Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Operation Valkyrie, otherwise known as the July 20 Plot, was the last of fourteen documented attempts at assassinating a prominent political figure. As with the previous thirteen, it also failed. Who was the target of all these attempts?
2. A failed plan to assassinate King James I and restore a Catholic monarch to the throne is commemorated to this day in England. Although 13 conspirators were identified, an effigy of one in particular is usually burned on a bonfire at this annual commemoration. Who was that individual?
3. Elected Prime Minister in 1980, this politician revised his country's Constitution in 1987 in order to declare himself President. Numerous attempts to challenge his position, and at least one reported assassination attempt, failed miserably. Who is this polarising politician?
4. Bloodless coups can be relatively common, even in democratically elected governments. Which country, perhaps surprisingly, was described by the BBC in 2013 as having "one of the most brutal political cultures in the democratic world, in which leaders are dispatched with abandon. (It) has become the 'coup capital' of the world"?
5. A failed coup d'etat in Equatorial Guinea in 2004 was notable for the involvement of a prominent UK politician's son. Subsequently convicted of his involvement in the attempted coup, he was fined and received a four-year suspended prison sentence. Who was the famous parent of this "knight" in not-so-shining armour?
6. Popularity doesn't always equate to profitability in the movie industry. Of these well-known generally highly praised films only one achieved immediate box office success. Three of these flopped initially. Which of them met the challenge of returning an immediate profit?
7. American entertainer Evel Knievel made a living out of attempting sensational though often spectacularly unsuccessful feats. While these stunts usually involved a motorcycle jumping over numerous vehicles, in 1974 he made one very notable jump in the "Skycycle X-2", which was more rocket than motorcycle. Over which geological feature did this take place?
8. Although there are some exceptions, sporting comebacks rarely end well. Which seven-time Formula 1 World Champion driver returned to racing after a three year break, competed for a further three years, but failed to end a comeback season higher than eighth place?
9. Singing duo Milli Vanilli turned fame into infamy when it was revealed that the lead vocals on their debut album were not their own. The Grammy awarded to them in February 1990 for Best New Artist was withdrawn in November that year after a storm of negative publicity. What was the name of the album for which the Grammy was initially awarded?
10. Muhammad Ali is the self-proclaimed greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. His record largely supports the claim, however even "The Greatest" failed on his comeback bid. Having retired in July 1979, Ali was lured back into the ring in the hope of winning the heavyweight title an unprecedented fourth time. Which boxer inflicted Ali's first and only TKO (Technical Knockout) in 60 fights?
Source: Author
Dreamcoat
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
Pagiedamon before going online.
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