General Knowledge Quiz

[martinsh]

Did Belfast used to have trolleybuses?
If so, it could refer to the end of the overhead wires.

You got it !

 

[D6975]

A bit of geographical maths for you.
What do you get if you add up:
The number of states in America.
The number of regions on the island containing the country of which Spike Milligan was a citizen.
The number of territories in the country where Cliff Richard was born.

 

[DasLunatic]

50+29+8 = 77

 

[D6975]

50+29+8 = 77

Nope - incorrect

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I would have thought that 50 + 29 + 8 actually equals 87

 

[DasLunatic]

note to self: double check answer...

 

[D6975]

Still wrong, only one of the 3 figures is correct.

 

[DasLunatic]

50 + 7 + 32 = 89

 

[D6975]

And you've just dumped the one that's correct.

 

[DasLunatic]

Who was Pope when Richard Feynman was born?

 

[deltic1989]

Spike Milligan was an Irish Citizen There are 4 traditional regions in Ireland, Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster.

Cliff Ricahrd was born in India, which has 7 territories.

Since there was no mention of the United Statesof America, I have tried to be clever and calculated the number of Recognised Countries (States) on the Continents of North and South America. The result being 35.

35+4+7=46

 

[D6975]

So far, one person has got the Cliff one correct at 29.
Spike was indeed Irish, so 4 is correct too.
Just how many states in the USA to get.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

 

[DasLunatic]

but the US has 50 states...

so 50 + 29 + 4 = 83

 

[D6975]

but the US has 50 states...

so 50 + 29 + 4 = 83

Does it really???

Admittedly most sources say 50.
Unfortunately most sources are incorrect.

any pub quiz team member worth his salt knows the answer to this old chestnut.

 

[DasLunatic]

Very well then, the US has 48 main states, so 48 + 4 + 29 = 81

I'm assuming you're excluding Alaska and Hawaii as they're not contiguous with the others

 

[D6975]

Very well then, the US has 48 main states, so 48 + 4 + 29 = 81

I'm assuming you're excluding Alaska and Hawaii as they're not contiguous with the others

You assume incorrectly. Hawaii and Alaska are both states of the union.

 

[DasLunatic]

You're including Puerto Rico, so 84?

 

[D6975]

No, I am counting states of the union

 

[me123]

Are you counting Puerto Rico and Washington DC to get 52?

If so, I'll assume the answer you look for is 52+4+29 = 85.

However, if you are counting the US overseas territory of Puerto Rico and Federal District of Columbia as states, I'm ready to vehemently disagree with you on that part.

EDIT: you've subsequently posted that you aren't counting PR - which I'm glad to see. However, given that the US Government is under the impression that its own country has 50 states, I think that's a pretty reliable source. I know the US government aren't the brightest bunch, but I think we can trust them on this one.

 

[D6975]

Are you counting Puerto Rico and Washington DC to get 52?

If so, I'll assume the answer you look for is 52+4+29 = 85.

However, if you are counting the US overseas territory of Puerto Rico and Federal District of Columbia as states, I'm ready to vehemently disagree with you on that part.

EDIT: you've subsequently posted that you aren't counting PR - which I'm glad to see. However, given that the US Government is under the impression that its own country has 50 states, I think that's a pretty reliable source. I know the US government aren't the brightest bunch, but I think we can trust them on this one.

Again incorrect, the US government thinks it has 50 constituent members.

They are not all states, although are all commonly referred to as being states.
This was on QI quite a while ago, and even Rich Hall (an American) said 50, but got the correct answer when it was pointed out that not all 50 constituent members are states.

 

[Marton]

DC??

Leave the maths to others.

 

[deltic1989]

If we leave Alaska and Hawaii in and classify Washington DC as a state (Rather than a Federal District), that would make 51.

Plus the 29 and 4 that D6975 has told us is correct, that would make 84

 

[D6975]

If we leave Alaska and Hawaii in and classify Washington DC as a state (Rather than a Federal District), that would make 51.

Plus the 29 and 4 that D6975 has told us is correct, that would make 84

???
I've already explained that the answer to this part is less than 50...and why..

 

[Darren R]

Four of the constituent member states of the USA are Commonwealths - Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Therefore, the answer you are looking for is 79.

 

[D6975]

Four of the constituent member states of the USA are Commonwealths - Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Therefore, the answer you are looking for is 79.

At last, a worthy winner.

 

[me123]

If you're talking about Commonwealths*, I will again disagree that these are not states.

From 1776 to 1780 the words "State of Massachusetts Bay" appeared on the top of all acts and resolves. In 1780, the Massachusetts Constitution went into effect. Part Two of the Constitution, under the heading "Frame of Government" states: "that the people ... form themselves into a free, sovereign, and independent body politic, or state by the name of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts." Virginia (on June 29, 1776) and Pennsylvania (on September 25, 1776) adopted Constitutions which called their respective states commonwealths. Kentucky is also a commonwealth. Commonwealths are states, but the reverse is not true. Legally, we are a commonwealth because the term is contained in the Constitution.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts official website

* I see that you are, see above.

 

[Darren R]

Open Floor

 

[DasLunatic]

Who was Pope when Richard Feynman was born?

 

[Marton]

Benedict XV

 

[Darren R]

The appropriately named Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa (chiesa meaning church in Italian), who took the name Benedict XV.
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Damn - beaten to it!