It's All About 'D' Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Doors

The name missing from the list, of course, is Jim Morrison, but that would have made it too easy.
The Doors were founded in Los Angeles in 1965 with Morrison as the vocalist, Kreiger playing guitar, Manzarek on keyboards and Densmore on drums. Their self-titled debut album was released in January 1967. They were the first American rock band to have eight consecutive Gold Records.
Morrison died in 1971 and the group continued as a threesome for another two years before disbanding in 1973. In 2007, the band was honored with a Lifetime Achievement award at the Grammies and a star on the 'Hollywood Walk of Fame'.

Answer: Detroit MI

With a population of just under 1 million, Detroit is now just outside the Top 10 US cities in terms of size, although it has ranked as high as fourth in that category. It is the only major US city from which you can look southwards and see Canada. It is known by various nicknames: Motown, Motor City, The Big D, Hockeytown and Rock City. Detroit is one of 13 US metropolitan areas to host a team in all four major sports leagues.

The Tigers (MLB) play at Comerica Park, the Lions (NFL) at Ford Field, the Red Wings (NHL) at the Joe Louis Arena, and the Pistons (NBA) just outside of the city at the Palace at Auburn Hills, which is also home to the Detroit Shock of the WNBA.

Answer: 3 years

The first state to require drivers to pass a test and hold a license was Prussia back in 1903. America followed suit, with New York requiring professional chauffeurs to be licensed in 1910, and New Jersey becoming the first state to institute a mandatory driving test in 1913. Driving 'competency tests' were not introduced in Britain until 1935, and they were then suspended four years later at the outbreak of WWII.

Answer: Making small holes

A dibber is a small, hand-held tool used for making small holes in order to plant seeds or bulbs.
The use of dibbers dates back more than 2000 years. In medieval times, farmers would work in pairs, one using the dibber to make holes while the one behind him planted seeds.

Answer: Dolly Parton

'Butterflies' starred Wendy Craig and Geoffrey Palmer and ran from 1978-83. Their youngest son, Adam, was played by Nicholas Lyndhurst, who went on to find fame as Rodney in 'Only Fools and Horses'.
The theme song, which was played at the beginning of each episode, was originally written by Dolly Parton and was re-recorded for the show with Clare Torry on vocals.

Answer: The Divine Comedy

'The Divine Comedy' (or 'Divina Commedia') was the defining work by Dante, born Durante degli Alighieri in Florence in 1265. Although he was exiled from Florence in his latter years, a statue of him now stands in the Piazza diSanta Croce in his home town.

Indeed, in 1829, a tomb was built for him in Florence's main basilica, but it remains empty to this day with the custodians of his body in Ravena refusing to release it to the Florentines. Of the alternatives, three more medieval classics, 'Dictes and Sayings of the Philosophers' was printed by William Caxton in 1477; 'A Dispute Between a Priest and a Knight' was written by an anonymous Frenchman in the late 13th century; and 'The Decameron' was written by another Italian, Giovanni Boccaccio, between 1350-1353.

Answer: Derbyshire

Actor/comedian Tim Brooke-Taylor, a former member of 'The Goodies', was born in Buxton in 1940. Former Arsenal goalkeeper Robert Primrose Wilson, although he played his international football for Scotland, was born in Chesterfield in 1941. Sir Alan Bates, starred in such films as 'Far from the Madding Crowd' and 'Zorba the Greek'. Along with Oliver Reed, he became the first actor to perform full frontal nudity in a major studio film, in Ken Russell's 'Women in Love' in 1969.

He was born in Allestree, Derbyshire in 1934 and died in London in 2003. Labour politician Geoff Hoon, Minister for Defense under Tony Blair and chief Whip and Minister for Transport under Gordon Brown, was born in Derby in 1953.

He is the MP for Ashfield in neighboring Nottinghamshire.

Answer: Attempting to swim the whirlpools at the base of Niagara Falls

Matthew Webb was born in Dawley, Shropshire in 1848. A captain in the Merchant Navy, he became the first person to swim the English Channel unaided on August 24-25 1875, setting off from Dover and eventually landing in Calais almost 22 hours later.
He died on July 24, 1883 while attempting to swim across the whirlpool at the base of Niagara Falls.
The inscription on the memorial in his home town read "nothing great is easy".

Answer: Deborah Kerr

Born Deborah Jane Kerr-Trimmer in Glasgow, Scotland in 1921, she has held the record of six Best Actress Oscar nominations without ever winning. The two films missing from the list above, for which she was also nominated, are 'The King & I' and 'From Here to Eternity'.
In fact, Kerr never won an Oscar, a BAFTA or a Cannes Film Festival award in a competitive category, but all three honored her with honorary awards. She did win a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, in 1957 for her performance in 'The King and I'.
She was made a CBE in 1998 and she died in October 2007 aged 86.

Answer: Dad's Army

'Dad's Army', which ran for 80 episodes from 1968 until 1977, remains one of Britain's all-time most popular comedy series. Pamella Cundell made her debut as Marcia (later changed to Mildred) Fox in the episode 'The Lion Has Phones'. As the series progressed, she was wooed by Corporal Jones (Clive Dunn), until eventually the two married in the last ever episode of the series. The alternatives were all English sitcoms.

The oldest of these was 'Father Dear Father' starring Patrick Cargill. It ran from 1968 until 1973 and then returned in 1978 with a sequel set in Australia. 'Doctor in the House' originally ran from 1969-1970 but then spawned numerous spinoffs with the same characters, prolonging its life until 1991. 'Dinnerladies' starred Victoria Wood and Julie Waters and ran from 1998-2000.

Answer: Six O'clock

There have been numerous layouts of darts boards over the years, but the one in common use today has 20 in the 12 o'clock position, flanked by 5 and 1, with 3 at 6 o'clock position with 17 and 19 either side of it.

Answer: David

Actor Edward Woodward starred as professional killer David Callan in his five year stint on ITV from 1967-1972. Those who remember the series will recall that Callan worked for a mysterious government agency known simply as 'The Section'.

Answer: Dolphins

The human brain makes up an average of 2.1% of body mass. In dolphins, that ratio is approximately 0.9%. The only other species in the animal world that gets near to the 1% mark is the tree shrew.
You might have thought that simply having a large brain would make a creature more intelligent, but if that were the case then elephants would rule the world. This is because larger creatures require more brain functions to simply survive -- breathing, motor skills, senses, etc.
Amongst various other categories of animal, the shark has the largest brain/mass size of all fish, and the octopus is the smartest invertebrate. All birds have relatively small brains.

Answer: Aberdeen

Nicknamed The Granite City and The Oil Capital, Aberdeen lies on the east coast of Scotland, and its proximity to oil workings in the North Sea have bought considerable prosperity to the region in the past 30 years.
Of the alternatives, Dundee stands at the mouth of the River Tay. The river that flows through Sunderland is the Wear, and Belfast stands at the historic confluence of the rivers Farset and Lagan.

Answer: Ms Dynamite

The R&B, hip-hop, rap singer known professionally as Ms Dynamite was born in London in 1981. Her debut album, 'A Little Deeper', earned her the 2002 Mercury Music Prize, awarded to new British and Irish performers. She performed at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and at the 'Live 8' concert in Hyde Park in 2005.
Of the alternatives, all English singer/musicians, Kiki Dee was born Pauline Matthews in Bradford in 1947, Des'ree was born Desiree Weeks in London in 1968, and Dee D. Jackson was born Deirdre Elaine Cozier in Oxford in 1954.

Answer: 'David Copperfield' (Charles Dickens)

First published in serial form in 1850, 'David Copperfield' was the most autobiographical of Dickens' novels.
The eponymous protagonist has many nicknames throughout the book, notably Daisy, Doady and Trot. Clara Peggotty is the Copperfield family's faithful servant and is David's lifelong companion. James Steerforth is David's childhood friend. Betsy Trotwood is David's aunt, who becomes his guardian. Edward Murdstone is his cruel stepfather.

Answer: 60

International draughts tournaments are played on a 10x10 board (similar to a large chess board). Each player starts with 20 pieces, so there are 60 empty squares at the start of the game.
In the variation known as English draughts or American chequers, each player starts with 12 pieces and a regular 8x8 chess board is used.

Answer: Matt Damon

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, 'The Rainmaker' also starred Danny Glover, Claire Danes, Jon Voight and Virginia Madsen. Matt Damon starred as the Memphis State law graduate Rudy Baylor. Of the alternatives, all have appeared in films based on John Grisham novels. Danny DeVito also appeared in 'The Rainmaker', but he was the unethical former insurance assessor Deck Shifflet. Denzel Washington played reporter Gray Grantham opposite Julia Roberts in the 1993 film 'The Pelican Brief'. Dustin Hoffman also played a Grisham-created lawyer, but this was Wendall Rohr in the 2003 film 'The Runaway Jury'.

Answer: 1780

Officially 'The Derby Stakes', but also known as 'The Epsom Derby', this annual classic now takes place on the first weekend of June. It is the second leg of the English 'Triple Crown', following the 2,000 Guineas and preceding the St. Leger.
Although the first race took place as long ago as 1661, The Derby itself (names after Edward Smith-Stanley, the 12th Earl of Derby) was first held on May 4, 1780. The first four runnings were over one mile, but this was changed in 1784 to the current distance of one-and-a-half miles. The first winner was Diomed and prize money that year was just over £1,065.
One of the most successful jockeys was Lester Piggot, who won an amazing nine times. In 1981 Shergar won by 10 lengths. The 1909 Derby was the first won by a horse owned by the reigning monarch, when Edward VII won with Minoru, although he had won twice previously when he was Prince of Wales. At the 1913 Derby, suffragette Emily Davison was killed after throwing herself in front of the King's horse, Anmer.

Answer: Devonport

Britain's remaining RN dockyards are at Portsmouth, Rosyth, Faslane and Devonport.
Devonport, located on the English Channel coast, west of Plymouth, is the home of HMS Drake. It is Western Europe's largest naval base and is Britain's only naval nuclear repair and refuelling facility.
Portsmouth, also on the south coast of England, is the home of the world's oldest dry dock. Faslane, or HMNB Clyde, is located on Gare Loch, north of the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, and is home to Britain's Trident-armed nuclear submarine force. Rosyth Dockyards, located in Fife in Scotland, while not an official naval base, is the home for the Royal Navy's refitting service for its surface vessels.