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Welcome!The Mercyhurst College Institute for Geography Education is proud to announce
the 4th annual GEOGRAPHY CHAMPIONSHIPS for seventh and eighth grade students in Erie County. One of our main sponsors, AAA East Central, is again generously donating an all-expenses paid trip for the winner and runner-up to attend Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama in early December.
The competition will take place on the Mercyhurst Campus on Saturday, November 10th. Preliminaries will take place at 10 a.m. with the finals at 1 p.m. Friends and relatives of your contestants are welcome to attend.
Ninety percent of the questions will be taken in some form from the following Study Guide.
In addition to the 500 questions, students will be expected to be able to name and locate all of the countries of Asia. There is a map of Asia on the last page of the study guide.
Geography Test Questions
1. Which state capital is closer to the Gulf of Mexico—Little Rock or Columbus?
Little Rock
2. Which is more likely to be found in the American Southwest—cacti or boreal forests?
Cacti
3. The Adirondack Mountains are found in which state—Connecticut or New York?
New York
4. Independence, a starting point for expeditions along the Oregon Trail, is a town in which state—Missouri or South Caroline?
Missouri
5. Which body of water is partially surrounded by Maryland—Pamlico Sound or Chesapeake Bay?
Chesapeake Bay
6. The Outer Banks are barrier islands in which state—North Carolina or Florida?
North Carolina
7. The Gadsden Purchase included which present-day state—Iowa or New Mexico?
New Mexico
8. Which river runs through South Dakota—the Colombia River or the Missouri River?
Missouri River
9. Which is the largest U.S. lake west of the Mississippi River—Lake Mead or the Great Salt Lake?
Great Salt Lake
10. Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America, is in which state—Colorado or Alaska?
Alaska
11. Which city is located on the northeastern shore of San Francisco Bay—Oakland or Phoenix?
Oakland
12. Cape Cod, known for its beautiful shoreline, is located in which state—Massachusetts or West Virginia?
Massachusetts
13. Which crop is more important to the economy of Florida—lumber or oranges?
Oranges
14. The Cherokee Indians were forced to relocate to present-day Oklahoma from what region of the United States—the Midwest or the Southwest?
Southwest
15. The Chicago River flows across northeastern Illinois from which lake—Lake Michigan or Lake Huron?
Lake Michigan
16. Valley Forge National Historical Park is located just outside of which large city—Philadelphia or Boston?
Philadelphia
17. The Great Basin can be found in which state—Missouri or Nevada?
Nevada
18. Mauna Loa is a large shield volcano located in which state—Hawaii or Oregon?
Hawaii
19. The Potomac River flows past Washington, D.C., from its sources in which mountains—the Ozarks or the Appalachians?
Appalachians
20. Mobile is the chief seaport of which state on the Gulf of Mexico—Alabama or Louisiana?
Alabama
21. The Battle of Little Bighorn was fought in which present-day state—Texas or Montana?
Montana
22. Which type of climate is found along the coast of Oregon—marine west coast or arid?
Marine west coast
23. Lexington and Bowling Green are cities located in which state—Kentucky or Delaware?
Kentucky
24. The Sioux Indians once roamed which region—the Great Plains or the Colorado Plateau?
Great Plains
25. Lake Okeechobee is in which state—Arkansas or Florida?
Florida
26. Hurricanes are more likely to strike which coast of the United States—the Pacific coast or the Atlantic coast?
Atlantic Coast
27. The geographic center of the lower 48 states lies in which state—Kansas or Idaho?
Kansas
28. Which river runs between Arizona and California before entering Mexico—the Platte River or the Colorado River?
Colorado River
29. The famous colonial town of Williamsburg is located in which state—Indiana or Virginia?
Virginia
30. Lewis and Clark traveled through which present-day state as they explored the Louisiana Purchase—North Dakota or Arkansas?
North Dakota
31. Which state is more likely to experience as blizzard—Idaho or Arkansas?
Idaho
32. Which state borders more Great Lakes—Michigan or Ohio?
Michigan
33. Which state reaches farther north—West Virginia or Wyoming?
Wyoming
34. Which state produces more apples—Washington or Florida?
Washington
35. Which state is more populous—New Jersey or New Hampshire?
New Jersey
36. Which state borders more states—Kentucky or Rhode Island?
Kentucky
37. Which state is more mountainous—Utah or Nebraska?
Utah
38. Which state is part of the Delmarva Peninsula—Virginia or Georgia?
Virginia
39. Which state is home to the Little Missouri and Sheyenne National Grasslands—North Dakota or Kansas?
North Dakota
40. Which state has a longer border with Mexico—California or Texas?
Texas
41. Which state produces more corn—Iowa or Mississippi?
Iowa
42. Which state borders Lake Erie—Wisconsin or Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania
43. Which state is more likely to experience a tornado—New York or Oklahoma?
Oklahoma
44. Which state was created over millions of years as the result of a hot spot in the Pacific Ocean—Hawaii or Washington ?
Hawaii
45. What state produces more gold that any other state—Nevada or Nebraska?
Nevada
46. Which state is bordered by the Mississippi River—Missouri or Alabama?
Missouri
47. Which state has a lower average elevation—Arkansas or Florida?
Florida
48. Which state is located closer to the Tropic of Cancer—Louisiana or South Dakota?
Louisiana
49. Which state has a greater population density—Ohio or Wyoming?
Ohio
50. Which state borders Lake Champlain—Vermont or Illinois?
Vermont
51. Which state is home to Silicon Valley—California or Montana?
California
52. Which state is located closer to the Bay of Fundy—North Carolina or Maine?
Maine
53. Which has a larger population—Connecticut or Delaware?
Connecticut
54. Which state is adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico—Mississippi or Oregon?
Mississippi
55. Which state has a longer border with Canada—Alaska or Idaho?
Alaska
56. Which state does not have a coastline—Delaware or New Mexico?
New Mexico
57. Which state is bordered on the southwest by the Savannah River—South Carolina or Indiana?
South Carolina
58. Which state produce more wheat—Kansas or Vermont?
Kansas
59. In which state is more land used to agriculture—Illinois or New Jersey?
Illinois
60. Much of the southern part of which state is located on the Allegheny Plateau—Maine or New York?
New York
61. About three-quarters of the population of which state lives in the Honolulu metropolitan area—Utah or Hawaii?
Hawaii
62. Pascagoula [pas-kuh-GOO-luh], a city nearly destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, lies on the Gulf Coast of which state—Mississippi or Florida?
Mississippi
63. Brownsville, an important border city on the Rio Grande, is located in which state—Texas or New Mexico?
Texas
64. Flagstaff, known as an astronomical center and home to the Lowell Observatory, is a city in the northern part of which state—Arizona or Oregon?
Arizona
65. Lumbering and paper milling are two important economic activities in Missoula, a city located just south of the Flathead Indian Reservation, in which state—Wyoming or Montana?
Montana
66. The Merrimack River runs through Manchester, the largest city in which state—New Hampshire or Rhode Island?
New Hampshire
67. For just over half a century, St. Mary’s City was the colonial capital of which state—North Carolina or Maryland?
Maryland
68. The Rogue River runs through Grants Pass as it flows from the Cascades to the Pacific Ocean in which state—Oregon or Idaho?
Oregon
69. Louisville, located on the Ohio River, is a major city in which state—Michigan or Kentucky?
Kentucky
70. Newark is the largest city and an industrial center in which mid-Atlantic state—New Jersey or Vermont?
New Jersey
71. Green Bay is located at the southwestern edge of the Door Peninsula, not far from Lake Michigan, in which state—Minnesota or Wisconsin?
Wisconsin
72. Thousands of turbines harness the power of strong winds outside Palm Springs, a desert retreat in which state—California or Utah?
California
73. The town of Luray, famous for its nearby caverns, is located in the Shenandoah Valley in which state—New Mexico or Virginia?
Virginia
74. Hyannis, a large town located in a major cranberry-producing region, can be found north of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Island in which state—Massachusetts or North Carolina?
Massachusetts
75. Juneau is the capital of which large state where herds of reindeer can be found—Maine or Alaska?
Alaska
76. Sparks, a rapidly growing city on the Truckee River, is located near Lake Tahoe in which state—Nevada or New Hampshire?
Nevada
77. Wall, a town famous for its huge drug store and tourist shop, is locate just north of Badlands National Park in which state—West Virginia or South Dakota?
South Dakota
78. St. Augustine, the site for the fort that protected Spain’s first permanent settlement in what is now the United State, is a city located in which state?
Florida
79. Middletown is located on the Narragansett Bay in which state—Rhode Island or Montana?
Rhode Island
80. The city of Moab is the gateway to Arches National Park in which state—Vermont or Utah?
Utah
81. Sandusky, a port on Lake Erie, is located in which state—South Carolina or Ohio?
Ohio
82. The city of Laramie [LA-ruh-mee], center of a livestock-raising region, is located in the southern part of the Laramie Mountains in which state—Wyoming or Alaska?
Wyoming
83. The city of Pocatello is located at the northern end of the Bannock Range in which mountainous state—Vermont or Idaho?
Idaho
84. the city of Pasco is located on the Columbia River not far from the Ice Harbor Dam in which state—Washington or Georgia?
Washington
85. Springfield, once a key stop on a California-bound stagecoach line, is located in which state that gets hydroelectric power from a dam on the Osage River—Missouri or Colorado?
Missouri
86. The city of Council Bluffs, which served as the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad, is located in which state—Louisiana or Iowa?
Iowa
87. The city of Harrisburg, which lies on the Susquehanna [SUS-kwuh-HA-nah] River, is located in which state—Pennsylvania or Kansas?
Pennsylvania
88. Omaha, situated on the west bank of the Missouri River, is one of the largest livestock markets and meat-processing centers in the world. This city is located in which state—Illinois or Nebraska?
Nebraska
89. The city of New Haven, home to Yale University, is located on the coast of which state—Oregon or Connecticut?
Connecticut
90. Hot Springs, a city that shares its name with the nearby national park, is a famous tourist attraction in which state—Arkansas or Maine?
Arkansas
91. Kakadu [ka-ka-du] National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site noted for its unique ancient Aboriginal rock art, is located in the far north of what continent?
Australia
92. The Benelux Countries get their name from the first letters of three small countries located on what continent?
Europe
93. Quebec City, founded in 1608 as a fur-trading post overlooking the St. Lawrence River, is located on which continent?
North America
94. Construction and maintenance of railroads and roads is difficult and expensive in the rugged Andes Mountain region of which continent?
South America
95. Victoria Falls, known to local people by a name meaning “the smoke that thunders,” are located on the Zambezi River on which continent?
Africa
96. Philippine farmers grow rice on 2,000 year-old mountain terraces built on Luzon, an island that is part of which continent?
Asia
97. The Caribbean countries of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica were colonies of countries on which continent?
Europe
98. South Asians, Africans, Chinese, Indonesians, and Creoles make up part of the diverse population of Suriname, a country located on which continent?
South America
99. Yukon, Northwest, and Nunavut are territories in a country that includes parts of the Arctic region of what continent?
North America
100. The Middle East serves as a crossroads between Asia, Africa, and what other continent?
Europe
101. What is the only continent today without a permanent human population?
Antarctica
102. Earth’s oldest material, approximately 4.4 billion years old, was found in rocks on the only continent without an active volcano. Name this continent.
Australia
103. The Okavango Delta, a rich wildlife and wetlands oasis in Botswana, is located in the Kalahari Desert on which continent?
Africa
104. Australia, Earth’s smallest continent in area, is closest in size to which other continent?
Europe
105. Which continent has the largest amount of ice, with over 95 percent of its surface covered by an ice sheet?
Antarctica
106. Mali and Sudan, both predominantly Muslim countries, are located north of the Equator on which continent?
Africa
107. Spanish and French, two official languages in many countries, evolved from Latin, which was originally spoken on which continent?
Europe
108. The ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica, such as the Olmec, were located on which continent?
North America
109. The altiplano, a high plateau region near Lake Titicaca [tee-tee-KAH-kah], is located on which continent?
South America
110. In 2006, countries from all over the world participated in soccer’s World Cup, which took place on which small continent?
Europe
111. Which continent in the Southern Hemisphere experiences severe winds and is also the driest continent?
Antarctica
112. Protestantism, which emerged as a protest against the Roman Catholic faith, developed on which continent?
Europe
113. European powers drew boundary lines at the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 that divided what continent according to their colonial interests?
Africa
114. Which continent is home to the world’s largest remaining rain forest, which contains diverse flora and fauna?
South America
115. During the past three years, the Darfur region on which continent has seen the displacement of refugees?
Africa
116. The Bolshoi Theatre, known as a cultural center for opera and ballet, is located in Moscow on which continent?
Europe
117. The city of Nuremberg, the birthplace of the famous painter Albrecht [AHL-brekht] Dürer [DOOR-er], lies in province of Bavaria. Nuremberg is located in which present-day country?
Germany
118. Matamoros, once occupied by American troops, is located in which country that controls Baja California?
Mexico
119. Bilbao is a center of Basque culture in which European country?
Spain
120. Finnish is one member of a language family originating in the Ural Mountains. The Ural Mountains are located in Kazakhstan and which other country?
Russia
121. Afrikaners are the descendants of European settlers who mostly live in which present-day African country?
South Africa
122. Hakas, dances meant to frighten enemies, are a traditional part of the Maori culture in which island nation?
New Zealand
123. Highway signs in both Gaelic and English are common in which country?
Ireland
124. The Malagasy have strong ties with the French and live on the largest island in the Indian Ocean. Name this island.
Madagascar
125. Strong ties to the sea and sailing characterize the city of Genoa. Genoa is a port in which country?
Italy
126. Minsk, a major cultural center known for its museums, churches, libraries and theaters, is the capital and largest city of which country?
Belarus
127. Steel drums, acoustic musical instruments created from finely tuned oil drums, originated in which island country just north of Venezuela?
Trinidad and Tobago
128. Magyars moved into the middle Danube River Basin more that 1,000 years ago. Today, they are the predominant ethnic group of which Central European country?
Hungary
129. The two largest ethnic groups, Amhara [ahm-HAHR- uh] and Oromo [aw-ROH-moh], make up about two-thirds of the population in which landlocked country west of Somalia?
Ethiopia
130. Which Northern European country originated St. Lucia Day on December 13 as a celebration of light in the darkness of winter?
Sweden
131. Which island country, the easternmost in Melanesia, has a population that includes a large number of South Asians?
Fiji
132. Which country bordering the Pacific Ocean is Central America’s most densely populated country?
El Salvador
133. Once a German colony, which present-day country in southwest Africa most recently gained independence?
Namibia
134. Colonial architecture and traditional folk art are examples of the rich heritage in the city of Quito in which South American country?
Ecuador
135. Carthage, an ancient city famous for its archaeological wealth, is located on the Mediterranean coast of which African country?
Tunisia
136. Plaza de Armas, a center of historic buildings including the Arch Bishop’s Palace, is located in Santiago, the capital of which country?
Chile
137. Over two million barrels of oil a day are exported from what South American country with a border on the Caribbean Sea?
Venezuela
138. Which landlocked European country, a grand duchy, is surrounded by Belgium, Germany and France?
Luxembourg
139. Serengeti National Park, a vast grassland southeast of Lake Victoria, was established in 1951 in which country?
Tanzania
140. Florence, a city located on the Arno River, is home to the elaborate Boboli Gardens in which country?
Italy
141. Gold and Uranium are found in the Outback, an interior region of which country bordering on the Pacific and Indian Oceans?
Australia
142. Antigua, located in a valley surrounded by volcanoes, is one of the oldest colonial cities in which Central American country bordering Mexico?
Guatemala
143. In the 8th century, the Moors conquered much of the Iberian Peninsula, including the city of Granada, which is in what present-day country?
Spain
144. What West African nation, east of Liberia, is the largest cocoa producer in the world?
Côte d’Ivoire (Also acceptable: Ivory Coast)
145. The Salzburg Festival, one of Europe’s most important and famous musical events, takes place annually in which Alpine country?
Austria
146. Invaded by Turkish forces in 1974, which Mediterranean island is divided between the Turkish-controlled north and the Greek south?
Cyprus
147. The Rila Monastery is a historic and cultural site in the Rhodope Mountains located south of the capital of Sofia in which European country?
Bulgaria
148. The Westman Islands, located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, are a small archipelago neighboring which European country?
Iceland
149. The Gulf Islands form an archipelago east of Vancouver Island and are administered by what country?
Canada
150. Hadrian’s Wall, a defensive structure built by the Romans, stretches across which country?
United Kingdom (Also acceptable: Great Britain, Britain)
151. Which country holds the world record for number of annual tornadoes with each state experiencing at least one in its history?
United States
152. A bicycle road race of unique fame and prestige takes place mainly in which European country north of the Pyrenees?
France
153. The Nazca Lines, a series of geometric forms and lines in the earth, are found in the arid desert coast of which South American country?
Peru
154. The Drakensburg Mountains and the famous beaches of Port Elizabeth can be found in the Eastern Cape province of which African country?
South Africa
155. Tivoli Gardens, a famous amusement park and flower gardens, is located in the capital city of Copenhagen. Copenhagen is located in which country?
Denmark
156. Bujumbura [boo-jum-BOO0rah] is the capital of which small landlocked country that lies just south of the Equator in Central Africa?
Burundi
157. What small country on the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula was a major player in the expansion of oceanic exploration during the 15th century?
Portugal
158. Which country does not border the Atlantic Ocean—Mauritania, Cameroon, or Tanzania?
Tanzania
159. Which country does not border the North Sea—Ireland, Denmark, or Germany?
Ireland
160. Which country does not have ports on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea—Panama, Belize, or Nicaragua?
Belize
161. Which country was not colonized by Spain—Peru, Colombia, or Suriname?
Suriname
162. Which country does not have land in the subarctic climate zone—France, Finland, or Sweden?
France
163. Which country is not located in the Southern Hemisphere—Chile, Argentina, or Venezuela?
Venezuela
164. Which country does not include part of the Nile River—Egypt, Sudan, or Libya?
Libya
165. Which country is not a major producer of zinc—Canada, South Korea, or China?
South Korea
166. Which country does not have a majority of its population living in urban area—United States, Iceland, or Burkina Faso?
Burkina Faso
167. Which country is not considered part of Scandinavia—Sweden, the United Kingdom, or Norway?
United Kingdom
168. Which country is not crossed by the Equator—Gabon, Guatemala, or Indonesia?
Guatemala
169. Which country is not a major produced of oil—Zambia, Venezuela, or Russia?
Zambia
170. Which present-day country is not a former colony of the United Kingdom—Kenya, South Africa, or Algeria?
Algeria
171. Which present-day country was not part of former Yugoslavia—Croatia, Slovakia, or Serbia?
Slovakia
172. Which country does not experience tropical cyclones—Liberia, Haiti, or Japan?
Liberia
173. Which country it not a member of the African Union—Chad, Yemen, or Ethiopia?
Yemen
174. Which country is not one of the world’s top three producers of citrus fruits—Brazil, the United States, of Morocco?
Morocco
175. Which country does not include an area of humid subtropical climate—China, Uruguay, or Chad?
Chad
176. Which country does not border the Adriatic Sea—Germany, Italy, or Croatia?
Germany
177. Which country does not border Lake Victoria—Kenya, Uganda, or Nigeria?
Nigeria
178. Hilton Head Island, the largest coastal island between New Jersey and Florida, lies south of Port Royal Sound in which state?
South Carolina
179. The city of Nuevo Laredo is a trading center just across the Rio Grande from the city of Laredo. Nuevo Laredo is located in which country?
Mexico
180. Tibetan legend says that a mysterious creature called a yeti roams the snow slopes of what mountain range?
Himalayas
181. A police force founded by Robert Peel, and called “bobbies,” patrols the United Kingdom’s largest city. Name this city?
London
182. Alpaca wool has traditionally been a source of clothing for people living in what large South American mountain range?
Andes
183. Which of the four major political divisions of the United Kingdom accounts for approximately 83 percent of the country’s population?
England
184. Name the instrument used for measuring atmospheric pressure.
Barometer
185. The Bass Strait separates mainland Australia from which island?
Tasmania
186. Grand Canyon National Park, a World Heritage site and one of the most studied geologic landscapes in the world, lies on the Colorado Plateau in the northwestern part of which state?
Arizona
187. Shenandoah National Park, dominated by hardwood forests in the mid-Appalachian region, includes 300 square miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains in which state?
Virginia
188. Big Bend National Park, boasting diverse desert flora and fauna, is one of the largest and least visited parks in the United States. This park is located in which state?
Texas
189. Olympic National Park, known for its glacier-capped mountains and vast wilderness, is located in which state?
Washington
190. Yosemite National Park, known for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, and giant sequoia groves, was declared a national park in 1890 in which state?
California
191. Everglades National Park, known for its rich bird life and as the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles live side-by-side, is located in which state?
Florida
192. Known to Native Americans as the “Shining Mountains,” Glacier National Park preserves millions of acres of glacial-carved valleys, rugged peaks, and alpine meadows in which state?
Montana
193. Located along a rugged coastline that includes Mount Desert Island, Acadia National Park, the first national park established east of the Mississippi River, is in which state?
Maine
194. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most viewed park in the United States, is noted for its biological diversity in the Appalachian Mountains. This park is located between Tennessee and which other state?
North Carolina
195. Crater Lake National Park, which includes the deepest lake in the United States at 1,943 feet, is located in the Cascade Mountain Range in which state?
Oregon
196. Grand Teton National Park, known for its tall peaks and Jackson Lake, is located in which Rocky Mountain state?
Wyoming
197. Grand Coulee Dam, one of the largest concrete structures in the world, is a hydroelectric dam located on the Columbia River in which state?
Washington
198. Sylvan Lake, located in the Black Hills, is an attraction in which state?
South Dakota
199. Long-lot settlement patterns are common in the southern region of what U.S. state which has strong French heritage?
Louisiana
200. Lake Winnipesaukee [WI-ni-puh-SAW-kee], the largest lake in the Granite State, is located couth of the White Mountains in which New England state?
New Hampshire
201. Lake George, of glacial origin, is a large lake located north of the city of Troy near the border of Vermont and which state?
New York
202. While tracing the Missouri River, explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark spent the winter of 1804-1805 headquartered at Fort Mandan in which present-day state?
North Dakota
203. In the middle and late 1800s, railroad and river traffic led to the growth of industry in the city of Davenport, located on what major river?
Mississippi River
204. Padre Island, the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the country, extends along the southeastern coast of which state?
Texas
205. The Rio Grande flows below the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge near Taos Pueblo, a historic community in which southwestern state?
New Mexico
206. The Apostle Islands, composed of more than 20 heavily forested islands, are in Lake Superior off the northern coastline of which state?
Wisconsin
207. Which Canadian province, separated from the mainland by the Northumberland Strait, is the smallest province in area and population?
Prince Edward Island
208. Hammerfest, often referred to as the northernmost town in Europe, is located in what Scandinavian country?
Norway
209. The largest city in Australia was founded in 1788 just north of Botany Bay. Name this city.
Sydney
210. Volcanic in origin, the Canary Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean and administered by what country?
Spain
211. The city of Victoria, founded by the Hudson Bay Company in 1843, is located on the Strait of Juan de Fuca in which country?
Canada
212. Population growth is high in the only African country to border Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. Name this country.
Libya
213. Angel Falls, the world’s tallest at 3,212 feet, are located in which South American country?
Venezuela
214. The Hague, home to the International Court of Justice, is a city on the west coast of which country?
Netherlands
215. The state of Tabasco, which means “damp earth,” has a long tradition of agriculture in which country north of Guatemala?
Mexico
216. The Kuril Islands, an archipelago located south of the Kamchatka Peninsula and northeast of Hokkaido island, are administered by which country?
Russia
217. Lying at the southeastern end of the Adriatic Sea, which country bordering Greece held its first multiparty elections in the early 1990s after nearly five decades of communism?
Albania
218. Molloy Deep is one of the deepest points in which ocean, the smallest in the world?
Arctic Ocean
219. The Sea of Azov, the world’s shallowest sea, is linked by the Kerch Strait to what larger body of water to the south?
Black Sea
220. The most populous city in Angola is located on the country’s narrow coastal plain. Name this capital city.
Luanda
221. Many residents of the city of El Alto work in neighboring La Paz, the administrative capital of which South American country?
Bolivia
222. The southernmost national capital in the world is located in a powerful earthquake zone of the northern island of New Zealand. Name this city.
Wellington
223. Which state, located on Mount Titano in Italy and totaling 24 square miles in area, claims to be Europe’s oldest?
San Marino
224. Astana is the capital of the second-largest Soviet republic. Name this present-day country?
Kazakhstan
225. Once a Belgian colony, what present-day country is the third largest in Africa and has experienced terrible civil was and poverty?
Democratic Republic of the Congo
226. In 1992, the Council of the Baltic Sea States was founded to promote regional cooperation. Name the member country whose capital is Riga.
Latvia
227. One of the largest boiling lakes in the world is located on Dominica [do-MI-ni-kuh], an island country bordered to the east by the Atlantic Ocean and to the west by what other body of water?
Caribbean Sea
228. Odense is the third largest city in which northern European country bordering Germany?
Denmark
229. After 1960, the Brazilian government encouraged migration into the country’s sparsely populated interior in conjunction with the creation of what new capital city?
Brasília
230. The Ore Mountains are an important industrial center for manufacturing machinery and chemicals along the border of Germany and what neighboring country to the southeast?
Czech Republic
231. Remnants of Celtic monuments can still be found on the Dingle Peninsula, the westernmost point in Europe, located in which country?
Ireland
232. The Ovambo ethnic group, Namibia’s largest, lives predominantly in the northern part of the country bordering which body of water?
Atlantic Ocean
233. Cairns, an important coastal city near the Great Barrier Reef, is located in one of the wettest regions of what country?
Australia
234. Iguaçu Falls, a series of waterfalls that are among the widest in the world, lie on the border between Brazil and the northern part of which country?
Argentina235. The second longest river in South America joins the Uruguay River to form the Río de la Plata near Buenos Aires. Name this river.
Panamá
236. Roofs that are pitched to prevent snow accumulation are common in Bergen, an Atlantic coast city in which European country?
Norway
237. Which of the Baltic states speaks a language that is similar to Finnish?
Estonia
238. French and Arabic are the official languages of which multilingual country east of Niger [NEE-zher]?
Chad
239. The only Portuguese colony in the New World gained its independence in 1822 and occupies about one-half of South America. Name this present-day country.
Brazil
240. Benghazi, located on the Mediterranean Sea east of Tripoli, is an important port for what North African country?
Libya
241. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec [te-WAHN-te-pek], once considered for an inter-oceanic canal, is located in the southern part of which country?
Mexico
242. A crucial railway line connects Brazzaville with the port of Pointe-Noire in what central African country that is bordered by the Congo River?
Republic of Congo
243. Bordering the Gulf of Bothnia, shipbuilding is an important economic activity in which country whose capital is Helsinki?
Finland
244. The Timor and Arafura Seas separate Indonesia from which country to the south?
Australia
245. Tuvalu, a microstate with an area of about ten square miles and a population of about 10,000, is located in which ocean?
Pacific Ocean
246. Punta del Este, a resort city known for its beaches along the Atlantic Ocean and Ríde la Plata, is located in which South American country?
Uruguay
247. The Sierra Maestra, a large mountain range with a history of guerrilla warfare, is located in the southeast of which Caribbean country?
Cuba
248. Which country, with more than two million farms, leads the world in agricultural exports?
United States
249. After his final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, Napolean was exiled to the island of St. Helena, located in which ocean?
Atlantic Ocean
250. In Geneva, a large city in western Switzerland, a majority of the people speak which language?
French
251. Which island country, bordering the Tasman Sea in the South Pacific, was the first country to grant women the right to vote?
New Zealand
252. The most populous city in Nicaragua is located in the country’s western valley, where fertile volcanic soils have encouraged settlement. Name this city.
Managua
253. Historically, the leader of France and the Bishop of Urgel in northeastern Spain have jointly ruled what small country located between France and Spain?
Andorra
254. Polish, Russian, and Czech are all examples of which Indo-European language group?
Slavic
255. Hundreds of species of butterflies live on what large island in the Indian Ocean that is crossed by the Tropic of Capricorn?
Madagascar
256. Throughout much of the 17th century, whaling took place off the coast of the Svalbard, an archipelago in the Barents Sea. What Scandinavian country administers Svalbard?
Norway
257. Maquiladoras [muh-kee-luh-dawr-uhs], manufacturing firms that import parts from assembly and re-export, are found in which country that borders the United States?
Mexico
258. The development of Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, and Montego Bay as tourist centers has boosted the economy of what Caribbean country?
Jamaica
259. Which European country has a thriving economy that is based on banking services and continues to have the highest GDP per capita in the world?
Luxembourg
260. Built in the middle of the 11th century, the Alcazaba [al-qasabah] in Málaga once served as a fortress from Moorish rulers in what present-day Mediterranean country?
Spain
261. Calypso, music which reflects Spanish, Creole, and African influences, originated on islands in which body of water?
Caribbean
262. Suva is the capital of which South Pacific island nation comprised of over 300 islands?
Fiji
263. Sand dunes are a common sight in the westernmost desert of southern Africa. Name this desert
Namig
264. Mount Isa, whose nearby mines produce more silver and lead than any others in the world, is located in the northeastern part of which country?
Australia
265. Name the South American country which became landlocked after losing a war with Chile.
Bolivia
266. Mount Olympus, reaching an elevation of 9,570 feet, is the highest point in which European country?
Greece
267. Which West African country, a member of OPEC, is known for its major oil reserves and is one of the largest producers of oil in the world?
Nigeria
268. Colombia, with low coastal plains along both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, borders which Central American country?
Panama
269. The Donbas is an industrial area shared by Russia and which neighboring country to the west?
Ukraine
270. In June 2006, which country bordering the Caspian and Aral Seas launched its first communication satellite?
Kazakhstan
271. The Vai script is a unique indigenous writing system found in Sierra Leone and what country to its southeast?
Liberia
272. Irrigation from the Snowy Mountains makes it possible to grow rice, potatoes, and tomatoes in the otherwise dry eastern interior of which country?
Australia
273. What does the word Islam mean in Arabic?
Surrender
274. Mount Kailas [KEI-LUS], a sacred mountain to the followers of the Hindu and Buddhist faiths, is located in the Tibetan Himalayas on which continent?
Asia
275. In Islam, it is the duty of every Muslim who can to make a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca. This city is located on which continent?
Asia
276. The two most populous countries in the world, China and India, are located on which continent?
Asia
277. Spirit Cave, an interconnecting series of caverns, is located in a karst regions of northern Thailand on which continent?
Asia
278. Kana and Kanji [kahn-jee] are two major groups of characters in the written language of which Asian country?
Japan
279. The Siamese cat was named after Siam, which is the former name of what present-day country?
Thailand
280. Karachi and Lahore, both cities with populations greater than five million, are located in which South Asian country?
Pakistan
281. In the past, Mongol invasions greatly affected the way of life from people in Manchuria. Most of this region is now part of which country?
China
282. Women traditionally wear an abbaya [a-bā-a], or dark garment, over modern clothes in Manama, the cosmopolitan capital city of which country?
Bahrain
283. The cultures of Goa have been influenced by both Hindu and Roman Catholic traditions. Goa is now a state in which country?
India
284. The Shi’ite [shee-ahyt] Muslims of Azerbaijan [ah-suhr-bei-JAHN] have much in common with their ethnic relatives in which neighboring country to the south?
Iran
285. The people of which island country southeast of India are predominantly Sinhalese?
Sri Lanka
286. Which country moved its capital from Istanbul to the more centrally-located Ankara in the early 20th century?
Turkey
287. Part of the Spanish colonial empire until 1898, which Southeast Asian island country is predominantly Roman Catholic?
Philippines
288. Mumbai is a major port city in which country that has a population of more than one billion people?
India
289. In 1979, Islamic radicals seized more than 50 American hostages from the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Tehran is the capital of what country?
Iran
290. The island of Borneo is shared by Brunei, Indonesia, and what other country?
Malaysia
291. The islands of Luzon, Mindanao, and Mindoro are a part of which Asian country that gained independence from the United States in 1946?
Philippines
292. Around 3000 B.C. the Sumerians built some of the world’s first known cities in southern Mesopotamia. This region is part of which present-day Persian Gulf country?
Iraq
293. The Gaza Strip and the West Bank are territories bordering what country on the Mediterranean coast of Southwest Asia?
Israel
294. The Dead Sea, which has about nine times the salinity of ocean water, lies between Israel and which country?
Jordan
295. The Central Asian nations of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan all border what landlocked country in the Hindu Kush Mountains?
Afghanistan
296. What mathematic system did Muslims develop?
Algebra
297. The Li River, which flows through the city of Guilin [GUAI-LIN], is surrounded by massive karst formations in which large country?
China
298. Which country does not have more than one official language—United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, or Afghanistan?
United Arab Emirates
299. Which country is not landlocked—Papua New Guinea, Mali, or Belarus?
Papua New Guinea
300. Which country is not located in the Pacific Ocean—Sri Lanka, New Zealand, or Fiji?
Sri Lanka
301. Which country does not have a Romance language as its official language—Turkey, Romania, or Portugal?
Turkey
302. Which country is not partially located on a peninsula—Italy, Malaysia, or Bhutan?
Bhutan
303. Which country is not predominantly Hindu—Bangladesh, India, or Nepal?
Bangladesh
304. Which country does not border the Mediterranean Sea—Greece, Lebanon, or Iran?
Iran
305. Which country is not at risk of desertification—Saudi Arabia, India, or Japan?
Japan
306. Which country is not located near the Tsushima [TSOO-shee-mah] Current—Japan, South Korea, or Indonesia?
Indonesia
307. Which country does not have a border along the Red Sea—Egypt, Syria, or Eritrea?
Syria
308. What language is spoken by more Chinese than any other?
Mandarin
309. Ceylon tea is grown on the hillsides of what South Asian country?
Sri Lanka
310. Shinto shrines dot the edge of Mount Fuji’s volcanic crater in which country?
Japan
311. Pakistan, an arid country largely limited to short grass and shrub vegetation, depends on water from which major river?
Indus
312. Which body of water, located between Saudi Arabia and Iran, has high salinity as a result of evaporation rates that exceed freshwater inflow?
Persian Gulf
313. Java, one of the world’s most densely populated islands, includes the city of Jakarta. This city is the capital of which country?
Indonesia
314. The modernization of this East Asian country began with the end of the shogunate system of government and the onset of the Meiji Restoration. Name this country.
Japan
315. Deforestation is a major concern in the populous Asian country bordering the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Name this country.
India
316. Ha Long Bay, known for its naturally sculpted limestone outcroppings, is located approximately 100 miles east of Hanoi off the coast of which country?
Vietnam
317. Al ‘Amārah [al’ AH-mahr-uh], situated on the Tigris River, is a major port for which Middle Eastern country?
Iran
318. Angkor Wat, built as a tribute to Hinduism, is located in which Southeast Asian country where Buddhism now predominates?
Cambodia
319. Feng Shui [FUNG-SHWAY], literally meaning “wind-ware,” is associated with the proper spatial arrangement of objects and originated in which country?
China
320. In the early 1990s, Ethiopia became landlocked following the independence of which country whose population contains a nearly equal number of Muslims and Christians?
Eritrea
321. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are states with significant oil reserves in which country?
United Arab Emirates
322. The Philippines and which other East Asian country have a Roman Catholic majority?
East Timor (Also acceptable: Timor-Leste)
323. What country, located on a peninsula in the Persian Gulf and once dependent on pearling, now has one of the region’s highest per capita incomes?
Qatar
324. The largest city in South Korea lies across the Yellow Sea from China’s Shandong Bandao [bän’daü] peninsula. Name this city.
Seoul
325. What large body of water separates Vietnam from the Philippine Islands?
South China Sea
326. The smallest country in Southeast Asia is home to the largest port in the region and one of the busiest ports in the world. Name this country.
Singapore
327. Vedas, ancient texts originally composed in Sanskrit, are sacred to what religion originating in Asia?
Hinduism
328. Israel captured the Golan Heights from which neighboring country in the Six-Day War in 1967?
Syria
329. Of more than 700 languages, English, Motu, and Pidgin are the most commonly spoken in which Pacific country that shares an island with Indonesia?
Papua New Guinea
330. In April 2006, pro-democracy demonstrations in Kathmandu an the surrounding countryside resulted in the king transferring power to the Parliament in which Asian country?
Nepal
331. The Bāb el Mandeb, a strait between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, connects the Gulf of Aden to which body of water?
Red Sea
332. How many times a day does the Islamic faith say prayers?
Five
333. Many cows can be seen on streets in India because they are considered sacred by followers of the country’s predominant religion. Name this religion.
Hinduism
334. What is the predominant religion in countries on the mainland of Southeast Asia?
Buddhism
335. The Deccan Plateau makes up much of the peninsula of which country?
India
336. The collision of the Eurasian and Indian continental plates resulted in the creation of which major mountain system?
Himalaya
337. Although China spans some 60 degrees of longitude, clocks throughout the country show the same time as those in the capital city. Name this city.
Beijing
338. Uzbeks [ooz-BEKS], Tajiks [tah-JEEKS], and Kazakhs [kah-ZAHKS] are some of the people indigenous to which continent—Asia or Australia?
Asia
339. Japan’s highest mountain has inspired artists and poet for centuries. Name this volcanic peak. Is it Mount Fuji or Denali?
Mount Fuji (Also acceptable: Fujiyama or Fujisan)
340. Tamils [TAM-ulz] are an ethnic minority on what island country at the southwestern edge of the Bay of Bengal [ben-GAWL]—Madagascar or Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka
341. What is the holy book of Islam?
The Qur’an
342. Kabuki [kah-BOO-kee] and No [NOH] are forms of classical drama in which Asian country—Japan or China?
Japan
343. Which is the main product shipped from the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz—oil or oranges?
Oil
344. Swimmers can stay afloat easily in the so-called sea between Israel and Jordan, because it is much saltier than the ocean. Name this sea. Is it the Red Sea or the Dead Sea?
Dead Sea
345. Which is the world’s most densely populated country: Singapore, Bangladesh, or Canada?
Singapore (Bangladesh is greatly overcrowded; Canada is one of the least crowded countries in the world.) ***This was the winning question in the 1997 National Geographic Geography Bee***
346. Which of the following countries sits on the Ring of Fire: Italy, the Philippines, or Iceland?
The Philippines (The Ring of Fire consists of volcanoes arcing around the edges of the Pacific Ocean)
347. Erie’s sister city, Zibo, is located in this ancient Asiatic nation. Name it.
China (Peoples Republic of China)
348. The Indira Gandhi International Airport handles many of the international flights in what South Asian country—Pakistan or India?
India
349. On August 6, 1945, a city at the western end of the Inland Sea became the first city destroyed by an atomic bomb. Name this city. Was it Tokyo or Hiroshima?
Hiroshima
350. India borders what two landlocked countries in the Himalaya—Bhutan and Nepal or Pakistan and Bangladesh?
Bhutan and Nepal
351. Ikebana [IH-kay-BAH-nuh] is a traditional art of flower arranging that stressed form and balance. Ikebana is closely associated with the culture of which Asian island country?
Japan
352. Which island group is the world’s largest archipelago: Japan, Hawaii, or Indonesia?
Indonesia (Consisting of 13,677 islands, this Southeast Asian archipelago stretches 3,169 miles.)
353. What ancient form of wrestling in which the athletes often weigh more than 300 pounds has been an important part of Japanese culture for centuries?
Sumo
354. Is the national language of China called Sanskrit or Mandarin?
Mandarin (Sanskrit was the common language of ancient India.)
355. If you had lots of yen and an urge to shop, would you want to be in Thailand or Japan?
Japan (In Thailand, you would need lots of baht for a shopping spree.)
356. In Israel, is a large communal farm called a kibbutz or a plantation?
Kibbutz (The plural is “kibbutzim.”)
357. Which Turkish city located in both Europe and Asia is considered a meeting place of Eastern and Western cultures—Ankara or Istanbul?
Istanbul
358. Name the country that is known as “the land of the rising sun.”
Japan
359. The Sinai is a peninsula that juts into what sea?
Red Sea
360. What origami bird has become a symbol of peace for Japanese children?
The crane
361. The longest river on the Indochina Peninsula has its source in eastern Tibet and its mouth in southern Vietnam. Name this river.
Mekong River
362. Kampuchea [KAM-puh-CHEE-uh] is the Khmer [Kuh-MER] name for a country in the Southeast Asia. Name this country.
Cambodia
363. Which Asian country boasts over 13,000 islands and contains the world’s second largest tropical forest?
Indonesia
364. Pork is not an important part of the diet for most people in Indonesia because they are members of which religion?
Islam
365. In which Asian country would you find the Citidel at Aleppo, the scene of battles dating back to the conflict between the Hittites and the Egyptians in the 15th century B.C.?
Syria
366. Persian rugs, which can take months to weave by hand, are traditionally made in which country?
Iran
367. The Korea Straight separates South Korea from what other country?
Japan
368. When a U.S. spy plane collided with a Chinese fighter aircraft in April and landed on the Island of Hainan, over which sea was the U.S. plane flying?
South China Sea
369. One of the ideals of Islam is that a Muslim person will make at least one pilgrimage to Mecca, Islam’s holiest city. Mecca is in what country?
Saudi Arabia
370. The world’s deepest freshwater lake has a moderating effect on temperatures in the south-central region of the Siberian Plateau. Name this lake.
Lake Baikal
371. An Asian country that has the won [WAHN] at its currency has become highly industrialized in the last thirty years. Name this country.
South Korea
372. In which country would you find jagged limestone peaks, formed from a seabed millions of years ago, near Guilin [GWEE-LIN] on the Li River?
China
373. Gaurs [GOWRZ], largest of the wild cattle, live primarily in forested areas of India and the southernmost country on the mainland of Asia. Name this peninsular country.
Malaysia
374. New Guinea, Borneo, and Honshu are all located in which ocean—the Pacific Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, or the Indian Ocean?
The Pacific Ocean
375. Which of these countries on the island of Borneo has the smallest percentage of its population living in urban areas—Malaysia, Brunei, or Idonesia?
Indonesia
376. Which country has a larger number of people involved in farming—Singapore or China?
China
377. What volcanic mountain is sacred to the followers of Shinto, an ethnic Japanese religion?
Mount Fuji
378. To visit the American University of Beirut, you would travel to which Middle Eastern country—Egypt or Lebanon?
Lebanon
379. A narrow strait separates Singapore from what country to the north—Viet Nam or Malaysia?
Malaysia
380. Outdoor markets called bazaars are traditional trading areas in which city—Damascus or Glasgow?
Damascus
381. In which country would you most likely find a mosque as the country’s main place of worship—China, Australia, or Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia
382. In the Hindu religion, what name is given to the process by which the soul is reborn in another form when the body dies?
Reincarnation
383. What is the Japanese art of paper folding called?
Origami
384. Tamil [TAH-muh] separatists are in conflict with the Sinhalese majority in which island country off the coast of India?
Sri Lanka
385. Zionism is a political movement that led to the creation of which country in southwest Asia in 1948?
Israel
386. The Mekong River delta is a rice-producing region in which country—Vietnam or Nepal?
Vietnam
387. This island group straddles the busy shipping lanes in the South China Sea and is thought to contain sizable reserves of oil and natural gas. They are contested wholly or partly by Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam, the Philippines, and China. Name this island group—is it the Aegean Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Spratley Islands?
The Spratley Islands
388. Basra, Mosul, Kirkuk, and Baghdad are all cities in what country?
Iraq
389. Kampuchea [KAM-puh-CHEE-uh] is the Khmer [kuh-MER] name for a country in Southeast Asia. Name this country.
Cambodia
390. The city in Vietnam which was once called Saigon has a new name. Is it Cam Ranh, Dong Hoi, or Ho Chi Minh City?
Ho Chi Minh City
391. What is the holiest time of the year for Muslims?
Ramadan
392. What color and shape is the single symbol on the flag of Bangladesh: a white star, a red circle, or a small blue rectangle?
A red circle
393. Maharashtra [mah-he-RAWSH-truh] borders the Arabian Sea and is one of the most urbanized states of which Asian country?
India
394. To climb Mount Everest and see pagoda-shaped temples in Kathmandu, you would travel to what country?
Nepal
395. Before Siamese cats were introduced to Great Britain in the late 1800’s, they were kept as pets at the royal palace in Siam. What is the present day name for this country in Southeast Asia?
Thailand
396. The Gobi, formerly called the Shamo Desert, is mostly located in China and which landlocked Asian country—Mongolia or Nepal?
Mongolia
397. In which Asian country would you find houses with shoji [SHOW-jee], traditional sliding doors that are covered with translucent white paper?
Japan
398. Many forested slopes of the Himalayas have been clear cut, giving rise to flooding along the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta of which lowland country?
Bangladesh
399. The Vedas are a collection of writings that are sacred to what religion in South Asia?
Hinduism
400. The echidna [ih-KID-nuh], one of only two kinds of egg-laying mammals, is native to Australia and the large island directly north of that country. Name this island.
New Guinea
401. Sherpas, people of the Tibetan heritage known for their mountain climbing ability, live primarily in which mountains in Asia?
Himalaya
402. The locations of trees that provide frankincense are closely guarded secrets in that country on the southwestern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Name this country.
Yemen
403. Litchi [LEE-chee] trees, which have been cultivated for fruit for over 2,000 years, originally grew around Hunan in the southern part of which Asian country?
China
404. Cities along the silk route, such as Tashkent and Samarqand, are important attractions in which country?
Uzbekistan
405. The practice of women wearing a veil in public is most associated with which major religion that originated in the Middle East?
Islam
406. What language, written from right to left, is the official language of Saudi Arabia?
Arabic
407. Most of the world’s cinnamon, a spice obtained from the inner bark of a tree, is produced on a large island off the coast of India. Name this island country.
Sri Lanka
408. Which Asian country is home to such diverse ethnic groups as the Javanese, Sundanese, and Timorese?
Indonesia
409. The Dome of the Rock, a mosque in Jerusalem, is a place of worship for followers of what major religion?
Islam
410. Since 1988, the people of Honshu have been able to travel north to Japan’s next largest island through the world’s longest tunnel (almost 34 miles long). Name this island where to Sapporo Winter Olympics were held. Is it Okinawa, Kyushu, or Hokkaido?
Hokkaido
411. Which of the following countries consists of a group of islands—Nepal, North Korea, or the Philippines?
Philippines
412. Are Japan’s four largest islands examples of “coral” islands or “volcanic” islands?
Volcanic
413. Livestock outnumber people 12 to 1 in which landlocked country located between Russia and China—Bangladesh or Mongolia?
Mongolia
414. Rice is grown along the Mekong River in which Asian country North Korea or Vietnam?
Vietnam
415. What type of ox provides food, clothing, and fuel for people of this Tibetan Plateau?
Yak (Also acceptable: grunting ox)
416. To walk on the Great Wall and sail on the Yangtze River, you would travel to what country?
China
417. In which Asian country do people remove their shoes inside their homes to protect mats made of rice straw called tatami—Japan or Cambodia?
Japan
418. The Island of New Guinea is divided into two nations—are they Indonesia and New Guinea, Indonesia and Madagascar, or Cyprus and Greece?
Indonesia and Papua New Guinea
419. This island nation is made up of four main islands and nearly 4,000 smaller ones. Name this island nation whose capital of Tokyo.
Japan
420. Which country covers most of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East—Turkey, Saudi Arabia, or India?
Saudi Arabia
421. Which of the following is known as the “City of David”? Is it Calcutta, Memphis, or Jerusalem?
Jerusalem
422. Whose city is an industrial center of Indonesia—Jakarta or Bangkok?
Jakarta
423. Logging in one of the world’s largest rain forests is a major economic activity in which country—Indonesia or Pakistan?
Indonesia
424. This island country off the southeast coast of India used to be known as Ceylon. Among its important crops are coconuts, rubber, rice, and tea. Name this country that is a world power in the sport of cricket.
Sri Lanka
425. To see the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi, you would travel to what country?
Vietnam
426. To ride an elephant in a forest and shop at floating markets in Bangkok, you would travel to what country?
Thailand
427. Chinese are the largest ethnic group in a small island country at the tip of the Malay peninsula. Is this country Singapore or Indonesia?
Singapore
428. Five times each day, Muslims face Islam’s holiest city during prayer. Name this city in Saudi Arabia, which is the destination of millions of pilgrims each year.
Mecca
429. Origami, the art of folding paper into objects is part of the cultural tradition in which island country in East Asia?
Japan
430. The world’s most populous country has more than one billion people. Name this country.
China
431. Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoko, and Kyushu are the four main islands which make up what country?
Japan
432. Name the world’s largest landlocked country. Is it Switzerland, Brazil, or Mongolia?
Mongolia
433. What Asian country that stretches from the island of Sumatra to western New Guinea is made up of more than 13,000 islands? It is also the largest Muslim country in terms of population. Name it.
Indonesia
434. In September 1999, violence erupted after voters in East Timor voted for independence from what country—Malaysia or Indonesia?
Indonesia
435. Bombay, New Delhi, and Calcutta are all cities in what country?
India
436. What is the official language of Vietnam?
Vietnamese
437. Which country produces more oil—Saudi Arabia or Belgium?
Saudi Arabia
438. The U.S. recently lifted parts of a longstanding trade embargo against an Asian country located primarily north of the 38th parallel. Name this country. Is it North Korea or Iraq?
North Korea
439. Which country has the world’s second largest population—Russia, Canada, or India?
India
440. Shanghai, Zibo, Nanking, and Beijing are all cities in what country?
China
441. Over hunted for its fur, the snow leopard lives in the Tien Shan and other mountainous areas of which continent?
Asia
442. Which island country off the southeast coast of India is one of the world’s leading producers of tea—Madagascar or Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka
443. Bombay, New Delhi, and Calcutta are all cities in what countries?
India
444. Which country has the world’s second largest population—India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh?
India
445. This island nation in the Pacific Ocean consists of seven main islands and over 7,000 smaller islands. The largest island is Luzon, which is the site of the capital city, Manila. Name this country which is the only Asian nation that is predominantly Roman Catholic.
The Philippines
446. How do the majority of people in India earn a living?
Farming (almost 70%)
447. Many Chinese people believe that the universe is made up of what two opposing forces?
Yin and Yang
448. The currencies of India and Sri Lanka have the same name but different values. Name this currency.
The Rupee
449. Which group of men on the Indian subcontinent never cut their hair or shave their beards?
The Sikhs
450. Where in Asia do people bathe in the Ganges River?
India (the river is considered sacred in the Hindu religion)
451. When the Crusaders set out for the Holy Land, did they hope to recapture Mecca, Constantinople, or Jerusalem?
Jerusalem (In the Middle Ages, Christians and Muslims fought over this sacred region.)
452. Which popular Japanese sport began as a religious ritual to amuse the Shinto gods: baseball, bushido, or sumo wrestling?
Sumo wrestling
453. In the year 1275, when the Italian traveler, Marco Polo, visited Kublai Khan, where was he? Egypt, South America, or China?
China
454. What green gemstone was often carved by Chinese artisans to create intricate sculptures and highly prized jewelry: jade, silver, or topaz?
Jade
455. Which Asian people first used gunpowder in fireworks more than a thousand years ago: the Japanese, the Indians, or the Chinese?
The Chinese
456. Through which countries does the Indus River flow: Japan and China, India and Pakistan, or India and Sri Lanka?
India and Pakistan
457. What city is the capital of Pakistan? Is it Islamabad, Manila, or Colombo?
Islamabad
458. In what year were Japanese women given the right to vote: 1900, 1972, or 1945?
1945
459. The world’s largest active volcano, Mount Aso, is located in which country: the Philippines, Japan, or Kazakhstan?
Japan
460. What is China’s largest city and major port: Beijing, Canton, or Shanghai?
Shanghai
461. The Yangtze and Yellow rivers flow through which country: Thailand, Malaysia, or China?
China
462. What is Japan’s second largest island? Is it Hokkaido, Honshu, or Honolulu?
Hokkaido
463. Which country in southern Asia lies at the mouth of the Ganges River? Is it Mongolia, Japan, or Bangladesh?
Bangladesh
464. The Indus, the Ganges, and the Brahmaputra are rivers found in which Asian nation: Saudi Arabia, India, or Cambodia?
India
465. What name is given to the garment worn by Hindu women which consists of a long piece of lightweight cloth draped to form both a skirt and a head or shoulder covering? Is it a sari, a kimono, or an obi?
A sari
466. What name is given to the Japanese art of growing trees and other plants as decorative miniatures: cloisonné, bonsai, or Shinto?
Bonsai
467. Which Japanese religion is based on the worship of the Emperor, ancestors, and the spirits of nature? Is it Shinto, Buddhism, or Confucianism?
Shinto
468. Which Asian country lies directly south of Mongolia? Is it Russia, China, or Malaysia?
China
469. What luxurious fabric has been made in China from the cocoon of a mulberry worm for more than four thousand years? Is it rayon, cotton, or silk?
Silk
470. Ulaanbaatar is the capital of which Asian country: Mongolia, Kazakhstan, or North Korea?
Mongolia
471. What is the capital of the Philippines? Is it New Delhi, Manila, or Phnom Pen?
Manila
472. What large mountain range is found in northern India: the Urals, the Himalayas, or the Atlas mountains?
The Himalayas
473. What is the largest landlocked country in the world: China, Mongolia, or India?
Mongolia
474. Nippon is another name for which country: Papua New Guinea, Mongolia, or Japan?
Japan
475. In China, the Gobi and the Taklimakan are very large geographic features. Are they deserts, mountains, or rivers?
Deserts
476. What do Chin, Han, Ming, and Manchu name: rivers in China, famous sumo wrestlers, or Chinese dynasties?
Chinese dynasties
477. Acupuncture, an ancient medical treatment using needles to relieve pain and treat diseases, originated in which Asian country—Korea or China?
China
478. The island of New Guinea is divided into two nations—are they Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Madagascar, or Cyprus and Greece?
Indonesia and Papua New Guinea
479. To walk through Tiananmen Square in Beijing, site of a 1989 student demonstration for democracy, you would travel to which Asian country—Taiwan or China?
China
480. To see the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok, you would travel to which Asian country—Vietnam or Thailand?
Thailand
481. On August 6, 1945, a city at the western end of the Inland Sean became the first city destroyed by an atomic bomb. Name this city. Was it Tokyo or Hiroshima?
Hiroshima
482. The echidna, or spiny anteater, is native to Australia and the large island directly north of that country. Name this large island.
New Guinea
483. Peace Memorial Park, built to remind people of the devastation caused by the first atomic bomb used in warfare, is in what city?
Hiroshima
484. The second highest mountain in the world is located in Pakistan. What is the name of this peak?
K2, or Godwin Austen
485. What is the official language of northern India?
Hindi
486. Which form of Japanese poetry is written in three lines, contains seventeen syllables, and usually describes nature?
Haiku
487. What is the name of the walled group of palaces and museums in Beijing which once served as the emperor’s residence?
The Forbidden City
488. The Taiwan Strait lies between the island of Taiwan and the mainland of what country?
China
489. The Abominable Snowman, sometimes called Yeti, is a mythical creature said to inhabit which mountain system?
Himalaya
490. Name the country whose official languages are Hebrew and Arabic, with English as the most commonly used foreign language?
Israel
491. Turkey’s Ataturk Dam influences water to flow to Syria and Iraq on what river?
Euphrates River
492. What mega city of approximately 10 million is located on the delta of the Ganges in Bangladesh?
Dhaka
493. In 1829 Greece gained its independence from a neighboring country that has ruled for almost 400 years. Name this eastern Mediterranean country.
Turkey
494. Diversion of water for irrigating cotton in Uzbekistan [ooz-BEH-kih-STAHN] and Kazakhstan [kah-zahk-STAHN] has reduced the surface area of what body of water by about half—the Aral Sea or the Caspian Sea?
The Aral Sea
495. Does the Japanese word “sake” name a dessert, a drink, or a robe?
A drink
496. Which long-haired dog, first bred in China over a thousand years ago, was once considered sacred and is variously known as the Lion Dog, the Sun Dog, and the Sleeve Dog? Is it the German Shepherd, the Pekingese, or the Mastiff?
The Pekingese
497. What is the name of Asia’s largest desert, which lies mostly in Mongolia? Gobi
498. What is the most frequent natural hazard, brought on by monsoons, that affects low-lying Bangladesh?
Floods
499. A collective farm called kibbutz, where people live and work together, would be found in which Middle Eastern country?
Israel
500. Based on 1997 figures from the United Nations, the most populous metropolitan area in the world is located in which Asian country?
Japan
Map of Asia: All students must be able to name and locate all of the countries of Asia.
