Darwin Evolves! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Darwin

Darwin is most famous for writing "On the Origin of Species" and laying out his theory of evolution. In his honour, the Darwin Awards are, somewhat callously, awarded to those who remove themselves from the human gene pool.

Answer: Rewind

Before digital files, if you wanted to re-watch or re-listen to your media you would literally have to rewind the physical magnetic tape. In the UK the Rewind festival is a two day event celebrating musical acts from the 1980s.

Answer: Wander

William Wordsworth famously "wandered lonely as a Cloud" in "Daffodils," allegedly the most famous poem ever written in English, though I think "My friend Billy" could give it a run for its money!

Answer: Reward

One of the most famous awards never to be claimed was James Randi's "One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge," a $1,000,000 reward to anyone who could prove supernatural powers under previously agreed upon scientific conditions.

Answer: Warned

In Greek mythology, Cassandra was a prophet cursed to have no-one believe her accurate visions of the future. She warned Paris not to go to Sparta, knowing it would ultimately result in the destruction of Troy during the Trojan War, but was ignored.

Answer: Garden

If you're visiting my home county of Cornwall, make a trip to the Lost Gardens of Heligan. A number of different styles of garden on the Heligan estate, totaling over 200 acres, were neglected after the First World War and restored in the 1990s. Nowadays you can see fantastic examples of a huge variety of plants, including Europe's only remaining pineapple pit.

Answer: Orange

British comedy fans may recall The Curious Orange being portrayed by Paul Putner on "This Morning with Richard Not Judy." Despite the show being a lighthearted comedy on a Sunday lunchtime, he would ask questions such as "If Christian Morality suggests that we supress natural tendencies towards violence, then is not Christian Morality itself inherently unnatural?" He also notably rotted as the series progressed.

Answer: Angler

My favourite anglers are catfish noodlers. Only legal in 12 US states, noodlers eschew your fancy gizmos and gadgets and simply stand in a lake and wait for a catfish to try and swallow their arm, a which point the fish gets pulled out of the water.

Answer: Regale

In "One Thousand and One Nights" cuckolded ruler Shahryār has his wife killed and then begins marrying and sleeping with a different virgin each night, having each one killed off in the morning before they can let him down. The vizier's daughter, Scheherazade, nominates herself as a bride. Every night she regales him with a story, but makes sure never to finish a story in one night. Shahryār is so captivated by her tales that he never executes her, and she keeps him entertained for 1,001 nights!

Answer: Beagle

Darwin voyaged on HMS Beagle around South America, making observations that would provide the framework for his theory of natural selection. The Beagle was featured alongside Darwin on the English £10 note from 2000 to 2018. One of the reasons he was chosen over so many other prominent figures in British history was that his bushy beard would make the note difficult to forge.