This festive season, armchair travellers and geography buffs are invited to test their global knowledge with a challenging Christmas quiz. Spanning 50 countries, the puzzle covers everything from political history and ancient wonders to sporting achievements and culinary delights.
A World of Questions Awaits
The quiz is divided into ten distinct sections, each probing a different aspect of international knowledge. It begins with a politically charged question, asking participants to name the six countries or territories former US President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed interest in annexing or acquiring. The answers are Greenland, Canada, Panama, Venezuela, Mexico, and Gaza.
History enthusiasts are then challenged to identify the four modern nations that were home to the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Only one wonder, the Great Pyramid of Giza, remains standing today. The present-day countries are Greece, Egypt, Turkey, and Iraq.
Sporting Glory and Geographic Lines
Football fans must recall the only five Caribbean nations to have ever qualified for the men's FIFA World Cup finals. The select group comprises Cuba (1938), Haiti (1974 and 2026), Jamaica (1998), Trinidad and Tobago (2006), and Curaçao (2026).
The quiz then turns to physical geography, asking which six mainland African countries are bisected by the equator. From west to east, they are Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, and Somalia.
In South America, the task is simpler: name the only two countries on the continent that do not share a border with Brazil. The answers are Chile and Ecuador.
Landmarks, Film Sets, and Global Cuisine
A visual round tests recognition of iconic landmarks and their countries: the giant Genghis Khan statue points to Mongolia; the twin Pitons peaks signify St Lucia; the Great Mosque of Djenné is in Mali; the striking red dunes are found in Namibia; and the Christ the King statue overlooks Lisbon from Portugal.
Cinema buffs must identify where famous movies were filmed, noting that none were shot in the country where the story is set. Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) stood in for Thailand in 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'. The D-Day scenes in 'Saving Private Ryan' were filmed on beaches in Ireland, with other scenes in England. 'The Life of Brian' used Tunisia for the Holy Land, while 'A Fistful of Dollars' was shot in Spain, and 'Apocalypse Now' used The Philippines to represent Vietnam.
A culinary section asks which country claims each dish: Spain (tortilla), Vietnam (goi cuon), Morocco (tagine), Georgia (khachapuri), and Indonesia (satay).
Modern Nations and Global Membership
The final challenges include naming all seven Asian 'stan' countries: Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Finally, the quiz ends with a test of contemporary geopolitics: identifying the last five countries to join the United Nations, aided by their flags. The newest members are Montenegro (2006), Timor-Leste (2002), South Sudan (2011), Serbia (2000), and Switzerland (2002).
This comprehensive Christmas travel quiz offers a rigorous yet entertaining tour of global facts, perfect for challenging family and friends during the holiday season.
