Toeing The Line Trivia Quiz

Answer: Fishing

In fishing the string used to dangle bait and hook and reel in a fish is called a line. Many lines are made of nylon, because it is strong, durable and has a bit of stretch, but other kinds are useful. Depending on the water, type of fish sought, and style of fishing (such as deep sea, off shore, fly casting, ice) the type, weight, color and nature of line varies. Nobody wants to "snag" a line, though, for instance on weeds or an old tire. Line is a danger to many kinds of wildlife, so it should be gathered up and taken home when the fishing is done.

Answer: Horse racing

Powerful racing horses sometimes cross the finish line at seemingly the exact same time, called a "dead heat", the winner determined by which horse had a "nose" over the line first. Beginning late in the 1930s, photography was used to determine which horse won. By 2011 digital technology could detail the finish line at 10,000 frames per second. Meanwhile human beings stand in the betting lines, anxious to place money on the horses they believe will take the race, perhaps "hands down", "by a nose" or "by a length". "Toeing the Line at Ascot" is a famous painting by artist Byam Shaw (1872-1919), showing horses lining up at the start.

Answer: Bodybuilding

Bodybuilding is all about lines of definition in the body. These are created by hard work, specific poses, and genetics. For "lines" that please a judge, each muscle group is smoothly and clearly separated and carved out from the ones next to it. Arnold Schwarzenegger is an example of a prime bodybuilder.

A bodybuilder may be sliced, cut, ripped or otherwise defined, depending on body type, amount of body fat, and how each muscle responds to development. Since genetics and a very low body fat play a vital role, many people could pump iron all year and have few lines to show for it.

Answer: High diving

High diving is an Olympic sport in which a diver leaps from a springboard into a pool, as audience and judges watch. Points are assigned for the height of the leap, body position, rotation, angle of entry, difficulty of dive, and other criteria. Rules state that the body must be nearly vertical as the diver enters the water, making as little splash as possible. Essential lines include a straight body, legs and feet together with toes pointed, and arms over the head in line with the body. Cliff or high diving takes place in other arenas for entertainment and to break world's records. Divers have jumped from over 172 feet (53 meters), still keeping their form and lines.

Answer: Offside

Offsides means the player, in football or hockey for example, is illegally close to or over the opponent's line, ahead of the ball or the puck, and/or closer to the line than other specified players. Offsides prevents a player from merely "goal hanging" near the line, or players bunching up there trying to score. Jam up is a term in billiards meaning a killer player. An upset is an unexpected win over a favored opponent.

A torero is a bullfighter.

Answer: Marathon

The marathon is a long-distance run of 42.195 kilometres (or 26 miles and 385 yards), most often a road race. It was one of the first modern Olympic events, founded in 1896, to commemorate the legendary Greek runner Pheidippides, who is believed to have run 25 miles (40 kilometres) to deliver a message from the Battle of Marathon to Athens.

While all runners "toe" the starting line together, many are non-professional, with an average finish time of 4-5 hours. There are also wheelchair participants, a man of 100 and a woman of 93 crossed the line, and a boy of just three trained for and then crossed the finish line, after which his coach was arrested for exploiting the child.

Answer: Bowling

In the sport of bowling a foul is called when after the release of the bowling ball any part of the player touches any thing forward of the foul line, such as a toe sliding over, or a hand touching equipment. Technically, or for antics, a player can throw their entire body over the foul line, and even onto the alley, so long as the bowling ball is still in hand.

Answer: Guide line

The guide line is used by SCUBA (Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) divers to find their way back to safety, or to their starting point. A diver may go into caves, wrecks or low visibility areas where the return route changes or is hard to see.

The guide line (also called a penetration or distance line) goes with the diver, and can then be followed back to safety. Divers also use jon, jump, cave, reclaim, and up lines. Line arrows mark the direction to a cave exit.

Answer: Inline skating

Inline skating is also called rollerblading, because "Rollerblade" was a popular inline skate brand and the name stuck. Inline skates are faster than roller skates, and allow more maneuvers. People skate inline on race tracks, city streets and in skating parks. Inline hockey also uses them. Air, grind, and slide skating are types of inline moves.

Answer: Strong man

A "strong man" was originally a circus performer who displayed feats of amazing strength, although "Highland Games" and aboriginal strength competitions precede recorded history. In modern "Strong man" games men may drag an 18-wheeler truck with a chain, or carry a car or refrigerator, as fast as they are able, over a finish line. "World's Strongest Man" and "World's Strongest Man Super Series" are well-known international competitions. Those who shot put, hammer throw, discus, and also football or rugby linemen are considered strength athletes, and there have always been "strong women".

Modern lumberjack competitions favor endurance and versatility over brute strength.