British Culture And History Quiz: Trivia!

FACT: Fleming discovered penicillin when he noticed that a mold that had grown on one of his experiments could kill bacteria.

FACT: Orwell's real name was actually Eric Blair but he went under the nom de plume of George Orwell in order to avoid any embarrassment to his family over his time as a vagrant in Down and out in Paris and London.

'The Ashes' refers to a bi-ennial cricket series played between England and Australia. This term originated from a satirical obituary published in a British newspaper in 1882, stating that English cricket had died and "the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia". Since then, the term has been used to symbolize the intense rivalry and competition between the two countries in cricket. The series consists of five Test matches, with the winner taking home a small urn believed to contain the ashes of a cricket bail, representing the 'ashes' of English cricket.

Catherine of Aragon was the first wife of King Henry VIII of England. She was originally married to Henry's older brother, Arthur, but when Arthur died, she married Henry to maintain the alliance between England and Spain. However, their marriage was eventually annulled by Henry, leading to the English Reformation.

Brian Jones, founding member of The Rolling Stones, was one of the coolest men of the 1960s. Unfortunately, his life was tragically cut short at the age of 27 when he drowned in the swimming pool of his Sussex home.

Jay Z destroyed the Oasis song "Wonderwall" at Glastonbury in 2008.

FACT: The Arctic Monkeys covered the song in the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.

Caroline Wozniacki is the correct answer because she was engaged to Rory McIlroy. The question asks about the European tennis ace that McIlroy was recently engaged to, and Wozniacki fits this description.

The correct answer is William Hogarth. The question asks about the artist who painted 'Gin Lane' in 1751, documenting Britons' drinking problems. William Hogarth was a Georgian artist known for his social commentary through his paintings. 'Gin Lane' is a famous work by him that depicts the negative effects of excessive drinking on society.

The correct answer is "And-which is more-you'll be a Man my son!" This line completes the poem by emphasizing the importance of becoming a mature and responsible individual. It suggests that if one can make the most of every moment and persevere through challenges, they will achieve greatness and earn the respect of others. The line carries a sense of pride and expectation, encouraging the reader to strive for personal growth and success.

Downton Abbey is set in Highclere Castle. This is evident from the context of the question, which mentions that the average Britons have been living in castles for generations, implying that Downton Abbey is a popular British television show set in a castle. Therefore, the correct answer is Highclere Castle.

The correct answer is Plymouth. The Mayflower set sail from the English port of Plymouth on September 6th, 1620. This port was significant in the history of America as it was the starting point for the Pilgrims' journey to the New World, which eventually led to the establishment of the Plymouth Colony. Without this voyage, modern America may not have come into existence.

Henry Cooper delivered the famous blow that floored Muhammed Ali. Ali stated that he got hit so hard that his "ancestors in Africa felt it."

There have been 23 official (Eon produced) James Bond films to date. James Bond is often portrayed as suave, sophisticated, handsome, and brave, and is considered a quintessentially British character. The question is asking for the number of official films produced by Eon Productions, the company responsible for the majority of the James Bond franchise.

The correct answer is 1977. The Sex Pistols released their controversial hit "God Save the Queen" in 1977 to coincide with Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee. The song was seen as a critique of the monarchy and the political climate at the time. It caused significant controversy and was even banned by the BBC.

Prince George weighed 8lbs 6oz at birth.

In 1879, a small contingent of British soldiers defended a mission station in Rorke's Drift, a South African town. This battle became famous and was later immortalized in the 1964 film Zulu. The British Empire, which was the most extensive empire in history, covered 25% of the Earth's total land area in 1922.

In 1603, James VI of Scotland passed the Union of Crowns, which granted him the monarchy of both England and Scotland. This event laid the foundations for the Act of Union in 1707.

Queen Victoria reigned over Great Britain and its territories for 63 years and 7 months.

FACT: Nottingham Forest were the first British club to win back-to-back European cups, achieving the feat in 1979 and 1980.

The correct answer is Twelfth Night. This comedy by William Shakespeare features the character Malvolio, who receives a letter with the famous quote: "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." The line reflects the themes of social status, ambition, and mistaken identity that are prevalent throughout the play.

During Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebration in 2012, a 670-boat flotilla took place on The River Thames. As the royal convoy passed through Waterloo Bridge, the British National Theatre performed a montage from one of its notable productions. The correct answer is "War Horse."

In Monty Python's Life of Brian, Reg was the leader of the People's Front of Judea. This answer is correct because the question specifically asks for the political organization that Reg leads in the film. The other options, Judean Popular People's Front, Popular Front of Judea, and Judean People's Front, are all organizations mentioned in the film but do not represent the group that Reg leads. Therefore, the correct answer is People's Front of Judea.

Waddiwasi is the correct answer because it is the spell that unsticks any object it hits. This spell is mentioned in the Harry Potter series and is used to remove objects that are stuck or lodged in a certain place. It is a useful spell for situations where objects need to be moved or dislodged without physical contact.