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Sources of English: Latin
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Already when still living on the Continent the Anglo-Saxon tribes had picked up many words from their Roman enemies. Then came Church Latin. The Norman Conquest added large portions of French. But then there was the Renaissance. See for yourself.
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Borrowed Words and Phrases
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
Mar 26 02
7785 plays
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More Biblical Women
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Women played a major role in various Biblical stories, sometimes as protagonists, sometimes as victims. See how well you know the events they helped shape or were involved in.
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Old Testament / Tanakh People
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
Mar 23 02
6393 plays
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 |
Nationality Words In Idioms
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In idioms we often refer to nationalities. A ludicrously incongruous statement may be called an "Irish bull", and drink-induced courage may be termed "Dutch courage". This quiz is about similar nationality-linked idioms.
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Idioms and Proverbs
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
Nov 16 02
23799 plays
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'Hastings' And The English Language
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It's common knowledge that after 'The Battle of Hastings', the 'Norman Conquest' created a mixed language with Anglo-Saxon and French vocabulary overlapping each other. This quiz deals with some of the more remarkable effects.
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Linguistics
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
Mar 31 02
7530 plays
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Chemical Elements : Origins Of Names
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Chemical elements often have 'meaningful' names such as nitrogen (begetter of natron) and hydrogen( begetter of water).Other names refer to celebrities, countries, regions, even universities,(Bk = berkelium). See if you can identify where these are from.
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Mixed Elements
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Apr 12 02
7581 plays
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History of the Detective-novel
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One of the few genres in Literature that doesn't date back to 'Olden Times' is definitely the detective story. Yet it has by now developed its own traditions, its own who is who, and its own milestone events. That's what this quiz tries to deal with.
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Mystery & Detective Fiction
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Aug 09 01
3144 plays
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 |
A World of Languages
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Globalisation, you say. - Of course, but this does not yet mean it's a one-language-world, as this quiz tries to illustrate. Multiple choice for all questions.
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Languages
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
May 11 01
7506 plays
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Arrigo Beyle, Milanese - aka Stendhal
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He wrote in the 19th century, found his readership in the 20th and even today still has to be discovered by many as one of the real top classic authors of world literature.
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S
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Difficult
10 Q
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flem-ish
Mar 08 02
87 plays
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Scottish Kings And Queens
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It's often overlooked that already before the Stuarts there were 'Kings and Queens' of Scotland.This quiz tries to do justice to the Scottish Monarchs before the seventeenth century when they became Kings of Scotland AND England.
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Scottish Royals
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
Apr 10 02
1314 plays
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Irish Gaelic Placenames
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For many of us Gaelic placenames are about all the Celtic we need. But do we understand them?
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Gaelic
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Jan 15 04
816 plays
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Nationality Words in French Idioms
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Do you dare to test the street-credibility of your French? This is idiomatic and slangy French you probably don't pick up at school.
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French
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Sep 05 03
2169 plays
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 |
Anecdotes About European Authors
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This quiz is about meaningful anecdotes from the lives of major European authors.
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Writers & Authors
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Sep 24 03
1113 plays
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 |
Basic Polish For The Tourist
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Poland having become a popular tourist destination, a little check-up on your understanding of 'Basic Polish' might do you no harm. So have a try and see how well you would survive in the country of the 'crowned white eagle'.
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Polish
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
May 30 02
1413 plays
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Ten French Impressionists And Post-Impressionists
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Every question deals with a different French painter from the past 150 years. Up to you to decide which of the options is the only one to suit the profile and the discreet clues that the profile may contain.
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Impressionists
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Jun 06 02
1758 plays
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 |
Some Quotes From Dialectal English
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In this quiz you get short fragments from dialectal dialogues, poems etc. Your understanding of the quotes is tested by means of multiple choice.Caps may mark beginnings of verselines.
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British Slang and Dialects
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Easy
10 Q
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flem-ish
Feb 07 02
4386 plays
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Literary Forms, Tricks and Games: Terminology.
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What do you know about the terminology of classic stylistics, poetry and "wordgames"?
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Specific Subjects & Themes
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Dec 20 03
429 plays
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 |
Arabic Words In English
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The influence of Arabic civilisation on Europe can hardly be underestimated. It left traces in most West- European languages, and English is no exception
to this. See what you can identify.
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Borrowed Words and Phrases
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Sep 02 02
3972 plays
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 |
The Kings of France
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However Presidential its present history is, France for centuries has been one of the most glamorous Kingdoms in Europe.What do you know about those who once were the leaders of probably the most prestigious royal court in the West?
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French Royals
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Tough
20 Q
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flem-ish
Feb 22 02
1668 plays
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Kipling
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How well do you know Kipling? Answers are to be found in his works. All spellings are as used by him, strictly for READERS of Kipling, or for people taking an interest in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Kipling's American experiences.
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Kipling, Rudyard
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Very Difficult
20 Q
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flem-ish
Jan 21 02
459 plays
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Birds Of All Feathers
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As there is a "bird watcher" in all of us, a few quiz questions on "basics" about birds and their behaviour, cannot do anybody any harm. So here is to the ornithologist in you.
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Wild Birds Mix
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
Oct 04 03
4227 plays
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Odd One Out
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In this quiz three of four options concern words that are etymologically related via Latin or Greek. Find the one that is not.- Questions may include AE orthography.
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Etymology
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Sep 19 02
1443 plays
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Britain from 1945 to 1955
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This quiz deals with the history of Britain in the first decade after Second World-War. A must for the true history-buff, Brit or otherwise..
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UK History
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Tough
20 Q
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flem-ish
Jan 16 02
2826 plays
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Onomastics: Hidden Meanings Of Placenames
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Not only ordinary words but also names of countries, cities, etc. often have a surprising origin. See which of these you can identify.
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Place Names
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
Sep 02 02
1563 plays
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Geographical Eponyms
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Eponyms are common nouns derived from proper names. "Common nouns" deriving from "geographical names" describing where certain things were found, produced,sold, are sometimes called "geographical eponyms". Try out some of the easier cases.
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Place Names
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Average
15 Q
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flem-ish
Feb 26 02
2295 plays
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Outlaws, Criminals, Murderers And Other Baddies
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Crime is an eternal source of sensation whether via broadsheet-ballads, the papers or television - broadcasts. How well acquainted are you with the great names in the history of evil-doing?
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Criminal Mixture
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
Oct 11 02
5241 plays
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Understanding Traditional British Pubnames
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There is more in some traditional pubnames than meets the eye. They may refer to a local incident, a lost tradition or may have a completely different meaning than a modern mind would think of. See for yourself how transparent the following names are.
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Thematic 10Q Tough
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Nov 22 01
4473 plays
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Who Says What In Shakespeare?
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We all know it was Hamlet who wondered whether it was better to be or not to be. Some other quotes may be less well known, but still meaningful in the context of the play. Have a try.
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Shakespeare Lines and Quotes
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Sep 27 01
3102 plays
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Understanding Arabic Names
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Arabic names do not occur in the Middle-East only.
Muslims all over the world tend to choose them for their children. So a good reason to see what they mean. -Extra hints included-
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Non-English Names
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Jan 24 04
1077 plays
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Tough Stuff for the Waterloo-Buff
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Waterloo is still today remembered as one of the great Battles in History.- Scenes from the Battle are still annually enacted by amateurs of military history.- If Napoleon or Waterloo are among your favourite history subjects, try this quiz.
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Napoleonic Wars
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Tough
25 Q
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flem-ish
Sep 16 01
1788 plays
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Nine Dukes and One Drake
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Dukes are next in line to Kings. Some of them played a major role in English History. Yet let us remember there is not just Dukes that matter in the games of life, also a simple Drake can change the course of history.
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U.K. People
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
Nov 19 01
2670 plays
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Clans, Clansmen And Highland Dress
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It's a fact that for the world abroad Scotland is to a large extent a matter of ' clans, clansmen, tartan and Highland Dress'. Check your knowledge of the 'history' behind it all.
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UK History
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Apr 02 02
1650 plays
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Antique Battles And Warfare
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There was a time that the study of history focused on battles only. Now that the perspective has changed, we might begin to forget that after all victory or defeat in battles DOES matter. Check your expertise.
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Ancient Wars
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
Apr 09 02
5328 plays
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Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec
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Few painters have appealed so strongly to the imagination of the 'general public' as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. To such an extent that some might actually overlook how great a painter he really was. See what you know about him.
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de Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri
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Very Difficult
10 Q
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flem-ish
Jun 02 02
852 plays
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Placenames in Britain
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With just a little bit of basic background knowledge, the placenames on a map of Britain become suddenly so transparent. This quiz invites you to decode some of the more common 'etymologies'.
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Place Names
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Feb 05 02
738 plays
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Books And Book-Publishing.
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Without publishers there would be no books. This quiz looks at the world of books from the publisher's point of view.
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Specific Subjects & Themes
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Difficult
10 Q
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flem-ish
Mar 01 02
240 plays
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Pre- Second-World-War Celebrities
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All of these were on the Cover of Time Magazine in the period 1931-1940. Most of them became history and 'worth remembering' even in 21st Century. See how 'everlasting' their fame was for you.
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People in Magazines
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
May 16 02
1554 plays
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Oddities From British History
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It's often the silly little facts that get most of our attention in 'history', as any tourist guide may tell you.Just check your knowledge on some such 'odd facts' from British and occasionally Irish history.
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UK History
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
Nov 06 01
4923 plays
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 |
Poems On War And Death
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War and death are among the most popular subjects for poems. See how well you remember some of these poems on the grimmer backside of life.
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War Poetry
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Mar 19 02
573 plays
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 |
Etymological Tidbits
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By looking at faces you often recognize family features. Something similar is true about words. Try your luck.
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Etymology
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
Sep 21 02
2082 plays
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Basic Scottish Terminology
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To understand the Scots, one has to know a few 'Scotticisms' - terms used in Scotland and less frequently used in the other parts of the U.K. Check your Scottish proficiency.
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Scottish English
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Difficult
10 Q
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flem-ish
Apr 06 02
1029 plays
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Origin of USA State Names
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The names of the US states are as diversified as the country: some are from Native American languages, some are Spanish or French. Many refer to historic persons, others to rivers, some even to the colour of the soil. Check your knowledge.
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Place Names
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Tough
15 Q
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flem-ish
Feb 08 02
1713 plays
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Word Origins
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Etymology is like linguistic archeology. You dig into
words and you discover earlier forms, meanings, etc. Have a try with these - occasionally surprising - word origins.
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Etymology
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Sep 02 02
2685 plays
|
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Spy Tales From Cold War
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There were spy-novels long before the Cold War - yet this type of novel flourished most after World War II. There can be no doubt that with authors such as Graham Greene and John Le Carre it has earned itself a place in fiction.
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War Literature
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Nov 08 01
360 plays
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French Operas
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French Operas may have been more popular in nineteenth century than these days, but still they were a major contribution to the history of the genre. Some names are definitely worth remembering. Check for yourself.
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Opera by Region
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
May 08 02
369 plays
|
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Origin of Surnames
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Surnames refer to where an ancestor lived, what he was like, what job he did or who his dad or mum were. Many of those everyday surnames haven surprising origins.See if you can decipher any.
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Surnames
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Difficult
10 Q
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flem-ish
Feb 04 02
2007 plays
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Wagner's Minor Operas
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By 'Minor Operas' all other operas than 'The Ring' are meant. Wagner's works are full of complicated symbols. This quiz is limited to a few basic facts.
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Wagner, Richard
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
May 02 02
267 plays
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More Latin Phrases
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When education was still a more elitist matter, it was seen as 'good style' to spice up one's letters, speeches and writings with a few Latin phrases. In this quiz you find a few relics of such more Latin-minded ages.
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Latin
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Feb 04 02
1956 plays
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Women In The Lives of Artists
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"En toute chose cherchez la femme d'abord". - Always first look for "the woman behind the artist". This quiz is about the wives and the women in the lives of painters and musicians.
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Art World Figures
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Nov 28 03
426 plays
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England And Flanders' Common History
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Medieval Flanders (originally just a strip of floodland on the continental side of the Channel) played a not insignificant role in European, and even in English History, especially since Hastings. Check your knowledge here.
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European
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Difficult
10 Q
|
flem-ish
Nov 13 01
471 plays
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Rabelais
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Literary analysts have made it clearer and clearer how much more recent authors - from Sterne to Joyce and Irving a.o. - owe to the great French Renaissance author Francois Rabelais. See how well you know the basics of his most popular works.
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R
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Very Difficult
10 Q
|
flem-ish
Feb 25 02
138 plays
|
 |
Verdi's Operas
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No name is so closely linked to Opera as Verdi's. This quiz deals with the plots of some of his classics: See how well you remember the 'stories' of those classic operas.
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Verdi, Giuseppe
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
Apr 28 02
606 plays
|
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Easy Proverbs
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This quiz is about fairly traditional proverbs the phrasings of which often have been polished through ages of use. See if you can identify the missing word in all cases.
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Idioms and Proverbs
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Very Easy
10 Q
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flem-ish
Aug 14 02
4986 plays
|
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Influential Non-Fiction Books
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Some books actually change or at least influence the way of thinking of people about themselves, society, life, the universe, etc. Check these.
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Miscellaneous
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Tough
10 Q
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flem-ish
Feb 02 03
4554 plays
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Idiomatic Language
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When people express themselves in idiomatic language,they use 'traditional phrasings' that have a fixed form and a meaning that goes beyond the strict literal sense of the words. See which "standing expressions" suit the contexts given below.
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Idioms and Proverbs
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
Sep 14 03
5007 plays
|
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Origins Of First Names
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Many English names happen to be foreign names in disguise. This quiz deals with the meaning and origins of names that were borrowed from Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Scandinavian and a few other languages.
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Etymology
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Difficult
10 Q
|
flem-ish
Jan 21 04
864 plays
|
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The Women In Heracles' Life
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Few things are more exciting as a 'script' for an adventure story than the Life and Works of good old Heracles,the man who fought himself a way to immortality. But what about the women in his life?
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Herakles
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Average
20 Q
|
flem-ish
Feb 28 02
1155 plays
|
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Quotes About Countries And Their People
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This quiz is about what famous and less famous people said about certain countries. Some questions refer to the author of the quote; other questions require you to guess which country was meant.
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People by Country
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Difficult
10 Q
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flem-ish
Aug 29 03
975 plays
|
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People In Art And Fashion
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It's a world of people. People that rule ..people that fight to survive. But also people that create. This quiz is about creators in the worlds of Art and Fashion.
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Art World Figures
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
May 16 01
1188 plays
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What 's In A Word ?
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There often is more in a word or name than meets the eye. Understanding the background and origin of a word helps us to know what we are talking about. Have a try.
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Etymology
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Difficult
10 Q
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flem-ish
Apr 18 02
915 plays
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Famous Earls and Marquesses
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It may not be a very democratic idea to have Marquesses and Earls. Yet some of them really have caught the eye of the crowds, and became popular heroes. See which of these you can identify. Apart from number 10 they all are genuinely true blue British.
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U.K. People
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Average
10 Q
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flem-ish
Nov 19 01
1860 plays
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