Initial Letter Link 2 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Aries

Taking its name from the Latin for a ram, Aries is a constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is also the name of the first sign of the zodiac in astrology. The adjective ovine comes from the scientific name for the sheep, ovis aries.

Answer: Robespierre

Robespierre rose to power as a Jacobin leader during the French Revolution. When Louis XVI was forced to call the Estates General in 1789 he was elected to represent his home town, Arras. By 1793 he rose to be a key member of the Committee of Public Safety, which was responsible for the Reign of Terror.

But in 1794 it was Robespierre's turn to lose favour as the Revolution became ever more turbulent and he was arrested and guillotined at the age of 36.

Answer: Timex

In 1956 this slogan was used in an advertising campaign in which Timex watches were subjected to all sorts of maltreatment to show how resilient they were. The presenter uttering the line, John Cameron Swayze, who had been a newsreader and game show panellist, was a distant cousin of the actor Patrick Swayze.

Answer: HMS Pinafore

One of the most popular of the comic operas or operettas by Gilbert and Sullivan, "HMS Pinafore" dates from 1878. One of the funniest songs is sung by Sir Joseph Porter, First Lord of the Admiralty, who has actually never been to sea but has risen to power by dedication to minor duties in a range of offices. The song concludes with the advice:

"Stick close to your desks and never go to sea,
And you all may be rulers of the Queen's Navee!"

Answer: Elephant

A mahout usually inherits his role from his father as elephant keeping has generally been a family business. Usually the boy is trained with a single elephant and works with that animal for life.

Answer: Tennis

Born Margaret Smith, she won a total of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, more than any other woman, but only achieved the grand slam in a single year once.

In later life Margaret Court founded a Pentecostal Church and has become a controversial figure for outspoken statements against LGBT rights and especially against same sex marriage.

Answer: Pineapple

The word ananas comes from the language of the Tupi tribe in Brazil, meaning "excellent fruit". It was recorded by a French explorer in the sixteenth century and was taken up by many other languages. The work pineapple probably comes from a description of the fruit's resemblance to a pine cone, perhaps dating back to Columbus' description of it as pina de Indes.

Answer: Tungsten

The symbol W comes from the alternative name by which the element is known, wolfram. The name "tungsten" comes from Swedish words meaning "heavy stone". Tungsten has the highest melting point of any element in the Periodic Table, at 3,422 degrees C.

Answer: Chisinau

Chisinau (also known as Kishinev) has a population of just over half a million in the city proper. Moldova became independent in 1991 after the breakup of the USSR. In the past Chisinau has been part of the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire and Romania before being once again part of the USSR after 1945.

Answer: Pratchett

As well as writing a series of novels for children, Sir Terry Pratchett was most famous for writing the Discworld series of fantasy novels. These combine brilliant, witty story telling with a host of literary, cultural and historical references. They are full of richly drawn characters in what amounts to a satire on human existence. If you have not yet tried Pratchett's works, you are missing a joyful experience.