It's Silly Enough to Be True 4 Quiz

Answer: False

The 'C and A' shopping chain was founded in the Netherlands by brothers Clemens and August Brenninkmeijer. They used their initials, from their first names, to give the store its name. There are over 1,200 stores of 'C and A' in fifteen European countries, including Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and England.

This successful shopping chain sells clothes to men, women and children and has come a long way since 1841, when it was initially a textile warehouse in the Netherlands. I can't think why they just didn't call themselves 'Brenninkmeijer's'! Alas, due to the economic climate, C&A shut down in the UK, and doesn't operate in England anymore.

Answer: True

Kenneth Arthur Dodd was born on 8th November 1927, in Liverpool, England. He is a renown stand-up comedian with a classic music hall act. Ken is famous for his tickling stick and for inventing 'The Diddymen', such as Dicky Mint and Mick the Marmalizer, who worked the jam-butty mines of Knotty Ash.

His appearance alone, protruding teeth and unkempt hair, is enough to make many of the audience laugh. Ken initially began in show business as a ventriloquist with his 'Diddyman', Dicky Mint, and the act progressed from there.

His remarkable singing voice produced a best selling single called 'Tears', reaching Number One in the British Hit singles chart, in September 1965. Ken was deservedly awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II, in 1982.

Answer: True

The value of scrabble tiles are: T (1 point), W (4 points), E (1 point), L (1 point), V (4 points), E (1 point).
1+4+1+1+4+1=12 points

Answer: False

Hattie Jacques (Josephine Edwina Jacques) was born in Sandgate, Kent, on 7th February 1922. Her previous jobs had been a hairdresser, nurse and an arc welder. It was her ability to make people laugh, whilst doing these former jobs, that drew her to the stage. Hattie was merely her stage name.

This oversized comedian was aptly cast as matron in 'Carry On Nurse' (1959), 'Carry On Doctor' (1967), 'Carry On, Again Doctor' (1969) and 'Carry On Matron' (1972). She relished playing the part of matron, who could make a grown man's knees shake.

She married John Le Mesurier, who played the ineffective Sgt Arthur Wilson, in the situation comedy, Dad's Army. They were married from 1949 until 1965, producing two sons, but sadly, later divorced. One would have thought it would have been John who would have said to Josephine Edwina Jacques, "Not tonight Josephine" but it was Hattie herself, who was having an affair with a younger man, that caused the marriage to fold. Sadly, Hattie died on 6th October, 1980, from a heart attack.

Answer: False

Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Mozambique contains all of the five vowels, and is located in Southeastern Africa. It is irrigated by the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers, providing Mozambique with its hydroelectricity. Maputo is the capital of Mozambique, situated to the south of the Tropic of Capricorn, that crosses this tropical country. Mozambique has a border with Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Swaziland.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is another African country which contains all the five vowels therefore meets the criteria.

Answer: True

Harry Gordon Selfridge was born 11th January, 1858, in Ripon, Wisconsin, USA. On 15th March 1909, he founded a new store called Selfridges at Oxford Street, London. Oxford Street in those days wasn't as prestigious as it is today therefore he acquired the shop at a reasonable cost.

He promoted the idea that shoppers wanted some personal assistance and his retail mind was awash with new ideas. In his early career, whilst at Marshall Field and Company, it was his idea to use the phrase, 'Only so many shopping days to go until Christmas'.

His store, which he named after himself, still stands on Oxford Street today. His wife Rosalie died from influenza in 1918, so he was a widower for many years, until he finally passed away on 8th May 1947.

Answer: True

Paul Albert Anka was born in Ottawa, Canada on 30 July, 1941. He wrote for Buddy Holly, Frank Sinatra and Tom Jones. This male vocalist had a British Number One hit with the song 'Diana', topping the singles chart in August, 1957. This song was allegedly written in the form of a poem, to a former babysitter, who was three years older than Paul. 'Diana' is the world's second biggest selling single after 'White Christmas' which was sung by the old crooner himself, Bing Crosby.

Answer: True

This spectacular mountain range can be seen at the South Island of New Zealand. The town of Queenstown is situated next to Lake Wakatipu and 'The Remarkables' form an impressive background. Skiing is a popular activity here, and when the sun sets, it is said to be quite a remarkable setting.

Answer: False

The Hex key was first developed by the American Standard Pressed Steel Company, in 1911. The 'Allen wrench' (Allen key) trademark evolved from the Allen manufacturing Company, located at Hartford, Connecticut, USA. The Allen key is a light-weight tool which is easy to use and is available in both metric and imperial sizes.

This type of tool gained popularity in self assembly and flat-pack products, as they are relatively cheap to make.

Answer: True

Maurice Drake worked in advertising. Apparently it took him a long time to think of a jingle for Heinz baked beans. Allegedly, after drinking two pints of beer, in a London pub called The Victoria in Mornington Crescent, he came up with this world famous slogan, in 1967.

The alcohol made him realise that one could end the word 'beans' with a letter 'zed', therefore the jingle went as follows: 'A million housewives every day pick up a tin of beans and say, Beanz Meanz Heinz'.

Answer: True

Barracuda are predatory fish with a protruding lower jaw and are located in the warmer seas of the world. They have a slender body which can grow up to six feet in length. Barracuda are gluttonous and mainly feed on other fish, using their strong teeth.

Their streamlined body has depressions which allow their fins to fold under their frame, to reduce turbulence, when attacking their prey.

Answer: True

William Claude Dukenfield is the real name of W C Fields, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, in 1879. This former juggler and vaudeville entertainer developed an inebriated delivery of speech. His comment of "Start the day with a smile and get it over with" was typical of the character that he depicted.

He always moaned about Christmas Day, so it was uncanny, when he finally died from a liver ailment and heart failure, on this day, in 1946.

Answer: False

Captain Haddock, from the 'Adventures of Tintin', often used the phrase 'Blistering barnacles' but it was Captain Horatio Pugwash who frequently used these two catchphrases. John Ryan animated this children's television programme, originating on BBC1, in 1957.

The animation would begin to the theme tune of 'The Hornblower', played by accordionist, Tommy Edmondson. Captain Pugwash was the plump skipper of the 'Black Pig'. His crew included Master Mate, cabin boy Tom, able seamen Barnabas and Willy. All the crew were rather dopey and work shy except Tom the cabin boy, who was the only one who could cook, and if the truth be known, the only one who could sail the ship. Cut Throat Jake was the captain of the 'Flying Dustman' and the enemy of Captain Pugwash.

He was the typical stereotype of a barbarian with an eye patch, long black beard and an intimidating nature. 'Kipper me capstans', me Hearties, I'd better move onto the next question!

Answer: False

The quote is attributed to the American cartoonist, Charles Monroe Schulz, who created 'Peanuts'. Charles Schulz was born in Minneapolis, USA, on 26 November, 1922. It was always his ambition to become a cartoonist and practised, during his childhood, by drawing pictures of Popeye.

His first 'Peanuts' strip cartoon was published on October 1950, and his last, just under 50 years later, on February 2000. 'Peanuts' was about a group of children, who throughout his 50 year of cartooning, never grew up. Snoopy was the beagle, owned by Charlie Brown. Snoopy occupied his time lying on the roof of his kennel, often assisted by a canary called Woodstock. Charlie Brown was the central character who seemed to lack in substance.

He was the guy whose baseball team always seemed to lose, and when flying his kite, it was always tree-bound.

The character of Charlie Brown was based on his own personality although 'Peanuts' was a successful cartoon strip which made Schulz a very wealthy man. Other characters included his sister Sally, piano-playing Schroeder, and Linus, who was never without his security blanket. Alas, Charles Schulz died at his home in Santa Rosa, California, aged 77 years old.

Answer: True

Brylcreem was created in 1929 and was popular with people who wanted a smart, slicked-back, hairstyle. Teddy boys with ducktail hairstyles, popularised this product. During the 1960s, the Beatles dismissed this look for one of a fringe cut, with a longer disheveled mass of hair.

However, this teddy boy styled haircut became popular again thanks to Danny Zuko, portrayed by John Travolta, in the aptly named 1978 movie, 'Grease', which fantasized the 1950s fashion. So I'm confident, in future, when you hear one of television's most popular catchphrases, 'Yabba dabba do', you'll know where it originated from (a little dab'll do ya). Hope you enjoyed the challenge.