General Knowledge Quiz

[perryman]

This country has a unique geographical location.

 

[MotCO]

This country has a unique geographical location.

I'm assuming you mean it is located at 0 degrees north, 0 degrees west (or maybe 180 degrees). I'll guess Ascension Island

 

[perryman]

I'm assuming you mean it is located at 0 degrees north, 0 degrees west (or maybe 180 degrees). I'll guess Ascension Island

It's not Ascension Island.

You're along the right lines with your assumption.

 

[xotGD]

Singapore?

 

[perryman]

Singapore?

No. Larger than Singapore but with nowhere near the population.

Edit - only just larger than Singapore but with far fewer people.

 

[Calthrop]

Another wild guess -- Brunei & Labuan??

 

[perryman]

Another wild guess -- Brunei & Labuan??

It's not B&L.

 

[xotGD]

Micronesia

 

[perryman]

Micronesia

It's not Micronesia.

 

[perryman]

This country’s total land mass is, as mentioned previously, only slightly larger than the city state of Singapore but is spread over 1.4 million square miles.

 

[Calthrop]

This country’s total land mass is, as mentioned previously, only slightly larger than the city state of Singapore but is spread over 1.4 million square miles.

Figured that random guessing was availing nothing; so yielded, and went to the atlas. With that, and "yours just above"; think I now know the country, but have of course put self out of the running !

 

[perryman]

Figured that random guessing was availing nothing; so yielded, and went to the atlas. With that, and "yours just above"; think I now know the country, but have of course put self out of the running !

And hopefully to confirm your workings out, and to assist others in finding the answer, this country sits in all four hemispheres of the earth (that was its unique geographical location, though 'position' may have been a more correct word to use).

 

[perryman]

In addition to the above, this country spans 3 times zones, consists of 33 islands, was granted independence in 1979, has two official languages one of which is English, drives on the left hand side of the road, has lost all of the 11 international football matches it has played (although one was lost on penalties) by a combined score of 7-116.

 

[MotCO]

In addition to the above, this country spans 3 times zones, consists of 33 islands, was granted independence in 1979, has two official languages one of which is English, drives on the left hand side of the road, has lost all of the 11 international football matches it has played (although one was lost on penalties) by a combined score of 7-116.

Virgin Islands?

 

[perryman]

Virgin Islands?

It's not the Virgin Islands (British or American).

 

[xotGD]

Solomon Islands

 

[perryman]

Solomon Islands

It's not the Solomon Islands either, although their football team isn't as bad as the country concerned and beat the 7-0 on the only occasion they officially met, for what it's worth.

 

[Loppylugs]

Have been perusing my rather ancient but informative stamp album (which I abandoned in the late 60's) and have come up with The Gilbert & Ellice Islands. (with thanks to Stanley Gibbons!)

 

[perryman]

Have been perusing my rather ancient but informative stamp album (which I abandoned in the late 60's) and have come up with The Gilbert & Ellice Islands. (with thanks to Stanley Gibbons!)

Translated into the modern, that would be the Republic of Kiribati. The name changed in 1979 after independence.

The 11 countries where the Equator runs through land mass are: São Tomé and Príncipe, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Indonesia, Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil.

So @Calthrop and @Loppylugs each have one correct answer (the Maldives and Kiribati respectively) and I would think the honour goes to @Calthrop as he answered without further clues.

 

[Calthrop]

Hoping this OK by @Loppylugs; I'll take it, please. ("Kiribati" = Gilbert, I suppose -- I always wonder what became of the "Ellice" bit !)

In the poetic realm: what community has a prominent timepiece which permanently shows the time as 1450 hrs. ?

 

[Loppylugs]

Translated into the modern, that would be the Republic of Kiribati. The name changed in 1979 after independence.

I must invest in a new stamp album

 

[SuspectUsual]

Grantchester, in a Rupert Brooke poem. My late grandmother read me that dozens of times, she was from near Rugby and was a big part of the campaign to get a statue erected there to honour him

 

[Calthrop]

Grantchester, in a Rupert Brooke poem. My late grandmother read me that dozens of times, she was from near Rugby and was a big part of the campaign to get a statue erected there to honour him

That was quick -- and, quite right. Stands the church clock at ten to three? And is there honey still for tea?

I confess to having wondered how Rugby gets in on the act -- Google tells me that Brooke was born there. No offence meant; but there come to mind Bill Bryson's words on his birthplace, and the scene of his childhood and youth -- the not unpleasant but rather humdrum city of Des Moines, Iowa: "I come from there -- somebody has to".

Your poetic gem -- or whatever -- to impart.

 

[SuspectUsual]

I confess to having wondered how Rugby gets in on the act -- Google tells me that Brooke was born there. No offence meant; but there come to mind Bill Bryson's words on his birthplace, and the scene of his childhood and youth -- the not unpleasant but rather humdrum city of Des Moines, Iowa: "I come from there -- somebody has to".

None taken. I’m from Coventry so hardly on the high ground when it comes to where one is from

Anyway, what links Arcade Fire, the Bangles, the Cribs and Dire Straits?

 

[Neo9320]

We’re they all with the same record label?

 

[SuspectUsual]

We’re they all with the same record label?

Ive no idea - that’s certainly not the answer I have in mind anyway

 

[Neo9320]

Were they all Canadian then?

edit: ignore that…dire straits are certainly not Canadian..blonde moment

 

[444045]

There 1st record all had 'Walk' in the title, Walk of life, Walk like an Egyptian etc.....

 

[SuspectUsual]

There 1st record all had 'Walk' in the title, Walk of life, Walk like an Egyptian etc.....

Not that I’m afraid

 

[MotCO]

They are all pop groups starting with consecutive letters of the alphabet (A,B,C,D)