5th May Quiz: multiple choice
1. The emperor from your 15 October round died in exile on 5 May 1821. In which house on St Helena did he die?
2. A German philosopher and economist was born in Trier on 5 May 1818. Who was he?
3. Cinco de Mayo, on 5 May, is often thought to be Mexico's Independence Day. What does it actually commemorate?
4. A famous New York concert hall, paid for by the industrialist from your 25 November round, opened on 5 May 1891. Which Russian composer conducted on the opening night?
5. On 5 May 1904, a baseball pitcher threw the first perfect game of baseball's modern era. Which pitcher, whose name is now given to an annual award?
6. A famous perfume, created by the designer from your 19 August round, is said to have been launched on 5 May 1921. Name the perfume. Why is the date said to have been chosen?
7. 5 May is celebrated as Liberation Day in which European country, freed from German occupation in 1945?
8. On 5 May 1955, the occupation of West Germany officially ended. What did West Germany gain on that day?
9. On 5 May 1961, who became the first American in space? Name his capsule. What did he later do on the Moon in 1971?
10. On 5 May 1980, special forces ended a six-day siege of a London embassy, live on television. Which embassy, and which regiment carried out the rescue?
11. Which European organisation, now based in Strasbourg, was founded on 5 May 1949 by the Treaty of London?
12. A newspaper that became the official voice of the Soviet Communist Party was first published on 5 May 1912. What was it called, and what does its name mean?
13. On 5 May 1925, the teacher from your 18 April round was charged with teaching evolution. What was his name?
14. A Danish philosopher born on 5 May 1813 is often called the "father of existentialism". Who was he?
15. An American journalist born on 5 May 1864 travelled around the world in 72 days, beating the record of a fictional hero. Name her, and the fictional hero she beat.
16. A comedian born in Sheffield on 5 May 1943 was a member of Monty Python and later became famous for travel documentaries. Who is he?
17. A singer born in Tottenham on 5 May 1988 had huge hits with "Someone Like You" and "Rolling in the Deep". Who is she?
18. A Polish author born on 5 May 1846 wrote "Quo Vadis", set in the Rome of the emperor from question 1 of your 18 July round. Who was he?
19. On 5 May 1260, the founder of the Yuan dynasty, from your 18 December round, became Great Khan of the Mongols. Who was he?
20. On 5 May 1835, the first public railway on the European mainland opened, between Brussels and which Belgian city?
ANSWERS
1. Longwood House
2. Karl Marx
3. The Mexican army's victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla (in 1862)
4. Carnegie Hall. Tchaikovsky conducted.
5. Cy Young
6. Chanel No. 5. Coco Chanel is said to have chosen the fifth day of the fifth month because five was her lucky number.
7. A The Netherlands
8. Its sovereignty (it became a sovereign state)
9. Alan Shepard, in Freedom 7. He hit golf balls on the Moon.
10. The Iranian Embassy. The rescue was carried out by the SAS.
11. The Council of Europe
12. Pravda. It means "truth".
13. John Scopes
14. Søren Kierkegaard
15. Nellie Bly. She beat Phileas Fogg, from Jules Verne's "Around the World in Eighty Days".
16. Michael Palin
17. Adele
18. Henryk Sienkiewicz
19. Kublai Khan
20. A Mechelen