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Make Your Mind Up Time Trivia Quiz

A quiz about voting, with a bit of a UK bias

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

Author
dellastreet

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
370,310

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
232

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Democracy, meaning rule by the people, originated in which ancient Greek city state? Hint

Sparta

Athens

Delphi

Corinth

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Question 2 of 10

2. The Althing, founded in 930, is the parliament of which Scandinavian country? Hint

Sweden

Iceland

Finland

Denmark

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Question 3 of 10

3. "The ballot is stronger than the bullet" is a saying attributed to which American President? Hint

Abraham Lincoln

James Garfield

Ulysses Grant

Theodore Roosevelt

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which country became, in 1893, the first to give adult women the vote? Hint

New Zealand

Finland

Australia

Liechtenstein

5. Before the advent of the secret ballot, British parliamentary elections could be disreputable affairs. Which novel by Charles Dickens features an account of an election in the town of Eatanswill? Hint

Barnaby Rudge

The Pickwick Papers

Oliver Twist

Nicholas Nickleby

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Question 6 of 10

6. British elections became more sedate with the introduction of the secret ballot. From which part of the then British Empire was the ballot box imported? Hint

New Zealand

Canada

South Africa

Australia

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Question 7 of 10

7. Elections often take place on a specific day of the week. On which day are elections to the European Parliament held? Hint

Tuesday

Different days in different countries

Thursday

Sunday

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Question 8 of 10

8. In many countries elections are contested between left-wing and right-wing political parties. Where did the terms "left-wing" and "right-wing" originate? Hint

17th century England

20th century Spain

19th century Russia

18th century France

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which controversial British politician wrote a book called "If Voting Changed Anything, They'd Abolish It"? Hint

Boris Johnson

Ken Livingstone

George Galloway

Nigel Farage

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Question 10 of 10

10. The statistical study of voting patterns takes its name from the Greek for "pebbles". What is it called? Hint

Oenology

Psephology

Petrology

Numerology

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Democracy, meaning rule by the people, originated in which ancient Greek city state?

Answer: Athens

Athenian democracy was established during the sixth century BC. Adult male citizens who had completed military service were able to vote directly on legislation. Democracies were later established in other Greek city states.

2. The Althing, founded in 930, is the parliament of which Scandinavian country?

Answer: Iceland

Iceland united with Norway in the 13th century, but the Althing continued to meet until 1799. It was restored in 1844 and has met since then in Reykjavik.

3. "The ballot is stronger than the bullet" is a saying attributed to which American President?

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln is supposed to have used this phrase in Bloomington, Illinois in 1856, but the speech in question was reconstructed decades later. Though a bullet ended his life in 1865, American democracy continues to thrive a century and a half later.

4. Which country became, in 1893, the first to give adult women the vote?

Answer: New Zealand

New Zealand women were granted the right to vote in parliamentary elections in 1893, but female property owners had been able to vote in some local elections since 1867. Australian women gained the right to vote and stand in federal elections in 1902, but Aboriginal women (and men) did not gain full voting rights until 1962. Finland became in 1906 the first country in Europe to give women the vote. Liechtenstein was the last country in Europe to enfranchise women, doing so after a referendum in 1984.

Answer: The Pickwick Papers

Samuel Pickwick and fellow members of the Pickwick Club visit Eatanswill on their travels through the country. They become embroiled in a parliamentary election being fought between Samuel Slumkey of the Blue faction and Horatio Fizkin representing the Buff faction.

6. British elections became more sedate with the introduction of the secret ballot. From which part of the then British Empire was the ballot box imported?

Answer: Australia

The secret ballot, one of the demands of the 19th century Chartist movement, was introduced in Australia in 1856. The Ballot Act was passed in Britain in 1872 and the first election using a ballot box was held in Pontefract that year.

7. Elections often take place on a specific day of the week. On which day are elections to the European Parliament held?

Answer: Different days in different countries

European Parliamentary elections generally take place over a four-day period, from Thursday to Sunday, with electors in different countries voting on different days. Counting of votes cannot start until the last poll closes on Sunday night.

8. In many countries elections are contested between left-wing and right-wing political parties. Where did the terms "left-wing" and "right-wing" originate?

Answer: 18th century France

"Left-wing" and "right-wing" were terms coined during the French Revolution, originally relating to the respective seating positions in the Estates General of those who opposed and those who supported the monarchist Ancien Regime.

9. Which controversial British politician wrote a book called "If Voting Changed Anything, They'd Abolish It"?

Answer: Ken Livingstone

"Red Ken" Livingstone led the Greater London Council from 1981 until its abolition in 1986. He later became London's first elected mayor, being succeeded by Conservative politician Boris Johnson. Former Labour MP George Galloway represented the Respect Party in Parliament. Nigel Farage was elected to the European Parliament in 1999, later becoming leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party.

10. The statistical study of voting patterns takes its name from the Greek for "pebbles". What is it called?

Answer: Psephology

The word "psephology" was coined by British historian R B McCallum. Numerology is the study of numbers, oenology the study of wine and petrology the study of rocks.

Source: Author dellastreet

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