Andrew Baker The Sunday family quiz
Like a conversation around the table, the Family Quiz follows a thread and everyone can join in. Some questions suit younger quizzers, but really it’s a free-for-all. Don’t all shout at once!
1
On this date in 1913, the first performance of a ballet provoked a riot in Paris. The work was choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky to a score by Igor Stravinsky. What was it called?
(a) The Firebird
(b) The Rite of Spring
(c) The Rite of Fire
2
In 1970, Nijinsky became the last horse to date to complete the “Triple Crown” of English racing with victories in the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger. Who was the jockey aboard for all three wins?
(a) Gordon Richards
(b) Dick Francis
(c) Lester Piggott
3
Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards won a cameo of the year award for his role in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. He played the father of Johnny Depp’s character, Jack Sparrow. What was Richards’s character called? (a) Captain Teague
(b) Captain Sparrow
(c) Captain Fantastic
4
What is the name of the human alter ego of the Marvel Universe character Captain America?
(a) Steve Rogers
(b) Roger Stevens
?
(c) Steve Stevens
5
“Roger” is still commonly used by aviators and service personnel to mean “received”. It comes from the Second World War military term for the letter R, now replaced by the Nato phonetic alphabet by another name. Which one?
(a) Richard
(b) Ralph
(c) Romeo
6
Romeo, the young hero of Shakespeare’s play about star-crossed lovers, comes from the Montague family. What is the family name of his lover, Juliet?
(a) Cavendish
(b) Capulet
(c) Capelli
7
Capelli d’angelo is a long, thin form of pasta similar to spaghetti. What does its name mean in English?
(a) Horse’s mane
(b) Englishman’s wig
(c) Angel hair* 8
Harmony, Destiny and Rhapsody Angel are fighter pilots in which fictional television series?
(a) Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
(b) Dastardly & Muttley in their Flying Machines
?
(c) M*A*S*H
9
In the traditional London East End working-class dish of pie, mash and liquor, what is the liquor?
(a) Beer
(b) Gravy
(c) Parsley sauce
10
What is unusual about the brewers of the Leicestershire beer called Tynt Meadow?
(a) They are children
(b) They are blind
(c) They are monks
11
What was the main instrument of the great American musician Thelonious Monk?
(a) Piano
(b) Saxophone
(c) Drums 12
What was the name of the chubby monk who was part of Robin Hood’s band of merry men?
(a) Padre Peckish
(b) Friar Tuck
?
(c) Brother Grub
13
Grub Street, an old road now mostly under the Barbican estate in London, was associated with which seedy trade? (a) Prostitution
(b) Pawnbroking
(c) Journalism
14
The largest seed in the world is the coco de mer, which can weigh up to 55lb. It comes from a palm tree that grows mainly in which island nation? (a) The Seychelles
(b) Madagascar
(c) Sri Lanka
15
Who voices King Julien, the demented monarch of the lemurs in the
Madagascar film franchise?
(a) James Corden
(b) Sacha Baron Cohen
?
(c) Hugh Bonneville