This week's Saturday quiz presents a formidable challenge for trivia enthusiasts, spanning topics from historical spirits and literary monsters to global fitness phenomena and perplexing internet memes.
A Concoction of Curious Questions
The quiz opens with a query about spirits, asking participants to name the oldest brandy produced in France's Gascony region. The correct answer is Armagnac, a distinguished brandy with a history predating its more famous cousin, Cognac.
Literature is represented by a question probing which character was dubbed the "modern Prometheus". This is the subtitle of Mary Shelley's seminal Gothic novel, identifying the answer as Victor Frankenstein, the scientist who dared to create life.
In a more contemporary vein, the quiz asks what worldwide event began humbly in 2004 as the Bushy Park time trial. This refers to the origins of Parkrun, the free, weekly, community-led 5k event that has since become a global movement.
From Presidents to Pennies
Historical and political knowledge is tested with a memorable, if undignified, diplomatic incident. The quiz asks which US president vomited on the Japanese prime minister, with the answer being George H.W. Bush during a 1992 state dinner.
Numismatists might have an edge with a question on medieval currency, which asks for the name of a coin worth four pence. The correct term is a groat, a coin used in England for centuries.
The wild west is represented by the figure of Doc Holliday, the notorious gunfighter who was, perhaps surprisingly, also a qualified dentist.
Decoding the Connections
The 'What links' section provides a further test of lateral thinking. One set connects names like Appia, Aurelia, and Flaminia, which are all ancient roads that led to Rome.
Another list pairs names such as Jerry and Mike, and Carole and Gerry. These are famous songwriting partnerships, including Leiber and Stoller, and King and Goffin.
Colour-coded clues point to London's Tube lines: Metropolitan (magenta), Jubilee (grey 1977), Victoria (light blue, 1819-1901), and Circle (yellow, 360 degrees).
Ornithology features with a list including Balearic and Manx, which are all types of shearwater birds. Meanwhile, names like Rania and Noor are revealed to be Queens and princesses of Jordan.
A geographical challenge lists capitals including Yerevan, Minsk, and Beijing. They are the capitals of countries from A to G: Armenia, Belarus, China, followed by Denmark's Copenhagen, Egypt's Cairo, France's Paris, and Germany's Berlin.
The final link connects disparate items like Totem and Taboo and Hideous Kinky. The unifying theme is that they are all works by members of the Freud family: Sigmund, Anna, Lucian, Esther, and Bella respectively.
The Full Set of Answers
For those who have pondered, here are the complete answers to this week's brain-teasers:
- George H.W. Bush (1992).
- Victor Frankenstein.
- Parkrun.
- 6-7 (the consecutive digits in a viral 2024 meme).
- Groat.
- Armagnac.
- Doc Holliday.
- Barium (used historically in rat poison and 'barium meals' for digestive imaging).
- Ancient roads to Rome.
- Songwriting partnerships.
- London Tube lines.
- Shearwater birds.
- Queens/princesses of Jordan.
- Capitals of countries A to G.
- Works by the Freuds.
How did you fare? Whether you aced it or found yourself stumped, the Saturday quiz remains a beloved weekly ritual for testing the breadth and depth of one's general knowledge.
