Beyond the answers - interesting background to this quiz

Why Tin hides behind two letters

Tin's symbol, Sn, comes from the Latin word stannum, the name Romans used for the metal. That is why the symbol looks nothing like the English word, a quirk shared by elements such as iron (Fe, from ferrum) and lead (Pb, from plumbum). Flerovium, by contrast, is a modern synthetic element named after the Russian physicist Georgy Flerov and its symbol, Fl, follows the letters of its name.

A peace project born from war

The League of Nations was established in 1920, in the aftermath of the First World War, as an international body meant to keep peace between countries. It was based in Geneva and counted dozens of member states at its peak, though several major powers never joined or later left. Its aims were later carried forward by the United Nations, founded after the Second World War.

Defoe's castaway and the year that links the quiz

Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe appeared in 1719, the same year given as a wrong option for the League of Nations question. The novel tells of a sailor shipwrecked on a remote island, where he survives for years before encountering the man he names Friday. It is often described as one of the earliest English novels and has been adapted, retold and parodied countless times.

The Concorde's long goodbye

The Concorde flew passengers from 1969 until 2003, when the last commercial flights were retired. It crossed the Atlantic in roughly three and a half hours, far faster than conventional jets, thanks to its ability to cruise at supersonic speed. High fuel costs, limited seating and a fatal crash in 2000 all contributed to the decision to ground the fleet.

The Alps and the meaning of names

The Alps stretch across several European countries, with France among them, alongside Switzerland, Italy, Austria and others. The range's name is thought to derive from a Latin word for "white" or "high mountain", a fitting label for peaks that draw skiers and hikers from around the world. India, meanwhile, has long been known as Bharat, a name rooted in ancient Sanskrit texts.