Mixed Bag Trivia Quiz

Answer: Needle

This is a synonym of the transitive verb form of needle. Historically the word means to sew. The 'tease' meaning perhaps comes from the effect of poking someone with a needle.

Answer: Needle

This is a reference to the Space Needle in Seattle, USA. Built as an observation tower for the 1962 World's Fair which was held in Seattle, it is a tourist attraction. The observation platform is accessible with tickets and bookings.

Answer: Needle

Needles come in all shapes and sizes with a range of uses in such as areas as medicine and machines (for example, gauges in cars). Sewing fabric was an early use and crochet needles or hooks fall into this area. The crochet needle has a hook used to make loops in thread or yarn and to form crochet stitches.

Answer: Needle

The adult leaves of conifers such as pine trees are called needles. They are typically bundled in clusters called fascicles. A tea can be made from steeping young pine needles in hot water.

Answer: Match

Games of certain sports such as tennis are usually referred to as matches. In the case of tennis, it could be seen as a series of contests where the match is the overall contest, hence the expression 'game, set and match'.

Answer: Match

The word 'match', either as a noun or a verb, can refer to something or someone being of equal status. This could be in a competitive situation or referring to compatibility, for example, for a marriage or a set of curtains with the wall decor.

Answer: Match

Match fixing is the typically illegal practice of playing to a pre-determined result such as losing. This is normally tied to bets made in anticipation of that result. Normally it involves a player or a referee breaking the rules of the game, if not the law. Money is often involved but it might be to gain easier competition in the next round, ensuring replays (and hence more ticket sales) or even as a protest action (such as the 2002 association football match in Madagascar where the score was a record-making 149-0).

Answer: Match

One of the main uses for matches is to start a fire. It seems a bit strange to label them safety matches, however such matches can only be successfully struck against a particular kind of surface. The safety was therefore achieved by separating the reactive components.

The safety match also removed white phosphorus from the mix which reduced bone disorders such as phossy jaw. There use to be enough white phosphorus in a box of matches to kill a person.

Answer: Jack

Sometimes written as "Spratt". This is a reference to the English nursery rhyme which has been around since at least the mid-17th century. One version is:

Jack Sprat could eat no fat,
His wife could eat no lean.
And so between them both, you see,
They licked the platter clean.

Answer: Jack

Originally referring to seamen in the Royal Navy or British Merchant Navy, it also now applies to US Navy seamen. The origins of the name are disputed and it maybe that the 'Jack' part was a generic name for a man, similar to the placeholder names John Doe and Jane Doe. The 'Tar" part may be due to the extensive use of tar during the era of wooden sailing ships.

Answer: Jack

The national flag of the United Kingdom is known as the Union Jack or Union Flag. It dates back to the beginning of the 17th century when King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England, Scotland and Ireland. The present flag (in use since 1801) is a combination of the flags of the three nations. There are no Welsh symbols in the flag although Wales forms part of the Union.

Answer: Jack

An adult male donkey is known as a jack or jackass. Jenny or jennet is the name given to an adult female donkey. The donkey or ass is a member of the horse family, which is mostly used as a pack animal or a pet. Its scientific name is Equus africanus asinus or Equus asinus, depending on whether it is considered a sub-species of the wild ass or not.