General Knowledge Quiz

[dave12435]

Sort these into order, smallest first:

a) The length of the UK motorway network, in miles
b) The length of the UK railway network, in miles
c) The population of Sheerness-on-Sea
d) The length of the Severn Tunnel, in feet

b) Length of UK railway network
a) Length of UK motorway network
c) Population of Sheerness-on-Sea including chavs
d) Length of Severn Tunnel

 

[DasLunatic]

Your floor.

 

[deltic1989]

Did Jimmy Nail do a song called Crocodile Shoes or similar?

I know that this has already been sorted out and the quiz continued, but this is indeed what I had in mind.
I threw in a Red Herring using Jimmy Nail's real name, but the association between him and Paul Hogan was Crocodiles.

Jimmy Nail did the song Crocodile Shoes.
Paul Hogan played the character Micheal J "Crocodile" Dundee, in the film Crocodile Dundee, and it's sequels.

 

[DaleCooper]

I know that this has already been sorted out and the quiz continued, but this is indeed what I had in mind.
I threw in a Red Herring using Jimmy Nail's real name, but the association between him and Paul Hogan was Crocodiles.

Jimmy Nail did the song Crocodile Shoes.
Paul Hogan played the character Micheal J "Crocodile" Dundee, in the film Crocodile Dundee, and it's sequels.

I must apologise I misunderstood D6975's post below as being from the question setter i.e. you.

I reckon you've got it there - Crocodile shoes and Dundee

 

[dave12435]

Wait so I was correct?

In that case

Which of the following would you not find in a British Rockpool
a Blue Mussel
b Brown Shrimp
c Common Hermit Crab
d They can all be found in British rockpools

 

[DaleCooper]

Wait so I was correct?

In that case

Which of the following would you not find in a British Rockpool
a Blue Mussel
b Brown Shrimp
c Common Hermit Crab
d They can all be found in British rockpools

My guess is "d"

 

[dave12435]

My guess is "d"

And you would be correct
Your floor

 

[DaleCooper]

What aircraft is this and what "first" did it achieve?

 

[theageofthetra]

Fairey Delta 2 & was first aircraft to exceed 1000mph.

 

[DaleCooper]

Fairey Delta 2 & was first aircraft to exceed 1000mph.

Correct (although to be picky you should have added "in level flight")

 

[theageofthetra]

Wasn't it also the first to use a droop nose and was very much a test bed for Concorde? Keeping an aeronautical theme. Steam powered heavier than air aircraft were developed in the 20's/early 30's and some did actually fly successfully. Why specifically were they of interest to the military?

 

[DaleCooper]

Wasn't it also the first to use a droop nose and was very much a test bed for Concorde?

One was converted to the BAC221 which was the testbed for the "ogee" wings as used on Concorde.

 

[TheTubeGame]

Wasn't it also the first to use a droop nose and was very much a test bed for Concorde? Keeping an aeronautical theme. Steam powered heavier than air aircraft were developed in the 20's/early 30's and some did actually fly successfully. Why specifically were they of interest to the military?

Hi folks. The Russians developed a concorde but needed spies to do it.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/447464.stm

 

[DaleCooper]

Steam powered heavier than air aircraft were developed in the 20's/early 30's and some did actually fly successfully. Why specifically were they of interest to the military?

Was it an early form of jet engine, similar to that described by Hero of Alexandria, thus doing away with propellors and promising greater speeds?

 

[theageofthetra]

No was reciprocating with a propeller.

 

[ComUtoR]

Was it for the use of long range heavy bombing ?

 

[DaleCooper]

Perhaps a steam engine could be quieter than an internal combustion engine.

 

[deltic1989]

I'm going to go with:
Larger aircraft could be made STOL (Short Take-off Landing) capable, due to it being easier to reverse thrust on a reciprocating steam engine, than a conventional piston engine. Thus making the aircraft easier to operate out of hastily prepared short airstrips.

 

[theageofthetra]

Dale is closest so far.

 

[DaleCooper]

Perhaps a steam engine could be quieter than an internal combustion engine.

Dale is closest so far.

Well I can't think of anything more except to expand on what I suggested before.

Around that time large parabolic reflectors were built on the east coast to listen for approaching aircraft, this was before the invention of radar. By making aircraft quieter they would be more difficult to detect, an early type of stealth technology.

 

[theageofthetra]

Spot on Dale, your floor.

 

[DaleCooper]

In what fictional place were a nobleman and his chef eaten by owls?

 

[martinsh]

Gormenghast - though I thought his chef was killed in a swordfight ?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Gormenghast - though I thought his chef was killed in a swordfight ?

I too thought that Abiatha Swelter, the head chef of Gormenghast, met his end in a swordfight with Mr Flay, the personal servant to Lord Sepulchrave.

 

[DaleCooper]

Gormenghast - though I thought his chef was killed in a swordfight ?

I too thought that Abiatha Swelter, the head chef of Gormenghast, met his end in a swordfight with Mr Flay, the personal servant to Lord Sepulchrave.

Yes it was Gormenghast.

Sepulchrave, Earl of Groan carried the dead Swelter (killed by Flay) to the Tower of Flints where both were eaten by the owls.

 

[ComUtoR]

I have the trilogy. Absolutely couldn't stand it. One of the few books I have put down and stopped reading. Worth another attempt ?

Sorry for the tangent.

 

[DaleCooper]

Gormenghast - though I thought his chef was killed in a swordfight ?

I have been asked to confirm that martinsh provided the first correct answer to my question and is therefore entitled to set the next question.

 

[martinsh]

I have been asked to confirm that martinsh provided the first correct answer to my question and is therefore entitled to set the next question.

Sorry folks, I've been away celebrating my birthday. Still feeling rather hungover, so ...

Open Floor

 

[cjp]

Who was the cleric who gave his name to dog?

 

[theageofthetra]

Jack Russell