Beyond the answers - interesting background to this quiz

A flag with three names and three crosses

The Union Jack, as the British flag is commonly known, combines three heraldic crosses: the red cross of St George (England), the diagonal white-on-blue saltire of St Andrew (Scotland), and the red diagonal cross of St Patrick (Ireland). The design evolved through the unions of 1707 and 1801, and it still appears in the corner of several national flags, including those of Australia and New Zealand. The name "Union Jack" likely comes from its use as a jack flown from the bowsprit of naval ships.

Why the flute belongs with the reeds

The flute is classed as a woodwind instrument, even though modern concert flutes are usually made of silver or gold. The category refers to how the sound is produced, not the material: in woodwinds, a vibrating column of air creates the note. Early flutes were indeed carved from wood, and the instrument family also includes the piccolo, clarinet and oboe. A flute player creates sound by blowing across an opening rather than through a reed.

Ice worlds far beyond Mars

Among the choices in this quiz, Europa, a moon of Jupiter, is the most ice-rich. Its surface is a frozen shell of water ice, and scientists believe a salty ocean may lie beneath it, making it a key target in the search for habitable environments. Mars, by contrast, has ice at its poles and below its surface, but far less overall. Europa's icy crust is marked by long cracks and ridges, hinting at a geologically active interior.

The day the Bastille fell

On 14 July 1789, a crowd in Paris stormed the Bastille, a royal fortress and prison that had come to symbolise the monarchy's arbitrary power. Although it held only a handful of prisoners at the time, the event became a turning point of the French Revolution. The date is now marked as Bastille Day, France's national holiday. The fortress was later demolished, and its stones were reused in other constructions.

Senegal's westernmost capital

Dakar, the capital of Senegal, sits on the Cap-Vert peninsula, the westernmost point of mainland Africa. Founded by the French in the mid-19th century, it grew into a major port and administrative centre for French West Africa. Today it is known for its vibrant music scene and as the finish line of the famous Dakar Rally, which originally ran from Paris to the Senegalese capital.