Beyond the answers - interesting background to this quiz

The river that shaped a capital

The Seine runs roughly 775 kilometres from eastern France to the English Channel, and Paris grew up around it. Its banks have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1991, and the river still divides the city into the Right Bank and the Left Bank. Long before tourism, it was the main artery for trade, timber and grain.

Why silver is Ag

The symbol Ag comes from the Latin word argentum, which also gives us "argent" and the name of Argentina. Silver sits alongside gold and copper as one of the metals people have worked for thousands of years. It is the best electrical conductor of any element, which is why it appears in switches, contacts and solar panels.

Everest and the Nepal-China border

Mount Everest sits on the border between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, with the summit marking the line between them. Its height of 8,849 metres was confirmed by a joint Chinese-Nepalese survey announced in 2020. Climbing routes from the two sides differ considerably in difficulty and cost.

Athens and the 2004 Games

Athens hosted the 2004 Summer Olympics, bringing the Games back to their ancient homeland. The city had also staged the first modern Olympics in 1896. The 2004 edition is remembered for the marathon route finishing at the Panathenaic Stadium, a marble venue used in antiquity.

Bulgaria's European position

Bulgaria lies in south-eastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula, bordering the Black Sea to the east. Its neighbours include Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece and Turkey. The country joined the European Union in 2007, and its capital, Sofia, is one of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited cities.