Beyond the answers - interesting background to this quiz

A Romantic who shaped French identity

Eugène Delacroix was not only born in France but became one of the defining figures of French Romantic painting. His dramatic use of colour and movement influenced later artists, and his work often drew on historical and literary subjects. Unlike Salvador Dalí, who was Spanish, or Raffaello, who was Italian, Delacroix is closely tied to the French national story.

Two capitals, one divided history

Khartoum and Juba sit at the centre of one of Africa’s most significant recent political changes. Khartoum, where the Blue and White Nile meet, long served as the capital of Sudan. After South Sudan gained independence in 2011, Juba became the capital of the world’s then-newest recognised country. The two cities are only a few hundred kilometres apart, yet they now belong to separate states.

Why Jupiter spins so fast

Jupiter has the shortest day of any planet in the Solar System, completing a full rotation in under ten hours. Despite being the largest planet, its rapid spin causes a noticeable flattening at the poles and a bulge around the equator. This swift rotation also helps generate the powerful magnetic field and dramatic storm systems for which Jupiter is known.

Chickpeas beyond the dip

Chickpeas are the foundation of traditional Lebanese hummus, but their role in Middle Eastern cooking goes far deeper. The legume has been cultivated in the region for thousands of years and appears in stews, salads, and fried dishes. Its mild, nutty base makes it ideal for combining with tahini, lemon, and garlic, which is why hummus varies so much from one kitchen to another.

A voice from two continents

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie wrote Half of a Yellow Sun, a novel set during the Nigerian Civil War. Born in Nigeria and later based in the United States, Adichie has become one of the most widely read African authors of her generation. Her fiction often explores identity, displacement, and the weight of history, while her essays have sparked global conversations about feminism and storytelling.