Geography
This historic center of Cracow, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the ancient capital city of this country:
A. Austria; B. Hungary; C. Poland
What is Poland?
Cracow, the city where Poland's kings resided and are buried, is valued for its 13th and 14th century historical sites, including the largest market square in Europe and the Cathedral of San Waclaw.
When eating dinner in a Mexican family's home, what should you avoid complimenting?
A. The food and drink B. Mexico and Mexican people C. Objects in the home
"What is C - objects in the home?"
In Mexico, complimenting an item in people's homes may make the host feel obliged to give that object away. Compliments on the meal prepared by your hosts, and on Mexico and Mexican people, are likely to be well received.
Which scholarship was established by the founder of De Beers Consolidated Mines Company, a well-known South African diamond firm?
A. Fulbright scholarship
B. National Merit scholarship
C. Rhodes scholarship
What is the Rhodes Scholarship?
Cecil John Rhodes left money in his estate to fund the Rhodes scholarship for study at Oxford University in England. The Rhodes scholarship, the world's oldest international fellowship, was established to improve international understanding and peace.
After reaching age 60 in India, which birthday (called sathabishekam) is the next milestone celebrated?
A. 80th
B. 90th
C. 100th
What is 80th?
Both the 60th and 80th birthdays are significant ones celebrated in India. Although sathabishekam is the name meaning "one-hundred", it refers to the 80th birthday, which implies it is as important as reaching 100 years.
If a Bangladeshi tilts his head to the side, what does this usually mean?
A. Yes, I concur
B. No, I disagree
C. I don't know
What is Yes, I concur.
A head tilt to one side in Bangladesh is a sign of agreement. This gesture is similarly used in neighboring Pakistan.
If you lived in the capital of the island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which city would you call home?
A. Bridgetown
B. Kingstown
C. Georgetown
What is Kingston?
The capital of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is Kingstown, which sounds similar to Jamaica's capital (Kingston). Bridgetown is the capital of the Caribbean nation Barbados, and Georgetown is the capital of Guyana in South America.
In South Africa, corn eaten with curdled milk as a form of porridge is popularly known as: A. Cream corn B. Mealie meal C. Corn pudding
"What is mealie meal?"
Mealie meal is a South African cornmeal that is traditionally eaten for breakfast, especially in the northern parts of the country. Another popular food is green mealies (corn on the cob).
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, were located in what present-day country?
A. Iran
B. Iraq
C. Saudi Arabia
What is Iraq?
Built by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were described as garden beds built on a step pyramid where each level's gardens expand to create an overhanding effect. Babylon was once the world's largest city.
Thanksgiving, the holiday which commemorates the feast between American Indians and Pilgrims in the United States, is celebrated on this date:
A. The last Thursday in November
B. The third Thursday in November
C. The fourth Thursday in November
What is the fourth Thursday in November?
This famous feast first occurred in 1621 and today is celebrated with some of the following foods: turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Canada's Thanksgiving holiday is observed on the second Monday in October.
In Syria, as in other Arabic nations, what level of eye contact is appropriate between strangers?
A. As little as possible
B. Direct eye contact with regular glances away
C. Staring
What is staring?
Staring is common and acceptable in Syrian and Arabic cultures and is not considered a rude or challenging gesture. It is especially important to maintain long and direct eye contact during conversations.
Europort, the world's busiest port, is located in this city:
A. Brussels, Belgium
B. London, England
C. Rotterdam, Netherlands
What is Rotterdam, Netherlands?
The remaining top-five busiest ports in the world in terms of goods handled annually are Singapore, Chiba (Japan), Kobe (Japan), and Hong Kong (China).
Although many culinary specialties in Austria are imported from other countries, which popular food has its origins traced to Austria.
A. Goulash
B. Wiener schnitzel
C. Croissant
What is the croissant
Goulash is from Hungary and wiener schnitzel, one of Austria's favorite dishes, originated in Milan, Italy. Despite its connection to France, many people believe a Viennese baker created the croissant to resemble the crescent moon on Turkey's flag in commemoration of Austria's victory over the Turks.
Which of the following best describes a Trini who is good at beat pan?
A. Mediterranean fisherman
B. Pacific Island dancer
C. Caribbean island musician
What is a Caribbean island musician?
A Trini is a person from Trinidad and Tobago, the southernmost island nation in the Caribbean Sea. Beat pan (or pan) refers to a steel drum that is used to play a popular style of music originating in these islands.
In Israel, when is Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, typically celebrated?
A. January
B. April
C. September
What is September?
The two-day holiday Rosh Hashana is typically observed during September, which corresponds with Tishri (the seventh of the 13-month Jewish calendar). During the year 2000, Jewish people around the world celebrated the year 5760 on the Hebrew calendar.
If a Japanese person tilts his or her head side to side, what does this usually mean?
A. Yes
B. No
C. I don't know
What is I don't know.
A head tilt to one side in other cultures, such as Pakistan, means yes.
This Pacific Island archipelago, also known as Belau, has a population of about 20,000 people.
A. Palau
B. Pelau
C. Polau
What is Palau
The approximately 200 islands of this independent nation are located in the Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines. Palau gained its independence in 1994; and Palauan and English are the nation's official languages.
Which of the following ingredients is typically used to make haggis, the national dish of Scotland?
A. Chopped lungs
B. Diced ears
C. Mashed eyeballs
What are chopped lungs?
Haggis is not for those with weak stomachs. Ingredients often include chopped lungs, heart, and liver, which are mixed with oatmeal and boiled in a sheep's stomach.
This country is the world's largest producer of bananas and the first one in South America to grant women the right to vote:
A. Colombia
B. Ecuador
C. Venezuela
What is Ecuador?
Quito, Ecuador's capital, is located approximately 13 miles south of the Equator and is the second highest capital in South America (after Bolivia's La Paz).
In India, when a man and woman get married, who typically receives a dowry (payment from one family to another)?
A. Groom
B. Bride
C. Dowries are not given
What is the groom?
The bride's family gives dowries of expensive gifts that occasionally cause families to go bankrupt. The strong desire of many Indian families to have sons is often due to the dowries received and the responsibilities expected of sons to support elderly parents and continue the family lineage.
If someone from Morocco points or touches the side of his head (by the temple) with an index finger, this gesture means that the person being referred to is:
A. Crazy
B. Intelligent
C. Stupid
What is intelligent?
This differs from the Moroccan gesture of touching/pointing to the front of one's forehead with the index finger, which means that the person being referred to is stupid.
Bratislava and Ljubljana are the capitals of these two central European nations, respectively.
A. Latvia and Lithuania
B. Slovakia and Slovenia
C. Tajikistan and Turkmenistan
What is Slovakia and Slovenia?
Riga and Vilnius are the capitals of Latvia and Lithuania, European nations bordering the Baltic Sea. Tajikistan (capital Dushanbe) and Turkmenistan (capital Ashgabat) are two former Soviet states in Central Asia.
The people of which European country drink the greatest amount of beer (per capita) in the world?
A. Belgium
B. Germany
C. Czech Republic
What is the Czech Republic?
Czechs also drink about three times as much beer (pivo) as soft drinks. The top 10 beer-drinking countries in the world are Czech Republic, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg, United Kingdom, Belgium, Slovak Republic and Australia.
People from which of the following nations were the first to reach the South Pole?
A. Norway
B. Sweden
C. United Kingdom
What is Norway?
A team of Norwegians, led by Roald Amundsen, reached the South Pole (Dec., 1911) about a month before the British team (Jan., 1912) led by Robert Falcon Scott. People from the United States, accompanied by Inuits, were the first to reach the North Pole.
Which of the following is true of the ancient Olympic games, first held in Olympia, Greece during 776 B.C.E.?
a. There were separate events for men and women
b. The marathon race was the original event
c. They were held every four years
What is they were held every four years?
Truces were established, weapons were prohibited, and women were not allowed to participate or attend these ancient games. The marathon started a couple of hundred years later (490 BCE) when a runner was sent from Marathon to Athens (26 miles/ 42 kilometers) to announce a battle victory.
In Brunei, which finger should you use to point?
A. Index finger
B. Middle finger
C. Thumb
What is the thumb?
The proper way to pint in Brunei is to make a fist and point using your thumb. Pointing with the index finger in Brunei is a rude gesture. Pointing with the middle finger, although a rude gesture in some countries, is not commonly done in Brunei.