This Quiz Is Full of Stars

Answer: Chinese Checkers

In the game Chinese checkers (or chequers) up to six players attempt to move a set of marbles from one side of a board covered with a six-sided star to the other. One may freely 'jump' over another player's marbles if they are properly set.

Answer: Carambola

The name carambola comes from the south Asian language Marathi. The tree that bears the starfruit has the taxonomic name Averrhoa carambola, and can only be found in the tropics. The starfruit is yellow in color, and is star-shaped when seen in cross section.

Answer: Death Star

The Death Star is destroyed by Luke Skywalker in the first 'Star Wars' film, but is rebuilt in the third film, 'Return of the Jedi'. In that film, the second Death Star is destroyed by Lando, who is piloting the Millennium Falcon. (Yes, I'm a nerd...but so are you if you answered this question correctly!)

Answer: Venus

Not to be outdone by itself, Venus is also referred to as the morning star because it often appears before dawn as the brightest object in the sky. In fact, Venus is the second brightest object in the night sky after the moon (though believers in UFOs would probably argue this point.)

Answer: Stella

The name Stella comes from the Latin, where it means 'star'. The most famous Stella I can think of is Stella Kowalski from the Tennessee Williams play 'A Streetcar Named Desire'. The word 'stellar', which means 'of or relating to stars', and has taken on the more informal meaning 'excellent', has the same Latin origin.

Answer: Shuriken

A shuriken is a projectile weapon typically with five sharpened points, in the shape of a star. The Japanese term 'shuriken' literally translates as 'dagger in the hand'.

Answer: Blazing Star

Brittlestars are of the genus Ophiura, and are related to the starfish. They have extended arms that are quite flexible, all protruding from a central disk. Cushion stars and sunstars are both species of starfish, of the Asterina and Solaster genera, respectively.

A blazing star is not a starfish, but rather is a plant. There are actually two genera of blazing stars, one of the daisy family and the other of the lily family.

Answer: Francis Scott Key

Have you ever noticed that all writers of patriotic American songs have three word names? But that's not really interesting info, is it? Well here's some...the 'Star-Spangled Banner' was adapted to the tune for an English drinking song called 'To Anacreon in Heaven', and became the U.S. national anthem by act of Congress in 1931. Mesmerizing facts, no?

Answer: Anise

The anise fruit, also called star of anise, provides a flavorful spice that is somewhat akin to licorice in taste. It is typically used in soups and Asian meat dishes. The star anise has the taxonomic name Illicium verum.

Answer: Constellation

The first 'Star Trek' series to air after the original was 'The Next Generation', which aired from the 1980s to the early 1990s. It was followed in succession by 'Deep Space Nine', 'Voyager', 'Enterprise', 'Discovery' and 'Picard'. A number of films have been made starring the cast of the original series and the actors from 'The Next Generation'.

Not all of the films have been stellar, in my humble opinion.