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A Matter Of Life And Death Trivia Quiz

There are many quotations about life, death or both. Here are just a few to test your knowledge, with some indicators to help you identify who said them.

A multiple-choice quiz by shuttlemania. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
shuttlemania

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
370,739

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
654

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which British comedy troupe said, "Always look on the bright side of life" in song and on film? Hint

The Goodies

The Goons

Monty Python

The Carry On Team

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which novelist, poet and literary critic, known for his fictional series, "The Chronicles Of Narnia", was quoted as saying, "You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you"? Hint

T.S. Eliot

W.H. Auden

T.E. Lawrence

C.S. Lewis

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Question 3 of 10

3. Can you name the Greek playwright whose best known works include "Ajax", "Antigone" and "Oedipus the King" and who commented, "Not even old age knows how to love death"? Hint

Pythagoras

Sophocles

Archimedes

Euripides

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Question 4 of 10

4. The co-founder and lead guitarist of Australian rock band "AC/DC" has been quoted as saying, "I'm sick to death of people saying we've made 11 albums that sound exactly the same. In fact we've made 12 albums that sound exactly the same". Who is he? Hint

Angus Deayton

Hamish Young

Angus Young

Alexander Young

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Question 5 of 10

5. This American actor, singer, dancer and comedian, who starred as Hans Christian Andersen in 1952, is reported to have said, "Life is a great big canvas and you should throw all the paint you can on it". Who is this man who was born with the surname Kaminsky? Hint

Danny Kaye

Danny Elfman

Danny DeVito

Danny Boy

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Question 6 of 10

6. Although this quotation is often shortened, which manager of Liverpool Football Club said, "Some people believe that football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that"? Hint

Brain Clough

Bill Shankly

Terry Venables

Kevin Keegan

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which self-confessed "bad boy" of tennis said, "If you believe Anna Kournikova's claim that she is a virgin, I've never questioned a call in my life"? Can he be serious? Hint

Roger Federer

John McEnroe

Boris Becker

Ivan Lendl

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which former actress and First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989 has been quoted as saying, "I believe that people would be alive today if there were a death penalty"? Hint

Nancy Reagan

Barbara Bush

Hillary Clinton

Rosalynn Carter

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Question 9 of 10

9. Born in 1963, this NBA star was a prolific scorer for 15 seasons. His biography on the NBA website rates him as the greatest basketball player of all time. Yet he is quoted as saying, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed". Who is he? Hint

Michael Jordan

Patrick Ewing

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Magic Johnson

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Question 10 of 10

10. Although he is American, which Hollywood actor and star of "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" said, "I'm Irish. I think about death all the time"? Hint

Brad Dourif

Danny De Vito

Jack Nicholson

Christopher Lloyd

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which British comedy troupe said, "Always look on the bright side of life" in song and on film?

Answer: Monty Python

Written by "Monty Python" member Eric Idle, the song was used at the end of the film, "Monty Python's Life Of Brian". As the crucifixion victims are dying, one of them (Idle) starts to sing the ironic song and the others join in. The song is now very popular at funerals.

Answer: C.S. Lewis

Lewis served on the English faculty at Oxford University and, along with J.R.R. Tolkien, was a member of the Oxford literary group known as the "Inklings". He died on 22nd November 1963, the same day that John F. Kennedy was assassinated. As a result his death was widely overlooked at the time.

3. Can you name the Greek playwright whose best known works include "Ajax", "Antigone" and "Oedipus the King" and who commented, "Not even old age knows how to love death"?

Answer: Sophocles

Born in Colonus in 496 or 497 BCE, Sophocles was probably the most famous playwright of his time. He entered around 30 drama competitions in and around Athens and won 24 of them. Euripides won only four. Pythagoras and Archimedes were mathematicians.

Answer: Angus Young

Born in Scotland in 1955, Angus McKinnon Young has been a member of "AC/DC" since their formation in 1974. The band have now released 15 studio albums and have sold over 200 million copies worldwide.

Answer: Danny Kaye

Danny Kaye was a star of film and television with some of his memorable roles in "The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty" (1947) and "White Christmas" (1954) as well as "Hans Christian Andersen" (1952).

Answer: Bill Shankly

Born in East Ayrshire, Scotland in 1913, Shankly took charge of a poor Liverpool team in 1959. By the time of his retirement in 1974, the team had won three First Division Championships, two F.A. Cups, four Charity Shields and the UEFA Cup. He is still regarded as a legend to the Liverpool fans.

7. Which self-confessed "bad boy" of tennis said, "If you believe Anna Kournikova's claim that she is a virgin, I've never questioned a call in my life"? Can he be serious?

Answer: John McEnroe

John McEnroe won seven Grand Slam titles - four US Opens and three at Wimbledon. He would often challenge lines calls and was critical of match officials. His petulance at times overshadowed his greatness as a player.

8. Which former actress and First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989 has been quoted as saying, "I believe that people would be alive today if there were a death penalty"?

Answer: Nancy Reagan

Nancy Reagan was married to the 40th President of the United States of America, Ronald Reagan. She seemed to have many supporters and critics as her good deeds were often undermined by other actions. She was a founder of the "Just Say No" drugs awareness campaign, but received criticism for consulting an astrologer before giving advice to the President.

Answer: Michael Jordan

Born in Brooklyn, Michael Jordan played for the University of North Carolina before being selected by the Chicago Bulls. He played for the Bulls from 1984-1993 and 1995-1998 before finishing his career at Washington Wizards from 2001-2003.

10. Although he is American, which Hollywood actor and star of "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" said, "I'm Irish. I think about death all the time"?

Answer: Jack Nicholson

Nicholson's mother was of Irish, English and German descent and he was born when she was a teenager. Brought up by his grandparents, he and his family reportedly self-identified themselves as Irish. Until 1974, Nicholson believed his grandparents were his parents and therefore thought his mother was his sister. Now that's what I call confusing! The other options all appeared in the film.

Source: Author shuttlemania

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