Absurd! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Farcical

Taking the first letters of the eight words, 'flying around Rwanda, Cook Islands, Cyprus and Liechtenstein' leads to the eight letter word 'farcical', which is a synonym for absurd.

Farcical is defined as resembling a farce, which is an absurd event. It is a sixteenth century word which comes from the French 'farcir' meaning to stuff. It was a metaphorical use of the word to refer to comic interludes inserted, or stuffed, into religious plays.

The philosopher, Karl Marx (1818-1883), wrote, 'History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce' in "The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte".

Answer: Ridiculous

You sounds like the letter U. Rearranging the nine letters from Iris and cloud with U gives the ten letter word, ridiculous, which is another word meaning absurd.

Ridiculous is defined as inviting ridicule. It is a sixteenth century word, which is derived from the Latin 'ridiculus' meaning laughable.

The Roman senator, Marcus Porcius Cato (234-149BC), known as Cato the Elder, said, 'Those who are serious in ridiculous matters will be ridiculous in serious matters'.

Answer: Crazy

To sob is to cry. The ends of the alphabet are A and Z. Putting the three letters of cry around the two letters A and Z gives the five letter answer, crazy, which is a word which could mean absurd.

Crazy means crazed, or full of cracks, and is used of something absurdly out of place. It is a middle English word with possible Scandinavian origins.

'Being crazy isn't enough', was said by Dr. Seuss (1904-1991), the author of many books for children.

Answer: Irrational

An allocated portion is a six letter word, ration. Four alternate letters from 'tier tally' are 'i r a l'. Putting ration into the middle of those letters leads to the ten letter word, irrational, which is another word which could be used in place of absurd.

Irrational is the opposite of rational, and means unreasonable or illogical. It is derived through middle English from the Latin 'rationalis', which means possessing reason.

In "Brave New World", Aldous Huxley (1894-1963) wrote, 'Human beings act in a great variety of irrational ways, but all of them seem to be capable, if given a fair chance, of making a reasonable choice in the light of available evidence.'

Answer: Ludicrous

Making an anagram from the four letters of ludo and the first five letters of cruise, because it is end-less, leads to the nine letter word, ludicrous - another synonym for absurd.

Ludicrous is defined as absurd or ridiculous. It is a seventeenth century word, which is probably derived from the Latin 'ludicrum' meaning a stage play.

The actor, Johnny Depp (born 1963), said, 'There are times when you see how ridiculous is this life, how ludicrous it is, you know, leaving your house every morning and being followed by paparazzi.'

Answer: Asinine

Hide means that the answer is to be found in the following words of the clue; but returning means that it will be backwards. Using the last two letters of when, all of in, and the first three letters of Isabella gives eninisa, which can be reversed to make the seven letter answer, asinine. That is another word which means absurd.

Asinine is defined as extremely stupid. It is a fifteenth century word which comes from the Latin 'asinus' meaning ass.

'Trying to be fascinating is an asinine position to be in', was said by the actress, Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003).

Answer: Nonsensical

Northern is N. Silicon is Si. Calcium is Ca. Left is L. Rearranging those six letters with the five letters in neons leads to the eleven letter word, nonsensical, which is another word meaning absurd.

Nonsensical is an adjective derived from the noun, nonsense, which is defined as foolish or unacceptable behaviour, or an absurd or unthinkable situation. The word is made from not, and sense, which comes through middle English from the Latin 'sentire' meaning to feel.

The German poet, Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel (1772-1829), wrote, 'Strictly speaking, the idea of a scientific poem is probably as nonsensical as that of a poetic science.'

Answer: Foolish

Loud is f, for forte in music. The rings are OO, from the shape of the letters. Fifty-one is LI in Roman numerals. Sh means quiet. Putting those seven letters all together gives foolish, which is another word for absurd.

Foolish is defined as lacking good sense or judgement. The word comes through middle English and old French from the Latin 'follis' meaning windbag, and was used to describe an empty-headed person.

The martial artist, Bruce Lee (1940-1973), said, 'A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.'

Answer: Stupid

Looking inside means that the six letter answer will be inside some of the following words. The last two letters of list, both letters in up, and the first two letters of ideally make the six letter word, stupid. That is another word which could be used in place of absurd.

Stupid is defined as dazed an unable to think clearly. It is a sixteenth century word which comes from the French 'stupide' meaning amazed or stunned.

'Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former', was said by the physicist, Albert Einstein (1879-1955).

Answer: Silly

The final letters of the five words after end make silly, which is another synonym for absurd.

Silly is defined as lacking in common sense. The word derives from a middle English word 'seely' meaning happy, which later took on the sense of feeble or unsophisticated, and later was understood as foolish.

The Greek philosopher, Diogenes (died 323BC), said, 'Man is the most intelligent of the animals - and the most silly.'