The Saturday quiz features 15 diverse trivia questions spanning multiple knowledge areas
Rock group AC/DC got their name from a sewing machine label
The quiz includes both factual questions and analytical 'connection' questions requiring lateral thinking
Published by The Guardian, the quiz aims to entertain while educating readers
The quiz balances accessibility with challenging content to engage both casual readers and trivia enthusiasts
📖 Full Retelling
The Guardian newspaper published its weekly Saturday quiz on December 5, 2025, offering readers a challenging collection of trivia questions spanning geography, music, science, history, and popular culture to engage and entertain its audience. The quiz features 15 diverse questions that test knowledge on various topics, from identifying the world's largest Renaissance building in Spain (El Escorial) to determining which rock group derived its name from a sewing machine label (AC/DC). Other questions challenge readers about human biology (the body produces 2 million red blood cells every second), sports trivia (the Toronto Blue Jays as the only non-US team to win baseball's World Series), and historical events (Violet Gibson's attempt to assassinate Benito Mussolini in Rome in 1926). The quiz also includes several 'What links' sections that require identifying connections between seemingly unrelated items, such as Nicole Kidman, Bruno Mars, Bette Midler, Jason Momoa, and Barack Obama all being born in Hawaii. What makes this quiz particularly engaging is its mix of straightforward factual questions with more analytical challenges that require lateral thinking, such as identifying species of rats from descriptive phrases or recognizing that John Flamsteed and Michele Dougherty both held the position of Astronomer Royal. The quiz represents a long-standing tradition of newspapers providing intellectual entertainment to readers, encouraging engagement with knowledge across different disciplines while maintaining a balance of accessibility and challenge.
🏷️ Themes
Trivia and Quizzes, Popular Culture, Educational Content, Media Entertainment
The Guardian is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as The Manchester Guardian and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, The Guardian Weekly, The Guardian is part of the Guardian Media Group, owned by the Scott Trust Limited.
The quiz highlights the origin of AC/DC's iconic name, linking music history to everyday objects. It showcases how trivia can engage fans and spark curiosity about cultural references.
Context & Background
AC/DC formed in 1973 in Australia
Their name comes from a sewing machine label indicating amperage
The quiz covers a wide range of trivia topics beyond music
What Happens Next
The Saturday quiz series will continue with new questions each week, encouraging readers to test their knowledge. Fans may share answers on social media and discuss the surprising origins of band names.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does AC/DC stand for?
It refers to alternating current direct current, a label on a sewing machine
When was AC/DC formed?
In 1973 in Sydney, Australia
Is the quiz official?
It is a fan-made quiz presented on a news site for entertainment
Original Source
Which rock group’s name was inspired by a sewing machine? The Saturday quiz From thorn, seat, shout and stew to Bruno Mars and Bette Midler, test your knowledge with the Saturday quiz The questions 1 What, in Spain, is the world’s largest Renaissance building? 2 Which rock group’s name was inspired by a label on a sewing machine? 3 The body produces about 2 million what every second? 4 What is the only non-US team to win baseball’s World Series? 5 Who did Violet Gibson try to assassinate in Rome in 1926? 6 Financially, what rose from £85,000 to £120,000 in December 2025? 7 Which bird can dive to depths of more than 500m? 8 The Sonderbund civil war in 1847 was what country’s last military conflict? What links: 9 Thorn shout; stew? 10 Nicole Kidman; Bruno Mars; Bette Midler; Jason Momoa; Barack Obama? 11 Circular orders; rectangular information; triangular warning? 12 Hannah Montana: The Movie; Lara Croft: Tomb Raider; On Golden Pond; Paper Moon? 13 Argentina New Zealand Senegal; Spain? 14 Black Philippine forest ricefield? 15 John Flamsteed (1675) and Michele Dougherty (2025)? The answers 1 El Escorial. 2 AC/DC. 3 Red blood cells. 4 Toronto Blue Jays. 5 Benito Mussolini. 6 FSCS deposit protection limit. 7 Emperor penguin. 8 Switzerland. 9 Anagrams of compass points: N, E, S, W. 10 Born in Hawaii. 11 Shapes/functions of UK road signs. 12 Films starring real-life fathers and daughters: Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus; Angelina Jolie and Jon Voight; Jane and Henry Fonda; Tatum and Ryan O’Neal. 13 Current men’s continental football champions: Conmebol OFC Caf; Uefa. 14 Species of rat. 15 Astronomer royal: first and latest. Explore more on these topics Quiz and trivia games The quiz quizzes Share Reuse this content
