The answers to one of the world's most notoriously challenging general knowledge tests have been released. King William's College on the Isle of Man has published the solution set for its 121st annual paper, covering topics from obscure history to classic literature and sporting trivia.
From Thatcher to Kafka: The Opening Brain Teasers
The first section of the quiz set a formidable tone, demanding precise historical and literary knowledge. It asked for the significance of 1925, which was correctly identified as the year of Cardiff City's defeat by Sheffield United in the FA Cup final. The same year also saw the birth of Margaret Roberts, who would later become Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Literature featured prominently, with questions pinpointing the publication year of P.G. Wodehouse's Carry On, Jeeves and the year George Bernard Shaw won the Nobel Prize in Literature. One of the more poignant answers was 1924, the year Franz Kafka's novel The Trial was posthumously published by his friend Max Brod.
The section concluded with a dramatic piece of medical history: the 1925 Serum Run to Nome, Alaska, where a dog sled relay raced diphtheria antitoxin across the frozen territory to counter an epidemic.
Navigating British Landmarks and Comic Legends
Subsequent rounds took examinees on a detailed tour of British geography and culture. One series focused on locations in Devon and Cornwall, linking them to literary and historical events. These included Lundy Island, where HMS Montagu was wrecked in 1906, and King's Pyland on Dartmoor, the fictional setting of Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventure of Silver Blaze.
A salute to British comedy asked for the identities of iconic performers. Correct answers ranged from Dick Emery and Tommy Handley to the legendary double act of Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett. The quiz also remembered the unique talents of Dave Allen, Ken Dodd, and the inimitable partnership of Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise.
Historical Figures and Global Connections
The paper's scope was impressively international. One segment traced the course of the River Danube, citing locations from Ulm in Germany to Budapest in Hungary. Another focused on historic German cities, such as Bamberg, the burial place of Pope Clement II, and Worms, site of the devastating Oppau explosion in 1921.
A round on notable Fredericks spanned centuries and disciplines. It included Freddie Mercury, Frédéric Chopin, and Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, who died in 1751. The quiz also honoured ten doctors awarded the Victoria Cross for extreme bravery, including Noel Godfrey Chavasse, one of only three people to win the VC twice.
Butterflies, Lighthouses, and Final Curiosities
The test's diversity was further showcased in rounds dedicated to butterfly species—like the Red Admiral and Purple Emperor—and to isolated lighthouses across Europe, from Iceland's Thridrangar to Scotland's Sule Skerry.
The final questions maintained the high standard of obscurity. They covered Canadian place names in literature, the obituary dates of famous figures like James Joyce and Dylan Thomas, and even a recent news item about Mike Tindall guest-editing the Beano comic.
This annual puzzle, originally set for the school's pupils but enjoyed by trivia enthusiasts worldwide, continues to be a beacon for the curious, challenging memories and celebrating the vast landscape of human knowledge across history, science, and culture.
