General Quiz: In the Pink: 10 Questions | Colors

Answer: 17th

Prior to this period, pink was a word used to describe a yellow pigment. This was mixed with other pigments to produce a colour with green overtones. Some colours of this nature were yellow pink for example - or French green, which was a pink and indigo mix - or grass green, which was a mixture of pink and blue.

Answer: Dressmakers

Pinking shears are hand-held scissors with the blade edges made in a sawtooth pattern - a little like the teeth of shark. They are used to give a zig-zag effect along the edges of materials when cutting, to stop the material from fraying. It's a handy little shortcut to use instead of hemming or seaming.

Answer: Boys

I bet you were surprised to learn that. So was I. Here is a direct quote from the June 1918 Ladies Home Journal relating to this: "The generally accepted rule is pink for the boys and blue for the girls. The reason is that pink, being a more decided and stronger color, is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl". So fellas, ignore all the guffaws from the women, you can all get out in pink shirts and jeans from now on if you wish - and cite historical precedent.

The switch in colour assignment came about in the 1940s, and from that time pink was assigned to girls and blue to boys.

Answer: Pornography

How charming is that? An excellent way to besmirch a beautiful colour, I think. The reason for this dubious classification in a country otherwise known for its dedication to beauty is that the colour cherry blossom pink is associated with various parts of the female anatomy.

Answer: White elephant

Jumbo it is. This elephant is very rare with a skin that is a very pale reddish tint, which turns pink when wet. Even its eyelashes and toenails are very pale in colour. They're all officially classed as white, however. Oh well, why not? The white elephant is usually considered a symbol of royal power in this area of the world. If a king wanted to bankrupt a rival or an enemy, it was said that he gave this person or persons a gift of a white elephant.

These animals cannot work to bring in an income and they need a lot of care and attention - hence the resulting bankruptcy. How diabolically clever is that! There are echoes of this in the west, where, if something is referred to as a white elephant, it is considered to be more trouble than it is worth.

Answer: An alcoholic drink

This drink is made of gin and grenadine syrup, and may include other ingredients as well. Another alcoholic drink, known as a pink squirrel, is comprised of white creme de cacao, creme de noyaux and cream itself. A pink gin, another heady drink, is made with bitters and gin. I don't know what any of them taste like as alcohol and my stomach don't get along, but the one with cream sounds rather yummy.

Answer: Jacqueline Kennedy

Jacqueline Kennedy was seated next to the President in the limousine driving through Dallas, Texas on 21 November, 1963 when those bullets flew through the air on their deadly mission. After being rushed to hospital with the President, she tried to enter the operating theatre where surgeons were battling to save his life.

When nurses tried to hold her back, she sobbed, "I want to be there when he dies" and they let her pass. As his body was later put in the casket, Mrs Kennedy, still wearing her blood-stained outfit, removed her wedding ring and placed it on one of her husband's fingers, and was overheard whispering, "Now I have nothing left."

Answer: Get a pink Mohawk haircut

And he did. The children, delighted at the idea of their normally conservative headmaster with a pink Mohawk haircut, raised the Academic Performance Index for the school by 67 points. Can't you just hear their squeals of gleeful laughter on the first day he appeared with the new style?

Answer: Panzer

The panzer division was the armoured division in Hitler's army. They had their own support infantry and artillery units, unlike the armoured divisions of the armies of other countries at that time, which had to call on these separate units in times of need. Pink flags for such thundering, merciless machines seems just a little bit out of place somehow, don't you agree?

Answer: Jaipur

Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajasthan in India. It was founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. It is India's first planned city with wide, beautiful streets set out along grid lines, and with various areas set aside for the various elements that make up Indian city life.