April in Paris Trivia Quiz

Answer: April

In the Northern hemisphere, April is in spring and lends its name to the saying 'April showers brings May flowers'. In the Southern hemisphere, the month occurs in autumn and often brings lovely long warm days known as an 'Indian Summer'. It is also a girl's name that was particularly popular in the late 1970s.

Answer: Avril

April > Avril

Avril is the French version of the English girl's name April, or the Spanish version, Abril; Children's Day is celebrated in Spain in April. The Jewish observance of Passover falls in April, as does Arbor Day in the USA. The origin of the name is uncertain, but it may be related to the Latin word for open (as in the opening of flower buds). In the USA, Independence Day is held in April. Joking, April Fool!

Answer: Avail

Avril > Avail

The word 'avail' means to take advantage of something; if you avail yourself of a benefit or an opportunity, you use that benefit or opportunity. Around 1300, the first version of the word 'avail' was recorded; 'availen' meaning 'to help, assist or benefit (someone)', most likely came from an Anglo-French compound of Old French a (to) + vaill (the root of valoir), ultimately stemming from the Latin 'valere' 'be strong'.

Answer: Avais

Avail > Avais

The imperfect past of the infinite 'avoir' (to have) is 'avais.' An imperfect verb form is one that combines the past tense and the imperfective aspect - for example in this case, j'avais (I was having); tu avais (you were having) or il avait (he was having).

Answer: Acais

Avais > Acais

While the fruit of acai trees is often referred to as a berry, it's really a drupe, as it has a stone in the centre. While it has been used for thousands of years to support the immune system, fight infection, and aid heart health in its native Central and South America, its health benefits have only recently been recognised by the rest of the world and included more widely in western diets.

Answer: Acris

Acais > Acris

The Acris, or cricket frogs, have a wide habitat, as they are found in the 'Nearctic' realm, which covers most of the highlands of Mexico, as well as Central Florida, the rest of North America, and Greenland. In the contiguous United States, cricket frogs can be found from Texas in the west to Virginia in the east. Because they are found in such a wide area, they are able to exist in many conditions, including arid regions and forests, as well as grasslands.

First noted in 1712, the word 'acrid' comes from the Latin 'acer' or 'acris', meaning 'sharp to the senses, pungent, bitter; eager, or fierce'.

Answer: Auris

Acris > Auris

'Auris' can mean several things; it's a genus of snail; the name of the first ocean-going merchant ship powered by a gas turbine; a model of car produced by Toyota; and the external ear (auricle). The outer ear, the visible part of the ear that is on the outside, is made up of cartilage and skin. The auris can also be known as the 'pinna'.

Answer: Puris

Auris > Puris

Originating from the Indian subcontinent, and sometimes spelled 'pooris', these yummy deep-fried breads are made from unleavened whole-wheat flour. When the dough is dropped into hot oil, it puffs up immediately. In Karnataka, a state in the southwest region of India, semolina is sometimes added to the puri dough to encourage the 'puff' to last longer. Puris are often served with korma, chutney, or masala.

Answer: Purls

Puris > Purls

A knitter who purls is one who is putting the needle in from the right, or top, of the stitch, creating a textured, bumpy stitch. Putting the needle in from the bottom (left) creates a plain stitch, which has a V shape.

If the knitter purls every stitch on every row, garter stitch is created, which is identified by alternately raised and flat rows. However, knitting alternate rows of purl and plain stitches creates stocking stitch, which is entirely flat on one side and bumpy on the other.

Of course, putting the wool over the needles in the right direction is important too, but that's interesting information for another question!

Answer: Burls

Purls > Burls

Although burls (or burrs in the U.K.) are actually a deformity in a tree's growth, usually caused by a stressor of some sort, they lend themselves to the creation of uniquely grained and interesting crafted pieces for woodturners and carpenters. The stressor can be an insect or fungal infestation, or a parasitic mistletoe; these can cause undeveloped bud tissue to build up, creating the characteristic bulge.

Sometimes trees with burls lend themselves to novelty use, like the one on Magnetic Island in Queensland Australia. Its burls have had a bikini painted on them, and the tree has been a tourist attraction for many years (at least 50 that I can attest to!)

Answer: Buris

Burls > Buris

Both the Romans and the Greeks used a variation on the plough to dig up ground in preparation for planting. The curved plough beam (buris) connected the yoke to the business end of the plough. The Greek poet Hesiod refers to the parts of a plough, stating it "consist(s) of the yunc (buris, bura, plough-tail), to be made of a bent piece of ilex..." Ilex is a holly tree. The Roman Virgil also refers to the buris, and suggests it be made of elm.

Answer: Burns

Buris > Burns

Classified from first degree to third degree, burns can be caused by a number things, from exposure to steam, sun, chemicals, fire or even ice. First degree burns, indicated by red, non-blistered skin, can be treated by putting the affected area in cool water, using an antibiotic cream covered loosely by gauze and taking painkillers.

After the Bali bombings in 2002, Australian Professor Fiona Wood used her expertise to save twenty-eight people suffering up to ninety-two per cent body burns, using her invention of 'spray-on skin', created from the patient's own skin cells, to create a new layer of healthy skin.

Answer: Barns

Burns > Barns

While the first use of the word 'barn' predates the 12th century, the concept was around much earlier. 'Barn' comes from the Old English word 'bereærn,' meaning a barley house or store. A tithe barn was a type of communal barn used in the middle ages for storing the rents and tithes (a tenth of a farm's produce given to the church). Conversions of disused barns into dwellings are a popular way to repurpose some lovely old edifices.

Answer: Bares

Barns > Bares

The word 'bare' comes from the Old English 'bær', meaning 'naked, uncovered, or unclothed.' 'Bares' is the third-person singular simple present indicative form of bare. It can also mean dispensing with anything additional, superfluous, or ornamental. 'To bare one's teeth' is an idiom that means to display an angry, violent, or threatening reaction, in the manner of a threatened dog or wolf.

Answer: Pares

Bares > Pares

'Pares' means the act of removing the outside of something (as in peeling fruit), or eliminating excess, such as clipping finger nails. It's an old word, dating back to around the 13th century.

A current trend is a pared-back lifestyle, when a minimalist approach is taken, enabling one to concentrate on the essentials of life. This is achieved by decluttering and only having possessions that bring joy.

Answer: Paris

Pares > Paris

The exciting and vibrant city of Paris has a long and rich history. While the kernel of the city was small centuries ago when the Romans occupied it, it grew steadily and gradually enveloped surrounding boroughs to achieve its well deserved reputation as a diverse and sophisticated city. The Seine River flows for round 13 km (8 miles) through the centre of the city, and 10 of the 20 municipal districts (called arrondissements) of which Paris is made up.