Latest questions: 25 July 2023

These questions were inspired by those set for use in Weeks 15 and 16 of the 2022–3 season in Macclesfield Quiz League, by the Waters Green Weavers (Questions 1 to 14) and the Park Taverners (15 to ).

In the HBO television drama series Sex and the City, which British–Canadian actress played Samantha Jones, the "40–ish movie producer" known for dating a number of younger men?		Kim Cattrall
Which bird of prey is also known as the fish hawk, sea hawk, or river hawk?		The osprey
Who, in 1975, became the first regular female presenter of the News on BBC television?		Angela Rippon
What was the numerical title of the 2006 film that retold of the story of the Battle of Thermopylae (which was fought in 480 BC)?		300
Jules Verne's first novel, about an African adventure, was entitled Five Weeks in ... what form of transport?		... a Balloon
Jimmy White famously played in six World Snooker finals, and lost all six. He lost to Steve Davis once, and Stephen Hendry four times; who beat him in his second final, in 1991?		John Parrott
If you ordered huevos in a Spanish restaurant, what would you expect to be served?		Eggs
Which vehicle manufacturer uses the slogan "the power to surprise"?		Kia
A building nicknamed The Doughnut, in the suburbs of Cheltenham, houses the main offices of which organisation – the largest single employer in Gloucestershire?		Government Comms HQ (GCHQ)
Which soft drink, introduced by Coca–Cola in 1975, was rebranded in February 2023 as Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit?		Lilt
Which occupation is known as pompier (pomp–ee–ay) in French and bombero in Spanish?		Firefighter
Jacquelin Gold died in March 2023, aged 62. She was executive chair of which retail company, bought by her father and uncle David and Ralph Gold in 1971?		Ann Summers
Which American fashion designer introduced the Daisy perfume brand in 2007?		Marc Jacobs
What noun is used to refer to a substance that attracts water and is used to dry something out or keep it dry?		Desiccant
What term, also used in architecture, is used to refer to a build–up of hard snow on the leeward side of a mountain or ridge, often overhanging cliffs and other steep slopes below?		Cornice
What is formed by the incomplete decomposition of vegetable matter in soil, in acidic, waterlogged and anaerobic conditions?		Peat
Which member of The Goodies, and a regular panellist on I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, is qualified as a doctor but has never practised?		Graeme Garden
What symbol was adopted by early Christians (in the 2nd century AD) because the initials of the Greek words for 'Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour' spell out the Greek word for it?		The fish
What three words complete this quote from George Burns? "Happiness is having a loving, close knit family ... "		" ... in another city"
What four words complete this quote from Phyllis Diller? "Never go to bed mad ... "		"... stay up and fight"
Give either the title or the author of the book from which this is a quotation: "I like work; it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours"		Three Men in a Boat; Jerome K. Jerome
What was the first club to be relegated after winning the Premier League title?		Blackburn Rovers
Which colour is named after the rich brown pigment derived from the ink sac of the common cuttlefish? The word is the Latinised form of the Greek word for the cuttlefish.		Sepia
Which town on the River Neckar, in Baden–Würtemberg, is home to Germany's oldest university – founded in 1386?		Heidelberg
Which company uses the advertising slogan "Food. We get it"?		Deliveroo
Which battle, fought in 1797 – a key victory in Napoleon's early campaign against Austria in Italy – gave its name to one of Paris's most fashionable shopping streets (also known for its hotels and restaurants)?		Rivoli (Rue de Rivoli)
In 2016, Sheku Kanneh–Mason became the first black winner of BBC Young Musician of the Year. What instrument does he play?		Cello
Which British science fiction author presented his Mysterious World, World of Strange Powers and Mysterious Universe on television in the 1980s and 90s?		Arthur C. Clarke
Scotland's longest road runs for 237 miles (439 kilometres) from Falkirk (council area) to Thurso, via Stirling, Bridge of Allan, Perth and Inverness. What's its name, number or designation?		A9
Which Egyptian football club is the most successful in world football, having won a total of (118) major trophies in their history?		Al Ahly
Which monument was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806, following his victory at Austerlitz (at the height of his fortunes)?		The Arc de Triomphe
The sockeye is a member of which family of fish?		Salmon
Which of the fifty US states has the second longest coastline (after Alaska), and the longest of all the 48 lower or contiguous states?		Florida
Which Ayrshire–born violinist was "snubbed" by First Minister of Scotland Jack McConnell, after winning the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition in 2004, aged 16? (He "thought that there was insufficient public interest to merit a personal message of congratulations".)		Nicola Benedetti
Where does Europe's only wild monkey population live?		Gibraltar
Which French club won the European Rugby Champions Cup (sponsored by Heineken) in 2022 and 2023?		La Rochelle
Who composed his second piano concerto in 1957 to celebrate his son's 19th birthday?		Dmitri Shostakovich
According to the maxim or proverb (used as an album title by The Faces in 1971), a nod's as good as a wink to what specific type of creature?		A blind horse
Widely regarded as the greatest quarterback of all time, which American football player retired in 2022 with 7 Super Bowl wins and 4 MVP awards to his name? He spent the majority of his career with New England Patriots, and the last three seasons (2020–2) with Tampa Bay Buccaneers.		Tom Brady

Name one of the five African countries through which the Prime Meridian passes.
	Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, or Ghana

© Haydn Thompson 2023