4th July Quiz
1. The Declaration of Independence was adopted on 4 July 1776. Whose signature on it is so large that his name became American slang for a signature?
2. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on 4 July 1826. Which anniversary of the Declaration was being celebrated that day?
3. Three presidents have died on 4 July, but only one was born on it, in 1872. Who was he?
4. On 4 July 1054, Chinese astronomers recorded a "guest star" so bright it was visible in daylight. What do we now call its remains?
5. At the Battle of Hattin on 4 July 1187, Saladin crushed the army of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Which holy relic did the crusaders lose in the battle?
6. On 4 July 1862, an Oxford don told a story to three sisters on a boat trip up the Thames, which became "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". What was the surname of the real Alice?
7. Rationing ended completely in Britain on 4 July 1954, when which food came off the ration?
8. On 4 July 1954, West Germany won the World Cup in the "Miracle of Bern". Which team, unbeaten for four years, did they beat in the final?
9. Marie Curie died on 4 July 1934. Which two elements did she discover with her husband Pierre?
10. NASA's Mars Pathfinder landed on 4 July 1997, carrying a small rover. What was the rover called?
11. On 4 July 2012, scientists at CERN announced the discovery of the Higgs boson. Near which city is CERN?
12. On 4 July 1939, the baseball star Lou Gehrig called himself "the luckiest man on the face of the earth". Which disease, which ended his career, is often named after him in America?
13. An American novelist born on 4 July 1804 wrote "The Scarlet Letter". Which letter is Hester Prynne forced to wear?
14. An American songwriter born on 4 July 1826 wrote "Oh! Susanna" and "Camptown Races". Who was he?
15. Giuseppe Garibaldi was born on 4 July 1807, in a city that is now part of France. Which city?
16. Louis Armstrong always said he was born on 4 July 1900. What was his best-known nickname?
17. An American playwright born on 4 July 1927 wrote a comedy about two mismatched divorced men sharing a flat. Name the play.
18. An American singer born on 4 July 1938 wrote "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lean on Me". Who was he?
19. A philanthropist born in Dublin on 4 July 1845 founded homes in London for destitute children. Who was he?
20. On 4 July 1976, Israeli commandos rescued hostages from a hijacked airliner at an airport in Uganda. Name the airport.
ANSWERS
1. John Hancock
Most delegates actually signed the engrossed copy on 2 August 1776, not on 4 July.
2. The 50th
Adams's last words are said to have been "Thomas Jefferson survives", but Jefferson had died a few hours earlier. James Monroe also died on 4 July, in 1831.
3. Calvin Coolidge
4. The Crab Nebula
5. The True Cross (a relic believed to be part of it)
6. Liddell
The storyteller was Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll. The boat trip went from Folly Bridge in Oxford to Godstow.
7. Meat (and bacon)
8. Hungary
Hungary had beaten West Germany 8-3 in the group stage, but lost the final 3-2 after leading 2-0.
9. Polonium and radium
10. Sojourner
11. Geneva
12. ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), known in the UK as motor neurone disease
13. A
14. Stephen Foster
15. Nice
16. Satchmo also accept Pops
Armstrong was actually born on 4 August 1901, as his baptism record, found after his death, showed.
17. The Odd Couple (Neil Simon)
18. Bill Withers
19. Thomas Barnardo (Dr Barnardo)
20. Entebbe
The raid took place on the night of 3-4 July. The only Israeli soldier killed was the commander, Yonatan Netanyahu.
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