Why does chopping onions make me cry? Try our kids’ quiz

1. Adeline, 9, asks: why does chopping onions make me cry?

   1. Chopping onions creates tiny onion particles that float into your eyes

   2. It releases a chemical that irritates your eyes

   3. It creates a strong smell that triggers tear production

   4. It causes your eyes to become sensitive to light

2. Lara, 5, asks: why does it make a sound when I whistle?

   1. Because it makes your vocal cords vibrate

   2. Because air is pushed through your nose to make a nasal sound

   3. Because the air in your mouth vibrates as you push it out through a small gap

   4. Because the air moves your uvula around, making sound

3. Connie, 6, asks: what is the largest breed of sheep in the world?

   1. Suffolk sheep

   2. Lincoln sheep

   3. Argali sheep

   4. Southdown sheep

4. Joseph, 5, asks: how high can a cat jump?

   1. 30cm-60cm

   2. 90cm-120cm

   3. Between 1.8 metres and 2.4 metres

   4. Between 4 metres and 5.6 metres

5. Casey, 8, asks: how much tea is there really in China?

   1. About a third of all the tea in the world

   2. None any more, but tea is originally from China

   3. Not that much – only English people really drink tea

   4. All of the tea in the world is made in China

Solutions

1:B - Chopping onions releases a chemical called syn-propanethial-S-oxide from the onion cells, which easily vaporises into the air. This chemical causes your eyes to sting, and your brain then makes your eyes water to wash the substance away., 2:C - Trying to push lots of air through a small gap in your pursed lips makes the air vibrate in your mouth, creating a resonant chamber, which results in the whistling sound., 3:A - The American Sheep Industry Association lists Suffolk sheep as the largest in the world, with rams often weighing 160kg or more. The largest sheep ever recorded was a Suffolk ram named Stratford Whisper 23H, which stood 1.09 metres tall., 4:C - Cats can jump about 5 to 6 times their own length, so they can easily jump on average between 1.8 metres and 2.4 metres, or 6-8 feet., 5:A - Tea is thought to have originated in China, during the Tang dynasty. Today the country still produces about a third of all tea worldwide, so that’s quite a lot! Green tea is the one most commonly consumed in China.

Scores

1. 5 and above.

2. 4 and above.

3. 3 and above.

4. 2 and above.

5. 0 and above.

6. 1 and above.

Molly Oldfield hosts Everything Under the Sun, a weekly podcast answering children’s questions, out now as a book.

Does your child have a question? Submit one here