The Guardian Publishes a Variety of Knowledge Quizzes
《衛報》發布多款知識問答集
Introduction
The Guardian has released two different sets of trivia questions: one created by children and another focusing on general knowledge for adults.
《衛報》發布了兩套不同的常識問答題：一套由兒童創作，另一套則側重於成人的通用知識。
Main Body
The first quiz was organized by Molly Oldfield, the author and host of the 'Everything Under the Sun' podcast. It features five multiple-choice questions written by children between the ages of five and eleven. These questions cover a wide range of topics, such as the shape of pizza, why people volunteer, the history of comic books, how gravity works on the moon, and modern football stars. Furthermore, the publication has asked for more child-written riddles to be submitted for future quizzes.
第一套問答集由《Everything Under the Sun》播客的作者兼主持人 Molly Oldfield 組織。其中包含五題由五至十一歲兒童編寫的多選題。這些問題涵蓋了廣泛的主題，例如比薩的形狀、人們為何參與志願服務、漫畫書的歷史、月球上的重力運作方式以及現代足球球星。
At the same time, a second and more difficult quiz was published. This version uses different formats, including direct questions and word associations. The topics are very broad, covering natural phenomena like the North Pole's solar cycles, the economic crisis in 1920s Germany, and Margaret Thatcher's 1988 comments on climate change. Additionally, the quiz requires specialized knowledge about the Inca empire's language, the naming of bacteria, and historical facts about British queens.
與此同時，第二套難度更高的問答集也隨之發布。此版本採用了不同的形式，包括直接問答和詞語聯想。主題非常廣泛，涵蓋了如北極太陽週期等自然現象、1920 年代德國的經濟危機，以及瑪格麗特·柴契爾在 1988 年對氣候變遷的評論。此外，該問答集還要求具備關於印加帝國語言、細菌命名以及英國女王歷史事實的專業知識。
Conclusion
By publishing these two different materials, the Guardian offers a balanced approach to testing knowledge, appealing to both the curiosity of children and the intellectual interests of adults.
透過發布這兩套不同的材料，《衛報》採取了一種平衡的方式來測試知識，既吸引了兒童的好奇心，也符合成年人的知識興趣。
Vocabulary Learning
🚀 The 'Connection' Secret: Moving from A2 to B2
At the A2 level, students often write like a list: "The quiz is for kids. It has five questions. It has topics about pizza." To reach B2, you must stop making lists and start weaving your ideas together.
🔗 The Magic of 'Connectors'
Look at how this text avoids being boring by using specific 'bridge words' to link ideas. These are the tools you need to sound more professional:
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The 'Adding' Bridge: Instead of saying 'Also,' the text uses "Furthermore" and "Additionally."
- A2 style: "The quiz is hard. Also, it is about history."
- B2 style: "The quiz is challenging; furthermore, it focuses on historical facts."
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The 'Contrast' Bridge: The text uses "At the same time" to show that two different things are happening simultaneously. This creates a flow that feels natural, not robotic.
🧩 Expanding Your 'Describing' Palette
B2 speakers don't just use 'big' or 'different'. They use words that give a precise picture. Notice these upgrades from the article:
| A2 Word (Simple) | B2 Upgrade (Precise) | Why it's better |
|---|---|---|
| Many/Different | A wide range of | Shows variety and scale. |
| Broad/General | Specialized | Specifies that the knowledge is expert-level. |
| Mixed | Balanced approach | Describes the strategy behind the mix. |
💡 Pro-Tip: The 'Noun Phrase' Power-Up
Stop using long sentences with many verbs. Try grouping information into a 'Noun Phrase'.
- A2: "The quiz is about the North Pole and its solar cycles."
- B2: "...natural phenomena like the North Pole's solar cycles."
By turning an action into a 'thing' (a noun phrase), you make your English sound denser, more academic, and much more fluent.