World geography general knowledge quiz

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1. 1. What is the capital of Australia?
   • A. Sydney
   • B. Canberra (answer)
   • C. Melbourne
   • D. Perth
   Canberra was purpose-built as the capital in 1913.
2. 2. Which is the longest river in South America?
   • A. Parana
   • B. Orinoco
   • C. Amazon (answer)
   • D. Sao Francisco
   The Amazon carries more water than the next seven largest rivers combined.
3. 3. Which country has the most natural lakes?
   • A. Russia
   • B. Canada (answer)
   • C. Finland
   • D. USA
   Canada holds roughly 60% of the world's lakes.
4. 4. What is the capital of Canada?
   • A. Toronto
   • B. Vancouver
   • C. Ottawa (answer)
   • D. Montreal
   Ottawa sits on the river of the same name in Ontario.
5. 5. Which African country was formerly known as Abyssinia?
   • A. Ethiopia (answer)
   • B. Sudan
   • C. Eritrea
   • D. Somalia
   Ethiopia was never formally colonised.
6. 6. Mount Everest sits on the border of Nepal and which country?
   • A. India
   • B. Bhutan
   • C. China (answer)
   • D. Pakistan
   The Tibetan side is in China.
7. 7. Which is the smallest country in the world?
   • A. Monaco
   • B. San Marino
   • C. Vatican City (answer)
   • D. Liechtenstein
   Vatican City covers about 0.49 square kilometres.
8. 8. The Strait of Gibraltar separates Spain from which country?
   • A. Portugal
   • B. Morocco (answer)
   • C. Algeria
   • D. Tunisia
   At its narrowest it is about 13 kilometres wide.
9. 9. Which is the largest desert on Earth?
   • A. Sahara
   • B. Gobi
   • C. Arabian
   • D. Antarctic (answer)
   Deserts are defined by low precipitation, and Antarctica qualifies.
10. 10. What is the capital of New Zealand?
    • A. Auckland
    • B. Christchurch
    • C. Wellington (answer)
    • D. Hamilton
    Wellington is the southernmost capital city in the world.
11. 11. Which country has the longest coastline?
    • A. Australia
    • B. Russia
    • C. Canada (answer)
    • D. Indonesia
    Canada's coastline stretches around 243,000 kilometres.
12. 12. Istanbul is a city that spans which two continents?
    • A. Europe and Asia (answer)
    • B. Asia and Africa
    • C. Europe and Africa
    • D. Europe and the Middle East
    The Bosphorus strait divides the two sides.
13. 13. Which US state is the largest by area?
    • A. Texas
    • B. California
    • C. Alaska (answer)
    • D. Montana
    Alaska is more than twice the size of Texas.
14. 14. The River Nile flows into which sea?
    • A. Red Sea
    • B. Black Sea
    • C. Mediterranean Sea (answer)
    • D. Arabian Sea
    It reaches the sea through the Nile Delta in Egypt.
15. 15. What is the capital of Japan?
    • A. Kyoto
    • B. Osaka
    • C. Tokyo (answer)
    • D. Hiroshima
    Kyoto was the capital for over a thousand years until 1868.
16. 16. Which country is home to the city of Timbuktu?
    • A. Niger
    • B. Mali (answer)
    • C. Chad
    • D. Senegal
    It was a centre of trade and learning from the 12th century.
17. 17. Which European country is doubly landlocked, surrounded only by landlocked countries?
    • A. Austria
    • B. Hungary
    • C. Liechtenstein (answer)
    • D. Czechia
    Uzbekistan is the only other doubly landlocked country.
18. 18. What is the capital of Brazil?
    • A. Rio de Janeiro
    • B. Sao Paulo
    • C. Brasilia (answer)
    • D. Salvador
    Brasilia was built from scratch and inaugurated in 1960.
19. 19. Which island nation lies directly south of India?
    • A. Madagascar
    • B. Sri Lanka (answer)
    • C. Maldives
    • D. Mauritius
    Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon until 1972.
20. 20. The Great Barrier Reef lies off the coast of which Australian state?
    • A. Western Australia
    • B. New South Wales
    • C. Queensland (answer)
    • D. Victoria
    It stretches over 2,300 kilometres.