Quiz Answers Come In A Flash

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As a sequel to its foreign language learning series, Kosmos Software has launched the very aptly titled Answer Back, a general knowledge quiz for the over 11s.

It combines a large series of quiz subjects with a space game, which though simple in concept, I found difficult to master.

The control program is loaded first and displays a menu which enables you. by a single keypress, to (L)oad the quiz of your choice.

You are then asked for one of the filenames, which on the contents box are described and numbered Q1-QI5. The subjects covered are astronomy, music, natural history, famous people, science, art and architecture, language, discoveries and inventions, sport, literature, films, TV and theatre, history, legends and mythology, geo graphy and pot luck.

Once the data is loaded you are returned to the menu where you can (B)egin the quiz. The next screen allows you to select what kind of quiz you wish to participate in - (M)ultiple Choice, (Y)s-No answers, (C)omplete the missing letters, or a (S)election of all three.

You are asked how many questions you want, up to a maximum of 50, and whether you would like to be timed.

As you start the quiz a robot appears in a moonscape setting complete with three craters. With flashes of the robot's laser the letters of the question appear in the sky. If you answer correctly a flying saucer immediately takes off.

You fire at it using the spacebar to activate the robot's laser. You automatically hit the saucer, but the object of the exercise is to drop it directly in the centre of the middle crater. If you succeed the whole screen flashes in a simulated explosion.

This I found to be extremely difficult to accomplish, although I suppose if I were to get more answers right I would become more proficient! However if you get the answer wrong the computer gives the correct answer and you don't get your free shot.

You are also given the option of passing any question that you don't know the answer to. On completion of your selected number of questions a summary of your performance appears. You then have the option to repeat the questions you answered incorrectly or to discover the answers to the questions that you passed.

There are other options on the opening menu. You can (C)reate your own quiz by successively entering lists of questions and answers in the appropriate boxes displayed on the screen.

Each question must be accompanied by a correct answer and at least one wrong answer.

The additional two answers for the multi-choice selection may be omitted if desired.

Mistakes can be corrected easily with the Delete key provided the Return key has not been pressed. The shorter the questions, the more you can get in until the "FILE FULL" prompt appears.

A number of keys pressed with Ctrl enable you to enter accented characters when required, for example in language quizzes.

When you have finished entering the questions you are returned to the menu to (S)ave the file. You can also (V)erify it if necessary.

From the initial menu ques tions can be (A)dded to a file, (D)eleted from a file or (I)nserted anywhere in a file.

The quiz is supplied in a superbly illustrated package and the instructions are clear and easily understood. The price of £10.95 is not unreasonable having regard to the content.

Alan Sergeant