Q 01/05

Which yellow spring flower do the French call 'pissenlit', or 'wet-the-bed'?

A) Dandelion

B) Coltsfoot

C) Cowslip

D) Buttercup

Answer · why

A) Dandelion

Dandelion leaves are a diuretic, hence 'pissenlit'; the English name is French too, from 'dent de lion', lion's tooth, for the jagged leaves.

Q 02/05

In the traditional Irish calendar, spring begins on 1 February, the feast of which saint?

A) Saint Brigid

B) Saint Patrick

C) Saint Columba

D) Saint Kevin

Answer · why

A) Saint Brigid

Saint Brigid's feast shares 1 February with the Gaelic festival of Imbolc, which marks the start of spring; families weave crosses from rushes in her ...

Q 03/05

Astronomically, spring in the Northern Hemisphere concludes with the occurrence of which event?

A) Summer Solstice

B) Winter Solstice

C) Autumnal Equinox

D) Vernal Equinox

Answer · why

A) Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice: daylight keeps lengthening all spring until this longest day, around 21 June; from then on the days shorten, even though summer has o...

Q 04/05

In which Disney film does Friend Owl warn that nearly everybody gets 'twitterpated' in the springtime?

A) Bambi

B) Dumbo

C) Pinocchio

D) Fantasia

Answer · why

A) Bambi

Bambi gave English the word: the 1942 film coined 'twitterpated' for Friend Owl's speech about being lovestruck, and dictionaries now list it with tha...

Q 05/05

Which spring constellation contains Arcturus, the brightest star of the northern sky?

A) Leo

B) Boötes

C) Virgo

D) Hercules

Answer · why

B) Boötes

Boötes, the Herdsman: its orange giant Arcturus rises high on spring evenings and is found by following the arc of the Big Dipper's handle.