Beyond the answers - interesting background to this quiz

A short war with a long shadow

The Falklands War of 1982 was fought between Argentina and Britain over the Falkland Islands, a remote South Atlantic archipelago that Argentina calls the Islas Malvinas. The conflict lasted just over two months and ended with British forces retaking the islands. It left a lasting mark on politics in both countries and is still a sensitive subject today.

The novel that never ages

Oscar Wilde published The Picture of Dorian Gray in 1890, and it remains his only novel. Its central idea, a portrait that ages while its subject stays young, has been retold in films, plays and countless adaptations. The book also became evidence in Wilde's own trial, where its content was used against him.

Two rivers, two continents

The Rhine rises in the Swiss Alps and flows through several countries before emptying into the North Sea. The Amazon is a very different beast: it carries more water than any other river on Earth and drains a vast area of South America. Comparing the two is a neat reminder of how varied the world's river systems are.

Iron, carbon and the bones of modern life

Steel is an alloy of iron with a small amount of carbon, usually less than two per cent. That tiny addition transforms soft, relatively weak iron into a material strong enough for bridges, skyscrapers and cutlery. Brass, by contrast, is made from copper and zinc, which is why it looks quite different.

A composer with a family of musicians

Johann Sebastian Bach came from a large musical dynasty, and several of his sons became respected composers in their own right. His first name is often confused with that of other famous Bachs, so it is worth remembering that the man behind the Brandenburg Concertos was Johann Sebastian.