Are You Reddy For Red? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Red envelope

In Chinese weddings, the red envelope (hóngbāo) is one of the most meaningful traditions. Red is a powerful colour in Chinese culture, symbolising joy, luck, and protection from misfortune. When guests place money inside a red envelope and give it to the newlyweds, besides being a gift, it's a blessing for a happy, prosperous marriage.

These envelopes are often given during the tea ceremony, when elders present them as a sign of respect and goodwill. Beyond the money inside, the gesture itself represents connection, support, and the hope that the couple's future will be as bright and abundant as the red envelope itself.

Answer: Red coral

In medieval medicine, red coral was thought to be a remedy. Its bright colour linked it to blood and vitality, so healers believed it could restore balance to the body's four humours: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. When those humours fell out of balance, illness or melancholy followed, and coral was seen as a natural aid to bring harmony back.

Doctors and alchemists sometimes ground coral into powder for medicine, but it was just as often worn as an amulet, especially for protection against bleeding and weakness. Because it came from the sea yet looked like a stone or plant, coral carried a special symbolism as a bridge between worlds. For people of the Middle Ages, red coral was a safeguard for health and a charm for life itself.

Answer: Red bell pepper

Red bell peppers owe their bright colour to carotenoids, not anthocyanins. As the pepper ripens from green to red, chlorophyll fades and pigments like capsanthin and capsorubin build up, giving the fruit its vivid hue. Carotenoids are fat-soluble compounds that not only create the warm reds and oranges we see in many plants but also act as antioxidants.

Unlike anthocyanins, the water-soluble pigments behind the blues and purples of berries and cabbage, carotenoids are more stable and remain vibrant even after cooking. The sweetness of a red pepper comes mainly from the natural sugars that develop during ripening, but its red colour is all thanks to carotenoids stored in the flesh.

Answer: Red racing car

Futurism, which emerged in Italy in the early 20th century, was an art movement that glorified speed, machinery, and the raw energy of modern life. Its artists and writers rejected the weight of tradition and instead celebrated factories, aeroplanes, engines, and the restless pulse of the industrial age.

Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, the movement's founder, set the tone when he declared that a racing car was more beautiful than a classical statue. For him and his fellow Futurists, the car was a symbol of velocity, power, and a future rushing forward. The image of the red racing car, in particular, captured their passion for danger, dynamism, and technological beauty. In Futurist art, motion itself became the subject: forms fractured, multiplied, and blurred to express energy and speed.

Answer: Red cardinal's robe

The red robes of a cardinal have long symbolised courage and devotion in the Catholic Church. The bright red, known as 'cardinal red', represents the blood of Christ and the willingness of cardinals to give their lives in defence of their faith.

This tradition dates back to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, when the Church assigned distinctive clothing to its hierarchy. By wearing red, cardinals publicly declared their spiritual commitment and readiness to serve, even to the shedding of blood. More than just ceremonial attire, the red robe is a visible sign of loyalty, sacrifice, and authority within the Church.

Answer: Red herring

A red herring is a deliberate distraction, something meant to mislead or divert attention from the real issue. The term comes from smoked red herrings, which were once dragged across trails to throw hunting dogs off the scent.

In logic, a red herring is a type of fallacy, introducing an unrelated point to steer the discussion away from the main topic. In stories, especially mysteries, red herrings are used to confuse readers or make a suspect seem guilty, building suspense before the true solution is revealed. It's a clever trick that keeps the audience guessing until the very end.

Answer: Blood moon

A blood moon is the striking red appearance of the moon during a total lunar eclipse, when Earth comes directly between the sun and the moon. Instead of vanishing into darkness, the moon glows a deep crimson because sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere bends and filters out the blue light, letting red wavelengths reach the moon's surface. It's like seeing every sunrise and sunset on Earth projected onto the moon at once.

The term 'blood moon' is poetic rather than scientific, but it captures the eerie beauty of the event. Lunar eclipses are safe to watch with the naked eye and can last over an hour. The exact shade of red can change depending on atmospheric conditions, making each blood moon a unique celestial spectacle.

Answer: Ladybird

The ladybird, or ladybug in North America, is actually a beetle, not a true bug. It belongs to the beetle order Coleoptera, and entomologists often call it a ladybird beetle to avoid confusion.

These little red-and-black insects are part of the Coccinellidae family, with dome-shaped bodies and hard forewings called elytra. Their bright colouration isn't simply for looks, because it warns predators that they taste bad. So while we might casually call them 'bugs', scientifically they're true beetles, combining charm, bold colours, and helpful pest control.

Answer: Red lion

In heraldry, the red lion a symbol of courage, strength, and nobility. Lions are the most common animals in coats of arms, often depicted in the rampant pose, standing on their hind legs, to convey power, ferocity, and readiness for battle.

When the lion is colored red, its meaning deepens. The red hue, called gules in heraldic terms, emphasises a warrior spirit and a willingness to fight or even die for a cause. Together, the lion's natural qualities and the bold red colour make it a potent emblem of bravery, honour, and unwavering commitment.

Answer: Scarlet elf cup

The scarlet elf cup is a vivid red fungus that often surprises people with its flower-like appearance. It grows on decaying wood in damp, shaded forests, typically appearing in late winter and early spring, when most other plants are still dormant. Its cup-shaped body adds a bright splash of colour to the forest floor at a time when the woods are mostly brown and bare.

Unlike plants, the scarlet elf cup doesn't make its own food through photosynthesis. Instead, it feeds on organic matter, breaking down dead wood and leaf litter. Its red interior and pale, fuzzy exterior make it easy to spot, and its name has inspired legends of woodland elves drinking dew from its tiny cups. It's a reminder that not everything that looks like a flower is actually a plant.