Big Quiz of the Year: 2008

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Questions: 97

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Questions

  1. Which missing adventurer's wrecked aircraft and bodily remains were found in California in October 2008?
  2. Who resigned as Ireland's Taoiseach (pronounced 'teeshock' - it is the head of government) in May 2008 after more than ten years in the position?
  3. In 2008 billionaire financier Carl Icahn joined the board of what large internet corporation in a deal which saw him cease his fight to oust its leaders?
  4. The South Ossetia war was fought between Russia and which other country?
  5. By how many years to the day did OJ Simpson's conviction for robbery and kidnapping follow his acquittal of murder?
  6. The NASA spacecraft Messenger reached what planet destination in 2008?
  7. Human Rights Watch announced in October 2008 that what country is the world's most ignored tragedy?
  8. Who in 2008 was re-elected Prime Minister of Canada?
  9. Who in 2008 was denied parole (again) for the murder of John Lennon?
  10. George Tupou V was crowned monarch of which country in August 2008?
  11. Chinese Democracy was the long awaited 2008 album release of which band?
  12. Who was Fiona Shackleton representing when she had a jug of water poured over her in February 2008?
  13. Architect Rafael Viñoly designed what notable Leicester building which opened in 2008?
  14. For which national team did the cricketer play who was alleged to have called an Australian opponent a monkey, resulting in the suspension of the Australian tour of that country?
  15. Which film director, with successes including Cold Mountain and The Talented Mr Ripley, died on 18 March 2008?
  16. Which chain announced the closure of 600 US branches in July 2008?
  17. In which city did the Newseum museum of news and journalism re-open in April 2008?
  18. Who did Portsmouth beat 1-0 to win the FA Cup in May 2008?
  19. Who wrote the much covered and 2008 hit song Hallelujah?
  20. On Rudy Giuliani's withdrawal from the contest for the Republican 2008 US presidential election nomination who received Giuliani's endorsement?
  21. Which original and long lost member of the Manic Street Preachers was declared dead on 24 November 2008?
  22. What is the name of Google's web browser, launched in September 2008?
  23. Who won the 2008 American (celebrity) Apprentice TV show?
  24. What 2008 film set in 1880s America starred and was directed by Ed Harris?
  25. Which country won the most medals in total at the 2008 Summer Olympics?
  26. In October 2008 which country was first to follow Ireland in announcing it would guarantee all bank deposits, in the wake of the global financial crisis?
  27. Which Eastern guru to the Beatles died on 5 February 2008?
  28. What venue hosted the 2008 Superbowl?
  29. Which American entertainer famously parodied Sarah Palin during the 2008 US presidential elections?
  30. What hip-hop artist was controversially chosen to headline the 2008 Glastonbury Festival?
  31. Which American artist noted for his large graffiti-style paintings had a major exhibition at London's Tate Modern in Summer 2008?
  32. Who won the UK 2008 Apprentice TV show and the resulting job with Sir Alan Sugar?
  33. Who starred as Batman in the film Dark Knight?
  34. What was Abdel Kechiche's 2008 film about France's North African community?
  35. Who ran the fraudulent $50bn investment pyramid scheme exposed in December 2008?
  36. Who released the album Do You Like Rock Music?
  37. Who threw his shoes at George W Bush in December 2008?
  38. Which club won the Coca Cola Football League Championship for the 2007-08 season?
  39. Who won the UK 2008 X-Factor TV talent show?
  40. Which secretive artist's supposed real identity was 'outed' in 2008 as Robert Gunningham by the Mail on Sunday?
  41. Which rock group won the 2008 Mercury Prize?
  42. What successful 2008 film starring Angelina Jolie did Clint Eastwood direct?
  43. Which iconic fashion designer died on 1 June 2008?
  44. Ari Folman's acclaimed 2008 film was 'Waltz with...' whom?
  45. Nelson Evora won which country's only gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics?
  46. Which scientist and novelist, and author of '2001: A Space Odyssey' died on 19 March 2008?
  47. Which actor was the butt of Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand's prank calls in October 2008?
  48. Who won 3 gold medals for Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and was named 2008 BBC Sports Personality of the Year?
  49. Which country won the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest?
  50. Which country ended its combat role in Iraq on 1 June 2008 with the withdrawal of its 500 troops from Nasiriyah?
  51. What was Julian Schnabel's acclaimed 2008 film of the book written by a stroke victim's blinking eye?
  52. Who was buried in Donskoy Necropolis on 6 August 2008?
  53. Which city hosted in 2008 the 65th anniversary of the oldest film festival in the world?
  54. Who won the 2008 Superbowl?
  55. Who won best actor at the 80th Academy Awards of 2008?
  56. Who resigned as Prime Minister of Pakistan on 18 August 2008?
  57. In what city did Barack Obama formally accept the Democratic nomination for the US presidential election?
  58. Which driver did Louis Hamilton overtake in the final seconds of the Brazilian Grand Prix to clinch fifth place and thereby win the 2008 F1 Championship?
  59. What were Bertha, Cristobel and Dolly on 20 July 2008?
  60. Which country won the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations (the African international soccer championship)?
  61. In which country did the world's largest ferris wheel (as at 2008) open for rides in March 2008?
  62. Who did the government appoint as executive chairman of Northern Rock after its nationalisation?
  63. Rail workers in California were banned from doing what on moving trains after a crash was found to have been caused by the activity in September 2008?
  64. From January 2008 people seeking a visa to visit the UK were required to provide what additional form of identity?
  65. Which company did French president Sarkozy and his then girlfriend Carla Bruni sue in 2008 for unauthorised use of their images in an advert?
  66. G Kennedy Thompson was fired in June 2008 from which US bank and early victim of the credit crunch?
  67. Nepal re-named a remote airport near Mount Everest as what in February 2008?
  68. In March 2008 the Shin Bet secret service of what country launched a blog written by four of its agents?
  69. The Detroit Redwings beat the Pittsburgh Penguins to win the 2008 Stanley Cup in which sport?
  70. In March 2008 the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation announced a photographic competition to mark the International Year of the what?
  71. What political correspondent voluntarily removed himself from the UK Strictly Come Dancing celebrity talent show for fear of undersevedly winning it?
  72. Which club won the 2008 Australian Football League Grand Final?
  73. Who won the 2008 French Women's Singles (tennis) Open Championship?
  74. Quentin Bryce became the first woman to hold what office in September 2008?
  75. Which jazz musician and presenter of BBC Radio's I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue died on 25 April 2008?
  76. Which UK member of parliament resigned in June 2008 to fight the Haltemprice and Howden election on a civil liberties platform?
  77. Who won the 2008 American Idol TV talent show?
  78. In what city did its kingdom's first women-only hotel and spa, called the Luthan, open in March 2008?
  79. What candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination for the 2008 US election withdrew from the contest on 10 January 2008?
  80. Which country did cyclone Nargis devastate on 2 May 2008?
  81. What stadium nicknamed 'The House That Ruth Built' closed in November 2008?
  82. Who did Tiger Woods beat in a play-off for the 2008 US Open Championship?
  83. Who led Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change opposition against Robert Mugabe in 2008?
  84. Who was the trader alleged to be responsible for the French Société Générale trading loss of nearly five billion euros in January 2008?
  85. Which two companies agreed in February 2008 to pay their customers $200m compensation for price fixing?
  86. How many gold medals did Great Britain win at the 2008 Summer Olympics?
  87. A court in which country was reported in March 2008 to have convicted a bear for stealing honey from a beekeeper?
  88. Which highly regarded British literary agent died on 20 October 2008?
  89. Famous for his square guitar, which blues musician died on 2 June 2008?
  90. Which was the only country to win two silver medals and no other medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics?
  91. The sales and reputation of what cheese were affected when toxins were believed to have contaminated buffalo milk?
  92. Name the British Airways chief executive who had to do a lot of apologising for the Heathrow Terminal 5 chaos in March 2008?
  93. Which film star (of Brokeback Mountain fame) died on 22 Jan 2008?
  94. The European Court of Justice ruled that Marks and Spencer could reclaim £3.5m in 20 years' overpaid vat due to the incorrect categorisation of what product?
  95. Which famous artist and and children's book illustrator died on 28 May 2008?
  96. Which notable CEO stepped down on 27 June 2008 to concentrate on his charity work?
  97. During Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons in December 2008 Gordon Brown amusingly and accidentally claimed his government had saved what?

Questions & Answers

Interactive Quiz

  1. Which missing adventurer's wrecked aircraft and bodily remains were found in California in October 2008?
    Steve Fossett
  2. Who resigned as Ireland's Taoiseach (pronounced 'teeshock' - it is the head of government) in May 2008 after more than ten years in the position?
    Bertie Ahern
  3. In 2008 billionaire financier Carl Icahn joined the board of what large internet corporation in a deal which saw him cease his fight to oust its leaders?
    Yahoo
  4. The South Ossetia war was fought between Russia and which other country?
    Georgia
  5. By how many years to the day did OJ Simpson's conviction for robbery and kidnapping follow his acquittal of murder?
    Thirteen
  6. The NASA spacecraft Messenger reached what planet destination in 2008?
    Mercury
  7. Human Rights Watch announced in October 2008 that what country is the world's most ignored tragedy?
    Somalia
  8. Who in 2008 was re-elected Prime Minister of Canada?
    Stephen Harper
  9. Who in 2008 was denied parole (again) for the murder of John Lennon?
    Mark Chapman
  10. George Tupou V was crowned monarch of which country in August 2008?
    Tonga
  11. Chinese Democracy was the long awaited 2008 album release of which band?
    Guns N' Roses
  12. Who was Fiona Shackleton representing when she had a jug of water poured over her in February 2008?
    Paul McCartney
  13. Architect Rafael Viñoly designed what notable Leicester building which opened in 2008?
    The Curve Theatre
  14. For which national team did the cricketer play who was alleged to have called an Australian opponent a monkey, resulting in the suspension of the Australian tour of that country?
    India
  15. Which film director, with successes including Cold Mountain and The Talented Mr Ripley, died on 18 March 2008?
    Anthony Minghella
  16. Which chain announced the closure of 600 US branches in July 2008?
    Starbucks
  17. In which city did the Newseum museum of news and journalism re-open in April 2008?
    Washington DC
  18. Who did Portsmouth beat 1-0 to win the FA Cup in May 2008?
    Cardiff City
  19. Who wrote the much covered and 2008 hit song Hallelujah?
    Leonard Cohen
  20. On Rudy Giuliani's withdrawal from the contest for the Republican 2008 US presidential election nomination who received Giuliani's endorsement?
    John McCain
  21. Which original and long lost member of the Manic Street Preachers was declared dead on 24 November 2008?
    Richey Edwards
  22. What is the name of Google's web browser, launched in September 2008?
    Google Chrome
  23. Who won the 2008 American (celebrity) Apprentice TV show?
    Piers Morgan
  24. What 2008 film set in 1880s America starred and was directed by Ed Harris?
    Appaloosa
  25. Which country won the most medals in total at the 2008 Summer Olympics?
    USA 
  26. In October 2008 which country was first to follow Ireland in announcing it would guarantee all bank deposits, in the wake of the global financial crisis?
    Greece
  27. Which Eastern guru to the Beatles died on 5 February 2008?
    Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
  28. What venue hosted the 2008 Superbowl?
    University of Phoenix Stadium
  29. Which American entertainer famously parodied Sarah Palin during the 2008 US presidential elections?
    Tina Fey
  30. What hip-hop artist was controversially chosen to headline the 2008 Glastonbury Festival?
    Jay-Z 
  31. Which American artist noted for his large graffiti-style paintings had a major exhibition at London's Tate Modern in Summer 2008?
    Cy Twombly 
  32. Who won the UK 2008 Apprentice TV show and the resulting job with Sir Alan Sugar?
    Lee McQueen
  33. Who starred as Batman in the film Dark Knight?
    Christian Bale
  34. What was Abdel Kechiche's 2008 film about France's North African community?
    Couscous
  35. Who ran the fraudulent $50bn investment pyramid scheme exposed in December 2008?
    Bernard Madoff
  36. Who released the album Do You Like Rock Music?
    British Sea Power
  37. Who threw his shoes at George W Bush in December 2008?
    Muntadhar al Zeidi 
  38. Which club won the Coca Cola Football League Championship for the 2007-08 season?
    West Bromwich Albion
  39. Who won the UK 2008 X-Factor TV talent show?
    Alexandra Burke
  40. Which secretive artist's supposed real identity was 'outed' in 2008 as Robert Gunningham by the Mail on Sunday?
    Banksy
  41. Which rock group won the 2008 Mercury Prize?
    Elbow 
  42. What successful 2008 film starring Angelina Jolie did Clint Eastwood direct?
    Changeling
  43. Which iconic fashion designer died on 1 June 2008?
    Yves Saint Laurent
  44. Ari Folman's acclaimed 2008 film was 'Waltz with...' whom?
    Bashir
  45. Nelson Evora won which country's only gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics?
    Portugal 
  46. Which scientist and novelist, and author of '2001: A Space Odyssey' died on 19 March 2008?
    Arthur C Clarke
  47. Which actor was the butt of Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand's prank calls in October 2008?
    Andrew Sachs
  48. Who won 3 gold medals for Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and was named 2008 BBC Sports Personality of the Year?
    Chris Hoy 
  49. Which country won the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest?
    Russia 
  50. Which country ended its combat role in Iraq on 1 June 2008 with the withdrawal of its 500 troops from Nasiriyah?
    Australia
  51. What was Julian Schnabel's acclaimed 2008 film of the book written by a stroke victim's blinking eye?
    The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
  52. Who was buried in Donskoy Necropolis on 6 August 2008?
    Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
  53. Which city hosted in 2008 the 65th anniversary of the oldest film festival in the world?
    Venice
  54. Who won the 2008 Superbowl?
    New York Giants
  55. Who won best actor at the 80th Academy Awards of 2008?
    Daniel Day-Lewis 
  56. Who resigned as Prime Minister of Pakistan on 18 August 2008?
    Pervez Musharraf
  57. In what city did Barack Obama formally accept the Democratic nomination for the US presidential election?
    Denver, Colorado
  58. Which driver did Louis Hamilton overtake in the final seconds of the Brazilian Grand Prix to clinch fifth place and thereby win the 2008 F1 Championship?
    Timo Glock
  59. What were Bertha, Cristobel and Dolly on 20 July 2008?
    Storms 
  60. Which country won the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations (the African international soccer championship)?
    Egypt 
  61. In which country did the world's largest ferris wheel (as at 2008) open for rides in March 2008?
    Singapore
  62. Who did the government appoint as executive chairman of Northern Rock after its nationalisation?
    Ron Sandler
  63. Rail workers in California were banned from doing what on moving trains after a crash was found to have been caused by the activity in September 2008?
    Using mobile phones
  64. From January 2008 people seeking a visa to visit the UK were required to provide what additional form of identity?
    Fingerprints
  65. Which company did French president Sarkozy and his then girlfriend Carla Bruni sue in 2008 for unauthorised use of their images in an advert?
    Ryanair
  66. G Kennedy Thompson was fired in June 2008 from which US bank and early victim of the credit crunch?
    Wachovia
  67. Nepal re-named a remote airport near Mount Everest as what in February 2008?
    Tenzing-Hillary Airport
  68. In March 2008 the Shin Bet secret service of what country launched a blog written by four of its agents?
    Israel
  69. The Detroit Redwings beat the Pittsburgh Penguins to win the 2008 Stanley Cup in which sport?
    Ice hockey
  70. In March 2008 the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation announced a photographic competition to mark the International Year of the what?
    Potato
  71. What political correspondent voluntarily removed himself from the UK Strictly Come Dancing celebrity talent show for fear of undersevedly winning it?
    John Sergeant
  72. Which club won the 2008 Australian Football League Grand Final?
    Hawthorn
  73. Who won the 2008 French Women's Singles (tennis) Open Championship?
    Ana Ivanovic
  74. Quentin Bryce became the first woman to hold what office in September 2008?
    Governor-General of Australia
  75. Which jazz musician and presenter of BBC Radio's I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue died on 25 April 2008?
    Humphrey Lyttelton
  76. Which UK member of parliament resigned in June 2008 to fight the Haltemprice and Howden election on a civil liberties platform?
    David Davis
  77. Who won the 2008 American Idol TV talent show?
    David Cook
  78. In what city did its kingdom's first women-only hotel and spa, called the Luthan, open in March 2008?
    Riyadh 
  79. What candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination for the 2008 US election withdrew from the contest on 10 January 2008?
    Bill Richardson
  80. Which country did cyclone Nargis devastate on 2 May 2008?
    Burma
  81. What stadium nicknamed 'The House That Ruth Built' closed in November 2008?
    Yankee Stadium 
  82. Who did Tiger Woods beat in a play-off for the 2008 US Open Championship?
    Rocco Mediate
  83. Who led Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change opposition against Robert Mugabe in 2008?
    Morgan Tsvangirai
  84. Who was the trader alleged to be responsible for the French Société Générale trading loss of nearly five billion euros in January 2008?
    Jérôme Kerviel
  85. Which two companies agreed in February 2008 to pay their customers $200m compensation for price fixing?
    Virgin Atlantic and British Airways
  86. How many gold medals did Great Britain win at the 2008 Summer Olympics?
    19
  87. A court in which country was reported in March 2008 to have convicted a bear for stealing honey from a beekeeper?
    Macedonia
  88. Which highly regarded British literary agent died on 20 October 2008?
    Pat Kavanagh
  89. Famous for his square guitar, which blues musician died on 2 June 2008?
    Bo Diddley
  90. Which was the only country to win two silver medals and no other medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics?
  91. The sales and reputation of what cheese were affected when toxins were believed to have contaminated buffalo milk?
    Mozzarella
  92. Name the British Airways chief executive who had to do a lot of apologising for the Heathrow Terminal 5 chaos in March 2008?
    Willie Walsh
  93. Which film star (of Brokeback Mountain fame) died on 22 Jan 2008?
    Heath Ledger
  94. The European Court of Justice ruled that Marks and Spencer could reclaim £3.5m in 20 years' overpaid vat due to the incorrect categorisation of what product?
    Teacakes
  95. Which famous artist and and children's book illustrator died on 28 May 2008?
    Beryl Cook
  96. Which notable CEO stepped down on 27 June 2008 to concentrate on his charity work?
    Bill Gates
  97. During Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons in December 2008 Gordon Brown amusingly and accidentally claimed his government had saved what?
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