Flagging Down Trivia Quiz

Answer: Semaphore

In use for over two centuries, the Semaphore system is a method with which flags can be used to send messages between ships at sea and land. In order to do this, two sets of two flags are used, placed into different distinct positions to denote certain letters and numbers to form messages.

The method is one of many which can be used to achieve the same purpose. Heliography, for example, is a method of using light to produce morse code messages across a distance without being connected via cables.

Answer: Checkered flag

The Checkered Flag is synonymous with completion of a race, regardless of type. In this case, the flag is an alternation of black and white squares in a checkerboard pattern. In the case of NASCAR, the Green Flag is primarily used to denote the start of a race or the fact that a pit is open. Adversely, Red Flags are used to denote a stop or a closing. Striped Flags, for example a Red and Yellow Striped Flag, is used to denote debris on the track and is mainly used in case of warning.

The White Flag, in auto racing, is used to denote the final lap.

Answer: False

Known patriotically as 'The Stars and Stripes', the American Flag's stars represent the number of states in the country while the horizontal stripes of red and white are used to denote the original thirteen colonies in the union. The first American flag debuted in 1777 with only thirteen stars in a circular pattern.

When Vermont and Kentucky were added to the American Union in 1795, the amount of stripes increased temporarily (for a length of twenty-four years) until it was set back to thirteen in 1818.

The flag is also known as 'Old Glory'.

Answer: Greece

What's a flag quiz without a 'which country' question?
While Denmark's 'Dannebrog' is regarded as the world's oldest national flag, The Netherlands' Red-White-Blue horizontally-striped flag is the oldest to feature three striped colours. France's, on the other hand, is Blue-White-Red, though it's striped vertically. Similarly, Italy's national flag is vertically-striped, though it's Green-White-Red in nature.
Greece's flag is the odd one out. Similarly to the American flag, it contains a box in the top left corner containing a blue and white cross. Its stripes (nine in total) alternated between blue and white as well. The stripes are meant to symbolize sky and sea.

Answer: Canada

Canada's Flag Day is February 15th, commemorating the day on which the national flag of two red stripes and a maple leaf was inducted as the national flag in 1965 replacing the Red Ensign (which still featured the Union Jack). Canada used the Union Jack as its flag until 1868, the year after the nation's Confederation. The United States celebrates on June 14th (their flag was inducted in 1777 on this date), Peru celebrates a week earlier on the 7th (to commemorate a battle in the War of the Pacific against Chile), and Sweden celebrates National Day of Sweden alongside their Flag Day on the 6th of June.

Answer: White

Rebounding from the success of her first international single, "Thank You" from the "No Angel" album she released in 1999, Dido released a second CD in 2003 featuring the hit song "White Flag". While "Thank You" was about her relationship with her boyfriend, "White Flag", a song about her symbolic surrendering, chronicled their break-up. "White Flag" reached #1 on four different Billboard charts and became one of Dido's most popular singles to date. Aside from this, her song "Don't Leave Home" from the same album became popular. White flags, in a technical sense, typically denote truces or surrendering. Black flags are known to symbolize anarchy, red flags denote both socialism and warning, and blue flags are typically used in sporting events.

Answer: Pirates of the Caribbean

The Jolly Roger, the image of a skull and crossbones against a black backdrop, is well known for its associations with piracy and mutiny on the high seas. Typically used as a warning, the flag is flown at the top of the mast of a pirate ship. The skull and crossbones, notorious as a symbolic representation of death, was used to prove the status of a pirate and somehow force other ships into early surrender.
Although piracy has been on the downslope for about three centuries, the skull and crossbones/Jolly Roger are also found on some American military aircraft.

Answer: Iwo Jima

"Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima", photographed in 1945, chronicles the historic event of the American flag being raised by Marines during the Battle of Iwo Jima on February 23. The photo, taken by Joe Rosenthal, won the Pulitzer Prize for Photography in the same year.

While the Clint Eastwood film "Letters of Iwo Jima" (2006) showed the Japanese side of the battle, his other film, from the American standpoint, ended up following the story of those who raised this particular flag and the photographer.

This film was "Flags of our Fathers". "Letters from Iwo Jima" was later nominated for 'Best Picture' and 'Best Director' at the 2007 Academy Awards though it only took home the award for 'Sound Editing'.

Answer: Gay and Lesbianism

The LGBT Movement (representing Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgenders) use the rainbow flag to symbolize diversity between people. Although the original flag contained eight colours, pink and turquoise were removed from the roster to be made more cost-effectively and to be easily usable. Each of the six colours on the rainbow flag represent a certain trait (life, healing, sunlight, nature, harmony, and spirit) when viewed in the proper order, from red to purple like a regular rainbow. The original rainbow flag attributed to this movement was made in 1974.

Answer: Six Flags

Six Flags Amusement Parks, which featured many different amusement parks across the entire continental United States, was acquired by Premier Parks in 1998 and while the name was still retained for the majority of their parks, some switched over. The original Six Flags Park, Six Flags Over Texas, opened in 1961.

Its wooden roller coaster, the Texas Giant, has one of the largest wooden coaster drops found in the world. Six Flags' name refers to the six flags originally flown at their Texas location, all of which were integral to Texas' history. Spanish, French, Mexican, Texan, and two American Flags are included in this.