Quizzes & Puzzles 9

Some new problems with which to exercise the brain. But first a look at answers and solutions to Quizzes & Puzzles 8. New problems below the image.

Answer to Quiz 8:1

“Which now existing terrestrial animal has the largest eyes in the animal kingdom?”

The answer is the ostrich. You can read more about animals with large eyes in The Most Powerful Eyes.

The first right answer came from @MD_Tibro. @Adobe101 also suggested it.

Answer to Quiz 8:2

“One Roman emperor is most known under his nickname, which means "little boot"; who was his father?”

This is a question in two steps.

"Little boot" was Caligula, from caliga, soldier's boot. He was Roman Emperor 37-41 AD, and is known as one of the most cruel and perverted Roman emperors. Caligula was a nickname, his real name was Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus.

His father was Roman general Germanicus Julius Caesar, the adopted son of Emperor Tiberius.

Answer to Quiz 8:3

“Which powerful Germanic tribe during the great migration in Europe got its name from a certain growth of hair? A form of their name is sometimes still associated with banking.

They founded a mighty kingdom in present day Italy, and their name still survives in the name of an Italian region.“

It was the Langobards, also known as Lombards. Langobard means "long beard". Originally from Southern Sweden in Scandinavia (probably), they migrated through Europe and ended up founding a powerful kingdom in present day Italy.

The association with banking is "Lombard banking", pawn shops, which as far as is known were originating in Lombardy in Northern Italy. Some cities still today has a Lombard Street, originally a banking street or a pawn shop street.

Answer to Problem 8:4

“Referring to my recent article “Symmetry”, can you classify the figure above regarding reflection symmetry, rotation symmetry and chirality?“

Reflection symmetry – no.

Rotation symmetry – yes.

Chirality – yes.

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

Quiz 9:1

One of the most well known knights of world literature, probably THE most well known, a figure being a bit ridiculous, stems from a place also being known for the cultivation of a certain spice.

3 questions: What spice? What knight? What place?

Quiz 9:2

What material, according to old Chinese lore, is the petrification of the soul of a dead Tiger?

In some other traditions, the material has been associated with tears or sunshine.

Quiz 9:3

Which colour pigment was originally made from a substance secreted by cuttlefish? Now made synthetically, the colour is still called the same.

Symmetry problem 9:4

Let's take one more symmetry puzzle. Try to classify this figure regarding reflection symmetry, rotation symmetry and chirality. (For an explanation of these terms, see Symmetry, Asymmetry, Chirality.)

One of these quotes is a clue.

“[...] out of love of symmetry, just as people put two vases above a fireplace.”

(Guy de Maupassant, Bel-Ami)

“Don't confuse symmetry with balance.”

(Tom Robbins, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues)

“If you look at music, you see theme, variation, you see symmetry, asymmetry, you see structure, and these are related to skills in the real world.”

(Dave Van Ronk)

“Our notion of symmetry is derived form the human face. Hence, we demand symmetry horizontally and in breadth only, not vertically nor in depth.”

(Blaise Pascal)

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

Quizzes & Puzzles has now 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.

(Images of the two symmetry problems are mine: Copyright © Meleonymica. All Rights Reserved.

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