King William's College General Knowledge Paper 2013-14
December 21, 2013 2:38 AM Subscribe
The 109th issue [pdf] has been released.
A metafilter holiday tradition:
2012 post, questions [pdf, guardian], answers [pdf, guardian]
2011 post, questions [pdf, guardian], answers [pdf, guardian]
2010 post, questions [pdf, guardian], answers [pdf, guardian]
2009 post, questions [pdf, guardian], answers [pdf]
2008 post, questions [guardian], answers [guardian]
2007 post, questions [guardian], answers [guardian]
2006 post, questions [guardian]
2005 post, questions [guardian], answers [guardian]
2004 post, questions [guardian], answers [guardian]
2003 post, questions [guardian]
2002 post, questions [guardian], answers [guardian]
html version presumably forthcoming from the Guardian, answers to follow some time next year.
A metafilter holiday tradition:
2012 post, questions [pdf, guardian], answers [pdf, guardian]
2011 post, questions [pdf, guardian], answers [pdf, guardian]
2010 post, questions [pdf, guardian], answers [pdf, guardian]
2009 post, questions [pdf, guardian], answers [pdf]
2008 post, questions [guardian], answers [guardian]
2007 post, questions [guardian], answers [guardian]
2006 post, questions [guardian]
2005 post, questions [guardian], answers [guardian]
2004 post, questions [guardian], answers [guardian]
2003 post, questions [guardian]
2002 post, questions [guardian], answers [guardian]
html version presumably forthcoming from the Guardian, answers to follow some time next year.
It's like the written exam to obtain eligibility to propose to Umberto Eco's daughter.
Metafilter doesn't have empty quoting so this is what I'm doing instead.
posted by Sebmojo at 3:02 AM on December 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Metafilter doesn't have empty quoting so this is what I'm doing instead.
posted by Sebmojo at 3:02 AM on December 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
6.4 is Port Mahon.
posted by the duck by the oboe at 3:06 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by the duck by the oboe at 3:06 AM on December 21, 2013
16.3 is Rex Banner.
posted by the duck by the oboe at 3:23 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by the duck by the oboe at 3:23 AM on December 21, 2013
Ah! I was just complaining earlier tonight on Twitter that work tomorrow night and next week would be deadly dull, but I completely forgot the quiz would be coming out to keep me busy.
♪ ♪It's the most wonderful time of the year ... ♬
Like last year, I made a spreadsheet, which should be editable by anyone.
posted by rewil at 3:23 AM on December 21, 2013 [5 favorites]
♪ ♪It's the most wonderful time of the year ... ♬
Like last year, I made a spreadsheet, which should be editable by anyone.
posted by rewil at 3:23 AM on December 21, 2013 [5 favorites]
Section 12 is mainly easily found Latin phrases, until I get to 12.10: two words precede '‘non est temendi"?
Hm.
posted by rewil at 3:39 AM on December 21, 2013
Hm.
posted by rewil at 3:39 AM on December 21, 2013
rewil, I know one of the answers (Tarifa!) but the spreadsheet opens as 'view only' for me.
posted by tractorfeed at 3:44 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by tractorfeed at 3:44 AM on December 21, 2013
18.7 Tony Abbott
posted by the duck by the oboe at 3:49 AM on December 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by the duck by the oboe at 3:49 AM on December 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Section 12 is mainly easily found Latin phrases, until I get to 12.10: two words precede '‘non est temendi"?
Hm.
"Oh, baby..."
17.1 Rabindranath Tagore
posted by ersatz at 3:54 AM on December 21, 2013
Hm.
"Oh, baby..."
17.1 Rabindranath Tagore
posted by ersatz at 3:54 AM on December 21, 2013
Section 14 seems to be all constables, with 14.2 being a nod to Due South.
posted by rewil at 4:01 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by rewil at 4:01 AM on December 21, 2013
General only if you happen to be an army officer around the time of the Boer War.
posted by Caskeum at 4:08 AM on December 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Caskeum at 4:08 AM on December 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
7.9 Charles Pooter
posted by jet_manifesto at 4:20 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by jet_manifesto at 4:20 AM on December 21, 2013
2.3 Tintoretto
posted by paper chromatographologist at 5:35 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by paper chromatographologist at 5:35 AM on December 21, 2013
The 17s seem to be either about Bengal or nawabs, though I'm not sure why they'd include Iran (#2 about "parsee") on there.
posted by divabat at 5:38 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by divabat at 5:38 AM on December 21, 2013
when do we smother our feelings with difficulty?
Most British question.
posted by maryr at 5:45 AM on December 21, 2013 [5 favorites]
Most British question.
posted by maryr at 5:45 AM on December 21, 2013 [5 favorites]
I'm new to this tradition. Are you allowed to research answers ie use the internet?
posted by maryr at 5:51 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by maryr at 5:51 AM on December 21, 2013
Rest of the 17s, except #1 (already answered) and #2 (stumped):
3. Iftikhar Ali Khan
4. Bengalis????
5. Gandhi
6. Madhur Jaffrey
7. Muhammad Ali Jinnah
8. Tatya Tope
9. Nana Sahib
10. Jahanara Begum
Knowing the general theme helps a lot.
posted by divabat at 5:51 AM on December 21, 2013
3. Iftikhar Ali Khan
4. Bengalis????
5. Gandhi
6. Madhur Jaffrey
7. Muhammad Ali Jinnah
8. Tatya Tope
9. Nana Sahib
10. Jahanara Begum
Knowing the general theme helps a lot.
posted by divabat at 5:51 AM on December 21, 2013
maryr: according to Wiki about this test:
posted by divabat at 5:55 AM on December 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
The quiz is always introduced with the following Latin motto: "Scire ubi aliquid invenire possis, ea demum maxima pars eruditionis est", which translates as: "To know where you can find anything is, after all, the greatest part of erudition."He didn't seem to do that thorough a job with the 17s though, since all of those I found pretty quickly from Googling.
[...]
The current quizmaster is Dr Pat Cullen, a retired GP, who has been setting the quiz since 1997. He reports that he now checks questions by typing them into Google and changing them if necessary to make sure the answers cannot be found immediately.
posted by divabat at 5:55 AM on December 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
18.2 Strangled by ex-husband (reference to Nigella Lawson)
18.5 Seamus Heany
posted by divabat at 6:01 AM on December 21, 2013
18.5 Seamus Heany
posted by divabat at 6:01 AM on December 21, 2013
5.1 which one is 140 not out?
Something cricket? According to Cricinfo only two players scored 140 not out in an international match (ODI, T20, Test). Ponting and Tendulkar.
posted by bdz at 6:01 AM on December 21, 2013
Something cricket? According to Cricinfo only two players scored 140 not out in an international match (ODI, T20, Test). Ponting and Tendulkar.
posted by bdz at 6:01 AM on December 21, 2013
18.8 (big cat's dentition) may be about Stalking Cat, but he died in 2012.
posted by divabat at 6:04 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by divabat at 6:04 AM on December 21, 2013
18.1 may have something to do with Ana Ivanovic
Rather Branislav Ivanovic from Chelsea who was bitten by Luis Suarez
posted by bdz at 6:05 AM on December 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
Rather Branislav Ivanovic from Chelsea who was bitten by Luis Suarez
posted by bdz at 6:05 AM on December 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
16.1 John Rex
I guess answers to 16 have something to do with "rex."
posted by gubo at 6:08 AM on December 21, 2013
I guess answers to 16 have something to do with "rex."
posted by gubo at 6:08 AM on December 21, 2013
Section 2 are all Italian painters -- 9 and 10 are Masaccio and Masolino. The first could be Rosso Fiorentino.
posted by Francolin at 6:11 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by Francolin at 6:11 AM on December 21, 2013
16.2 Rex Mottram
16.3 Rex Banner
16.4 Rex Stout
posted by gubo at 6:14 AM on December 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
16.3 Rex Banner
16.4 Rex Stout
posted by gubo at 6:14 AM on December 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
2.2 may be Giovanni Francesco Barberi, aka Guercino or the cross-eyed
posted by goofyfoot at 6:46 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by goofyfoot at 6:46 AM on December 21, 2013
1.1 PSV Eindhoven?
posted by banal evil at 6:50 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by banal evil at 6:50 AM on December 21, 2013
1.9 Pedro Lascuráin, Mexico
posted by banal evil at 7:02 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by banal evil at 7:02 AM on December 21, 2013
13.1 Anteo Zamboni, Benito Mussolini
13.3 Leon Czolgosz, William McKinley
13.4 Izola Curry, Martin Luther King
13.5 Mateu Morral, Alfonso XIII of Spain
13.6 Adolf Hitler, Johann Georg Elser
13.7 Leonid Brezhnev, Viktor Ilyin
13.8 Juan María Fernández y Krohn, Pope John Paul II
13.9 James Hadfield, George III of the United Kingdom
Can't figure out 13.2 though. I'm thinking a name meaning "buck/stag"?
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:03 AM on December 21, 2013
13.3 Leon Czolgosz, William McKinley
13.4 Izola Curry, Martin Luther King
13.5 Mateu Morral, Alfonso XIII of Spain
13.6 Adolf Hitler, Johann Georg Elser
13.7 Leonid Brezhnev, Viktor Ilyin
13.8 Juan María Fernández y Krohn, Pope John Paul II
13.9 James Hadfield, George III of the United Kingdom
Can't figure out 13.2 though. I'm thinking a name meaning "buck/stag"?
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:03 AM on December 21, 2013
"To know where you can find anything is, after all, the greatest part of erudition."
So, Metafilter then.
That was easy. Far cheaper than my university eduction.
posted by kisch mokusch at 7:08 AM on December 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
So, Metafilter then.
That was easy. Far cheaper than my university eduction.
posted by kisch mokusch at 7:08 AM on December 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
16.6 Oedipus Rex
posted by Copronymus at 7:09 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by Copronymus at 7:09 AM on December 21, 2013
13.2 is Teddy Roosevelt, the Bull Moose, who got shot by John Flammang Schrank but still finished his speech
posted by Copronymus at 7:12 AM on December 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Copronymus at 7:12 AM on December 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
13.10 Karst Roeland Tates, Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
posted by Copronymus at 7:16 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by Copronymus at 7:16 AM on December 21, 2013
"To know where you can find anything is, after all, the greatest part of erudition."
Love it.
posted by adamvasco at 7:20 AM on December 21, 2013
Love it.
posted by adamvasco at 7:20 AM on December 21, 2013
"Peacefully hydrargic" in 17.2 is Freddie Mercury, surely.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:26 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:26 AM on December 21, 2013
goodnewsfortheinsane: I did think of that, but couldn't figure out what "hydrargic" meant and got stuck on my annoyance of Iran being lumped in with South Asia. But then I see that his parents are from India anyway and he spent some time there, so boo to me.
posted by divabat at 7:30 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by divabat at 7:30 AM on December 21, 2013
I tried to do a whole section as a Google-fu test. The 15s are mineral waters, and I got them all except 15.8, the giraffe one. It's killing me!
posted by neroli at 7:44 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by neroli at 7:44 AM on December 21, 2013
14.1 When constabulary duty's to be done (to be done)
posted by kyrademon at 8:15 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by kyrademon at 8:15 AM on December 21, 2013
4.5: Burstow (astronomers royal work in Greenwich).
posted by janewman at 8:18 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by janewman at 8:18 AM on December 21, 2013
My plan would be to just answer "Doctor Who" to everything. Thanks to timey-wimey, I could not be wrong.
posted by Renoroc at 8:22 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by Renoroc at 8:22 AM on December 21, 2013
13.2 is Teddy Roosevelt, the Bull Moose, who got shot by John Flammang Schrank but still finished his speech
Thank you! That was the only one that rang any sort of bell for me and still couldn't put my finger on it. I so fail at things like this. Hats off to you all!
posted by double bubble at 8:35 AM on December 21, 2013
Thank you! That was the only one that rang any sort of bell for me and still couldn't put my finger on it. I so fail at things like this. Hats off to you all!
posted by double bubble at 8:35 AM on December 21, 2013
10.10 Piccadilly
And I'm pretty sure section 10 is all London street names or possibly London locations.
Have to go make cookies now, though.
posted by kyrademon at 8:36 AM on December 21, 2013
And I'm pretty sure section 10 is all London street names or possibly London locations.
Have to go make cookies now, though.
posted by kyrademon at 8:36 AM on December 21, 2013
I may not know the answers to some any of these, but I will derive smug superiority from the fact that I know the difference between "its" and "it's" better than the editor of this paper.
posted by bac at 9:08 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by bac at 9:08 AM on December 21, 2013
8.9: Barnsley . I think the book for 8 is the Society for Diffusion of Useful Knowledge Penny Cyclopedia, which has been scanned in at Google Books.
posted by janewman at 9:17 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by janewman at 9:17 AM on December 21, 2013
I think 6.2 is Peñíscola; the general section header is clearly Mediterranean Spain.
posted by elizardbits at 9:27 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by elizardbits at 9:27 AM on December 21, 2013
Although since Pelayo was from Asturias in the north, maybe it is just Spain in general?
i just woke up i don't even know where my pants are
posted by elizardbits at 9:32 AM on December 21, 2013
i just woke up i don't even know where my pants are
posted by elizardbits at 9:32 AM on December 21, 2013
anyway 6.10 is Covadonga
posted by elizardbits at 9:33 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by elizardbits at 9:33 AM on December 21, 2013
6.7 is Tarifa
posted by elizardbits at 9:35 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by elizardbits at 9:35 AM on December 21, 2013
SORRY I guess I'll put them all in one
6.1 Barcelona
6.2 Peñíscola
6.3
6.4 Mahon
6.5 Pamplona
6.6
6.7 Tarifa
6.8
6.9 Badajoz
6.10 Covadonga
posted by elizardbits at 9:44 AM on December 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
6.1 Barcelona
6.2 Peñíscola
6.3
6.4 Mahon
6.5 Pamplona
6.6
6.7 Tarifa
6.8
6.9 Badajoz
6.10 Covadonga
posted by elizardbits at 9:44 AM on December 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
1.5 has an it's/its error, so I deem the entire enterprise null and void.
You're welcome.
posted by Madamina at 9:51 AM on December 21, 2013
You're welcome.
posted by Madamina at 9:51 AM on December 21, 2013
I'm finding it strangely satisfying to answer questions in areas I know nothing about, working entirely from Google power. Have done a few of the 9s, which are English racecourses.
posted by neroli at 9:59 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by neroli at 9:59 AM on December 21, 2013
14.2 Bob Fraser
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 10:01 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 10:01 AM on December 21, 2013
Note for anyone working on #8 (I've got to move on to other things): the book could be the National Cyclopedia, Imperial Cyclopedia, or some other plagiarist I haven't found yet...
posted by janewman at 10:08 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by janewman at 10:08 AM on December 21, 2013
While there are more questions I've figured out with further time and thought (most so far already answered here, so I won't repeat), I find it interesting that both of the questions I got instantly, with no need to consider, were references to Gilbert & Sullivan songs.
Which pretty much confirms that, as a child in a theatrical family, such things were PERMANENTLY DRILLED INTO MY BRAIN.
posted by kyrademon at 10:28 AM on December 21, 2013
Which pretty much confirms that, as a child in a theatrical family, such things were PERMANENTLY DRILLED INTO MY BRAIN.
posted by kyrademon at 10:28 AM on December 21, 2013
Pretty much any time a British person says anything even vaguely amusing with even the slightest bit of whimsical cadence I immediately stop to ponder which Gilbert & Sullivan operetta they might potentially be referencing.
i don't even like musical theatre
posted by elizardbits at 10:45 AM on December 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
i don't even like musical theatre
posted by elizardbits at 10:45 AM on December 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
Is there some kind of shorthand at work here, like how on Jeopardy! you know the answer to anything about a Chinese Architect is I.M. Pei, or possibly a famous I.M. Pei building?
I'm having trouble parsing a lot of these questions as referring to anything in particular. Like, "Who was a red head?" That has got to be some kind of code or esoteric reference. Because, I don't know, my cousin Jordan? Is that the answer?
posted by Sara C. at 10:51 AM on December 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm having trouble parsing a lot of these questions as referring to anything in particular. Like, "Who was a red head?" That has got to be some kind of code or esoteric reference. Because, I don't know, my cousin Jordan? Is that the answer?
posted by Sara C. at 10:51 AM on December 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also, the answer to 6.2 is either Peniscola, Spain, or Avignon, depending on which schismatic anti-pope they're referring to. (There are two in the Avingnon papacy, which almost has to be what they're talking about.)
Are all the answers supposed to be vulgar or make 12 year old boys giggle? If so, Peniscola, for sure.
posted by Sara C. at 10:56 AM on December 21, 2013
Are all the answers supposed to be vulgar or make 12 year old boys giggle? If so, Peniscola, for sure.
posted by Sara C. at 10:56 AM on December 21, 2013
OK clearly I have not been reading any of elizardbits' contributions...
7.2 has to be Samuel Pepys, no?
posted by Sara C. at 11:01 AM on December 21, 2013
7.2 has to be Samuel Pepys, no?
posted by Sara C. at 11:01 AM on December 21, 2013
Peniscola? Covadonga? am I only cracking up because I am way hung over or are dick places actually this funny
posted by threeants at 11:12 AM on December 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by threeants at 11:12 AM on December 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
I was hoping that there was some connection between Peniscola and Pensacola, Florida, but apparently not. Pensacola was named after a local Native American tribe.
posted by Sara C. at 11:16 AM on December 21, 2013
posted by Sara C. at 11:16 AM on December 21, 2013
I'm probably going to do an AskMetafilter question about this as soon as my seven days are up, but what IS IT with stuff like this?
Are British people just way fucking smarter than Americans?
I know that classical British education -- which things like this are probably representative of -- is much more classical Liberal Arts heavy than American education is.
I also know that, at least until recently, British students were heavily tracked, university was only on the table for the absolute top students, and many/most Brits left school around age 15. So I'm sure Britain isn't just teeming with total eggheads.
But then I see stuff like this, and I'm just fucking gobsmacked. I know this test is supposed to be impossible and the average student at the school gets like two answers correct. But I'm a grown adult, former Jeopardy! contestant, can beat entire bars at pub trivia singlehandedly, read history texts for fun in my spare time, AND I GOT THREE.
And it's not limited to just this test. I often don't know the answers to QI questions, either. I've seen real British quiz shows, and they're entirely lost on me. Cryptic Crosswords make my eyes blur. AND I'M CONSIDERED SMART FOR AN AMERICAN.
What's up with the British Trivia Industrial Complex, man?
posted by Sara C. at 1:31 PM on December 21, 2013 [5 favorites]
Are British people just way fucking smarter than Americans?
I know that classical British education -- which things like this are probably representative of -- is much more classical Liberal Arts heavy than American education is.
I also know that, at least until recently, British students were heavily tracked, university was only on the table for the absolute top students, and many/most Brits left school around age 15. So I'm sure Britain isn't just teeming with total eggheads.
But then I see stuff like this, and I'm just fucking gobsmacked. I know this test is supposed to be impossible and the average student at the school gets like two answers correct. But I'm a grown adult, former Jeopardy! contestant, can beat entire bars at pub trivia singlehandedly, read history texts for fun in my spare time, AND I GOT THREE.
And it's not limited to just this test. I often don't know the answers to QI questions, either. I've seen real British quiz shows, and they're entirely lost on me. Cryptic Crosswords make my eyes blur. AND I'M CONSIDERED SMART FOR AN AMERICAN.
What's up with the British Trivia Industrial Complex, man?
posted by Sara C. at 1:31 PM on December 21, 2013 [5 favorites]
Just a reminder for everyone — Metafilter's collective answers are being recorded at this Google Doc.
Currently the section with the fewest answers is 5; 18 is kind of sparse; all the rest are complete or mostly complete.
posted by beagle at 2:01 PM on December 21, 2013
Currently the section with the fewest answers is 5; 18 is kind of sparse; all the rest are complete or mostly complete.
posted by beagle at 2:01 PM on December 21, 2013
The fun of it for me is cracking the themes on the sections. Some are obvious and those aren't as fun, but when you have a section that just seems completely random and it turns out it's really after folk names for types of mushrooms or names of lures used in fly-fishing, that's the moment when everything clicks into place. I find that really satisfying.
So I guess the key is not to approach it as trivia, though that definitely helps to answer some questions. Think of it as a research/reference use test with a puzzle-solving aspect.
posted by rewil at 3:00 PM on December 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
So I guess the key is not to approach it as trivia, though that definitely helps to answer some questions. Think of it as a research/reference use test with a puzzle-solving aspect.
posted by rewil at 3:00 PM on December 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
Sara C, the average student at King William College scores 2 on this quiz at the first attempt. They are expected to go and find the answers over xmas and come back and do better.
posted by biffa at 3:04 PM on December 21, 2013
posted by biffa at 3:04 PM on December 21, 2013
Biffa, I get that. But, again, I can literally wipe the floor with other Americans who consider themselves good at trivia, and I got three.
That said, if it's really supposed to be about research and a jumping off point for learning about Spanish and Indian history, Italian painters, etc. then that makes a little more sense. Though I'll also say that, in general, any British trivia thing always comes off as much more difficult than its American counterpart.
It is a fantastically good inspiration for falling down Wikipedia holes!
posted by Sara C. at 3:32 PM on December 21, 2013
That said, if it's really supposed to be about research and a jumping off point for learning about Spanish and Indian history, Italian painters, etc. then that makes a little more sense. Though I'll also say that, in general, any British trivia thing always comes off as much more difficult than its American counterpart.
It is a fantastically good inspiration for falling down Wikipedia holes!
posted by Sara C. at 3:32 PM on December 21, 2013
Section 5 is so hard. It seems like they all have something to do with pre-Conquest Britain, but the fact that the question is "which..." suggests a particular set of things. Towns? Tribes? Forts?
posted by neroli at 4:20 PM on December 21, 2013
posted by neroli at 4:20 PM on December 21, 2013
The first one (5.1) must be something cricket related. "not out" is a cricket term and 140 not out totally makes sense. As I wrote above only two cricket players made 140 not out in an international match, Ponting and Tendulkar, two of the greatest.
posted by bdz at 4:25 PM on December 21, 2013
posted by bdz at 4:25 PM on December 21, 2013
For 5.2, the answer is probably "Derby"; the town used to have the Anglo-Saxon name "Northworthy" before the name was changed by the Danish Vikings. However, until we can confirm the 'theme' of Section 5, it is hard to pin this down with certainty.
posted by jet_manifesto at 4:43 PM on December 21, 2013
posted by jet_manifesto at 4:43 PM on December 21, 2013
16.9 Pyrex
posted by novalis_dt at 9:21 PM on December 21, 2013
posted by novalis_dt at 9:21 PM on December 21, 2013
They spelled "Neruda" wrong. Philologasters.
posted by Schlimmbesserung at 10:32 PM on December 21, 2013
posted by Schlimmbesserung at 10:32 PM on December 21, 2013
Just a reminder for everyone — Metafilter's collective answers are being recorded at this Google Doc.
Currently the section with the fewest answers is 5; 18 is kind of sparse; all the rest are complete or mostly complete.
I spent some time trying to figure out 11.5 ("Which Royal Infant was born prematurely at the Fürstenhof due to her mother’s pleurisy, and died the same day"), but don't find the answer. That being said, I'm not convinced that answer given in the Google Doc is right either. Somebody has entered "Princess Charlotte", which I think is supposed to be in reference to Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales, who died shortly after giving birth to a stillborn son (who was born late, not premature).
Der Fürstenhof is a famous hotel in Kempton, Bavaria, where the royal families of Hohenstaufen and Habsburg used to stay. My guess is that the child was from one of those families, but my googling, even in German, has yielded little.
I'm also not finding any Charlotte form the house Hohenstaufen or Habsburg. So whoever put that answer in, it would be good to see a further explanation (or link) in the comments section.
posted by kisch mokusch at 1:54 AM on December 22, 2013
Currently the section with the fewest answers is 5; 18 is kind of sparse; all the rest are complete or mostly complete.
I spent some time trying to figure out 11.5 ("Which Royal Infant was born prematurely at the Fürstenhof due to her mother’s pleurisy, and died the same day"), but don't find the answer. That being said, I'm not convinced that answer given in the Google Doc is right either. Somebody has entered "Princess Charlotte", which I think is supposed to be in reference to Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales, who died shortly after giving birth to a stillborn son (who was born late, not premature).
Der Fürstenhof is a famous hotel in Kempton, Bavaria, where the royal families of Hohenstaufen and Habsburg used to stay. My guess is that the child was from one of those families, but my googling, even in German, has yielded little.
I'm also not finding any Charlotte form the house Hohenstaufen or Habsburg. So whoever put that answer in, it would be good to see a further explanation (or link) in the comments section.
posted by kisch mokusch at 1:54 AM on December 22, 2013
This is a quiz that you're supposed to research to get the answers, not know.
posted by empath at 2:00 AM on December 22, 2013
posted by empath at 2:00 AM on December 22, 2013
The Charlotte is Princess Charlotte of Clarence, born and died on March 21, 1819. I'll clarify on the spreadsheet.
posted by rewil at 3:16 AM on December 22, 2013
posted by rewil at 3:16 AM on December 22, 2013
Bwithh: I've added a clarifying note to 14.4 on the Doc. I think "leading the Kingdom's force" refers here to leading an independent unit of the territorial police forces.
posted by beagle at 5:46 AM on December 22, 2013
posted by beagle at 5:46 AM on December 22, 2013
If you can use another quiz, several of Jon Carroll's annual Christmas quizzes are aggregated here (warning: contains links to answers), and unless he's retired in the past year, there will be another one at the Chronicle's website sfgate.com on Wednesday.
posted by goofyfoot at 1:10 PM on December 22, 2013
posted by goofyfoot at 1:10 PM on December 22, 2013
10.5 is the Strand (where Burlington Bertie from Bow walks with me gloves in me 'and, then walks down again with 'em off).
posted by andraste at 1:18 PM on December 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by andraste at 1:18 PM on December 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm not sure about Epsom Downs for 9.3 just because I can't find anything saying that the rest of the programme was suspended - in fact some newspapers of the day didn't even see it as the day's major event. I'm plumping for Newbury where in 2011 the day's racing was abandoned after two horses dropped dead while parading for the day's first race.
posted by andraste at 2:14 PM on December 22, 2013
posted by andraste at 2:14 PM on December 22, 2013
Mind you I'm not sure about Epsom Downs for 9.6 either.
posted by andraste at 2:16 PM on December 22, 2013
posted by andraste at 2:16 PM on December 22, 2013
Not sure about 4.9. Surrey, BC also has the Grand Taj Banquet Hall which might fit better but somehow I don't think the answer lies outside of Surrey, UK. The tandoori house there is possible I suppose, but I think the answer is going to be some great house or building erected in the 19th C.
posted by CCBC at 2:53 PM on December 22, 2013
posted by CCBC at 2:53 PM on December 22, 2013
For 4.9, if it weren't for the 'nominally' I'd say the answer must be Woking (home of the first mosque in the UK, built in the 19th century with a design inspired by the Taj Mahal ).
If one reads 'nominally' in the normal sense rather than digging into its etymology, Woking is a very good answer to the question posed, so I think it's more likely than not to be correct.
posted by janewman at 3:41 PM on December 22, 2013
If one reads 'nominally' in the normal sense rather than digging into its etymology, Woking is a very good answer to the question posed, so I think it's more likely than not to be correct.
posted by janewman at 3:41 PM on December 22, 2013
Found 7.4: Diary of a Pilgrimage by Jerome J. Jerome.
posted by janewman at 3:50 PM on December 22, 2013
posted by janewman at 3:50 PM on December 22, 2013
Good lord, I never even made the "shocking events"/electricity connection. Pun fail!
posted by andraste at 11:05 PM on December 22, 2013
posted by andraste at 11:05 PM on December 22, 2013
10.2 must be Smith Square ; 10.9: Cheyne Walk, Chelsea . The guesses appear to have been on the right track for both of those.
posted by janewman at 12:15 AM on December 24, 2013
posted by janewman at 12:15 AM on December 24, 2013
Although I think all my knowledge of British horseracing comes from "My Fair Lady", thanks to Google I've been able to fill in the rest of #9 (9.4, 9.6, 9.7). I wonder, though: do you really count as a widower when it's because you've had your wife beheaded?
posted by janewman at 12:42 AM on December 24, 2013
posted by janewman at 12:42 AM on December 24, 2013
Keeping score: on rewil's Google Doc spreadsheet, we are down to 11 questions unanswered, and 7 that carry a question mark. All highlighted for your convenience and puzzling pleasure.
Also, if you have time, please add citations/explanations in the comments column where missing.
posted by beagle at 7:19 AM on December 24, 2013
Also, if you have time, please add citations/explanations in the comments column where missing.
posted by beagle at 7:19 AM on December 24, 2013
I wish we could work out the theme of section 5. The answers we do have don't seem to link together, and the use of "which" rather than "what" or "who" in the questions doesn't help either.
With 18.4, something is nagging at the back of my brain. Is there some kind of bird or critter that's commonly known as an "urban thief"? Googling is no help. And the jubilee meal is a puzzle. The Queen's diamond jubilee was in 2012 but there were celebrations of the anniversary of the actual coronation in 2013 - or is it to do with the Jubilee Line? Or Cherries Jubilee?
posted by andraste at 11:24 PM on December 24, 2013
With 18.4, something is nagging at the back of my brain. Is there some kind of bird or critter that's commonly known as an "urban thief"? Googling is no help. And the jubilee meal is a puzzle. The Queen's diamond jubilee was in 2012 but there were celebrations of the anniversary of the actual coronation in 2013 - or is it to do with the Jubilee Line? Or Cherries Jubilee?
posted by andraste at 11:24 PM on December 24, 2013
Oh, nice work, whoever figured it out! Section 5 completely and utterly stumped me.
posted by rewil at 2:14 AM on December 25, 2013
posted by rewil at 2:14 AM on December 25, 2013
Two left unsolved, plus one questionable. Spreadsheet link.
posted by beagle at 8:17 AM on December 25, 2013
posted by beagle at 8:17 AM on December 25, 2013
FWIW, I was looking at 18.4 with the hunt that jubilee could be Christmas related and accidentally learned the term Christmas grip.
posted by maryr at 9:40 AM on December 25, 2013
posted by maryr at 9:40 AM on December 25, 2013
I share everyone's amazement with the solution to #5. How'd you break the code?
posted by janewman at 10:43 AM on December 25, 2013
posted by janewman at 10:43 AM on December 25, 2013
OMG, check out the master sleuthery described by the guy who solved Section 5 in his column E comments by that section in the spreadsheet. He is not a MeFi member but some kind of mysterious lone wanderer puzzle solver.
Noted for future reference that the quiz often has a section with an Isle of Man theme.
Thanks, "lone wanderer puzzle solver" Mike Bath from Manchester!
posted by beagle at 2:22 PM on December 25, 2013
Noted for future reference that the quiz often has a section with an Isle of Man theme.
Thanks, "lone wanderer puzzle solver" Mike Bath from Manchester!
posted by beagle at 2:22 PM on December 25, 2013
18.4 is Tooting - a fox stole a handbag in a suburban garden & ate the contents. Great story.
See Daily Mail 17/07/13.
posted by brikelsey at 2:01 AM on December 26, 2013
See Daily Mail 17/07/13.
posted by brikelsey at 2:01 AM on December 26, 2013
Thanks, brikelsey!
We are down to one stumper:
7.8 [diarists theme] Which traveller, having earlier witnessed the hanging of two men, determined on 22nd October to petition for the repeal of the law?
Suggestions include Samuel Romilly, Sydney Silverman, De Toqueville, Lafayette. So far nothing solid turns up in their writings. Keep in mind that given the nature of the quiz, "the law" may not be related to the hanging. And "earlier witnessed" doesn't necessarily mean the hanging happened that day.
Any leads appreciated!
posted by beagle at 6:22 AM on December 26, 2013
We are down to one stumper:
7.8 [diarists theme] Which traveller, having earlier witnessed the hanging of two men, determined on 22nd October to petition for the repeal of the law?
Suggestions include Samuel Romilly, Sydney Silverman, De Toqueville, Lafayette. So far nothing solid turns up in their writings. Keep in mind that given the nature of the quiz, "the law" may not be related to the hanging. And "earlier witnessed" doesn't necessarily mean the hanging happened that day.
Any leads appreciated!
posted by beagle at 6:22 AM on December 26, 2013
Mary dyer was sentenced to be hanged with two other people on October 22 1659 for spreading Quakerism to Massachusetts, but was spared at the last minute and was banished instead. She returned later to ask that the anti-Quaker law be repealed. She was executed.
The only journal I can find that mentions her, though is john winthrop, but he wasn't there for the trials.
posted by empath at 9:29 AM on December 26, 2013
The only journal I can find that mentions her, though is john winthrop, but he wasn't there for the trials.
posted by empath at 9:29 AM on December 26, 2013
I'm stuck on 7.8. I don't have time now, but it may be worth following up on this search to see if any likely cases turn up:
http://books.google.com/books?id=U2wdSecEXJEC&q=travel#v=snippet&q=travel&f=false
posted by janewman at 6:45 PM on December 26, 2013
http://books.google.com/books?id=U2wdSecEXJEC&q=travel#v=snippet&q=travel&f=false
posted by janewman at 6:45 PM on December 26, 2013
On the spreadsheet, I've suggested John Duncan as the traveller for 7.8.
posted by beagle at 5:39 PM on December 28, 2013
posted by beagle at 5:39 PM on December 28, 2013
7.8 This is a guy who went on an English rural ride.
posted by Erzsebet at 3:56 AM on December 29, 2013
posted by Erzsebet at 3:56 AM on December 29, 2013
18.4 There was another London fox that got raven-ous.
posted by Erzsebet at 4:20 AM on December 29, 2013
posted by Erzsebet at 4:20 AM on December 29, 2013
2.8 It could be a Renaissance artist who sometimes found himself 'in clover'.
posted by Erzsebet at 4:48 AM on December 29, 2013
posted by Erzsebet at 4:48 AM on December 29, 2013
7.8 This is a guy who went on an English rural ride.
Not necessarily. We don't even know if it is a "guy" for sure and can't assume that he or she was English or in England. "Petition" seems to indicate planned action in Parliament, but could be in another nation. Not all of the diarists in this category are British. And, a "traveller" could witness executions in a foreign country and resolve to petition to end the practice in his or her native land. And, for that matter, the determination to petition for repeal could be completely unrelated to the hangings. Finally "earlier witnessed" doesn't mean the hangings took place on October 22 — any amount of time could have elapsed between the witnessing and the determination. All of which makes this so far a supremely un-Googleable question.
posted by beagle at 7:49 AM on December 29, 2013
Not necessarily. We don't even know if it is a "guy" for sure and can't assume that he or she was English or in England. "Petition" seems to indicate planned action in Parliament, but could be in another nation. Not all of the diarists in this category are British. And, a "traveller" could witness executions in a foreign country and resolve to petition to end the practice in his or her native land. And, for that matter, the determination to petition for repeal could be completely unrelated to the hangings. Finally "earlier witnessed" doesn't mean the hangings took place on October 22 — any amount of time could have elapsed between the witnessing and the determination. All of which makes this so far a supremely un-Googleable question.
posted by beagle at 7:49 AM on December 29, 2013
7.8 William Cobbett in his Rural Rides wrote on 22nd October of seeking to repeal the law under which he had seen two men hanged earlier. It seems as good a fit as any.
posted by Erzsebet at 10:15 AM on December 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Erzsebet at 10:15 AM on December 29, 2013 [1 favorite]
Ah, thanks Erzsebet, I didn't catch the hint.
I've added your answer to the spreadsheet with a link to the book: Navigate to page 154 here.
The hanging itself took place the previous spring. The men were hanged for poaching and the law in question called for the death penalty for poaching.
posted by beagle at 11:50 AM on December 29, 2013
I've added your answer to the spreadsheet with a link to the book: Navigate to page 154 here.
The hanging itself took place the previous spring. The men were hanged for poaching and the law in question called for the death penalty for poaching.
posted by beagle at 11:50 AM on December 29, 2013
And by the way, we're done, although any refinements or challenges to rewil's spreadsheet are welcome of course.
posted by beagle at 11:52 AM on December 29, 2013
posted by beagle at 11:52 AM on December 29, 2013
10.8 is Holloway Road all right, but it comes from Betjeman's poem "The Sandemanian Meeting-House in Highbury Quadrant"
posted by CCBC at 11:00 PM on January 3, 2014
posted by CCBC at 11:00 PM on January 3, 2014
Thanks CCBC, that's correct. Fixed source on the spreadsheet.
posted by beagle at 5:40 AM on January 6, 2014
posted by beagle at 5:40 AM on January 6, 2014
Okay. I would have done it but the spreadsheet doesn't like my browser.
posted by CCBC at 1:12 PM on January 6, 2014
posted by CCBC at 1:12 PM on January 6, 2014
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Going out on a limb here and guessing King Williams College is a "public" school. Jalapeño cheddar biscuits, these questions are something else.
This is what I would imagine the written exam Umberto Eco would use to screen eligible suitors for his daughter would look like.
posted by hobo gitano de queretaro at 2:58 AM on December 21, 2013 [18 favorites]