Going green
The birthstone for May is the vibrant green gemstone – the emerald. It is a variety of the mineral beryl. While emeralds have been mined in Egypt since 1500 BCE and in India and Austria since the 14th century CE, today the largest sources are Colombia, Zambia and Brazil.
Dubbed “the jewel of kings,” emeralds were considered by the ancients to be sacred symbols of fertility and immortality. It is said that Cleopatra adorned herself and her palace with emeralds and gave them as gifts to foreign dignitaries.
People believed that emeralds could confer riches, power and eloquence if worn as talismans. It was also believed they strengthened memory, sharpened wits and bestowed the ability to predict the future. Arab, Hindu and Spanish physicians used emeralds to ward against poison, infection and dysentery. The gemstone’s soothing green color was thought to be restful to eyes under strain. Roman emperor Nero is said to have watched gladiator fights through an emerald because its color was calming.
The theme of this month’s quiz is “emerald” and “green,” in all their varying shades and connotations. Go ahead. You’ve got the green light! 1. In fiction, The Emerald City is the capital of
what? 2. What is known as the Emerald Isle? 3. The 1999 film The Green Mile was adapted from the novel by what author? (a) George Orwell; (b) Stephen King; (c) Ray Bradbury; (d) John Steinbeck 4. In Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame, who is Quasimodo in love with? 5. Nuuk is the capital city of what
country? 6. What actor played patriarch Ben Cartwright on the 195973 western TV series Bonanza? 7. Who wrote the 1908 novel
Anne of Green Gables? 8. What group had a hit in 1960 with the song “Greenfields”? (a) The Brothers Four; (b) Peter, Paul and Mary; (c) The Kingston Trio (d) The Weavers 9. Who co-starred with Edward G.
Robinson in the 1973 film Soylent Green? (a) Charlotte Rampling; (b) Charlize Theron; (c) Charlton Heston; (d) Charlie Sheen 10. Which US state is known as The Green
Mountain State? 11. What actress co-starred with Eddie Albert on the TV sitcom Green Acres? (a) Eva Gabor; (b) Eva Mendes; (c) Eva Marie Saint; (d) Eva Longorria 12. Among his more than 25 novels, what British author wrote Brighton Rock (1938), The Power and the Glory (1940), The End of the Affair (1951) and Our Man in Havana (1958)? 13. What TV/film character laments, “It’s not
easy being green”? 14. What martial arts icon played Kato on the
1966-67 TV series The Green Hornet? 15. “The Land of Israel belongs to the People of Israel” is the motto of what Israeli nonprofit organization? 16. What French actor co-starred with Andie MacDowell in the 1991 film Green Card? (a) Alain Delon; (b) Jean-Paul Belmondo; (c) Gerard Depardieu; (d) Jean Dujardin 17. On what children’s TV show was Mr. Green Jeans a regular character? (a) Howdy Doody; (b) Captain Kangaroo; (c) The Mickey Mouse Club; (d) Sesame Street 18. In what year was Greenpeace established?
(a) 1971; (b) 1917; (c) 1967; (d) 1976 19. What US state is home to the Green Bay Packers football team? (a) Wisconsin; (b) Wyoming; (c) Nevada; (d) Nebraska 20. What actress played the title role in the 1964 British film Girl with Green Eyes? (She also starred in A Taste of Honey.) 21. S&H Green Stamps were trading stamps popular in the US in the 1930s-1980s. What does S&H stand for? 22. What was the full name of the character that Jennifer Aniston played on the TV sitcom Friends? 23. Emeraude perfume is produced by what brand? (a) Avon; (b) Bulgari; (c) Coty; (d) Dior 24. What type of political groups embrace these Four Pillars: Ecological wisdom; Social justice; Grassroots democracy; Nonviolence? 25. What beverage is noted for its high content of antioxidants?