Q 01/05

July was renamed in 44 BC in honour of which Roman?

A) Marcus Antonius

B) Marcus Cicero

C) Emperor Augustus

D) Julius Caesar

Answer · why

D) Julius Caesar

It had been Quintilis, the fifth month of a calendar that began in March; the Senate renamed it for the month of his birth.

Q 02/05

Before it was renamed, July was called Quintilis, Latin for what?

A) Hot

B) Fifth

C) Sixth

D) Seventh

Answer · why

B) Fifth

The Roman year originally started in March, so the numbering fits; September to December still carry their old out-of-place numbers.

Q 03/05

How many days does July have?

A) 31

B) 30

C) 29

D) 28

Answer · why

A) 31

July and August are the only back-to-back months with 31 days, a quirk often blamed, wrongly, on Augustus wanting to match Caesar.

Q 04/05

What is July's birthstone?

A) Peridot

B) Emerald

C) Ruby

D) Garnet

Answer · why

C) Ruby

Ruby and sapphire are the same mineral, corundum; only the red variety gets to be called ruby.

Q 05/05

Which of these is one of July's two birth flowers?

A) Carnation

B) Water lily

C) Sunflower

D) Chrysanthemum

Answer · why

B) Water lily

The other is the larkspur, a name shared by delphiniums, every one of which is poisonous to people and livestock.