Beyond the answers - interesting background to this quiz

A river that crosses borders

The Amazon is often described as flowing through Brazil, and it does, but its course begins in Peru and also passes through Colombia, which is why Colombia is the answer here. The river's vast drainage basin, the Amazon Basin, extends across several South American countries. Its flow is so immense that it discharges more water into the Atlantic Ocean than any other river in the world.

From the gym to the governor's mansion

Arnold Schwarzenegger won the 2003 California recall election and served as governor until 2011. Before politics, he was a champion bodybuilder and one of Hollywood's biggest action stars, known for films such as The Terminator. His move into public office was unusual even by celebrity standards, and California's recall process, which allows voters to remove a sitting governor, made it possible.

A novel that took decades to write

Victor Hugo published Les Misérables in 1862, after working on it for many years. The novel follows characters such as Jean Valjean and Cosette through a France marked by poverty and political unrest. It has since been adapted into numerous films, musicals and television productions, making it one of the most recognised stories in world literature.

A dip with ancient roots

Tzatziki is a staple of Greek cuisine, and its main ingredient is yogurt, typically strained to give it a thick texture. It also usually includes cucumber, garlic, olive oil and sometimes herbs. Similar yogurt-based dips appear across the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, reflecting centuries of shared culinary traditions in the region.

A composer who turned pictures into sound

Modest Mussorgsky composed "Pictures at an Exhibition" as a suite for piano, inspired by an exhibition of works by his friend, the artist Viktor Hartmann. The piece was later arranged for orchestra by several composers, most famously Maurice Ravel. Its Promenade theme, which recurs between movements, suggests a visitor walking from one artwork to the next.