the annual geography quiz

[mcgato]

I think that they are trying to trip up people who think that Brazil is entirely south of the equator. Which it isn't.

[Conor Dary]

I think that they are trying to trip up people who think that Brazil is entirely south of the equator. Which it isn't.

That could be, but doesn't everyone know that already?

But yes, that does make sense. Back to Australia! What is on the barby mate???

Where is gh in all this? Drinking eggnog I would bet.

[gh]

<<17. Australia.>>

[gh]

18. In Kenya, the "Lunatic Express" train connects Nairobi to what port city?

[ed gee]

Mombassa

[tandfman]

I assume that's correct. But I've no idea why it's called the Lunatic Express. I guess I'll consult my Friend Mr. G.

[gh]

<<18. Mombassa.>>

Sorry, if one cried out for some elucidation, this one was it, but it wasn't forthcoming in the answer.

[gh]

19. The aid organization known as the Red Cross goes by a different name in Islamic countries. What is it?

[Conor Dary]

The Red Crescent.

[mcgato]

Is it just me, or do these seem easier than in years past.

[tandfman]

So far, it's seemed pretty easy, although I can't say I've nailed them all.

[tandfman]

I assume that's correct. But I've no idea why it's called the Lunatic Express. I guess I'll consult my Friend Mr. G.

In case anyone wants to know more about the Lunatic Express, here's the wiki article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda_Railway

[Conor Dary]

The Tsavo lions are part of the story. A couple of maneating lions that caused all sorts of havoc in 1898, and are now in the Field Museum in Chicago. Interesting movie about it too.

All in all, Lunatic Express seems rather apt.

[Flumpy]

South Sudan?

My friends dad is a minister in the govt of South Sudan and she invited me to the independence celebrations. For some reason which is unfathomable to me now, i didn't go but i'm certainly going for a visit one day

I think we were both filming (Plus that Obama/Clooney promise wasn't exactly true )

[tandfman]

The Tsavo lions are part of the story. A couple of maneating lions that caused all sorts of havoc in 1898, and are now in the Field Museum in Chicago. Interesting movie about it too.

All in all, Lunatic Express seems rather apt.

Is "maneating lions" redundant? Are there any lions that are not maneating, given the opportunity?

[gh]

Is it just me, or do these seem easier than in years past.

You're confusing it with a different all-subjects quiz from the same paper that I serialize. It just appeared in the paper today. And looks like another ball-buster.

[mcgato]

I'll wait, but I remember the geography quiz questions of years past to be really interesting. The questions would fall into a few categories of "obscure question, but really interesting answer," "probing to see who understands the world that we are in," and goofy little things about the world that people should know.

I remember last year's really hard quiz that just went off the rails early. The first question was a Simon and Garfunkel song, then it went into totally obscure questions. Good trivia questions are hard to do. The really hard one from last year did not do it well.

That said, keep the questions coming.

[gh]

The Tsavo lions are part of the story. A couple of maneating lions that caused all sorts of havoc in 1898, and are now in the Field Museum in Chicago. Interesting movie about it too.

All in all, Lunatic Express seems rather apt.

Is "maneating lions" redundant? Are there any lions that are not maneating, given the opportunity?

As i understand the phenomenon (as w/ tigers), the big cats by nature aren't predisposed to go after human flesh, but once they do, it triggers a behavior change once they discover how easy old Mr. Sapiens is to run down and snack upon. (Hell, maybe we taste extra good too!)

[gh]

<<19. The Red Crescent.>>

[gh]

20. If you wanted to pull a heist with the Crown Jewels, where specifically in London would you go to find them?

[Conor Dary]

Aren't they in the Tower?

[gh]

<<20. The Crown Jewels are kept in the Tower of London.>>

[gh]

21. Which is colder - the North Pole or the South Pole?

[Conor Dary]

South Pole. Because it is at about 10,000 ft. elevation.

[Daisy]

South

[gh]

21. The South Pole is colder because it's 9,000 feet above sea level, thanks to very thick sheet ice. The North Pole sits on just a few feet of ice, and occasionally on open water.

sidebar that I'm sure has been posted before. What malady does "everybody" who goes to the South Pole get?

[gh]

22. Egypt is synonymous with pyramids, but its neighbor to the south actually has more of them. Which country?

[dukehjsteve]

Sudan

[gh]

<<22. Sudan is estimated to have about 225 pyramids, compared with about 140 in Egypt. Those in Sudan are typically shorter and steeper than their Egyptian counterparts.>>

[gh]

23. What is the only country named for a line of latitude?

[Conor Dary]

Ecuador

[gh]

<<23. Ecuador is named for the equator - zero degrees latitude.>>

[dukehjsteve]

Last 2 questions were too easy !

What President is buried in Grant's tomb ?

[gh]

what percentage of high school seniors do you think would have gotten either one right?

[j-a-m]

<<23. Ecuador is named for the equator - zero degrees latitude.>>

What happened to Equatorial Guinea; how is that not named for the equator?