Language and Body Language
Geography
Strange but True
Miscellaneous
Food
100
Which language has the most native speakers in the world?
With nearly 1.3 billion native speakers, Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language in the world. This is followed by Spanish with 485,063,960, English with 379,682,200, and Arabic with 373,000,000.
100
Which country has the most natural lakes?
Canada has the most natural lakes in the world, with some estimates of more than 2 million. In fact, lakes cover about 9% of Canada’s surface area. Many of Canada’s lakes were formed by glaciers that melted during the last Ice Age, along with glaciers in other Northern Hemisphere countries like Russia, Scandinavia, and Alaska.
100
In which country is it OK to slurp freely while eating or drinking?
Japan. Most cultures have rules about table etiquette. In western societies, noisily consuming food is considered rude. However, in Japan, making slurping sounds while eating is acceptable. This probably has something to do with the way noodles are eaten. In western countries, you twirl your noodles on a spoon or fork before putting them in your mouth. The Japanese slurp up their noodles without winding them around a utensil. This way of noodle eating is naturally noisier. Making slurping sounds when eating noodles in Japan indicates that you're enjoying them. Some people believe that slurping enhances the noodles' flavor.
100
Which country is famous for giving kisses to one another when they meet, including total strangers?
From hand waves to smiles, most cultures have specific greeting rituals. Many cultures share the common custom of kissing on the cheek as a form of salutation. However, the French have taken this to a whole new level. For instance:
- Kissing rules vary for men and women in France.
- The French people are expected to kiss-greet each person arriving at a gathering, whether they know them or not.
- The number of kisses required to complete the greeting varies from region to region.
100
How much pizza do Americans eat each day? (in acres - within 10 acresis acceptable)
Bonus - double points if you guess within a 500 million of the correct answer to how many pizzas are sold in the US annually?
Americans consume approximately 100 acres of pizza daily, which equals about 3 billion pizzas sold annually.
200
In which part of the world, be specific, is it considered rude to use your left hand?
Middle East, parts of Africa, and southern Asia.
In some countries, the use of the left hand for eating or other activities is considered insulting. People in these countries use their left hands for cleaning themselves after using the toilet, and, therefore, the left hand is considered dirty. This custom applies to much of the Middle East, India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Africa. When spending time in these parts of the world, always use your right hand for greeting, exchanging money, handling merchandise, and, of course, eating.
200
Which country is known as “the land of no rivers”?
Saudi Arabia has no permanent rivers, and most of its fresh water comes from desalination plants or underground reservoirs.
200
In what country are people given the day off to try to create more babies???
Russia. In Russia, September 12 Is Known as the Day of Conception. Russia has declining birth rates, an unequal proportion of women to men, and alarmingly short male lifespans. To help solve this issue, the Russian government instituted a public holiday on September 12 to give couples time off from work to procreate. Prizes are given out to successful parents whose babies are born approximately nine months later.
200
What is the most popular sport in the world?
Soccer, also known as football, is considered the most popular sport in the world, with an estimated 4 billion fans globally. The FIFA World Cup, held every four years, draws billions of viewers from around the world, with more than a billion people watching the finals alone.
200
Who consumes the most ice cream?
New Zealand. New Zealanders consume the most ice cream per capita in the world, eating around 28 liters (eight gallons) per person each year. The U.S. is second, with Americans consuming around 26 liters (seven gallons) per person annually.
300
In which country do people use their thumb to point?
Malaysia. Some countries regard pointing with the index finger as rude. While many cultures probably think that pointing a finger isn't very nice, some countries like Indonesia and Malaysia view this gesture as incredibly offensive. There, it's considered much more polite to gesture toward things with the thumb. In many African countries, pointing is appropriate for inanimate objects only, not people. 
300
Which country is known for having the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
Italy is home to 60 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the most of any country in the world. These sites include cultural, historical, and natural landmarks.
300
In which country might people spit on the bride at weddings or even babies at a baptism?!?
Greece! Did you know that Greeks associate spitting with good luck? It's seen as a traditional good luck charm at events like weddings. Today, the custom doesn't involve wedding guests spitting on the bride. Instead of inflicting damage on the bridal gown, the gesture evolved into the more hygienic and symbolic act of guests forcefully uttering "ftou ftou ftou." Greeks also do this on other special occasions such as baptisms to acknowledge the baby's good health and beauty.
300
Where is it ok to do finger-pulling?
Australia. You might wonder when you see Austrian men engaged in finger-pulling. It is actually a serious traditional sport and the rules of the game are quite strict. The game is called Fingerhakeln (finger-pulling), which is like a mini version of tug-of-war. The objective is the same, to drag the opponent by the finger across the table. Bavaria also plays this sport.
300
In which country is it considered extremely rude to ask for salt when dining?
Egypt. In many cultures, like the United States, it is all right to ask for salt to add to your food. But if you are dining with friends and colleagues in Egypt, keep in mind to avoid asking for salt. It is taken as an insult to the host, as Egyptians take it to mean that you are repulsed by the taste of the meal served to you.
400
In which country to people point with their lips?
Nicaragua. Wondering how exactly this is done? It all starts by puckering up in a kind of duck face. The lips can then be directed forward or side-to-side to indicate what the person is trying to point out. This gesture is usually accompanied by a directional head movement, which is used to indicate something happening nearby.
400
Which country is the flattest?
The Maldives, an island chain in the Indian Ocean, is the flattest country in the world. The country’s terrain is consistently 1.5 meters above sea level or about 5 feet above sea level.
400
In which country are cemetaries social areas, like a park, where people gather and hang out?
Denmark. Cemeteries are spooky sites in many countries, but this is not the case in Denmark. Instead of gathering in parks, the Danes have converted their cemeteries into social areas. Danish cemeteries are well manicured and thronged with locals when the weather begins to warm up after winter. In Copenhagen, the country's capital, you'll be hanging out in great company. Many famous Danes are buried in city cemeteries, including Hans Christian Andersen.
400
Where do you have to be really careful of the gifts you give someone?
China.
The majority of the Chinese are superstitious as well and attach meanings to various things. When presenting your Chinese friends with flowers, avoid using white, which they associate with ghosts and death. In the United States, white flowers symbolize innocence and purity. Likewise, avoid flowers with thorny stems. Other things that are not good gifts for the Chinese are:
- Clock. Its name in Chinese (sòng zhōng, meaning send clock) sounds like sòng zhōng or funeral rite. It is also taken to mean that time is running out, or life and relationship can end.
- Handkerchief .–In Chinese, it sounds like a farewell greeting.
- Umbrella. Offering or giving your Chinese friend or colleague an umbrella is a subtle hint of ending a relationship. You can share your umbrella but you have to take it back with you.
- Gifts that come in sets of four. The number 4 is associated with death.
- Straw sandals, shoes. It is also taken to mean that you want to part ways.
- Green hat. Green is considered lucky by other people because it is the color of money. For the Chinese however, a green hat means that the wife is being unfaithful.
400
In which country is it considered rude to eat with your bare hands?
Norway. In some cultures, it is acceptable to eat food with your bare hands. But as etiquette would have it, it is often required that you use utensils such as a spoon and fork, chopsticks, or spoon, knife and fork when having a meal. Be sure to brush up on how to eat with a knife and fork before you travel to Norway. In this Scandinavian country, even sandwiches are eaten using a fork and a knife.
500
Which CONTINENT is the most linguistically diverse in the world? Bonus - double points - if you are within 100 languages of the total number!
Africa is home to anywhere from 800 to 1,500 of the world’s languages, making it the most linguistically diverse continent.
500
Which country is the most mountainous?
Bhutan is the most mountainous country in the world, with mountains covering 98.8% of its land. The small South Asian country is located in the eastern Himalayas and has an average elevation of 10,760 feet (3,280 meters) above sea level.
500
In what island chain nation is there an island named Pingelap where almost all of the inhabitants are colorblind?
Micronesia, comprising more than 600 islands. A Micronesian island called Pingelap where most of the inhabitants are colorblind. They know when fruit is ripe by the smell. This fact gave me a new understanding of how people see the world and the different pathways cultures take to solve the same problems. 
500
In what country should you NOT ride in the back of a taxi?
Australia. In movies and pictures, it is customary to see people taking a ride in a taxicab sitting in the back of the vehicle. Your Etiquette 101 class might have taught you that it is the proper way to ride a taxi if you are the only one in it. But in Australia, it is considered snobbish to sit at the back. Australians often sit in front with the taxi driver.
500
In live action and animated films, shoving one’s face onto a birthday or wedding cake elicits a laugh. In which country can you literally have your face shoved into a cake and have it be socially acceptable and expected (not counting a bride and groom)?
Mexico. In Mexico it is a cultural tradition. It even follows a process. The cake is brought out and presented to the person celebrating the birthday. Guests sing the birthday song and the candle is blown. The birthday girl or boy takes a bite of the cake and as expected, someone will definitely shove her or his face on the cake.