2022 was the Maverick Edition of Great Minds Think Alike. The purpose of this quiz was to identify the most unique answers possible. Only correct answers were allowed - incorrect answers scored 0 points. Correct answers score points using the formula n-a where n is the total number of correct answers and a is the number of others who provide the same answer. The goal was to offer the correct answer nobody else does each round to maximise possible points.

Question 1: It's been a rough couple of years with the covid. Of the 40 UN Member States with the largest populations, which one has had the most effective response to the pandemic?
Unique answers: Egypt, Germany, Iran, Kenya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Sudan, USA
Non-unique answers:
Algeria (2)
China (2)
Colombia (2)
Democratic Republic of Congo (2)
Iraq (2)
Pakistan (2)
Republic of Korea (2)
Thailand (2)
Viet Nam (2)
Japan (5)
Tanzania (6)
Incorrect answers: Australia, Ireland, Mongolia, United Arab Emirates

Question 2: I was asked yesterday who to bet o for the Super Bowl win. Clearly it could only be among the remaining contenders. Which team should my good friend be advised to bet on?
Unique answers: Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles
Non-unique answers:
Buffalo Bills (2)
New England Patriots (2)
San Francisco 49ers (2)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2)
Tennessee Titans (3)
Los Angeles Rams (4)
Arizona Cardinals (5)
Pittsburgh Steelers (5)
Cincinnati Bengals (10)
Incorrect answers: Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Harlequins

Question 3: There ain't no party like the Tory party but there's a good chance the Big Dog will have to go. His successor would have tob e someone in the current Cabinet given the way the Tories and Parliament work. Who would be best placed to keep the party going?

Unique answers: Nigel Adams, Steve Barclay, Nadine Dorries, Sajid Javid, Kwasi Kwarteng, Brandon Lewis, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Ben Wallace, Nadhim Zahawi

Non-unique answers:
Suella Braverman (2)
Baroness Evans (2)
Alok Sharma (2)
Anne-Marie Trevelyan (2)
Liz Truss (2)
Simon Hart (3)
Priti Patel (3) Dominic Raab (3)
Grant Schapps (3)
Thérèse Coffey (5)
Rishi Sunak (7)

Question 4: It is almost exactly 2 years to the day since the first covid case in the UK. Which actively positive development during the covid era are you most delighted with?
Unique answers: Bluer skies, People actually washing their hands more often, Enhanced corporate responsibility, Reduced cost of En Primeur fine wines in Bordeaux, Getting to know your neighbours better even in London, FCDO merger, So many people got dogs during lockdown, It continues to be difficult for Americans to get into Canada, Explosion of skincare TikTok, Easier access to GP consultations, Laurel Hubbard being the firs transgender woman selected to compete in the Olympics
Non-unique answers:
Enhanced home cooking (2)
Avoid socialising (2)
Population reductions (2)
Development of vaccines (2)
Better media offerings (2)
Better family life (2)
Better beer (2)
Home conveniences (3)
Better political developments (3)
Home delivery services (4)

Question 5: The Fed kept interest rates steady last week. If I want to go all in to max my profit while I can, which asset class should I choose?
Non-unique answers:
Equities (2)
Real Estate (3)
Infrastructure (3)
Currency (3)
Pooled invesmtent securities (3)
Fixed income (4)
Collectibles (9)
Commodities (12)

Question 6: There have been 13 and only 13 incarations of the Doctor. No others count. Which Doctor Who of these 13 was the biggest mistake?
Unique answers: Tom Baker, Sylvester McCoy, David Tennant, Matt Smith
Non-unique answers:
Jon Pertwee (2)
Peter Capaldi (2)
Peter Davison (3)
Paul McGann (3)
Patrick Troughton (4)
Colin Baker (4)
William Hartnell (6)
Christopher Ecclestone (6)
Incorrect answer: John Hurt

Question 7: What action would you advise the Government of Canada to take which would realistically end the protests of the Freedom Convoy?
Unique answers: Activate the Covert Social Media Operations cell within the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, infiltrate Mumsnet, Facebook, Nextdoor and other community social media sites with fake news setting out hte multiple benefits of vaccines such as heightened libido, resistance to hangovers, and closeness to God, Create a new tax on stationary vehicles on the road drawn at source from any and all employed truckers, GOvernment and protesters put together an ice hockey math with the winner determining whether the rules stay in place.
Non-unique answers:
Trudean resigns (2)
Deploy non-lethal force (2)
Internationalise the problem (3)
Raise awareness (3)
Deploy legal solutions (3)
Deploy lethal solutions (3)
Deploy psychological warfare (7)
Offer concessions (8)
Incorrect answers: Sit back and do nothing, Set up a soup kitchen, Make it mandatory for people to cheer when they overtake each other on a dual carriageway

Question 8: Russian forces are massing on the Ukrainian borders. What could reasonably be behind this upsurge in hostility?
Unique answers: To get to the other side, A strong desire to return to having a Soviet Union, Lack of meaningful action from Western governments to hold Putin to account for his actions in the past, Tired of phone batteries running out, Putin wants to secure the lithium deposits in Ukraine, An old grudge over their Eurovision entry being pulled in 2017, Disinformation about the perceived threat of genocide, Weapons have expiry dates and need to be used so as not to waste exceess materiel, Tourism, Putin got bored with covid headlines for two years and wanted to mix things up, Russia want to challenge the Taliban for speed running the capture of a country
Non-unique answers:
Putin (2)
Putin's childhood (2)
NATO (2)
Putin's mental illness (2)
Putin's personality flaws (4)

Question 9: Toast. If you had one good tasting topping to spread on sourdoug, what would it be?
Unique answers: Speculoss, Avocado, Ricotta, Bovril, Potted shrimp, Beef dripping, Leftover bolognaise, Spaghetti hoops, Whipped bone marrow butter, Dita's spicy potatoes, Anchovie sambal, Passion fruit curd, Marmalade, Palm oil free chocolate spread, Marmite peanut butter
Non-uniqe answers:
Dulche de Leche (2)
Sobresada (2)
Maple syrup (2)
Marmite (3)
Butter (4)
Incorrect answer: Apricot jam and halloumi, Sardines, Bacon

Question 10: It turns out that some people have to stay up for 25 hours straight. For those in need of getting to sleep rapidly, what technique would work that you recommend?
Unique answers: Acupressure, Hugging a pet, Positioning near a log fire, Sensory deprivation tank, Doing the dishes, Frankincense pillow spray, Orgasms, Chloroform, Use a weighted blanket, Watch TV shows about serial killers
Non-unique answers:
Medication (2)
Playing games (2)
Counting (4)
Sound therapy (4)
Boring people (4)
Eating and drinking (5)
Incorrect answers: Slathering bovril on chest, Red bull and chocolate

Question 11: Our solar system is the best. Which of its planets has the most iconic appeal?
Non-unique answers:
Earth (2)
Jupiter (2)
Mars (3)
Venus (3)
Mercury (4)
Uranus (4)
Neptune (5)
Saturn (6)
Incorrect answers: Pluto, Gongong, Makemake

Question 12: Among the Great Minds who contributed to the 2022 game, which is your favourite?
Unique answers: Daisy, Ewan, Matt, Alex, James, Michael, Simon, Joseph, Doug, Clara, Izzy
Non-unique answers:
Nicole (2)
Rowena (2)
Pedro (3)
Peter (3)
Incorrect answer: Infrastructure, the Mongolian Horse

2021 was the first Great Minds Think Alike quiz game. The goal was to offer the answer most commonly offered by others. Each other person giving the same answer provided 1 point.

Question 1: Some have argued that 2020 wasn't the best of years. But what was the best thing about it?
Answer: The US Election result (17)
Also correct:
Staying at home and not commuting (4)
That it ended (3)
Less pollution / more nature (2)
Zoom games and meetings (including just in pants) (2)
Incorrect: Sourdough, Going out on Halloween, Werewolf and Goal Line Blitz, The memes, Community Spirit, Liverpool winning the title

Question 2: After a constraining year and now with all the stresses and strains of global politics, a nice break is in order. But where is the ideal spot for a post COVID break?
Answer: Wuhan (6) Also correct:
Beach (4)
Anywhere but home (3)
New Zealand (3)
Rio / Brazil carnival (2)
Tropical island (2)
Incorrect: Islay, Under the sea, Wherever the family are, Iceland, Spain, Anywhere indoors with more than 6 people, Tent in the back garden, France, Caribbean, Bali, Samoa, Anywhere but the UK, Music festival, Nauru, Home, Australia

Question 3: 2020 was a great year for binge watching. Which boxed set or series is the most important ever created?
Answer: The West Wing (7)
Also correct:
BLue Planet (4)
The Wire (3)
The Sopranos (3)
Friends (3)
Game of Thrones (3)
Yes Minister (3)
Rick & Morty (2)
Incorrect: X-Files, Monty Python's Flying Circus, House of Cards, Peaky Blinders, The Crown, Black Mirror, The Mandalorian, Only Foold And Horses, The Office

Question 4: The EU parted company with the UK at the end of last season. Who should the EU sign to replace the UK in its squad?
Answer: Scotland (15)
Also correct:
Turkey (3)
Incorrect: Iceland, Canada, China, New Zealand, Russia

Question 5: The Tokyo Olympics will be a great festival of culture when it takes place, hopefully this year. There are lots of sports taking part. But which real sport that isn't currently in the Olympics or there as a demonstration event needs to be added?
Answer: Cricket (6) or American Football (6)
Also correct:
MMA (5)
Sumo wrestling (3)
Darts (3)
Incorrect: Rugby, Frisby, Quidditch, Dodgeball, Chess, Caber tossing, Extreme ironing, Tiddlywinks, Paddle Ball, eSports, Squash, Blood Bowl, Competitive Tag

Question 6: It might not seem like it but the 20th Century is now history. Who was the most influential person of the 20th century?
Answer: Alan Turing (7) or Hitler (7)
Also correct:
Einstein (6)
Nelson Mandela (4)
Churchill (4)
Martin Luther King Jr (2)
Lenin (2)
Incorrect: Gorbachev, Tim Berners-Lee, Sigmund Freund

Question 7: Climate change is likely to significantly reduce biodiverstiy in the coming decades. Under the threat of this deluge, which animal should be top of the list for humanity to save?
Answer: Bees (18)
Also correct:
Polar Bear (3)
Orangutan (3)
Gorillas (2)
Humans (2)
Dog (2)
Incorrect: Wombat, Rhino, Turtle, Humpback Whale, Elephant

Question 8: Everyone's a winner! So in these days it is harder to know which award or prize to value the most. Which notable prize, award, or trophy would mean the most to you if you could win it?
Answer: Noble Peace Prize (14)
Also correct:
Nobel Prize (4)
Olympic Gold (3)
Lottery (2)
Incorrect: The Ashes, FAF Championship, Bitcoins, Greatest Grandad, Premier League Fantasy Football 2020/21, Knighthood, Ballon d'Or, Winner of Great Minds 2021

Question 9: Time to speculate. Looking ahead at the rest of this century, what will be the defining breakthrough that most advances human civilisation?
Answer: Colony on Mars (6) OR Artificial Intelligence (6):
Also correct:
Climate Change Resolved (5)
Gene Editing Therapy (3)
Space Travel (3)
Quantum Computing (2)
Covid vaccine (2)
Encountering extraterrestrial life (2)
Incorrect: Sharks with frikkin laser beams, Miniaturised batteries, Internet of Touch, Heads living separately from bodies in jars, Mobile phones, Teleportation

Question 10: Art has the power to enrich the soul. But which artistic movement or form just needs to be wiped from human history?
Answer: Mime (3)
Also correct:
Abstract Art (2)
Modern Art (2)
Installiation Art (like unmade beds) (2)
Brutalism (2)
Performance Art (2)
Incorrect: Country Music, Suprematism, Minimalism, EDM, Surrealism, Abstract Splatter Art, Art Deco, Slaver Statues, Opera, None, Abstract Expressionism, Musicals, Furry Art, Futurism, Self-Destructive Art, Shock Art, TikTok

Question 11: It's quite a stressful time all told these days. Thinking some lighter thoughts, which children's television show has been the most impactful for you?
Answer: Blue Peter (13)
Also correct:
Sesame Street (5)
Knightmare (2)
The Simpsons (2)
Incorrect: Pokemon, Grange Hill, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Scooby Doo, X-Men, Peppa Pig, Doctor Who, Swap Shop, Teletubbies