Beyond the answers - interesting background to this quiz

Why Porto-Novo is not Benin's largest city

Porto-Novo is the official capital of Benin, but many people are more familiar with Cotonou, the country's largest city and economic hub. Benin's government buildings are divided between the two, and Cotonou also hosts many foreign embassies. This dual-city arrangement can make West African geography confusing even for seasoned travellers.

Woodrow Wilson and America's reluctant entry into war

Woodrow Wilson campaigned for re-election in 1916 with the slogan "He kept us out of war." Yet by April 1917, after repeated German submarine attacks on American shipping and the interception of the Zimmermann Telegram, he asked Congress to declare war on Germany. Wilson later played a central role in the post-war peace negotiations and championed the League of Nations, though the United States ultimately never joined.

The Amazon's record-breaking discharge

The Amazon is usually cited as the river with the highest discharge on Earth, releasing more water than the next several largest rivers combined. Its flow is so powerful that fresh water from the Amazon can be detected far out into the Atlantic Ocean. The Congo and the Ganges are also enormous river systems, but neither matches the Amazon in total water volume.

Handel's Messiah and a new kind of oratorio

George Frideric Handel composed Messiah in 1741 in a remarkably short period, reportedly completing the score in about three weeks. Although it is now a Christmas tradition in many countries, Messiah was originally performed around Easter. Its famous "Hallelujah" chorus remains one of the most recognisable pieces of Baroque music, and the work has been performed continuously since Handel's own lifetime.