Q 01/05

Some trails on village land in American Samoa's national park close on which day?

A) Friday

B) Saturday

C) Sunday

D) Monday

Answer · why

C) Sunday

Sunday is kept for church and rest in Samoan culture, so some park trails on village land close that day.

Q 02/05

American Samoa's national park holds which distinction?

A) It is the only unit west of Hawaii

B) It is the only unit south of the equator

C) It is the only tropical unit

D) It is the only roadless unit

Answer · why

B) It is the only unit south of the equator

It is the only unit south of the equator in the US park system, so its seasons are flipped: the wet summer runs from October to May.

Q 03/05

Ancient Samoan star mounds, like one on a trail in American Samoa's national park, were built for which chiefs' sport?

A) Wrestling

B) Catching pigeons

C) Spear throwing

D) Canoe racing

Answer · why

B) Catching pigeons

Catching pigeons was a chiefly contest: from huts on the mound, rival chiefs used tame decoy pigeons and long-handled nets to catch the most birds.

Q 04/05

What kept the federal government from buying American Samoa's park land?

A) The US Navy owned the land

B) It was already a marine sanctuary

C) The Samoan government refused to sell

D) Land is held communally under Samoan tradition

Answer · why

D) Land is held communally under Samoan tradition

Land is held communally under Samoan tradition by families led by chiefs, so the park leases its land and shares management with village leaders.

Q 05/05

Most plants and animals in American Samoa's national park trace their origins to which region?

A) South America

B) Southeast Asia

C) Hawaii

D) New Zealand

Answer · why

B) Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is where most species here came from, spreading east island by island, which is why the park has so few kinds of land animals.