Rainbow Selection (2) Trivia Quiz

Answer: Red

The Rhett in question is the fictional character Rhett Butler from the 1936 novel "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell and the 1939 film adaptation of the same name. The character was played by Clark Gable in the film. He is known for his quote in the film: "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn", his last words to his wife Scarlett O'Hara. Scarlet the colour is a shade of red.

Incidentally, the book version of the quote did not have the "Frankly".

Answer: Black

Coming from the Russian terms for black and earth, the black-coloured soil is considered to be a very fertile soil. It has high percentages of humus, phosphorus and ammonia compounds present. Found in two main regions, in the Canadian prairies and southwards as well as the Eurasian steppes.

It is not clear how the soil was developed however the soil's magnetism suggests that controlled burning of the landscape was involved.

Answer: Gold

There are many stories associated with the Phrygian king, one of which is that Midas was able to claim as a reward that anything he touched would be changed into gold. As this included things like his food and drink, he soon saw it as a curse. One version is that he was able to reverse the gift by washing in the river Pactolus which then became his family's source of wealth.

Another has him die of starvation due to being unable to eat.

Answer: Purple

Hard rock band Deep Purple was formed in London during 1968. Apart from an 8-year hiatus and with various band line-up changes (only drummer Ian Paice being the unchanging fixture), they have been active ever since. They have been linked together with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath as the British hard rock sound of the early 1970s.

Answer: Green

The comic book character Bruce Banner morphs into the green-coloured Hulk when he is subjected to emotional stress. The physicist Dr Bruce Banner suffered accidental exposure to gamma rays in this Marvel Comics creation, resulting in these periodic personality and physical changes. The relationship between the two personalities is complex with each having their own families.

Answer: Silver

This is a reference to the silver-coloured chemical element mercury rather than another mercury such as the planet, the car or the Roman god. Also known as quicksilver, it is liquid at room temperature and pressure. It most commonly occurs as the mineral cinnabar, which is red in colour and the source of the pigment vermillion. Mercury is toxic and causes erethism.

This was once an occupational hazard for hat makers, hence the term mad hatters disease.

Answer: White

This is a reference to the American writer E. B. White who wrote the 1952 children's book "Charlotte's Web". He wrote various popular children's books including "Stuart Little" (1945) and "The Trumpet of the Swan" (1970). Children's stories are only part of his legacy.

His career was in journalism initially followed by nearly six decades of writing for "The New Yorker" magazine. Together with essays, letters and articles, his whole works resulted in the award of a special Pulitzer Prize in 1978.

Answer: Blue

"Rhapsody in Blue" is a piano and jazz piece from 1924 by George Gershwin that is one of the defining pieces in the Jazz Age. It was orchestrated by Ferde Grofé who was the chief arranger of the band which commissioned the piece. Gershwin played the piano during the premier with the opening clarinet glissando first introduced by the clarinetist during rehearsals.

Answer: Pink

If you have read Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventure in Wonderland" (1865) or seen the 1951 Disney animated version, you will probably remember the flamingos being used as croquet mallets. In real life there are six species between African and the Americas with adult colouring ranging from light pink to bright red, depending on their diet. Pink is the colour normally associated with these wading birds.

Answer: Orange

Agent Orange is probably the best known code name given to a chemical herbicide and defoliant. This was used during the Vietnam War in the 1960s. There were in fact another five rainbow colours used (Agent White, Agent Green, etc) in this war by America.

The first use of what was effectively Agent Orange was by the British during the Malaysian Emergency (also called the Anti-British National Liberation War) in the 1950s.