• QFTCICR25 Game 3, Rounds 7-8: dates and obscure sports

    From msb@msb@vex.net (Mark Brader) to rec.games.trivia on Sun Apr 12 04:18:26 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 2025-09-29,
    and should be interpreted accordingly.

    On each question you may give up to two answers, but if you give
    both a right answer and a wrong answer, there is a small penalty.
    Please post all your answers in a single followup to the newsgroup,
    based only on your own knowledge. (In your answer posting, quote
    the questions and place your answer below each one.) I will reveal
    the correct answers in about 3 days.

    All questions were written by members of the Cellar Rats, and are
    used here by permission, but have been reformatted and may have
    been retyped and/or edited by me. The posting and tabulation of
    current-events questions is independent of the concurrent posting
    of other rounds. For further information please see my 2026-03-10
    companion posting on "Questions from the Canadian Inquisition
    (QFTCI*)".


    * Game 3, Round 7 - History - Dates

    The following round asks for the dates for important changes in
    the status of nations, provinces, states, cities etc. In each
    case name the year, within 1.

    1. In what year did Iceland achieve its independence?

    2. The current administrative region of Macau was leased to Portugal
    by China in 1557. In what year did Portugal hand it back
    to China?

    3. In what year did Czechoslovakia have its "Velvet Divorce",
    splitting the country into the Czech Republic and Slovakia?

    4. When did Siam change its name to Thailand?

    5. In what year did North and South Yemen reunify to become Yemen?

    6. North Korea, or to give its official name, the Democratic
    People's Republic of Korea, came into existence on September
    9 of what year?

    7. Goa is currently the smallest state in India. It was colonized
    by Portugal in 1510. When did it cease to be a Portuguese
    Colony?

    8. When did Constantinople formally change its name to Istanbul?

    9. In what year did the People's Republic of China become a member
    of the United Nations and a permanent members of the UN Security
    Council?

    10. In what year did Algeria achieve independence from France ?


    * Game 3, Round 8 - Sports - Obscure Sports

    From underwater hockey to toe wrestling, these are the games you
    probably didn't play in gym class. Get ready -- it's time to go
    off the beaten track and into the sidelines of sport!

    1. In which country did the sport of kabaddi originate?

    2. What unusual object is thrown in the British sport of
    welly-wanging?

    3. In which sport do competitors chase a wheel of a specific dairy
    product down a steep hill?

    4. Sepak takraw is a sport similar to volleyball, but what part
    of the body is primarily used to hit the ball?

    5. What is the objective in the Finnish sport of wife-carrying?

    6. Which icy sport involves throwing stones toward a target area
    known as the "house"?

    7. In Ireland, there are two national sports. Both are played
    on the same-sized field, about the same as a soccer field.
    Gaelic football is played with a soccer-sized ball and the
    other sport uses a stick and a small hard ball. What is this
    other sport called?

    8. Bossaball is a sport that combines volleyball, soccer,
    gymnastics, and what unique playing surface?

    9. What sport, originating in Scotland, involves throwing a large,
    tapered log?

    10. What is the name of the sport that combines running with
    navigation using a map and compass?

    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Dan Tilque@dtilque@frontier.com to rec.games.trivia on Sat Apr 11 22:11:07 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    On 4/11/26 21:18, Mark Brader wrote:


    * Game 3, Round 7 - History - Dates

    The following round asks for the dates for important changes in
    the status of nations, provinces, states, cities etc. In each
    case name the year, within 1.

    1. In what year did Iceland achieve its independence?

    1944


    2. The current administrative region of Macau was leased to Portugal
    by China in 1557. In what year did Portugal hand it back
    to China?

    1995


    3. In what year did Czechoslovakia have its "Velvet Divorce",
    splitting the country into the Czech Republic and Slovakia?

    1991


    4. When did Siam change its name to Thailand?

    1958; 1961


    5. In what year did North and South Yemen reunify to become Yemen?

    1983


    6. North Korea, or to give its official name, the Democratic
    People's Republic of Korea, came into existence on September
    9 of what year?

    1950


    7. Goa is currently the smallest state in India. It was colonized
    by Portugal in 1510. When did it cease to be a Portuguese
    Colony?

    1978


    8. When did Constantinople formally change its name to Istanbul?

    1932


    9. In what year did the People's Republic of China become a member
    of the United Nations and a permanent members of the UN Security
    Council?

    1970


    10. In what year did Algeria achieve independence from France ?

    1963



    * Game 3, Round 8 - Sports - Obscure Sports

    From underwater hockey to toe wrestling, these are the games you
    probably didn't play in gym class. Get ready -- it's time to go
    off the beaten track and into the sidelines of sport!

    1. In which country did the sport of kabaddi originate?

    2. What unusual object is thrown in the British sport of
    welly-wanging?

    3. In which sport do competitors chase a wheel of a specific dairy
    product down a steep hill?

    cheese rolling


    4. Sepak takraw is a sport similar to volleyball, but what part
    of the body is primarily used to hit the ball?

    upper leg; head


    5. What is the objective in the Finnish sport of wife-carrying?

    6. Which icy sport involves throwing stones toward a target area
    known as the "house"?

    curling


    7. In Ireland, there are two national sports. Both are played
    on the same-sized field, about the same as a soccer field.
    Gaelic football is played with a soccer-sized ball and the
    other sport uses a stick and a small hard ball. What is this
    other sport called?

    Hurling


    8. Bossaball is a sport that combines volleyball, soccer,
    gymnastics, and what unique playing surface?

    9. What sport, originating in Scotland, involves throwing a large,
    tapered log?

    caber toss


    10. What is the name of the sport that combines running with
    navigation using a map and compass?

    orienteering
    --
    Dan Tilque
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Joshua Kreitzer@gromit82@hotmail.com to rec.games.trivia on Sun Apr 12 00:56:06 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    On 4/11/2026 11:18 PM, Mark Brader wrote:

    * Game 3, Round 7 - History - Dates

    The following round asks for the dates for important changes in
    the status of nations, provinces, states, cities etc. In each
    case name the year, within 1.

    1. In what year did Iceland achieve its independence?

    1944

    2. The current administrative region of Macau was leased to Portugal
    by China in 1557. In what year did Portugal hand it back
    to China?

    1998

    3. In what year did Czechoslovakia have its "Velvet Divorce",
    splitting the country into the Czech Republic and Slovakia?

    1996

    4. When did Siam change its name to Thailand?

    1934; 1937

    5. In what year did North and South Yemen reunify to become Yemen?

    1992; 1995

    6. North Korea, or to give its official name, the Democratic
    People's Republic of Korea, came into existence on September
    9 of what year?

    1945

    7. Goa is currently the smallest state in India. It was colonized
    by Portugal in 1510. When did it cease to be a Portuguese
    Colony?

    1962

    8. When did Constantinople formally change its name to Istanbul?

    1922; 1925

    9. In what year did the People's Republic of China become a member
    of the United Nations and a permanent members of the UN Security
    Council?

    1971

    10. In what year did Algeria achieve independence from France ?

    1962

    * Game 3, Round 8 - Sports - Obscure Sports

    From underwater hockey to toe wrestling, these are the games you
    probably didn't play in gym class. Get ready -- it's time to go
    off the beaten track and into the sidelines of sport!

    1. In which country did the sport of kabaddi originate?

    Afghanistan; Pakistan

    2. What unusual object is thrown in the British sport of
    welly-wanging?

    boot

    3. In which sport do competitors chase a wheel of a specific dairy
    product down a steep hill?

    cheese racing

    4. Sepak takraw is a sport similar to volleyball, but what part
    of the body is primarily used to hit the ball?

    knees; head

    5. What is the objective in the Finnish sport of wife-carrying?

    to carry a woman across the finish line fastest

    6. Which icy sport involves throwing stones toward a target area
    known as the "house"?

    curling

    7. In Ireland, there are two national sports. Both are played
    on the same-sized field, about the same as a soccer field.
    Gaelic football is played with a soccer-sized ball and the
    other sport uses a stick and a small hard ball. What is this
    other sport called?

    shinty

    9. What sport, originating in Scotland, involves throwing a large,
    tapered log?

    caber tossing

    10. What is the name of the sport that combines running with
    navigation using a map and compass?

    orienteering

    --
    Joshua Kreitzer
    gromit82@hotmail.com
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From tool@tool@panix.com (Dan Blum) to rec.games.trivia on Sun Apr 12 13:17:48 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Mark Brader <msb@vex.net> wrote:

    * Game 3, Round 7 - History - Dates

    2. The current administrative region of Macau was leased to Portugal
    by China in 1557. In what year did Portugal hand it back
    to China?

    1999

    3. In what year did Czechoslovakia have its "Velvet Divorce",
    splitting the country into the Czech Republic and Slovakia?

    1998; 1999

    6. North Korea, or to give its official name, the Democratic
    People's Republic of Korea, came into existence on September
    9 of what year?

    1948; 1949

    7. Goa is currently the smallest state in India. It was colonized
    by Portugal in 1510. When did it cease to be a Portuguese
    Colony?

    1960; 1961

    9. In what year did the People's Republic of China become a member
    of the United Nations and a permanent members of the UN Security
    Council?

    1972

    10. In what year did Algeria achieve independence from France ?

    1958

    * Game 3, Round 8 - Sports - Obscure Sports

    2. What unusual object is thrown in the British sport of
    welly-wanging?

    a boot

    3. In which sport do competitors chase a wheel of a specific dairy
    product down a steep hill?

    cheese rolling

    4. Sepak takraw is a sport similar to volleyball, but what part
    of the body is primarily used to hit the ball?

    head

    6. Which icy sport involves throwing stones toward a target area
    known as the "house"?

    curling

    7. In Ireland, there are two national sports. Both are played
    on the same-sized field, about the same as a soccer field.
    Gaelic football is played with a soccer-sized ball and the
    other sport uses a stick and a small hard ball. What is this
    other sport called?

    hurling

    9. What sport, originating in Scotland, involves throwing a large,
    tapered log?

    caber tossing

    10. What is the name of the sport that combines running with
    navigation using a map and compass?

    oriente
    --
    _______________________________________________________________________
    Dan Blum tool@panix.com
    "I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't just made it up."
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Erland Sommarskog@esquel@sommarskog.se to rec.games.trivia on Sun Apr 12 16:02:30 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Mark Brader (msb@vex.net) writes:
    * Game 3, Round 7 - History - Dates

    1. In what year did Iceland achieve its independence?

    1918


    2. The current administrative region of Macau was leased to Portugal
    by China in 1557. In what year did Portugal hand it back
    to China?

    2001

    3. In what year did Czechoslovakia have its "Velvet Divorce",
    splitting the country into the Czech Republic and Slovakia?

    1993

    4. When did Siam change its name to Thailand?

    1932

    5. In what year did North and South Yemen reunify to become Yemen?

    1990

    6. North Korea, or to give its official name, the Democratic
    People's Republic of Korea, came into existence on September
    9 of what year?

    1950

    7. Goa is currently the smallest state in India. It was colonized
    by Portugal in 1510. When did it cease to be a Portuguese
    Colony?

    1961

    8. When did Constantinople formally change its name to Istanbul?

    1924

    9. In what year did the People's Republic of China become a member
    of the United Nations and a permanent members of the UN Security
    Council?

    1972

    10. In what year did Algeria achieve independence from France ?

    1962

    * Game 3, Round 8 - Sports - Obscure Sports

    4. Sepak takraw is a sport similar to volleyball, but what part
    of the body is primarily used to hit the ball?

    Head

    5. What is the objective in the Finnish sport of wife-carrying?

    To carry your wife (or some other woman) a certain distance.

    6. Which icy sport involves throwing stones toward a target area
    known as the "house"?

    Curling

    7. In Ireland, there are two national sports. Both are played
    on the same-sized field, about the same as a soccer field.
    Gaelic football is played with a soccer-sized ball and the
    other sport uses a stick and a small hard ball. What is this
    other sport called?

    Hurling

    8. Bossaball is a sport that combines volleyball, soccer,
    gymnastics, and what unique playing surface?

    Sand

    10. What is the name of the sport that combines running with
    navigation using a map and compass?

    Orientering

    (Wasn't this supposed to be about obscure sports? For Swedish people,
    this is about as un-obscure as it can get.)

    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From msb@msb@vex.net (Mark Brader) to rec.games.trivia on Wed Apr 15 04:56:19 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Mark Brader:
    These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 2025-09-29,
    and should be interpreted accordingly... For further information
    please see my 2026-03-10 companion posting on "Questions from the
    Canadian Inquisition (QFTCI*)".


    * Game 3, Round 7 - History - Dates

    The following round asks for the dates for important changes in
    the status of nations, provinces, states, cities etc. In each
    case name the year, within 1.

    1. In what year did Iceland achieve its independence?

    1944 (accepting 1943-45). 4 for Dan Tilque and Joshua.

    2. The current administrative region of Macau was leased to Portugal
    by China in 1557. In what year did Portugal hand it back
    to China?

    1999 (accepting 1998-2000). 4 for Joshua and Dan Blum.

    3. In what year did Czechoslovakia have its "Velvet Divorce",
    splitting the country into the Czech Republic and Slovakia?

    1993 (accepting 1992-94). 4 for Erland.

    4. When did Siam change its name to Thailand?

    1939 (accepting 1938-40).

    5. In what year did North and South Yemen reunify to become Yemen?

    1990 (accepting 1989-91). 4 for Erland.

    6. North Korea, or to give its official name, the Democratic
    People's Republic of Korea, came into existence on September
    9 of what year?

    1948 (accepting 1947-49). 4 for Dan Blum (the hard way).

    7. Goa is currently the smallest state in India. It was colonized
    by Portugal in 1510. When did it cease to be a Portuguese
    Colony?

    1961 (accepting 1960-62), when it was annexed by India. 4 for Joshua,
    Dan Blum (the hard way), and Erland.

    8. When did Constantinople formally change its name to Istanbul?

    1923 (accepting 1922-24). 4 for Erland. 3 for Joshua.

    9. In what year did the People's Republic of China become a member
    of the United Nations and a permanent members of the UN Security
    Council?

    1971 (accepting 1970-72). 4 for everyone -- Dan Tilque, Joshua,
    Dan Blum, and Erland.

    10. In what year did Algeria achieve independence from France ?

    1962 (accepting 1961-63). 4 for Dan Tilque, Joshua, and Erland.


    * Game 3, Round 8 - Sports - Obscure Sports

    From underwater hockey to toe wrestling, these are the games you
    probably didn't play in gym class. Get ready -- it's time to go
    off the beaten track and into the sidelines of sport!

    1. In which country did the sport of kabaddi originate?

    India.

    2. What unusual object is thrown in the British sport of
    welly-wanging?

    A rubber boot (Wellington boot). 4 for Joshua and Dan Blum.

    3. In which sport do competitors chase a wheel of a specific dairy
    product down a steep hill?

    Cheese rolling. 4 for Dan Tilque and Dan Blum.

    4. Sepak takraw is a sport similar to volleyball, but what part
    of the body is primarily used to hit the ball?

    Feet.

    5. What is the objective in the Finnish sport of wife-carrying?

    To carry a female teammate through an obstacle course in the
    shortest time.

    "Obstacle course" was required in the original game and I decided
    to stay with that.

    6. Which icy sport involves throwing stones toward a target area
    known as the "house"?

    Curling. 4 for everyone.

    ("Obscure"?!?)

    7. In Ireland, there are two national sports. Both are played
    on the same-sized field, about the same as a soccer field.
    Gaelic football is played with a soccer-sized ball and the
    other sport uses a stick and a small hard ball. What is this
    other sport called?

    Hurling. 4 for Dan Tilque, Dan Blum, and Erland.

    8. Bossaball is a sport that combines volleyball, soccer,
    gymnastics, and what unique playing surface?

    An inflatable trampoline court.

    9. What sport, originating in Scotland, involves throwing a large,
    tapered log?

    Tossing the caber. 4 for Dan Tilque, Joshua, and Dan Blum.

    10. What is the name of the sport that combines running with
    navigation using a map and compass?

    Orienteering. 4 for Dan Tilque, Joshua, and Erland. 3 for Dan Blum.


    Scores, if there are no errors:

    GAME 3 ROUNDS-> 2 3 4 6 7 8 BEST
    TOPICS-> Ent Sci Mis Lit His Spo FOUR
    Joshua Kreitzer 40 6 24 32 23 16 119
    Dan Blum 20 14 24 20 16 23 87
    Erland Sommarskog 4 0 20 16 24 12 72
    Dan Tilque 4 0 8 24 12 20 64
    --
    Mark Brader | "I will be speaking today about work in progress,
    Toronto | instead of completed research; this was not my
    msb@vex.net | original intention when I chose the subject of
    | this lecture, but the fact is I couldn't get my
    | computer programs working in time." -- Donald Knuth

    My text in this article is in the public domain.
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Erland Sommarskog@esquel@sommarskog.se to rec.games.trivia on Wed Apr 15 09:50:58 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Mark Brader (msb@vex.net) writes:
    1. In what year did Iceland achieve its independence?

    1944 (accepting 1943-45). 4 for Dan Tilque and Joshua.


    Protest! Iceland became independent in 1918. What happened in 1944
    was that it became a republic. Before that it was a monarchy with
    a personal union with Denmark.

    Given that this is not the best of questions, I would recommend that
    you accept both 1918 and 1944.
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From msb@msb@vex.net (Mark Brader) to rec.games.trivia on Wed Apr 15 22:37:16 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Mark Brader:
    1. In what year did Iceland achieve its independence?

    1944 (accepting 1943-45). 4 for Dan Tilque and Joshua.

    Erland Sommarskog:
    Protest! Iceland became independent in 1918. What happened in 1944
    was that it became a republic. Before that it was a monarchy with
    a personal union with Denmark.

    Denied. Various sources indicate that until 1944 Iceland did not have
    control over its own foreign affairs. (Rather like Canada at one time.)

    Given that this is not the best of questions, I would recommend that
    you accept both 1918 and 1944.

    Sorry.
    --
    Mark Brader "To err is human, but to really mess things up Toronto you need a timetable planner!"
    msb@vex.net -- Richard Porter

    My text in this article is in the public domain.
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Erland Sommarskog@esquel@sommarskog.se to rec.games.trivia on Thu Apr 16 21:12:56 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.games.trivia

    Mark Brader (msb@vex.net) writes:
    Denied. Various sources indicate that until 1944 Iceland did not have control over its own foreign affairs. (Rather like Canada at one time.)


    That would of course be a serious limitation in sovereignity. Although,
    when I look at in Wikipedia, I find that is says, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Iceland:

    "The Kingdom of Iceland established its own flag and coat of arms and asked that Denmark represent its foreign affairs and defence interests on its
    behalf while retaining full control over its foreign affairs and defence".
    So it was not that Denmark said, "no, no, little boy, you can't do foreign affairs". Or, well, that is not how Wikipedia expresses it. What actually
    was said behind closed doors, we don't know.

    Furthermore, "As a result, on 10 April [1940], the Althing passed two resolutions investing the Icelandic cabinet with the power of head of state and declaring that the Kingdom of Iceland would accept full responsibility
    for both foreign policy and coastal surveillance". From that one could
    argue that 1940 would be the correct answer.

    All and all, it was not the best of questions.
    --- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2