Cryptic Clues: World Capitals Trivia Quiz

Answer: Canberra

Canberra, population over 300,000, capital of Australia since 1908. "Is able to stand a" is synonymous with "Can bear a." The word "loud" indicates some homophonic wordplay is at work here. So figure "can bear a" sounds (roughly) like CANBERRA. Yes, I know the emphasis is on the first syllable, and the E isn't just like the sound in "bear," but please, "bear" with me. Give me some cryptic-creator's license, huh?

Answer: Ottawa

Ottawa, the capital of Canada, population over 316,000. Interesting fact: the city was originally called Bytown, but it was later renamed after the Ottawa, an Algonquin-speaking tribe. "Drunken" is an indicator of amagrams. Rearrange "two at a" and you get OTTAWA, a North American capital city. Simple, no?

Answer: Harare

Harare is the capital of Zimbabwe. Known as Salisbury in the bad old colonial days, it has a population of over 1.5 million. "Rabbit" = HARE. "Takes a" is a container indicator, meaning you insert something into that word. "A right" = A R. So you get HAR (A R.) E, the capital city.

Answer: London

London, capital of Great Britain, began as a Roman fort called Londinium. Greater London, including the 32 boroughs, has a population of around 6.5 million. Hyde Park, Big Ben, and many first-class museums grace London. As for the clue: "Fifty" = L, the Roman numeral. "No, go back" means reverse "no" to get ON. "500" means D, the Roman numeral. "Running" is a synonym for ON, as in the TV set is on. So you get L + ON + D + ON.

Answer: Paris

Paris, capital of France, was a fishing town when it was conquered by Julius Ceasar in 52 BC (as every Asterix fan knows). I've been a few times and Paris truly is a city it seems impossible to get tired of. Now, this is a tricky clue. "Is average" = IS PAR. "Just the reverse" means the other way around --- "is par" becomes "PAR IS."

Answer: Lima

Lima, Peru, was founded in 1535 by the explorer Pizarro. it's the second-oldest city in South America. This clue should seem simple enough. "Bent, folded and mutilated" is (a rather over-the-top) indicator of an anagram. Rearrange "mail" to get LIMA. Hey presto.

Answer: Riga

Riga, the capital of Latvia, was founded as a monastery in 1190, though it existed as a village before this. It was the capital of the Latvian SSR and remained the capital when Latvia became independent in 1991. This is a "hidden" clue. The word "inside" lets you know that the answer is found, literally, in the clue itself. Needing shelte(R, I GA)sped...

Answer: Warsaw

Warsaw, capital of Poland. It was a fortified castle in the 13th century, and was the capital of the duchy of Masovia, which later became part of Poland. Warsaw replaced Krakow as Poland's capital after Krakow suffered a great fire. This clue is slightly tricky. "Returning" should suggest a reversal. "I was raw" thus becomes WAR SAW I.

Then, "and I left" means take the "I" out. You get WAR SAW.

Answer: Havana

Havana, capital of Cuba, population 2.2 million. The original Hava was founded in 1515 by Spanish explorer Diego de Velazquez, but the settlement was moved to its current location in 1519. The clue: "Have a banana" is the phrase that you take "only the ends" of. Removing the middle five letters and keeping the three on each side you get HAV (e a ban) ANA = HAV + ANA.

Answer: Rabat

Rabat, capital of Morocco, a port on the Atlantic ocean since ancient times. The city was the capital of Morocco when it was a French protectorate, and when Morocco gained independence in 1956 Rabat remained the capital. This is a straightforward charades clue. "A sun god" = RA, the Egyptian god of the sun. And "a flying vampiric creature" = BAT. Sure, very few bats are vampiric --- but some are, so the clue's valid.

Besides, it sounds cooler. Well, that's it. Hope you enjoyed the quiz!