Beyond the answers - interesting background to this quiz

A capital that is not the biggest city

Yamoussoukro became the official capital of Côte d'Ivoire in 1983, yet the country's economic and cultural heart remains Abidjan, the former capital and its largest city. The shift was a deliberate political gesture, moving the seat of government to the hometown of then-president Félix Houphouët-Boigny. The contrast between a purpose-built capital and a bustling economic metropolis is a pattern found in several countries around the world.

Where Spanish is spoken most

With well over 100 million speakers, Mexico is by far the largest Spanish-speaking country on the planet - a figure that dwarfs even Spain itself. That dominance is partly a legacy of the Spanish colonial empire, which at its height stretched across much of the Americas. Spanish is now one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, and its centre of gravity has long since shifted across the Atlantic.

The river that shaped Europe

The Rhine is one of Europe's great waterways, flowing from the Swiss Alps through Germany and the Netherlands before emptying into the North Sea. For centuries it served as a trade route, a natural border and a source of legend - Wagner's Ring cycle drew on Rhine mythology. Today it remains one of the busiest inland shipping routes in the world, linking major industrial regions.

Names behind the newest elements

Nihonium, symbol Nh, was the first chemical element to be discovered in Japan - its name derives from "Nihon," a Japanese name for the country. Elements at the far end of the periodic table are often named after places, scientists or institutions, which is why the newest additions read almost like a world atlas. It is a reminder that chemistry and geography are not as separate as they might seem.