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#1 What country has a horizontal bicolor red and white flag?
Explanation
Monaco's flag consists of two horizontal stripes: red on top and white on bottom. It's identical to Indonesia's flag but has different proportions (4:5 vs 2:3).
#2 New Haven is the capital city of the state of Connecticut in the United States.
Explanation
Hartford is the capital of Connecticut, not New Haven. New Haven is famous for Yale University but has never been the state capital.
#3 Rhode Island is actually located on the US mainland, despite its name.
Explanation
Rhode Island is the smallest U.S. state and is mostly located on the mainland, with only about 20% consisting of islands in Narragansett Bay. The name comes from 'Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.'
#4 Greenland is covered with grass and Iceland covered with ice.
Explanation
It's actually the opposite: Greenland is mostly covered by ice (80% ice sheet), while Iceland has a much milder climate with significant green areas. The names were possibly chosen to confuse enemies or attract settlers.
#5 What is the capital of South Korea?
Explanation
Seoul has been South Korea's capital since 1394 and is home to nearly 10 million people. Pyongyang is North Korea's capital, while Taegu (Daegu) is a major South Korean city and Kitakyushu is in Japan.
#6 What is Canada's smallest province?
Explanation
Prince Edward Island (PEI) covers only 5,660 km², making it Canada's smallest province by area. It's famous for potatoes, Anne of Green Gables, and the Confederation Bridge connecting it to the mainland.
#7 Which small country is located between the borders of France and Spain?
Explanation
Andorra is a tiny principality nestled in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain. It's known for duty-free shopping, skiing, and having two co-princes: the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell.
#8 What is the capital of the US State of New York?
Explanation
Albany has been New York's capital since 1797. Many people incorrectly assume New York City is the capital because it's the largest and most famous city in the state.
#9 St. Louis is the capital of the US State Missouri.
Explanation
Jefferson City is Missouri's capital, not St. Louis. St. Louis is the largest city in Missouri and was the gateway to westward expansion, but it has never been the state capital.
#10 How many stars are featured on New Zealand's flag?
Explanation
New Zealand's flag features four stars representing the Southern Cross constellation. Each star has a different number of points: three have five points and one has four points.
#11 What is the largest country in the world?
Explanation
Russia covers over 17 million km², making it the largest country by land area. It spans 11 time zones and covers about 11% of the world's land mass.
#12 The Alps are a mountain range on which continent?
Explanation
The Alps stretch across eight European countries including France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, and Germany. Mont Blanc is the highest peak at 4,809 meters.
#13 What is the capital of India?
Explanation
New Delhi has been India's capital since 1911, when the British moved it from Calcutta. It forms part of the larger Delhi metropolitan area and houses important government buildings like the Red Fort and India Gate.
#14 What is the capital of the American state of Arizona?
Explanation
Phoenix is Arizona's capital and largest city, known for its desert climate and rapid population growth. Montgomery is Alabama's capital, Tallahassee is Florida's, and Raleigh is North Carolina's.
#15 What is the largest country, by area, that has only one time zone?
Explanation
Despite spanning about 5,200 km from east to west, China uses only one time zone (Beijing Time) for political unity. Canada has 6 time zones, Russia has 11, and India uses one zone but is much smaller than China.
#16 Which of the following European languages is classified as a "language isolate?"
Explanation
Basque (Euskera) is a language isolate with no known relatives, spoken in the Pyrenees. Galician is Romance, Maltese is Semitic, and Hungarian is Finno-Ugric, all having related languages.
#17 How many countries does the United States share a land border with?
Explanation
The United States shares land borders with only two countries: Canada to the north (including Alaska) and Mexico to the south. The borders total about 12,000 km combined.
#18 What colour is the circle on the Japanese flag?
Explanation
Japan's flag, called Hinomaru (circle of the sun), features a red circle representing the sun on a white background. The design symbolizes Japan as the 'Land of the Rising Sun.'
#19 How many federal states does Germany have?
Explanation
Germany consists of 16 federal states (Länder), including three city-states: Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg. This federal structure was established after German reunification in 1990.
#20 What is the name of the peninsula containing Spain and Portugal?
Explanation
The Iberian Peninsula is separated from the rest of Europe by the Pyrenees mountains and includes Spain, Portugal, Andorra, Gibraltar, and a small part of France.
#21 There is a city called Rome in every continent on Earth.
Explanation
While there are cities named Rome in multiple countries (famously in Italy and several U.S. states), there is not a Rome on every continent. Antarctica definitely has no cities named Rome.
#22 Toronto is the capital city of the North American country of Canada.
Explanation
Ottawa is Canada's capital, not Toronto. While Toronto is Canada's largest city and economic center, Ottawa was chosen as the capital in 1857 by Queen Victoria.
#23 What is the capital of Scotland?
Explanation
Edinburgh has been Scotland's capital since at least the 15th century. It houses the Scottish Parliament and is famous for its medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town.
#24 The body of the Egyptian Sphinx was based on which animal?
Explanation
The Great Sphinx of Giza has a lion's body with a human head, symbolizing royal power. Lions represented strength and divine authority in ancient Egyptian culture.
#25 The derisive acronym "PIIGS" refers to which of the following European countries and their economic statuses?
Explanation
PIIGS was a derogatory term used during the European debt crisis (2010-2012) to refer to Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, and Spain, which faced severe sovereign debt problems.
#26 Greenland is almost as big as Africa.
Explanation
Africa is about 14 times larger than Greenland. Greenland appears much larger on some map projections (like Mercator) due to distortion near the poles, but it's actually only 2.2 million km² compared to Africa's 30.3 million km².
#27 There is an island in Japan called Ōkunoshima, A.K.A. "Rabbit Island", so named because of it's huge population of rabbits.
Explanation
Ōkunoshima is indeed known as Rabbit Island due to its large population of wild rabbits. The island was once a secret chemical weapons facility during WWII, and the rabbits were likely introduced for testing purposes.
#28 Harvard University is located in which city?
Explanation
Harvard University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just across the Charles River from Boston. Founded in 1636, it's the oldest university in the United States.
#29 Greenland is a part of which kingdom?
Explanation
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. While it has self-governance, Denmark handles its foreign affairs and defense. Greenland has been under Danish rule since 1814.
#30 Which continent is known as the 'Dark Continent'?
Explanation
Africa was historically called the 'Dark Continent' by European explorers due to the lack of knowledge about its interior regions. This term is now considered outdated and inappropriate due to its colonial connotations.
#31 There are no deserts in Europe.
Explanation
Europe has no true deserts due to its temperate climate and proximity to seas and oceans. The continent's driest areas are semi-arid steppes in southeastern Europe, but these don't qualify as deserts.
#32 Which country does Austria not border?
Explanation
Austria borders eight countries: Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, but not France. Switzerland acts as a buffer between Austria and France.
#33 A group of islands is called an 'archipelago'.
Explanation
An archipelago is indeed the geographic term for a group or chain of islands. Examples include the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Caribbean islands.
#34 What is the capital of Jamaica?
Explanation
Kingston is Jamaica's capital and largest city. San Juan is Puerto Rico's capital, Port-au-Prince is Haiti's capital, and Bridgetown is Barbados' capital.
#35 How many countries does Mexico border?
Explanation
Mexico borders three countries: the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the south. It also has coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
#36 Vatican City is a country.
Explanation
Vatican City is indeed a sovereign country and the world's smallest state at just 0.17 square miles. It's an absolute monarchy ruled by the Pope and entirely enclosed by Rome, Italy.
#37 What is the capital of Indonesia?
Explanation
Jakarta is Indonesia's capital and largest city, located on the island of Java. However, Indonesia announced plans to move the capital to Nusantara on Borneo island due to Jakarta's overcrowding and sinking.
#38 What is the Polish city known to Germans as Danzig?
Explanation
Gdańsk was known as Danzig when it was under German control. This Baltic port city is historically significant as the birthplace of the Solidarity movement and where WWII began.
#39 What is Laos?
Explanation
Laos (officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic) is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar.
#40 Which US state is nicknamed "The Golden State"?
Explanation
California is called 'The Golden State' because of the California Gold Rush of 1849 and its golden poppy flowers. The nickname also reflects its golden sunshine and opportunities.
#41 What is the longest river in South America?
Explanation
The Amazon River is the longest river in South America and the world, flowing approximately 6,400 km from Peru to Brazil. It carries more water than any other river and drains about 40% of South America.
#42 Nova Scotia is on the east coast of Canada.
Explanation
Nova Scotia is a Maritime province on Canada's Atlantic coast. It's a peninsula connected to New Brunswick and is known for its seafood, especially lobster and scallops.
#43 What is the Capital of the United States?
Explanation
Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia) has been the U.S. capital since 1800. It was specifically designed as the federal capital and is not part of any state.
#44 What is the capital of Denmark?
Explanation
Copenhagen (København in Danish) is Denmark's capital and largest city. It's famous for the Little Mermaid statue, Tivoli Gardens, and being one of the world's most bike-friendly cities.
#45 What is the capital of Spain?
Explanation
Madrid has been Spain's capital since 1561 when Philip II moved the court there. It's located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula and is home to the Prado Museum and Royal Palace.
#46 Which of these is the name of the largest city in the US state Tennessee?
Explanation
Memphis is Tennessee's largest city, famous for being the birthplace of blues music and home to Graceland (Elvis Presley's mansion). The other options are all ancient Egyptian cities.
#47 Which of the following languages does NOT use the Latin alphabet?
Explanation
Georgian uses its own unique script called Mkhedruli, which has been used since the 11th century. Turkish, Swahili, and Vietnamese all adopted the Latin alphabet in modern times.
#48 Which of these is NOT an Australian state or territory?
Explanation
Alberta is a province in western Canada, not Australia. New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland are three of Australia's six states.
#49 All of the following are classified as Finno-Ugric languages EXCEPT:
Explanation
Samoyedic languages form a separate branch of the Uralic language family, while Hungarian, Finnish, and Estonian belong to the Finno-Ugric branch of the same family.
#50 Which of these African countries list "Spanish" as an official language?
Explanation
Equatorial Guinea is the only African country with Spanish as an official language, due to its colonial history under Spain. The other countries use French (Guinea, Cameroon) or Portuguese (Angola).