Beyond the answers - interesting background to this quiz

The cheese that conquered the world

Mozzarella is one of Italy's most famous exports, but the word itself comes from the Italian verb "mozzare", meaning to cut off. That refers to the way fresh curd is separated by hand into small portions during production. The soft, milky version sold in brine is traditionally made from water buffalo milk in the Campania region around Naples, while the firmer, low-moisture kind used on pizzas is usually made from cow's milk.

From aircraft to family cars

Saab began in Sweden in the 1930s as an aircraft manufacturer, and its name is an abbreviation of Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget, or Swedish Aeroplane Company. After the Second World War, the company moved into car production, and its early models carried clear traces of that aviation mindset: aerodynamic shapes and a strong emphasis on safety. The distinctive centre console ignition key, a Saab trademark for decades, was originally a safety feature.

Fairy tales with a sting

Hans Christian Andersen published The Emperor's New Clothes in 1837 as part of a collection of fairy tales. The story of a vain ruler, two swindling weavers and a child who blurts out the truth is usually read as a satire on vanity and the fear of speaking up. Andersen, born in Odense in 1805, wrote more than 150 fairy tales, including The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling, and his stories have been translated into well over a hundred languages.

A surgeon ahead of his time

In the 1860s, Joseph Lister introduced antiseptic methods to surgery, using carbolic acid to clean wounds, instruments and hands. At the time, infection after operations was common and often fatal, and many surgeons believed such infections were simply unavoidable. Lister's approach dramatically reduced deaths from surgery, and it helped pave the way for modern sterile operating theatres. He later became known as the father of antiseptic surgery.

Europe's great river

The Volga flows entirely within Russia, from the Valdai Hills north-west of Moscow to the Caspian Sea. At roughly 3,500 kilometres, it is the longest river in Europe and the backbone of a vast waterway network linked by canals to the Baltic and the Black Sea. For centuries it has been central to Russian trade, transport and culture, and it is often affectionately called Mother Volga.