Question of the day - 30 December 2008

What is the name of the main character in the film Casablanca?

Quel est le nom du personnage principal dans le film Casablanca?

Clue of the week (Quiz 17 Dec 2008)

Other legends -- it's not all about Jesus!

Question of the day - 16 December 2008

In which Paris street is the Irish Cultural Centre?

Dans quelle rue de Paris le Centre Culturel Irlandais se trouve-t-il?

Question of the day - 15 December 2008

Which is nearer to Earth: Venus or Mars?

Lequel est plus près de la Terre: Vénus ou Mars?

Question of the day - 14 December 2008

Vladimir and Estragon are the main characters in which play?

Vladimir et Estragon sont les personnages principaux de quelle pièce de théâtre?

Clue of the week (Quiz 10 Dec 2008)

Tasty hole!

Thank you

Thank you for the many expressions of sympathy on the death of my brother Conor last week.

Je vous remercie tous de vos condoléances suite au décès de mon frère Conor la semaine dernière.

Páraic (Mr Quiz).

Temporary suspension

Question of the Day and Clue of the Week are suspended for the moment.

I have to go to Ireland for a few days for family reasons.

The Quiz will take place as usual next Wednesday.

Páraic (Mr Quiz)

Clue of the week (Quiz 26 Nov 2008)

Is that boat in a fit state to drive?

I don't think so! Look at it dancing, covered in vomit and snot!

Question of the day - 25 November 2008

What was the pen name of Reverend Charles Dodgson?

Quel était le nom de plume du Révérend Charles Dodgson?

Question of the day - 24 November 2008

What instrument did Louis Armstrong play?

Quel instrument Louis Armstrong jouait-il?

Question of the day - 23 November 2008

Which European Union capital is in a region called Attica?

Quelle capitale de l'Union Européenne se trouve dans la région d'Attique?

Question of the day - 20 November 2008

What is the main alcoholic ingredient of a Bloody Mary?

Quel est l'ingrédient alcoolisé principal du Bloody Mary?

Clue of the week (Quiz 19 Nov 2008)

Is that a tuning fork or a bicycle fork?

Question of the day - 17 November 2008

Where is point zero in Paris?

Où se trouve le point zéro à Paris?

Question of the day - 15 November 2008

What is the name of the TV series starring Farrah Fawcet, Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith?

Quel est le nom de la série télé avec en vedette Farrah Fawcet, Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith?

Question of the day - 13 November 2008

What is the name of the device that controls the amount of light entering a camera?

Quel est le nom du mécanisme qui contrôle le flux lumineux qui entre dans un apareil photo?

Clue of the week (Quiz 12 Nov 2008)

Military snake?

Question of the day - 10 November 2008

What do geldings and bullocks have in common?

Quel est le point commun entre un cheval hongre et un bouvillon?

Question of the day - 9 November 2008

What type of acid is used in most car batteries?

Quel type d'acide est utilisé dans la plupart des batteries de voiture?

Question of the day - 7 November 2008

What is the most common non contagious disease in humans?

Quelle est la maladie non contagieuse la plus commune chez l'être humain?

Question of the day - 6 November 2008

In which Irish county is Connemara?

Dans quel comté irlandais le Connemara se trouve-t-il?

Yes we can!

Mr Quiz predicts:

Obama 364 - 174 McCain

Question of the day - 3 November 2008

The eruption in 1883 of which volcano produced the loudest noise ever recorded on Earth?

L'éruption en 1883 de quel volcan a produit le bruit le plus fort jamais enregistré sur Terre?

Clue of the week (Quiz 5 Nov 2008)

Empire

Question of the day - 1 November 2008

Which product used this slogan

"Kids and grown-ups love it so, the happy world of ..."?

Quel produit employait ce slogan

« ... c'est beau la vie, pour les grands et les petits »?

Question of the day - 31 October 2008

In which country is Uluru, what is it, and what was its former name?

Dans quel pays se trouve Uluru, qu'est-ce que c'est, et quel était son ancien nom?

Question of the day - 30 October 2008

Which country is known as Aotearoa in the indigenous language of that country?

Quel pays s'appelle Aotearoa dans la langue indigène du pays?

Question of the day - 29 October 2008

In France, what is the meaning of a square road sign, blue background,
"5,5 t" in white?

Quelle est la signification d'un panneau routier carré, au fond bleu,
« 5,5 t » en blanc?

Question of the day - 28 October 2008

Who composed Flight of the Bumblebee?

Qui a composé Vol du Bourdon?

Question of the day - 27 October 2008

What gives green leaves their colour?

D'où vient la couleur verte des feuilles?

Clue of the week (Quiz 29 Oct 2008)

Bob

Question of the day - 25 October 2008

A cube 10×10×10 is composed of 1×1×1 mini-cubes; how many mini-cubes are in the outer layer?

Un cube 10×10×10 est composé de mini-cubes de 1×1×1; combien de mini-cubes dans la couche extérieure?

Question of the day - 24 October 2008

What is the longest river in Ireland?

Quel est la plus longue rivière d'Irlande?

Quiz entre collègues?

Si vous travaillez dans une entreprise et vous cherchez une idée pour animer une soirée entre collègues, Mr Quiz est disponible.

Pour discuter des modalités, venez me voir mercredi soir au Green Linnet.

Mr Quiz
Better than most, cheaper than some

Question of the day - 22 October 2008

The modern rules of which sport were developed by the Marquess of Queensberry?

Les règles modernes de quel sport ont été développées par le Marquis de Queensberry?

Clue of the week (Quiz 22 Oct 2008)

Where your assets are more likely to be frozen than your arse. Despite the name!

Question of the day - 20 October 2008

Which two European countries have monarchs with exactly the same name?

Quels deux pays européens ont des monarques avec exactement le même nom?

Quiz entre collègues?

Si vous travaillez dans une entreprise et vous cherchez une idée pour animer une soirée entre collègues, Mr Quiz est disponible.

Pour discuter des modalités, venez me voir mercredi soir au Green Linnet.

Mr Quiz
Better than most, cheaper than some

Question of the day - 19 October 2008

Which is the odd one out:

ohm, newton, ampere, volt?

Lequel est l'intrus:

ohm, newton, ampère, volt?

Question of the day - 17 October 2008

What is the name of the seven-branched candelabrum displayed in synagogues?

Quel est le nom du chandelier à sept branches vu dans les synagogues?

Bonus points!

When I write the questions (in English and French) for the Quiz I use an Azerty keyboard as that's the standard here in France. Sometimes I use a Qwerty keyboard, for example, when I'm in certain establishments for work.

On the AZERTY keyboard the symbols ; and : are side-by-side; on the Qwerty keyboard they are on the same key.

This week I wrote a question concerning symbols on adjacent keys, then changed it at the last minute. Unfortunately I changed it in one language and forgot to change it in the other.

The result is that some of the participants at the Green Linnet Quiz last night did not get the points they deserved when they answered the question correctly.

(Si quelqu'un a besoin d'une traduction de cette explication, désolé, je n'ai pas le temps.)

So, as a once-off special gesture, I have decided to make an ex-gratia retroactive award of 10 extra points to all teams!

Et en vf:
Alors, j'ai décidé, à titre gracieux, d'accorder 10 points de plus à la note finale de chaque équipe!

Mr Quiz

Question of the day - 15 October 2008

According to Christian tradition, who were Dimas and Gestas?

Selon la tradition chrétienne, qui sont-ils Dimas et Gestas?

Question of the day - 14 October 2008

What is the more common name for Hansen's disease?

Quel est le nom plus commun pour la maladie de Hansen?

Clue of the week (Quiz 15 Oct 2008)

TNT or not TNT?

Did 'e or didn't 'e?

He didn't!

Question of the day - 13 October 2008

Who wrote the libretti for the operas The Marriage of Figaro, Così fan tutte, and Don Giovanni?

Qui écrivit les livrets pour les opéras Les Noces de Figaro, Così fan tutte, et Don Giovanni?

Question of the day - 8 October 2008

I bought a watch for €15, sold it for €16; then I bought the same watch back for €17, resold for €18; how much profit did I make overall?

J'achète une montre pour 15€, la revends 16€; ensuite je rachète la même montre pour 17€, la revends 18€; quel est ma bénéfice en total?

Question of the day - 7 October 2008

Who is the female star of the film The Graduate?

Qui est la vedette féminine du film Le Lauréat?

Clue of the week (Quiz 8 Oct 2008)

Educational vine?

Question of the day - 5 October 2008

What did Mark Twain describe as

"a good walk spoiled"?

À quoi Mark Twain faisait-il référence:

"c'est une agréable promenade gâchée"?

Question of the day - 4 October 2008

Who wrote J'irai cracher sur vos tombes (I'll Spit on Your Graves) in 1946?

Qui écrivit J’irai cracher sur vos tombes en 1946?

Clue of the week (Quiz 1 Oct 2008)

Destroyed by Atari, circa 1979.

Question of the day - 29 September 2008

I take out a loan with an interest rate of 12% per annum (simple interest); the total amount to be paid back over 15 months is €796.25; what is the amount of the loan?

Je prends un crédit à un taux d'intérêt de 12% annuel (intérêt simple); le montant total à rembourser sur 15 mois est de 796,25€; quel est le montant emprunté?

Question of the day - 26 September 2008

Who was born first:
Henry IV of England or Henry IV of France?

Lequel est né en premier:
Henri IV de France ou Henri IV d'Angleterre?

Question of the day - 25 September 2008

In Germany, what is ostalgie?

En Allemagne, qu'est-ce que ostalgie?

Clue of the week (Quiz 24 Sep 2008)

... everything free in America

for a small fee...

Question of the day - 21 September 2008

A Mutiny on which battleship was a pivotal event in the Russian Revolution of 1905?

Une mutinerie à bord de quel cuirassé était un événement clé de la révolution russe de 1905?

Le Pub Quiz - where love stories begin

Mr Quiz is delighted to announce the first wedding of a Quiz Couple!

Yes folks, M... and L... who are regulars at the Wednesday night Quiz at the Green Linnet have announced their engagement!

The happy couple met at the Quiz a few years ago and have been team-mates ever since. In fact they have also won the Quiz on several occasions thanks to their complementary centres of knowledge and interest (and the help of some friends).

Since Mr Quiz has not yet been authorised by the French State to officiate at weddings, they are getting married in Brittany, the happy event being planned for next year.

So if you're looking for a soul mate but you're tired of trawling through sweaty nightclubs, can't keep up with speed-dating, and cyber-dating provides more sighs than dates, then take a leaf out of M&L's book:

Come to the Pub Quiz - where love stories begin!

Mr Quiz

Question of the day - 18 September 2008

Which three countries have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts?

Quels trois pays ont une côte atlantique et une côte méditerranéenne?

Mea culpa!

During the Quiz last night I gave an incorrect year for one of the This Week in History questions:

the Flight of the Earls in fact took place in 1607.

Maybe that's why so few teams got the right answer!

Question of the day - 17 September 2008

What term describes an organ that can be used to grasp objects?

Quel terme décrit une organe qui est capable de saisir des objets?

Clue of the week

Where the sun, it was said, never set.

Question of the day - 15 September 2008

What is the common name for hydrated iron oxide?

Quel est nom commun pour oxyde ferrique hydraté?

Question of the day - 13 September 2008

In 1284, according to legend, the Pied Piper lured the children away from which German town?

En 1284, selon la légende, le Joueur de Flûte a attiré les enfants de quelle ville allemande?

Question of the day - 12 September 2008

In which city are the headquarters of the UN?

Dans quelle ville se trouve le siège de l'ONU?

Question of the day - 11 September 2008

In Irish mythology, what is Tír na nÓg:

the land of the young;
the god of the sea;
a dance?

Dans la mythologie irlandaise, qu'est-ce que Tír na nÓg:

le pays de la jeunesse;
le dieu de la mer;
une danse?

Question of the day - 10 September 2008

Which model of car could be bought "in any colour – so long as it's black"?

Quel modèle de voiture était disponible dans la "couleur du choix du client – pourvue qu'elle soit noire"?

Question of the day - 9 September 2008

Which is the world's oldest metro?

Quel est le plus ancien métro du monde?

Question of the day - 2 September 2008

Which group released an album entitled Sandinista! in 1980?

Quel groupe a sorti un album intitulé Sandinista! en 1980?

Question of the day - 1 September 2008

Which Hindu god has an elephant's head?

Quel dieu hindou a la tête d'un éléphant?

Question of the day - instructions - mode d'emploi...

If you want to answer the Question of the day, or see other people's answers, just click on "comments" below the message.

Si tu veux répondre à la Question du Jour, ou voir les réponses des autres, il suffit de cliquer sue "comments" en dessous du message.

Si quieres contestar a la Pregunta del día, o ver las contestaciones de los otros, haz clic sobre "comments" debajo del mensaje.

Question of the day - 28 August 2008

What was the name of Ankara prior to 1930?

Quel était le nom d’Ankara avant 1930?

Question of the day - 25 August 2008

What instrument is used to measure the humidity of air?

Quel appareil est utilisé pour mesurer l'humidité de l'air?

Question of the day - 21 August 2008

Which great philosopher was a pupil of Socrates and a teacher of Aristotle?

Quel grand philosophe était un élève de Socrate et maître d'Aristote?

Estoy de vuelta!

I'm on my way back! Yes, the holidays in Spain are coming to their inevitable end, alas.

My trip to San Sebastian, Bilbao, Madrid, Puente del Congosto, Zaragoza and Pamplona, mostly by train, has been really interesting. Tomorrow I'm off to Irún, then Hendaye for the TGV back to Paris. Of course, I've tons of inspiration for new Quiz questions. Or maybe you've had enough on Spain over the past few weeks?

Thank you to Aidan who ran the show in my absence. I'll be back at the Quiz - live and in person! - next week.

Hasta luego,

Mr Quiz

Question of the day - 18 August 2008

What colour is lapis lazuli?

De quelle couleur le lapis lazuli est-il?

Question of the day - 11 August 2008

Who was the female pope who reigned, according to legend, in the 9th century?

Qui est la papesse qui aurait régné, d'après la légende, au 9e siècle?

Question of the day - 9 August 2008

What is the Pink Panther in the film of that name?

Qu'est-ce que la Panthère rose dans le film?

Question of the day - 7 August 2008

Who hosts the tea-party in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland?

Qui invite les gens à prendre le thé dans Alice au pays des merveilles?

Pub Quiz photos - 30 July 2008

These are a few shots of the Quiz at The Green Linnet, Paris, 30 July 2008.

Heads down!

Question of the day - 6 August 2008

Whose death is depicted by Jacques Louis David in his 1793 painting?

La mort de qui est représentée dans le tableau de Jacques Louis David de 1793?

Question of the day - 5 August 2008

What is the meaning of the textile care symbol consisting of a crossed out circle?

Quelle est la signification du symbole d'entretien des textiles qui consiste en un cercle barré?

Question of the day - 4 August 2008

What is the name of the effect that makes the sound of an ambulance siren change as it passes by?

Quel est le nom de l'effet qui fait que le son de la sirène d'une ambulance change en passant?

Question of the day - 3 August 2008

In which country was the jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt born?

Dans quel pays le guitariste jazz Django Reinhardt est-il né?

Change in format for Question of the Day

The Question of the Day will continue, but from now on the answers will not be given until the end of the week.

Les réponses aux questions seront dorénavant affichées à la fin de la semaine.

Question of the day - 2 August 2008

Who designed the Sagrada Família basilica in Barcelona?

Qui conçut la basilique la Sagrada Família de Barcelone?

Question of the day - 1 August 2008

Who wrote the music for the Star Wars series of films?

Qui a composé la musique pour la série de films
La Guerre des Étoiles?

Question of the Day - 31 July 2008

Into which sea does the Volga flow?

Dans quelle mer la Volga se jette-t-elle?

Question of the Day - 30 July 2008

Does an object with a mass of 1kg on weigh more on the Moon, more on Earth, or is it the same?

Un objet d'une masse de 1kg, pèse-t-il plus sur la Lune, plus sur Terre, ou est-ce pareil?

The show must go on!

Mr Quiz is taking a short holiday this summer. However, the Quiz goes on! A special guest star will present the quiz (questions written by Mr Quiz) for two weeks in August. Be nice to him!

Mr Quiz prend de petites vacances cet été, mais le Quiz continue! Un animateur invité présentera le Quiz (questions écrites par Mr Quiz) pendant deux semaines au mois d'août. Soyez gentil avec lui!

Question of the day - 29 July 2008

Of which city was Pope Benedict XVI archbishop from 1977 to 1981?

De quelle ville le pape Benoît XVI était-il archevêque entre 1977 et 1981?

Question of the day - 28 July 2008

What is the colour difference between the flags of Luxembourg and the Netherlands?

En termes de couleur, quelle est la différence entre les drapeaux du Luxembourg et des Pays Bas?

Question of the day - 27 July 2008

What is the name of the mythical gold-rich country once thought to exist in South America?

Question of the Day - 25 July 2008

If you are served asztali bor with your goulash, what are you getting:

a. cream
b. beer
c. wine

Answer of the week - 16 July 2008

Believe it or not, Danilo Giuffrida had his licence revoked because he's gay and therefore, apparently, mentally unfit to have normal driving licence.

Read the story here:
Italian wins gay driving ban case (BBC)

or here:
Damages for gay Italian driver forced to retake test (The Guardian)

Question of the week - 16 July 2008

Why was Danilo Giuffrida (Italy) made take his driving test again in 2000, and every year since, until a court ordered his full licence to be restored in July this year?

a. because he is gay
b. because he is deaf
c. because he has only one leg?

I've always been a sucker for gadgets...

... and what's a blog only a gadget?

When the first mobile phones appeared a few years ago -- weighing about a kilo -- I resisted for a while before following the crowd. Who doesn't have one now? Then the world and its significant other got their own website. It didn't take me long to make my first shoddy attempt at cyber-publishing (no trace exists today of that piece of history -- at least not in the public domain).


I've been running the Quiz at The Green Linnet since October 2003 (almost a twentieth of a century). "So why don't you set up a blog, Mr Quiz?" my fans chanted as one. As I said, I'm a sucker, so here goes.

Come in, sit down, relax, converse; my blog won't always look like this -- it'll get worse.