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Coral Sea Islands: Exposed Trivia Quiz

The Coral Sea Islands are a territory of Australia that are made up of many reefs and atolls. They are an almost unheard of place. Good luck and I hope you learn something new!

A multiple-choice quiz by Pejikr. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Pejikr

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
313,938

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
8 / 15

Plays
410

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. In the 1870s and 1880s, what substance was mined on the Coral Sea Islands? Hint

Iron

Guano

Coral

Bauxite

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Question 2 of 15

2. In 2009, this Coral Sea island had a weather-monitoring station and was the only permanently inhabited island in the territory. Which island? Hint

Willis Island

Fletcher Island

Kenn Island

Cato Island

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Question 3 of 15

3. Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs are the southernmost coral reefs in the world. In those combined two reefs, how many islands are permanent? Hint

Three

Two

Four

Five

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Question 4 of 15

4. Mellish Reef is not part of any group in the Coral Sea Islands, but one of its islands is permanent. Approximately how large is that island? Hint

600x120 meters

300x200 meters

900x250 meters

50x40 meters

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Question 5 of 15

5. Out of these four reefs (group of cays) in the Coral Sea Islands, only one has no permanent island. Which reef is this? Hint

Flora Reef

West Holmes Reef

Lihou Reef

Saumarez Reef

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Question 6 of 15

6. Which of these Coral Sea island reefs includes some permanent land? Hint

Herald's Surprise

North Moore Reef

Osprey Reef

North Flinders Reef

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Question 7 of 15

7. In 1969, the Coral Sea Islands territory was created. Before that, what state of Australia were they associated with? Hint

Queensland

New South Wales

Tasmania

Victoria

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Question 8 of 15

8. In what year was the Coral Sea Islands territory extended to include the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs? Hint

1990

2002

1997

2009

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Question 9 of 15

9. The northern edge of the Great Barrier Reef marks the boundary between what Australian state (or territory) and the Coral Sea Islands territory? Hint

Victoria

New South Wales

Queensland

Northern Territory

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Question 10 of 15

10. In what year was the weather-monitoring station on Willis Island established? Hint

1932

1945

1921

1959

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Question 11 of 15

11. Which one of these birds is a common inhabitant of Willis Island? Hint

All of these birds are common inhabitants of Willis Island

Black Noddies

Sooty Terns

Wedge-tailed Shearwaters

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Question 12 of 15

12. Willis Island has had pollution issues in the past. Which one of these contaminated materials has Willis Island struggled with? Hint

Both

Neither

Toxic Hydrogen Waste

Asbestos

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Question 13 of 15

13. The weather-monitoring station normally has a lot of recreation options for its workers. Which one of these options is not available? Hint

Television

All of these entertainment options are available

Ping-pong

Recreational fishing

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Question 14 of 15

14. Why was the weather station on Willis Island established? Hint

As an early warning station for cyclones

To get data on rising sea levels

To study cloud formations

To get data on climate in the Coral Sea

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Question 15 of 15

15. How many permanent islets and cays are in the Coral Sea Islands Territory? Hint

168

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In the 1870s and 1880s, what substance was mined on the Coral Sea Islands?

Answer: Guano

Guano is made of the feces and urine of seabirds, bats, and seals. Guano manure is highly useful as a gunpowder and fertilizer ingredient.

2. In 2009, this Coral Sea island had a weather-monitoring station and was the only permanently inhabited island in the territory. Which island?

Answer: Willis Island

In 2009, the weather-monitoring station was run by a small staff of four people. Willis Island possesses the highest point in the Coral Sea Islands, which is about 32 feet above sea level.

3. Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs are the southernmost coral reefs in the world. In those combined two reefs, how many islands are permanent?

Answer: Two

In Middleton Reef, an island called Elizabeth is the only permanent one. Its area is 0.2 square kilometers and its highest point is near the northern part of the cay and is 1.5 meters high.

In Elizabeth Reef, the only permanent island is called the Sound, and it is 100 by 70 meters large. Its highest point is 0.8 meters.

4. Mellish Reef is not part of any group in the Coral Sea Islands, but one of its islands is permanent. Approximately how large is that island?

Answer: 600x120 meters

The island is called Heralds-Beacon Islet. At high tide, it only rises a few meters above the sea.

5. Out of these four reefs (group of cays) in the Coral Sea Islands, only one has no permanent island. Which reef is this?

Answer: Flora Reef

Flora Reef is a small, submerged atoll. In Lihou Reef, there are 18 total islands and a total land area of about .62 square miles. In West Holmes Reef, there are two small cays. In the Saumarez Reef, there are two cays: North East Cay and South West Cay.

6. Which of these Coral Sea island reefs includes some permanent land?

Answer: North Flinders Reef

North Flinders Reef has two small permanent islets. The largest one is 200 meters long and its highest point is three meters. It is called Flinders Cay.

7. In 1969, the Coral Sea Islands territory was created. Before that, what state of Australia were they associated with?

Answer: Queensland

The territory was created in 1969 by the Coral Sea Islands Act. Before that, the islands were considered part of Queensland, a state of Australia. However, the Coral Sea Islands still didn't include the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs at the time.

8. In what year was the Coral Sea Islands territory extended to include the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs?

Answer: 1997

The Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs are located in the Tasman Sea, 497 miles south of the northern part of the territory. The Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Park makes up all of the two reefs.

9. The northern edge of the Great Barrier Reef marks the boundary between what Australian state (or territory) and the Coral Sea Islands territory?

Answer: Queensland

The islands that are part of the Great Barrier Reef belong to Queensland. Before the territory was created, the Coral Sea Islands were considered part of Queensland as well.

10. In what year was the weather-monitoring station on Willis Island established?

Answer: 1921

The weather-monitoring station belongs to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. One technical officer and three weather observers usually live and work at the station. It was established as an early warning station for cyclones.

11. Which one of these birds is a common inhabitant of Willis Island?

Answer: All of these birds are common inhabitants of Willis Island

Some other species of birds also inhabit the island. For example, Brown-footed, Red-footed, and Masked Boobies live on the island.

Source: Wikipedia

12. Willis Island has had pollution issues in the past. Which one of these contaminated materials has Willis Island struggled with?

Answer: Both

Much of the trash created by the workers at the weather monitoring station was buried, but wind and water disrupted the landfill. Then a "clean-up campaign" was started. Trash from the island was shipped to the mainland landfills.

Source: Wikipedia

13. The weather-monitoring station normally has a lot of recreation options for its workers. Which one of these options is not available?

Answer: All of these entertainment options are available

There are at least two satellite television systems that allow workers to watch Australian Channel 10 and ABC. Free-to-air transmissions from other countries, such as Malaysia and Indonesia, are also enabled by the systems. CNN and MTV are channels that are usually included in the programming.

A large video library completes the entertainment. A recreation room is at the station and has included "good stuff" like a pool table, Ping-Pong, and darts.

14. Why was the weather station on Willis Island established?

Answer: As an early warning station for cyclones

It was established mainly as an early warning station for cyclones. There are usually three weather observers and one technical officer running the station. One of the weather observers is normally Officer-in-Charge.

15. How many permanent islets and cays are in the Coral Sea Islands Territory?

Answer: 51

The approximate area of the territory is one square mile. In the Diamond Islets and Tregosse Reefs, there are four islets. In Mellish Reef, there is only one permanent island, Heralds-Beacon Islet. In the Lihou Reef and Cays, there are 18 small islets. In the North Flinders Reef, there are two islets.

Source: Author Pejikr

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
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