Beyond the answers - interesting background to this quiz

Austria's path into the European Union

Austria joined the European Union in 1995, alongside Finland and Sweden. This was a significant step for a country that had spent much of the Cold War as a neutral state between the Western and Eastern blocs. Membership followed a national referendum in 1994, in which roughly two-thirds of Austrian voters supported joining the bloc. The 1995 enlargement brought the EU to fifteen member states.

The Euphrates and the rivers of early civilisation

The Euphrates River flows through Turkey, Syria and Iraq before joining the Tigris to form the Shatt al-Arab, which empties into the Persian Gulf. Together, the Tigris and Euphrates define the region historically known as Mesopotamia, often called the cradle of civilisation. Ancient societies such as Sumer, Akkad and Babylon developed along these waterways, relying on them for irrigation, transport and trade.

Carcross Desert, the pocket desert of Yukon

Carcross Desert in Canada's Yukon territory is often described as the world's smallest desert. It covers roughly 260 hectares and sits near the village of Carcross, south of Whitehorse. Unlike hot sand deserts, this one is made up of fine glacial silt left behind by ancient lakes. Strong winds keep larger vegetation from taking hold, which helps the area retain its desert-like appearance.

Winston Smith and the world of Nineteen Eighty-Four

Winston Smith is the central character in George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, published in 1949. He works at the Ministry of Truth in the totalitarian state of Oceania, where his job involves altering historical records. The novel introduced terms such as Big Brother, thoughtcrime and Newspeak, many of which have entered everyday political language.