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Quiz about Things You Never Knew About Umbrellas

Things You Never Knew About Umbrellas Quiz

Come and learn fascinating facts about the umbrella.

A multiple-choice quiz by emmco. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
emmco

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
329,537

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
690

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. There are many synonyms of the word umbrella. Which of the following was popular towards the end of the 19th century? Hint

Sunhide

Bumbershoot

Brolly

Parasol

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Question 2 of 10

2. What were umbrellas originally used to protect people from? Hint

Rain

Bullets

Arrows

Sun

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Question 3 of 10

3. In Ancient Greece, umbrellas were a fashion accessory used only by men.

True

False

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Question 4 of 10

4. In Egyptian mythology what was thought to be the underbelly of a god that stretched from one side to the other like an umbrella? Hint

Pyramids

Sky

Mountains

Sand dunes

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Question 5 of 10

5. In the 1400s sailors from Portugal that were destined for the East Indies carried an umbrella over their captain's head when they landed on a new island. Why did they do this? Hint

To shield him from any dangers

To protect him from the weather

To show his authority

To scare the natives away from him

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Question 6 of 10

6. John Hanway was the first person to introduce an umbrella to England. What was the main reason the English coachmen abused him when they saw him pass by? Hint

The umbrella took up too much room in their coaches

They thought the umbrellas looked ridiculous

The umbrella left water stains

They feared the umbrella would affect their business

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Question 7 of 10

7. In the 1700s umbrellas were in regular production in Britain. What material was most often used for the ribs of the umbrellas? Hint

Ivory

Silver

Aluminium

Whalebone

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Question 8 of 10

8. Gosselin of Amiens is credited with inventing what type of umbrella? Hint

Waterproof umbrella

Transparent umbrella

Beach umbrella

Fold-up umbrella

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Question 9 of 10

9. Some British soldiers took umbrellas with them into the battles of the Napoleonic wars.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Brolliology is the study of umbrellas.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. There are many synonyms of the word umbrella. Which of the following was popular towards the end of the 19th century?

Answer: Bumbershoot

Bumbershoot is an American term for umbrella that came into existence in the late 1890's. Brolly is a synonym for umbrella that is commonly used in countries such as Britain and Australia. Other synonyms of umbrella include gamp, sunshade, rainshade and parapluie.

2. What were umbrellas originally used to protect people from?

Answer: Sun

People have been using umbrellas for thousands of years to protect them from the sun and its heat and only a few hundred years for rain protection.

3. In Ancient Greece, umbrellas were a fashion accessory used only by men.

Answer: False

Umbrellas were first used by women in Ancient Greece in the 5th century BC. The men did not use them as they were not considered to be manly enough. The tradition of Greek women with umbrellas continued for thousands of years.

4. In Egyptian mythology what was thought to be the underbelly of a god that stretched from one side to the other like an umbrella?

Answer: Sky

Ancient Egyptians believed the sky was the underbelly of a god and looked like a giant umbrella. This was why Pharaohs and other notable people were often seen under the shade of an umbrella.

5. In the 1400s sailors from Portugal that were destined for the East Indies carried an umbrella over their captain's head when they landed on a new island. Why did they do this?

Answer: To show his authority

Like many cultures, the Portuguese also saw the umbrella as a sign of authority and status. The same ships also carried umbrellas to offer as gifts to the native royals that they encountered on these islands.

6. John Hanway was the first person to introduce an umbrella to England. What was the main reason the English coachmen abused him when they saw him pass by?

Answer: They feared the umbrella would affect their business

John Hanway bought the first umbrella to England from Portugal in the 17th century. He had the coachmen worried that would lose business and they often abused him.

7. In the 1700s umbrellas were in regular production in Britain. What material was most often used for the ribs of the umbrellas?

Answer: Whalebone

That's right, they chose to use whalebone. Whalebone is the structure in the mouths of whales that the animals use to filter out the small food such as krill from large mouthfuls of water. The whalebone was used because it offered both strength and flexibility.

8. Gosselin of Amiens is credited with inventing what type of umbrella?

Answer: Fold-up umbrella

The fold-up umbrella has been around since the 1750s and the original model comprised of four steel rods and was designed to fit inside pockets.

9. Some British soldiers took umbrellas with them into the battles of the Napoleonic wars.

Answer: True

The Napoleonic Wars took place in the early 1800s. Umbrellas were carried by some soldiers until the British military decided that they were not a fitting image for fighting soldiers. Soldiers from other countries including America also took umbrellas to some wars such as the Indian wars.

10. Brolliology is the study of umbrellas.

Answer: True

Brolliologists usually study the origin and history of umbrellas. They can not however, agree upon where the umbrella originated as there is evidence that they have existed for thousands of years in civilisations such as the Ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians.

Source: Author emmco

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Exit10 before going online.
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