Bigger Than Me Trivia Quiz

Answer: Monaco

Monaco is a small city state, located in and surrounded by the southern part of France. It is considered the second smallest state in the world, with Vatican City being the only state that is smaller. Officially it is a principality, meaning that a prince or princess is in charge of the state. In the case of Monaco, the ruling family has been the House of Grimaldi since at least 1297.

Monaco's economy relies heavily on tourism. Tourists are especially drawn by the gambling industry in the country, with the first casino opening in 1858. The country is also widely regarded as a tax haven. It does not require its citizens to pay income tax. Monaco is known for its sports events, most of them related to racing. The Formula One race, the Monaco Grand Prix, has been held in the city of Monte Carlo since 1958. There is also the Monte Carlo Rally, held since 1911.

Answer: Nauru

The island state of Nauru is located in the western part of the Pacific Ocean, in an area known as Micronesia. This is not to be confused with the country known as Federated States of Micronesia. The region of Micronesia holds many smaller Pacific islands and is a part of the much larger region of Oceania. Nauru is quite far away from its neighbours, with the closest island being Banaba Island (a part of the island state of Kiribati) at approximately 186 miles. The only international airport is Nauru International Airport.

When European settlers first discovered the island in 1798 they called it Pleasant Island. It was later renamed Nauru. Traditionally the economy has relied heavily on exporting phosphate rock. Extensive mining depleted the reserves with mining being stopped altogether for a while, until mining on a deeper layer could begin in 2006. Efforts to find other sources of income for the country have proven difficult, as even the most basic resources have to be imported from other countries.

Answer: Tuvalu

Tuvalu is an island state located in the Pacific Ocean. Its former name is the Ellice Islands. From 1916 the islands were a protectorate of Great Britain, along with the Gilbert Islands. Collectively these islands were known as the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. In 1976 both parts of the island group were broken up, with the Gilbert Islands becoming part of the nation of Kiribati, and the Ellice Islands becoming the nation of Tuvalu.

There are nine islands in total forming the country that is known as Tuvalu. Six of them are atolls. Most of the atolls consist of smaller islands called islets. The islands are especially popular with ecotourists, usually starting their journey on the biggest island Funafuti. The only international airport in Tuvalu can be found on Funafuti.

Answer: San Marino

The small nation of San Marino is an enclave situated in Italy. This means that the state is completely surrounded by this country. It is one of the oldest republics in the world. Its origins date back to 301 AD when the republic became independent from the Roman Empire. It has lasted as a republic since then. The constitution of San Marino dates back to 1600 when a series of official statutes (or Statuti) were set by the government. They were written by Camillo Bonelli and are contained six books, each book dealing with a different section of the constitution.

The nation has neutrality as one of its important principles. It has not entered any of the wars in the area, including World War II. It is a parliamentary republic, governed by two Captains Regent. San Marino is a very strong economy, relying on tourism and finance.

Answer: Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is a very small country located in the central part of Europe between Switzerland and Austria. It is a principality, governed by a prince, belonging to the House of Liechtenstein. The reigning monarch has considerable powers, including the right to veto any law in the country.

The country is found in the Alps, a mountain range in Central Europe. The Alps form part of eight European countries, with Liechtenstein being the only one entirely located in the Alps. Liechtenstein has a very strong economy, mainly due to the financial sector. It is considered a much richer country than most of the countries in the area.

Answer: Marshall Islands

The island nation called the Marshall Islands is located in the Pacific Ocean, near the International Date Line. The island was settled by Spain around 1874, but later came into German hands. After the start of World War I Japan took control, soon followed by the USA. In 1968 the nation became independent. It was named after British explorer John Marshall.

The USA used parts of the Marshall Islands for nuclear testing, with the first hydrogen bomb being tested on the Enewetak Atoll and several fissure bombs being detonated at Bikini Atoll. The islands have not been used for this purpose since 1958, although some of the islands are still available for US military purposes, like the Kwajalein Atoll.

Answer: Saint Kitts and Nevis

The island state of Saint Kitts and Nevis is located in the West Indies and forms a part of the Leeward Islands. This is a group of islands in the northern part of the Antilles. Saint Kitts and Nevis is officially known as the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis or also the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis. The two main islands were long under British rule, along with the island of Anguilla. Anguilla no longer wanted to be a part of the state and left in 1971. It remained a territory of Great Britain, while Saint Kitts and Nevis became independent in 1983.

The islands were well known for their export of sugar, with the industry dating back to the 1600s. The production of sugar was abandoned however in 2005, so now other agricultural crops like peanuts, coconuts and sea cotton have taken over. Other primary industries include fishing and mining.

Answer: Seychelles

The Seychelles is an island state located in the Indian Ocean, consisting of a total of 115 islands. The republic can be found to the northeast of the island of Madagascar. It has been under both French and British rule, but became an independent country in 1976. Its capital is the city of Victoria. This city is found on the island of Mahé.

The Seychelles are known for their very diverse flora and fauna. One of the well known trees growing in this county is the coco de mer. This palm tree grows on the islands of Praslin and Curieuse. The fruit of this tree is relatively large in size and is commonly referred to as the "Love Nut".

Answer: Maldives

The Maldives is an island group located in the Indian Ocean. It consists of several atolls, mostly comprised of coral reefs and sand bars. The total number of islands forming this island country is estimated at 1192. The total area of this country is enormously spread out crossing several lines of longitude and latitude. The country was a British protectorate until 1965, when it became independent.

The capital of the Maldives is the city of Malé. It forms a part of the North Malé atoll. This atoll belongs to the administrative division known as the Kaafu Atoll. Although the capital is located in this area, it does not officially belong in this division. Male is the Italian word for bad, but there is no reason to assume that this word had anything to do with the naming of the city.

Answer: Malta

Malta is an island state that can be found in the Mediterranean Sea. It is to the south of the Italian island of Sicily. It was once part of the British Empire, but became an independent state in 1964. At first Queen Elizabeth II of England remained head of state, also holding the title of Queen of Malta. At the end of 1974 the country declared itself a republic. The capital of Malta is the city of Valletta.

The Maltese dog is said to come from the island, or at least the region surrounding Malta. It is also associated with the city of Melita, that once existed on the island of Sicily. Maltesers are a type of chocolate covered, malted milk ball. Their name is not said to have been derived from the island. One of the symbols that is associated with the island is the Maltese cross, a symbol once belonging to the Knights of Malta. It is now seen as a national symbol.