quizballs 159 - general knowledge quiz - questions & answers

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quizballs 159 - free general knowledge quiz - questions and answers for trivia quizzes and pub quizzes

What term for behaving in a subservient (overly agreeable and unquestioningly obedient) manner, especially to a boss, derives from an ancient Chinese bowing gesture? Kowtow (kowtow originally refers to the most reverential bowing gesture in Chinese custom, involving kneeling with head touching the floor)
A colony of Britain until 1956, with the capital city of Khartoum, the south of what African country became an independent state in July 2011? Sudan (South Sudan became independent of the North)
What famous palm-top computer brand suffered major stock-market confidence problems following large-scale product faults in 2011? Psion (an acronym from Potter Scientific Instruments, after founder, David Potter)
Ursa Major and Ursa Minor are constellations known respectively more commonly as Great and Little what? Bear (ursus is Latin for bear)
What common name is given to medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS)? Shin Splints (pain along/behind the tibia, i.e., shinbone, occuring often in sports involving stress to the lower legs)
Lord Byron being an example, in 18-19th century Italy a 'cicisbeo' was a what: Penfriend; Poet; Paid companion/lover to a married woman; or Invalid? Paid companion/lover to a married woman (the word is said by some to mean 'in a whisper' because a cicisbeo would sit discreetly behind his 'client' at the opera/theatre, and whisper in her ear, since open displays of intimacy were not acceptable in the otherwise overall openness of the arrangement, extending to the husband's knowledge and approval)
What ancient name applies to the 'days' of hot summer, derived from belief that the star Sirius caused them? Dog Days (Sirius is known widely as the Dog Star, featuring in Canis Major, the Great Dog constellation - whose early rising just before sunrise, coincided with the hottest period of summer - 'dog days' has latterly expressed a period of stagnant or declining activity, especially in business, alluding metaphorically to the stifling effects of hot weather)
Of these sedimentary rocks, which one is not organic, being instead 'clastic': Peat; Jet; Coal, Lignite; or Shale? Shale (clastic means composed of fragments, or clasts, of pre-existing rock)
On the Beaufort Scale of wind force what wind name is given to number 8, which "...Breaks twigs off trees and impedes progress..."? Gale
What Japanese Emperor ruled from 1926-89? Hirohito (also posthumously officially called in Japan: Emperor Showa or the Showa Emperor)
What two spices, a large seed and its outer covering, come from the plant myristica fragrans? Nutmeg and Mace
What notable leader was born in Ranshofen, near Braunau, Austria, in 1889? Adolf Hitler
Dendrites, nucleus, axon, and myelin sheath are cellular components of what sort in the human body: Blood; Nerve; Digestive; or Hair? Nerve
Somalia is in the region known as the what of Africa: Basin; Sound; Horn; or Hook? Horn
A piece of what monument forms part of Ronald Reagan's statue in London's Grosvenor Square: Great Wall of China; Berlin Wall; Hadrian's Wall; or the Wailing Wall? Berlin Wall (signifying the Reagan US presidency's association with the dismantling of East European communist states, and warming of relations with the West in the 1980s)
Derived from French pantomime, what is a clown with a white face, white garments, and pointed hat? Pierrot
What beer, established in 1759, refers to St James's Gate Dublin on its label? Guinness
What international contest awards the famous Claret Jug trophy? British Open Golf Championship
Name the Qatar capital and significant host city for WTO (World Trade Organization) talks in the early 2000s? Doha
What in 2010 became the much-derided all-encompassing new brand name representing the combined businesses of Orange and T-Mobile? Everything Everywhere
Teams competing in what famous annual July event include THC, Movistar, Leopard, BMC and Quick-Step? Tour de France (cycle race)
Name the two 2011 UK police operations respectively investigating the interception of voicemail messages, and the payment of police officers for information, by the News of the World newspaper? Weeting and Elveden
The Picts were an ancient tribe of people occupying what country in Roman times? Scotland
Seismic refers to what natural effect: Earthquake; Wind; Thunder; Lightning? Earthquake (from Greek seismos, from seio, to shake)
Considered the largest food company globally (at 2011), Nestlé was founded and is headquartered in what country? Switzerland
What is the organic compound acid, chemical formula CH₃COOH, and main component of vinegar? Acetic acid
What ground-covering plant (potentially a lawn or tea flavour/flavor) is named from the Greek meaning 'on the ground apple'? Chamomile (or Camomile - from 'chamai', on the ground, and 'melon', apple, because the scent is apple-like - although some say more pineapple-like - the 'ch' spelling tends to be used in science - it is also known as, and therefore other acceptable answers are: garden camomile, low camomile, English chamomile, Roman camomile, ground apple, or whig plant)
Used with oxygen to weld and cut metal due to its high flame temperature what is the compound C₂H₂ commonly called? Acetylene (or Ethyne - an oxyacetylene flame burns at about 6,330°F, or 3,500 °C and is generally considered to be the hottest burning common fuel gas)
A biennial plant: Lives for two years; Flowers twice a year; Flowers alternate years; or Flowers every twenty years? Lives for two years (typically producing leaves in year one, and flowers in year two, before dying)
What color/colour is a polar bear's skin: Pink; White; Black; or Green? Black (black absorbs sunlight, hence warming the body)

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