Pack your Passport Trivia Quiz

Answer: Christchurch

Christchurch is the largest city on the South Island and the third largest in the whole of New Zealand. Its name, suggested by John Robert Godley who had attended Christ Church, Oxford, was decided on at the first meeting of the Canterbury Association in 1848. It became a city by Royal Charter in July, 1856. The picturesque River Avon runs slowly through the centre of what was a very attractive city.

It is one of the four cities in the world that are built with a central square, four surrounding squares and then a parkland buffer around the city. My home town, Adelaide, is one of the others and it a sister city to Christchurch.

A severe earthquake in 2010 led to massive destruction of buildings and considerable loss of life. Earthquakes and aftershocks have continued since then. The city is being rebuilt with lower buildings and more open areas.

Answer: Singapore

The Republic of Singapore consists of 63 islands and is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor and from Indonesia by the Singapore Strait. As it is one degree north of the equator the climate is that of a tropical rainforest. Constant reclamation works means that the area of the main island is constantly increasing.

It has been under the control of various empires since it was first settled in the second century AD. Established as an important trading post for the East Indian Company by Sir Stamford Raffles in the early 19th century it was taken over by the British government 1824. It was captured and occupied by the Japanese in WWII. There is an excellent museum on Sentosa Island which recalls that time. After the war Singapore reverted to British rule but became self-governing in 1959.

As late as the 1960s it still retained its colonial atmosphere with gracious bungalows on Orchard Road and historic Chinese houses where the upstairs rooms had gratings in the floor through which the women of the house could observe visitors. There was an Arab quarter and Malays still carried on agricultural pursuits close to the capital. Now the island is very modern and multistorey buildings and modern infrastructure rule.

Answer: Dubai

Dubai is the capital city of Dubai, one of the United Arab Emirates. It is situated on the Persian Gulf and has a desert climate. The economy of this wealthy emirate was based on its oil industry but now it is more important as a financial centre, for real estate and for tourism. It has gained the rights to hold sporting events to which visitors come from all over the world. The architecture here is incredible, not only for the magnificence of the buildings but for the engineering feats that have made its most impressive structures possible.

From the air you can see how land has been built up to create an island in the shape of a palm tree and, even more fantastically, a group of islands that are a model of the world's continents.

Answer: Paris

Paris is built on the banks of the River Seine and on its islands. The city itself is divided into 20 arrondissements and in the first decade of the 20th century had a population of over two million. Its greater metropolitan area had over twelve million at that time and was one of the most populous metropolitan regions in Europe. Between the 16th and 19th centuries it was the largest city in the world.

Under Louis XIV it became Europe's fashion capital and stayed that way until the 1960s and 70s. It is still the chosen place of business for some of the world's top design houses.

It is important as a global centre of business, culture, fashion, entertainment, education, science and arts. UNESCO, the OECD and the International Chamber of Commerce as well as many Fortune 500 companies have their headquarters there. The Paris region has some of the top educational institutions in Europe and is renowned for research and development.

Considered to be one of the most liveable cities in the world, Paris is like a conglomeration of villages. Each arrondissement has its own charm. It is no surprise that no other city has more tourists, who flock there to enjoy all that this uniquely beautiful city has to offer.

Answer: Monaco

Monaco, the second smallest sized country in the world, has France on its north, east and west sides and the Mediterranean coast to the south. From the higher points of the principality one can see Italy, which is only 16km from the centre, to the east. It is the most densely populated country in the world, has the highest nominal GDP per capita and no unemployment. Its workers commute from France to work daily. The tax regime has led many extremely wealthy people to make it their nominal home.

The Grimaldi family obtained the throne by trickery and violence over 900 years ago. Should there ever not be an heir the principality will revert to France.

Answer: Pompeii

Pompeii lies on the coast near the present city of Naples in the Campania region of southern Italy. The Osci were the original settlers, perhaps as early as the 8th or 9th century BC. By the 4th century the Romans had taken over. What makes it such a fascinating city is that when Mount Vesuvius erupted it covered everything and everyone with a coating of ash and lava which preserved it and now, after considerable excavations, we can see the art, customs, trades and everyday life of the Pompeians. It has always been my ambition to see these ruins but I have yet to achieve it.

Answer: Venice

Venice, on the north-east coast of Italy, is another city that I have not visited. It is widely renowned for the magnificence of its palaces and other buildings set on the canals that provide a transport system between the many islands that make up the city.

The city is divided into six sestiere or districts. It can be uncomfortable in summer as the climate is humid sub-tropical. Venice used to be important as a trading port but now its economy is based on tourism, glassmaking, lacemaking, services and ship building in the neighbouring cities of Mestre and Porto Marghera. If you want the best glass products you must be prepared to pay for them.

Many tourist shops now sell cheap, factory produced, imported glass products which is not the same as having a genuine Murano piece.

Answer: Rhine

The source of the Rhine is the stream that emerges from the Rheinwaldhorn Glacier high in the Swiss Alps 3,353m above sea level. The river flows westwards for over 1232kms through Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany and France before entering the North Sea at Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

It is one of the most important rivers in Europe and with the Danube marks the northern boundary of the old Roman Empire. The fortifications and castles on its banks show its defensive role. On its banks can still be seen the toll-houses that collected payments from boats carrying goods along the river.

It is still an important carriageway for commercial transport. Its most beautiful section, the 65km Rhine Gorge, where one can see fairytale like castles, picturesque towns, vineyards and even the rock of the Sirens is between the towns of Koblenz and Bingen and is a very popular stretch for cruises.

In 2002 it was made a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Answer: Kent

Kent, in south-east England, is one of the home counties and has borders with East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and a boundary with Essex in the middle of the River Thames. It also has a boundary with France in the middle of the Chunnel. Because it is so close to Europe it has been the focus of conflict, particularly in the Battle of Britain.

Its orchards and hop fields are an important part of its economy and in the past industries in Kent have included cement, papermaking, and aircraft construction. Coal mining also used to have some significance.

Its proximity to London make large areas of Kent part of the London commuter belt. The White Cliffs of Dover, Leeds Castle and Canterbury Cathedral make it attractive to tourists.

Answer: Edinburgh

Edinburgh, Scotland's second largest city, is in the south-east of on the Firth of Forth, near the North Sea and is the seat of the Scottish Parliament. The Old Town (Medieval) and New Town (Georgian) were recognised as UNESCO Heritage Sites in 1995. Its compact size makes it perfect for the visitor as it is possible to walk everywhere without too much effort and it is hard to get lost when the mighty Edinburgh Castle can be seen towering above from almost anywhere in the Old Town. Its population has less over 65 year olds and pre-school children than any other Scottish city, perhaps because of its highly regarded educational establishments, including Edinburgh University.

The service industry, particularly the banking sector, plus tourism are important to the wealth of the city. As well as its historic buildings such as the Castle and Holyrood Palace, there are museums, libraries and one can walk the fascinating Royal Mile. Visitors flock there each year for the Edinburgh Festival, Fringe and Tattoo which is held directly in front of the Castle. The climate is temperate maritime and it does not get as cold as other cities on the same latitude e.g. Moscow.