones include: "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise" and "A penny saved is a penny earned."

Answer: Late

The White Rabbit is a character in Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" - Carroll was the pen name of Dodgson. He is one of the first characters Alice encounters when she falls down the rabbit hole and enters Wonderland. He is notable for wearing a waistcoat and carrying a pocket watch which he frequently consults expressing his anxiety about being late.

The White Rabbit plays a crucial role in the story as he inadvertently leads Alice on her adventures by rushing off and Alice always follows him in curiosity. His iconic line "I'm late, I'm late! For a very important date!" sets the tone for her journey through Wonderland where time and logic are often distorted and unpredictable.

Answer: East

Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar are traditionally known as the three Wise Men or Magi who visited the infant Jesus in the Christian nativity story. The names of the Wise Men are not mentioned in the Bible and come from later traditions and interpretations.

The story is associated with the Gospel of Matthew where the Wise Men from the East follow the star to find the Christ child and present their gifts.

Caspar: He is often depicted as an older man and is said to have presented the gift of gold symbolizing Jesus' kingship.

Melchior: Depicted as middle-aged, Melchior brought frankincense representing Jesus' divinity.

Balthasar: Usually portrayed as a younger man, Balthasar's gift was myrrh signifying Jesus' mortality and foreshadowing his sacrificial death.

Answer: Worst

In 1960 Richard Blackwell was asked to do a one-time article for "The American Weekly" magazine of the "10 Best and Worst Dressed" people list. He developed a franchise from the Worst Dressed List.

The list became an annual compilation of individuals whom the fashion designer considered to be the most poorly dressed celebrities. It was known for its sharp and witty remarks, providing a humorous take on celebrity fashion faux pas.

The list became a part of pop culture and was eagerly awaited each year. While some celebrities took offense others embraced the recognition.

Answer: Lost

"Lost" is a television series that originally aired from 2004 to 2010. It was created by J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and Jeffrey Lieber. The show was popular for its unique blend of science fiction, drama, mystery and suspense.

The story revolves around the survivors of a plane crash who find themselves stranded on a mysterious tropical island. The island is not only physically challenging but also harbours a range of supernatural and inexplicable phenomena. As the survivors attempt to adapt to their new environment the show delves into their backstories through flashbacks revealing the complexities and secrets of each character's background and some uncanny unknown connections they had before the crash.

Answer: Bitter

The sensation of bitterness is one of the basic tastes detected by the human palate alongside sweet, salty, sour and umami. Bitterness is often described as a sharp, acrid or unpleasant taste. This taste is typically triggered by certain chemical compounds found in various foods and beverages.

Bitterness can serve as a natural warning sign in many cases. For example, some toxic substances in plants are bitter discouraging animals and humans from consuming them.

Despite its initial aversion for some, many people come to appreciate bitterness especially in certain foods and drinks like coffee, dark chocolate and some green vegetables.

Answer: Defeat

Although all of these men have obviously had victories in their past - some quite significant - their common theme is their defeat in some of the most famous battles or wars in history.

Lord Charles d'Albret was a Constable of France in the 15th century. He was the commander of the French army at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 where he was killed by King Henry V and his army took a crippling defeat.

Don Alonso Perez de Guzman y Sotomayor is more commonly known as the Duke of Medina Sidonia. He was a Spanish nobleman and military commander in the 16th century. He is best known for his role as the commander of the Spanish Armada in 1588 and its devastating defeat by the British.

Darius III, also known as Darius Codomannus, was the last king of the Achaemenid Empire of Persia. His reign is marked by conflict, most notably the series of battles against Alexander the Great. The final Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC resulting in another victory for Alexander and the fall of the Achaemenid Empire.

General Charles Cornwallis was a British Army officer and colonial administrator during the 18th century. He is best known for his role in the American War of Independence. Cornwallis is perhaps most famous for his surrender at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781 that turned the tide toward an American victory.

General Robert E. Lee was a prominent Confederate general during the American Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 marked a turning point, despite continued resilience Lee eventually surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865 effectively ending the Civil War.

Answer: Base

In chemistry a base is a substance that can accept hydrogen ions or more broadly donate electron pairs. Alternatively the Bronsted-Lowry theory states that: an acid is a substance that donates protons and a base is a substance that accepts protons.

The strength of a base is measured on the pH scale with stronger bases having higher pH values. Stronger bases are highly corrosive.

Base chemicals are essential in the production of numerous goods, from plastics and synthetic materials to pharmaceuticals and agricultural products. They form the foundation of many industrial processes and contribute to the production of everyday items that people use.