Quisquous Quirky Questions? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Quercus

The oak tree, known for its timber and its acorns, is actually a member of the beech family Fagaceae. The leaves and acorns are toxic to most domesticated animals due to the tannin content. The pig is the exception.

The same tannin content makes the wood resistant to fungal and insect attack which, along with its strength and hardness, means that it has a long history of use in furniture and buildings. Indeed, it was the standard material for constructing European warships until the 19th century. Oak is the preferred material for wine barrels and it is the cork oak (Quercus suber) which is the main source of cork for wine bottles. There are some 600 species within the genus Quercus.

Answer: Suzi Quatro

American glam-rock singer Suzi Quatro put out her first album in 1974. The single "Devil Gate Drive" was also re-recorded for her 1995 album "What Goes Around". She has found most of her success as a musician in Europe and Australia, and is perhaps best known in the US for her role as bass player Leather Tuscadero in the TV series "Happy Days".

Answer: Queenstown

Queenstown is actually in Ireland but was well-placed for the transatlantic convoy traffic. The Q-ships were used during the First and Second World Wars by the British and Germans, and by the Americans in the Second World War.

When first used, depth charges were primitive and the only practical way to sink a submarine was by ramming or by gunfire. The problem was to get the submarine to surface. The incentive for the submarine to surface was to use its deck gun and save one of the few torpedoes carried for other targets. The armament, hidden behind panels, would be uncovered once the submarine was vulnerable on the surface.

Answer: Quetzal

There are six species in this family of birds. The name comes from the Nahuatl (or Aztec) language. The name originally applied only to the resplendent quetzal, which is the national bird for Guatemala. It also lends its name to the country's currency and appears on the country's flag.

Answer: Quinine

The creation of the cocktail gin and tonic is attributed to British colonials in India who were seeking to allay the bitterness of the quinine tonic. Quinine has been used in the treatment of malaria since at least the 17th century and was first extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree, which is native to Peru.

In time Dutch plantations in Java were producing the bulk of the world's supply. During the Second World War, however, the Japanese cut off this supply and tens of thousands of Allied troops are said to have died as a result.

Answer: Maggie Q

Maggie Q is the stage name for the American actress Margaret Denise Quigley, who was born in Hawaii in 1979. She got her break through martial arts actor and film director Jackie Chan in Hong Kong before moving to North America. She tends to take on action roles such as Mai Linh in "Live Free or Die Hard" (2006), the fourth installment of the "Die Hard" series.

Answer: Quahog

The quahog (Mercenaria mercenaria) is an edible bivalve mollusc found along the eastern shores of North and Central America. It is known by various other names such as hard clam.

The quince is a pear-like fruit which makes a nice jelly. The quandong (sometimes called a native peach) is a bushfood from Australia. Quail is a collective name for medium-size birds from several genera in the Galliformes order, sometimes called gamebirds or fowl.

Answer: Amanda Quick

Why so many pen names? Her first books were published under her maiden name but when she left one of her publishers, her contract prevented her from using this name for ten years. More recently she has tended to use her married name for contemporary novels and her maiden name for those set in the future. Her novels often have a psychic theme.

Answer: Quito

Only Quito in Ecuador is a capital city and so is the answer by elimination. The country of Ecuador gets its name from its geographical location. As well as being closest to the equator, Quito is by some definitions the highest capital city at 2,850 metres. Bolivia has the other contender in La Paz (at 3,640 metres) which is the seat of government, however Bolivia's constitutional capital is Sucre at 2,750 metres.

Quezon City is the largest in the Philippines where the capital is Manila. Qom is in Iran (capital: Tehran) and Quetta in Pakistan (capital: Islamabad).

Answer: Quitaraju

Quitaraju tops the list at 6,040 metres. It is to be found in the Cordillera Blanca in Peru. Its neighbour Alpamayo (5,947 metres) tends to attract more attention, probably as it is more eye-catching.

The others are found in Lebanon (Qornet As Sawda), Turkey (Qfamurgi) and USA (Quandary Peak).