A Handy Guide to Singapore Trivia Quiz

Answer: Straits Settlements

The Straits Settlements were a somewhat unusual British colony because they were made of up small non-contiguous territories along the Malacca Strait (whose location is shown in the picture clue). The colony was established by the British East India Company in 1826 and direct control of the area was taken over by the British Government in 1867. The Straits Settlements fell under Japanese control during the Second World War and were dissolved in 1946; the majority of the territory then became part of Malaysia.

Singapore is located at the south-east end of the Strait of Malacca - the body of water that separates the Malay Peninsula from the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Malacca itself was the next Straits Settlement up the coast to the north-west of Singapore, while Dinding (now known as Manjung) and Penang were to the north of the strait. Malacca, Manjung and Penang all became part of Malaysia. At various points, the Straits Settlements also included Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands (became Australian territories) as well as Labuan Island (became part of Malaysia).

All of the incorrect options were British Crown Colonies at some point during their history. Cape Colony became part of South Africa, Gold Coast became Ghana and Sarawak became part of Malaysia.

Answer: Lion City

In Sanskrit, 'singa' means lion and 'pura' is city, so in addition to being known as the Garden City, Singapore is also often called the Lion City. The picture clue shows the statue of the Merlion - a mythical beast that is half-lion and half-fish - which was created in the early 1970s and can be found in Merlion Park, a major tourist attraction in the city. It stands 8.6 metres (28 feet) high, while a smaller version (known as the 'Merlion cub') is located nearby.

'Majulah Singapura' by Zubir Said was originally selected as the country's anthem when it became a self-governing state of the British Commonwealth in 1959. Between 1963 and 1965 Singapore was part of Malaysia, but the song became the country's national anthem again when it achieved full independence after being expelled from Malaysia in 1965.

Answer: Land reclamation

Since Singapore achieved independence in 1965, it has been expanding its territory by reclaiming land - particularly by linking up some of its smaller islands to create larger usable areas or by adding to the edges of the main island. An example of the former option is the pictured Jurong Island, which is largely used for heavy industry and has edges that are far too straight to be a natural feature! Singapore Changi Airport at the eastern end of the main island is also built on reclaimed land.

Singapore's land area increased from approximately 585 square kilometres in 1970 to 710 square kilometres in 2000. Land reclamation in the area was ongoing into the 21st century, so it's likely that Singapore will be continuing to move down the list of smallest countries in the world in the future.

Answer: Tin

In the Malay language, 'bukit' means hill while 'timah' can be translated as tin. The name Bukit Timah is actually somewhat misleading though, as the hill in question does not contain tin deposits. In the 19th century the area was quarried for granite, but it now forms part of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve - an area of significant ecological importance that contains one of the largest remnants of Singapore's natural rainforest.

Bukit Timah rises to 164 metres (540 feet) above sea level, which makes it the highest natural point of Singapore. However, it can no longer be said to be Singapore's actual highest point as over 40 of the country's shiny skyscrapers are taller than it. Even the Singapore Flyer Ferris wheel is (just about) taller than Bukit Timah.

Answer: Marina Bay

The Marina Bay area of Singapore has largely been developed since the late 1960s into a waterfront complex with public open spaces and areas designated for mixed commercial, residential and entertainment use. Some of Singapore's key landmarks are located in the area, including the Singapore Flyer, a 165 metre (540 feet) high Ferris wheel; the distinctive ArtScience Museum; and the barrage that transformed the tidal bay into a reservoir.

The Singapore Grand Prix is held at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, which winds round roads such as Republic Boulevard, Raffles Boulevard, Stamford Road and Saint Andrew's Road and crosses the Anderson Bridge over the Singapore River. Along the way it passes close to Singapore's City Hall, the beautiful 19th century Saint Andrew's Cathedral and the Padang recreation ground. The area and its landmarks provide a stunning backdrop for the race - particularly when flood-lit (the 2008 event was the first F1 Grand Prix to be held at night).

The incorrect options are all planning areas of Singapore - the main lower level administrative geography used in the country.

Answer: Causeway

The Johor-Singapore Causeway (tambak is the Malay word for causeway) carries a road, railway line and water supply pipes across the Strait of Johor between Malaysia and Singapore. The connection is important for trade between the two nations and is a busy border crossing point. The causeway was originally constructed in 1909 to provide a railway connection between Singapore and the Malay Peninsula; the road crossing was added between 1919 and 1923.

The causeway has caused some controversy for its ecological impact on the Strait of Johor and disagreements have arisen between the Singapore and Malaysian governments over its future (including replacing it with a bridge).

Answer: Upper and Lower Peirce Reservoirs

As the population of Singapore has grown over the years since its initial colonisation by the British, the demand for fresh water has also grown. The Lower Peirce Reservoir (named after one of Singapore's municipal engineers - not the pictured 14th President of the United States) was constructed in the early 20th century and was the second reservoir in Singapore to be completed. A further dam was built in the 1970s to create another, much larger, reservoir further upstream that was duly named the Upper Peirce Reservoir. Between them they cover around 3.1 square kilometres (1.2 square miles) and hold about 31 million cubic metres of water.

The parks surrounding both of these reservoirs provide tranquil environments for recreation, with plenty of open spaces and rainforests that are rich in wildlife - although watch out for the monkeys as any food you have is likely to be at risk if they should spot it! The forests also play an important role in the water management system by acting as a rainfall catchment area.

Answer: Ecuador

The antipodes of any place on Earth are the location at the opposite end of the Earth's diameter - i.e. if you dug a hole straight down through the centre of the Earth and out the other side, you would end up at the antipodes of where you started (but somewhat hotter and dustier than when you set off). Since Singapore is located just north of the equator, its antipodes are located just south of the equator in the opposite hemisphere - which turns out to be an area of Ecuador in South America.

Singapore's close proximity to the equator explains the consistent nature of its climate. Average daily temperatures only vary by a few degrees throughout the year, ranging from 26.0°C in December and January to 27.7°C in May and June.

None of the incorrect options are countries on the equator - not even Equatorial Guinea!

Answer: False

Although the two monsoon seasons are named the Northeast Monsoon and the Southwest Monsoon, they are named for their general prevailing wind conditions rather than the areas of the country that they affect. The Northeast Monsoon season lasts from December to early March and is characterised by moderate to heavy rain in its early stages (often in rapidly developing showers), followed by a period of northerly to north-easterly winds. The Southwest Monsoon has squally weather with southerly to south-easterly winds (despite its name) driving heavy showers and lasts from around June to September each year.

The two inter-monsoon periods each year tend to be characterised by frequent thunderstorms in the afternoons and early evenings - so it rains pretty much all year round in Singapore!

Answer: Raffles Hotel

If you are considering a visit to Singapore, then the Raffles Hotel is one of the most exclusive places at which you could opt to stay. It began trading in 1887 and was named after Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the British diplomat and colonialist who founded Singapore. The hotel building (as shown in the picture clue) is in striking contrast to the high-rise buildings of modern Singapore and provides a reminder of what the country would have looked like in the late 19th century. To celebrate its centenary in 1987 the hotel was designated as a National Monument.

The famous Singapore Sling cocktail was invented at the Raffles Hotel in 1915, although the date and the exact recipe used is subject to debate. Various recipes for the drink have since been developed and used around the world, however the Raffles Hotel uses one which contains gin, cherry brandy, Cointreau, Benedictine, Grenadine, pineapple juice, lime juice and angostura bitters.