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• The Guardian
• Thu May 29 2025

The Thursday quiz has always been interested in fjords, not least since it was revealed in The Hitchhiker?s Guide to the Galaxy that they were the design work of Slartibartfast. However, it is difficult to ask questions about them. What is the longest fjord? Well, where are you measuring from and how are you accounting for curves? How many fjords are there in Norway? Nobody has ever really added them all up, have they? And anyway, how big does an inlet have to be before it can be considered a fjord? So, no fjord questions this week. Instead, we have the usual: 15 questions on topical news, general knowledge and popular culture. There are no prizes, but let us know how you got on in the comments ?

The Thursday quiz, No 212

1. What is Britain's best service station, according to a Which? survey Tibshelf services Gloucester services Stirling services Woolley Edge services Reveal 2. Which film won the Palme d'Or at the 2025 Cannes film festival (not pictured, that is the lovely Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds)? Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo by Diego C?spedes It Was Just an Accident by Jafar Panahi Incessant Barking by a Very Naughty Miniature Dachshund Reveal 3. Why has a judge in Argentina had to step down from the trial of Maradona's medical team? It emerged one of the defendants was her cousin It emerged that she was in a relationship with one of the defendant's lawyers It emerged she had been shooting a miniseries about the trial It emerged that she had punched the ball into the net during a crucial World Cup match, not that the Thursday quiz is still bitter nearly 39 years later Reveal 4. Who surprised their fans by gatecrashing a night club event dedicated to them? Lorde crashed a Lorde night in Sydney, Australia Billie Eilish crashed a Billie Eilish night in New York Dua Lipa crashed a Dua Lipa night in Birmingham 30-50 feral hogs crashed a feral hogs night in Ashdown, Arkansas Reveal 5. Early doors for Karl-Heinz with his opening lines today. This week the Thursday quiz imagines the German football legend would like to know which novel opens with "A SQUAT grey building of only thirty-four stories. Over the main entrance the words, CENTRAL LONDON HATCHERY AND CONDITIONING CENTRE"? Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth by Terrance Dicks Reveal 6. This week's flags question is about Haiti. What are the two dominant colours of the flag of Haiti, making up the two bands on which the coat of arms appears in a white box? Red and yellow Red and green Red and orange Red and blue Reveal 7. This is Willow, the official dog of the Guardian Thursday quiz. She heard that nearly 200 people dressed as Marilyn Monroe went for a charity swim at a fundraising event. Where? Australia South Africa Ireland Syldavia Reveal 8. This is 'Elemental, my dear Watson!', as Sherlock Holmes definitely never said. According to the Royal Society of Chemistry website, which of these elements is a 'dark amorphous powder' in its pure form? Phosphorus Boron Chromium Sparksanium Reveal 9. Here is farther or nearer with Geordie Alan Shearer. This week we imagine the England football legend wants to know, if he leaves his hometown of Newcastle upon Tyne, which is farther or nearer: Casablanca in Morocco or Berlin in Germany? Casablanca, Morocco, is nearer to Newcastle upon Tyne than Berlin, Germany Berlin, Germany, is nearer to Newcastle upon Tyne than Casablanca, Morocco Reveal 10. It is the anniversary of the fall of Constantinople to Sultan Mehmed II, effectively ending the line from the Roman empire that had continued through Byzantine times in eastern Europe. In which year did it fall? 1253 1353 1453 1553 Reveal 11. Some fool of a Took has won the cheese wheel race held at Cooper?s Hill near Brockworth for the second year running. What type of cheese do they chase? An 8lb wheel of double gloucester An 8lb wheel of dorset drum An 8lb wheel of lincolnshire poacher A vile slice of American processed cheese Reveal 12. How many times were there passes during the 78-lap Monaco Grand Prix at the weekend? None One Two 1,057 Reveal 13. It is Mel B's birthday today. Happy birthday, Mel! Spice up your life! But what does the B stand for? Brown Baker Booth Bowen Reveal 14. Which football club definitely did not make themselves look thin-skinned by refusing to allow Gary Neville to commentate on their game at the weekend? Nottingham Forest Southampton Aston Villa Fulchester United Reveal 15. And finally, how much has the water regulator, Ofwat, fined Thames Water? ?23m ?123m ?223m ?323m Reveal

If you really do think there has been an egregious error in one of the questions or answers ? and can show your working and are absolutely 100% positive you aren?t attempting to factcheck a joke ? you can complain about it in the comments below. Why not watch Three by Hello Mary instead?