Origami Swans Trivia Quiz

Answer: Dragon

Asian dragons are generally considered beneficent, unlike European dragons. Dragon legends are so widespread that it is assumed there was some actual animal that gave rise to them, but opinions as to exactly what it was are varied. Some suggested possibilities are crocodiles, monitor lizards, and whale or dinosaur skeletons, with dinosaur skeletons being the most widely accepted alternative.

The dragon in the picture was folded by Manuel Sirgo. Since it has wings, it is probably intended to be a European dragon.

Answer: Cat

The earliest evidence of cats living with humans comes from Cyprus, around 10,000 years ago, but genetic evidence suggests that the domesticated cat has its origins in wild cats from the Fertile Crescent, around 100,000 years ago.

The cat in the picture was folded by Roman Diaz. The eyes can be seen to have been created by making a valley fold (a simple fold that leaves a crease like a valley) in a doubled sheet of paper, then spreading the layers and flattening them, a technique known as a squash fold.

Answer: Horse

Horses have been domesticated for over 5,000 years. They were possibly first domesticated as a source of meat, but became more commonly used for transport and agricultural work. While their importance as work animals has dwindled in most parts of the world, they continue to be important for a range of leisure activities and sports.

This model was folded by Roman Diaz. The change of angle at several points in the legs is created by a reverse fold, in which a previously-bent piece has part of its length folded to make it lie in another direction. To use the jargon, two radial mountain (or valley) folds are made from a single point on a central fold; the central fold is then reversed.

Answer: Swan

A cygnet raised in a duck family was clearly strange-looking, but they laughed out of the other side of their mouths when the passing of seasons led to his development into a stunning adult swan.

The bird base involves folding the paper to make a square base, then making a petal fold on each side to produce two diamond-shaped projections. These swans were folded by Nedim Sipahi.

Answer: Frog base

These are all the names of common starting procedures in origami. The kite base simply folds two adjacent sides to meet along the centre diagonal. The fish base uses two rabbit ear folds (each of which creates a projecting triangle). The waterbomb base produces four adjacent triangular valleys in a star shape. The frog base can start either with a square base or a waterbomb base, which is then squash-folded, after which the corners are petal-folded to produce protruding diamond shapes. Kites, fish and waterbombs aren't amphibians.

This intense frog, folded by Nicolas Terry, is more sophisticated than many other models you will see in instruction books.

Answer: Cobra

The term cobra is used to refer to a number of species of snakes, all of which are venomous and have a hood. The archetypical cobra, the Naja naja of India, can raise the front third or so of its body from the ground. When it feels threatened, it does so, and spreads its hood out to make itself look larger.

This frighteningly-large cobra (see how small the nearby people look!) was created by an unknown artist of extreme skill. It's not clear why this cobra would be alarmed by such a puny threat, but it looks good.

Answer: Bull

The Spanish tradition of bullfighting is a hotly-debated activity, with strong feelings on both sides of the issue. It is defended as a cultural tradition that makes it an art form, and attacked as a blood sport that causes unnecessary animal suffering.

This bull is an example of the technique of wet folding, in which the paper is moistened with water or with sizing so that it can be manipulated to make smooth curves instead of angular folds.

Answer: Seahorse

The seahorse is so-called because its head has a vague resemblance to that of a horse. They belong to the genus Hippocampus, a name that comes from Greek words meaning 'horse' and 'sea monster'.

This model nicely suggests the ridged appearance of the seahorse's body, cause because their thin skin is stretched tightly over their bones. The tail is a simple set of pleat folds from a common apex. If you have ever folded a paper fan on a hot day, you have used a pleat fold - it involves creasing the paper first in one direction, then in the other.

Answer: Cockatoo

The yellow on the figure's head suggests that this is actually a sulphur-crested cockatoo, Cacatua galerita, one of 21 species of birds in the Cacatuidae family. They are a member of the same order as parrots, and are often domesticated (but keep them away from the red cedar window frames, which they will destroy in short order).

This figure, constructed by Carlos Gonzalez Santamaria, includes a number of boxes and a square-based pyramid for the beak, as well as a number of other modules.

Answer: Crane

Traditionally, one might fold 1000 cranes to make a gift for an event such as a wedding. The cranes would usually be presented as a Senbazuru, in which 25 vertical strings, each containing 40 cranes held on place by a bead at the bottom of the string, are suspended side by side. People who are seriously ill may fold 1000 cranes to bring good health.

The story of Sadako Sasaki, who developed leukemia after surviving the atomic bomb that landed in Hiroshima, and died at the age of 12, was popularized in the book "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes", by Eleanor Coerr.

A statue of her holding a giant origami crane is one of the features of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The photo shows the continuously-replenished display of cranes, produced both by locals (especially schoolchildren) and by visitors from around the world, which has become a symbol of the desire for world peace.