Quizzes

Quiz #4 - Is all that glitters gold?

3:28 pm on 12 October 2015

Welcome to quiz number four. We think you'll find it tougher than others but also more rewarding.

Click on each question to reveal the answer, or click on the 'Show all the answers' link to see how you went and to learn more. Let us know any suggestions you have for improving the quiz by emailing quizmaster@radionz.co.nz.

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Q 1 How much gold is in an Olympic gold medal?

A One percent, deposited on the surface.

They are typically 93 percent silver, six percent copper, and one percent (or six grams) of gold.

Wired magazine once calculated the cost of a solid gold medal.

Q 2 New Zealand's first stamps had which monarch on them?

A Queen Victoria

The first stamps were printed in Britain, and went on sale on 18 July 1855. The first locally designed stamp was released on New Year's Day, 1873, also featuring the Queen.

Q 3 What is arachibutyrophobia?

A A fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of one's mouth

Truly. Just be thankful you don't have hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia, or fear of long words.

Another fact that'll blow your mind: peanuts are not nuts, they are legumes.

Q 4 What year was the first iPhone released?

  1. 2006
  2. 2007
  3. 2008
  4. 2009

A 2007

The first generation iPhone was fairly basic and reviews were generally positive although it did lack many of the features we take for granted today. The App Store did not launch until July 2008.

Steve Balmer, Microsoft's CEO at the time, famously laughed at the $US500 iPhone.

Q 5 What year was the Panama Canal officially opened?

  1. 1904
  2. 1914
  3. 1924

A 1914

The Panama Canal is 77 kilometres long and links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. France started the project in 1881. The United States took over in 1904 and it was officially opened in 1914. It is considered one of the greatest civil engineering achievements of the 20th century.

Q 6 Les Nessman was a reporter on which US TV sitcom?

A WKRP in Cincinnati

Played by actor Richard Sanders, the character was known for his lack of knowledge about news and, in particular, sport. His idiosyncratic behaviour also raised eyebrows: for example, he had an imaginary door for his 'office'.

Q 7 Only one of the seven wonders of the ancient world still exists. Which one is it?

  1. Colossus of Rhodes
  2. Statue of Zeus at Olympia
  3. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
  4. Great Pyramid of Giza
  5. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
  6. Hanging Gardens of Babylon
  7. Lighthouse of Alexandria

A The Great Pyramid of Giza

The list of seven wonders was compiled by two ancient scholars - Herodotus and Callimachus - and while their writings no longer exist, the lists they made survived through references in other documents. Yep, listicles have existed for thousands of years.

The Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure for more than 3,800 years. In 1889 it was eclipsed by the Mole Antonelliana in Italy. The pyramid has lost about 7 metres in height since it was built around 2560 BC.

If you want to read about any of these interesting sites here are some links: Colossus of Rhodes, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Great Pyramid of Giza, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Lighthouse of Alexandria

Q 8 Which of the following means large in size or big?

  1. Largesse
  2. Bigamy
  3. Capacious
  4. Enormity
  5. Grandiose

A Capacious

According to the Oxford English Dictionary:

Largesse = Generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others.

Bigamy = The offence of marrying someone while already married to another person.

Capacious = Having a lot of space inside; roomy.

Enormity = The great or extreme scale, seriousness, or extent of something perceived as bad or morally wrong.

Grandiose = Extravagantly or pretentiously imposing in appearance or style.

Q 9 Which US golfer was known for his prowess with a 1-iron?

A Jack Nicklaus

His off-the-tee shot from the 17th at Pebble Beach in 1972 is one of the great shots of all time.

Q 10 Which drink came first, Pepsi or Coca-Cola?

A Coca-Cola

Coke (trade-marked as a name in 1944) was created in 1886 by John Pemberton. He claimed that his 'nerve tonic' could cure dyspepsia, headache and impotence, among other things.

Pepsi started life as Brad's Drink in 1893 and changed the name to Pepsi-Cola in 1896.

The two companies have been at war for market share ever since.

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The Quizmaster

Is the Quizmaster the source of all knowledge? Or do they just use the internet like eveyone else? Super search skills might not help you with these quizzes - their knowledge comes from outside of time and space. We get these quizzes via courier pigeon each Friday. Enjoy!

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