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One Dying and a Burying Trivia Quiz

For many years now, certain important and renowned people have been honoured after death via a State Funeral. Let's have a quick look at some of these ceremonies, from around the world.

A multiple-choice quiz by Rowena8482. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Rowena8482

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
329,599

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
515

Question 1 of 10

1. Which word, sometimes used for the bier upon which a coffin (or body) lies in state, derives from the Italian for "scaffolding"? Hint

Lectern

Palanquin

Catafalque

Dais

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Question 2 of 10

2. The State Funeral of a military officer, including the President of the United States, can include a riderless horse, with riding boots facing the rear in the stirrups. One of the most famous of these horses was "Black Jack" who attended the funeral processions of three American Presidents. Which of these was NOT one of those three? Hint

Lyndon B. Johnson

John F. Kennedy

Ronald Reagan

Herbert Hoover

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Question 3 of 10

3. During the five or six days of mourning which accompany a State Funeral in Canada, the national flag is flown at half mast from which particular building on Parliament Hill? Hint

The roof of the Chamber of the House

It's not a building at all, it's a flag pole in the 'Garden Square'

Peace Tower

The Capitol

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Question 4 of 10

4. In New Zealand, a State Funeral was given to the victims of a disaster which happened on 24th December 1953. What was this disaster? Hint

A volcanic eruption of Mount Ruapehu

The worst snowfall and hailstorm ever recorded in the Southern hemisphere

Pounamu flash flood on the Waikato River

Tangiwai rail crash

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Question 5 of 10

5. During a State Funeral procession, you may well see 'limbers and caissons' - what are these? Hint

Two wheeled carts, originally for moving large guns and ammunition

The helmet or hat and gauntlets of the deceased, atop the coffin

The hood, saddle and side cloths which caparison a horse

Outriders forming a mounted escort for the procession

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Question 6 of 10

6. Guido de Marco served as President of the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1990, and also as President of his home country from 1999 - 2004. When he died he was accorded the honour of a State Funeral. Where was his home country? Hint

Mexico

Italy

Malta

The Philippines

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Question 7 of 10

7. In 2002, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was given a Ceremonial Funeral rather than an actual State Funeral, in London. What is the major difference between a State and a Ceremonial Funeral in the UK? Hint

A Ceremonial Funeral is followed by cremation whilst a State Funeral is followed by burial

A Ceremonial Funeral has a shorter Lying in State

A State Funeral requires an Act of Parliament

A State Funeral must be voted for by referendum

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Question 8 of 10

8. Someone who dies whilst they are "An Taoiseach" is offered a State Funeral in their home country. Who or what is An Taoiseach? Hint

The First Minister of the Scottish Parliament

The Head of Government in the Republic of Ireland

Chief Advisor to the Dalai Lama

A recipient of the An Taoiseach medal is a National Hero in Laos

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Question 9 of 10

9. Australian Clive James wrote a poem entitled "State Funeral". Whose death did it commemorate? Hint

Peter Brock

Steve Irwin

Shirley Strickland de la Hunty

Joh Bjelke-Petersen

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of these people was NOT given a State Funeral in the UK? Hint

Winston Churchill

Isaac Newton

Charles Darwin

Florence Nightingale

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which word, sometimes used for the bier upon which a coffin (or body) lies in state, derives from the Italian for "scaffolding"?

Answer: Catafalque

The actual Italian word is 'catafalco' and they can range from a simple platform to an ornately decorated edifice. One of the most famous is perhaps the Lincoln Catafalque, which has been used for Lyings in State in the Capitol building, in the USA, since it was first used for Abraham Lincoln in 1865.

Answer: Ronald Reagan

As well as the three Presidents, Black Jack marched in procession at the State Funeral of General Douglas MacArthur in 1964. At Ronald Reagan's State Funeral, in 2004, the riderless horse was named Sergeant York.

3. During the five or six days of mourning which accompany a State Funeral in Canada, the national flag is flown at half mast from which particular building on Parliament Hill?

Answer: Peace Tower

Standing just over ninety-two metres high, the Peace Tower's full name is "The Tower of Victory and Peace", and it is a very famous Canadian landmark. It even appears on two of the currency bills in Canada, the fifty and twenty dollar notes.
Flags are also flown half mast from various other public buildings during the mourning period for a State Funeral too. The practice in Canada is to offer a State Funeral to former or serving Governors General, former or serving Prime Ministers, and Members of the Cabinet who die in office.

4. In New Zealand, a State Funeral was given to the victims of a disaster which happened on 24th December 1953. What was this disaster?

Answer: Tangiwai rail crash

The Tangiwai rail disaster happened when a bridge across the river Whangaehu was partially washed away. As the train crossed, the bridge collapsed and carried the engine and seven carriages with it. Almost half the people on board died, and some of the bodies were never recovered.

The State Funeral arranged to honour the victims was attended by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, as he and Queen Elizabeth were in New Zealand at the time.

5. During a State Funeral procession, you may well see 'limbers and caissons' - what are these?

Answer: Two wheeled carts, originally for moving large guns and ammunition

A limber is used to help transport a large field gun or artillery piece, and a caisson is used to transport the ammunition chests. They are used at State Funerals in the USA to enable the pall bearers to carry the casket. In the UK the coffin is put on the limber atop the gun and pulled by horses; the whole 'contraption' is referred to as a gun carriage.

At the State Funeral of the monarch, ever since Queen Victoria, the gun carriage is pulled by members of the Royal Navy.

Answer: Malta

It was during the Presidency of de Marco that Malta joined the European Union in 2004. When he died Malta held three days of national mourning before his ceremonial State Funeral was held in August 2010.

Answer: A State Funeral requires an Act of Parliament

In order for a State Funeral to be held, an Act of Parliament must be passed by the British Government. Generally speaking a State Funeral is given to the Monarch, and their consorts. Occasionally an eminent citizen may also be offered a State Funeral; people so honoured in the 20th Century included Earl Mountbatten and Douglas Haig.

8. Someone who dies whilst they are "An Taoiseach" is offered a State Funeral in their home country. Who or what is An Taoiseach?

Answer: The Head of Government in the Republic of Ireland

The Irish parliament is called the D�il �ireann, and the Taoiseach is the Prime Minister. The word itself comes from Old Irish and translates as Chieftain or Leader. One notable recipient of a State Funeral in Ireland was Eamon de Valera, in 1975.

9. Australian Clive James wrote a poem entitled "State Funeral". Whose death did it commemorate?

Answer: Shirley Strickland de la Hunty

Shirley Strickland de la Hunty died, aged 78, in 2004. Between 1948 and 1956, she won seven Olympic medals, three of them gold. She also won three gold and two silver medals at the Commonwealth Games in 1950. Verse thirteen (of fifteen) of James' poem says
"A brighter future, back there in the past,
Flared for a moment but it flickered out.
It speaks, our flag that flutters at half mast,
Of final silence. Let it silence doubt:"
It was first published in "The Australian" in August 2004.
Peter Brock and Joh Bjelker-Petersen were both given State Funerals, in 2006 and 2005 respectively. Steve Irwin's family declined the honour in favour of a private family ceremony, after his death in 2006.

10. Which of these people was NOT given a State Funeral in the UK?

Answer: Florence Nightingale

Although Florence Nightingale's family were offered a State Funeral, they declined and held a private family ceremony instead. Benjamin Disraeli also declined the honour, albeit in life; as a former Prime Minister he knew he would be eligible but decided against, and made his feelings known in his will.

Source: Author Rowena8482

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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