UK Origins Trivia Quiz

Answer: Scotland

Although this soup is strongly associated with Scotland, it was most likely based on a French chicken and onion soup. The soup's known origins date back to the 16th century: a traveller called Fynes Moryson once described having 'pullet with some prunes in the broth' at a knight's house in Scotland. Traditionally, chicken is boiled with vegetables like leeks to form a filling broth fit for cold winter nights.

Answer: Wales

Charlotte Church was born in Cardiff in 1986 and was twelve when she became known as the 'voice of an angel' after her similarly titled debut album. Released in 1998, 'Voice of an Angel' made her the youngest artist in the world at the time to have a number 1 album on the British classical-crossover chart. Rupert Murdoch's News International settled damages of £600,000 after it had transpired they had been hacking her phone for information to use in tabloid newspapers such as the now-defunct 'News of the World'.

She was just a teenager when her phone had been hacked.

Answer: England

David Mitchell is perhaps best known for his long-standing partnership with Robert Webb, whom he'd met when studying at Cambridge University. Although having taken part in many sketch shows, it was perhaps the sitcom 'Peep Show' that was their breakout work, which eventually became a cult favourite.

He was born in Salisbury in 1974 and in 2012 married Victoria Coren, known for hosting the fiendishly difficult quiz show 'Only Connect'.

Answer: Scotland

The Grampian Mountains occupy a large part of northern Scotland and are one of three major mountain ranges in Scotland, the others being the Northwest Highlands and Southern Uplands. Their name comes from the Mons Graupius, a site of indeterminate location described by Tacitus as the place the Romans defeated the Picts around 83 AD.

This mountain range includes Ben Nevis and Ben Macdui, the two tallest mountains in Scotland.

Answer: Northern Ireland

Lisburn was awarded city status in 2002 during the Queen's Golden Jubilee and is the third-largest city in Northern Ireland. It is just eight miles away from the capital city, Belfast, and both Belfast and Lisburn sit on the River Lagan. Lisburn became a bustling linen manufacturing center in the 17th century and its rich history can be found in the Irish Linen Centre/Museum.

Answer: England

Crystal Palace FC found its long-standing home in Selhurst, South London, in 1924. The team is named after the Crystal Palace that housed the Great Exhibition in 1851 and was subsequently moved to South London. The team's nickname used to be the Glaziers, but this changed in 1973 to the Eagles as the team's manager at the time - Malcolm Allison - wanted to rebrand the club's image.

Answer: Scotland

James Clerk Maxwell was a mathematical physics scientist born in Edinburgh in 1831. He composed the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation, describing light as an electromagnetic wave and unifying concepts of light, magnetism and electricity under one banner.

The Maxwell equations, which you might have heard of, describe some of these properties in detail. They have been practically applied in manifestations like MRI scanners, radio technologies and computers.

Answer: Northern Ireland

Stormont is the nickname often given to the Parliament Buildings of Northern Ireland since they are found within Belfast's Stormont Estate. Northern Ireland was once left for over 1000 days without a devolved legislature; the government collapsed in large part due to the deputy prime minister, Martin McGuinness, resigning over the 'cash-for-ash' scandal involving First Minister Arlene Foster.

The parliament finally reconvened in January 2020, shortly before the UK's departure from the European Union.

Answer: England

These small islands can be found southwest of the southwestern tip of Cornwall in England. The writer Michael Morpurgo had a fondness for the Scilly Isles; his bleak children's book 'The Wreck of the Zanzibar' was based there, amongst others. Unlike mainland Britain, the isles rarely have snow or frost, but are regularly buffeted by harsh winds.

Answer: Wales

The full name for the village is Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch, and it's the type of thing you'd only come across in a trivia question. Alas, it's not as long as Taumatawhakatangi­hangakoauauotamatea­turipukakapikimaunga­horonukupokaiwhen­uakitanatahu in New Zealand. Apparently, it translates "St. Mary's Church in the hollow of white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio near the red cave." It can be found on the island of Anglesey belonging to Wales.