General Knowledge Quiz

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I have been racking my brain about this. Way back in my sixth form days I remember going to see someone who talked about guitars and how they developed. Now I remember, or at least largely remember, that guitar as z word comes from guiterra. I have a much less remembering of reference to an instrument that was something like Maresca, so that is your last futile attempt.

Not that one either.

 

[xotGD]

Zither

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Not the mandolin, as it never fell out of usage after medieval times, but that word is the nearest to the name of the item in question.

I vaguely remember hearing of an instrument called a mandore or is it a mandora? Sorry can't remember the exact spelling.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I vaguely remember hearing of an instrument called a mandore or is it a mandora? Sorry can't remember the exact spelling.

At last, we have a winner. The instrument was a Mandore.

Over to you.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Really sorry everyone- I must declare Open Floor.

 

[DaleCooper]

Really sorry everyone- I must declare Open Floor.

Next question:

What is the purpose of a derivimeter?

 

[OhNoAPacer]

It is a device for calculating the derivative of a function. You plotted the function on paper then used it to do calculations based on aligning tangents, or something like that, only came across it once a long time ago.

 

[DaleCooper]

It is a device for calculating the derivative of a function. You plotted the function on paper then used it to do calculations based on aligning tangents, or something like that, only came across it once a long time ago.

That's correct, your turn...

 

[OhNoAPacer]

If you were looking at the painting "The Beheading of St John The Baptist" by Caravaggio which city would you be in?

 

[D6130]

Deleted.

 

[D6130]

London?

 

[A Challenge]

Paris?

 

[OhNoAPacer]

London?

Paris?

Neither of those

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

You would be in Valetta , Malta. There was great outrage in recent time when on account of the condition of the painting, it was decreed natural daylight should be shuttered away from the paining. My mother always made an annual visit to Valetta after she retired as a head teacher.

I recall reading about Caravaggio's life story some years ago and on one occasion, he was ordained Knight in the Order of St John, only to being "defrocked in absentia" only six months lates, but I cannot recall the matter that caused that to happen.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

You would be in Valetta , Malta. There was great outrage in recent time when on account of the condition of the painting, it was decreed natural daylight should be shuttered away from the paining. My mother always made an annual visit to Valetta after she retired as a head teacher.

I recall reading about Caravaggio's life story some years ago and on one occasion, he was ordained Knight in the Order of St John, only to being "defrocked in absentia" only six months lates, but I cannot recall the matter that caused that to happen.

Valetta is the correct answer. It is in the co-cathedral of St John. My partner referred to this as the most magnificent cathedral you haven't heard of following our visit.

You may paint us another question.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Rex Whistler painted a very large-size mural in a property now owned by the National Trust. What is the property and where is it situated?

 

[OhNoAPacer]

I don't know the answer but maybe I can provide something that might give someone else assistance.
The most infamous Rex Whistler mural was the appalling one Expedition in pursuit of rare meats in the tate.
When reading an article a few years ago discussing this I remember seeing reference to another mural in a NT property in Wales, but cannot remember what that property was or what the mural was called or what it's subject matter was.

 

[Calthrop]

I don't know the answer but maybe I can provide something that might give someone else assistance...

When reading an article a few years ago discussing this I remember seeing reference to another mural in a NT property in Wales, but cannot remember what that property was or what the mural was called or what it's subject matter was.

Prompted by the above: I think I now recall being told about the mural in Wales, concerned; by an "arty" late relative. Said mural is, I believe, at the NT's Plas Newydd House and Garden (the "house" bit): in Anglesey, near Llanfairpwll-etc-etc.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Prompted by the above: I think I now recall being told about the mural in Wales, concerned; by an "arty" late relative. Said mural is, I believe, at the NT's Plas Newydd House and Garden (the "house" bit): in Anglesey, near Llanfairpwll-etc-etc.

Indeed, that is the one in question. When we visited that National Trust property, we were amazed how much of the length of the wall had been painted in that mural.

Over to you.

 

[Calthrop]

I definitely don't feel that I deserve to set the next question. I'm the very reverse of an art buff: would never have come up with the answer "on my own hook". It was only @OhNoAPacer's mention of a Welsh NT property: which brought to my mind the memory of my uncle, long ago, chuntering on to uninterested me about Plas Newydd and the mural.

I shall thus "stand down" from being next-question-person.

 

[MotCO]

If I may.

What is the total of the US electoral college votes and the current number of UK MPs (including Speaker etc.)?

 

[OhNoAPacer]

538 electoral college
650 MPs

 

[MotCO]

538 electoral college
650 MPs

OK. I'll add the two numbers together for you to get 1188 , which is the correct answer.

Please set the next question.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

What I think will be an easy one.

If you have a full tank of gas, a half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and you're wearing sunglasses, how far away are you from Chicago?

 

[Donny Dave]

106 miles.

Great film

 

[OhNoAPacer]

106 miles.

Great film

Correct.

A famous line from The Blues Brothers.

You may now take the stage

 

[Donny Dave]

How many verses does the Greek national anthem have?

 

[OhNoAPacer]

I know it has a ludicrously high number of verses but don't know how many exactly so will try 137

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I should know the answer, but I cannot recall the exact number of stanzas, but it was over 150 so adding a few to that total, I will take a guess at 155.

 

[Donny Dave]

...., I will take a guess at 155.

Close, but not quite right.