Q 01/05

In what year did the ROC begin adding 'Taiwan' beside its official name to avoid confusion?

A) 1991

B) 2005

C) 1996

D) 2016

Answer · why

B) 2005

'Chinese Taipei' is the compromise name used at the Olympics and APEC.

Q 02/05

Portuguese sailors gave Taiwan the name 'Ilha Formosa' in 1542. What does it mean?

A) Green island

B) Distant island

C) Island of storms

D) Beautiful island

Answer · why

D) Beautiful island

The name stayed in common English use well into the 20th century.

Q 03/05

Which European trading concern built Fort Zeelandia on a sandbar called Tayouan in 1624?

A) The British East India Company

B) The Portuguese Estado da Índia

C) The Spanish Manila galleon fleet

D) The Dutch East India Company

Answer · why

D) The Dutch East India Company

The name 'Taiwan' itself comes from 'Tayouan', originally the name of a local indigenous people.

Q 04/05

Which Ming loyalist, also known as Zheng Chenggong, expelled the Dutch and founded Tungning?

A) Shi Lang

B) Zheng He

C) Koxinga

D) Hong Xiuquan

Answer · why

C) Koxinga

Tungning was the first predominantly Han Chinese state in Taiwan's history; the Qing conquered it in 1683.

Q 05/05

In which year was Taiwan ceded to Japan after the First Sino-Japanese War?

A) 1895

B) 1842

C) 1868

D) 1885

Answer · why

A) 1895

Pro-Qing officials briefly proclaimed a 'Republic of Formosa' in May 1895 to resist the handover.