Are you ready to test your wits with this week's eclectic Saturday quiz? From a bizarre brush with an ostrich involving a country music icon to the origins of modern democracy, this compilation of questions will challenge even the most knowledgeable trivia enthusiast.
Music, Monarchy, and Mountains
The quiz kicks off with a peculiar incident from 1981, asking which country music legend was almost killed by an ostrich. The answer, of course, is the legendary Johnny Cash, proving that life on the road could be unexpectedly dangerous. In a completely different vein, the quiz also reveals that Sarah Mullally has been named as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, a significant appointment within the Church of England.
History buffs are catered for with a question about what first met at Thingvellir in Iceland in 930. This was the Althing, one of the world's oldest parliaments. For oenophiles, the quiz inquires about the origin of Lacryma Christi wine, which comes from vineyards on the slopes of the formidable Mount Vesuvius in Italy.
British Culture and Industry
The quiz has a strong British focus, highlighting the BBC sitcom that has been running for 19 years: the popular show Not Going Out, which holds the title of the second longest-running UK sitcom. It also touches on a pivotal moment in British sports history, asking whose report led to the adoption of all-seater stadiums in the UK. This was the 1990 report by Lord Justice Taylor.
Turning to industry, a question probes the meaning of EfW in the power sector, which stands for Energy from Waste, a key term in the renewable energy landscape. Chess enthusiasts are asked which piece was originally known as the vizier, which is the powerful Queen.
Connecting the Dots
The 'What links' section provides some of the quiz's most intriguing challenges. For instance, the words Brick, Chancery, and Hangar are all types of London lanes. A series of Spanish and Portuguese locations—Sierra de Urbión, Tordesillas, Zamora, and Porto—are all connected by the Douro River, which rises in Spain and flows to the Atlantic.
The word Nimrod links a figure from the Book of Genesis, a variation in Elgar’s Enigma Variations, a maritime patrol aircraft, and the codename for the SAS operation during the Iranian embassy siege. Meanwhile, Caldey, Denny, and Flat Holm are all islands located in the Bristol Channel.
Sports history is covered by linking boxing, chariot racing, and discus as events that featured in the ancient Olympics. Literary spies like James Bond and Alec Leamas are all title characters from famous spy novels. Finally, a list of acclaimed actresses including Cate Blanchett and Diane Keaton have all won acting Oscars for their roles in Woody Allen films.
This week's Saturday quiz successfully spans music, history, geography, and pop culture, offering a comprehensive test for trivia lovers across the UK and beyond.
