And now, the end is near. Not of the Thursday quiz, but of 2021. It will be good to bid farewell to this cursed year, and to look forward to an equally dismal 12 months the way things seem to be going. Never mind. In the meantime, here are 15 questions to tease and entertain you. The quiz master is away and will not be able to join you in the comments today, but you will still have the challenge of a hidden Doctor Who reference, the saintly Kate Bush, the ever-popular anagrams, and the wrath of Ron from Sparks to face. Have fun – and have a happy new year! The Thursday quiz, No 36 1.SHOULD OLD ACQUAINTANCE BE FORGOT: One of these is NOT a line from the lyrics of popular new year ditty Auld Lang Syne. Which one? And surely ye"ll be your pint-stoup! And wi" a meikle hazel rung But we"ve wander"d mony a weary fit And we"ll tak" a right gude-willie waught Reveal 2.ROMAN FIDDLING: 1 January is considered the start of the year due to the reorganisation of their previous chaotic calendar into what became known as the Julian Calendar. When? 65BC 45BC 25BC AD45 Reveal 3.ASTERIXOLOGY: The second Asterix volume to be published in France was called La Serpe d"or. But what was the title of the English translation? Asterix and the Golden Fleece Asterix and the Golden Serpent Asterix and the Golden Sickle Asterix and the Big Fight Reveal 4.ANAGRAM TIME: You love it. One of these four people has never been the Taoiseach of Ireland. Which one? Enjoy! Rona arm thong Ole aardvark Bare therein End Kenyan Reveal 5.GCSE SCIENCE CORNER: A flame test is one way of identifying which metal you have to hand. If you have lithium, what colour flame are you going to get? Yellow Lilac Red Blue-green Reveal 6.ENSEMBLE CASTS: It is Tracey Ullman"s birthday today. Happy birthday Tracey! What was the name of the comedy sketch show she starred in with Lenny Henry and David Copperfield? A Kick up the Eighties Laugh??? I Nearly Paid My Licence Fee The Fast Show Three of a Kind Reveal 7.BLOWING THINGS UP, BUT AT SEA: Naval warfare was revolutionised in the 1850s and 1860s making images like this a thing of the past as countries scrambled to launch ironclad and iron-hulled warships. But who had the first ironclad warship? United Kingdom United States Spain France Reveal 8.TALENT IS AN ASSET: That"s a 1974 song by Sparks about how Albert is smart, he"s a genius. But that"s not important right now. Girls Aloud, featuring the much-mourned Sarah Harding who died earlier this year, were formed on which TV talent show? Fame Academy Popstars: The Rivals The Voice UK The X Factor Reveal 9.A NOT VERY HIDDEN DOCTOR WHO REFERENCE: The Doctor Who New Year"s Day special this year is called Eve of the Daleks. But who created the Daleks? Sydney Newman Terry Nation Nigel Kneale Douglas Adams Reveal 10.HOOTENANNY SHENANIGANS: Like many households, on New Year"s Eve the quiz master enjoys putting a sledgehammer through the TV rather than watching the Jools Holland Hootenanny. But which year was it first broadcast? 1991 1993 1995 1997 Reveal 11.ON THIS DAY: They obviously weren"t having time off for Christmas during the War of the Roses because on 30 December 1460 it was the Battle of Wakefield. But whereabouts on the outskirts of Wakefield was the actual scene of the battle? Kirkthorpe Woolgreaves Medderton Sandal Magna Reveal 12.ON THIS DAY PART II ELECTRIC BOOGALOO: He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow, but 30 December is also the anniversary of the murder of adviser to the Tsar Grigori Rasputin. In which year was Boney M"s all-time disco banger Rasputin released? 1975 1978 1980 1981 Reveal 13.LITERATURE: Who, at the beginning of their story, was described as "handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition" and "seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence" in a novel first published in December 1815 Charlotte Brontë"s Jane Eyre Emily Brontë"s Catherine Earnshaw George Eliot"s Dorothea Brooke Jane Austen"s Emma Woodhouse Reveal 14.MUSIC: Iron Maiden had their only UK No 1 hit single – Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter – in the singles chart that ran from 30 December 1990 to 5 January 1991. But who had they replaced at No 1 from the previous week? Band Aid, with a reissue of Do They Know It"s Christmas Queen, with a reissue of Bohemian Rhapsody coupled with These Are the Days of Our Lives Cliff Richard, with Saviour"s Day Kate Bush, with December Will Be Magic Again Reveal 15.TRUE OR FALSE: Peter Hitchens refuses to celebrate new year because he associates it with the Soviet Union attempting to abolish Christmas True False