FunTrivia Blockbusters: I'll Have a 'B'. Quiz

Answer: Bear

There are, indeed, eight species of bear and they can be found in North and South America, Europe and Asia. The diet of the Giant Panda is based on bamboo shoots and Polar Bears are carnivorous, but the others - Brown, Asiatic Black, North American Black, Sun, Andean and Sloth - will eat both meat and vegetation.

Answer: Bow

A bow shoots an arrow; a bow window - sometimes known as a bay window - protrudes out of a flat wall; a bow is a forward inclination of the head and torso from the waist when a man meets a member of the royalty.

Answer: Garth Brooks

Forbes gave Brooks net earnings of $54m that year. Born in 1962, Brooks was a country music superstar. Between 1989 and 2007, he notched up 19 number ones on the US country charts. In that period he also had 20 number ones on the Canadian country charts. "If Tomorrow Never Comes" was his first US country chart topper, in 1989.

Answer: Sally Boazman

In a 'Radio Times' poll, Sally Boazman was voted as having one of the most attractive female voices on UK radio. A one-time actress, Boazman worked on BBC local radio stations before joining Radio 2 in 1998.

Answer: Bob the Builder

'Bob the Builder' was an animated series first broadcast in the UK in 1998. Action models of some of the characters were produced. In 2000, the song "Can We Fix It" topped the Official UK Singles Charts. It was also a number one in Australia.

Answer: Buick

Founded in Detroit in 1899 as the Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company it soon began to make internal combustion engines and went on to develop a market for producing luxury cars. Buick later became part of the General Motors group.

Answer: Bern

Bern (alternative spelling Berne) traces its origins to the 12th Century and Swiss Parliaments have met there since the 13th. With a population of around 130,000, it is not Switzerland's largest city.

Answer: Bull Run

The First Battle of Bull Run, to give its formal name, is also known as First Manassas. It was fought on July 21 1861 in Virginia. It was the first major battle in the War Between The States. Although the number of combatants on each side, at about 18,000, was pretty equal, the Confederates were better prepared.

After a day of skirmishes in which almost 900 soldiers from both sides died, the Union troops were forced into a retreat.

Answer: Bond Street

Bond Street is one of the green squares in the UK version. Others are Regent Street and Oxford Street. The mortgage value is £200 and houses cost £160. If you wanted to buy a house on the real Bond Street, figure on paying £400,000+. [zoopla.co.uk, April 2016.]

Answer: Broadway

There are thought to be around 40 large theatres in the Broadway district of Manhattan. New York City's first theatre was opened in 1750. Official statistics show that the district's theatres had collective takings of $1.354bn (£923m) in 2015.

Answer: Geraldine Brooks

Geraldine Brooks was born in Sydney in September 1955. She later moved to the USA and in 2005 was awarded a Pulitzer for her novel "March."

Answer: Birdman

Described as a black comedy, it follows the fading fortunes of an actor (played by Michael Keating). "Birdman" was the name of the super hero Keaton's character played in his prime. Out of nine nominations, it won Academy Awards for Best Picture; Best Director; Best Original Screenplay; and Best Cinematography.

Answer: Beatles

Formed in Liverpool in the early 1960s, the Beatles became a pop music phenomenon. Between 1963 and their break-up in 1969, they had 17 UK number one singles. I am taking that number from a 'Daily Telegraph' article that states (pedants please note) that "Please Please Me" is not one of the 17 as that particular chart was not officially recognised. Things seem clearer in the US, where the band had 20 number ones on the Billboard charts.

Answer: Beatrix

Beatrix ascended to the throne in 1980 and abdicated exactly 33 years later in 2013. She was succeeded by Prince Willem-Alexander, her eldest son.

Answer: Barabbas

All four Gospel writers record that Pontius Pilate offered the crowd a chance to have one of three people released. He hoped they would choose Jesus, but they picked Barrabas instead. Barrabas was a rebel and probably a murderer.

Answer: Beryllium

Beryllium has an atomic number of four. It was discovered in 1798 and is now principally used as a hardening agent in alloys. (Please don't bother looking up the wrong answers: I have invented them).

Answer: Basketball

Born in Canada in 1861, Naismith moved to the USA. He created basketball while working at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield Massachusetts and wrote the first rules book.

Answer: Breaker High

It was broadcast in 1997 and 1998 and comprised 44 episodes. In 2013, the website "Heavy" named "Breaker High" at the top of 'The Ten Best Canadian TV Shows You Need to Watch'.

Answer: Brain Age

Launched in 1995, the official title was "Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!" or "Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain?" It was based on users solving puzzles, but steered clear of any definitive claim that it would improve brain power. Pity: I need some help for the FunTrivia Duel...

Answer: Bridewell

Bridewell is a term not often officially used nowadays, however many existent place names still reference it. The name is thought to originate from Bridewell Palace in London. It was built for King Henry VIII and after various other uses became a prison.
There are no extra points for knowing that the 'wrong' answers are all prisons in the USA.