LearnedLeague 97 Match Day 21 Recap
Would this Match Day be Electric Mayhem? Or would I be saying "wocka wocka" after it?
Match Day 21
1. Mainly due to the transformation conducted by Philip II from 359 to 336 BCE, what territory at the northwest corner of the Aegean Sea was the most powerful state in Greece in the 3rd and 4th centuries BCE?
Pre-answer thoughts: So if I’m reading this question right it’s about something on the mainland, not in the Aegean, right? And multiple centuries meant it was around as a center of power for a while, I assume. So I think this would be Alexander the Great’s homeland of Macedonia.
Correct answer: Macedon
Was I correct? Yes (?!)
How much of LL got it right? 55%
Points assigned to opponent: 0
Was opponent correct? No.
Points assigned to me: 0
Current score: 0(1)-0(0)
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 0
Was opponent correct? No.
Points assigned to me: 2
Current score: 2(1)-0(0)
Post-answer thoughts: I’m glad I got credit because I never would’ve known the original name of “Macedon” as the territory. I think the get rate would’ve been in the teens if that was required.
2. Salome, Elektra, and Ariadne are among the subjects of operas written in the early 20th century by what German composer and conductor, whose early career is highlighted by a series of well-known symphonic poems?
Pre-answer thoughts: There are a lot of German composers around that time, huh? I am far from a classical music expert, but I think Richard Wagner is a decent guess here.
Correct answer: Richard Strauss
Was I correct? No.
How much of LL got it right? 25%
Points assigned to opponent: 1 (they’re good a classical music — usually these types of questions I automatically give a 3)
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 3
Current score: 0(1)-1(2)
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 3
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 2
Current score: 2(2)-3(2)
Post-answer thoughts: Well I had the “Richard” part right, but Strauss was much later than Wagner, who was active in the 19th century.
3. The Egyptian language is an extinct language, surviving in papyrus manuscripts and inscriptions, that evolved in the 2nd century BCE into another language used today as a liturgical language by Egypt's Monophysite Christians. What is that language?
Pre-answer thoughts: This one is a trivia chestnut that’s come up a fair amount over the years. When “Christian” and Egypt” are used together that almost always means they’re looking for “Coptic.”
Correct answer: Coptic
Was I correct? Yes.
How much of LL got it right? 56%
Points assigned to opponent: 2
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 2
Current score: 2(2)-3(3)
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 2
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 1
Current score: 3(2)-5(2)
Post-answer thoughts: I was playing Codenames last year and my friend gave “Coptic” as a clue and I was very excited to clear “Egypt” and “Church” off the board.
4. An area of Scotland named for its local river gave its name to what breed of horse, which originated in the 18th century when Flemish stallions were mated with Scottish mares, producing a large and powerful breed with a weight upwards of 2,000 lbs. and a height of 17 to 18 hands?
Pre-answer thoughts: All I can think of when I hear Scottish river is “The Firth of Forth,” so I’m wondering if this is a quarter horse? But I’m also wondering if it’s something about a ton, because of that weight.
Correct answer: Clydesdale
Was I correct? No.
How much of LL got it right? 74%
Points assigned to opponent: 3
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 1
Current score: 2(2)-6(4)
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 2
Was opponent correct? No.
Points assigned to me: 1
Current score: 3(2)-5(2)
Post-answer thoughts: Ouch, bad miss here. I associate Clydesdales with Budweiser ads, not Scotland.
5. "Why do we always come here? / I guess we'll never know. / It's like a kind a torture / [BLANK]." What are the six words that constitute this blanked fourth line from a classic theme song, one of the most popular in television history?
Pre-answer thoughts: This is really tough to get these specific 6 words right. I’m certain this is the Muppet Show theme — another song that’s on the baby’s playlist. And this sounds like something Statler and Waldorf would sing. But… I can’t remember this specific lyric. I think it’s something like “To have our very own show.” That’s 6 words, right? I’m not confident.
Correct answer: To Have To Watch The Show
Was I correct? No.
How much of LL got it right? 23%
Points assigned to opponent: 2 (tough TV question even though it’s one of their best subjects)
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 2
Current score: 2(2)-8(4)
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 1
Was opponent correct? No.
Points assigned to me: 0
Current score: 3(2)-5(2)
Post-answer thoughts: I am not surprised at the low get rate. I guess I never paid too close attention to the actual lyrics here. I don’t love this question, either — asking for exact lyrics seems like a tough get, especially if it’s not the chorus of a song. To add insult to injury, I even got a Spotify notification after submitting yesterday about a new song by the long time Muppets house band Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.
6. What is the current name of the city in Southeast China, founded in 472 BCE (by one historical account) on the Yangtze River and the country's capital during various periods of history, that was the center of the Taiping Rebellion, which began in 1850?
Pre-answer thoughts: My OQL team always jokes about Chinese dynasties coming up during our team quizzes, but it’s not really an area I’m an expert in. But I do know Shanghai is a city in southeast China, so that seems like a good guess here.
Correct answer: Nanking/Nanjing
Was I correct? No.
How much of LL got it right? 19%
Points assigned to opponent: 1
Was opponent correct? Yes.
Points assigned to me: 1
Points assigned to Private Rundle opponent: 1
Was opponent correct? No.
Points assigned to me: 3
Post-answer thoughts: 34% of LL said Shanghai, so I wasn’t alone in this guess.
Result: Lost to SoneiraC, 2(2)-9(5)
Current Standings in Rundle A Byzantium: 26th of 30 (6-11-4)
Private Rundle Result: Lost to HudakN2, 3(2)-5(2)
Current Standings in Private Rundle: 2nd of 10 (14-5-2)
Overall thoughts: Well, I was lucky to even get 2 right today, but my defense was awful in both rundles, and I gave up a Dolly Parton in the main rundle. It’s especially a bummer because I’m back in the relegation zone now, and I’ve only got 4 match days left to try and fix that.