Quiz Time! Commonalities

Below you will find several groups of words or phrases. The members of each group have something in common. Can you determine the commonality? Enjoy, and maybe learn—I did.



1. Tango, Delta, Papa, Lima.

2. Nassau, Mulligan, Tennis, Checkmate.

3. Gordon Ashe, Anthony Morton, Michael Halliday, Norman Deane.

4. Hawthorn, Peach, Strawberry, Jujube

5. Silurian, Permian, Ordovician, Devonian.

6. Polynices, Tydeus of Calydon, Hippomendon, Amphiaraus.

7. Viminal, Caelian, Quirinal, Aventine.

8. Observer, Optimist, Peacemaker, Performer.

9. Phyllite, Schist, Slate, Gneiss.

10. Asparagus, Aloe, Leek, Trillium.

11. Sawm, Zakah, Shahadah, Salah.

12. Niccolo Paganini, Moliere, Agatha Christie, Vincent Van Gogh.

13. Iguazu, Helena, Fincha, Mardalsfossen.

14. Pat Sullivan, Matt Leinart, Doak Walker, Reggie Bush.

15. Windsor, Grand Isle, Essex, Lamloille.

16. Locusts, Murrain, Lice, Darkness.

17. Euterpe, Thalia, Calliope, Polyhymnia.

18. Chet, Vaisakh, Jeth, Harh.



Answers: 1) Members of the radio phonetic alphabet used to eliminate ambiguity in communication; T, D, P, and L specifically.

2) These sporting words are derived from foreign climes as described in Chapter 13 of Thou Improper Thou Uncommon Noun by Willard R. Espy. ( Clarkson N. Potter, Inc. 1978) Nassau is a golf term originating from the Bahamian island of Nassau. It refers to a match in which winning the first nine holes awards one point; winning the second nine awards one point; and, winning all 18 holes awards an additional point. Mulligan, another golf term, receives its name from an Irishman who apparently had a “poor memory.” It is a stroke not counted on the score card. The word tennis is derived from (Britannica version) the French tenez, meaning “hold.” Another origin theory attributes the word to the name of the Egyptian town of Tinnis which was known for producing the cloth from which tennis balls were made. Checkmate—yes, chess is considered a sport—evolved from the Persian-Arabic Shah-mat which means “The Shah (king) is dead.”

3) These are some of the 20 different pseudonyms used by mystery/thriller writer John Creasey who wrote over 600 books, including “The Toff” one of my favorite series.



4) All are members of the Rose Family (Rosaceae). See http://theseedsite.co.uk/ for more information.



5) These are Periods, in no particular order, in the Paleozoic Era, dating from 550 - 250 million years ago. The two Periods omitted were Carboniferous and Cambrian.



6) Four of the Seven Against Thebes are named. When Oedipus was banished his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, were to take turns ruling Thebes. Eteocles refused to cede the throne to his brother when the time came for him to do so. Seven champions, including Polynices, joined together to wrest the kingdom from Eteocles. Extra credit if you can name the other three.



7) These are four of the Seven Hills of Rome. The others are Palatine, Capitoline, and Esquiline.



8) These are four of the nine personality types that comprise the Enneagram. This system of Eastern mysticism also includes Leader, Guardian, Romantic, Helper, and Achiever types.



9) The four are types of metamorphic rocks. This type of rock has been changed due to heat and pressure. The other classifications of rocks are igneous and sedimentary.



10) These are members of the Lily Family of plants which generally have bulbs or other storage organs, long thin leaves, six petals, six stamens, and a seed capsule which forms inside the flower. Liliaceae are monocotyledons that have only one seed leaf. See “theseedsite” noted above, because frankly I don’t have a clue.



11) These are four of the five Pillars of Islam, in no particular order. Sawm requires abstaining from bodily pleasures from sunup to sundown during Ramadan. Zakah demands the paying of alms to the poor. Shahadah is the belief in the oneness of Allah (God) and that Muhammad is his Prophet. Salah requires believers to pray five times each day while facing Mecca. The fifth Pillar is Hajj that requires at least one pilgrimage to Mecca for all Muslims capable of doing so.



12) Each of these famous musicians, writers, and artists suffered from epilepsy.



13) All are famous waterfalls. Iguazu is in Argentina & Brazil, Helena is in New Zealand, Fincha is to be found in Ethiopia, and Marddasfossen (North and South) are in Norway.



14) These gentlemen are Heisman Trophy winners: Sullivan in 1971, Leinhart in 2004, Walker in 1948, and Bush in 2005.



15) All are counties in Vermont.



16) Those listed are four of the ten plagues the Lord sent to the Egyptians after they refused Moses’s demand to free the Hebrews from slavery. See Exodus 7 – 11.



17) Euterpe is the Muse of lyrical poetry and flute music. Thalia is the Muse of comedy and pastoral poetry. Calliope is the Muse of epic poetry. Polyhymnia is the Muse of sacred songs. Look up the other five yourself!



18) The four are the first four months of the Sikh calendar year which begins in the western month of March. The rest of the months, in order, are: Sawan, Bhadar, Asu, Katik, Maghar, Poh, Magh, Phalgan.



Now, that wasn’t so bad. How did you do? A score of six or more is really good.