Origins and Leaderships
Cultural Expressions
Land and People
Languages & Faith
Modern Realities
100
Who is known as the Father of the Karen Nation?
a) Saw Ba Oo Gyi
b) Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan
c) Naw Zipporah Sein
d) Ko Tha Byu
Who is a) Saw Ba Oo Gyi?
100
What is rice?
a) Staple
b) Stable
c) Stapel
d) Stapler
What is a) Staple?
100
How many refugee camps are there in Thailand?
a) 7
b) 8
c) 9
d) 10
What is c) 9?
1) Ban Nai Soi
2) Ban Mae Surin
3) Mae La oon4) Mae Ra Ma Luang (Mae Ra Moe)
5) Mae La
6) Umpien Mai
7) Nu Po
8) Ban Don Yang
9) Tham Hin
100
What is the literal translation of "Kawthoolei," the term used by Karen people to describe their homeland?
a) Land of Freedom
b) Green Mountains
c) Peaceful Land
d) Land Without Evil
What is d) Land Without Evil?
100
What are the major challenges faced by Karen refugees after resettlement in Western countries?
a) Language barriers
b) Access to housing
c) Cultural adjustment
d) All of the above
What is d) All of the above?
200
What of the following are Saw Ba Oo Gyi’s Four Principles?
a) For us, surrender is out of the question
b) Recognition of the Karen State must be completed
c) We shall retain our arms
d) We shall decide our own political destiny
e) All of the above
What is e) All of the above
200
What is the name of the ceremony where Karen people tie threads on wrists to bring blessings and protection?
a) Karen Blessing Festival
b) Karen Wrist Tying Ceremony
c) Karen Thread Ritual
d) Unity Day
What is b) Karen Wrist Tying Ceremony?
200
Which U.S. state is home to the largest Karen community?
a) California
b) Texas
c) Minnesota
d) New York
What is c) Minnesota?
200
What is the predominant religion practiced by the Karen people?
a) Islam
b) Buddhism
c) Christianity
d) Animism
What is c) Christianity?
200
Who was the Karen leader assassinated in 2008, remembered for advocating Karen rights?
a) Saw Ba Oo Gyi
b) Naw Zipporah Sein
c) Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan
d) General Nerdah Mya
Who is c) Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan?
300
When did Karen National Union (KNU) declare its independence from Burma?
a) January 31, 1949
b) December 25, 1948
c) February 12, 1947
d) March 8, 1950
What is a) January 31, 1949?
300
What does "Hta" refer to in Karen culture?
a) a form of oral literature
b) a type of food
c) a name for a type of Karen dance
d) a kind of religion
What is a) a form of oral literature?
300
Which neighboring country besides Thailand has hosted a significant Karen refugee population?
a) Bangladesh
b) Laos
c) Malaysia
d) Cambodia
What is c) Malaysia?
300
What does the Karen proverb, "KOH HTEE BAWT THA NAH PWA BOO" or translated as "soft fontanels, thin chest" mean?
a) young mind and weak body
b) lacking in knowledge and wisdom
c) big head and no pecks
d) easily influenced and manipulated
What is b) lacking in knowledge and wisdom?
300
Which peace agreement was signed between the KNU and the Myanmar government in 2012?
a) The Yangon Accord
b) The Karen Peace Pact
c) The Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA)
d) The Manerplaw Treaty
What is c) The Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA)?
400
What role did the Karen play in aiding the British during World War II?
a) Diplomats advocating peace treaties
b) Allied guerrillas fighting against Japanese forces
c) Resistance fighters leading covert missions in China
d) Intelligence agents in India
What is b) Allied guerrillas fighting against Japanese forces?
400
What symbolic colors are featured on the Karen flag, and what does each represent?
a) Green (nature), White (purity), Yellow (hope)
b) Red (sacrifice), White (purity), Blue (peace)
c) Blue (freedom), Red (unity), White (harmony)
d) Red (strength), Blue (faith), White (light)
What is b) Red (sacrifice), White (purity), Blue (peace)?
400
How many bridges are there in the Karen State?
a) 9
b) 7
c) 6
d) 5
What is b) 7?
400
What kind of Buddhism do some Karen people practice?
a) Zen Buddhism
b) Mahayana Buddhism
c) Theravāda Buddhism
d) Vajrayana Buddhism
What is c) Theravāda Buddhism
400
What was the primary factor in the decline of the Karen National Union (KNU)?
a) Internal divisions and factionalism
b) Successful military campaigns by the Burmese government
c) A lack of international support
d) A combination of internal divisions and external pressure
What is d) A combination of internal divisions and external pressure?
500
What event led to a major influx of Karen refugees into Thailand in the 1980s?
a) The fall of Manerplaw
b) Military offensives by the Myanmar government
c) Droughts in Kawthoolei
d) Religious persecution
What is b) Military offensives by the Myanmar government?
500
Which of the following statement is NOT true?
a) Married Karen Women typically wear a long white dress.
b) The most common dialects spoken by the Karen people are S'gaw and Pwo.
c) The fish paste is popular amongst the Karen.
d) Karen could show their hospitality by inviting quests to eat or stay overnight or longer.
What is a) Married Karen Women typically wear a long white dress.
500
What are the main rivers that run through Karen State?
a) Salween River and Moei River
b) Salween River and Mekong River
c) Moei River and Mekong River
d) Salween River and Irrawaddy River
What is a) Salween River and Moei River?
500
Which is one of the oldest forms of literature in the Karen language?
a) The Karen Bible translation
b) Oral history and proverbs
c) The Karen New Year songbook
d) The Karen hymnbook
What is b) Oral history and proverbs?
500
How have Karen women contributed to their community in modern times?
a) By focusing on domestic roles only.
b) By leading cultural preservation and grassroots movements.
c) By moving away from the refugee camps to seek new opportunities.
d) By avoiding political or social involvement.
What is b) By leading cultural preservation and grassroots movements?
600
What was the name of the event that marked the significant decline of the KNU?
a) The Battle of Kawthoolei
b) The fall of Manerplaw
c) The Karenni Insurgency
d) The Second World War
What is b) The fall of Manerplaw?
600
During Karen festivals, the bamboo is performed. What skill does this dance highlight?
a) balance and agility in avoiding symbolic traps
b) coordination required for rice planting
c) the dancers' ability to mimic animal movements
d) strength and stamina through fast footwork
What is the
a) balance and agility in avoiding symbolic traps?
600
What city in the Karen State is Kwekabaw located in?
a) Mawlamyine
b) Hpa-an
c) Myawaddy
d) Saint Paul
What is b) Hpa-an?
600
What role does the Karen language play in the preservation of the Karen culture?
a) It is used mainly for religious ceremonies, with no everyday relevance.
b) It serves as a vehicle for oral traditions, stories, and songs that define Karen identity.
c) It is only spoken in urban areas and has little to do with rural traditions.
d) It is exclusively used in written form, while spoken communication is conducted in Thai.
What is b) It serves as a vehicle for oral traditions, stories, and songs that define Karen identity?
600
The "Four Cuts" strategy is a military plan used by Myanmar's army that punishes civilians violently if they are suspected of supporting rebel groups.
What does the "Four Cuts" strategy refer to in the context of Myanmar's military?
a) Cutting off food, funds, information, and recruitment to insurgents
b) Cutting off supplies of weapons, ammunition, soldiers, and equipment
c) Cutting off communication, trade, roads, and air support
d) Cutting off the leadership, resources, support, and allies of insurgents
What is a) Cutting off food, funds, information, and recruitment to insurgents?