While My Qatar Gently Weeps Quiz | Asia

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Qatar is split into eight municipalities and 755 districts. Doha, its capital city and main municipality, when translated from Arabic literally means 'roundness'. With this in mind, which of Qatar's geographical features is known for being round?

Answer: Its bays

Qatar is known for its rounded bays, which are characteristic of the country's coastline, and are thus linked, etymologically-speaking, to the meaning of its capital city Doha. Similarly, the municipality Al Rayyan, which derives part of its name from the word 'Ray' (which means 'irrigation'), is aptly known for its lack of elevation and tendency to flood.

As for the photograph, it clearly shows several bay leaves, which hopefully pointed you towards the correct answer - its bays.

2. At first, one can be forgiven for thinking that the Pearl Qatar, a luxury development known for its restaurants and high-end retail stores like Vera Wang and Giorgio Armani, is of little interest to the traveling geographer. However, in actual fact, this man-made island is built on a natural treasure, which was once a central part of Qatar's economy. What then lies beneath the famed Pearl Qatar?

Answer: A former pearl diving site

Sprawled across nearly four million square metres, the Pearl Qatar has been built on top of an old pearl diving site, hence its name. Located in the country's capital city Doha, construction began in 2004, with the intention of developing ten themed districts, to include among other things luxury apartments, upscale retail establishments, and eateries.

The picture is a model of a man pearl diving, which at the very least, hopefully eliminated two of the four possible answers for you.

3. Qatar has many beautiful buildings, including Doha's Museum of Islamic Art, which mixes ancient Islamic architecture with a modern twenty-first century twist. Which acclaimed architect, who was also the mastermind behind Paris' Louvre Pyramid, designed this iconic building?

Answer: I.M. Pei

Qatar's Museum of Islamic Art can be found on Doha's waterfront; its main building is five stories high, and is topped by a domed atrium. Completed in 2008, it is constructed from limestone, and is the brainchild of world-renowned Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei, who drew much of his inspiration for its design from Cairo's ancient Ibn Tulun Mosque.

As for the pictorial clue, the two flags of China and the US respectively are supposed to push you in the direction of I.M. Pei, the only Chinese-American architect listed as a possible answer.

4. Located on the north-eastern coast of Qatar, Al Khor Island has a rather colourful English moniker, which pays tribute to the island's history as an ancient dye-producing site. What name is this?

Answer: Purple Island

Al Khor Island has many alternative names, including Jazirat bin Ghanim, Khor Ile-Sud and Purple Island. It derives its English name from its involvement (during the second millennium BC) in the purple dye industry, which was made possible due to the close proximity of a particular type of rare sea snail.

The pictorial clue is of course a crown, which is meant to point you in the direction of the colour purple, which is considered a regal colour.

5. Sometimes referred to as "the social heart of Doha", Qatar's Souq Waqif is a traditional cultural bazaar, where the Bedu once came to trade. Having been beautifully restored in 2008, it is considered one of Doha's top tourist destinations, and even houses a specialist hospital dedicated to a particular bird of prey. Which bird is this?

Answer: Falcon

Qatar's Souq Waqif is an eclectic place and does indeed house a veterinary surgery for falcons, a fact which points to the Qatari enjoyment of hunting with these particular birds of prey. Falconry is considered a sport, not only in Qatar, but also in other Gulf countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, so Souq Waqif Falcon Hospital certainly meets a demand.

The picture is of course that of a falcon.

6. Despite being a city where cars rule, Qatar's capital Doha is well-known for its waterfront walkway, which is lined with magnificent buildings and surrounded by skyscrapers. What is the name of this promenade, which is famous for its breath-taking views as well as for being shaped like a horseshoe?

Answer: Corniche

The Doha Corniche is one of Qatar's most popular tourist attractions, and runs some seven kilometres along the city's seafront. It offers tourists a multitude of options: walking, jogging, skating or simply sitting in a nearby caf�, watching the world go by. Given its popularity, it's hard to believe that up until the early 1980s, it was little more than an empty stretch of pavement, but that is indeed the truth - it was only during the early years of the eighties that it began to be developed.

As for the pictorial clue, it is an anagram of 'Corniche', which is of course the correct answer.

7. If it's mystery and enigma you're looking for while visiting Qatar, then Al Jassasiya is the place to visit. Situated to the northeast of Doha, Al Jassasiya is renowned for its extraordinary petroglyphs, which were first discovered in 1957. In layman's terms, what exactly are petroglyphs?

Answer: Rock carvings

Petroglyphs are carvings that have been created by carving into the surface of a rock. Al Jassasiya's famed petroglyphs are one of Qatar's most interesting attractions; some of them are even thought to date back millennia and have been wonderfully preserved. That being said, one team of researchers has cast doubt on their age, and claim that they are not as old as people think. Nevertheless, these petroglyphs are an intriguing find; they pull in plenty of tourists, and are conveniently located, only 75 kilometres away from Qatar's capital Doha.

The picture chosen here is that of a rock carving, which is precisely what a petroglyph is.

8. Over the years, Qatar's Zubarah Fort has served several different purposes, as both a station for the police and Coast Guard, and also as a museum. Built in 1938 on the grounds of a ruined castle, it can be found in the town of Zubarah, which is located in the country's Madinat ash Shamal municipality. Which former ruler of Qatar is responsible for its creation?

Answer: Sheikh Abdullah

In many ways, Zubarah Fort is considered to be a traditional Arab fort, with high, thick, limestone walls, which were certainly built to last. Given the intensity of the Qatari sun, its interior is said to be remarkably cool, which has long been attributed to its roof's natural, effective finish - a layer of compressed mud.

As for the pictorial clue, given that the A is the biggest letter in the picture (by far), it is intended to point you in the direction of the only sheikh listed as a possible answer to have a forename starting with A - Sheikh Abdullah.

9. Another of Qatar's prominent landmarks is the Fanar, which is located in the country's capital city, Doha. Named after the Qatari scholar, Sheikh Abdulla bin Zaid Al-Mahmoud, English speakers refer to it by a different name. Which one of the following is it?

Answer: Spiral Mosque

Also referred to as Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Centre, Fanar, Qatar Islamic Culture Center, or simply Fanar, is easily distinguished by the distinctive spiral shape of its mosque. Named after the Qatari scholar, Sheikh Abdulla bin Zaid Al-Mahmoud, Fanar is involved in many different aspects of Muslim life, and is much more than simply a tourist attraction. Within its walls one might attend Arabic lessons, take part in a cricket tournament, or even enjoy a leisurely game of Scrabble. In addition to this, the building is also accessible to non-Muslims.

As for the picture, it is of course a spiral shape.

10. Over the years, the Qatari city of Al Wakrah has grown into a bustling hive of activity, with plenty of attractions to lure tourists away from its nearby capital city of Doha. It is also known for attracting a certain type of wading bird, which roosts along its coast during the winter. Which bird is this, which is a familiar sight to many winter tourists?

Answer: Flamingo

Located in the municipality of Al Wakrah, the eponymous city of Al Wakrah was once just a small, pearling village. However over the years it has grown into one of Qatar's major cities, and is one which is teeming with interesting features. Twinned with the Iranian city of Ramsar, as well as the Beninese city of Djougou, Al Wakrah is known for its glorious, sandy beach, which is popular with day trippers from the nearby capital city of Doha, which is some ten kilometres away. During the winter, flamingos flock to the city, and roost along the coast between Al Wakrah and the nearby industrial city of Mesaieed.

The picture is of course of a group of flamingos.

Source: Author poshprice

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

While My Qatar Gently Weeps Trivia Quiz

This quiz marks my first foray into the intriguing world of the Geography category. Please come and join me as I navigate its twists and turns, while exploring the country of Qatar.

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