Q 01/05

In the United States, the sport of rowing is commonly known by what one-word name?

A) Sweep

B) Regatta

C) Skiff

D) Crew

Answer · why

D) Crew

The name comes from the crew of a boat, and college programmes in the US still call themselves crew teams.

Q 02/05

What is the key difference between rowing and paddling sports?

A) The oars are attached to the boat

B) The athletes face forwards

C) The boats have no keel

D) Each athlete uses a single blade

Answer · why

A) The oars are attached to the boat

Rowlocks (or gates) fix the oar to the boat and turn it into a lever; a paddle is held freely.

Q 03/05

In which discipline of rowing does each rower hold two oars, one in each hand?

A) Sweep rowing

B) Sculling

C) Bumping

D) Coastal rowing

Answer · why

B) Sculling

In sweep rowing each rower holds one oar with both hands, so sweep boats always have an even number of rowers.

Q 04/05

How long is the standard course for Olympic and World Championship rowing races?

A) 1 kilometre

B) 3 kilometres

C) 2 kilometres

D) 5 kilometres

Answer · why

C) 2 kilometres

Masters rowers often race 1,000 m and sprints can be as short as 500 m, but the championship distance is 2 km in buoyed lanes.

Q 05/05

Where did competitive rowing begin, with races among professional watermen in the early 1600s?

A) The Grand Canal in Venice

B) The Charles River in Boston

C) The River Thames in London

D) The Rhine at Cologne

Answer · why

C) The River Thames in London

The watermen were the taxi drivers of their day, ferrying passengers across the river, and prizes were put up by the London Guilds and Livery Companie...