GEOGRAPHY IN THE NEWS ROUND
The 80 questions attached here are of varying degrees of difficulty and cover thematic
as well as regional topics, in many cases both, which have appeared in the news in the
last year. They are provided to allow organisers to construct their own rounds to suit
local circumstances. Answers predominantly require knowledge of location(s).
Abbreviations in brackets after the answers indicate very broad categories which
might aid selection of the final 10/20 questions for your own round. The questions
themselves often carry clues to what at first site may appear to be a difficult answer.
Quiz organisers may wish to use the questions to suit local needs: age range, syllabus
topics, perceived degree of difficulty and so on.
1. The forest between the rivers Severn and Wye in Gloucestershire, one of the most
beautiful areas of woodland in Britain, was also the cradle of the industrial revolution
with a large coal/ iron ore field in the 18th C. Name the forest.
ANSWER: DEAN
(GB)
2. The engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton was just one of many
relationships which began at this Scottish university town with the famous golf
course. Name the university town.
ANSWER: ST ANDREWS
(GB)
3. Farming tycoon Bernard Matthews, who died in November 2010, was criticised for
his intensive farming of turkeys yet his production methods brought cheap turkey
meat to the general public, from factories in which eastern counties? ‘Bootiful’
ANSWER: NORFOLK & SUFFOLK
(GB)
4. Health charities are trying to save lives in Port-au-Prince, capital of which small
Caribbean island devastated by hurricanes, earthquakes and outbreaks of cholera in
the latter half of 2010.
ANSWER: HAITI
(N Am)
5. Cuts to the Defence budget have threatened jobs at the Harrier aircraft bases at
Kinross and Lossiemouth in which country in the UK?
ANSWER: SCOTLAND
(GB)
6. This country’s determination to hit their green energy targets, a 40-45% reduction
in CO2 emissions by 2020, that there is backlog of cremations owing to a shortage of
diesel fuel to fire the furnaces. Name the country, with the fastest growing economy
in the world, which is responsible for setting these ambitious targets.
ANSWER: CHINA
(Asia)
7. Parts of Italy’s archaeological heritage are literally crumbling as buildings in
Pompei collapse in rubble. Which volcano in southern Italy erupted in AD79 to bury
the town?
ANSWER: VESUVIUS.
(Eur)
Worldwise Local Quiz 2011-12
8. The surge in piracy in the Horn of Africa has cost substantial ransoms for some
families and governments; which country, capital Mogadishhu, is home to most of the
pirates?
ANSWER: SOMALIA
(Africa)
9. Aung San Suu Kyi was released after twenty two years of house arrest in which
south east Asian country dominated by the military government?
ANSWER: BURMA
(Asia)
10. Rising among the lakes, mountains and ocean sounds of the northwest Pacific
coast, this American city, home to TV hit ‘Frasier’ and birth place of Jimi Hendrix,
has the Space Needle as a landmark and more graduates than any other USA city.
Name it
ANSWER: SEATTLE
(N Am)
11. The jewel in the crown of Pembrokeshire is the smallest city in Britain, a ‘quiet
villagey place’ with a magnificent Gothic cathedral. Name the city on the western tip
of Wales, north of St Bride’s Bay.
ANSWER: ST DAVID’S
(GB)
12. Which Asian country has indicated that it wants to leave the existing Kyoto
agreement which is due to set even stricter Co2 emissions targets from 2012 when the
treaty is renegotiated?
ANSWER: JAPAN
(Asia)
13. Scientists have discovered a 20 mile long chalk reef, a marine haven teeming with
rare species, off Hunstanton on the coast of which English county?
ANSWER: NORFOLK
(GB)
14. The Obama government have declared 187,000 square miles of Arctic coastline,
mainly covering the ice on the Beaufort Sea, as a critical habitat for the polar bear; in
which state of the USA?
ANSWER: ALASKA
(N Am)
15. This beverage, main types Arabica and Robusta, originated in Ethiopia, was
popular with Arabs, traded by the Dutch and now has a global appeal thanks to the
invention of instant at the beginning of the 20th C; name the drink.
ANSWER: COFFEE
(Econ)
16. Tourists fled from the beach at Sharm el Sheikh Egypt’s premier resort on this sea
coast, as a killer shark returned to the shallow offshore waters; name the sea.
ANSWER: RED (SEA)
(M East)
17. According to an analysis of the 12bn landline telephone calls made during August
2005 which region in the British Isles preferred to chat among themselves, making or
receiving 23% of all the calls; was it Scotland, Wales or the South East of England?
ANSWER: SCOTLAND
(GB)
Worldwise Local Quiz 2011-12
18. Which German motor company reported a 20% rise in global sales in November,
fuelled by strong Chinese demand, especially for Rolls- Royce and Mini brands, and a
recovery of the US market?
ANSWER: BMW
(Eur)
19. Nestle UK has decided to close its factory in Castleford and move production of
After Eight and Toffee Crisp to its factory in Halifax; in which English county?
ANSWER: YORKSHIRE
(GB)
20. Europe’s top construction firms will descend on London in 2011 to begin digging
tunnels initially the nine miles from Royal Oak, west of Paddington, to Blackwall.
What project has been given the go ahead?
ANSWER: CROSSRAIL
(GB)
21. Which country is the world’s top toy exporter with 60% of the global trade?
ANSWER: CHINA
(Asia)
22. Rising over London Bridge Station will be Western Europe’s tallest occupied
building, a glass tower of 93 floors; name it
ANSWER: THE SHARD
(GB)
23. EITHER: The cold snap with heavy snowfall in November / December 2010 was
caused by the predominance of which air mass over Britain for almost three weeks;
was it Tropical Continental air from Eastern Europe, Arctic air, or Tropical Maritime
air from the Atlantic?
ANSWER: ARCTIC AIR.
OR: Britain’s coldest winter since records began, when the average temperature
was below freezing for three months (Dec 0- Feb) took place when: was it 1946-7,
19789-9 or 1962-3?
ANSWER: 1962-3
OR: The cold snap over Britain in December 2010 was caused by the deflection
of high altitude westerly winds away from Britain sucking in Arctic air;
What name is given to the upper air westerlies?
ANSWER: JET STREAMS
(Met)
24. Tim Smit, founder of the Eden Project in Cornwall, is planning to develop green
energy by drilling deep holes underground to tap into hot rocks; what is the name
given to this form of energy?
ANSWER: GEOTHERMAL
(Econ)
25. Some of Britain’s most popular tourist beaches will have to issue warnings when
raw sewage is being pumped into the water or lose their clean beach status awarded
by Keep Britain Tidy. What colour flag is issued for the cleanest beaches?
ANSWER: BLUE
(Tourism)
26. Possessing the continent’s largest oil reserves is fuelling economic growth in this
north African country, the fourth largest in the continent, with the longest
Mediterranean coastline of any African country; name the country
ANSWER: LIBYA
(Africa)
Worldwise Local Quiz 2011-12
27. An epicentre of the 3.5 magnitude earthquake that shook NW England on
December 21st 2010, was Coniston in the Lake District; in which English county?
ANSWER: CUMBRIA
(GB)
28. A canal that linked Reading to Bath initially and was extended to link the east of
England to the west coast port of Bristol celebrated its 200th anniversary on 28th
December 2010; name the canal
ANSWER: KENNETT & AVON
(GB)
29. Ionisers pumping negatively charged particles into the atmosphere to encourage
cloud formation and subsequent rainfall, have been successful in this drought ridden
western United Arab Emirate; name the Emirate.
ANSWER: ABU DHABI
(Met. M East)
30. EITHER: Floods of biblical proportions left millions homeless on the eastern
coast of Australia over the New Year especially in Rockhampton and Bundaberg;
name the state which suffered the natural disaster.
ANSWER: QUEENSLAND
OR: The wettest summer in Australia since records began in 1900, bringing
severe flooding and loss of property and life to Queensland, has been attributed to a
vast upheaval of weather patterns and much warmer water on the western side of the
ocean. What is this name given to this naturally occurring event?
ANSWER: LA NINA
OR: Eastward moving air and ocean currents in the Pacific Ocean, with the
resultant cooling of the Pacific Ocean, has brought floods in eastern Australia and
torrential rains, as well as record snowfalls, in California; name the natural
phenomenon responsible for these extreme weather patterns.
ANSWER: LA NINA
OR: Which major atmospheric disturbance in the Pacific which decreased surface
water temperatures sharply in late summer and autumn 2010, was responsible for the
cold spell with snow in the UK as well as intense summer rain Australia?
ANSWER: LA NINA
OR: Cyclone Yasi, with winds gusting to 180km per hour, brought further
devastation to Cairns and neighbouring towns in which Australian state in early
February?
ANSWER: QUEENSLAND
(Met. Oceania)
31. Arctic weather conditions, followed by a sudden thaw, caused large numbers of
burst pipes and water shortages in which part of the UK over the New Year; was it
Wales Northern Ireland or Scotland?
ANSWER: NORTHERN IRELAND
(Met, GB)
32. Proximity to excellent schools, and the All England Tennis Club, has led to record
house prices in Parkside, a sought after residential street in SW 19; name the village
in question.
ANSWER: WIMBLEDON
(GB)
33. The Cheesegrater, The Shard and The Gherkin are all names of what in London?
ANSWER: TALL BUILDINGS or SKYSCRAPER OFFICE BLOCKS (GB)
Worldwise Local Quiz 2011-12
34. A new nation was created in North Africa in Jan 2010; name it.
ANSWER: SOUTH SUDAN
(Africa)
35. Total, Chevron and BP are all working deep sea oil explorations linked to the
terminal at Sullom Voe on which group of islands off the NW coast of Scotland?
ANSWER: SHETLANDS
(GB)
36. ETA, the separatist movement, have declared a permanent ceasefire to end fifty
years of armed confrontation with the Spanish Government; what is the name of the
area within NE Spain and across the French border, the organisation wishes to be
recognised?
ANSWER: BASQUE
(Eur)
37. The pipeline on stilts from Prudhoe Bay, on the North Slope, to Valdez on Prince
William Sound, which has suffered recent leakages near pumping stations, crosses
which state of America?
ANSWER: ALASKA
(N Am)
38. Apart from disruptions in food supply due to physical factors such as drought and
flood which lead to poor harvests, name ONE economic factor OR ONE social factor
which made global food prices rise rapidly this year.
ANSWER: Either RAPID POPULATION GROWTH (social)
Or RISING PRICE OF OIL (economic)
(Econ)
39. Which London based chain store took over as Britain’s second largest
supermarket, behind Tesco, with a strong retail performance over Christmas 2010,
pushing its Leeds based rival into third place.
ANSWER: J SAINSBURY (ASDA is now 3rd)
(Econ)
40. Mudslides and flash floods in January 2011, caused many deaths in hillside
villages of Petropolis, Teresopolis and Nova Friburgo in the old capital city state;
name the state
ANSWER: RIO DE JANEIRO
(S Am)
41. The Yaris (21%) and Auris (13%) are the best selling models of which car
company?
ANSWER: TOYOTA
(Econ)
42. With Heathrow near full capacity and little room for expansion at Gatwick, a
third airport for London is being considered in the Thames Estuary NE of which
island off the north Kent Coast?
ANSWER: SHEPPEY
(GB)
43. World aircraft manufacture is dominated by Boeing and a European company
which commands 52% of the market share and has a factory in Broughton N Wales,
where most of the 13,000 jobs in the UK are located; name the European company
ANSWER: AIRBUS
(Econ)
Worldwise Local Quiz 2011-12
44. According to the Centre for Cities report in January 2011 cities like Leeds,
Bristol, Reading, Aberdeen and the largest new city half way between London and
Birmingham, possess the necessary ingredients for future economic growth- low
public sector employment, high skill levels in the labour force. Name the new city.
ANSWER: MILTON KEYNES
(GB)
45. Chocolate prices rose in January when Ivory Coast, the world’s third largest
producer banned exports of which (primary) product, to cut off funds from the
Gbagbo government which refuses to leave office.
ANSWER: COCOA
(Econ)
46. Drug research and development in the UK was dealt a blow in February as Pfizer
announced it was closing its factory in this small port town in NE Kent with the
potential loss of 2400 jobs over two years; name the port.
ANSWER: SANDWICH
(GB)
47. The remaking of the film of the book ‘Brighton Rock’, took place in another
Sussex resort with a Grand Hotel and a 19th C pier; name the resort
ANSWER: EASTBOURNE
(GB)
48. This region in the north of Iraq, bordered by Iran Turkey and Syria, with Erbil as
the regional capital, is now a major oil exporter attracting much inward investment;
name the region.
ANSWER: KURDISTAN
(M East)
49. This Channel Island, the smallest of the four, expects increased income from
tourism now it has been voted a ‘dark sky island’ by the International Dark Skies
Association; name the island.
ANSWER: SARK
(GB/ Eur)
50. Which state in western USA, capital Salt Lake City, voted to include a handgun, a
Browning pistol, along with a fish and cooking pot, as a symbol on the state flag in
February 2011?
ANSWER: UTAH
(N Am)
51. An 11 mile Baltic sea tunnel from Rodbyhavn to Puttgarden will carry two four
lane motorways and a high speed rail line between Denmark and which European
neighbour?
ANSWER: GERMANY
(Eur)
52. Which British overseas territory in the West Indies, north of Haiti and east of
Cuba, with a population of 30,000, needed a £160m financial rescue package from the
UK government to pay its public sector workers in February?
ANSWER: TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS
(GB)
53. The Kuril Islands in the North Pacific Ocean were a source of tension in February
2011, as Russia reasserted its claim to ownership from which other country?
ANSWER: JAPAN
(Asia)
Worldwise Local Quiz 2011-12
54. The City of London’s power in the global financial world was threatened by the
agreement of Euronext from the New York Stock Exchange with Deutsche Bourse,
the Stock Exchange in which German city?
ANSWER: FRANKFURT
(Eur)
55. Unrest in the capitals of the Arab world spread to Manama in February 2011;
Manama is the capital of which United Arab Emirate?
ANSWER: BAHRAIN
(M East)
56. Central Canada’s major tourist attraction is found between Lake Ontario and Lake
Erie, just north of Buffalo; name the natural physical feature
ANSWER: NIAGARA FALLS
(N Am)
57. England’s only geological Heritage Site, is threatened by permission to build an
offshore wind farm which will site 240 feet turbines within eight miles of Swanage in
which south coast county?
ANSWER: DORSET
(GB)
58. The plan to cull more than 3000 reindeer on this remote South Atlantic island, to
re-establish the bird colonies in the ecosystem, has been condemned by animal right s
groups. Name the island east of the Falklands.
ANSWER: SOUTH GEORGIA
(S Am)
59. The MG6 sports car is making a comeback with the first models due to roll of the
Longbridge production line soon; in which English city is the Longbridge plant?
ANSWER: BIRMINGHAM
(GB)
60. Inward investment in this Asian country is guaranteed to increase now that
the world’s largest untapped seam of coking coal has been discovered close to the
capital Ulan Bator; name the country
ANSWER: MONGOLIA
(Asia)
61. EITHER: The 6.3 magnitude earthquake in February 2011 was an aftershock of
the 7.1 magnitude earthquake in September 2010; name the country affected?
ANSWER: NEW ZEALAND
OR: The 6.3 magnitude earthquake in New Zealand in February 2011 had a
shallow focus and caused considerable damage and loss of life in which South Island
city?
ANSWER: CHRISTCHURCH
OR: The 6.3 magnitude earthquake under Christchurch NZ in February 2011,
brought severs damage and loss of life because the wet, silty rock on which the city is
built, can magnify the seismic effect (ie make it worse); what is this process called?
ANSWER: LIQUEFACTION
OR: The NZ earthquake of February 2011 was caused by the Pacific plate, which
moves west and south west at between 30-60 cms a year, diving under (subducting)
which continental plate?
ANSWER: AUSTRALIAN
(Oceania)
Worldwise Local Quiz 2011-12
61. High Street grocery store market share is still dominated by this chain with over
30% of all outlets compared to just over 16% for Asda (2nd) and Sainsbury’s (3rd);
name the market leader
ANSWER: TESCO
(Econ)
62. Opponents of the planned high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham
claim it will destroy area of outstanding Natural Beauty passing through which line of
chalk hills in Buckinghamshire?
ANSWER: CHILTERNS
(Econ,GB)
63. Large deposits of the rare element indium, a key raw material in liquid crystal
displays in smartphones and iPads, have been found at South Crofty, Cornwall’s only
surviving commercial mine. What did South Crofty used to mine in large quantities?
ANSWER: TIN
(Econ, GB)
64. Sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania, this tiny East European country, has
been labelled Europe’s drinking capital where 20% of male deaths are drink related
and male life expectancy is only around 60; name the country
ANSWER: MOLDOVA
(Eur)
65. Cashmere is set to become more expensive because harsh winters have resulted in
goat herders eating their Kashmir goats rather than keeping them for dehairing; in
which Asian country?
ANSWER: MONGOLIA
(Asia)
66. Mega-mudslides washed away four hundred homes in Bolivia’s administrative
capital in early March; name the capital
ANSWER: LA PAZ
(S Am)
67. Transport innovation in London began with cycle hire in 2010 and will continue
in 2011 with new buses and mainstream electric car use. Which gas powers the green
bus?
ANSWER: HYDROGEN
(GB)
68. Name London’s new east-west rail link to be opened in 2018 will increase
network capacity by 10% delivering faster journey times and up to 24 trains an hour
at peak periods between Paddington and Whitechapel.
ANSWER: CROSSRAIL
(GB)
69. This pioneering city in Brazil has developed a reliable, affordable and integrated
public transport system based on express bus lanes which carry 2.4m passengers a
day. Name the city; is it Brasilia, Curitiba or Sao Paulo?
ANSWER: CURITIBA
(S Am)
70. Which Italian city’s plans to build a new rail tunnel and underground station,
threatens a major tourist attraction, Michaelangelo’s Statue of David?
ANSWER: FLORENCE
(Eur)
Worldwise Local Quiz 2011-12
71. Either: The earthquake which devastated northeast Japan in early March,
measuring nine on the Richter scale, was caused by the Pacific Plate subducting under
which continental plate?
ANSWER: EURASIAN
Or: Damage and loss of life along the north east coast of Japan in March 2011
was the result of which natural disaster which followed the magnitude 9 earthquake?
ANSWER: TSUNAMI
Or: What potentially greater danger did the magnitude 9 earthquake off the north
east of Japan in March 2011, have on the industrial plant in Fukushima
ANSWER: RELEASE OF NUCLEAR RADIATION
(Asia)
72. Which market town, near RAF Lyneham, in Wiltshire became ‘Royal’ in March
2011?
ANSWER: WOOTTON BASSETT
(GB)
73. What was significant about Saturday 27th March 2011?
ANSWER: CENSUS COLLECTION DAY
(GB)
74. If you landed at Schiphol airport, which European city would you be visiting?
ANSWER: AMSTERDAM
(Eur)
75. The African Copper Belt, which contains 10% of the world’s reserves and 34% of
the cobalt reserves, is found mainly in which country?
ANSWER: ZAMBIA
(Africa)
76. EITHER With a production of 447,000 tonnes in 2010-11, 5.6% of the world’s
total, which African country produced the most coffee; is it Kenya, Tanzania or
Ethiopia?
ANSWER: ETHIOPIA
OR: With a production of 350,000 tonnes in 2010-11, 14.6% of the world’s total,
which African country produced the most tea; is it Uganda, Kenya or Malawi?
ANSWER: KENYA
OR: Which country, the largest exporter of coffee in the world, produces high
yields from rich terra rosa soils and large coffee estates (fazendas)?
ANSWER: BRAZIL
(Econ)
77. After Greece and Eire, which other Eurozone country required a financial
rescue package from international bankers in March 2011?
ANSWER: PORTUGAL
(Eur)
78. If you visited Plas Newydd and the majestic 13th C Beaumaris castle after crossing
the Menai suspension bridge, where would you be?
ANSWER: ANGLESEY
(GB)
79. EITHER: Oldbury and Hinkley Point are sites of nuclear power stations on which
stretch of water?
ANSWER: BRISTOL CHANNEL.
OR: Match up the county coast with the nuclear power stations listed below
Stations: Heysham, Bradwell, Sizewell; Counties: Essex, Lancashire Suffolk.
Worldwise Local Quiz 2011-12
ANSWER: Heysham = LANCS; Bradwell = ESSEX; Sizewell = SUFFOLK
(Econ)
80. At least ten people were killed when a 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck Lorca in
Murcia Spain in May 2011; is Murcia in the NE, SW or SE or the country?
ANSWER: SOUTH EAST
(GB)
Worldwise Local Quiz 2011-12