Latest questions: 29 December 2020

This week's questions have been gleaned from those set for use in Weeks 22 and 23 of the 2017–18 season in Stockport Quiz League, by the Printers (Questions 1 to 13) and Heaton Moor Rugby Club (Questions 14 to 41).

Which prominent UK environmentalist was chair of the Ecology Party for two separate spells between 1979 and 1984, when he gave up teaching to become Director of Friends of the Earth in Britain – a post he held until 1990?		Jonathon Porritt
Which English actor died in 1988, aged 54, following a fall from a horse, during the filming of The Return of the Musketeers in Madrid?		Roy Kinnear
Which popular aria forms the ninth movement of Bach's secular cantata, BWV 208 – known as the Hunting Cantata?		Sheep May Safely Graze
Who was married to Olga Khokhlova from 1918 until her death in 1955, and Jacqueline Roque from 1961 until his death in 1973?		Pablo Picasso
What Latin phrase is used to describe knowledge that's based on theoretical deduction, rather than observation or experience?		A priori
What Latin phrase is used to describe knowledge that's based on experience or empirical evidence, rather than pure reason or deduction?		A posteriori
Which fictional character, the eponymous hero of 21 novels published between 1981 and 2007, was named after an England rugby captain who won 16 caps, including two for the Lions, between 1960 and 1967 (with an 'e' added at the end)?		Richard Sharpe
The name for which type of traditional flat–bottomed boat, common in China and south–east Asia, is derived from the Cantonese for 'three planks'?		Sampan
Which 1964 novel, by the American author Hubert Selby Junior, was successfully prosecuted for obscenity in the UK, but cleared following an appeal launched by the lawyer and writer John Mortimer?		Last Exit to Brooklyn
Which British–born American artist was the first winner of the Turner Prize, in 1984 – for a retrospective exhibition of his work, at the Whitechapel Gallery in London?		Malcolm Morley
If something was described as 'cordate', what shape would it be?		Heart–shaped
In which battle of 1265 was Simon De Montfort, the 6th Earl of Leicester, murdered by forces loyal to King Henry III?		Battle of Evesham
The Colors of My Life, I Like Your Style, and Come Follow the Band, are songs from which musical?		Barnum
Whose autobiography, first published in 2018, is entitled Unmasked?		Andrew Lloyd Webber
What name was given to the document issued in 1834 by Sir Robert Peel, on being asked to form a government following the removal of Lord Melbourne as Prime Minister? Named after his constituency, which was in turn named after the market town in South Staffordshire on which it was centred, it's widely regarded as having laid down the principles upon which the modern Conservative Party is based.		The Tamworth Manifesto
In Coronation Street, which character – played by Sue Cleaver – has operated the radio at StreetCars for the last twenty years?		Eileen Grimshaw
Which Coronation Street character, played by Liverpool–born Connor McIntyre in two stints between 2013 and 2018, is widely regarded as one of the best soap villains of all time?		Pat Phelan
Who created the roles of Eva Peron in Evita (1978), Grizabella in Cats (1981), and Florence Vassy in Chess (1986) – all in London's West End?		Elaine Paige
In the original London production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical The Phantom of the Opera, who played the Phantom?		Michael Crawford
In the original London production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical The Phantom of the Opera, who played Christine Daaé, the female protagonist?		Sarah Brightman
In which English city is the educational institution, founded in 1843 as a School of Design, that was known from 1970 to 1987 as Lanchester Polytechnic? In 1987 it became the Polytechnic, and in 1992 the University, of that city.		Coventry
Mark Twain is said to have quoted a native of which Pacific island as saying that "[the island] was made first, and then heaven; and heaven was copied after [the island]"?		Mauritius
What's the common name for plants of the genus Bergenia, native to central Asia?		Elephant's ears
What name is given in English to a type of pocket watch that has a cover to protect the watch face?		A hunter
Who replaced Leo Varadkar in June 2020 as Prime Minister (Taoiseach) of the Republic of Ireland, on the formation of a coalition between his Fianna Fáil party, Varadkar's Fine Gael, and the Green Party?		Micheál Martin
Who resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer, following the devaluation of the pound in 1967 – a measure he'd been extremely reluctant to take?		James Callaghan
What's the English name for the island that's known to many of its inhabitants as Ynys Môn?		Anglesey
In which New York borough are the the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and the One World Trade Center?		Manhattan
'Armoire' is a word that came into English from French, in the 16th century, as another name for what?		A wardrobe
Which fictional Scotland Yard detective, featured in a BBC1 television series that was first broadcast from 2001 to 2008, was created by the American writer Elizabeth George, is the 8th Earl of Asherton, has the first name Thomas or Tommy, is assisted by Sergeant Barbara Havers, and was described by The Guardian as "the poshest copper on the box"?		Inspector Lynley
Which rugby football club plays home games at Sandy Park, and was both Premiership and European champions in 2020?		Exeter Chiefs
Who wrote a string of hits for Adam Faith and Sandie Shaw, including the latter's second UK No. 1 hit, Long Live Love (1965)? He also had a No. 3 hit single himself with Yesterday Man (also in 1965).		Chris Andrews
Helen Duncan and Jane Yorke, both in 1944, were the last two people in Britain to be convicted of what crime?		Witchcraft
Which battle of 1410, when the Teutonic Order of knights was defeated by a combined Polish and Lithuanian army, is a source of romantic legends and national pride, and was referred to in both Nazi and Soviet propaganda in the 20th century?		Grunwald

What are the seven 'groups' of dog used at Crufts?

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Latest questions: 29 December 2020