Colourful Connections Trivia Quiz

Answer: pink

Inspector Jacques Clouseau is one of the main characters in Blake Edwards' 1963 film "The Pink Panther" and its sequels. This hilariously inept French police detective - conceived as a parody of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot - was originally portrayed by Peter Sellers. The titular Pink Panther is a priceless pink diamond with a flaw in its centre that resembles a leaping panther.

Answer: pink

Dianthus plumarius is the binomial name of the common or garden pink, a flowering plant in the carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) native to Central Europe. The name of the colour pink is believed to have originated from the name of these flowers - which refers to the frilled edge of their petals (as in "pinking shears").

Answer: pink

The phrase "in the pink" means in excellent health, at the peak of physical condition. However, it is not related to pink as a colour. In fact, the first recorded use of this expression can be found in William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet" (1597), when Mercutio says "I am the pinke of courtesie" - in which "pinke means "peak (of perfection)".

The phrase's current meaning dates from the early 20th century.

Answer: pink

Another common idiomatic phrase, "seeing pink elephants" is a euphemism for the hallucinations caused by excessive consumption of alcohol. In the 19th century and earlier, these hallucinations were usually described as involving snakes, while elephants and other large animals (pink or in other vivid colours) became the norm starting from the early 20th century.

Answer: orange

One of the most iconic British food products, orange marmalade on toast is an essential component of breakfast in many households in the British Isles. This thick, aromatic preserve is made from the juice and peel of bitter (Seville) oranges boiled with sugar and water, and has a beautiful, deep orange colour. Marmalade can be made from other citrus fruits, but the one made with Seville oranges is by far the most popular.

Answer: orange

Stanley Kubrick's dystopian crime film "A Clockwork Orange" (1971) is an adaptation of the 1962 novel of the same title by Anthony Burgess. Very controversial upon release because of its depictions of sex and violence, the film - starring Malcolm McDowell as young delinquent Alex DeLarge - has become a cult classic.

The title is a metaphor for a person who is organic on the outside (like an orange), but mechanical on the inside.

Answer: orange

Orange is the national colour of the Netherlands, stemming from the name of its royal house, the House of Orange-Nassau. This name, however, bears no relation to the colour: in fact, it comes from the Principality of Orange in southern France, whose name derives from the Gaulish "Arausio". Orange is also the colour adopted by Protestants in Northern Ireland as a homage to William of Orange, who became King William III of England, Ireland and Scotland in 1689.

Answer: orange

Carotenes are unsaturated hydrocarbon pigments mainly found in plants. As their name implies, they are responsible for the bright orange colour of carrots and other fruits, vegetables and fungi (such as oranges, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and cantaloupe melons) - as well as the orange colour of autumn leaves.

They are also used as food additives to impart a deep yellow or orange tint to various foods.

Answer: purple

Bolinus brandaris is a species of predatory sea snail native to the Mediterranean Sea. It is known as spiny dye-murex because it was the source of the Tyrian purple dye, associated in antiquity with wealth and imperial power. The city of Tyre in Phoenicia (present-day Lebanon) was the centre of the production of this dye, highly prized for its durability as well as its rich purple-red colour.

Answer: purple

With its unmistakable guitar riff, "Smoke on the Water" is English hard rock band Deep Purple's signature song. Released in 1972, the song chronicles the events that led to the recording of the band's iconic album "Machine Head". Deep Purple formed in 1967: their name comes from a 1933 song by American pianist Peter DeRose.

Answer: purple

Amethyst is a transparent variety of quartz (silicon dioxide) that comes in various shades of purple and violet. Its name comes from the Greek "amethystos", meaning "not intoxicated" - as the stone was believed to protect its owner from drunkenness. Amethyst is a semiprecious gemstone, widely employed in the making of jewelry and other ornaments.

Answer: purple

The Purple Heart is a military decoration awarded in the name of the President of the USA to those who have been wounded or killed while serving in the military. The award was originally created by George Washington in 1782: the first president's profile appears on the obverse of the purple-and-gold, heart-shaped medal that hangs from a wide, purple-and-white striped ribbon.

Answer: brown

"Brown-Eyed Girl" is probably the best-known song by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released in June 1967, reaching number ten of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Originally titled "Brown-Skinned Girl", this nostalgic, romantic song about a former love has been covered a number of times, and has also been featured in several films.

Answer: brown

UPS (United Parcel Service) is a shipping and delivery company founded in 1907, whose uniforms and trucks are a shade of dark brown called Pullman brown, from the colour of the rail cars built by the Pullman Company. UPS often refers to itself as "Brown" - a colour which is frequently associated with competence and reliability.

Answer: brown

The idiomatic expression "to brown bag" means to bring one's midday meal from home to eat while at work or school. Its origins lie in the common practice of using a brown paper bag to carry the food. The expression, which was first recorded in English in the late 1950s, may also refer to bringing a bottle of liquor to a restaurant or club that has no license.

Answer: brown

The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is one of the largest bear species, found in many regions of the Northern Hemisphere - particularly in northwestern North America, Northern Europe and northern Asia. Like most other bears except the polar bear, it is omnivorous, and prefers forested habitats. Though potentially dangerous to humans, the brown bear is an iconic animal often featured in folklore, mythology, art and literature.