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Guilding the Stone - May Trivia Quiz

The Quiz Makers Guild monthly birthstones series reaches May - the emerald, according to the American Gem Society. This quiz features facts about the gemstone, and related imagery.

A multiple-choice quiz by darksplash. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
darksplash

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
307,845

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
8 / 15

Plays
836

Question 1 of 15

1. Ireland is known as 'The Emerald Isle', probably because of its lush and verdant scenery. This was immortalised in the song "40 Shades of Green". Who wrote that song? Hint

Johnny Cash

Percy French

Bono

Paul Brady

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Question 2 of 15

2. Emeralds have been prized for their beauty and value for thousands of years. In which of these countries (modern name) were the earliest emerald mines located? Hint

Turkey

Egypt

South Africa

India

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Question 3 of 15

3. Which of these Irish bands recorded a song called "Emerald"? Hint

The Dubliners

Thin Lizzy

The Corrs

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Question 4 of 15

4. Emeralds are OK, but diamonds are a girl's best friend - and they are more valuable.

True

False

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Question 5 of 15

5. To which of these philosophers was the first reference to emeralds in western literature attributed? Hint

Plato

Aristotle

Homer

Homer Simpson

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Question 6 of 15

6. Which of these stars wore her own emerald jewelry in some of her movies? Hint

Zsa Zsa Gabor

Marie Lloyd

Mary Pickford

Marlene Dietrich

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Question 7 of 15

7. In which of these European cities was the movie "Code Name: Emerald" set? Hint

Lisbon

Paris

Berlin

London

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Question 8 of 15

8. In 2001, one of the largest emeralds ever found was auctioned by Christie's of London for $2.2m. How tall was the 'Mogul Emerald'? Hint

8cm (c3.25 inches)

5.2cm (c2 inches)

15cm (c6 inches)

12cm (c4.7 inches)

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Question 9 of 15

9. Which of these goddesses was associated with the colour emerald? Hint

Veritas

Diana

Venus

Vesta

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Question 10 of 15

10. In 1879 a town called Emerald was established as a base for railway expansion. Where in the world was that? Hint

British Columbia, Canada

Yorkshire, England

Queensland, Australia

Ohio, USA

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Question 11 of 15

11. If you had celebrated your Emerald wedding anniversary, how long would you have been married? Hint

65 years

45 years

55 years

35 years

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Question 12 of 15

12. What route did travellers follow to arrive at the Emerald City? Hint

Ho Chi Minh Trail

Trans Saharan Salt Route

Route 66

Yellow Brick Road

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Question 13 of 15

13. In which of these TV dramas did the main characters drink in 'The Emerald City Bar'? Hint

Boston Public

House

Grey's Anatomy

St. Elsewhere

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Question 14 of 15

14. Of which part of the world were birds known as Emerald Toucanet native? Hint

Northern Australia

Southern Africa

West Indies

Central America

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Question 15 of 15

15. The Bahia Emerald was one of the largest ever found. In which of these countries was it discovered? Hint

Brazil

Russia

Canada

South Africa

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Ireland is known as 'The Emerald Isle', probably because of its lush and verdant scenery. This was immortalised in the song "40 Shades of Green". Who wrote that song?

Answer: Johnny Cash

This was probably one of the most hackneyed questions to appear on the Irish pub-quiz circuit. Countless new quizmasters thought it a clever trick question, only for it to be met with groans from experienced quizzers who had heard it a dozen times.
The story was that Johnny Cash was inspired to write the song on a tour of Ireland in the 1960s. While flying between gigs, he looked down to see a patchwork of fields all of varying shades of green.

2. Emeralds have been prized for their beauty and value for thousands of years. In which of these countries (modern name) were the earliest emerald mines located?

Answer: Egypt

The name emerald comes from the Sanskrit word "marakata," meaning "the green of growing things."
Records exist of emeralds being mined near Babylon in 4000BC. Egypt had a virtual monopoly of production in 'the old world' until at least the 16th century.

3. Which of these Irish bands recorded a song called "Emerald"?

Answer: Thin Lizzy

"Down from the glen came the marching men
With their shields and their swords
To fight the fight they believed to be right
Overthrow the overlords"
'Emerald' appeared on the 1983 live "Life" album. It was written by band members Brian Downey, Phil Lynott, and Scott Gorham, with Brian Robertson, who also played on the album.

4. Emeralds are OK, but diamonds are a girl's best friend - and they are more valuable.

Answer: False

Carat for carat, a good emerald can be worth two or three times as much as a diamond. [Source: www.jewelsforme.com/Emerald-History.asp]

5. To which of these philosophers was the first reference to emeralds in western literature attributed?

Answer: Aristotle

Aristotle wrote that owning an emerald "increases the owner's importance in presence and speech during business, gives victory in trials, helps settle litigation, and comforts and soothes eyesight". He added: "An emerald hung from the neck or worn in a ring will prevent the falling sickness (epilepsy). We, therefore, commend noblemen that it be hanged about the necks of their children that they fall not into this complaint." [www.jewelsforme.com/Emerald-History.asp]

6. Which of these stars wore her own emerald jewelry in some of her movies?

Answer: Marlene Dietrich

Dietrich had a collection and wore two emerald bracelets and and a clip brooch in many movies. Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Sharon Stone were all stars who were given emeralds by husbands or suitors.

7. In which of these European cities was the movie "Code Name: Emerald" set?

Answer: Paris

Ed Harris, Max von Sydow, Horst Buchholz and Helmut Berger starred in the 1985 movie about a WW2 American agent who had to ensure that a captured US officer did not disclose details of the forthcoming Normandy invasion.

8. In 2001, one of the largest emeralds ever found was auctioned by Christie's of London for $2.2m. How tall was the 'Mogul Emerald'?

Answer: 5.2cm (c2 inches)

The 'Mogul Emerald' dated from 1695 and weighed 217.80 carats. One side was inscribed with prayer texts, and engraved on the other were floral ornaments.

9. Which of these goddesses was associated with the colour emerald?

Answer: Venus

In ancient Rome, Venus was the goddess of beauty and love. Note: I know that Diana and Vesta are mythological goddesses

10. In 1879 a town called Emerald was established as a base for railway expansion. Where in the world was that?

Answer: Queensland, Australia

The town was named after 'Emerald Downs Hill', a verdant green hill located nearby. It was intended to be the base for the western railway. In more modern times, the town was marketed as the gateway to the Sapphire Gemfields, one of the largest sapphire producing areas in the southern hemisphere.

The area was also a centre for coal mining and agriculture and was famous for its production of sunflowers.

11. If you had celebrated your Emerald wedding anniversary, how long would you have been married?

Answer: 55 years

And if you were Canadian you would have received a message of good wishes from the Governor General.

12. What route did travellers follow to arrive at the Emerald City?

Answer: Yellow Brick Road

The Emerald City was the capital of the Land of Oz and lay at the end of the yellow brick road in the books by L. Frank Baum. It was first described in 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' (1900).

13. In which of these TV dramas did the main characters drink in 'The Emerald City Bar'?

Answer: Grey's Anatomy

'The Emerald City Bar' was also known as Joe's Bar in the hit medical drama that first aired on ABC on 2005. It was the story of a group of diverse medics working at a Seattle hospital.
"Emerald City" was just one of the nicknames that Seattle, Washington, was known by. It was selected as a result of a public competition in the 1980s.

14. Of which part of the world were birds known as Emerald Toucanet native?

Answer: Central America

The Emerald Toucanet was a brightly coloured member of the Toucan family and was indigenous to an area stretching from Mexico through Central America to Venezuela. They bred in humid forests and open woodlands.

15. The Bahia Emerald was one of the largest ever found. In which of these countries was it discovered?

Answer: Brazil

Weighing in at 185,000 carats (36kgs), the Bahia Emerald was found at the Carnaiba emerald mine in July 2001. In September 2008 it was reportedly stolen from a vault in Los Angeles County, California. At that time it had been valued at $370 million. It was subsequently recovered in Las Vegas, Nevada. The discovery prompted a legal dispute over ownership. [Sources include CNN.com, December 27, 2008]

Source: Author darksplash

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor LeoDaVinci before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Related Quizzes

This quiz is part of series Guilding The Stone - a QMG Series:

In 2009, the Quiz Makers Guild produced a monthly series of quizzes inspired by birthstones. Here they are, all neatly arranged together in their proper order!

  1. Guilding the Stone-January Average
  2. Guilding the Stone - March Tough
  3. Guilding the Stone - April Average
  4. Guilding the Stone - May Tough
  5. Guilding the Stone - June Tough
  6. Guilding the Stone: July Tough
  7. Guilding the Stone - August Average
  8. Guilding the Stone: September Average
  9. Guilding the Stone: October Average
  10. Guilding the Stones: November Average
  11. Guilding the Stones: December Average