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These Things Interested Me Trivia Quiz

I hope you will find this collection of miscellaneous bits of trivia that I have picked up at various times interesting too.

A multiple-choice quiz by tnrees. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
tnrees

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
207,006

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Impossible

Avg Score
3 / 10

Plays
2131

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. When was the last commercial coasting cargo voyage under sail with no engine in English waters? Hint

1929 or earlier

1950s or 60s

1970s or later

1930s or 40s

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Question 2 of 10

2. When did Isaac Newton predict that the end of the world would occur? Hint

10001

1760

2060

2034

3. The Scots often boasted that until relatively recent times they had more universities than the English. However there were two English universities set up before the Black Death that were suppressed by the efforts of Oxford and Cambridge. Where were they? Hint

Lynn (now Kings Lynn) and Winchester

Peterborough and Kidderminster

Stamford and Northampton

Durham and Norwich

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Question 4 of 10

4. The trackway through the Somerset levels (marshes) known as the 'Sweet' track after Ray Sweet the peat cutter who discovered it in 1970 can be dated precisely by dendro chronology. When was the majority of the timber that was found cut? Hint

Winter 3307 BC to Spring 3306.

Winter 4007 BC to Spring 4006.

Winter 3807 BC to Spring 3806.

Winter 3507 BC to Spring 3506.

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which of these statements about the historical King MacBeth is false? Hint

His reign was relatively peaceful and prosperous.

He was succeeded by his stepson Lulach the Simple.

He killed Duncan in battle and not by murdering him as he slept (as the play shows).

He went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1050.

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Question 6 of 10

6. Why are so many British public houses called 'The Marquis of Granby'? Hint

He was a sucessful general who was held to be the main reason for the British victory in the 7 years (French and Indian) war 1756-1763

He was the most famous drunk of his day.

He was a major landowner who insisted any pubs on his land be called after him.

He generously helped retired soldiers who had served under him to set up as pub landlords.

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Question 7 of 10

7. Britain's industrial revolution would have probably failed without the canal system. Approximately, how many pack horses would it take to carry a load that could be moved in a canal barge pulled by a single horse? Hint

400

200

100

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Question 8 of 10

8. When was the last French attack on Gibraltar? Hint

During the 7 Years (French and Indian) War 1756-1763

After 1815

During the Napoleonic war 1803-1815

Between 1763 and 1803

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Question 9 of 10

9. What is the origin of the London street name Piccadilly? Hint

After the local pickle making industry - Piccalilli is a popular pickle of mixed vegetables in mustard sauce.

After the second hand clothes industry - a dilly was a piece of good cloth that could be unpicked from a worn out garment & reused.

On the feast of the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary it was the custom for London dignitaries to process carrying lilies. This was originally the field where they 'Picked a lily'.

After the first building on the site known by locals wags as 'Pickadil Hall' owned by a rich tailor who made his money out of picadils (a type of fancy collar).

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Question 10 of 10

10. What is strange about the now non existent Scottish county of Cromarty? Hint

Between the 13th century and the break with Rome the Bishop of Santiago de Compostela had the right to appoint the local clergy.

Even after the Scots recaptured it from the Vikings the language of its law courts was officially Norwegian until the 17th century.

It was located in over ten separate locations.

Groups of Welsh were settled there in a vain attempt to control the highlanders, they and their descendants had special privileges until the 17th century.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When was the last commercial coasting cargo voyage under sail with no engine in English waters?

Answer: 1970s or later

In October 1970, the Thames River barge 'Cambria' carried 100 tons of cattle cake from Tilbury to Ipswich. The 'Edney' carried a cargo of wheat flakes in 2002, but this was as a preserved ship not normal commercial traffic.

2. When did Isaac Newton predict that the end of the world would occur?

Answer: 2060

In addition to his work on science (calculus, the law of gravity, optics, the Newtonian telescope, the laws of motion) he had other interests. He was an alchemist, a member of parliament, master of the Royal Mint (where he became the terror of counterfeiters, sending a many to the gallows) and he devoted much time to theology - in particular the prophecies of Daniel and St John which is how he came to predicted the end of world.

Answer: Stamford and Northampton

Oxford was Britain's first university. It was founded at an uncertain date, probably in the 12th century with University College founded in 1249. Colleges were originally merely endowed boarding houses for impoverished scholars.
Cambridge seems to have been founded in 1209 with the first college, Peterhouse, being founded in 1284.
England's next university to survive was Durham founded in 1832.
Scotland had 4 universities founded between 1412 and 1582 - St Andrews in 1412, Glasgow in 1451, Aberdeen in 1494 and Edinburgh in 1582.

Answer: Winter 3807 BC to Spring 3806.

It was possibly replaced a track made one year earlier and was repaired about 6 years later. It consists of a plank supported on crossed stakes. There are many later tracks connecting islands in the waterlogged areas.

5. Which of these statements about the historical King MacBeth is false?

Answer: He went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1050.

His pilgrimage was only to Rome. He is supposed to have 'scattered money among the poor like seed'.
His real name was Maelbeatha mac Finlaech (i.e. son of Finlaech) He was Mormaer of Moray not Thane of Glamis. Both he and his wife Gruoch were probably grandchildren of previous kings (the word used for MacBeth was 'nepos' which could mean nephew. Since the Scottish system of monarchy was Tanistry - a sort of elective monarchy system he had as good a claim to the throne as Duncan.
He defeated the 33 year old Duncan near Elgin on Aug. 14, 1040 (he was probably slightly younger). In 1045 he killed Duncan's father in battle.
In 1054 after the battle at Dunsinane, he was forced to give southern Scotland to Malcolm and was finally defeated at Lumphanan on August 15 1057. Scotland was partitioned between Duncan and Gruoch's son by her first marriage Lulach who was soon assassinated by Duncan.

6. Why are so many British public houses called 'The Marquis of Granby'?

Answer: He generously helped retired soldiers who had served under him to set up as pub landlords.

He gave about �31 million to his men at 1991 prices, and was in debt when he died.
The answer that was a successful general is quite close - he was a good cavalry commander, but not that good. He is supposed to have given rise to the expression 'to go for something bald headed' when his wig came off during a charge at the battle of Wartburg.

Answer: 400

A packhorse can manage about an eighth of a ton. On a bad road a horse can pull five times the amount in a cart, two tons on a good road and eight on a railway. In a canal barge a single horse can pull about 50 tons! (however a man has rowed a 29 ton lighter).

8. When was the last French attack on Gibraltar?

Answer: After 1815

As reprisals for British attacks on the French fleet, they bombed Gibraltar twice. On July 18 1940, most of the bombs fell into the sea - three were killed (including one nun) and eleven injured.
On the night of September 24/5 there was the final attack - 150 bombs from the First wave, 300 bombs from 100 planes in the Second wave, - three French were shot down and little damage was done, as again, most bombs hit the sea.

9. What is the origin of the London street name Piccadilly?

Answer: After the first building on the site known by locals wags as 'Pickadil Hall' owned by a rich tailor who made his money out of picadils (a type of fancy collar).

The house was built by Robert Baker, a tailor and collar maker. He was not pleased by the name.
A piccadill (which has various spellings) was a high-ruffed collar.
The famous 1893 aluminium statue in Piccadilly Circus, which everyone calls Eros, is actually called the Angel of Christian Charity. It is a memorial to the seventh earl of Shaftsbury who was an effective social and industrial reformer.

10. What is strange about the now non existent Scottish county of Cromarty?

Answer: It was located in over ten separate locations.

Cromarty was in at least 13 separate parts with five parts totally surrounded by the county of Ross. The county was basically the estates of the Earls of Cromarty. Cromarty became a county in 1685 and 1698 and was consolidated into one county with Ross in 1889.
Several other Scottish counties also had separate parts - Nairn was in at least four locations.

Source: Author tnrees

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Exit10 before going online.
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