Following on from yesterday’s set of lists, and continuing this New Year Resolution of sorts, here are some challenges involving things that begin with the letter V (including countries and chemical elements) or come 22nd numerically (such as the 22nd Pope and the 22nd President of the USA). In each case you can test yourself first to see how many you can name. The answers appear at the end of this piece.

Challenge: Items beginning with V

Countries: there are 4 countries whose usual English names begin with V. [Hint: 1 in Europe, 1 in Asia, 1 in Oceania, in the Americas.]

Capital cities: there 8 capital cities whose names begin with V.

Chemical Elements: there is only 1 element beginning with V, and it has the chemical symbol V.

UK #1 Chart Acts: 8 acts beginning with V have reached #1 in the UK.

Songs beginning with V that have reached #1 in the UK Chart: 7 songs beginning with V have reached #1 in the UK.

Challenge: 22nd in a list

Can you name the following?

22nd Pope (253AD to 254AD).

22nd President of the USA (1885-1889).

The winner of Superbowl XXII (1988).

Answers: Items beginning with V

Countries (4): Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam.

Capital cities (8): Vaduz, Valletta, Valparaíso, Vatican City, Victoria, Vienna, Vientiane, Vilnius.

[For the record, capital cities with country name in brackets: Vaduz (Liechtenstein), Valletta (Malta), Valparaíso (legislative capital of Chile), Vatican City (Vatican City), Victoria (Seychelles), Vienna (Austria), Vientiane (Laos), Vilnius (Lithuania).]

Chemical elements (1): vanadium (V).

UK #1 Chart Acts (5): Vanesa Jenkins & Bryn West, Vanilla Ice, Various Artists, Vengaboys, Vera Lynn, Verve, Vic Damone, Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff.

Songs beginning with V that have reached #1 in the UK Chart: “Vertigo” / “Video Killed The Radio Star” / “Vincent” / “Viva Forever” / “Viva La Vida” / “Vogue” / “Voodoo Chile”.

Answers: 22nd in a list

22nd Pope: Lucius (253AD to 254AD).

22nd President of the USA: Grover Cleveland (1885-1889).

The winner of Superbowl XXII (1988): Washington Redskins.