Q 01/05

The Wright Flyer made the first sustained powered, controlled flight in December of which year?

A) 1903

B) 1905

C) 1908

D) 1911

Answer · why

A) 1903

The Wrights flew it four times that day near Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina; the aircraft now hangs in the National Air and Space Museum.

Q 02/05

What was the nickname of the Ford Model T?

A) Iron Betty

B) Tin Lizzie

C) Steel Sally

D) Rusty Nell

Answer · why

B) Tin Lizzie

Over 15 million were sold between 1908 and 1927; Henry Ford watched the 15 millionth roll off the line at Highland Park, Michigan.

Q 03/05

Which car overtook the Model T as the best-selling car in history in 1972?

A) Morris Minor

B) Toyota Corolla

C) Volkswagen Beetle

D) Citroën 2CV

Answer · why

C) Volkswagen Beetle

Production of the Type 1 finally ended at Volkswagen's Puebla plant in Mexico on 30 July 2003, after 21,529,464 cars.

Q 04/05

Japan's first Shinkansen line opened in 1964, shortly before which event?

A) The Sapporo Winter Olympics

B) The coronation of Emperor Akihito

C) Expo '70 in Osaka

D) The Tokyo Summer Olympics

Answer · why

D) The Tokyo Summer Olympics

The Tōkaidō Shinkansen began service on 1 October 1964, nine days before the Games opened, linking Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya and Osaka.

Q 05/05

How many passenger fatalities from derailments or collisions has the Shinkansen recorded in over 60 years?

A) Zero

B) Over 100

C) Seven

D) Forty-one

Answer · why

A) Zero

That record covers more than 10 billion passengers, in a country hit by frequent earthquakes and typhoons.