Quiz #7: It's time for the tin hat
We think you'll find this quiz tougher than others but also more rewarding.
Click on each question to reveal the answer, or click on the 'Show all the answers' link to see how you went and to learn more. Let us know any suggestions you have for improving the quiz by emailing quizmaster@radionz.co.nz.
Q 1 How long is 90 Mile Beach?
A 55 miles
Ninety Mile Beach, or Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē (the long beach of Tōhē), is actually only 88 kilometres (55 miles) long. It is an offical New Zealand highway.
Q 2 What is the 'ring of fire'?
A It refers to the edge of Pacific plate - an area high in volcanic activity.
The ring of fire starts in New Zealand and travels around most of the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
Johnny Cash had a song called Ring Of Fire.
Q 3 Who has taken the most wickets in New Zealand test cricket?
A Richard Hadlee
Sir Richard Hadlee took 431 wickets and also did well as a batsman, scoring 3124 runs in this 86 test matches. He was knighted in 1990 for services to cricket. Daniel Vettori is in the number two position with 362 test wickets.
Hadlee took a wicket (LBW) on the last ball of his test career.
Q 4 When was Alaska purchased by the US?
A 1867
It was sold to the US by Russia for $US7.2 million. Alaska become a nation state in 1946 and adopted a constitution in 1955. They formerly joined the US as the 49th state on 3 January, 1959.
Q 5 What is tinfoil made of?
A Aluminium
It was once made from tin, and it's never been made from stainless steel.
Adamantium is an alloy that appears in Marvel comics, and is the metal that Wolverine's claws are made from.
Some people believe that tinfoil hats protect them from mind control.
Q 6 What does the x in X-ray stand for?
A Nothing!
The man credited with the discovery of X-ray radiation, Wilhelm Röntgen, could not quantify what he'd discovered, hence the 'X'. X-rays can pass through objects we think of as solid, and is most widely known for its use in X-ray machines.
Q 7 When was the Canadian Maple Leaf flag inaugurated?
A 1965
New Zealand is not the only country to have a controversial debate over its flag. The Wikipedia article on The Great Flag Debate makes for fascinating reading.
Q 8 Charles Lindberg was a famous what?
A Aviator
Charles Lindberg first came to prominence when he flew non-stop from New York to Paris in 1925. The 5800 kilometre journey took 33 and a half hours in a purpose-built single-engine plane, The Spirit of St Louis.
Q 9 The Porcaro Brothers are (and were) members of which band?
A Toto
Jeff and Steve started the band in 1977. Mike joined to play bass in 1982, replacing David Hungate. Steve left in 1987, and Jeff passed away in 1992. Mike had to stop playing in 2007 due to ALS.
Their father Joe played as a 'guest' on Toto IV track 'Africa'.
In 2007 and 2008, there were no Porcaros in the band. Toto was inactive from June 2008 until February 2010 when Steve Porcaro rejoined, playing keyboards.
This track is from the 1986 album Farenheit, and features Jeff (Drums), Steve (Keyboards), and Mike (Bass). Steve Lukather takes lead vocal and Michael McDonald (from The Doobies) is on backing vocals.
Q 10 What year did The Simpsons series first air?
A 1989
The Simpsons started life as shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987, and was expanded into a 30-minute series in 1989. It first aired on 17 December. The history of The Simpsons is fascinating - it has been banned in schools, received critical acclaim, and continues to polarise people with its coverage of social issues.
The artist Banksy created an opening-credit sequence for the programme in 2010.
