Following on from yesterday’s set of lists, and continuing this New Year Resolution of sortsNew Year Resolution of sorts, here are some challenges involving things that begin with the letter W (including capital cities) or come 23rd numerically (such as the 23rd Pope and the 23rd 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 W

Countries: there are no countries whose usual English name begins with W. [There is an Overseas Collectivity of France call called Wallis and Futuna, but it is not a country in its own right.]

Capital cities: there 4 capital cities whose names begin with W.

Chemical Elements: there are no elements beginning with W, but one element has the chemical symbol W. Only one element contains the letter W anywhere in its name.

UK #1 Chart Acts: 20 acts beginning with W have reached #1 in the UK. Well done if you can name 10 of them.

Songs beginning with W that have reached #1 in the UK Chart: Over 90 different songs beginning with W have reached #1 in the UK. Well done if you can name 45 of them, and if you have time to do so.

Challenge: 23rd in a list

Can you name the following?

23rd Pope (254AD to 257AD).

23rd President of the USA (1889-1893).

The winner of Superbowl XXIII (1989).

Answers: Items beginning with W

Countries (0)

Capital cities (4): Warsaw, Washington DC, Wellington, Windhoek.

[For the record, capital cities with country name in brackets: Warsaw (Poland), Washington DC (USA), Wellington (New Zealand), Windhoek (Namibia).]

Chemical symbols (1): tungsten has the chemical symbol W (for wolfram). Lawrencium is the only element that contains the letter W in its name.

UK #1 Chart Acts: Walker Brothers, Wamdue Project, Wanted, Westlife, Wet Wet Wet, Wham!, Whigfield, White Town, Whitney Houston, Wiley featuring Ms D, Will Smith, Will Young, will.i.am, Windsor Davies & Don Estelle, Wings, Winifred Atwell, Wiz Khalifa, Wizzard, Wretch 32, Wurzels.

Songs beginning with W that have reached #1 in the UK Chart: “Waiting All Night” / “Wake Me Up” / “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” / “Walk Right Back” / “Walk This Way” / “Walkin’ Back To Happiness” / “Walking On The Moon” / “Wand’rin’ Star” / “Wannabe” / “Want to Want Me” / “Waterloo” / “Waves” / “Way Down” / “The Way I Are” / “The Way To Your Love” / “Wayward Wind” / “We Are The World” / “We Are Young” / “We Can Work It Out” / “We Can’t Stop” / “We Don’t Talk Anymore” / “We Found Love” / “We No Speak Americano” / “We R Who We R” / “We Will Rock You” / “Welcome Home” / “Welcome To The Black Parade” / “Well I Ask You” / “We’re Going To Ibiza!” / “West End Girls” / “What A Wonderful World” / “What About Us” / “What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted” / “What Do You Mean?” / “What Do You Want” / “What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For (tied for one week)” / “What Makes You Beautiful” / “What Took You So Long” / “Whatever Will Be Will Be” / “What’s Another Year” / “What’s My Name” / “When” / “When A Child Is Born” / “When I Need You” / “When Love Takes Over” / “When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going” / “When The Sun Goes Down” / “When We Collide” / “When Will I See You Again” / “When You Believe” / “When You Say Nothing At All” / “When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman” / “Where Are You Now (My Love)” / “Where Do You Go To My Lovely” / “Where Is The Love?” / “Wherever I Lay My Heart (That’s My Home)” / “Wherever You Are” / “Whispering Grass” / “Who Do You Think You Are” / “Whole Again” / “Whole Lotta Woman” / “Who’s David?” / “Who’s Sorry Now” / “Who’s That Girl” / “Why” / “Why Do Fools Fall In Love” / “Wild Thoughts” / “Wings” / “Winner Takes It All” / “Wishing on a Star” / “With A Girl Like You” / “With A Little Help From My Friends” / “With A Little Help From My Friends” / “With A Little Help From My Friends” / “With Every Heartbeat” / “Without Me” / “Without You” / “Woman” / “Woman In Love” / “Wonder Of You” / “Wonderful” / “Wonderful Land” / “Wooden Heart” / “Woodstock” / “Words” / “Working My Way Back To You” / “World In Motion” / “World Of Our Own” / “World Without Love” / “Would I Lie To You?” / “Wrecking Ball” / “Writing’s on the Wall” / “Written In The Stars” / “Wuthering Heights”.

Answers: 23rd in a list

23rd Pope: Stephen I (254AD to 257AD).

23rd President of the USA: Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893).

The winner of Superbowl XXIII (1989): San Francisco 49ers.