Q.1.
A superstition about Britain's power requires that ravens stay at The Tower of London. By tradition, what is the minimum number of ravens that should be in the tower?

The legend is that Charles II, who reigned in the late 1600s, instituted this. After hearing that bad things would happen to the monarchy if ravens ever left The Tower, he ordered that a minimum of six be present at all times.

Q.2.
In the olden days, British husbands were allowed to beat their wives at any time, until a law was passed in the 1500s that placed a time restriction. After what time was physically disciplining one's wife considered illegal?

Wife-beating was no longer allowed after 9pm so that neighbors could sleep well. It was in the 1800s that the feminist movement sought to abolish such practices.

Q.3.
Alliances are very important for a nation, especially in times of war. Who is Britain's oldest ally?

Though it was fully cemented in 1386, it is said that cooperation between the two began in 1294. As maritime countries, it was easy to facilitate trade between them. They have supported one another over the years, especially during times of war.

Q.4.
Margaret Thatcher was the longest-serving British prime minister in the 20th century. How many years did she continuously serve?

She served for 11 years (1979-1990). Although not everybody liked her policies (taxes, stance on unions, privatization of industries), her time as prime minister is still favorably viewed.

Q.5.
Elizabeth I permitted "privateers" to raid Spanish ships during her reign. What was her group of commissioned pirates called?

To increase her navy at the time when Spain was gaining much money, power, and prestige from the New World, Elizabeth I permitted certain English privateers (coined Sea Dogs) to attack and loot Spanish ships.

Q.6.
The UK is known for its tasty fish and chips. In what year did the first shop that served fish and chips open?

In 1860 a shop opened in London that served this delicious dish. It belonged to Joseph Malin. In Northern England, however, there is another place claiming to be the first. It opened in 1863 and has an inscription on its window that claims it is the original.

Q.7.
British spies once considered using semen as invisible ink. What war were they fighting when this radical thought occurred?

In WWI, the head of British spies considered semen as it was available to men in the field, and it was undetectable at the time. This was stopped, however, due to the bad smell.

Q.8.
In 1967, London Bridge was sold to a US entrepreneur because it could no longer handle Britain's traffic. In which US state can you find it?

After making the winning bid, Robert McCulloch had the London Bridge taken apart and transported to Lake Havasu City, Arizona. It opened in 1971. As the city's founder, Mr. McCulloch hoped the bridge would help attract visitors.

Q.9.
Walter Arnold was the very first person to receive a ticket for speeding. How fast was he driving?

His vehicle was going at a ridiculous rate of 8 mph! At the time, cars were very rare, so the speed limit for a motor vehicle was just 2 mph. The policeman chased him down on a bicycle.

Q.10.
The British newspaper The Times once predicted that London's streets would be filled with horse poop. In what year did The Times publish this prediction?

Due to the many horse-drawn vehicles, streets were covered in horse waste (including dead horses!), causing The Times to write about the problem in 1894. It wasn't until Henry Ford's car was made that the horse poop problem was truly solved.