Beyond the answers - interesting background to this quiz

Two letters that keep the world running

Water's formula, H2O, tells you that each molecule is built from two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. That simple arrangement gives water some unusual properties: it stays liquid across a wide range of temperatures, expands when it freezes, and dissolves more substances than most liquids do. None of that would matter much if the formula were different.

An island that has produced more than its share of actors

Pierce Brosnan was born in Ireland and later became the fifth actor to play James Bond on screen. Ireland has a long theatrical tradition, and its actors have travelled widely, from Dublin's stages to Hollywood. That small island has an outsized presence in film and television, and Brosnan is one of its best-known exports.

A peninsula with a complicated history

North Macedonia sits on the Balkan Peninsula, a region of southeastern Europe bordered by the Adriatic, Ionian, Aegean and Black Seas. The Balkans have been shaped by empires, migrations and shifting borders, which is why the region's history and even its name remain contested. It is also a place of striking mountains, old towns and a mix of languages and religions.

A novel that started badly and became a classic

Herman Melville published Moby Dick in 1851, and it was not a success in his lifetime. The book blends a whaling voyage with digressions on cetology, philosophy and the sea, and it only became a cornerstone of American literature in the twentieth century. Its opening line is among the most famous in fiction.

Mozart's last symphony and its nickname

Mozart composed his Symphony No. 41 in 1788, and it is widely known as the Jupiter Symphony. The nickname probably did not come from Mozart himself; it appears to have been attached later, likely by a concert promoter. The name suits the work's grand, celebratory character.