I spent many years living in the U.S., but then I don't remember the word ever coming up in conversation, so that would explain it. Might chic be a more universal rhyme?
It's also worth noting that Cote d'Ivoire does not recognize the translation of their country's name, and, in diplomatic matters at least, insists that it's name be in French, regardless of the contextual language in which it's being used.
I got stuck on thinking that Sofia, Bulgaria was named after Sophiam, the goddess of wisdom. Turns out it was named after St. Sofia church, which is named after an Eastern Orthodox Saint, who was presumably not named for the pagan goddess of wisdom. Overthinking again!
The general consensus of historians is that Athena is named after the city of Athens, not the other way around.
It makes a lot of sense to name your local patron deity after your city. It also contributes to both the perception of your city's divine favour and glorification of the god to claim that it was the other way around. Hence the myth that developed that Athens was named after Athena.
2016 is divisible by 4 and was a leap year. The quiz asks for a year that is divisible by 4 and *wasn't* a leap year. As for why it's 1900, I don't really get it either, but here's what Wikipedia says: "The Revised Julian calendar adds an extra day to February in years that are multiples of four, except for years that are multiples of 100 that do not leave a remainder of 200 or 600 when divided by 900." So...I'm sure there is some mathematical reason for that seemingly arbitrary rule, but 1900 divided by 900 has a remainder of 100, so I guess it wasn't a leap year.
No offense, but ignore Jmellor's comment. He's talking about the Julian calendar for some strange reason. Most of the world uses the Gregorian calendar. Anyway, leap years have an extra rule because the earth doesn't revolve around the sun in exactly 365.25 days. It's slightly off so they have to get rid of years that are divisible by 100 but not by 400. That means 1700, 1800, 1900, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2500, etc. are not leap years.
It makes a lot of sense to name your local patron deity after your city. It also contributes to both the perception of your city's divine favour and glorification of the god to claim that it was the other way around. Hence the myth that developed that Athens was named after Athena.
Me in November 2021: 20/20
Guess I learned something.
I wrote 'Alp' but not 'Alps' :(
The candlestick question wasn't very interesting and seemed pretty obscure. The leap year one, while also obscure, was an interesting fact at least.