Fractured Means of Getting Around Quiz

Answer: Automobile

The good old automobile, a powered motor vehicle now choking city streets everywhere, has been around since 1886 when German inventor Karl Benz gave the world the Benz Patent-Motorwagen. It would be American inventor Henry Ford, however, who gave us the first mass produced motor vehicle, cheap enough to enable the man in the street to purchase. What will the world of tomorrow bring to assist Mr and Mrs Average to get from here to there?

Answer: Hackney carriage

The hackney carriage has been around for centuries. These horse drawn vehicles for hire first began to appear in the 11th century in London, England. By the 17th century, drivers were required by law to own a licence to operate same. The modern version of the hackney carriage or the hansom cab or other vehicles for hire, all for the same purpose but under various names, has evolved into the taxi cab.

Answer: Aeroplane

An aeroplane is a powered fixed-wing air transportation vehicle that appears to stay up in the sky almost miraculously. It's all about thrust, lift and aerodynamics though, descriptions I'm not even remotely interested in, as I'm terrified of being in one. Hot air balloon, no problem, helicopter even, but not those closed in boxes filled with people who can go insane at a moment's notice. Planes, as they're commonly known, those menacing shadows in the sky, have grown bigger, faster and more powerful over the years.

This has led us eventually to craft that now have the ability to zoom up through our atmosphere and out into the huge universe beyond. No thank you. "Star Trek" is my idea of space flight.

Answer: Elephant

Poor old elephants, those majestic beasts of the bush and forest, so beautiful in their stateliness, have been either hunted to semi-extinction by man, or trapped and trained to become creatures of transport, half-starved working beasts of burden, or made into caricatures of their majesty by being used, more or less, as circus clowns.

It's heartbreaking. An elephant looked at me once. I could swear it was weeping.

Answer: Bicycle

"Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, dooooo". Bicycles have been with us since the 19th century, a method of transportation thoroughly approved of by this quiz writer. They are self-powered creations, thereby providing much exercise in a world that's growing fatter and fatter by the year, they're clean and don't harm the environment in any way, they cost hardly anything to run beyond a few repairs and new tyres now and then, they're quiet, they're a faster means of getting around than shank's pony, and it doesn't matter to their owners one bit if there is a petrol shortage or a public transportation strike. What more can you ask? There are even bikes designed now to enable families to move around as one, with mum and dad pedalling away in the front and the kids or grandma riding in semi-comfort in little cart like devices at the back. Grandpa's in a wheelchair, you say? Why, fasten the gent's chair onto the bike, strap him into his chair with a seat belt, and then give him the thrill of his life as he's towed along behind as well.

Answer: Perambulator

Perambulators, or prams as they're commonly called, are a common sight in western countries. These are little self contained transportation devices into which a baby is securely placed, usually with containers at the back or underneath the pram for storage of nappies or milk bottles and such.

This allows the parent to push the baby around, gives the parent a lot more freedom of movement, and is far less tiring than toting Bubs about on one hip. An added bonus is that the soothing motion of being pushed, while snug as a bug in a rug, usually sends the baby off into peaceful, non-bellowing, sleep.

They even have prams these days that are so streamlined in design that Mum can go for a jog, pushing the somewhat alarmed individual contained within at top speed along in front of her. And jogging prams designed to carry twins as well. My daughter had one for her twins, and off she'd go every day, galloping along behind the pram, with faint wails of despair from the twins fading further and further away into the blissful distance.

Answer: Donkey

The little donkey has been used for millennia as a beast of burden and a means of transport, particularly so in Egypt, the Middle East, Africa and other undeveloped countries. He's a gallant little beast with a heart as big as a lion, and often terribly overworked and cruelly treated by his owners. To this little four-legged hero went the greatest honour of all, for the role he played in carrying the forthcoming mother of Jesus to Bethlehem.

Answer: Skating

Skates have been around a long time. These secure boots with either blades or small wheels attached to their base first sprang into being in colder countries as a means of travelling across surfaces frozen over in winter. Initially made by simply strapping animal bones to the feet with leather straps, skates are extremely sophisticated pieces of manufactured equipment today - with prices to match.

They are mostly used now for recreation purposes, or for the lovely skill of figure skating and various sports skating events.

Answer: Paddle Steamer

Wouldn't you just love to go for a trip in one of those old gracious steam-powered paddle steamers that were once so frequent a sight on large rivers? The power of the steam drives the large blades attached to the spinning wheels on either side of these vessels. Well, to be more accurate, the steam powers the wheels that power the blades attached to the wheels attached to the boat that Jack built.

These lovely old boats were once regularly used to transport goods and people between various river ports. First mentioned in literature dating back to the fifth century, various forms of manually or animal propelled paddle boats were used for the next several hundred years.

In 1774, however, the first steam powered one was built in France by the Marquis Claude de Jouffroy. No doubt he would have gone on to improve his invention even further, but the French Revolution stopped his trot.

A start had been made though, and, within another fifty years, those gracious boats, so much a part of romantic literature became a common sight everywhere in western countries. ("Why, Colonel Fitzwilliam, sir, I do declare you're making me blush with your steamy remarks")

Answer: Camel

Camels, which always remind me of one of our Prime Ministers, were first domesticated in Arabia and Somalia about five thousand years ago. They are the miraculous motor vehicles of the desert, and an incredibly valuable sources of income and sustenance for nomadic peoples of the world even today.

Their milk is used to make yoghurt, butter and cheese, their meat is used in various nourishing meals, and their hair and their hides are utilised to make various products as well. All that, in addition to their work as a beast of burden and sport. Even their blood can be consumed. (Oh I feel ill. Take me to the nearest hospital. Yes, by camel is fine. If I get thirsty along the way, I'll bump off the dromedary).