TASK DEFINITION: You will be given a trivia clue, and the category it belongs to. You should answer with the best answer that belongs in the category and is described by the clue. For consistency, answers should be in all lower cased letters.
PROBLEM: Category: AFRICA 
Clue: Central Africa's short people

SOLUTION: the pygmies

PROBLEM: Category: BEASTLY LITERATURE 
Clue: Santiago, the old man in a Hemingway story, struggles mightily with this type of game fish

SOLUTION: marlin

PROBLEM: Category: THE MIDDLE-AGED 
Clue: A series of stages that includes middle age, or a trademarked exercise bike used then

SOLUTION:
life cycle