It’s time to challenge friends or family with Expat Living’s Weekly Quiz. You can get together with a small group, have a glass of wine and try these out – or stick to Zoom, of course. This week, it’s 20 trivia questions on flags!
#1 The flag of Fiji features a bunch of bananas, true or false?
#2 In 1920, the original Olympic flag went missing during the Games in Antwerp and wasn’t found for 77 years. Where had it been all that time: under one of the stands in the Antwerp stadium, in a closet in a French museum, or in an athlete’s suitcase?
#3 The flags of the Netherlands, Russia and Thailand all feature which three colours?
#4 The Union Jack only flies over Buckingham Palace at certain times. Is it when the Queen is in the palace or when she’s away?
#5 The rainbow flag (also known as the gay pride flag or LGBT flag) made its debut in what year, 1967, 1978 or 1989?
#6 In motor sport, what type of flag indicates a race has been won?
#7 Is the tallest flagpole in the world in the UK, Saudi Arabia or Japan?
#8 There are only three non-rectangular national flags in the world. Switzerland and the Vatican City have square flags. The third flag is in the shape of two overlapping triangles and belongs to which Asian country? (Hint: It’s mountainous.)
#9 The alphabet signalling system based on waving hand-held flags in particular patterns is known as what, starting with “s”?
#10 What colour flag symbolises truce or surrender?
#11 What large letter appeared on the flag of Rwanda until 2002?
#12 A close cousin of flags is which tube-shaped piece of textile that is hoisted at airports to indicate wind speed and direction to pilots?
#13 The flags of Oman, Guatemala and Mozambique all feature which element: palm trees, written text or weapons?
#14 The study of flags is known as vexillology. It comes from the Latin word vexillum, which means what?
#15 The flag of Cambodia has what building on it?
#16 What’s the name of the flag that is commonly associated with pirates? (We’re looking for the traditional English name, not “skull and crossbones”.)
#17 What’s the name of the constellation that appears on the flags of Australia, New Zealand and Brazil?
#18 Is it illegal to burn the American flag?
#19 Which country most recently removed the Union Jack from its flag? (Hint: It happened in 1994.)
#20 Kuwait set a record in 2019 for creating the longest version of its national flag; was it 75 metres, 888 metres or 2km long?
BONUS
Where am I found?
(If you can answer correctly after the first clue, you get 10 points, but you lose a point for each additional clue you require to identify the person.)
I’m a flag measuring approximately 1.5 by one metre. (10)
I’m made out of nylon. (9)
I was bought for $5.50, though most things were a bit cheaper back then. (8)
Though I’m still in the same place I’ve always been, there’s probably not much of me left by now. (7)
I was placed in my location towards the end of the 1960s. (6)
Since that time, five other similar flags have been placed near me. (5)
I went on a long journey. (4)
I’m an American flag. (3)
I was placed by Mr Aldrin and Mr Armstrong. (2)
You can find me on the _____. (1)
All the answers (no cheating!)
#1 True
#2 In an athlete’s suitcase (American diver Harry Prieste stole the flag as a prank, finally returning it to the IOC in 1997)
#3 Red, white and blue
#4 When she’s away
#5 1978
#6 Black and white chequered flag
#7 Saudi Arabia; it’s 171 metres high, or higher than the top floor of Jardine House
#8 Nepal
#9 Semaphore
#10 White (this is probably because it’s the most easily seen colour on a battlefield)
#11 R
#12 Windsock
#13 Weapons (Mozambique has an AK-47, Oman a dagger and sword, and Guatemala a pair of rifles)
#14 Flag
#15 Angkor Wat
#16 Jolly Roger
#17 The Southern Cross
#18 No (in fact, even Scouts routinely burn American flags, as it’s considered the most respectful way to “retire” an old flag)
#19 South Africa
#20 Two kilometres (2.019km to be precise)
Bonus: Moon
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