Bumper Bristol quiz of 2014

JANUARY

1. There were incredible scenes on January 3 as one of the highest tides in recent years caused the Avon to burst its banks in several places. Which of these is not a future Bristol flood defence option?
a) A rising barrier in the River Avon
b) Walls up to 2 metres-high along the New Cut
c) Moveable weirs that can be lowered in flood conditions

2. What is the name of the Bristol writer who won the Costa book of the year award?
a) Nathan Filer
b) Nigel Smiler
c) Nathaniel Lifer

3. ‘Why does Bristol never build anything?’ asked BBC News. Why then? 
a) Cardiff gets all the major projects
b) An old-fashioned case of Nimbyism
c) Political change

4. Bristol’s own version of the Hollywood sign appeared in the Avon Gorge. What did it say?
a) Bristolland
b) Bristoland
c) Bristol and

FEBRUARY

5. Also in the Avon Gorge, a mysterious creature was spotted. What was it?
a) A crocodile
b) A shark
c) A hippopotamus

6. Jenny Jones from Downend won the bronze medal in which event at the Winter Olympics?
a) Snowboard cross
b) Snowboard halfpipe
c) Snowboard slopestyle

7. 8 Minutes Idle was released in cinemas. But what Bristol location does the film not feature?
a) Jungle Rumble in Cabot Circus
b) Turbo Island on Stokes Croft
c) East Street in Bedminster

8. What giant animal appeared on College Green in a publicity stunt for a new nature channel?
a) A meerkat
b) A hedgehog
c) An otter

MARCH

9. Who did Barton Hill schoolgirl Fahma Mohamed meet this month?
a) United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon
b) US president Barak Obama
c) The Pope

10. Ujima Radio went off air for a few days due to their landlords in St Paul’s not paying their rent. But what does ‘ujima’ mean?
a) A united cause
b) Collective work and responsibility
c) No worries

11. Free what appeared on Bristol streets this month?
a) Bike pumps
b) Condoms
c) Pianos

12. The BRI helipad opened but closed soon afterwards. Why?
a) It was too small
b) It was too big
c) Its fire safety equipment was inadequate

APRIL

13. Bristol became only the second place in the world to hear the music of William Onyeabor live. After self-releasing eight albums between 1978 and 1985, what happened to Onyeabor?
a) He died in a tragic accident
b) He became a born-again Christian and refused to ever speak about himself or his music again
c) He ran away to join the circus

14. What new attraction opened at the ss Great Britain?
a) Climbing the yardarm
b) Smoking a Brunel-style cigar
c) Making your own top hat

15. What was driven around Clifton Village in a protest against residents parking charges?
a) An elephant
b) A tank
c) An effigy of George Ferguson

16. Turner prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller brought new exhibition English Magic to Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. Sitting on what could you watch a video featuring a soundtrack of a steel drum band playing The Man Who Sold the World by David Bowie?
a) A bouncy castle Stonehenge
b) A crushed car
c) An effigy of George Ferguson

MAY

17. Only 360 people were able to slide down Park Street on Luke Jerram’s 300ft-long water slide. How many people signed up?
a) 9,657
b) 96,573
c) 965,730

18. Kingswood-born Colin Pillinger, who died this month, was most famous for what?
a) Losing a spacecraft on Mars
b) Losing a spacecraft on Saturn
c) Losing a spacecraft on Jupiter

19. “Your tenacity in the past few weeks has made for an entertaining spectator sport. I assume you’re familiar with the quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln – ‘Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left behind by those who hustle’.” Who wrote this letter and to whom?
a) Gus Hoyt to Steve Glover
b) Christian Martin to George Ferguson
c) Banksy to Dennis Stinchcombe

20. What can visitors to Brooks Guesthouse overlooking St Nick’s Market now sleep in?
a) Tents
b) Caravans
c) Bunk beds

JUNE

21. A stencil by Stew of who appeared on Room 212 on the Gloucester Road in Bishopston?
a) Cary Grant
b) Johnny Ball
c) Tony Robinson

22. James Morton was appointed as Bristol’s first what?
a) Ambassador for cider
b) Ambassador for music
c) Ambassador for pop-up shops

23. A play celebrating the events of 50 years ago was performed during the summer at the Bristol Old Vic?
a) The moon landings
b) The assassination of JFK
c) England winning the World Cup

24. What was lifted into the Bearpit this month?
a) A vintage double decker bus
b) A giant can of Special Brew
c) An effigy of George Ferguson

JULY

25. Which Bristol icon returned to the small screen with a series of new episodes for YouTube?
a) Blackbeard
b) Justin Lee Collins
c) Morph

26. At-Bristol beat the world record for making the longest what in 24 hours?
a) Sausage
b) Popcorn string
c) Kebab

27. Who was officially declared maker of the city’s best custard tarts in the inaugural Bristol Tart-Off?
a) Portuguese Taste
b) Hart’s Bakery
c) Source

28. St Bonaventure’s sadly closed its doors as a music venue. But who was St Bonaventure?
a) The patron saint of lost causes
b) A monk and hermit
c) A theologian and philosopher

AUGUST

29. Why did protesters occupy the front lawn of Broadcasting House on Whiteladies Road?
a) They were unhappy at BBC Three moving online
b) They were unhappy at Bruce Forsyth leaving Strictly Come Dancing
c) They were unhappy at the BBC’s alleged bias in reporting the Israel-Palestine conflict

30. What is the name of the new Korean restaurant that opened on Haymarket Walk near the bus station?
a) Sky Kong Kong
b) Sky Bong Bong
c) Sky Wrong Wrong

31. Former leader of Bristol City Council Barbara Janke became a Lib Dem life peer. What is her new title?
a) Lady Janke of Avonmouth
b) Lady Janke of Bishopsworth
c) Lady Janke of Clifton

32. What unusual crowdfunding schemes was launched this month, with the finished product due to be made by Cameron Balloons in Bedminster?
a) A hot air balloon in the shape of a huge scrotum
b) A hot air balloon in the shape of a pair of buttocks
c) A hot air balloon in the shape of a pair of red trousers

SEPTEMBER

33. The Thekla returned to its usual home after three months in dry dock. What name did the boat assume after it arrived into Bristol in 1982?
a) Stinkfoot
b) Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah
c) The Old Profanity Showboat

34. A mysterious white line appeared on the streets of the city this month. What was it?
a) Demarcating flood zones
b) Residents parking zones
c) Nuclear free zones

35. Who came fourth as Stage 4 of the Tour of Britain finished on the Downs? 
a) James Bond
b) Jack Bauer
c) Walter White

36. Gareth Daniel of Lawrence Weston failed to pay a £75 fixed penalty notice. He was taken to court, the fine was raised to £200 and he was also ordered to pay costs of £298.75. But what was his offence?
a) He was seen dropping a Pringles lid by a police community support officer
b) He was seen dropping a cigarette by a police community support officer
c) He was seen dropping a copy of the Evening Post by a police community support officer

OCTOBER

37. What is Bristol Skipchen which opened this month on Stokes Croft?
a) A pop-up tattoo parlour
b) A pop-up shop
c) A pay-as-you-feel food waste cafe

38. The new Banksy that appeared in Spike Island is based on what famous painting?
a) The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci
b) Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer
c) Star Dancer by Edward Degas

39. Made In Bristol TV launched. Have you watched it?
a) Yes
b) No
c) Made in what?

40. The Watershed’s Playable City Award 2014 finished this month. What did it involve?
a) Watching shadows
b) Firing arrows
c) Flying sparrows

NOVEMBER

41. How many varieties of soft drinks are there in the new Five Guys at Cabot Circus?
a) 50
b) 100
c) 150

42. Bristol City captain Wade Elliott headed into the match against Swindon with a Braveheart rallying cry: “Whatever they do, we will be ready for it.” What happened next?
a) He scored a goal after two minutes
b) He conceded a penalty after two minutes
c) He was sent off after two minutes for fighting

43. A bus powered by what took to the streets of Bristol?
a) Food waste and human poo
b) Pedals
c) Hair gel

44. Bristol jazz legend Acker Bilk died aged 85. What was his best-known song?
a) Unknown by the Sea
b) Stranger on the Shore
c) Mystery on the Beach

DECEMBER

45. Cabinet member Gus Hoyt resigned after sending a tweet to the Severn Project’s Steve Glover telling him to what?
a) “Work with me dude or…seriously… go fuck yourself”
b) “Work with me dude or…seriously… fucking do one”
c) “Work with me dude or…seriously… fuck off and court LibDems”

46. Where is legendary video rental shop 20th Century Flicks’ new home?
a) Broad Street 
b) Christmas Steps
c) Perry Road

47. The 150th anniversary of the Clifton Suspension Bridge was celebrated with a spectacular fireworks display. What song was playing as a waterfall cascaded from the bridge?
a) Teardrop by Massive Attack
b) Glory Box by Portishead
c) Brown Paper Bag by Roni Size / Reprazent

48. A what on Blackboy Hill became a Grade II listed building?
a) Bin
b) Letter box
c) Urinal

ANSWERS

1 – C
2 – A
3 – all
4 – B
5 – A
6 – C
7 – C
8 – A
9 – A
10 – B
11 – A
12 – C
13 – B
14 – A
15 – B
16 – B
17 – B
18 – A
19 – C
20 – B
21 – A
22 – B
23 – C
24 – A
25 – C
26 – B
27 – A
28 – C
29 – C
30 – A
31 – C
32 – A
33 – C
34 – A
35 – B
36 – A
37 – C
38 – B
39 – B
40 – A
41 – C
42 – C
43 – A
44 – B
45 – C
46 – B
47 – A
48 – C