Q 01/05

What is the capital and largest city of East Timor?

A) Kupang

B) Baucau

C) Dili

D) Ambon

Answer · why

C) Dili

The Portuguese founded it in 1769 after being pushed out of Kupang by the Dutch. Baucau in the east is the second city.

Q 02/05

East Timor shares the island of Timor with which country?

A) The Philippines

B) Malaysia

C) Papua New Guinea

D) Indonesia

Answer · why

D) Indonesia

The border was fixed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 1914, dividing the old Dutch and Portuguese halves.

Q 03/05

Which country lies to the south of East Timor across the Timor Sea?

A) Australia

B) Brunei

C) Papua New Guinea

D) New Zealand

Answer · why

A) Australia

Australian-led INTERFET troops restored order in 1999, and the two countries long wrangled over the oil and gas of the Timor Sea.

Q 04/05

East Timor's independence on 20 May 2002 gave it what distinction?

A) Smallest country in Asia

B) Youngest UN member ever

C) First country to join ASEAN

D) First new nation of the 21st century

Answer · why

D) First new nation of the 21st century

Xanana Gusmão was sworn in as its first president that day; UN membership followed on 27 September 2002.

Q 05/05

Which European country ruled East Timor as a colony until 1975?

A) Spain

B) Portugal

C) Britain

D) The Netherlands

Answer · why

B) Portugal

Sandalwood drew the Portuguese in the 16th century, but the colony stayed a neglected trading post until the 1950s.