Fruits and Vegetables Word Play Quiz

Answer: Forbidden Fruit

Forbidden fruit is a term meaning something alluring or irresistible that one has been told not to touch or partake of. Its associated origin goes right back to the bible's Old Testament, in Genesis 2:16-17, where God instructs Adam and Eve that they may eat freely of every tree in the Garden of Eden, "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it...". Well, they disobeyed as most of you would know, and as a result, suffered the consequences of their disobedience.

Answer: Pineapple

Pineapples are a somewhat tart tasting large fruit with an outer covering that resembles the pine cone. This skin takes a lot of cutting to remove, along with the sharply spiked blades on the top, and a nasty cut from either can be the result if care is not taken.

The fruit takes approximately two years to ripen and can be consumed fresh, canned, or crushed into a tasty juice drink. The plant originated in South America, and that busy traveller, Christopher Columbus, took it back to the rest of the world from there. Apart from its use in culinary products, the pineapple is said to be good for removing intestinal worms, and if applied on the skin, as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Answer: Vegetables

For members of the human race, vegetables are a huge range of plants, or their fruits, which can be safely consumed either raw or cooked. They are considered to be packed full of healthy vitamins and minerals. Botanically speaking however, the term itself refers to all members of the various plant families.

There are way too many vegetables that we consume to be listed here, but children have been sternly assured by their parents since time began that "They're good for you, so eat them up - or no dessert".

There are some of us, I sadly fear, who believe that some vegetables, particularly brussels sprouts, should be banished from the face of the earth forever.

Answer: Potato

The good old spud is a delicious tuber that can be cooked and presented in an amazing array of very tasty dishes. It too was introduced to the rest of the world from the continent of South America. The Spanish who conquered the major part of that continent took it back from there, but surprisingly it was initially slow to take off in Europe.

It was thought to be bad for the soil and for human consumption. Eventually its allure proved irresistible though, and, by the turn of the 21st century, the yummy humble pratie was the fourth largest crop grown in the world.

Answer: Cabbage

A cabbage is a large leafy vegetable about the size of a person's head. It is packed full of nourishing goodness, and can be eaten raw or cooked. Delicious in coleslaw as well as on a plate of traditional cooked vegetables, the leaves of a cabbage can be either green (the most common) or red, purple and white. The ancestor of the vegetable comes from Britain and western Europe.

Answer: Cauliflower

Cauliflowers are plants, which, when ripened, have small creamy white individual heads, known as florets, which combine to form a rather lovely looking plant a little like a very big densely packed flower. When cooked correctly, these small florets of the plant are delicious to eat, but can also be eaten raw. The vegetable has a low fat content, but is high in fibre and packed full of goodness. It is believed that consumption of cauliflower can slow the growth of cancer cells in individuals. This is somewhat comical, but cauliflowers also receive the tick of approval from mathematicians for their "distinct fractual dimensions". Just what every reluctant child at the dinner table needs - a vegetable that is also a maths lesson.

(Information and quote used in this question can be found on the following site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cauliflower)

Answer: Apple

Apples, believe it or not, are members of the rose family. Originating in Asia, their popularity was such that by the onset of the 21st century, they were one of the most widely grown fruits throughout the world, with China being the major grower of same.

More than 7,000 varities of this crunchy and health-giving fruit can be found. As with many other fruits, apples can either be consumed raw, cooked, or squeezed to produce delicious and fresh-smelling juices, vinegars or cider. This fruit is also said to be helpful in the prevention of several different kinds of cancer, helps reduce fat cells, and is an excellent aid in weight reduction.

Interesting, too, is the fact that in various studies carried out on mice, those fed apples as part of their diet, lived an average of 10% longer than those who did not have apple as part of their daily fare. Hmmm, let us pause here and ask the question, "Who, apart from cats, wants healthy mice?"

Answer: Artichoke

The artichoke - another vegetable I sadly fear should be banned - is part of the thistle family. They appear to have originated in northern Africa and the Mediterranean area, and were common fare on the tables of families in the ancient Greek and Roman days.

After it made it way throughout the rest of the known world over the centuries, the Dutch eventually introduced the artichoke to England, where Henry VIII, it seems, was rather partial to its taste. That explains a lot. Artichokes are said to improve digestion, improve liver and gall bladder function and reduce cholesterol.

They are also used to produce liqueurs and a type of tea known as a tisane. Artichoke tea? Oh, happy thought indeed.

Answer: Orange

Oranges are citrus fruits which have been around since ancient days. This rather pleasant tasting fruit originated in Asia, and from there, early Portuguese sailors took it back with them to the rest of the known world. It was introduced into the Americas by the early conquering Spanish and has particularly flourished there. Apart from its taste, the scent of the orange is particularly lovely.

It is clean, refreshing and energising. One day, I'm sure, I'll be arrested for going into fruit shops and sniffing all the beautiful fruits within.

Many products can be made from the orange and its pretty blossoms, and its peel, sprinkled on the ground, makes an excellent repellent for various slugs and bugs which appear in gardens.

Answer: Watermelon

Originally found in the southern lands of Africa, the watermlon is a simply delicious large, juicy, and sweet fruit that grows on a vine. Covered in a thick skin, which is easy to cut through, the flesh of this lovely fruit is found inside the plant. The fruit's seeds have been found in the tombs of the long dead pharaohs from Egypt, so it obviously made its way to the north of the continent by that era in history. From there it spread to the rest of the world. By the turn of the 21st century, the USA was the largest producer of this fruit in the world.

Astonishingly so, there are more than 1,200 varities of the watermelon, which allows for a wide selection of size, shape, taste and colour. In Japan, they train the fruit to grow in the shape of cubes, which seems rather comical. These come at twice the price of the normal, comfortable old methods of producing them. Perhaps they serve cubed watermelon slices as side dishes for their meals of whale meat, who knows. Also somewhat comically, in the state of Oklahoma in the USA, they appear to waste a degree of time debating whether the watermelon is a fruit or a vegetable. Who cares? Just cut me off a great big slice and let me get on with some enjoyable munching.