Capital River Cities
Be[c]k
The Mongols
Post-Soviet States
Between Los Angeles and New York
200

A lesser-known tributary of a major river, the Bièvre flows through the capital city of Frankreich, German for this country.

What is France?

200

This longtime Jeopardy! host, originally from Canada, hosted the game show for 37 seasons after its revival in 1984.

Who is Alex Trebek?

200

The Mongols, as they are called, originated in this Asian country.

What is Mongolia?

200

Of the Soviet states, 5 of the 15 have only two colors on their flags, and one of these is by far the most flown in the United States and the one most featured in the news.

What is Ukraine?

200

This larger twin of the Twin Cities is not the capital of Minnesota, though the capital is less than 20 miles away.

What is Minneapolis?

400

Through the German capital of Berlin flows this river, and at 248.5 miles long is the 9th longest river in the country.

What is the Spree?

400

This American, author of Of Mice and Men, and other classics, won the 1962 Nobel Prize in literature "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social perception".

Who is John Steinbeck?

400

Chinggis Khan, or this in American English, born Temujin, was the first person to unify the Mongol tribes.

Who is Genghis Khan?

400

DAILY DOUBLE!

After Uzbek, the most widely spoken language in Uzbekistan in this language, written in a Cyrillic script.

What is Russian?

400

All FedEx shippings go through the international airport located in this city, due to its central location and low traffic levels.

What is Memphis?

600

Washington, District of Columbia, the capital of the U.S, is bordered by both the Potomac and this lesser-known river.

What is the Anacostia River?

600

Samuel Beckett, an Irish playwright, won a Nobel Prize in literature for his unique writing, mostly in this style.

What is Tragicomedy?

600

This Mongolian shanty-town was formerly the capital of the Mongolian empire and of the Northern Yuan dynasty, now only getting tourists from its Buddhist monasteries.

What is Karakorum?

600

The first three Soviet states to declare independence were the three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), and the last to declare independence was this central Asian country.

What is Kazakhstan?

600

This word means, "of only moderate quality, not very good."

What is Mediocre?

800

The Tiber River runs through this capital city, a former center of all of Southern Europe.

What is Rome?

800

Born in England, he was a mildly famous landscape artist, dying in Lexington, Kentucky at the age of 63.

Who is George Beck?

800

During his administration, Genghis Khan set up the government so that there was complete religious freedom, though he himself was this.

What is a Shamanist?

800

By just 3 individuals, this capital of the Republic of Latvia is the largest city in the Baltic states, breaking above Vilnius at 605,273.

What is Riga?

800

This 5th largest Census-Designated Place by population in the United States, it is the largest suburb of New Orleans, with a population of 146,000 people.

What is Metairie?

1000

This Southeast Asian river runs through two world capitals, Vientiane and Phnom Penh.

What is the Mekong River?

1000

In this book by Andy Weir, Beck intercepts Watney from the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV), whereas in the film adaption, commander Lewis does the job.

What is The Martian?

1000

John Green, one of the main hosts of this popular educational high-school curriculum based YouTube channel, often says in his World History course "Unless... you are the Mongols," often times in relation to a feat that no civilization in history acheived- except the Mongols.

What is Crash Course?

1000

The fifteen post-Soviet states are as follows, in no particular order: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and this most-populous Soviet state.

What is the Russian Federation (Russia)?

1000

If one drives from New York to Los Angeles, according to Google Maps (rounded to the nearest 10), how many hours would it take of driving to reach their destination?

What is 40 hours (derived from 41)?