The Year of the Snake Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bolshevik

The first Russian revolution of 1917 resulted in the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II; he was then replaced by the Provisional government which was made up of members of the Russian parliament known as the Duma. In the October Revolution, the Bolshevik political party, led by Vladimir Lenin, secured control of the government.

Answer: Wall Street crashed

The Wall Street Crash began on 'Black Tuesday' in October 1929, when after a number of consecutively strong economic years in the USAa came to an end. In the years leading up to this date, Americans had enjoyed a strong stock market, however, on 'Black Tuesday' the stock market crashed.

The Great Depression lasted for many years and the period debatably ended in the late 1930s. Although the crash occurred in America, the Great Depression influenced much of the world and saw unemployment soar to rates of 25% and over in many countries including America.

Answer: It was the first FM radio station in the USA

The station originally ran from March 1, 1941 until 1951 when it discontinued transmission due to the lack of people with FM receivers. The first stereos with FM capabilities were approved by the Federal Communications Commission in the early 1960s.

Answer: Mount Everest

The summit of the world's tallest mountain, standing at over 8,800 meters was first reached by New Zealand born Sir Edmund Hillary and a Nepali Indian Tenzing Norgay, was reached on May 29, 1953. They stopped at the summit for around 15 minutes where they left chocolates, a cross and took some photos.

After their feat, Hillary was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and Tenzing Norgay was awarded the George Medal by the UK.

Answer: Westminster Abbey

The coronation of Elizabeth II took place on June 2, 1953, nearly 15 months after the death of her father King George VI. As she was not only Queen of the UK but also of numerous other Commonwealth countries including Australia, Canada and New Zealand, the event was televised and watched by millions of people from all over the world.

The venue of the coronation, Westminster Abbey, has been used for British coronations since those of William the Conqueror and King Harold in 1066.

Answer: Mars

Mariner 4 was actually launched the previous year and was designed to flyby Mars and return images of the planet. The pictures that were returned to earth showed scientists a very different view of Mars than what they had been expecting after they saw the harsh landscape. Transmission was gained and lost with the spacecraft until 1967.

Answer: Two aeroplanes collided

The Tenerife disaster occurred at the airport of the Spanish island on March 27, 1977. Two Boeing 747 aircrafts collided in heavy fog whilst one was attempting to take off and the other was back taxiing on the same runway. More than 580 people perished in the explosions that occurred as a result of the incident, while only around 60 people managed to escape with their lives (all from the plane that was back taxiing).

Answer: Spain

Spain held its first post-Franco general election on June 15, 1977 after the death of former dictator, Francisco Franco. The elections were by secret ballot. The election resulted in Adolfo Suárez becoming the first elected Prime Minister of Spain. He was Prime Minister until February 25, 1981.

Answer: He was admitting to cheating on his wife

Bob Hawke was Prime Minister of Australia between 1983 and 1991. He married his first wife Hazel Hawke in 1956 and began an affair with Blanche d'Alpuget in 1976 after she conducted an interview with him. Reportedly, Bob had considered leaving Hazel a number of times for d'Alpuget but changed his mind, fearing it would cost him votes. During a television interview he shed tears as he admitted his marital infidelities.

In 1995 Bob both divorced Hazel and married d'Alpuget.

Answer: Romania

Romania's revolution of 1989 saw the successful, violent overthrow of Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu. The revolution was fueled by numerous factors including the absence of free speech, increasing poverty and lack of resources such as food, clothes and electricity, which were sold to Western countries to pay off the country's debt.

The leader and his wife were captured on December 22, 1989 and their trial was held on December 25 where they were given death sentences and shot immediately afterwards.

The Romanian revolution of 1989 saw the deaths of more than 1,000 people from protests both before and after the fall of the Communist leader.