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Quiz about Polynesia Melanesia and Micronesia

Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia Quiz

Most people associate Oceania with Australia and New Zealand, but the island groups of Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia also have intriguing and varied histories. My quiz is about them.

A multiple-choice quiz by Oidioid32123. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Oidioid32123

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
366,024

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
461

Last 3 plays: Guest 97 (2/10), Guest 121 (3/10), Guest 199 (5/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The discovery of what food in Polynesia has led some scholars to believe that Native Americans could have contacted Polynesians in pre-Columbian times? Hint

Sweet Potato

Squash

Corn

Beans

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Melanesians have developed many languages throughout their history. Which country, also the largest country in Melanesia, has developed more languages than any other single nation in the world? Hint

Solomon Islands

Tonga

Fiji

Papua New Guinea

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Micronesians are known to be an ethnic group that is a mix of three other major ethnic groups. Which group is NOT a major part of Micronesians? Hint

Polynesian

Filipino

Javanese

Melanesian

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. The Rapa Nui people of Polynesia made the incredible journey 1500 years ago almost all the way across the Pacific Ocean to settle what tiny island, today owned by Chile? Hint

Hiva Oa

Mangareva

Pitcairn Island

Easter Island

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Which island nation in Melanesia is perhaps most famous for its island of Guadalcanal, which held one of the most brutal battles in World War II? Hint

Marshall Islands

Solomon Islands

Tuvalu

Nauru

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Nauru is a tiny island nation in Micronesia. Which of the following nations never held imperialistic control of Nauru? Hint

The Netherlands

Germany

Japan

United Kingdom

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Which Polynesian nation is known for having evaded European colonization and retaining its sovereignty throughout its entire existence? Hint

Samoa

New Zealand

Tuvalu

Tonga

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. What Melanesian country has the unique history of being controlled by the British and French peacefully at the same time? Hint

Tuvalu

Vanuatu

Palau

Indonesia

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which of the following regions in Micronesia was never colonized by the United States? Hint

Nauru

Wake Atoll

Mariana Islands

Palau

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Which one of the three regions has a country that shares the name of the region? Hint

Micronesia

Polynesia

Melanesia

None of them

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 06 2024 : Guest 97: 2/10
Oct 30 2024 : Guest 121: 3/10
Oct 29 2024 : Guest 199: 5/10
Oct 22 2024 : Guest 46: 6/10
Sep 25 2024 : Guest 14: 7/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The discovery of what food in Polynesia has led some scholars to believe that Native Americans could have contacted Polynesians in pre-Columbian times?

Answer: Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are indigenous in the Americas, yet carbon dating has proved that they have been in the Cook Islands as early as 1000 AD. They were widespread throughout Polynesia by the time Europeans reached it. The Maori word for sweet potato, Kumara, is similar to Native American words for it: the Quechua and Aymara languages call it a k'umar or k'umara.

Answer: Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea has more than 800 languages still in use. This is due to the fact that many tribes in Papua New Guinea are still uncontacted and have not assimilated with the rest of the world yet.

3. Micronesians are known to be an ethnic group that is a mix of three other major ethnic groups. Which group is NOT a major part of Micronesians?

Answer: Javanese

This is due to Micronesia being in the middle of the other three regions. Many Micronesians identify primarily with one of the other three groups.

4. The Rapa Nui people of Polynesia made the incredible journey 1500 years ago almost all the way across the Pacific Ocean to settle what tiny island, today owned by Chile?

Answer: Easter Island

Easter Island is one of the remote islands in the world. It is almost 1300 miles away from the nearest piece of inhabited land, which is the Pitcairn Islands, a British Dependency. Easter Island is also known for its carved head statures, called Moai.

5. Which island nation in Melanesia is perhaps most famous for its island of Guadalcanal, which held one of the most brutal battles in World War II?

Answer: Solomon Islands

The Battle of Guadalcanal saw thousands of American and Japanese die, and was a dark period in history. Guadalcanal is the largest island in the Solomon Islands.

6. Nauru is a tiny island nation in Micronesia. Which of the following nations never held imperialistic control of Nauru?

Answer: The Netherlands

Germany held Nauru from 1888 until 1914, when Australians captured it during World War One. Australians shared control of Nauru with the UK and New Zealand. Japan later conquered Nauru during World War Two. The Netherlands' main colony was Indonesia.

7. Which Polynesian nation is known for having evaded European colonization and retaining its sovereignty throughout its entire existence?

Answer: Tonga

Although Tonga was protected by the British, it retained its monarchy and thus its sovereignty. This was decided in the Treaty of Friendship, which didn't impose a higher British power in Tonga than a British consul.

8. What Melanesian country has the unique history of being controlled by the British and French peacefully at the same time?

Answer: Vanuatu

This agreement between the British and the French was known as the British-French Condominium. The colonization of Vanuatu by the British and French is why English and French are official languages in Vanuatu today.

9. Which of the following regions in Micronesia was never colonized by the United States?

Answer: Nauru

Nauru is the second least populated country in the entire world, and the least populated country in Oceania. Only Vatican City has fewer people than Nauru. Nauru is also the only country in Micronesia not to be controlled by the Americans at one point, with influence from European countries and Japan instead.

10. Which one of the three regions has a country that shares the name of the region?

Answer: Micronesia

The Federated States of Micronesia is a nation consisting of 650 islands in the South Pacific. Its official currency is the United States Dollar.

Source: Author Oidioid32123

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