Quotations: Gods, Devils and Prayer Quiz

Answer: Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka was born in Prague in 1883. He worked as an insurance officer and wrote in his spare time. By the time he died in Klosterneuburg in Austria in 1924, he had published little and received little attention. He had finished none of his novels and burned nearly all his work.

His great works, including 'The Trial' and 'The Castle' were published after his death, against his wishes, by his friend Max Brod.

Answer: Albert Einstein

One of the most famous scientists, Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was born in Ulm, in the German Empire. His 1915 general theory of relativity was one of the most important breakthroughs in modern physics, and his 1921 Nobel Prize was primarily awarded for his work on the photoelectric effect that help lead to quantum theory.

He was in the US when Hitler took power in 1933 and didn't return to Germany. His letter to Franklin Roosevelt led to the instigation of the Manhattan Project.

Answer: Belgium

Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902) was and is a controversial and divisive figure in the history of British colonisation of southern Africa. He worked to expand the British Empire because "the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race". Rhodesia was named after him, he co-founded De Beers and became one of the richest men in the world.

Leopold II (1835-1909) founded and set up the Congo Free State as his own personal property. He ruthlessly exploited the people and natural resources, setting up a rubber industry to supply the demand of automobiles and bicycles in the developed world. The industry was set up using forced labour and no heed was given to human rights. Estimates vary, but it is thought that perhaps ten million Congolese people died as a result of Leopold's policies. It became an international scandal and he was forced to relinquish control in 1908.

Answer: 1986 Challenger disaster

Ronald Reagan was US president from 1981 to 1989. The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on 28 January, 1986. The shuttle broke up just after launch and all seven crew members were killed. Reagan gave an address to the nation that night. His speech was written by Peggy Noonan and included the two quotes shown in apostrophes from a poem called "High Flight" by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Answer: Horatio Nelson

Horatio Nelson's (1758-1805) victories including the Battles of the Nile and Copenhagen made him a national celebrity. His final victory was at the Battle of Trafalgar, where no British ship was lost, but he was fatally wounded by a French musket shot.

Answer: Diego Maradona

Diego Armando Maradona Franco was born in Buenos Aires in 1960. He was one of the greatest footballers of all time and FIFA's joint footballer of the 20th Century along with Brazil's Pelé.

In 1986, Maradona captained Argentina to a World Cup victory. The atmosphere was tense for the quarter final against England after the Falklands conflict four years earlier. He scored two contrasting goals. The first was a blatant handball, which the referee missed. The second was a sublime solo effort, starting in his own half, subsequently voted the best ever goal in the World Cup.

Answer: Frank Sinatra

Francis Albert Sinatra (1915-1998) was one of the most celebrated entertainers of the 20th Century. His singing career started with the Harry James and Tommy Dorsey bands. He later reached massive success as a solo singer at first primarily with teenagers, and later with a more mature audience, with landmark albums such as "Songs for Young Lovers" and "In the Wee Small Hours".

He acted in several films including "On the Town" and "From Here to Eternity", for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Answer: Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath (1932-1963) was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She was known for her confessional poetry, her novel "The Bell Jar", her marriage to Ted Hughes, and her death at the age of 30 by suicide.

From her poem 'Lady Lazarus': "Dying/Is an art, like everything else./I do it exceptionally well."

Answer: Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was one of the most important composers, known for works including nine symphonies, a single opera and his extraordinary series of sixteen string quartets.

Answer: Dorothy Parker

Dorothy Parker (1893-1967) was a successful writer who was frequently published in publications such as "The New Yorker" and received two Academy Award nominations for screenplay work, but she was and is chiefly remembered for her witticisms.

Such as: "Brevity is the soul of lingerie."
And: "That woman speaks eighteen languages, and can't say 'No' in any of them."
And: "The only 'ism' Hollywood believes in is plagiarism."