Q 01/05

What is the capital and largest city of Cyprus?

A) Limassol

B) Nicosia

C) Larnaca

D) Paphos

Answer · why

B) Nicosia

Nicosia, inland on the central plain, has been the island's capital since the 10th century and is ringed by Venetian walls built in the 1560s.

Q 02/05

Cyprus is the third-largest island in the Mediterranean after which two?

A) Sicily and Crete

B) Crete and Corsica

C) Sicily and Sardinia

D) Majorca and Sardinia

Answer · why

C) Sicily and Sardinia

Only Sicily and Sardinia are larger; Cyprus covers about 9,250 km² and lies off the Levant coast in the eastern Mediterranean.

Q 03/05

Cyprus gained independence in 1960 from which country?

A) Turkey

B) Greece

C) Britain

D) Italy

Answer · why

C) Britain

Britain granted independence on 16 August 1960 but kept two Sovereign Base Areas, Akrotiri and Dhekelia, as British territory.

Q 04/05

The island's capital city holds what unhappy distinction in Europe?

A) Smallest by population

B) Highest above sea level

C) Only one with no airport

D) Last still-divided one

Answer · why

D) Last still-divided one

The Green Line runs through its old town; Ledra Street's crossing only reopened in April 2008.

Q 05/05

The orange-coloured shape on the Cypriot flag depicts what?

A) A dove

B) Its own map

C) An olive

D) A copper ingot

Answer · why

B) Its own map

The colour nods to the copper deposits that may have given the island its name; two olive branches beneath symbolise peace between the two communities...