He writes the questions. I try to answer them. Humility ensues.
1. In the U.S., “double black diamond” is the rating used for the most challenging what?
I have no idea. Whitewater rapids?
2. Who lived for years under the name “Mr. Thomas Howard” before his 1882 death?
My first guesses were John “Elephant Man” Merrick and then Hawley Harvey Crippen, but neither fits the death date. (And Wikipedia confirms I’m wrong.) No other guesses right now.
3. Potatoes provide the “aloo” in Indian aloo gobi. What vegetable is the “gobi”?
I had to think about this for a minute, but I’m pretty sure it’s cauliflower.
4. What two neighboring beaches in Rio de Janeiro each inspired hit songs, one in 1963 and one in 1978?
Ipanema and ? (And Ipanema is a neighborhood, so I may have that wrong.)
5. What novel was originally written under the title Elinor and Marianne?
I’m pretty sure it’s Sense & Sensibility. Now someone needs to write a masterpiece and originally title it Ginger and Mary Ann.
6. Whose 1937 death in Rome was observed worldwide by two minutes of silence over all radio stations?
Ummmmmm.
7. What unusual distinction is shared by these movies? Autumn Sonata, Broadcast News, House of Flying Daggers, Infernal Affairs, The Lost Patrol, Oliver!, Planet Terror, and Whore.
I was about to give up, then (for whatever reason) Whore dropped the penny: Each was directed by someone who had the same last name as one of the stars, but they weren’t related. Bergman & Bergman, Brooks & Brooks, can’t remember, can’t remember, can’t remember, can’t remember, Rodriguez & Rodriguez, and Russell & Russell.
2. I cheated and googled. You’ll slap your forehead.
7. add Zhang & Zhang.
I figured out both #2 and #6 by going to Wikipedia and looking up the years of death. Each was pretty easy to figure out that way. (I can’t believe I went with a British criminal for #2 before thinking of the correct answer.)