Quizzes & Puzzles 60

Some new problems with which to exercise the brain. But first a look at answers and solutions to Quizzes & Puzzles 59. New problems below the image (cartoon).

Answer to Quiz 59:1

How many faces has a tetrahedron?

It has four faces. @Lixten knew that.

Answer to Quiz 59:2

What is the difference between British English and American English citation marks, and how to put them in a sentence?

Traditionally, the British use single quotation (or citation) marks ('), while the Americans use double (“).

Then in BE, one puts quotation marks logically, punctuation is only included where it's a part of the quoted text, while in AE, punctuation marks are always inside the quotation. Let's illustrate this with a short sentence.

• BE: 'It's John's cat', he said.

• AE: “It's Johns cat,” he said.

Compare the comma after “cat”.

For me, I apply the British way, because I can see no sense in including punctuation that doesn't belong there into a quotation. However, I use American double quotation marks, because single ones are confused with apostrophes in the text (I'm, it's, etc.,...) and with genitive. We can see this in the short example above. If you look at the BE, it's confusing for the eye. In a longer text it might slow down the reading.

You can use which system you want, but think of how you want it and do it that way consistently in your writings.

Answer to Quiz 59:3

Painter Vincent Van Gogh had mental problems. One of his most famous actions was that he cut off a part of his body. Which part?

Both @Lixten and @Duvinca knew that he cut off his ear. It was the left ear, just as @Lixten said.

Answer to Quiz 59:4

Who wrote the influential and controversial novel “Atlas Shrugged”?

Ayn Rand.

The novel is praised libertarian circles, and is controversial to many others, because Rand presents the idea of the total failure of government coercion – which is part her philosophy, objectivism. She advocated for “rational selfishness”.

I will not further elaborate on her philosophy here and now, but I certainly recommend this novel. By all means, explore Ayn Rand and her works, that might change your whole view on world and society.

Answer to Quiz 59:5

Which are the four grand slam tournaments in tennis?

Wimbledon in London, French Open in Paris, US Open in Forest Hills, and Australian Open in Melbourne.

@Lixten knew this as well, and had three right answers this time.

Answer to Quiz 59:6

A very expensive spice is sometimes replaced with ground (and much cheaper) tonka beans - which are sold as the genuine thing. What spice is the genuine thing? It's the second most expensive spice, surpassed in price only by saffron.

We are talking about vanilla; that is to say genuine vanilla.

Since genuine vanilla is so expensive, synthetic vanilla are mostly used instead. But ground tonka beans are sometimes sold as genuine vanilla.

Read more about vanilla in The Three Most Expensive Spices.

Answer to Quiz 59:7

Which famous Spanish author did take part in the Battle of Lepanto, and for which classical novel is he best known?

Miguel de Cervantes, who injured and lost his left hand in the battle of Lepanto, wrote “Don Quijote”, one of the most important novels ever written. A true classic.

@Duvinca provided a correct answer.

And now some new exercises for brain & memory...

Quiz 60:1

Cats of a certain colour have better health than other cats - and on an average, they live longer. Which colour (of cats) are we talking about?

Quiz 60:2

Notung is a magic sword in an old myth. One thing it was used for, was for the hero to kill a dragon. Who was the hero and the dragon?

A little clue: This myth is the theme in a famous opera cycle, and as well sword as dragon appear there.

Quiz 60:3

Flags with three coloured stripes (equally sized stripes in three different colours), horizontally or vertically, normally symbolise republics. However, there are three European monarchies with such flags (there are historical reasons for that). Which three monarchies are we talking about?

Quiz 60:4

If you make a double Salchow, which sport are you practising?

Quiz 60:5

Who was the legendary Red Baron, and for what is he famous?

Quiz 60:6

Which are the six elements considered as noble gases?

You'll find answers and solutions in the next “Quizzes & Puzzles”.

Quizzes & Puzzles has its own label in my Index, where all issues of the series can be found.

In my INDEX, you can find all my writings on Read.Cash, sorted by topic

Copyright © 2022 Meleonymica/Mictorrani. All Rights Reserved

(Cartoon by Christian Dorn/Pixabay, CC0/Public Domain.)

Read also the most recent ”Suggested Reading”: Suggested Reading 34.