1. Reference Works
a. Which one-volume reference book was first published in 1897 as an advertisement for soap?
b. William Smellie was the first editor of which major work of reference, first published in Edinburgh between 1768 and 1771?
c. A new 60-volume edition of which major reference work was published by the Oxford University Press in September 2004?
2. Top Gear: Performance Cars
a. What was the distinctive colour scheme of the first Lotus Cortinas?
b. Which British sports car company launched its new Aero 8 model in 2004?
c. Which company now owns the Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini marques?
3. Cult TV
a. Who has brothers called Francis, Reese and Dewey?
b. Which title is shared by all the annual Halloween editions of The Simpsons?
c. What model of car is Patrick McGoohan seen driving in the opening credit sequence of the The Prisoner?
4. World Championships
a. Which semi-aquatic world championship is held each August Bank Holiday Monday near Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys?
b. Which world championship forms the highlight of the annual Egremont Crab Fair in Cumbria?
c. Which game, inspired by a well-known children’s book, has an annual world championship held at Days Lock in Little Wittenham, Oxfordshire?
5. Tick Follows Tock
a. The first pendulum clock was made by Christopher Huygens, but who is credited with inventing the concept of the pendulum?
b. In horology, what distinguishes a clock from other timepieces?
c. Which element is used as the regulator in atomic clocks?
6. Literary Openings
Which 20th Century novels begin with the following passages?
a. “It was love at first sight. The first time Yossarian saw the chaplain he fell madly in love with him.”
b. “Far out on the uncharted waters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.”
c. “I fell in love with football as I was later to fall in love with women; suddenly, inexplicably, uncritically, giving no thought to the pain or disruption it would bring with it.”
7. IT
a. Which company produced the Athlon and Duron microprocessors?
b. Of which information technology development was Sir Tim Berners-Lee an early pioneer?
c. What is the “three-finger salute” invented by former IBM employee David Bradley?
8. Film Villains
a. Which famous film villain first appeared on screen in the 1986 film Manhunter, played by Brian Cox?
b. Which villain has been played by Anthony Dawson, Charles Gray, Donald Pleasance, and Telly Savalas?
c. In which film title was the villain Max Cady played by Robert Mitchum in 1962 and by Robert di Niro in 1991?