Mix Me Up No 1 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tahiti

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) went to Tautira, Tahiti in 1886 to recuperate from an illness and stayed in this area for two months. While he was living there, an old village chief took him under his wing. Stevenson was tended to by an elderly princess of rank, Princess Moe. (No, she didn't have a moustache, Johnny).

She nursed him back to health on a diet comprising raw fish in coconut milk (shudder), lime juice, sea water and chilli. Oh my stars, that would have finished me off completely.

Answer: Paper

How astonishing is that? The droppings from sheep contain a lot of cellulose. They are mixed with various pulp materials, and after the normal manufacturing process, paper is the result. You'll be pleased to know however that the droppings are sterilised first. I just love learning odd pieces of information like that, don't you? Pardon? Did you just say "Bah"?

Answer: Mary Surratt

Born in 1820, Mary Surratt was executed in 1865 for her part in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. She married John Surratt in 1839, and after a brief period of happiness, his behaviour underwent a radical change. He began complaining about her religious activities, began to drink heavily and became increasingly violent towards her.

In 1862, he suddenly collapsed and died, leaving his family in serious financial difficulty. It was during this period of her life that Mary Surratt, because of her son's involvement in the plot against Lincoln, became associated with the conspirators.

After the assassination, her son fled, but his mother and fellow conspirators were arrested, and on evidence that has proved a bone of contention ever since, Mary Surratt was condemned. Seriously ill, almost blind, and in spite of many witnesses testifying as to her good character and deep faith, she was hanged on July 7, 1865.

Answer: Produce human breast milk

Isn't that the most astonishing thing ever? Scientists from various institutions in Argentina harvested human milk genes that aren't present naturally in cow's milk, and modified a calf embryo with them. The cow was born in April 2011, and scientists say that when she's of an age to be milked, she will be able to produce human milk suitable for babies. So amazing. Breastfed babies are protected against obesity, allergies, SIDS, bad teeth, and several other health problems. Scientists wanted to name the animal Cristina after the President of Argentina, but she refused the honour, stating she didn't wish to have a cow named after her. Fussy cow. So the little heifer was called Rosita instead.

Answer: Sculptures

Indeed, some of these sculptures can reach as high as ten metres. And the very best thing of all about them is that, if you don't like them, you can eat them instead. Just as an example of how much value is placed on their butter, the people of Tibet, the area of the world where the yak can be found in great numbers, drink at least sixty cups of yak butter tea a day. Yes - a day. Astonishing, isn't it? Yak butter tea - oh happy thought. All together now everyone, sing after me: "Yakety yak, blah, blah, blah, blah".

Answer: "I plays the big drum, sir"

Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was a physician and writer, most noted for his series of crime mysteries featuring the irritating Sherlock Holmes, who first appeared in the novel "A Study in Scarlet". Holmes was modelled after one of Doyle's first university teachers, Joseph Bell.

In a later correspondence with Bell, Doyle wrote that "It is most certainly to you that I owe Sherlock Holmes...round the centre of deduction and inference and observation which I have heard you inculcate..." Even as far away as Samoa, Robert Louis Stevenson, who had attended the same university some years earlier, wrote to Doyle and remarked "My compliments on your very ingenious and very interesting adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Can this be my old friend, Joe Bell?"

Answer: Tom Sawyer

American writer Samuel Clemens (1835-1910), under his pen name Mark Twain, wrote "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" in 1876. It seems appropriate that his would be the first manuscript written on a typewriter. He began his working career as an apprentice printer, then became a typesetter, before going on to work as a printer in several cities.

He then switched to working on a job he'd always desired - riverboat pilot on the Mississippi river. His love for that river shines through in the novel "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" written in 1885. Often described as one of the great American novels, this book operates on several levels. On one level, it is primarily a great ripping adventure tale of a young boy, and on another, it describes in vivid detail the type of people and lifestyle that was experienced on the Mississippi at the time. On a third, its great theme running right through the work is that of a journey through life.

Answer: A bird

Nightjars are birds usually seen at night or around dusk and dawn. They have long wings but very short beaks and legs. Found all around the world, and because of their night time habits, a great proportion of their diet consists of moths. Their usual colouring is that of brown or dying leaves, and this acts as a brilliant camouflage for the bird when it is rest during daylight hours. Because of this difficulty in locating them, scientists can't say for certain whether the little bird is endangered or not. Amazingly so, they don't build nests for their young, but just lay the eggs on the ground instead.

In today's world then, that probably would make the little bird endangered.

Answer: Atlantis

Atlantis, the fourth of the space shuttles constructed by Rockwell International, was delivered to the John F. Kennedy Space Centre in 1985. Its last flight also marks the end of the space shuttle program. During its working life, this gallant ship completed 32 space flights, travelled over 120 million miles, and orbited the earth 4,600 times. On the completion of its last trip, it will be placed on display at the Kennedy Space Centre Visitors Complex. I think it's awfully sad somehow - and I'm sure Captains Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway and Archer would agree with me.

Answer: Juggling

Dempsey (born 1966) is so skilled at juggling that he once came second in a country wide juggling competition. He's also not a bad skier into the bargain, having once won a Maine state slalom competition. Married with three children, Dempsey plays the role of Dr Derek Shepherd in "Grey's Anatomy".

He must have been meant to play the role of a doctor as he also auditioned for the role of Dr House on the TV show "House", but only just missed out on it. The gorgeous Dempsey has had dyslexia all his life and, as a result, doesn't have the luxury of reading his lines off a prompt.

He has to memorise them all instead.