Q 01/05

What title does a US symphony orchestra give its principal first violinist?

A) Kapellmeister

B) Concertmaster

C) Choirmaster

D) Bandmaster

Answer · why

B) Concertmaster

Concertmaster, from the German Konzertmeister: the concertmaster marks the bowings so every violinist's bow moves in unison.

Q 02/05

Which band released the album Nevermind in 1991?

A) Nirvana

B) Soundgarden

C) Smashing Pumpkins

D) Red Hot Chili Peppers

Answer · why

A) Nirvana

Nirvana: Nevermind entered the Billboard 200 at a modest No. 144, yet it went on to reach No. 1.

Q 03/05

Who is known as the Queen of Soul?

A) Diana Ross

B) Tina Turner

C) Whitney Houston

D) Aretha Franklin

Answer · why

D) Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin: at the 1998 Grammys she stood in at a moment's notice for an ailing Luciano Pavarotti and sang his opera aria.

Q 04/05

Which key signature has no sharps or flats?

A) G major

B) D major

C) C major

D) F major

Answer · why

C) C major

C major: its half steps fall naturally between E and F and between B and C, so the scale needs only the piano's white keys.

Q 05/05

What was Elvis Presley's first number-one hit on the Billboard pop chart?

A) Hound Dog

B) Love Me Tender

C) Don't Be Cruel

D) Heartbreak Hotel

Answer · why

D) Heartbreak Hotel

Heartbreak Hotel: its writers said a newspaper story about a lonely man's suicide note inspired it, though researchers have never found the article.