Taboo Quiz 1 (Questions only)

The following quiz questions are all based on the topics of taboo, forbidden topics in certain cultures and ages. Many thanks to Brian from Nottingham, UK for this interesting quiz.

A taboo is a strong social prohibition (or ban) against words, objects, actions, discussions, or people that are considered undesirable or offensive by a group, culture, or society. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent.

1. Pliny the Elder wrote the following passage in his Historia Naturalis, fill in the missing word: 
    "A _________ woman, if she approached a vessel of wine, would turn it sour; she would cause corn to wither, buds to shrivel, fruit to fall from trees, mirrors to dim, bees to die in the hive, and iron and steel to rust"

2. Greek word meaning defilement or pollution. Six letters, third and last letters: "A"

3. In Japan it was taboo to serve a bowl of rice with what in, except when the rice was prepared as a gift for the dead?

4. Under strict Buddist law in China in the first century, the consumption of certain animals such as elephants, dogs, horses, lions, tigers, panthers, bears, hyenas and snakes was banned. Under what condition would a monk be allowed to eat one of these animals?

5. What biproduct, according to Gonzalez-Crussi, "could be vaporised and gently eliminated, molecule by molecule, but instead it collects in an offensive concentration"?

6. Which Greek philosopher introduced food taboos on carcass-meat, beans, eggs and oviparous animals (those that produce young by means of eggs)?

7. Which colour historically is the colour of jealousy, envy, and treachery? (Hint: in religious paintings, Judas is often depicted wearing garments of this colour)

8. What does the Greek word "Iconoclasm" mean?

9. Which mollusc is forbidden to be eaten by male initiates among the Hua people of the highlands of New Guinea (because they believe it to be female and eating something female is thought to weaken the initiate)?

10. According to Pliny the Elder, which skin blemmish would render an individual unable to attend magical rituals as they might pollute the divine beings around them? Eight letters and the fourth is a 'C'.

11. Which hand, known in the past to be the "Sinister hand", was often associated with evil, sorcery, treachery and fraud?

12. Taboo is a fruit-flavoured spirit made in the UK. Its main ingredients are vodka, exotic fruit juices and which other alcoholic beverage?