Month: July 2013

Americans’ fascination with British royalty is perplexing to me. It seems that many people cannot get enough of it. We put their lives under a microscope, like rock stars, elite athletes or movie stars. The birth of a new heir was particularly interesting to many people and served as a nice diversion from the world’s problems.

America was founded on the principle that “we are all created equal.” It says so in the Declaration of Independence. Yet, many of us are in awe of people who have done nothing to deserve it other than being born in the right bed. Anyway, I accept that I am outvoted. So, below please find my “Royalty Quiz.” All you royalty watchers,see how much you really know. No peeking at the internet.

1. The heir’s name is:

a. George Alexander Louis
b. George Michael
c. Charles James
d. Henry James

2. The heir is what number in the line of succession to the throne.

a. 1st
b. 2nd
c. 3rd
d. 4th

3. Identify the royal family’s “house.”

a. House of Stuart
b. Royal House
c. House of Elizabeth
d. House of Windsor

4. Which monarch had the longest reign?

a. Elizabeth I
b. Elizabeth II
c. Henry VIII
d. Victoria

5. Who was king during the Revolutionary War?

a. George II
b. George III
c. Edward V
d. Edward VII

6. Who was the king depicted in the “Robin Hood?”

a. Richard I
b. James I
c. Edward I
d. John II

7. Who became king following the Battle of Hastings (1066)?

a. James I
b. George I
c. William I
d. Henry IV

8. Who was king immediately before the current monarch.

a. Henry I
b. Henry II
c. George VI
d. Edward VIII

9. Who is the current monarch?

a. Elizabeth I
b. Elizabeth II
c. Elizabeth III
d. Elizabeth IV

10. Who was the only king to abdicate the throne?

a. James II
b. William III
c. Henry VI
d. Edward VIII

11. Why did he do so?

a. He had a bad speech impediment.
b. He wanted to marry a “commoner.”
c. He was very ill.
d. He wanted to become a professional rugby player.

12. Which monarch had the shortest reign (7 months, 7 days)?

a. Edmund II
b. James III
c. Anne I
d. Richard II

13. Who was the king depicted in the movie “Braveheart?

a. Richard I
b. Edward I
c. William I
d. Henry I

14. Where did Kate and William meet?

a. College
b. A pub
c. Blind date
d. Dating service

15. Who was famous for his 6 wives?

a. James III
b. George IV
c. George V
d. Henry VIII

Answers: (1) a; (2) c; (3) d; (4) d; (5) b; (6) a; (7) c; (8) c; (9) b; (10) d; (11) b; (12) a; (13) b; (14) a; (15) d

Remember: No peeking! Don’t be reticent about posting your score. I would be interested in the results. Ten right is a good score. Less than five right and you may not be smarter than a 5th grader.

Since we are currently enjoying a long Independence Day weekend, I thought it would be appropriate to publish a patriotism quiz based on Independence Day and the “Star Spangled Banner.” Good luck. No peeking.

1. Contrary to long-held popular belief, most historians are now of the opinion the Declaration of Independence was not signed on July 4, 1776, but rather on:

a. July 2, 1776
b. July 5, 1776
c. August 2, 1776
d. September 1, 1776

2. Three US Presidents have died on July 4. Which of the following DID NOT die on July 4?

a. Franklyn Pierce
d. John Adams
c. James Monroe
d. Thomas Jefferson

3. Who was the only US President born on July 4?

a. Harry Truman
b. James Madison
c. Grover Cleveland
d. Calvin Coolidge

4. When did Congress designate Independence Day as a holiday for Federal employees?

a. 1800
b. 1850
c. 1870
d. 1946

5. The inaugural Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest was held in:

a. 1916
b. 1920
c. 1955
d. 1980

6. The rules for flying the flag at half mast were promulgated by Presidential proclamation by which President?

a. Thomas Jefferson
b. Theodore Roosevelt
c. Franklyn Roosevelt
d. Dwight Eisenhower

7. The movie “Independence Day” was released in:

a. 1980
b. 1996
c. 2001
d. 2011

8. The star of “Independence Day” was:

a. Denzel Washington
b. Tom Cruise
c. Will Smith
d. Matt Damon

9. The “Star Spangled Banner” was written during what war?

a. Revolutionary War
b. War of 1812
c. Mexican War
d. Spanish-American War

10. The SSB was written by Francis Scott Key during the bombardment of:

a. Fort McHenry
b. Fort Washington
c. Washington DC
d. Baltimore

11. The SSB was designated the National Anthem in:

a. 1815
b. 1865
c. 1916
d. 1931

12. The tradition of performing the national Anthem before every baseball game began during WWII. When was it first performed before a baseball game?

a. 1868
b. 1897
c. 1916
d. 1940

13. How many stanzas does the SSB have?

a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4

14. The musical “1776” premiered on Broadway in:

a. 1946
b. 1960
c. 1969
d. 2000

15. Before the SSB was designated as the “National Anthem,” which of the following was used as a “de facto” anthem?

a. “Hail to the Chief”
b. “God Bless America”
c. “Hail, Columbia”
d. “Stars and Stripes Forever”

ANSWERS: (1) c; (2) a; (3) d; (4) c; (5) a; (6) d; (7) b; (8) c; (9) b; (10) a; (11) d; (12) b; (13) d; (14) c; (15) c

Please let me know how you did. If you got more than 10 correct, you are a true patriot. If you got less than 5 correct, you may not be smarter than a 5th grader. I suspect most people will fall in between.