MASTERMINDS
1. What is the name of the new measure of inflation, introduced by the ONS?
2. An unusual neutron star in Ursa Minor was named Calvera – after the villain in which classic Western film?
3. Which legendary car maker started making vehicles because his 1901 Decauville was a disappointment?
4. The Seleucid Empire was a successor state based on the conquests of which military leader?
5. In which country would you find the province of North Brabant?
6. Hospitals are seeing record numbers of young children needing what removed?
7. Which singer’s manager this week accused ticket touts of profiting for charity?
8. In Greek myth, if one did not have a coin to pay the ferryman Charon, one had to spend 100 years on the banks of which river before arriving in Hades?
9. Which singer was this week filmed calling inspirational teenager Lewis Hine?
10. America and Britain have banned what on some flights this week? 11. What is a baby goose called? 12. Is Paul McCartney left or right handed?
13. Which name links a famous naval officer who rose from midshipman to Admiral of the Fleet in a 75-year career, with the BBC’s long-time reader of football results on the radio? 14. Which North American game was known to some of its originators as tewaarathon, which can be translated as “little brother of war”? 15. Who was killed breaking the world water speed record on Lake Windermere in 1930? 16. A 1974 Dodge Monaco car features prominently in which hit film of 1980? 17. The vine that produces black pepper is native to which country? 18. The Satin Dolls club in New Jersey featured as the Bada Bing in which TV series? 19. Lake Taupo occupies the crater of a huge volcano which last erupted in 180AD – centuries before the island it lies on was discovered by humans. In which country is it? 20. Which senior Conservative politician famously seized the mace of the House of Commons when Labour MPs began singing The Red Flag after a heated debate in May 1976? 21. The word “vaccination” comes from the Latin for which animal? 22. The 6th century St Columba is supposed to have had a close encounter with which mythical beast? 23. The kukri is a knife associated with soldiers from which Asian people? 24. Which two countries fought the Chaco War in 1932-35 over territory thought to be oil-rich – which later proved not to be?
25. Which major range of Antarctic mountains is named for a US naval air training station in Florida?
26. Which musical instrument’s name comes from a Greek word meaning “having pleasing sound”?
27. Geococcyx californianus is the Latin name for the species of which well-known cartoon character?
28. The State Duma is the lower house of parliament in which major nation?
29. Of which major entertainment industry magazine is Jann Wenner the founder?
30. Which children’s author created the absent-minded Professor Branestawm and his friend Colonel Dedshott of the Catapult Cavaliers?