Q 01/05

Which country, the most sparsely populated sovereign state on Earth, has only two neighbours, Russia and China?

A) Kazakhstan

B) Mongolia

C) North Korea

D) Kyrgyzstan

Answer · why

B) Mongolia

Mongolia is the world's second-largest landlocked country after Kazakhstan, yet it is home to only about 3.5 million people.

Q 02/05

Which island nation, ruled by Spain for more than three centuries, is named after a sixteenth-century Spanish king?

A) East Timor

B) Malaysia

C) Marshall Islands

D) Philippines

Answer · why

D) Philippines

The Philippines got the name in 1543, when explorer Ruy López de Villalobos honoured the future Philip II, who was still a prince at the time.

Q 03/05

Which thorn-covered fruit, called the king of fruits, is banned from some hotels and public transport for its smell?

A) Durian

B) Jackfruit

C) Rambutan

D) Mangosteen

Answer · why

A) Durian

Durian takes its name from the Malay word for thorn, and its strong odour can linger in a room for several days.

Q 04/05

Which Kyoto company, founded in 1889 to make playing cards, went on to create Mario and Zelda?

A) Capcom

B) Konami

C) Nintendo

D) Bandai Namco

Answer · why

C) Nintendo

Nintendo spent its first decades selling hanafuda, handmade Japanese flower cards, long before it made a video game.

Q 05/05

Which volcano between Java and Sumatra erupted in 1883 with the loudest sound ever measured?

A) Tambora

B) Krakatoa

C) Pinatubo

D) Merapi

Answer · why

B) Krakatoa

Krakatoa's blast was heard on Rodrigues island near Mauritius, about 3,000 miles away, and the sea surges that followed submerged whole islands.