Season 3 - Week 1 Flashcards
To pass the Bechdel Test - a measure of the representation of women in fiction - a movie must feature two named female characters having a conversation about something other than a man. Which Best Picture Oscar winner fails this test on account of only having two female roles, namely Maximus’ ill-fated wife and Marcus Aurelius’ daughter, neither of whom speak to another woman?
GLADIATOR
What track by Eminem, released in 2000 as the lead single from The Marshall Mathers LP, was his first UK number one? The chorus of the song suggests that everybody claiming to be him is “just imitating” and exhorts the true figure to “please stand up, please stand up”.
The REAL SLIM SHADY
Which herb is the primary flavouring in a traditional pesto?
BASIL
Seeing it as an intellectual exercise, Brandon Shaw and Phillip Morgan murder their Harvard classmate in which Alfred Hitchcock film, named after the murder weapon? The film notably takes place in real time and uses long takes to give the appearance of a single shot.
ROPE
Opened in 1988 as the National Tennis Centre at Flinders Park, the main arena that hosts the Australian Open tennis final was renamed in 2000 after which former player, who was nicknamed ‘The Rocket’? One of tennis’s all-time greats, this player won all four Grand Slam tournaments in 1969.
Rod LAVER
The highest-selling song in the UK in the 1970s was Mull of Kintyre which was released by which band?
WINGS
Originally launched in 2002 as part of the Gawker Media network, what website, focused on science, design, technology and science fiction, is now part of G/O Media? Its name is inspired by a word meaning ‘gadget’.
GIZMODO
Which sprinter represented Jamaica between 1978 and 2002 before switching to represent Slovenia? She won a total of 30 medals in her career, including nine silver and bronze medals at five Olympic Games between 1980 and 2000.
Merlene OTTEY
Which strategic life simulation game was developed by Maxis and Will Wright and involves the player controlling the titular virtual people? Released in 2000, it proved popular with female and casual gamers and has extended to four versions thus far.
The SIMS
Which gemstone is the birthstone for April on the US birthstone list? These gemstones may be graded by their four Cs, which includes the cut, and the largest clear-cut example of this gemstone features prominently on the Imperial crown.
DIAMOND
(First name or surname acceptable.) Which young girl is the central protagonist of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy? She is raised at the fictional Jordan College, Oxford and is accompanied by a daemon called Pantalaimon.
LYRA BELACQUA or LYRA SILVERTONGUE
“For the past 15 years, I have performed my own dentistry.” Which comedian was given this (true) fact to defend on Would I Lie To You? Recently, he has appeared in the series Gone Fishing with fellow comic Paul Whitehouse.
Bob MORTIMER
Which 1964 anti-war song written by Buffy Sainte-Marie, a cover of which was released by Donovan the following year, argues that ordinary troops - rather than leaders and politicians - are to blame for wars throughout history, as without them no fighting can take place? Due to the time of its release, the song has become particularly linked to the Vietnam War.
UNIVERSAL SOLDIER
Will Kane, marshal of the town of Hadleyville, spends most of which 1952 Western preparing to face the outlaw Frank Miller, who is heading to Hadleyville to kill Kane in revenge for sending him to prison? This film also takes place in real time, counting down towards the film’s title.
HIGH NOON
Which Jamaican sprinter is an eight-time Olympic medallist who in 2008 became the first Caribbean woman to win gold in the Olympic 100 metres, defending that title in 2012? In Tokyo, she became the first athlete to win medals in four consecutive 100 metres finals, claiming silver on that occasion.
Shelley-Ann FRASER-PRYCE (accept FRASER)
In interior design, what term is given to the middle section of railing that runs around the perimeter of a room? This railing sits above the skirting board and below the crown moulding.
DADO rail (accept CHAIR rail or SURBASE)
Another movie to win the Best Picture Oscar yet fail the Bechdel Test is the final part of which film trilogy? Although the three films contain prominent female characters such as Galadriel, Arwen and Eowyn, none of them interact with each other during the trilogy’s 558 minutes of total runtime.
The LORD OF THE RINGS (Accept RETURN OF THE KING)
Which open ended video game was, like The Sims, designed by Will Wright? Launched by Maxis in 1989, in this game players plan and manage the titular urban settlement, and a disastrous 2013 reboot was the last release under this name to date.
SIM CITY
The 1950s saw the start of numerous western series on US TV, some of which ran for many years. Which of these series centred on the lives of cattle drivers and featured a young Clint Eastwood playing Rowdy Yates? It ran from 1959 to ‘65, and Frankie Laine sung its memorable theme tune which had the same title as the show.
RAWHIDE
Which gemstone is the birthstone for May on the US birthstone list? Usually with a green hue, this stone featured prominently in the Greville Kokoshnik tiara that Meghan Markle wanted to wear on her wedding day in 2018.
EMERALD
Certified platinum in both the UK and the US, what 1999 Eminem single brought the character of Slim Shady to mainstream audiences? The chorus repeats the song’s three-word title in the process of introducing Slim Shady.
MY NAME IS
With the Latin name Salvia officinalis, the garden variety of which herb is said to have excellent healing properties? It is commonly paired with onion.
SAGE
First opened in 1988 and used as a major venue for the Australian Open tennis tournament, the arena formerly known as Show Court One was renamed in 2003 after which Australian tennis star? She won 24 Grand Slam singles titles in her career, a record that still stands today.
Margaret COURT (Accept Margaret SMITH)
The second highest selling song in the UK in the 1970s was Rivers of Babylon, which was released by which band?
BONEY M
Which gemstone is the birthstone for September on the US birthstone list? Usually with a blue hue, it featured prominently on Lady Diana Spencer’s engagement ring, which now belongs to the Duchess of Cambridge.
SAPPHIRE
In interior design, what term is used to describe a set of vertical shafts that support a handrail in a stairway system? This term is often confused with, but is not the same, as a banister.
BALUSTRADE (accept BALUSTER)
What G/O Media website is focused on coverage of video games? The site’s name comes from Japanese words meaning “small” and “obsessive”. Part of the events of Gamergate centred around a report from this website.
KOTAKU
Which fellow of Jordan College, Oxford is the father of Lyra Belacqua in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy? He is accompanied by a snow leopard daemon named Stelmaria.
Lord ASRIEL
Memorably covered by The Pogues on their album Rum, Sodomy and the Lash, which 1971 song written by Eric Bogle describes the quiet anger felt by wounded Australian war veterans, who are largely forgotten other than during an annual parade? Set against the backdrop of the disastrous Gallipoli campaign during World War I, the song is in fact a critique of the then-current Australian involvement in Vietnam.
AND THE BAND PLAYED WALTZING MATILDA (prompt on Waltzing Matilda)
With the Latin name Artemisia dracunculus, which herb is one of the four ‘fines herbes’ [FEEN-airb] of French cuisine? This anise-flavoured herb, a key ingredient of a Bearnaise sauce, is known as estragon in French.
TARRAGON
Directed by Barry Jenkins, which 2016 movie explores issues of race, class and sexuality through its central character, Chiron, but fails the Bechdel Test because the only two named women never speak to each other? This movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture after La La Land was mistakenly announced as the winner.
MOONLIGHT
Formerly called the USTA National Tennis Center, the stadium complex at Flushing Meadow in New York City that hosts the US Open was dedicated to which former player in 1997? One of the sport’s all-time greats, her record includes six Wimbledon singles titles between 1966 and 1975.
Billie Jean KING (accept MOFFITT)
“I once caused an injury to one man whilst trying to get a different man to say the word ‘vegetables’.” Which comedian was given this (also true) story to defend on Would I Lie to You? He rose to prominence playing the misanthropic teacher Mr Gilbert on The Inbetweeners.
Greg DAVIES
Which Jamaican sprinter won the women’s 100 metres and 200 metres gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, retaining that double in Tokyo by beating Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce? In 2021, she ran 100m in 10.54 seconds - the second-fastest time ever recorded by a woman.
Elaine THOMPSON-HERAH (accept THOMPSON)
Which US western TV series centred on the Dodge City lawman Marshall Matt Dillon? Dillon was played by William Conrad on the radio version of this show and by James Arness on its television version, which ran from 1955 to ‘75.
GUNSMOKE (accept GUN LAW)
Going to number one in 12 countries, what 2000 Eminem single’s title has entered common slang as a term for somebody obsessed with a celebrity or another person?
STAN
(First name or surname is acceptable.) Lyra Belacqua is the product of an affair between Lord Asriel and which primary antagonist of the His Dark Materials trilogy? Described as a young and beautiful woman, she is accompanied by a daemon in the form of a golden monkey.
MARISA COULTER
The 7th highest selling song in the UK in the 1970s was Bohemian Rhapsody, which was released by which band?
QUEEN
Which US western TV series, which starred Lorne Greene and Pernell Roberts, centred on the Cartwright family who lived at Ponderosa ranch in Virginia City, Nevada? It ran from 1959 to ‘73.
BONANZA
Written and produced for the soundtrack to the film 8 Mile, what 2002 Eminem song won the Oscar for Best Original Song, becoming the first hip-hop song to do so? In the chorus, Eminem tells the listener they “only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow”.
LOSE YOURSELF
What G/O Media website is focused on news and cultural commentary aimed at women with a feminist bent? Anna Holmes founded this website, which has included the Photoshop of Horrors feature highlighting the practice of fashion magazines to retouch photos.
JEZEBEL
“One Christmas, on hearing I wasn’t going to get the present I wanted, I tried to drown myself in protest.” Which comedian was given this (once again, true) fact to defend on Would I Lie To You? He currently co-presents the Off Menu podcast with fellow comic Ed Gamble.
James ACASTER
Not satisfied just with taking place in real time, which 1957 Henry Fonda movie takes place entirely in one room? The cast are confined to a single room until they can agree on a decision.
TWELVE ANGRY MEN
With the Latin name Anethum graveolens, which herb is frequently used in Scandinavian cookery, particularly as a flavouring in the salmon dish gravadlax?
DILL
The 1967 song I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag is a satirical anti-Vietnam War song released by which American band? Along with the band’s eponymous ‘cheer’, it was one of the most recognisable counterculture songs of the era and was a highlight of the band’s set at the 1969 Woodstock festival.
COUNTRY JOE AND THE FISH
Which open-ended space trading video game designed by David Braben and Ian Bell was originally published in 1984 on the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron? Sequels to this game included Frontier and Frontier: First Encounters.
ELITE
Despite Kathryn Bigelow becoming the first woman to win the Best Director Oscar for this film, which Oscar-winning movie fails the Bechdel Test due to the absence of conversations between women ? This failure is perhaps unsurprising given the majority of the story follows male soldiers in a bomb disposal squad during the Iraq War.
The HURT LOCKER
In interior design, what term is used to describe the ledge that juts out above a door or window? It is often used as a decorative element to ‘crown’ a building.
CORNICE
Opened in 1997, the main arena that hosts the US Open tennis final is named after which former player? He won the inaugural men’s event in the open era in 1968 and is the only black man to win this tournament, Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
Arthur ASHE
Which stealth video game was published in 2000 and set in a semi open world? Players have to eliminate targets whilst playing as Agent 47.
HITMAN
“I once accidentally bought a horse.” Which Scottish comedian was given this (once again, true) story to defend on Would I Lie To You? His stand-up specials have included What’s The Story; The Story Continues; and A Whole Different Story.
Kevin BRIDGES
Which US western TV series ran from 1957 to ‘62 and starred a young James Garner as the titular poker player whose forename was Bret? This show was the subject of a 1994 Hollywood adaptation.
MAVERICK
Which Jamaican sprinter, who competed between 2000 and 2016, is an eight-time Olympic medallist? She was the second woman in history to win consecutive Olympic 200 metres events, after Bärbel Wöckel, with Elaine Thompson-Herah becoming the third.
Veronica CAMPBELL BROWN (accept CAMPBELL)
Which gemstone is the birthstone for July on the US birthstones list? These gemstones usually have a red hue, and this gemstone replaced opals in the Crown Necklace designed by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria.
RUBY
(First name or surname is acceptable.) Which 12-year boy befriends and ultimately falls in love with Lyra Belacqua in the His Dark Materials trilogy? He wields the Subtle Knife in the book of the same name and his daemon eventually takes the form of a large cat named Kirjava.
WILL PARRY
The 8th highest selling song in the UK in the 1970s was Heart of Glass, which was released by which band?
BLONDIE
In interior design, what one-word term is used for light fixtures that are attached to a wall as opposed to the ceiling or ground?
SCONCE
Which 1967 18-minute talking blues song by Arlo Guthrie is a deadpan protest against the US Vietnam war draft? The song is a true, although humorously exaggerated, story from Guthrie’s own life.
ALICE’S RESTAURANT Massacre
What G/O media website is focused on sports journalism? In October and November 2019, this website’s staff resigned over conflict with G/O Media regarding their political coverage, forming the website Defector.
DEADSPIN
Lance Corporals Blake and Schofield are sent across no man’s land to deliver a message to the Devonshire Regiment, in order to save them from advancing into a German trap, in what Sam Mendes film, set during the title year of World War One? This film occurs in real time, except for a time skip when Schofield is knocked out.
1917
