Root Beer Floats Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Floaters

For those who don't now the song, or have tried to bury it deep in their memories, it had a rather odd format with each band member introducing himself with his name, star sign and the qualities he was looking for in a girl. The song did well for the band, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the UK Singles Chart, although it was their only major hit.

Answer: Eye

Floaters appear in the vitreous humour, the thick gel that forms the eye. They are normally harmless and are age related, appearing as the vitreous humour begins to shrink. They can occasionally signify something more serious, and an optometrist will suggest a referral if there is any suspicion of a medical problem.

Answer: Angling

Floats have been used as an aid in fishing since at least the fifteenth century. They are attached to the fishing line as an indicator of where the bait is located and can also tell the angler that a catch has been made, when the fish causes the float to bob up and down. For this reason, they are often called bobbers in the USA. Different sizes and shapes of float are available, depending on the type of water and/or weather conditions. Early floats were made from feathers or twigs, with modern floats being created from plastic, cork and cellulose, among other materials.

Answer: Sandra Bullock

The film was directed by Forest Whitaker and tells the story of a marriage break up and the problems faced by Bullock's character as a single mother. Her new romance, with an old school friend portrayed by Harry Connick Jr., causes problems with her daughter who still hopes for her father to return.

Although all the actresses named could well have appeared in this type of romantic film, I hope the hint, a reference to 'Miss Congeniality' (2000) which also starred Sandra Bullock, didn't escape your notice.

Answer: Happiness

Anything that 'floats your boat' could also be described as being your 'cup of tea' or, in the USA, to 'take the cake'. All these idioms relate to something that pleases you, rather than causing regret or sorrow. Expressions which mean the opposite include 'a bitter pill' or, in the UK, to 'take the biscuit', both or which would cause you distress.

Answer: Plasterer

A float is one of the tools used by a plasterer to apply the finishing coats to a wall, usually the internal ones. A thick coat of plaster is applied using a trowel, with the float, often with a foam rubber attachment, used to smooth the finish and remove any marks left by the trowel. The wall is then ready for its final coat, or skim.

Answer: Jonathan Swift

Laputa is one of the lands visited by Lemuel Gulliver in Swift's 1726 novel, usually referred to as 'Gulliver's Travels'. The island can be moved by means of magnetic levitation. The inhabitants are intellectual and extremely clever, but also totally impractical, spending all their time thinking rather than doing.

This part of Swift's book is perceived as reflecting his views of the Royal Society.

Answer: Swim bladder

Not all fish have a swim bladder. Those species who spend their time on the sea floor do not possess one and nor do sharks or other fish with cartilage rather than bones. The swim bladder is also known as the air bladder or gas bladder since it contains (usually) oxygen. One of its functions is to enable the fish to maintain its position in water.

When pet fish, like goldfish, are found upside down it is an indication of problems with the swim bladder.

Answer: Major Tom

These lyrics come from David Bowie's hit 'Space Oddity', which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and number fifteen on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song describes Major Tom floating above the earth in his 'tin can' and was Bowie's first hit provided we (as we, and probably he, should) ignore 'The Laughing Gnome' from 1967.

'Telstar' was a 1962 hit for The Tornados, 'I'm the Urban Spaceman' was recorded by The Bonzo Dog Doo-dah Band in 1968 while '99 Red Balloons' was much later, being a hit for Nena in 1984.

Answer: Carnival

A carnival float is usually built on the back of a flat bed lorry, and can take whatever format fits the event. Floats are associated with many well known carnivals, including the one held in Rio de Janeiro and the Rose Parade in Pasadena. Of course, much smaller and local carnivals also include floats, and I imagine most of us have seen several in our time.

A military parade would normally involve soldiers on foot, displaying their skill at marching, and brass bands would usually be on foot as well. A cavalcade refers specifically to parades on horseback.