The Slow Lane Trivia Quiz

Answer: Blandford Forum

Written in 1963 the song laments the closing of many railway stations after the cuts imposed in the Beeching era. It also mourns the passing of a particular, slower way of life with the coming of motorways.

Blandford Forum itself is an old market town in North Dorset. It has good Georgian architecture and is close to the Iron Age hill fort of Badbury Rings.

Answer: Three toed sloth

The three toed sloth spends much of its time hanging upside down in trees. It moves very little, and almost all its activities, including eating, sleeping and giving birth are done in the upside down position. If it did at some time decide to go for a walk it would take it almost a month to walk a mile.

Answer: Mudassar Nazar

In a test match against England played in Lahore, Mudassar Nazar of Pakistan took 557 minutes to score 100 runs.

Answer: Miss Piggy

Roger Moore, who was playing James Bond at the time, appeared on "The Muppet Show" in 1981 and duetted with Miss Piggy on "Slow Boat To China".

The song dates back to 1947. It was written by Frank Loesser and has been recorded by Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Domino and many other people.

Answer: The Tortoise and The Hare

In Aesop's fable the hare mocks the slow moving tortoise who challenges him to a race. The hare races off and is soon so far ahead he decides to stop for a nap. When he wakes up he finds that the tortoise, who has kept going at his own slow and steady pace, has overtaken him and wins the race.

Answer: Eric Clapton

"Slowhand" comes from the album of the same name released in 1977, which was a commercial and critical success for Clapton. Generally regarded as one of the all time great guitarists he has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times. Once as a member of The Yardbirds, once as a member of Cream, and in his own right as a solo performer.

Answer: A slow horse drawn mail coach

The term arose some time in the nineteenth century, and came from the days of horse drawn coaches when there was the choice of travelling on the slow mail coach that stopped everywhere and took a long time to arrive, or catching the fast coach that stopped at large towns only. It was applied to anyone who lagged behind everyone else.

Answer: Weight gain

A slow or inefficient metabolism is often caused by a malfunctioning thyroid gland. It can be hard to lose weight and many sufferers actually gain weight even on a low calorie diet. Symptoms can also include fatigue and constipation. The condition is easily treatable.

Answer: Legless lizard

At first glance slow worms look like snakes, but on closer inspection they have no scales, instead having smooth shiny skins, and they also have eyelids, which are not present in snakes. They like fairly humid habitats and are often found in rural gardens throughout Europe.

Answer: White Cedar

Growing to only 4 inches high in 155 years a white cedar tree in the Great Lakes area of Canada has the "Guinness Book of Records" entry as the slowest growing tree in the world.