Interesting Facts From Round The World Quiz

Answer: "Eat me!"

Fiji was once infamous for its ferocious cannibalism. An example of this was the 19th century Fijian chief, Ratu Udre Udre, who ate almost 1,000 people. A stone for every person he ate was placed beside his tomb when he died - probably from chronic indigestion.

He ate the entire body every time and particularly enjoyed the head. If he didn't manage to polish a body off in one sitting, he kept the remainder to snack upon later that day. Ah, there's nothing more enjoyable than leftovers I always say.

This hungry man holds the Guinness World Record for being the most prolific cannibal - and hopefully this will never be contested. Fiji was once known as the Cannibal Isles to the rest of the world for a long time. But enough of that. Would you like a slice of nose with your cup of tea?

Answer: They are not allowed to gamble there

Monaco's casino gambling came about in 1846. The then ruler believed it would help lessen the huge debt the royal family had built up while attempting to deal with Sardinia's economic interference in the country when it was attempting to annex Monaco. Monaco's citizens, who do not have to pay income tax, are not allowed to gamble in their own casino. To enforce this peculiar ruling, all passports of visitors are checked.

As to why this peculiar ruling exists, that's anybody's guess. Perhaps Monaco doesn't want its citizens to go broke.

Answer: Eight

Lapland is located within the Arctic Circle. Brrr. The Sami people who inhabit this land were once referred to as the Lapp people, hence the name given to the country today. Apart from deep forests in the south, this land has very sparse vegetation. The climate, particularly in the north, consists in the main of polar nights during winter and midnight sun during the summer period. Different periods of these two extremes make up the Sami people's eight season year.

As far as I'm concerned, they can keep all eight of them.

Answer: Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is situated smack bang on the equator. Apart from its record number of thunderstorms, it also has an annual rainfall of up to eighty inches a year. Steamy hot indeed. Perhaps it's the heat, but this country is not a particularly pleasant place in which to live for women.

As at 2011, its record of rape and other violent crimes against women is rated as the worst in the world.

Answer: Museums

This is not so surprising when one considers the vast amount of history contained in this tiny country, and what its religious ties mean to three of the world's major religions. Apart from that, Israel today places great importance on the value of education.

The fruits of this place Israel third in the world in the number of university qualifications per capita. It has had five Nobel Prize winners already this century. Another interesting fact is that, as at 2011, more than ninety percent of the homes in this country have solar hot water systems.

In effect then, Israel looks forward to tomorrow and also back to yesterday.

Answer: Japan

The Diet is the name of the Japanese parliament. This beautiful country of almost 7,000 islands has a constitutional monarchy headed by their Emperor. Their parliament, headed by a Prime Minister, consists of a House of Representatives and a House of Councillors. Though much honour and homage is paid to the Emperor, he has very limited power, and is more a ceremonial figurehead of his country.

As at 2011, Japan has the lowest homicide rate and the longest life expectancy in the world. Strangely enough, though, it also has the highest suicide rate in the world, particularly for those under the age of thirty. What a sad statistic for such a lovely land.

Answer: A chess-playing automaton

Known as "The Turk", this machine successfully fooled the public, including Napoleon and Benjamin Franklin, from 1770 until 1820, when it was revealed to be a hoax. The Turk in fact had a skilled chess player hidden inside. The Speaking Machine however was real, and Wolfgang von Kempelen worked on perfecting it for over twenty years.

It was operated by a series of bellows moving various devices which produced different sounds. Such was its efficiency that English scientist Charles Wheatstone later continued developing its acoustic properties - and it was his work that would inspire Alexander Graham Bell to eventually give the world the telephone.

Answer: Morocco

Morocco has existed in one form or another since 110 BC. It was one of the world's first nations to recognise the very young United States back in 1787, and protected American ships in its waters from pirates. Though it's been somewhat tested at times, the friendship treaty between the two countries has withstood over 200 years of international ups and downs in that part of the world ever since.

Answer: Llama

Although beef is used as well as llama mince in Chilean cooking, llama is still very much part of the average meal time. Of the other three proposed meats, the horses all said nay to that, the kangaroos jumped right out of the pots and hopped back to Australia, and the alligators, who were kidnapped from Florida, ate the cooks instead.

Answer: Vegemite

Yes, Vegemite has finally made it. We're right up there now with manna and quail. It is now considered fit to eat according to traditional Jewish law. I feel quite religious right now. This calls for a celebration - waiter, a bowl of Vegemite soup please - make it a double!