Q 01/05

Which mythical creature, a heraldic symbol since the 12th century, is Scotland's national animal?

A) Dragon

B) Unicorn

C) Griffin

D) Phoenix

Answer · why

B) Unicorn

Unicorn imagery suited Scotland because the beast was believed to be the natural enemy of the lion, a symbol English royals had adopted. Both animals ...

Q 02/05

Which burrowing Australian marsupial leaves cube-shaped droppings that won researchers an Ig Nobel Prize?

A) Wombat

B) Koala

C) Quokka

D) Bilby

Answer · why

A) Wombat

Wombat droppings are thought to be cubes so that they stack and stay put where the animal leaves them to signal its territory. Round ones would roll a...

Q 03/05

Which planet spins so slowly that one full turn on its axis takes longer than its year?

A) Mars

B) Mercury

C) Jupiter

D) Venus

Answer · why

D) Venus

Venus needs 243 Earth days to rotate once but only about 225 to circle the Sun. It also spins backwards compared with most planets.

Q 04/05

Which sweet food does not spoil when stored properly, because most microorganisms cannot grow in it?

A) Caramel sauce

B) Chocolate spread

C) Honey

D) Fruit jam

Answer · why

C) Honey

Honey is so sugary and acidic that bacteria cannot take hold, and objects sealed in it have been preserved for centuries.

Q 05/05

Which country spans the most time zones, thanks to territories scattered across several oceans?

A) Russia

B) Australia

C) France

D) Britain

Answer · why

C) France

France uses 12 time zones once its overseas territories are counted, though the mainland keeps just one, Central European Time.