To The Nines Trivia Quiz

Answer: Macbeth

This line is spoken by the Three Witches in Macbeth (Act I sc iii) as they cast a spell on the title character. Three was often regarded as a mystical number so nine was triply so. This idea of a trinity of trinities being especially powerful probably explains why there are nine Muses in Greek myth, nine worlds in Norse myth, nine spheres in Ptolemy's astronomy and so on.

Answer: Sitting room

The Cluedo sitting room is known as the lounge. In the US, there is also an extended version called Clue Master Detective which adds seven new rooms including a drawing room, studio, gazebo and fountain.

Answer: Cherubs

In scripture, the cherubs (or cherubim) are the second highest order of angels after the seraphs or seraphim. They appear in Ezekiel Chapter 10 having four wings and four faces, but with no mention of the Cupid-like appearance seen in Mediaeval and Renaissance Art.

Answer: Hexagon

The six-pointed star created by drawing these nine diagonals is called an enneagram and is much used as a symbol of the occult. The Enneagram of Personalities is said to represent nine personality types (Critics, Carers, Achievers, Romantics, Observers, Loyalists, Enthusiasts, Challengers and Mediators).

Answer: 8 1/2

Federico Fellini's 1963 film "8 1/2" is said to be one of the best films about film making. It is about a put-upon director with writer's block who has a mental breakdown and starts having fantasies. Fellini had made six films plus three short (1/2) films to date making that his 8 1/2-th, hence the title.

The 1982 musical "Nine", based on the film won a Tony for best musical and a 2003 award for best musical remake.

Answer: Bert Campaneris

He performed this feat for Kansas City Athletics in 1965. Scott Sheldon is one of the few players to have done it since. The others mentioned were famous cricketers.

Answer: The Weakest Link (UK version)

An edition of "Jeopardy" starts with three contestants. "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" starts with ten awaiting the Fastest Finger First round (plus anyone left in the chair from the last show). "Celebrity Squares" (UK) or "Hollywood Squares" (US) had nine celebrities but never got through nine contestants in a show.

Answer: Yarborough

That's not the word I use if I get a hand like that! The word takes its name from the second Earl of Yarborough (1809-1897) who would offer odds of 1,000 to 1 against such a hand occurring. The odds are actually 1,827 to 1 against. The other three are pieces of horse tackle. Coincidentally, as I didn't realise when I picked the word as an option, Pelham is also the family name of the Earls of Yarborough!

Answer: Gustav Mahler

After Beethoven died leaving nine symphonies, composers became a little superstitious about writing a ninth symphony. Mahler wrote one but called it "Das Lied von der Erde". He then made the mistake of calling his tenth symphony the Ninth Symphony. Needless to say, he died with the Tenth Symphony (his eleventh) unfinished. Dvorak also died leaving nine symphonies while Bruckner had two unnumbered symphonies so his number 9 was his eleventh.

Answer: New

In French, German and Spanish, "nine" becomes "neuf", "neun" and "nueve" while their words for "new" are "neuf", "neu" and "nuevo". Why they should be so similar is a bit of a mystery. I suppose it could represent the new start when nine as a digit is followed by zero. Thanks for playing and if you scored full marks you should be on cloud nine!