Question 1: How many years did the Hundred Years' War actually last?
Question 2: Why do some English words have silent letters?
Many silent letters in English words are remnants of historical pronunciations or spellings. For example, the 'k' in 'knight' was pronounced in Old English but became silent over time as pronunciation shifted.
Question 3: How many minarets does the Taj Mahal have?
The Taj Mahal, an iconic mausoleum in Agra, India, features four minarets, one at each corner of the structure. These minarets, reaching a height of 40 meters (130 feet), are an integral part of the Taj Mahal's architectural design and are said to symbolically guard the tomb.
Question 4: Where does the term "inferiority complex" come from?
The term "inferiority complex" originated from Alfred Adler's school of psychology, where it is used to describe a person's feeling that they are inferior to others in some way.
Question 5: Where is the famous painting 'The Birth of Venus' by Sandro Botticelli housed?
The Birth of Venus', painted by Italian artist Sandro Botticelli in the mid-1480s, is housed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. The painting depicts the goddess Venus arriving at the shore after her birth, when she had emerged from the sea fully-grown.
Question 6: Which type of rock is formed from molten lava?
Igneous rocks are formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava. The word "igneous" comes from the Latin word "ignis" meaning fire, referencing the rock's fiery origins.
Question 7: How many seasons did the original series of "Friends" have?
The iconic sitcom "Friends" ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004, releasing a total of 236 episodes.
Question 8: How old was Queen Elizabeth II when she ascended to the British throne?
Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne on February 6, 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI. She was born on April 21, 1926, making her 25 years old at the time of her accession. She was crowned on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey.
Question 9: When did the musical "Les Misérables" first open in London?
"Les Misérables," based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo, first opened in London on October 8, 1985. It has since become one of the longest-running musicals in the West End and around the world, celebrated for its powerful storytelling and memorable music.
Question 10: What is the most widely spoken language in India?
While there are over 19,500 languages or dialects spoken in India, Hindi is the most widely spoken. It is the primary language of over 40% of India's population.
Despite its name, the Hundred Years' War actually lasted 116 years, from 1337 to 1453. It was a prolonged conflict between the kingdoms of England and France.