Careful! This Quiz is Red Hot!

Answer:

One of the spectral colours, red comes in a dizzying variety of shades. It is also one of the most frequent colours in the natural world, appearing in the sky at sunrise and sunset, in the skin, fur or plumage of many animal species and the petals of countless flowers. Warm and vibrant, it also has a strong symbolic value in human culture, being associated with positive values such as love and courage but also negative ones such as anger and sin.

Regarded as the colour most likely to attract attention, red traditionally represents warning and danger. Ignoring a red stop sign when driving can lead to disastrous consequences, while a red flag indicates danger, either literally or metaphorically. A pirate ship flying a red flag meant that no quarter would be given. In motor sports, a red flag is waved if there is danger to drivers. A red alert indicates the most serious threat level - either from a terrorist or military attack or from a natural disaster.

In many Asian cultures red is the colour of joy, good fortune and prosperity. This is particularly true in China, where red corresponds to Fire in the traditional Five Elements theory. Red is the dominant colour in the Chinese (Lunar) New Year celebrations. A long-standing tradition on that festivity is the giving of gifts of money enclosed in red envelopes ("hongbao"). Red lanterns and other red decorations are also prominently displayed. Red is also the traditional colour of weddings in China and South Asia.

The many shades of red found in the plant and animal kingdom are due to the presence of various pigments. The stunning red autumn foliage of maples is produced by anthocyanins, pigments that develop in the sap of maple leaves at the end of summer. Anthocyanins are also responsible for the red tint of fruits such as raspberries, cranberries and cherries.

The red colour of bird feathers comes from carotenoids, the yellow, orange and red pigments that give carrots, pumpkin and tomatoes their hue. Native to North America, the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is the state bird of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. It is a sexually dimorphic species, in which adult males sport bright red plumage, a red-orange beak and a distinctive black mask around the eyes,

Cinnabar, or mercury (II) sulfide, is the most common mercury ore. This bright red mineral usually occurs near hot springs or other volcanic activity. It has been used since antiquity for its brilliant colour, not only for painting and interior decoration but also as a cosmetic. Cinnabar is the source of the orange-red pigment known as vermilion, widely employed in Renaissance art and Chinese lacquerware. Like all mercury compounds, it is highly toxic and must be handled with care - if at all.

If Mars is called the Red Planet because of the iron oxide present on its surface, Jupiter is known for its Great Red Spot. This is an area of persistent high pressure in the planet's atmosphere, which produces the largest anticyclonic storm in the Solar System. This oval-shaped spot lies south of Jupiter's equator. The origin of its red-orange colour is still unknown, though it is believed to be the product of complex chemical reactions. The spot was first observed in September 1831.

The Book of Exodus in the Old Testament relates the episode of the Parting of the Red Sea, a miracle that allowed the Israelites to escape from the pursuing Egyptian army. Moses was commanded by God to raise his staff and stretch his hand above the sea. Then a strong east wind caused the waters to part, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground while the Egyptians were swept into the sea. The English name Red Sea (which in the Bible is called "sea of reeds") is a literal translation of the Ancient Greek "Erythra Thalassa".

Better known as Erik the Red because of his red hair and beard, Norse explorer Erik Thorvaldsson is widely credited as the founder of the first successful settlement in Greenland. The world's largest island owes its somewhat deceptive name to Erik's attempt to attract other settlers. The two settlements established on the island's southwestern coast lasted for several centuries. Erik's son, Leif Erikson, would later found what is thought to be the first European settlement in North America, known as Vinland, in an area identified with present-day Newfoundland.

The region of Central Australia is often referred to as the Red Centre because of its red sand dunes and barren desert landscape. This vast region is part of the Northern Territory; its main settlement is the town of Alice Springs, which roughly lies in Australia's geographical centre. Central Australia is also home to one of the country's best-known sights, the massive red sandstone monolith of Uluru/Ayers Rock, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located southwest of Alice Springs.

The capital of Russia, Moscow is also the most populous city located entirely in Europe. One of its most famous sites is the Red Square, adjacent to the city's most significant landmarks: the Kremlin, St Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum, the State Historical Museum and the sprawling GUM Department Store. The square's name, "Krasnaya ploshchad", originally meant Beautiful Square. However, in modern Russian the Old Russian world "krasnaya" has come to denote the colour red. In addition, the walls and towers of the Kremlin are primarily built of red brick.

The six items listed as wrong answers are all associated with blue. Peacock, cornflower and lapis lazuli are associated with shades of blue. The planet Neptune appears a vivid blue when observed with a telescope. The island of Capri in the Gulf of Naples is known for its Blue Grotto. Blue is also synonymous with sadness.