World Trivia – Jan 28, 2012
1. This garment was the signature garment of ancient Rome.
Toga.
2. Believed to have originated in ancient Persia around 600 AD, this popular board game
pits 16 pieces, whose different types move differently, against each other on a checkered
board.
Chess.
2. This religious sect, dedicated to simple living and plain dress and avoidance of modern
technology such as cars, zippers and electricity originated in Switzerland.
Amish
3. This famous marble mausoleum, built by Shah Jehan during the 17th century, is one of
the most famous monuments of India.
Taj Mahal.
4. Beautiful and alluring Cleopatra was known as queen of which famous river, the longest
world in the world?
Cleopatra, queen of the Nile.
5. Christopher Columbus is largely credited with the discovery of ‘America’ in 1492. His
voyage was funded by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, the monarchs of which
European country?
Spain.
6. This famous stew of Louisiana is believed named after the African Bantu word for ‘okra’
(ki ngombo).
Gumbo.
7. Holy city to 3 world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In this Middle Eastern
city you will find the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,
and Dome on the Rock.
Jerusalem.
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8. This famous wall, believed to be viewable from space, stretches along the southern edge
of Inner Mongolia.
The Great Wall of China. (it stretches over 5000 miles)
9. The Parthenon is a temple dedicated to the goddess of Athena. In what Greek city would
you find this classic monument?
Athens.
10. Popular with tourists, this prehistoric English monument dated as early as 3000 BC is
composed of large stones standing in a circle.
Stonehenge.
11. Just near the 3 great pyramids of Giza reclines this largest monolith statue in the world,
a mythical creature with a lion’s body and a pharaoh’s head.
The Great Sphinx.
12. This freestanding bell tower of the cathedral of the town of Pisa is famous for a design
flaw which causes it to what?
Lean. The Leaning Tower of Pisa.
13. From 1959 until his serious illness in 2008, this revolutionary leader ruled our
neighboring island nation of Cuba.
Fidel Castro.
14. Between 1948 and 1994, South Africa practiced a system of official racial segregation
known by this name, from the Afrikaans language.
South Africa.
15. The first and only Polish Pope, who reigned from 1978-2005.
John Paul II.
16. The 1951 musical, The King and I is based on Margaret Landon’s book, Anna and the
King of Siam. Siam is the historical name for what modern-day country?
Thailand.
17. Queen Elizabeth’s favorite dogs, of which she owns 4, originally come from this
country, part of the United Kingdom.
Wales. Welsh Corgi.
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18. In 1953, Edmund Hillary became the first man to successfully climb this mountain, the
tallest mountain in the world.
Mt. Everest. Edmund Hillary of New Zealand with Tenzing Norgay of Nepal.
19. Canada is officially a bilingual country. What are its two official languages?
English and French.
20. Popular residents of zoos around the world, today, the panda bear is native only to
which country?
China.
21. Which ocean is the largest ocean in the world?
Pacific Ocean.
22. This river runs through London, and London Bridge spans it.
The River Thames.
23. In Greek, the name Mesopotamia means ‘between two rivers’. What are the two rivers?
Tigris and Euphrates.
24. What is the largest religion in the world, in term of number of believers.
Christianity.
1. Christian – 2.1 billion 2. Islam – 1.5 billion
4. Hindu – 1 billion
3. Agnostic – 1.1 billion
5. Chinese traditional – 400 million
6. Buddhist – 380 million
25. Some believe there is a large mysterious monster that lives in Loch Ness, though it
won’t come out when scientists are around. In what country would we find Loch Ness?
Scotland. The Scottish Highlands.
26. Name two of the largest nations in the world by total area.
(1) Russia, (2) Canada, (3) China, (4) U.S., (5) Brazil, (6) Australia.
27. This modern Turkish city once bore the name Constantinople, after Roman Emperor
Constantine the Great.
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Istanbul (foreigners asked to adopt this name in 1930.
28. These viscous flesh-eating little fish can be found in the Amazon and other South
American rivers.
Piranha. (typically 5-10 in long)
29. ‘Holland’ is also known by this name, which translates to ‘The Lowlands’.
The Netherlands.
30. At the Montreal Olympics, gymnast Nadia Comaneci became the first Olympic gymnast
to ever score a perfect 10. What country was she from?
Romania.
31. What is the name of Hungary’s national dish, a hearty stew containing ‘paprika’,
another Hungarian word!
Goulash.
32. Oktoberfest, a fall festival in which celebrators drink beer and eat bratwurst originated
in which European country?
Germany. (Munich, in Bavaria)
33. In 2010, the World Equestrian Games were held in which U.S. city?
Lexington.
34. The Olympic flag features colored rings representing the major regions of the world.
How many rings are on the flag?
Five. Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceana. (blue, yellow, black, green, red).
35. European sailors were happy to round the Cape of Good Hope because this meant they
were on their way eastward to Asia. The Cape of Good Hope is located on the southern tip
of which world continent?
Africa.
36. In 490 BC, a Greek soldier ran about 26 miles to give Athens the good news that the
invading Persians had been turned back. What long-distance running sport commemorates
this event?
Marathon.
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37. In 1948, this small Middle Eastern country was founded as a homeland for the Jewish people.
Israel.
38. The Sistine Chapel is located in this city, a holy city for Catholics.
Vatican City.
39. The volcanic Mount Fuji can be found in which Asian country.
Japan.
40. In the Bible, this Middle Eastern city is known as ‘The City of David.’
Jerusalem.
41. Which country lies to the west of Spain on the Iberian Peninsula.
Portugal.
42. This ugly wall was erected in 1961 to separate the socialist part and more democratic
part of the same German city.
Berlin.
43. This north African desert has an area larger than the continental U.S.
Sahara Desert.
44. This tower of Babylonia appears in the Bible in a story explaining the creation of
foreign languages.
Tower of Babel.
45. This small, easy-to-peel orange is named for the Moroccan city from where it was
exported to Europe.
Tangerine. (also known as Tangiers)
46. Famous psychologist Sigmund Fred grew up in Vienna. Vienna is a city of which country?
Austria.
47. Mt. Everest belongs to this famous mountain range the runs north of the Indian
subcontinent. Its name translates to ‘Abode of Snow’.
Himalayas. Sanskrit.
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48. The Marine hymn begins:
From the Halls of Montezuma,
To the shores of Tripoli;
In what country would you find the Halls of Montezuma?
Mexico. "The Halls of Montezuma" refers to the Battle of Chapultepec, during the
Mexican-American War, where a force of Marines stormed Chapultepec Castle.
49. The Marine hymn begins:
From the Halls of Montezuma,
To the shores of Tripoli;
In what country would you find the shores of Tripoli?
Libya. The line "To the shores of Tripoli" refers to the First Barbary War, and
specifically the Battle of Derne in 1805.
50. This Eastern European country has a name that translates ‘people from Rome’.
Romania.
51. The Louvre is a world-famous art museum. In what European city would you find it?
Paris.
52. We all know the best bourbon comes from Kentucky. What country produces the
world’s best Scotch whiskey?
Scotland.
53. The towns of Buda and Pest merged to become one city. In which European country
would you find the city of Budapest?
Hungary.
54. Hong Kong is a Special Administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. Before
1997, it was a colony of which European nation?
Britain.
55. In Chinese, Tiananmen means ‘Gate of Heavenly Peace.’ In what Chinese city would
you find Tiananmen Square, the third largest city square in the world?
Beijing. Freedom Square in Indonesia is larger followed by Square of the Sunflowers in
Brazil.
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56. Tuscany is a famous vacation destination and wine-growing region of which European
country?
Italy.
57. In 2010, bullfighting was banned in Barcelona. However, other cities in this country
still allow this heritage blood sport to take place.
Spain.
58. Cologne water, or cologne, worn as a fragrance originally came from the city of
Cologne. In what European nation would you find this city?
Germany.
59. The term Scandinavia refers to a region of northern Europe including three kingdoms,
now countries. Name one Scandinavian country.
Denmark, Norway, Sweden. Iceland, Faroe Islands, Finland together with the Scandinavian
countries make up the Nordic countries.
60. The official language of Brazil is not Spanish. What is it?
Portuguese.