Brain Teaser – Oscars

This brainteaser is about Oscars, which can mean people called Oscar, or the annual awards made by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.  Need help? Try using Credo Reference to find the answers.

1. Name the Irish writer whose first name was Oscar and who wrote “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and “The Importance of Being Earnest”.

2. Which American actor won an Oscar for the film “On the Waterfront” but refused the award for “The Godfather” in protest at the film industry’s treatment of American Indians?

3. The Academy Award’s statuette reportedly got its name of “Oscar” because a librarian said it reminded her of a relative called Oscar. Was this relative her father, son or uncle?

4. Which US film actress won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in “Erin Brockovich” (2000)?

5. In 2008, which film directed by Danny Boyle won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director?

6. Which actor was the first black actor to win an Academy Award for a leading role, in “Lilies of the Field” (1963)?

7. Who won an Academy Award for best screenplay for his adaptation of his own “Pygmalion” (1938)?

8. Give the full name of the man called Oscar who teamed up with Richard Rodgers to write the musicals “Oklahoma!”, “Carousel” and “The Sound of Music”.

9. Which film director won two Oscars for “The Lost Weekend” and three for “The Apartment”?

10. In 1987, which country’s President was Oscar Arias Sanchez, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prze for his efforts to end the civil wars in Central America?

Questions set by Tony Augarde (www.augardebooks.co.uk)

Show the Answers

1. Oscar Wilde.^Citation
2. Marlon Brando.^Citation
3. Uncle.^Citation
4. Julia Roberts.^Citation
5. Slumdog Millionaire.^Citation
6. Sidney Poitier.^Citation
7. George Bernard Shaw.^Citation
8. Oscar Hammerstein II.^Citation
9. Billy Wilder.^Citation
10. Costa Rica.^Citation

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0 – 1 Mmmm, not exactly brilliant.
2 – 5 A reasonable stab.
6 – 8 A good showing. But there’s still room for improvement!
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