Q 01/05

The month of August was renamed in 8 BC in honour of which Roman emperor?

A) Augustus

B) Julius Caesar

C) Nero

D) Claudius

Answer · why

A) Augustus

It had previously been called Sextilis, meaning 'sixth', because it was the sixth month in the old ten-month Roman calendar.

Q 02/05

What was August originally called in the Roman calendar?

A) Octilis

B) Sextilis

C) Quintilis

D) Septilis

Answer · why

B) Sextilis

March was the first month back then, which is why the name means 'sixth' even though it is now the eighth month.

Q 03/05

Who invented the myth that August gained a 31st day so Augustus could match Julius Caesar's July?

A) The Venerable Bede

B) Augustus himself

C) A 13th-century scholar

D) Isaac Newton

Answer · why

C) A 13th-century scholar

Sextilis already had 31 days long before the renaming; Johannes de Sacrobosco made up the tale much later.

Q 04/05

August's best-known birthstone is which yellow-green gem?

A) Ruby

B) Emerald

C) Sapphire

D) Peridot

Answer · why

D) Peridot

It is one of the very few gemstones that occur in only one colour, and some has even been found in meteorites.

Q 05/05

Which flower is a birth flower of August?

A) Gladiolus

B) Daffodil

C) Chrysanthemum

D) Marigold

Answer · why

A) Gladiolus

The poppy is also associated with the month; the gladiolus is said to signify strength of character.