Miscellaneous National Symbols Quiz

Answer: India

The tiger was chosen as the national animal of India because of its power, strength and elegance which also represent characteristics of the Indian nation. The tiger is also the national animal of Bangladesh and Malaysia. Vietnam's national animal is the water buffalo, Nepal's is the cow and Bhutan's is the takin.

Answer: Latvia

Latvia's national tree is the oak. Palestine and Italy also have the olive as their national tree. Olea europaea is cultivated extensively in the Mediterranean basin and olives and olive oil are widely used in the diet of the inhabitants of these countries.

The olive tree is evergreen and grows to be as tall as 15 meters. The cultivated trees are rarely allowed to grow higher than three to four meters to make the harvest of the tree easier. The olive tree blooms in the spring and the harvest season starts in the autumn and lasts until late winter.

Answer: Hungary

From the selection list Hungary is the only European country. The photograph shows the Tulipa agenensis DC which is endemic to the area of Stroumpi-Polemi in Cyprus. This type of tulip grows to a height of 40 centimetres normally has four leaves and produces a single flower which is bright red and has a black blotch in the middle inside the torus.

Answer: Monkey Puzzle

Monkey puzzle can grow as high as 50 meters. Araucaria plants can have either male or female flowers. The Chileans call the tree Pehuen after one of the local tribes that used the seeds of the tree as part of their diet. The tree has been around since the age of dinosaurs. Kangaroo paw can be found in Western Australia, Tiger jaws in South Africa and Rabbit's foot in South America. Bewilder is a synonym to puzzle.

Answer: Israel

The hoopoe was selected in 2008 by a survey among 155 thousand people and was officially declared as the national bird of the country in May 2008. The selection was part of the 60th anniversary of the formation of Israel. Portugal hasn't got a Mediterranean coast, Mali is a land-locked country in West Africa and Algeria lies in the West Mediterranean.

Answer: Castor Canadensis

The beaver was declared as the national animal of Canada in 1975. It is the largest rodent in North America and it is normally active during the night. The beaver lives in a lodge which is constructed using mud, sticks, rocks and twigs. Castor fiber is the Eurasian version of beaver, Castor Australis is a character in Final Fantasy XIV and Castor Borealis is a made up name.

Answer: Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan signed the proclamation on November 20. The senate had passed a resolution in 1985 asking the president to declare the rose as the national flower. Each US State has its own flower. Rose is the state flower of New York and Oklahoma, Iowa has selected the wild prairie rose and the floral emblem of Georgia is the Cherokee rose. George W Bush was president between 2001 and 2009, Jimmy Carter 1977 to 1981 and Bill Clinton 1993 to 2001.

Answer: Nightingale

The male nightingale attracts the female by its beautiful song. The song is lovely and melodic and you really have to hear it to believe how wonderful it is. The bird is rather small about 17 centimetres long and with a wing span of around 25 centimetres.

It is very rarely seen as it likes to hide in the bushes. The scientific name of the skylark is Alauda arvensis, the starling belongs to the Sturnidae family and the sparrow to the Passeridae family.

Answer: Unicorn

The mythical Unicorn is first mentioned by the Greek Ctesias who had travelled a lot and wrote down stories of various things that he had seen and heard during his travels. He describes the animal as being a wild ass with white body and having a horn on its forehead.

He describes it as fast and powerful animal. Marco Polo also describes an animal that he call a unicorn although in fact he was describing a rhinoceros The other animal on the coat of arms of the UK is the lion.

Answer: Druk

The thunder dragon is probably derived from the sound of thunder rolling down the valleys of the country. The people interpreted the sound as that of a mighty dragon, and incorporated it the local myths and legends. The photograph shows the flag of Bhutan with the druk holding gems that signify wealth.