Odds 'n' Ends Mixture Trivia Quiz

Answer: a cross-country ski race

One interesting loppet is the Birkebeiner, a 55km. race, which recreates the rescue of the infant Norwegian prince Haakon Haakonsson in 1206. Racers carry a 5.5 kg. pack representing the weight of the baby prince. Birkebeiners are held annually in Norway, the U.S., Japan, and Canada.

Answer: Burke and Wills

The ill-fated (some would say ill-managed) expedition did manage to cross the continent from Melbourne in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north, but it could not be called a success. Both Burke and Wills died during the expedition, as did nearly all the rest of the party.

Answer: butter and flour

A roux is made from equal parts fat and flour, and is used to thicken gravies, sauces and soups. When you brown flour in the pork chop drippings in your pan, you are making a roux. When you then add the water you boiled the potatoes in, you have made gravy.

Answer: the Battle of the Plains of Abraham

This 1759 battle ended French rule in Canada. The British forces, under James Wolfe, secretly scaled the cliffs of Quebec during the night, surprising, and defeating, the French forces under the generalship of the Marquis de Montcalm. Both generals died in the battle.

Answer: Forsythe P. Jones

Archie's friend Jughead is famous for eating, sleeping, and, for some reason, wearing a hat that looks suspiciously like a crown.

Answer: Lord Baden-Powell

Following the first little camp in 1907 Baden-Powell wrote "Scouting for Boys" a "Handbook for instruction in good citizenship through woodcraft" that started the whole thing. Baden-Powell was Chief Scout until his death in 1941.

Answer: singer

Although he is practically unknown outside of Canada, almost every Canadian would be able to sing you at least a few lines from "The Hockey Song", or "Bud the Spud". Stompin' Tom Connors has written more than 300 songs, and recorded more than 40 albums, all of them fiercely and proudly Canadian.

Answer: a geyser

"Old Faithful" is a regularly erupting geyser, with an interval at present of about 78 minutes. It was named (for its regularity) in 1870 by the members of the Washburn Expedition, which ultimately led to the creation of Yellowstone National Park, in 1872.

Answer: Stanley Kubrick

The adaptation of Anthony Burgess' novel was made in 1971, with a fabulous performance by Malcolm McDowell as "malchick" Alex.

Answer: Wild Bill Hickok

The '50's T. V. and radio hero Wild Bill Hickok was loosely based on a real historical figure, James Butler Hickok, who had been a Pony Express rider, scout, and marshal. Wild Bill was played by Guy Madison, and Jingles was played by Andy Devine.

Answer: The Great One

He was the 10 time NHL scoring champion, all-time NHL leader in points, goals, and assists, and when he retired in 1999, he held 61 NHL scoring records. Looks like he really WAS the "Great One".

Answer: Rex Stout

Rex Stout (1896 - 1975) was nearly forty when he wrote the first Nero Wolfe novel, "Fer-De-Lance" in 1934. He went on to write 46 more.

Answer: Bay of Bengal

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands belong to India. During the time of the British Raj South Andaman Island was the site of a prison, the "Kala Pani".

Answer: they are opposites

In an English braid, the side strands are crossed OVER the center strand, in a Dutch braid, they are crossed UNDER the center strand.

Answer: swing

"The Swing" by Robert Louis Stevenson from "A Child's Garden of Verses". "Up in the air and over the wall till I can see so wide. Rivers and trees and cattle and all over the countryside - ".