Past puzzles / #1
Bonsaily #1
Sunday, 1 November 2026 · the day’s tree: Japanese maple (Momiji, 紅葉)
1. Name a US president
Target: age on first taking office closest to 58 years. For scale: Ronald Reagan is 69 years.
Bullseye answers
- James Monroe · 58 years — Took office in March 1817, aged 58.
- George Washington · 57 years — Took office in April 1789, aged 57.
- James Madison · 57 years — Took office in March 1809, aged 57.
- John Quincy Adams · 57 years — Took office in March 1825, aged 57.
- Thomas Jefferson · 57 years — Took office in March 1801, aged 57.
20 more answers scored Close (70–94). 45 answers were valid in all. Source: unitedstates/congress-legislators (executive.yaml) (2025).
2. Name a chemical element
Target: atomic number closest to 5. For scale: Silicon is 14.
Bullseye answers
- Boron · 5 — B, atomic number 5; standard atomic weight 10.81.
- Beryllium · 4 — Be, atomic number 4; standard atomic weight 9.012.
- Carbon · 6 — C, atomic number 6; standard atomic weight 12.01.
8 more answers scored Close (70–94). 118 answers were valid in all. Source: Periodic-Table-JSON (Bowserinator) (2024).
3. Name a moon in our Solar System
Target: the 18th largest by diameter. For scale: Europa is 6th.
Bullseye answers
- Miranda · 18th — 18th largest moon: 472 km (293 mi) across, orbiting Uranus.
- Enceladus · 17th — 17th largest moon: 504 km (313 mi) across, orbiting Saturn.
- Proteus · 19th — 19th largest moon: 420 km (261 mi) across, orbiting Neptune.
10 more answers scored Close (70–94). 151 answers were valid in all. Source: NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics, Planetary Satellite Physical Parameters (via devstronomy/nasa-data-scraper) (2019).
4. Name a US state
Target: the 8th most populous. For scale: California is 1st.
Bullseye answers
- Georgia · 8th — 8th most populous state: 11.3 million people (2025 estimate).
- North Carolina · 9th — 9th most populous state: 11.2 million people (2025 estimate).
- Ohio · 7th — 7th most populous state: 11.9 million people (2025 estimate).
10 more answers scored Close (70–94). 50 answers were valid in all. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, annual state population estimates (via FRED) (2025).
5. Name a Formula One Grand Prix
Target: World Championship races held (to the end of 2025) closest to 8. For scale: Malaysian Grand Prix is about 19.
Bullseye answers
- Azerbaijan Grand Prix · 8 — First a World Championship race in 2017; held 8 times to the end of 2025.
- Russian Grand Prix · 8 — First a World Championship race in 2014; held 8 times to the end of 2025.
- United States Grand Prix West · 8 — First a World Championship race in 1976; held 8 times to the end of 2025.
5 more answers scored Close (70–94). 53 answers were valid in all. Source: F1DB (Formula 1 database) (2025).
6. Name an actor who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor
Target: a winning film year closest to 1950. For scale: Michael Caine, 1986.
Bullseye answers
- George Sanders · 1950 — Best Supporting Actor for All about Eve (1950).
- Dean Jagger · 1949 — Best Supporting Actor for Twelve O'Clock High (1949).
- Karl Malden · 1951 — Best Supporting Actor for A Streetcar Named Desire (1951).
15 more answers scored Close (70–94). 81 answers were valid in all. Source: DLu/oscar_data (Academy Awards database) (2025).