P   Good evening. Welcome to Quiz Night. Tonight’s show comes from Manchester. And our first contestant is Eddie from Chorley. Hi, Eddie. Are you nervous?

E   No, not really. I think I’m, er, well prepared.

P   Well, let’s hope so. The rules are the same as always. I’m going to read you some sentences, and you have ten seconds to say if the sentence is true or false. If you get the first answer right, you win 100 pounds. Then for each correct answer you double your money, so if you get the second answer right, you win 200 pounds, and for the third correct answer you win 400 pounds. For eight correct answers you win 12,800 pounds. But if you get an answer wrong, you lose all the money. Remember you can also phone a friend, so if you’re not sure about one of the answers, you can phone your friend to help you. Is that OK, Eddie?

E   Yeah, OK. 

P   OK, Eddie, first question for 100 pounds. A whale can make a louder noise than a lion. True or false?

E   A whale can make a louder noise than a lion. Er, true.

P   Correct. Blue whales can make a sound of up to 188 decibels, whereas a lion’s roar is never more than 114 decibels. Ro-a--rrrr. Now, for 200 pounds, the First World War was shorter than the Second World War. True or false?

E   Er, I think it’s true.

P   Correct. It’s true. The First World War lasted four years, from 1914 to 1918, but the Second World War lasted six years, from 1939 to 1945. Next, for 400 pounds, the American film industry is bigger than the Indian film industry.

E   I think it’s false. You know, Bollywood and all that is huge. I think it’s false.

P   Correct. The Indian film industry is much bigger than the American one. It produces about 1,000 films every year, which is double what Hollywood produces. In fact, America isn’t even the second country that makes the most films, which is Nigeria. Next, for 800 pounds, in July, Edinburgh is hotter than Sydney. True or false?

E   In July, Edinburgh is hotter than Sydney. Er, true.

P   Correct. The average temperature in July in Edinburgh is 15 degrees, and in Sydney it’s 13 degrees. Of course Australia’s in the southern hemisphere, so it’s winter there. Next, for 1,600 pounds, silver is heavier than gold. True or false?

E   Er, true. No, er, false. 

P   Do you want to phone a friend?

E   No, I think it’s false. I remember from science lessons at school. Gold is heavier than silver.

P   Correct. Gold weighs about 19 grams per cm3 and silver weighs only 10.5 grams. That means that gold is almost twice as heavy as silver. OK, for 3,200 pounds, the mountain K2 is more difficult to climb than Mount Everest.

E   Er, true.

P    Correct. 30% of the people who try to climb K2 die, usually on the way down, whereas only 5% of the people who try to climb Everest die. OK, Eddie, now for 6,400 pounds, driving in Italy is more dangerous than driving in Belgium. True or false?

E   Er, I think that’s a trick question. We all think the Italians drive really fast, but maybe they’re good drivers. I think it’s false.

P   Well done, Eddie! It may be hard to believe, but in fact out of every 100,000 people, six people died because of car accidents in Italy, compared to seven in Belgium. And finally, the last question. Be very careful, Eddie. If you get it right, you win 12,800 pounds, but if you get it wrong, you get nothing. Are you ready?

E   Yes, ready.

P   OK, for 12,800 pounds, it’s better to do exercise in the morning than in the afternoon.

E   Er… er…

P   Quickly, Eddie, your time is nearly up.

E   I think it’s false, but I’m not sure. I want to phone a friend.

P   Right, Eddie. So, who do you want to call?

E   Sandra.

P   Is she your girlfriend?

E   Yes, she is.

P   OK then. Hello, is that Sandra?

S   Yes, it is.

P   I’m phoning from Quiz Night. Eddie needs some help. You have 30 seconds, Eddie. Here she is.

E   Hi. Sandra?

S   Yes.

E   Listen. It’s the last question. ‘It’s better to do exercise in the morning than in the afternoon.’ True or false? I think it’s false.

S   Er, I think it’s true. I always see people running in the park in the morning…

E   Google it. Quickly. On your phone.

S   What do I put in?

E   Just that sentence and see what comes up! ‘It’s better to do exercise in the morning than in the afternoon.’ Come on!

S   Yes, I’m writing it. Oh sorry, I just got a message.
E   Hurry up, Sandra!

P   Time’s up, I’m afraid. OK, Eddie. So, true or false?

E   Er. True.

P   Final answer?

E   Final answer. True.

P   I’m sorry, Eddie, it’s false. It’s better to do exercise in the afternoon, between 4.00 and 5.00. Eddie, you had 6,400 pounds, but now you go home with … nothing.

E   Why did I phone Sandra? Why didn’t I phone my friend Dave?