These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 2012-03-26,
and should be interpreted accordingly. All questions were written
by members of Footloose and Firkin Free, but have been reformatted
and may have been retyped and/or edited by me. I will reveal the
correct answers in about 3 days.
For further information, including an explanation of the """ notation
that may appear in these rounds, see my 2021-07-20 companion posting
on "Reposted Questions from the Canadian Inquisition (RQFTCI*)".
** Game 9, Round 9 - Geography & History - Countries of the World
Name the countries from the descriptions provided. *Note:* I have
not attempted to update this round from the original game.
1. Between 1990 and 1992 it ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist
rule and established a multi-party democracy. The transition has
proven challenging, as successive governments have tried to deal
with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidated
physical infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks,
and combative political opponents. It has made progress in
its democratic development since first holding multi-party
elections in 1991. Admitted to NATO in 2009, and formally
applied for EU membership that same year.
2. Great Britain formally acquired possession of it in 1814.
It staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars, and
remained in the Commonwealth on becoming independent in 1964.
A decade later it became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s,
it has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point,
a financial center, and a tourist destination. It became an
EU member in May 2004 and adopted the euro in 2008.
3. Broke away from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent
history has consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and
countercoups. Democratic civilian rule was established in 1982,
but leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty,
social unrest, and illegal drug production. In December 2005,
the people elected Movement Toward Socialism leader Evo Morales
president by the widest margin of any leader since civilian
rule was restored in 1982, after he ran on a promise to change
the country's traditional political class and empower the
nation's poor majority. Morales was re-elected in 2009 by a
wide majority.
4. Formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish
conquest in 1533. The capital became a seat of Spanish
colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of
New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty
gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a
federation known as Gran Colombia. When it withdrew in 1830,
the traditional name was abandoned in favor of the current name.
Although it marked 30 years of civilian government in 2009,
the period has been marred by political instability, including
a 2010 police revolt sparked by austerity cuts.
5. In 1865, Britain and this place signed the Treaty of Sinchulu,
under which it would receive an annual subsidy in exchange
for ceding some border land to British India. Under British
influence, a monarchy was set up in 1907; 3 years later, a
treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere
in internal affairs and it allowed Britain to direct its foreign
affairs. In 2007, the country made the transition from absolute
monarchy to constitutional monarchy, holding its first general
election shortly thereafter. Around the same time, King Jigme
Singye Wangchuck abdicated in favor of his son.
6. In 1951, the monarch ended the century-old system of rule by
hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of
government. Reforms in 1990 established a multi-party democracy
within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist
insurgency, launched in 1996, gained traction and threatened
to bring down the regime. 2008 elections for the constituent
assembly overwhelmingly favored the abdication of the monarch
and the establishment of a federal multi-party representative
democratic republic. The first president was sworn in on July
23, 2008.
7. This country is still rebuilding itself after a civil war that
went on from its independence in 1975 for 27 years until 2002.
Peace seemed imminent in 1992 when national elections were
held, but the opposition renewed fighting after being beaten
at the polls. Up to 1,500,000 lives may have been lost and
4,000,000 people displaced in the quarter century of fighting.
Although the first legislative elections in 16 years were held
in 2008, observers reported serious electoral irregularities.
Diamonds and oil make up 60% of the country's economy.
8. Formed from the merger of the two British colonies, it
gained independence in 1957. A long series of coups resulted
in the suspension of its third constitution in 1981 and a ban
on political parties. A new constitution, restoring multi-party
politics, was approved in 1992. John Kufuor, who defeated former
Vice President John Atta-Mills in a free and fair election,
became president in 2000. Atta-Mills regained the presidency
in 2009, securing the country's status as a stable democracy.
The country is one of the world's top producers of gold and
cocoa.
9. Its roots are in the ancient kingdom of Lan Xang, established in
the 14th Century under King Fa Ngum. After centuries of gradual
decline, it came under the control of a neighbor from the late
18th century until the late 19th century when it became part
of French Indochina. In 1975, the local Communist Party took
control of the government, ending a 6-century-old monarchy and
instituting a strict socialist regime. A gradual return to
private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment
laws began in 1986. It became a member of ASEAN in 1997.
10. A unified kingdom was established in the mid-14th century.
It is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken
over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932
led to a constitutional monarchy. It was in alliance with
Japan during World War II, but became a US ally afterwards.
It is currently facing separatist violence in its southern
ethnic Malay-Muslim provinces, and is just emerging back as a
democracy after a 2006 coup.
** Game 9, Round 10 - Challenge Round
* A. Canadian Lakes
"Largest" refers to area.
A1. Name the Canadian lake which is the deepest lake in North
America and about the 9th-largest in the world (depending
on how you count).
A2. Name the largest lake that lies entirely within the
boundaries of the Province of Ontario.
* B. Noble Gases
B1. Helium is the lightest of the noble gases. Name the next
lightest, whose atomic number is 10.
B2. This noble gas, atomic number 86, """is""" the heaviest
of the noble gases. It """is""" the only gas that only
has radioactive isotopes, and is considered a health hazard
due to its radioactivity.
* C. Pre-Confederation Canada
C1. Whose 1838 report contained the famous assessment that Lower
Canada -- now Quebec -- consisted of "two nations warring
within the bosom of a single state"?
C2. Based on <answer C1>'s report, Lower and Upper Canada were
united into a single colony of Canada in 1841. What city
became the first capital of this Canada? It only remained
the capital for 3 years, as the city was considered too
small and lacking in amenities, and its location made it
vulnerable to American attack.
* D. English Football Grounds
Given the name of the stadium, you tell us the well-known English
football (soccer) club that """plays""" their home games at that stadium.
D1. Anfield.
D2. Emirates Stadium.
* E. Explorers
E1. This Portuguese sea captain and explorer commanded the first
fleet to reach India from Europe. He sailed around the Cape
of Good Hope to India in the late 1490s. His voyage opened
the first all-water trade route between Europe and Asia.
Name him.
E2. He was a Spanish conquistador and explorer who was the first
European to see the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean
(in 1513), crossing the Isthmus of Panama. In 1500, he
sailed with Rodrigo de Bastidas from Spain to Colombia
where they searched for treasures along the northern coast
of South America. Name him.
* F. Toronto Music Venues
F1. What Toronto music venue """is""" located at 735 Queen St. E.?
F2. What Toronto music venue """is""" located at 464 Spadina Av.?
--
Mark Brader "It is considered a sign of great {winnitude}
Toronto when your Obs are more interesting than other
m...@vex.net people's whole postings." --Eric Raymond
My text in this article is in the public domain.