Q 01/05

Which African animal is celebrated with a World Day on 21 June, chosen as the longest day of the year?

A) Elephant

B) Giraffe

C) Ostrich

D) Cheetah

Answer · why

B) Giraffe

Giraffe conservationists matched the tallest animal with the longest day. The Giraffe Conservation Foundation, which began its work in Namibia, launch...

Q 02/05

Huge crowds mark each summer solstice in New York's Times Square by joining a mass session of which activity?

A) Pilates

B) Tai chi

C) Aerobics

D) Yoga

Answer · why

D) Yoga

Yoga fills Times Square each solstice in an event called Mind over Madness, drawing up to 15,000 people. The United Nations also keeps 21 June as the ...

Q 03/05

In which country do Midsummer revellers dance around a leafy maypole to a song about little frogs?

A) Sweden

B) Norway

C) Denmark

D) Iceland

Answer · why

A) Sweden

Sweden's frog dance, Små grodorna, has dancers mime the ears and tails that frogs lack. Midsummer is so loved there that some have proposed making it ...

Q 04/05

Which property of planet Earth, rather than its changing distance from the Sun, causes the summer solstice and seasons?

A) Rotation speed

B) Magnetic field

C) Axial tilt

D) Ocean currents

Answer · why

C) Axial tilt

Axial tilt leans the Northern Hemisphere toward the Sun in June, so sunlight strikes it more directly and for longer. Six months later the same lean p...

Q 05/05

Which senior British royal has a birthday on 21 June, the date most associated with the summer solstice?

A) Prince Harry

B) Prince William

C) Princess Beatrice

D) Prince Edward

Answer · why

B) Prince William

Prince William was born at 9:03 pm on 21 June 1982 at St Mary's Hospital in London. Queen Elizabeth II, his grandmother, was on the throne at the time...