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#1 What is the second-largest city in Lithuania?
Explanation
Kaunas is Lithuania's second-largest city after Vilnius (the capital). Kaunas served as Lithuania's temporary capital from 1920-1940 and is known for its medieval old town and basketball culture.
#2 What year is on the flag of the US state Wisconsin?
Explanation
Wisconsin's state flag displays '1848,' the year Wisconsin became the 30th U.S. state. The flag features the state coat of arms on a blue background with 'Wisconsin' and '1848' inscribed.
#3 What is the area of Vatican City?
Explanation
Vatican City covers exactly 0.44 km² (0.17 square miles), making it the world's smallest sovereign state. It's roughly one-eighth the size of New York's Central Park.
#4 What is the capital of Wisconsin, USA?
Explanation
Madison is Wisconsin's capital and second-largest city, home to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Milwaukee is the largest city, while Green Bay and Wisconsin Dells are other notable Wisconsin cities.
#5 Which of these countries is NOT a part of the Asian continent?
Explanation
Suriname is located in South America, not Asia. Georgia is in the Caucasus region (part of Asia), Russia spans both Europe and Asia, and Singapore is in Southeast Asia.
#6 Which of these is NOT a real tectonic plate?
Explanation
There is no single 'Atlantic Plate.' The Atlantic Ocean floor consists of separate plates including the North American and South American plates. The North American, Eurasian, and Nazca plates are all real major tectonic plates.
#7 The emblem on the flag of the Republic of Tajikistan features a sunrise over mountains below what symbol?
Explanation
Tajikistan's flag features a golden crown above a sunrise over mountains in the center stripe. The crown represents the Samanid dynasty and symbolizes Tajik statehood, sovereignty, and independence.
#8 Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is located on which Welsh island?
Explanation
This village with the longest place name in Europe (58 letters) is located on Anglesey island in Wales. The name was created in the 1860s as a publicity stunt to give the railway station the longest name in Britain.
#9 The mountainous Khyber Pass connects which of the two following countries?
Explanation
The Khyber Pass is a historic mountain pass connecting Afghanistan and Pakistan through the Hindu Kush mountains. It has been a strategic trade and invasion route for centuries, including during the Great Game and recent conflicts.
#10 The Andaman and Nicobar Islands in South East Asia are controlled by which country?
Explanation
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a union territory of India located in the Bay of Bengal. They consist of over 570 islands and are strategically important for India's maritime security in the Indian Ocean.
#11 What is the capital city of Bermuda?
Explanation
Hamilton is the capital of Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic. Santo Domingo is the Dominican Republic's capital, San Juan is Puerto Rico's capital, and Havana is Cuba's capital.
#12 The prefix Sino- (As in Sino-American) is used to refer to what nationality?
Explanation
The prefix 'Sino-' comes from the Latin word for China and is used to refer to Chinese or China-related matters. Examples include Sino-American relations, Sino-Japanese War, and Sinology (study of Chinese culture).
#13 Which country was NOT formerly part of Yugoslavia?
Explanation
Albania was never part of Yugoslavia. The six republics that formed Yugoslavia were Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Macedonia (now North Macedonia). Albania remained an independent communist state.
#14 In which city, is the Big Nickel located in Canada?
Explanation
The Big Nickel is a 30-foot replica of a 1951 Canadian nickel located in Sudbury, Ontario. It was built in 1964 to commemorate Sudbury's history as a major nickel mining center.
#15 The two largest ethnic groups of Belgium are Flemish and Walloon.
Explanation
Belgium's population is primarily divided between the Dutch-speaking Flemish (about 60%) in the north and French-speaking Walloons (about 30%) in the south, plus a small German-speaking minority.
#16 What is the name of the formerly rich fishing grounds off the island of Newfoundland, Canada?
Explanation
The Grand Banks are shallow underwater plateaus off Newfoundland that were once among the world's richest fishing grounds for cod. Overfishing led to the collapse of cod stocks in the 1990s.
#17 Which country is completely landlocked by South Africa?
Explanation
Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa, making it an enclave. Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) borders both South Africa and Mozambique, while Botswana and Zimbabwe have other neighboring countries.
#18 Bir Tawil, an uninhabited track of land claimed by no country, is located along the border of which two countries?
Explanation
Bir Tawil is a unique 'terra nullius' (no man's land) between Egypt and Sudan. Neither country claims it because doing so would invalidate their claims to the more valuable Hala'ib Triangle.
#19 What is the tallest mountain in Canada?
Explanation
Mount Logan, located in Yukon's Kluane National Park, is Canada's highest peak at 5,959 meters (19,551 feet). It's named after Sir William Edmond Logan, founder of the Geological Survey of Canada.
#20 Which country is the Taedong River in?
Explanation
The Taedong River flows through North Korea and passes through the capital city Pyongyang. It's approximately 439 km long and is one of North Korea's major rivers.
#21 How many countries border Kyrgyzstan?
Explanation
Kyrgyzstan is bordered by four countries: China to the east, Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, and Tajikistan to the south. It's a landlocked country in Central Asia.
#22 What is the largest freshwater lake by volume?
Explanation
Lake Baikal in Russia contains about 20% of the world's unfrozen freshwater, making it the largest freshwater lake by volume. It's also the world's deepest and oldest lake, reaching depths of 1,642 meters.
#23 What is the official German name of the Swiss Federal Railways?
Explanation
Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (SBB) is the German name for Swiss Federal Railways. In French it's called Chemins de fer fédéraux suisses (CFF) and in Italian Ferrovie federali svizzere (FFS).
#24 Switzerland has four national languages, English being one of them.
Explanation
Switzerland has four national languages: German (spoken by about 63%), French (18%), Italian (8%), and Romansh (0.5%). English is not an official national language, though it's widely taught and used in business.
#25 The Maluku islands (informally known as the Spice Islands) belong to which country?
Explanation
The Maluku Islands, historically known as the Spice Islands, are part of Indonesia. They were the original source of nutmeg and cloves, making them extremely valuable during the colonial spice trade era.
#26 How many stations does the Central Line have on the London Underground?
Explanation
The Central Line of the London Underground has 49 stations, making it one of the longest lines on the network. It runs from West Ruislip and Ealing Broadway in the west to Epping in the northeast.
#27 What is the name of one of the Neo-Aramaic languages spoken by the Jewish population from Northwestern Iraq?
Explanation
Lishana Deni (meaning 'our language') is a Neo-Aramaic language traditionally spoken by Kurdish Jews from northwestern Iraq. Most speakers emigrated to Israel in the 1950s, and the language is now critically endangered.
#28 Only one country in the world starts with the letter Q.
Explanation
Qatar is the only sovereign country in the world whose name begins with the letter Q. It's a small nation on the Arabian Peninsula known for its oil wealth and hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
#29 What is the Finnish word for "Finland"?
Explanation
'Suomi' is what Finnish people call their country. The other options are Estonia (Eesti), Hungary (Magyarország), and Sweden (Sverige) in their respective languages.
#30 What is the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka?
Explanation
Colombo is Sri Lanka's largest city and commercial capital, though Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the administrative capital. Colombo is a major port city and the economic center of the country.
#31 What is the county seat of King County, Washington?
Explanation
Seattle serves as the county seat of King County, Washington. King County is the most populous county in Washington state, and Seattle is its largest city and administrative center.
#32 Which of these cities has a 4° East longitude.
Explanation
Amsterdam is located at approximately 4.9° East longitude, making it the closest to 4° East among the options. Rio de Janeiro is in the west (around 43°W), Toronto is also west (around 79°W), and Hong Kong is far east (around 114°E).
#33 Where is the fast food chain "Panda Express" headquartered?
Explanation
Panda Express, the popular American Chinese fast food chain, is headquartered in Rosemead, California, a city in Los Angeles County. The company was founded by Andrew Cherng and his father Master Chef Ming-Tsai Cherng.
#34 In 2012 the German-speaking microstate "Liechtenstein" in Central Europe had a population of how many inhabitants?
Explanation
Liechtenstein had a population of approximately 36,600 people in 2012. This tiny principality between Austria and Switzerland is one of the world's smallest countries by both area and population.
#35 What North American tourist attraction is served by the "Maid of the Mist" tour company?
Explanation
The Maid of the Mist boat tours have been operating at Niagara Falls since 1846, taking visitors close to the base of the famous waterfalls. The tours operate on both the American and Canadian sides of the falls.
#36 What is the name of rocky region that spans most of eastern Canada?
Explanation
The Canadian Shield is a large area of exposed Precambrian igneous and high-grade metamorphic rocks. It covers about half of Canada and is rich in minerals, forests, and freshwater lakes.
#37 In which country is Tallinn located?
Explanation
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. Located on the Baltic Sea coast, it's known for its well-preserved medieval Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
#38 When does Finland celebrate their independence day?
Explanation
Finland celebrates its Independence Day on December 6th, commemorating its declaration of independence from Russia in 1917. The day is marked by official ceremonies and the lighting of two candles in windows.
#39 Into which basin does the Jordan River flow into?
Explanation
The Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea, which is actually a hypersaline lake located at the lowest point on Earth's surface. The Dead Sea is bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel to the west.
#40 Which of these is NOT a province in China?
Explanation
Yangtze is the name of China's longest river, not a province. Fujian, Sichuan, and Guangdong are all legitimate provinces in China. The Yangtze River flows through multiple provinces including Sichuan.
#41 What is the capital of Mauritius?
Explanation
Port Louis is the capital and largest city of Mauritius, located on the island's northwest coast. Port Moresby is Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Vila is Vanuatu's capital, and Port-au-Prince is Haiti's capital.
#42 The Hunua Ranges is located in...
Explanation
The Hunua Ranges are a mountain range located in the Auckland region of New Zealand's North Island. These ranges are known for their native forests and water reservoirs that supply Auckland with fresh water.
#43 What is the most common climbing route for the second highest mountain in the world, K2?
Explanation
The Abruzzi Spur is the most frequently used route to climb K2, first attempted by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1909. While other routes like the Magic Line and Cesen Route exist, the Abruzzi Spur remains the standard route due to its relative accessibility.
#44 Which of these island countries is located in the Caribbean?
Explanation
Barbados is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea, located east of the Windward Islands. Fiji is in the Pacific Ocean, the Maldives are in the Indian Ocean near India, and Seychelles are also in the Indian Ocean near Africa.
#45 What is the name of the Canadian national anthem?
Explanation
'O Canada' has been Canada's national anthem since 1980, though it was written in 1880. The song is performed in both English and French, reflecting Canada's bilingual heritage, and references the country's natural beauty and patriotic spirit.
#46 Which is not a country in Africa?
Explanation
Guyana is located in South America on the northern coast, bordered by Venezuela, Brazil, and Suriname. Senegal, Liberia, and Somalia are all countries located on the African continent.
#47 What is Canada's largest island?
Explanation
Baffin Island, located in Nunavut, is Canada's largest island at 507,451 square kilometers and the world's fifth-largest island. It's located in the Arctic archipelago and is named after English explorer William Baffin.
#48 Which of these cities is NOT in England?
Explanation
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, not England. Oxford, Manchester, and Southampton are all English cities. Edinburgh is famous for its castle, Royal Mile, and annual festivals.
#49 Which of the following Inuit languages was the FIRST to use a unique writing system not based on the Latin alphabet?
Explanation
Inuktitut uses a unique syllabic writing system called Qanirniq, developed by missionaries in the 1840s. It's written in symbols representing syllables rather than individual letters, making it distinct from Latin-based scripts.
#50 What national museum will you find in Cooperstown, New York?
Explanation
The National Baseball Hall of Fame is located in Cooperstown, New York, and honors the greatest baseball players in American history. Cooperstown is traditionally considered the birthplace of baseball, making it the perfect location for this institution.