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 Z (including countries and chemical elements) or come 26th numerically (such as the 26th Pope and the 26th 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 Z

Countries: there are 2 countries whose usual English names begin with Z.

Capital cities: there is 1 capital city whose name begins with Z.

Chemical Elements: there are 2 elements that begin with Z (their chemical symbols also begin with Z).

UK #1 Chart Acts: 2 acts beginning with Z have reached #1 in the UK.

No song beginning with Z has reached #1 in the UK Chart: Z is the only letter of the alphabet for which this is true. “You’ve lost that lovin’ feelin’” comes last in any alphabetical list of UK #1 song titles up to January 2019. It is also the only UK #1 song title that contains 3 apostrophes. Two songs beginning with Z have made it as far as #2 in the UK charts. Well done if you can name either of them.

Challenge: 26th in a list

Can you name the following?

26th Pope (269AD to 274AD).

26th President of the USA (1901-09).

The winner of Superbowl XXVI (1992).

Answers: Items beginning with Z

Countries (2): Zambia, Zimbabwe. [The country known as Zaire between 1971 and 1997 is now known as Democratic Republic of the Congo.]

Capital cities (1): Zagreb (Croatia).

Chemical elements (2): zinc (Zn), zirconium (Zr).

UK #1 Chart Acts (2): Zager & Evans, Zayn.

Songs beginning with Z that have reached #1 in the UK Chart: (0). The 2 songs beginning with Z that reached #2 in the UK Chart: “Zambesi” (Lou Busch, 1956), “Zoom” (Fat Larry’s Band, 1982).

Answers: 26th in a list

26th Pope: Felix I (269AD to 274AD).

26th President of the USA: Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09).

The winner of Superbowl XXVI (1992): Washington Redskins.