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Quiz about An Arthur C Clarke Collection

An Arthur C Clarke Collection Trivia Quiz

A general quiz about one of the SF greats, Arthur C Clarke and his works, drawn from my collection.

A multiple-choice quiz by Flamis. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Flamis

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
312,172

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
306

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Arthur C Clarke's only non-science fiction novel "Glide Path" was based on his World War II experiences in which service? Hint

Royal Marines

Royal Army

Royal Air Force

Royal Navy

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Question 2 of 10

2. What innovative concept did Arthur C Clarke publish in "Wireless World" in October 1945? Hint

weather satellites

global positioning satellites

communications satellites

radar

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Question 3 of 10

3. Arthur C Clarke's first professionally published short story was called "Rescue ______." Hint

Mission

Ship

Flight

Party

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Question 4 of 10

4. In Arthur C Clarke's "The Sentinel", near what named location on the Moon was the Sentinel found? Hint

Mare Tranquillitatis

Mare Imbrium

Mare Fecunditatis

Mare Crisium

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Question 5 of 10

5. In "2001: A Space Odyssey", what is the common ratio of the sides of the monolith? Hint

1 : 2 : 3

1 : 4 : 9

1 : 3 : 9

1 : 5 : 15

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is the name of the new star that was created in the implosion of Jupiter in Arthur C Clarke's "2010: Odyssey Two"? Hint

Icarus

Lucifer

Apollyon

Hesperus

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was the name of the lunar sea across which tourists traveled aboard the Selene in Arthur C Clarke's "A Fall of Moondust"? Hint

Sea of Dust

Sea of Thirst

Sea of Hunger

Sea of Pain

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Question 8 of 10

8. What structure is being constructed in Arthur C Clarke's "The Fountains of Paradise"? Hint

a space station

a space elevator

a moon base

a launch site

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which Arthur C Clarke story ends with the line "overhead, without any fuss, the stars were going out"? Hint

The Nine Billion Names of God

The Food of the Gods

The Star

The Wind from the Sun

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Question 10 of 10

10. The "Fountains of Paradise" is set on the fictional equatorial island of Taprobane. Which real world island is Taprobane "about ninety percent congruent" with? Hint

Borneo

Mauritius

Sri Lanka

Madacasgar

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Arthur C Clarke's only non-science fiction novel "Glide Path" was based on his World War II experiences in which service?

Answer: Royal Air Force

He worked as a radar specialist, in the early warning radar defense system. The book is set during WWII and describes the development of the radar-based ground-controlled approach landing system for aircraft.

2. What innovative concept did Arthur C Clarke publish in "Wireless World" in October 1945?

Answer: communications satellites

The article was based on a paper he circulated among the core technical members of the British Interplanetary Society earlier that year.

3. Arthur C Clarke's first professionally published short story was called "Rescue ______."

Answer: Party

Both "Loophole" and "Rescue Party" were printed in "Astounding Science Fiction" in 1946. "Loophole" was published in April, while "Rescue Party", which had been sold first, was published in May.

4. In Arthur C Clarke's "The Sentinel", near what named location on the Moon was the Sentinel found?

Answer: Mare Crisium

It was in the lunar mountains near Mare Crisium, the Sea of Crises.

5. In "2001: A Space Odyssey", what is the common ratio of the sides of the monolith?

Answer: 1 : 4 : 9

Whatever the size of the mysterious black monolith, it always maintains that precise ratio of thickness to width to height.

6. What is the name of the new star that was created in the implosion of Jupiter in Arthur C Clarke's "2010: Odyssey Two"?

Answer: Lucifer

A swarm of monoliths engulfs Jupiter, causing the planet to collapse and nuclear fusion to begin, so the planet becomes a star.

7. What was the name of the lunar sea across which tourists traveled aboard the Selene in Arthur C Clarke's "A Fall of Moondust"?

Answer: Sea of Thirst

The Sea of Thirst is not a real location on the Moon. In Clarke's story it is filled with a fine dust which flows almost like water. A moonquake causes a cavern to collapse, and the dustcruiser Selene is trapped beneath the dust, creating a multitude of life-threatening problems for those on board.

8. What structure is being constructed in Arthur C Clarke's "The Fountains of Paradise"?

Answer: a space elevator

A space elevator is a proposed structure intended to transport people and cargo from the Earth's surface into space. Charles Sheffield's first novel, "The Web Between the Worlds" also used this idea, and was also published in 1979, so it's hard to say who exactly gave the space elevator to science fiction.

9. Which Arthur C Clarke story ends with the line "overhead, without any fuss, the stars were going out"?

Answer: The Nine Billion Names of God

"The Nine Billion Names of God", written in 1953, is regarded by many as one of Clarke's best short stories. You can read it at http://lucis.net/stuff/clarke/9billion_clarke.html

10. The "Fountains of Paradise" is set on the fictional equatorial island of Taprobane. Which real world island is Taprobane "about ninety percent congruent" with?

Answer: Sri Lanka

Clarke lived in Sri Lanka from 1956 until his death on 19 March 2008. He was a keen scuba diver, and the tropical location gave him the chance to dive all year round.

Source: Author Flamis

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