People and Places Trivia Quiz

Answer: Paris

Paris, the prince of Troy, is also known as Alexander. Paris, the city, is also known as Lutetia (in Roman times), the City of Light (Paris Lumière) and many other things. It took its name from the Celtic tribe of the Parisii, once living in that region.

Answer: Luxemburg

Rosa Luxemburg is generally considered a highly intelligent and independant woman. Many squares and streets in Germany are named after her. She was Polish, but she ran off to Switzerland and later to Germany, when her father wanted her to marry a man she disliked. Luxemburg, the country, is situated between Belgium, France and Germany.

Although its surface is just a few hundred square miles, it has three official languages: German, French and Letzeburgian.

Answer: Panama

There's a great variety of panama hats, which makes it hard for me to describe them. Just try Google: you'll find plenty of examples. In honour of the architect of the Panama Canal, Ferdinand de Lesseps, a special palindrome was written: a man, a plan, a canal: Panama. Try to read these words backwards and you'll know what a palindrome is.

Answer: Berlin

Shortly after the unification of Eastern (German Democratic Republic) and Western Germany, Berlin became the capital of the country once again. Irving Berlin was born in a part of Russia, that is now Belarus. Although he was the composer of many scores for musicals, he couldn't read one note of music.

Answer: Florence

Figure that: being named after the city you're born in! Brooklyn Beckham, son of England soccer player David Beckham, was named after the place where he was "made". David Beckham's second son was named Romeo. I hope he wasn't "created" on a balcony! By the way: Florence Nightingale had a sister, named Parthenope.

She was born in Parthenope, which is an old name for Naples. Quite an enjoyable honeymoon trip Mr. and Mrs. Nightingale had!

Answer: Cuba

Cuba Gooding Jr. really is a great actor, entertaining every time I've seen him play so far. Cuba is high on my list of countries to visit: I wanna try the rum, my wife wants to dance the salsa. A good time will be had by all!

Answer: Lourdes

Sorry, I couldn't resist that hint. Last week my neighbour told me: "I travel to Lourdes for the thirteenth time next month. Fortunately I'm not superstitious". Madonna, the self-proclaimed anglophile, now wants her 5 years old daughter to take riding lessons. Sigh...

Answer: Turkey

The bird obviously takes its name from the country. The turkey originally comes from central America but it was exported to many countries in the 16th century. In Madagascar (the island near Africa) Turkish merchants got to know the animal; they took it to their own country and from there to all of Europe.

The English therefore named the bird turkey. The French on the other hand called it "dinde", which comes from "oiseau d'inde" (or "bird from the Indies").

Answer: Solomon

King Solomon, known for his wisdom and sense of justice, was also a very wealthy man. He got his gold from the biblical country of Ofir. When Spanish conquerors discovered the Solomon Islands in the 16th century, they were offered gold by the locals and assumed they had found Ofir. Hence the name Solomon('s) Islands.

Answer: Orange

The Dutch nationals soccer, volleyball, cycling... teams all wear orange jerseys. When the French city of Orange became a principality in the 12th century, the title 'Prince of Orange' was given to a local landlord. In the 16th century the title was inherited by Dutch counts. From that day on the royal family of Holland became known as the house of Nassau-Orange.

The oldest son of the present Queen of Holland still is Prince of Orange. Their coat of arms is mainly orange. Hence the name of the colour.

There's even a Dutch phone company named Orange. Crazy Dutchmen still wear orange hats and orange shoes, eat orange pies and sausages, cultivate orange tulips, paint their houses orange... whenever they have something to celebrate. How's that for dutch gold? Hope you enjoyed the quiz...