Animal Connections #5 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Elephant

A white elephant is an essentially useless item to own whose maintenance and upkeep far outweighs any utility. White elephants were regarded as sacred and kept by the King of Thailand in earlier times. According to popular tales, the king would give these to any ministers who had displeased him with the burden of looking after them being sufficient punishment.

Answer: Wolf

A werewolf is a mythical beast in many cultures. While a normal human being at most times, it would turn into a wolf on full moon nights. In the popular "Twilight" series of books, Jacob, one of Bella's suitors, is a werewolf.

Answer: Cow

The idiom 'sacred cow' is similar to 'holy cow'. It refers to any custom, idea or person who is considered to be above criticism. This is especially true in authoritarian regimes where the ruler brooks no criticism of his directives. The term is believed to have originated in the Hindu religion where cows are revered.

Answer: Pony

The idiom one-trick pony has a negative connotation. It implies that the person is capable of only doing a particular task or has only one skill. The term is believed to have its origins in the circus where it was used to describe an animal that could only do one trick and was therefore not very useful.

Answer: Hog

A road hog is defined as a driver who doesn't stick to his own lane and takes up most of the road preventing other drivers from being able to overtake or drive comfortably. It can also mean an aggressive driver prone to road rage.

Answer: Calf

The term fatted calf is used to describe a feast prepared in honour of someone's return after a long absence. The expression originated in the Bible. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus narrates the parable of the Prodigal Son. A younger son takes his share of inheritance, leaves his father's house and squanders it. Rendered destitute, he returns to the father hoping to be allowed to stay there as a servant.

Instead the father welcomes him with open arms and orders a fatted calf to be killed and a lavish feast prepared in honour of his son's return.

The parable was used to demonstrate God's welcoming with open arms all those who have sinned and turned away but are willing to return.

Answer: Bull

The papal bull is any formal decree or letter issued by the Pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church. The bull refers to the seal that was put on the letter as a mark of authenticity.

Answer: Horse

A clothes horse can mean an actual wooden stand on which clothes are hanged to dry. It is also used to describe fashion models or other people who like to dress according to the latest styles.

Answer: Bunny

A dust bunny is a small ball of dust, usually found under pieces of furniture. Apart from dust, they may also consist of hair and lint. In Hungary, the term used is porcica which means dust kitten.

Answer: Cat

Scaredy-cat or fraidy-cat both refer to a timid person who is easily scared. Fraidy-cat is considered the older of the two, with first usage traced back to the late 19th century. Fraid is postulated as being the way afraid was pronounced in Africa and the West Indies giving rise to this term.

The cat refers to the tendency of animals to scatter when there is a large sound or any other fearsome activity.