Arabic Literature & Music
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Arabic/Middle Eastern Culture
Arabic Professors/TAs
Fun Facts: The Middle East
100

The Lebanese singer has sold over 150 million records world wide. She is best known for her songs "Le Beirut," "Sahar El- Layaly" and "La Tensony Bel Maraa." The name of this singer is:

- Om Kalthoum

- Amr Diab

- Fayruz

- Abdel-Haleem

Fayruz. She is one of the two best-selling Middle Eastern artists of all time.

100

يد ُرس زوجي في كلية العلوم السياسية ألنه يريد أن يعمل في األمم المتحدة.

My husband studies political sciences because he wants to work in the UN.

100

This popular Middle Eastern dessert's main component is filo dough. Although it originated in the Middle East, some people claim that it was invented in Greece. What is the name of this dessert?

Baklava

100

What sport did Ustadh Lo play for four years in university?

Soccer

100

Which of the following countries is not considered part of the Middle East?

Bahrain, Lebanon, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt


Morocco

200

This Syrian diplomat, poet, and publisher is recognized as one of the most revered poets in the Arab World. Today he is widely known as "The Love Poet," but his works also explored the themes of love, feminism, religion, and Arab nationalism, among others. This poet is:

- Amal Donqol

- Ghasan Kanafani

- Nizar Qabbani

- Mahmoud Darwish

Nizar Qabbani is considered to be Syria's National Poet. 

200

يعمل والد مها في األمم المتحدة في نيويورك وأخوه ضابط في الجيش المصري.

Maha’s father works in the United Nations and his brother is an office in the Egyptian Army.

200

When Ramadan is over, Muslims take part in this three-day celebration, filled with food, family, and the exchanging of gifts. What is the name of this celebration>

Eid al-Fitr.

200

What is Professor Saad's non-alcoholic beverage of choice?

Coffee

200

Founded under the name Byzantion and later called Constantinople, this commercial hub of Turkey was also prominent in the Ottoman Empire. What is the name of this city?

Istanbul

300

Sout Al Horeya, a song written by Amir Eid, refers to a historical event from the Middle East. Some of the lines in the song are:

"I wrote with my blood in all streets"

"Our weapon was our dream"

"In every street in my country, the sound of freedom resonates"


The historical event being referred to is:

-The 1973 War (Yom Kippur War)

-The Iran Hostage Crisis (1979)

-The US Invasion of Afghanistan (2001)

-The Arab Spring (2011)

The Arab Spring began in 2011 in Tunisia and eventually spread to Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Libya. The regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya were ousted, but those in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq remain.

300

.تخرجت من قسم إدارة األعمال في العام الماضي وأعمل اآلن كمدير في شركة كبيرة.

I graduated from the faculty of Business Administration and now I work as a manager in a big company.

300

Once this Middle Eastern country confirmed that it would be hosting the 2022 World Cup, it began the process of building 9 new stadiums and renovating 3. One of the largest new stadiums, Al Wakrah, will seat 40,000 fans. In what country will the 2022 World Cup be hosted?

Qatar.
300

Professor Maha Houssami was offered a Parliamentary role in a Middle Eastern country, but declined it due to corruption in politics. In what country was she offered this role?

Lebanon

300

The Middle East is home to the world's tallest building. What is the name of this building?

The Burj Khalifa (Dubai, UAE)

400

This Palestinian-American scholar has spent much of his career shedding light on the gaps of cultural and political understanding between the Western and Eastern worlds, especially in regards to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His most famous book Orientalism criticizes the Western conceptions of the Middle East. This individual's name is:

- Edward Saeed

- Ghasan Kanafani

- Naguib Mahfouz

- Mahmoud Darwish

Edward Saeed went on to teach at Columbia University from 1963-2003, where he attained their highest-ranking academic job. Among the many honors and accolades bestowed to him was the Bowdoin Prize by Harvard University.

400

أجمل فُستان لبسته في حياتي هو الفستان الذي لبسته في حفل زواج صديقتي المفضلة.

The best dress I have ever worn is the dress that I wore in my best friend’s wedding.

400

This Egyptian doctor-turned-comedian is known for his satirical news program called " El-Bernameg." His show became a platform to openly discuss the social and political scene in the Middle East, both upsetting many but also earning him the title of "100 Most Influential People in the World" by Time Magazine. What is the name of this comedian?

Bassem Youssef.

400

What is Ustadh Hossam's favorite hobby and sport?

Freediving -- he can free dive 100 ft!

400

Iran is the world's largest producer of what nut, a member of the cashew family?

Pistachio! Iran produces about 478,600 tons of pistachios a year.

500

This song, sung by Egyptian singer Amr Diab, was released in 1996 and became a tremendous success not only in the Middle East but world wide. Translated from Arabic, the title of this song is "Light of my Eye." What is the name of this song, in Arabic?

Nour El Ain was one of the most lavish and expensive productions in Egyptian pop music at the time.

500

يعتقد بعض الأشخاص أن من المهم أن تدرس (دراسة) اللغة العربية الفصحى بينما يعتقد البعض أنه من الأهم دراسة (أن ندرس) اللغة العامية.

Some people believe that it is important to study Classic Arabic while others believe that it is more important to study colloquial Arabic.

500

This Egyptian actor is widely recognized as one of the most famous actors in the Arab world. He has appeared in over 100 movies, often being recognized for his slapstick sense of humor. One of his notable movies, which students watched in Arabic102, is called "Terrorism and Barbecue." In 2000, the UN appointed him a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR. What is the name of this actor?

Adel Emam.

500

What is the name of Ustadh Amal's son?

Alhabib

500

In 1930, Israel Aharoni, a zoologist from the University of Jerusalem, travelled to Syria to capture this furry mammal for medical research purposes. After scientists successfully bred them, they were delivered to labs around the world. What is the name of this now-popular household pet?

The Hamster!