Round 1
Question 1
Which constituent country of the UK appears in the name of London’s Metropolitan Police headquarters?
*New Scotland Yard, commonly just called Scotland Yard, gets its name because its original building was on the street Great Scotland Yard.
1 point
Question 2
Batwing, butterfly, and diamond are all styles of what men’s clothing accessory?
1 point
Question 3
Although little evidence exists to show it was actually said, what word completes this quote attributed to Irish writer Oscar Wilde, supposedly replied to a US customs official in 1882: ‘I have nothing to declare except my ____’.
The first appearance of the quote is in The Oscar Wilde Calendar, published in 1910, ten years after Wilde died, which used several contributions from Wilde’s literary executor Robert Ross.
1 point
Question 4
The name of what genre of music comes from a Portuguese phrase meaning ‘new wave’?
1 point
Question 5
What type of animal is Jonathan, who was reported to have died on the island of St Helena on April 1, aged approximately 193, only for the man claiming to the animal’s vet to then be exposed as an imposter seeking cryptocurrency donations?
*After being sent messages about the animal’s death, Jonathan’s real vet found him under a tree. The vet commented that claims of Jonathan’s death were a scam rather than an April Fool’s joke. The animal’s exact age is unknown, but when he was photographed in 1882 he was already believed to be around 50, meaning he could have been alive when Charles Darwin visited South America, Britain took claim to all of Australia, Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd, and a petition to end slavery was submitted to British Prime Minister Earl Grey.
1 point
Question 6
Which continent’s indigenous people has the highest level of genetic diversity, possibly due to the limited gene pool ‘founder effect’ having occurred in other continents after the first human migrations?
*Although white European genetic heritage has more visible variations in hair and eye colour, these are only small parts of the human genetic code. As well as having diverse genes, Africa is the most culturally diverse continent, with research finding an average of eight ethnic groups per country, compared to between 3.2 and 4.7 in other populated continents.
1 point
Question 7
Unlike soap, which contains glycerine created by mixing fats or oils with an alkali, beauty bars and cleansing bars use processed cleansing agents to create a ‘syndet’, a portmanteau of what two other words?
*Syndets first appeared in World War I when sourcing natural fats became more difficult. As well as using terms such as ‘beauty bar’ rather than ‘soap’ on the packaging, syndets can often be identified by phrases such as ‘gentle’ and ‘pH neutral’ (soaps are alkaline) or marketing that masks the synthetic element, such as ‘plant derived’ or ‘natural surfactant’ (contains a processed coconut or palm oil).
Detergent
2 points
Question 8
What are the three ingredients in the popular ‘SPG’ barbecue rub?
Pepper
Garlic
3 points
Question 9
What five colours can appear before ‘admiral’ in the name of a butterfly species?
White
Orange
Blue
Yellow
5 points
Question 10
Make the longest word possible from the following letters: ACDEOPRST
Up to 9 points
(*length of word equates to points awarded)
Round 1 points
(Maximum: 25)
Round 2
Question 1
Covering approximately 5 million square metres, hosting a port capable of harbouring three container ships, and producing new vehicles at an average of one every 10 seconds, the world’s largest car manufacturing plant is in South Korea and belongs to which car company?
1 point
Question 2
Named for its resemblance to a common rodent-created sight within a house, what is the name given to the urban warfare tactic of knocking or blowing holes through walls to pass into an adjacent building rather than risk exposure to streets and potentially booby-trapped doors?
*While mouse-holing allows troops to move through buildings unseen, a rhizome manoeuvre is a surprise attack conducted by coming up through a floor, across through a wall, or down through a floor.
1 point
Question 3
Apart from Antarctica, what is the only continent which is not home to any native species of woodpecker?
1 point
Question 4
Between 1892 and 1954 roughly 2 million people were detained at some point at what US landmark, nicknamed The Golden Door?
*Across its 62 years of operation, the Ellis Island processing station between New York and New Jersey received approximately 12 million immigrants, with around 20 per cent detained for a portion of time, and two per cent refused entry.
1 point
Question 5
What letter of the alphabet was used to describe the long-range ‘wunderwaffen’, or super weapon, bombing weapons used by Germany’s military during World War II – specifically a flying bomb, a missile, and a cannon?
*Standing for vergeltungswaffen, or reprisal weapon, V-weapons included the V-1 flying bomb, V-2 missile, and V-3 cannon. The V-1 was known as the buzz bomb or doodlebug because it would make a humming noise as it approached, then go silent when it came time to drop.
1 point
Question 6
What name, albeit with one letter dropped in spelling, is shared by a member of the DC Comics Birds of Prey team who was played by Margot Robbie in a 2020 film, and a supernatural creature that helps the elderly Mr Satterthwaite solve mysteries in a series of stories by Agatha Christie?
1 point
Question 7
Designed by architect Shigeru Ban, the so-called ‘naked house’ in Kawagoe consists of an empty shell with four wheeled private rooms inside that can be set up in isolation or sequence, or moved out of the way, depending on the family’s immediate requirement. As well as these wheeled rooms, the house also has what two other immovable rooms?
*Plumbing needs mean the bathroom and kitchen cannot be moved.
Kitchen
2 points
Question 8
Rocket launches have two countdown clocks, one which starts 10 minutes before a planned launch, and one that starts days in advance. What two letters of the alphabet are used for these countdown clocks?
*Started 10 minutes before launch – and possible to be restarted if the launch needs delayed – the T stands for terminal. The L countdown refers to the start of the launch window, which is the broader block of time in which the launch can happen.
L
3 points
Question 9
Through which three north African nations do the Atlas mountain run?
Algeria
Tunisia
3 points
Question 10
In 2025, computer game website Games Radar released its countdown of the 50 most iconic computer game characters of all time. Which five characters, all of which have appeared in several games over multiple decades, and four of whom have also appeared in multiple films, took the top five spots?
Pikachu
Sonic the Hedgehog
Lara Croft
Pac Man
5 points
Round 2 points
(Maximum: 18)
Total points
(Maximum: 43)
Round 3
Question 1
Nude Descending a Staircase and Fountain, the latter a urinal that sold for over $1m, were artworks by which 20th-century French conceptual artist?
1 point
Question 2
As well as relationships with two members of her own band, Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks had romantic relationships with two members and a song writer of which American rock band?
1 point
Question 3
In order to allow mixed ability players to play in the same match, the sport of polo has a handicap system that ranges from -2 for novices to 10 for the best in the world, with the difference between two teams’ totals equating to how many goals start the weaker team should receive. What country in the world has had, by far, the most 10 handicap players in the history of the sport?
*Argentina starts its handicap system at 0, rather than -2, but still keeps 10 as the highest rating.
1 point
Question 4
Allikukivi, Langemma, Uue-Saaluse, Järiste, Valgejõe Veinivilla, and Kanarbiku are all vineyards and villages on the wine trail of which country that was previously part of the Soviet Union?
1 point
Question 5
In the 2025 edition of the Europe-wide ChickenTrack report, published in March, which UK supermarket became the first UK retailer to meet all categories of the Better Chicken Commitment chicken welfare framework for its own brand chicken – meaning it passed for stock density, environmental conditions, slaughter methods, third-party audits, and using higher welfare breeds?
*Waitrose joins connected Norwegian companies Norsk Kylling and Rema 1000 as the only companies to hit 100 per cent in all categories, while French company Big Mamma France hit all categories bar auditing. Although the report noted many companies had improved their welfare across Europe, the commitment also suffered a major reversal in the UK in 2025 when eight companies representing fastfood chains such as Burger King, KFC, Nando’s, Wagamama, and Pizza Hut withdrew, joining another network that did not require a change to slower breed chickens. Additionally, Italian restaurant Prezzo withdrew completely while 31 companies did not supply data.
1 point
Question 6
Harvesting 559 000 tonnes in 2025 and having around 20 per cent of the industry’s global market share, what Norwegian company is the world’s largest producer of farm-raised salmon?
*Mowi was previously known as Pan Fish and Marine Harvest.
1 point
Question 7
In a consolidation of power, new Venezuelan president Delcy Rodríguez has ordered the removal of portraits and murals of which two former leaders?
*Following the US’s controversial capture of her predecessor, Maduro, Rodríguez has also changed the government’s symbolic use of red to blue. Despite this attempt to establish a new identity, many of the former administration’s officials remain in position, and a recent poll put Rodríguez at under 5% in electoral polls, well behind the 82% of María Corina Machado.
Hugo Chávez
2 points
Question 8
The cult 1989 black comedy film Heathers sees high school outsider Veronica discover her new friend J.D. is on a killing spree that targets – with mixed success – three popular girls all named Heather plus members of the high school football team. Of the four people killed on screen in the film, what three different methods are used?
*In 2018 a television spin-off series of Heather was made in which more members of the school are killed.
Gun shot
Explosion
3 points
Question 9
After earlier spending time on the Belgian Antarctic Expedition, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen led four expeditions of his own during his life. To which two locations did the expeditions aim to reach – including one by plane – and which two northern sea routes did he successfully navigate during his trips, becoming the first and second expeditions to ever do so?
South Pole
Northwest Passage
Northeast Passage
4 points
Question 10
Which five US states have been the site of nuclear weapons tests?
*The US has also extensively tested weapons in the Marshall Islands, at the Bikini and Enewetak atolls.
New Mexico
Alaska
Colorado
Mississippi
5 points
Round 3 points
(Maximum: 20)
Total points
(Maximum: 63)
Round 4
Question 1
Mogok in Myanmar and Montepuez in Mozambique are both leading sites for the mining of what precious gemstone?
1 point
Question 2
Starting with the letter f, what is the name given to a bundle of materials – generally wood – that is used to fill in ditches or marshland so that troops and military machinery may cross? The bundles can also be used to reinforce embankments.
*Small fascines for soldiers to cross waterways or wetland have been in use since at least the 17th century. In 1917, larger fascines with a railway sleeper inside were attached to a release device on the front of British tanks at the Battle of Cambrai, allowing the vehicles to cross trenches.
1 point
Question 3
Since it began in 2021, the UEFA Women’s Champions League has been won by only eight teams. Which French team, with eight titles, is the most successful in the tournament’s history?
*Other winners are Barcelona (3), Arsenal (2), Swedish side Umeå (2), and the German sides Eintracht Frankfurt (4), Wolfsburg (2), Turbine Potsdam (2), and Duisburg (1). As well as success in Europe, Lyon’s dominance in France has been unmatched: it has won every title bar one since 2006, losing only eight league games within those 20 years. In the season it did not win the title, it dropped only five points.
1 point
Question 4
Due to prostitution being illegal in Japan since 1958, unofficial red light districts such as Tokyo’s Yoshiwara have specialised in services that find loopholes in the law, including what type of brothel in which a serviced bath is provided behind closed doors, with any subsequent sexual activity claimed to be by two people now in love?
*Soaplands date from at least the 17th century.
1 point
Question 5
Which 4000-year old historical structure was rediscovered in 1850, largely rebuilt by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in the 1980s, and included on the US ‘no fire list’ during the 1991 Gulf War, leading US Defense Secretary Dick Cheney to claim Hussein had placed two MiG aircraft next to it so the US wouldn’t destroy them?
*Although the US did refrain from blowing up the planes and the ziggurat, fighting in the area did nonetheless leave the reconstructed walls riddled with bullet holes.
1 point
Question 6
In an anecdote about the making of the 1998 poker-themed film Rounders, Matt Damon recounts how which Olivier Award-nominated American actor arrived on set, gave his character an atrocious Russian accent, received immediate applause and calls of ‘amazing!’ from the crew, and then leaned in to confide ‘I’m a terrible actor’?
1 point
Question 7
The World Athletics male and female Athlete of the Year Awards for 2025 went to the same two people who won in 2022. Which Swedish man and American woman won the awards?
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
2 points
Question 8
Resetting with the new UK tax year on April 6, the UK’s Lifetime Investment Savings Account, or LISA, allows people to invest up to £4000 a year in a tax-free stocks and shares account, with the government adding a 25 per cent bonus to all money invested. In what three circumstances can a person subsequently withdraw money from a LISA without having to forfeit the government bonus?
Aged over 60
Terminal illness (a diagnosis of less than 12 months to live)
3 points
Question 9
In the Bible’s New Testament, both the crucifixion and Jesus’s tomb lying empty are witnessed by groups of women often referred to as ‘The Three Marys’ – although much theological debate exists as to who these women were due to ambiguities caused by grammar and the repeated name. According to Mark 16, who were the three Marys that arrived to find the tomb empty?
*Much of the debate around the identity of The Three Marys relates to the crucifixion, about which John 19:25 notes ‘Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene’; as it is generally taken that there were three women, this would mean that the Virgin Mary had a sister also called Mary. However, Matthew and Mark mention three women but only two Marys, with the Virgin Mary absent.
Mary of Clopas
Mary Salome
4 points
Question 10
The six highest railways in the world are all in different countries, with five contained within a single country and one crossing a border between two countries. Which seven countries do these railways serve?
*The train that crosses a border is the service across the Andes from Salta in Argentina to Antofagasta in Chile.
Peru
Bolivia
USA
Argentina
Chile
Ecuador
6 points
Round 4 points
(Maximum: 21)
Total points
(Maximum: 84)
Round 5
In Round 5, there is only one answer. The less clues you need to get it, the more points you receive. If you need only one clue, you receive 10 points; if you require two clues, you will receive 9 points, and so on.
However, you may only answer once. If you answer incorrectly, you receive zero points for the round.
The following people all share what first name?
Clue 1
Cheung, Hong Kong reporter whose question to Chinese leader Jiang Zemin about whether China’s government had already decided on Hong Kong’s next Chief Executive led to an internet meme after he embarked on an animated two-minute answer saying he was her experienced elder and that reporters were ‘naive’ and ‘simple’
10 points
Clue 2
Carr, schoolgirl who infamously murdered an 18-year old stranger when only 12 years old in Surrey, England, in 1992
9 points
Clue 3
Cohen, transgender Israeli singer who goes by the stage name Dana International and won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1998
8 points
Clue 4
Horgan, Irish BAFTA-winning comedy writer who created TV series Coupling and Motherland – the first of which she also starred in – and has appeared in films such as Game Night, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
7 points
Clue 5
Gless, actress who played Christine Cagney in the 1980s police series Cagney & Lacey
6 points
Clue 6
Creech, American children’s author who won the Carnegie Medal in 2002 and whose works include Ruby Holler, The Wanderer, Love That Dog, and Walk Two Moons
5 points
Clue 7
Corr, violin player in the Irish band The Corrs
4 points
Clue 8
Tate, actress who was murdered in 1969, aged 26 and while pregnant, by members of the Manson Family
3 points
Clue 9
Osbourne, British television personality who came to public attention through a reality series detailing her marriage to musician Ozzy Osbourne
2 points
Clue 10
Stone, actress who rose to prominence in the 1992 erotic thriller Basic Instinct and won a Golden Globe for her role in Casino
1 point
Round 5 points
(Maximum: 10)
Total points
(Maximum: 94)
