The questions
1 The Iris trophy is now awarded to winners of what?
2 What former country was known as the “three-letter state”?
3 Emerald is a form of which mineral?
4 Which sports commentator had the car number plate PUT 3?
5 Who was ancient Rome’s last dictator?
6 Which spice comes from the stigma of Crocus sativus?
7 Which global writing system uses 63 different characters?
8 After Brazil, what is the world’s biggest coffee producer?
What links:
9 Carnation; Pinks; Pomegranate; Yarnwinder?
10 Wishing-Chair; Faraway Tree; Mr Galliano’s Circus; Naughtiest Girl?
11 Gluttony; the Dutch; Catholics; French watchmaker Robert Hubert?
12 Cyberdyne Systems; InGen & Biosyn; Tyrell; Weyland-Yutani?
13 Bandy-bandy; boiga; boomslang; bushmaster?
14 Box; cascade; columns; fountain; Mills’ mess; shower?
15 Penelope Pitstop; preceded Thriller; Eat It singer; Visage frontman?
The answers
1 Booker prize.
2 East Germany (DDR).
3 Beryl.
4 Peter Alliss.
5 Julius Caesar.
6 Saffron.
7 Braille.
8 Vietnam.
9 Madonna of the… paintings: Leonardo da Vinci; Parmigianino; Raphael; Botticelli; Leonardo da Vinci.
10 Enid Blyton book series.
11 Blamed for the Great Fire of London.
12 Sci-fi film corporations: Terminator series; Jurassic Park/World; Blade Runner; Alien films.
13 Snakes.
14 Juggling patterns.
15 Oddness: Wacky Races star; Off the Wall by Michael Jackson; Weird Al Jankovic; Steve Strange.
