GEOG

AL

NATION

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BEE

National Geographic
School Bee
2017

IMPORTANT DATES
• Now through February 6, 2017: Hold your school Bee

• February 6, 2017, 11:59 pm EST: Deadline for

submitting your school champion information to the
school Bee registration website and administering
the online qualifying test.

• March 31, 2017: State Bees

• May 15-17, 2017: National Championship

Copyright © 2016
National Geographic Society
 GEOG
AL

NATION

RA IC
PH
BEE

Welcome to the 2017

National Geographic School Bee!

What’s inside...
(click on the links below to jump to that section of the document)

School Bee Instructions & Rules ....................................................3

Study Resources for Students and Parents (Send this home!) .. 11
Question Material (Top Secret!) ..................................................12
Preliminary Competition Questions
Preliminary Tiebreaker Questions
Final Competition Questions
Final Competition Map
Online State Bee Qualifying Test Instructions..............................
6
School Bee Certificate of Participation ........................................
6
Raising Media Awareness ...........................................................
6
Bee Merchandise.........................................................................
7

Coming in the mail...

• School Champion Medal
• School Champion Certificate of Achievement

2
 PRELIMINARY COMPETITION
Note to teacher: Each of the following rounds of 35 questions should begin with the same
student. If you have fewer than 35 students in your class, you will not need every question
within a round. The answer follows each question. Other acceptable answers are shown in
parentheses. If a student does not give the correct answer, read only the first answer,
not those in parentheses. Although every effort has been made to list all acceptable
answers, you may allow other answers that you feel are acceptable. This would include
variations on the acceptable answers. That is, if the answer is “Rocky Mountains,” you
should accept just “Rockies” even though it is not listed.

ROUND 1: State Savvy

Teacher says: Round 1 is called State Savvy and questions are about the United States.
You will have a choice of two states. You must choose which one is the correct answer.

1. Which state is closer to the Pacific Ocean—Nevada or Kentucky?

Nevada

2. Which state is located in New England—New Hampshire or Virginia?

New Hampshire

3. The Klamath [KLA-muth] Mountains stretch south from Oregon into which other
state—Montana or California?
California

4. The barrier islands of the Outer Banks lie off the coast of which Atlantic state—
Maine or North Carolina?
North Carolina

5. The Pecos River drains into the Rio Grande in which state—Nevada or Texas?
Texas

6. Which state is located west of the Mississippi River—Georgia or Oklahoma?

Oklahoma

7. Which state has a longer border with Canada—Vermont or Minnesota?

Minnesota

8. The city of Bangor [BANG-gawr] lies north of Penobscot [peh-NOB-skaht] Bay in

which state—South Carolina or Maine?
Maine

14
 9. The Susquehanna [sus-kweh-HA-nuh] River flows through which state on its way to
Chesapeake Bay—Connecticut or Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania

10. Which state is farther north—New Mexico or Michigan?

Michigan

11. Lake Havasu [HA-vuh-soo] is located on the border between California and which
other state—Colorado or Arizona?
Arizona

12. Which state has a humid subtropical climate—South Carolina or South Dakota?
South Carolina

13. The Ozark Plateau covers the southern part of which state—Missouri or Wisconsin?
Missouri

14. Which state is larger in terms of area—Montana or Delaware?

Montana

15. The North Platte and South Platte Rivers meet in which state—New Mexico or
Nebraska?
Nebraska

16. The city of Cincinnati is located in Ohio near the border with which other state—
Virginia or Kentucky?
Kentucky

17. The Appalachian Mountains run through which state—Georgia or Mississippi?

Georgia

18. The city of Green Bay lies near the Door Peninsula in which state—Iowa or
Wisconsin?
Wisconsin

19. Plymouth, site of one of the first successful settlements in the English colonies, is
located in which state—Massachusetts or New Jersey?
Massachusetts

20. Which state borders the Gulf of Mexico—South Carolina or Louisiana?

Louisiana

15
21. The city of Topeka lies north of the Flint Hills in which state—Kansas or Iowa?
Kansas

22. Lake Seminole is shared by Florida and which other state—Georgia or Tennessee?
Georgia

23. Which state has a shoreline on Lake Erie—Maine or New York?

New York

24. Lake Tahoe lies on the border between California and which other state—Nevada or
Washington?
Nevada

25. Which state is in the Corn Belt—Indiana or West Virginia?

Indiana

26. Which state straddles the Tropic of Cancer—Hawaii or Alaska?

Hawaii

27. The city of St. Louis lies on the Mississippi River near the border between Missouri
and which other state—Illinois or Minnesota?
Illinois

28. Mount Rushmore is located near Rapid City in which state—Idaho or South Dakota?
South Dakota

29. Washington, D.C., borders which state—Virginia or South Carolina?

Virginia

30. Mesas [MAY-sahs] and buttes [BYOOTS] are part of the landscape of which state—
Utah or New York?
Utah

31. Which state lies directly south of Missouri—Arkansas or New Mexico?

Arkansas

32. Grand Coulee [COO-lee] Dam lies on the Columbia River in which state—Wyoming
or Washington?
Washington

16
33. Which state is located in the Great Plains—Utah or North Dakota?
North Dakota

34. Land in which state was part of the Louisiana Purchase—Delaware or Iowa?
Iowa

35. A hurricane is more likely to make landfall in which state—South Carolina or

Michigan?
South Carolina

17
ROUND 2: History Happens
Teacher says: Understanding places includes learning about their history. Round 2 is
called History Happens and will test your knowledge of the history of the United States.
You will have a choice of two answers, and you must choose which one is the correct
answer.

1. Which form of mass production was used by Henry Ford to produce automobiles in
large quantities in Detroit, Michigan—threshing machine or assembly line?

assembly line

2. Which blockbuster film was written by George Lucas in California in the 1970s to
get kids interested in space exploration—Divergent or Star Wars?

Star Wars

3. Which landmark in Washington, D.C., was burned by the British in 1814—the

Washington Monument or the White House?

White House

4. Warriors from which Native American tribe were attacked by U.S. troops at Wounded
Knee in present-day South Dakota—Sioux [SOO] or Hopi [HOH-pee]?

Sioux

5. Which carnival ride was first introduced at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1931—Ferris
wheel or flume?

Ferris wheel

6. The owner of the Toll House Inn in Massachusetts created which treat by
accidentally mixing ingredients—chocolate chip cookie or apple pie?

chocolate chip cookie

7. Frank Lloyd Wright, who designed Fallingwater in Pennsylvania, is mainly associated

with which type of work—architecture or painting?

architecture

8. Louis Armstrong, a famous musician who grew up in New Orleans in the early
1900s, is associated with which form of music—jazz or rock and roll?

jazz

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 9. Charles Goodyear patented which transportation innovation in Massachusetts in
1844—steamboat or vulcanized rubber?

vulcanized rubber

10. Which technology, developed by the United States military and monitored from the
Master Control Station in Colorado, made it easier to find one’s location on Earth—
global positioning system or laser?

global positioning system

11. Which phrase refers to the forced relocation of several Indian nations to areas west
of the Mississippi River—Trail of Tears or Live Free or Die?

Trail of Tears

12. Deepwater Horizon is associated with which environmental disaster that affected the
Gulf Coast—oil spill or nuclear meltdown?

oil spill

13. Connecticut is home to a museum honoring P.T. Barnum, who was famous for which
type of entertainment—motion pictures or circus?

circus

14. Which transportation route opened in 1869 with the ceremonial driving of the Golden
Spike in Promontory Summit, Utah—paddle steamer or transcontinental railroad?

transcontinental railroad

15. In 1980, the United States boycotted which event due to the Soviet presence in
Afghanistan—World Cup or Olympics?

Olympics

16. Which natural disaster devastated Galveston, Texas, in 1900—hurricane or

earthquake?

hurricane

17. Which Congressional act, passed in 1862, allowed for settlers to claim land in the
western United States after they had lived on it for five years—Homestead or Lend-
Lease?

Homestead

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18. In 1962, John Glenn lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and became the first
American to do what—orbit the Earth or walk on the moon?

orbit the Earth

19. In 1682, William Penn established the colony of Pennsylvania based on which
principle—taxation without representation or religious freedom?

religious freedom

20. During World War II, the United States became a member of which group following
the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii Territory—Allied Powers or Central Powers?

Allied Powers

21. What caused an accident on Three Mile Island in the Susquehanna [sus-kweh-HA-
nuh] River in 1979—nuclear meltdown or pesticide desertification?

nuclear meltdown

22. What name was given to the system of roads, swamps, and houses that slaves could
use while escaping to the northern United States and Canada—Eisenhower Tunnel or
Underground Railroad?

Underground Railroad

23. Which woman is most often associated with sewing the first American flag in
Philadelphia in 1776—Betsy Ross or Harriet Beecher Stowe?

Betsy Ross

24. What phrase was used for an area of the Great Plains where severe drought caused
farmers to lose topsoil during the 1930s—Dust Bowl or Desert Storm?

Dust Bowl

25. Who wrote the lyrics to the national anthem of the United States while observing the
British attack on Fort McHenry near Baltimore—Christopher Columbus or Francis
Scott Key?

Francis Scott Key

26. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt established which program to help bring
economic recovery to the United States—Peace Corps or New Deal?

New Deal

20
27. Minnesota native Charles Schulz was the creator of which famous comic strip
featuring Charlie Brown that ran for nearly 50 years—Garfield or Peanuts?

Peanuts

28. Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest developed a form of art involving what
type of carved sculptures—petroglyphs [PEH-truh-glifs] or totem poles?

totem poles

29. Which conservationist studied the Chesapeake Bay region and helped advance the
environmental movement through her book Silent Spring—Rachel Carson or Dian
Fossey?

Rachel Carson

30. Which spinning toy, named after a bakery in Connecticut in the 1950s, generated
several new sports—Frisbee or yo-yo?

Frisbee

31. New Englander Eli Whitney became famous for inventing the cotton gin and what
other manufacturing marvel of the late 18th century—mechanical reaper or
interchangable parts?

interchangeable parts

32. Which man spoke in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, after the Civil War, uttering the
phrase “of the people, by the people, and for the people”—Andrew Jackson or
Abraham Lincoln?

Abraham Lincoln

33. Which nickname is used as a personification of the American government or the

United States in general—Paul Revere or Uncle Sam?

Uncle Sam

34. Which English colonist explored and mapped the Chesapeake Bay in the early
1600s—David Livingstone or John Smith?

John Smith

35. Which dwelling was used by certain groups of Native Americans in the Plains and
Great Lakes region—bungalow or tepee?

tepee

21
ROUND 3: Ocean Wonders
Teacher says: National Geographic is committed to protecting the oceans and
preserving their abundant resources. Round 3 is called Ocean Wonders, and you will be
asked about one of the world’s four major oceans—Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic.
You must choose which ocean is the correct answer.

1. Madagascar, one of the world’s largest islands, is located off the eastern coast of Africa
in which ocean?

Indian Ocean

2. A giant squid is almost as long as a six-story building is high. Giant squid can be
found in the waters near the United Kingdom and Spain in which ocean?

Atlantic Ocean

3. At nearly seven miles deep, the Mariana Trench is the deepest point on Earth. In
which ocean is it located?

Pacific Ocean

4. The Panama Canal connects the Pacific Ocean with which other ocean?

Atlantic Ocean

5. The North Pole, the northernmost point on Earth, is located in which ocean?

Arctic Ocean

6. The Ring of Fire, a region that experiences a large number of earthquakes and
volcanic eruptions, is mainly located along which ocean?

Pacific Ocean

7. The scalloped hammerhead shark is an endangered species that can be found off the
coasts of Oman and Yemen in which ocean?

Indian Ocean

8. The Azores are a group of volcanic islands that lie west of Portugal in which ocean?

Atlantic Ocean

9. The Somali current, a surface current that changes with the seasonal monsoon in
South Asia, is located in which ocean?

Indian Ocean

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10. The dwarf pygmy goby fish is just 0.3 inches long—one of the smallest fish in the
world. This fish can sometimes be found near the Philippines in which ocean?

Pacific Ocean

11. The Amazon River, the largest river in the world by discharge, empties into which
ocean?

Atlantic Ocean

12. The international date line, an imaginary line roughly following the 180 degree line of
longitude, passes near the island country of Fiji in which ocean?

Pacific Ocean

13. Narwhals are called the unicorns of the sea due to their large tusk. Narwhals can be
found near Svalbard [SVAHL-bar] and the Barents Sea in which ocean?

Arctic Ocean

14. The area known as Polynesia, which is made up of more than 1,000 islands, is located
in which ocean?

Pacific Ocean

15. The island of Mauritius [maw-RISH-uhs], a former British colony, is surrounded by

which ocean?

Indian Ocean

16. Giant tube worms can grow more than six feet tall. These worms can be found near
the Galápagos Islands in which ocean?

Pacific Ocean

17. Beluga whales prefer swimming in cold waters. They can be found near the northern
coasts of Russia, Canada, and Greenland in which ocean?

Arctic Ocean

18. The Titanic was a British passenger liner that sank in 1912 after colliding with an
iceberg in which ocean?

Atlantic Ocean

19. Giant clams, the largest clams in the world, can grow to be more than four feet long.
Giant clams can be found near Pakistan in the Arabian Sea in which ocean?

Indian Ocean

23
20. The largest ocean by area occupies almost one-third of Earth’s surface. Name this
ocean.

Pacific Ocean

21. Which ocean is not crossed by the Equator?

Arctic Ocean

22. Scientists once tracked a lobster as it traveled 225 miles. One species of lobster lives
around the coast of New Zealand in which ocean?

Pacific Ocean

23. The world’s tallest known iceberg was 550 feet high. Large icebergs are sometimes
found in the Labrador Sea in which ocean?

Atlantic Ocean

24. Orcas have been known to attack polar bears. Orcas can be found in the Beaufort
[BO-furt] and Chukchi [chuk-CHEE] Seas in which ocean?

Arctic Ocean

25. In Chile, seaweed is harvested to make cosmetics. Chile borders which ocean?

Pacific Ocean

26. Sturgeons can live 50 years or more. One critically endangered species can be found
along the coast of France in which ocean?

Atlantic Ocean

27. Tuna can swim in quick bursts up to 43 miles per hour. Yellowfin tuna can be found
around the Maldives and Sri Lanka in which ocean?

Indian Ocean

28. Offshore wind farms can be found in the North Sea in which ocean?

Atlantic Ocean

29. The sunflower sea star has up to 24 arms. These sea stars can be found in large
numbers in Puget Sound in which ocean?

Pacific Ocean

24
30. A sea turtle can stay underwater for up to two hours without coming up for air.
Nesting sites for one species can be found in Suriname [SOOR-uh-nahm] and Brazil
on the coast of which ocean?

Atlantic Ocean

31. Canada has more coastline than any other country. Canada’s province of British
Columbia borders which ocean?

Pacific Ocean

32. Lionfish are sometimes called turkeyfish because their fins look like turkey feathers.
Lionfish are native to which ocean that includes the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman
[AN-duh-mun] Sea?

Indian Ocean

33. Sea otters sometimes wrap themselves in kelp when resting to keep from drifting
away. Sea otters can be found near eastern Russia in the Sea of Okhotsk in which
ocean?

Pacific Ocean

34. Manatees were once mistaken for mermaids by sailors. They can be found off the
coast of Nigeria in which ocean?

Atlantic Ocean

35. Major natural gas deposits have been found off the coast of Mozambique and
Tanzania in which ocean?

Indian Ocean

25
ROUND 4: Weird But True
Teacher says: Did you know that dolphins sleep with one eye open? Round 4 features
fascinating facts about the world taken from the popular National Geographic Kids book
series called Weird But True. You will answer a geographic question related to the fact.
The answer to each question in this round is one of the seven continents.

1. You can take a bath in coffee at a spa in Japan. It’s weird, but it’s true! Japan is an
island country that is part of which continent?

Asia

2. Villagers in 5th-century Italy played tennis with their bare hands. It’s weird, but it’s
true! Italy is located on which continent that includes the Alps?

Europe

3. The arches of a McDonald’s in Sedona, Arizona, are turquoise instead of yellow. It’s
weird, but it’s true! Arizona is located on which continent that includes the Sonoran
Desert?

North America

4. Scientists used a robot disguised as a penguin to study real emperor penguins. It’s
weird, but it’s true! Emperor penguins live in Victoria Land and Marie Byrd Land on
which continent?

Antarctica

5. Doctors in ancient Peru drilled holes in patients’ skulls to relieve their headaches. It’s
weird, but it’s true! Peru is a country located on which continent?

South America

6. The world’s longest golf course is 848 miles long and spans two time zones. This golf
course is located in the Nullarbor [NULL-uh-bor] Plain near the Great Victoria
Desert on which continent?

Australia

7. Crocodiles sometimes climb trees. The Nile crocodile lives in Sudan and Ethiopia on
which continent?

Africa

8. The stones used in curling are made from a type of granite found only in Scotland.
Scotland is located on the island of Great Britain off the coast of which continent?

Europe

26
 9. Mexico once had three different presidents in power in one day. Mexico is a country
located on which continent?

North America

10. One volcano in Indonesia burns with electric-blue flames. Indonesia is an island
country that lies mainly south of which continent?

Asia

11. The island of Mauritius [maw-RISH-uhs] in the Indian Ocean has multicolored sand
dunes. It’s weird, but it’s true! Mauritius lies off the southeast coast of which
continent that includes the Kalahari Desert?

Africa

12. The first ice skates were made from animal bones. It’s weird, but it’s true! These
skates were used thousands of years ago in present-day Finland on which continent?

Europe

13. The Great Barrier Reef is roughly the size of Italy. It’s weird, but it’s true! This reef is
located in the Coral Sea off the coast of which continent?

Australia

14. Algae sometimes grow on sloth fur. It’s weird, but it’s true! Sloths can be found in the
Amazon rainforest on which continent?

South America

15. Canadians eat more doughnuts than any other country’s citizens. It’s weird, but it’s
true! Canada is a country located on which continent?

North America

16. Mountain lions have extra taste buds on their tongues to help scrape meat from
bones. Mountain lions can be found in the Andes, a mountain range located on which
continent?

South America

17. Watermelon seeds were found in King Tut’s tomb. King Tut was an Egyptian pharaoh
who was buried in the Valley of the Kings on which continent?

Africa

27
18. A group of sharks is called a shiver. The zebra shark lives off the coast of which
continent that includes Queensland and Northern Territory?

Australia

19. An albatross can glide hundreds of miles without flapping its wings. These birds can
be found off the coast of which continent that includes the Ross and Filchner Ice
Shelves?

Antarctica

20. Sannakji [SAH-nak-chee], a traditional Korean dish, features octopus cut into pieces
and served while the tentacles are still squirming. The Korean Peninsula is part of
which continent?

Asia

21. Pato [PAH-toh], the national sport of Argentina, is a mix of polo and basketball. It’s
weird, but it’s true! Argentina is a country located on which continent?

South America

22. The world’s largest pumpkin pie measured 20 feet across and weighed 3,699 pounds.
It’s weird, but it’s true! This pumpkin pie was made in Ohio on which continent that
includes Lake Erie?

North America

23. A Spanish scientist invented ice cream that changes colors when licked. It’s weird, but
it’s true! Spain borders the Balearic Sea, which is located off the coast of which
continent?

Europe

24. Male kangaroos flex their biceps to impress females. It’s weird, but it’s true! The
eastern gray kangaroo lives on Cape York Peninsula on which continent?

Australia

25. The air trapped inside an iceberg can be thousands of years old. It’s weird, but it’s
true! Icebergs can be found in the Weddell and Amundsen Seas off the coast of
which continent?

Antarctica

26. Burgers made from crushed flies are popular near Lake Victoria. This lake borders
Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda on which continent?

Africa

28
27. It takes three months for window washers to clean all of the windows in the world’s
tallest building, the Burj Khalifa [BURJ kah-LEE-fah], in Dubai, United Arab
Emirates. The United Arab Emirates is located on the Arabian Peninsula on which
continent?

Asia

28. Barbecuing in the street is a form of protest in Brazil. Brazil is a country located on
which continent?

South America

29. A wind turbine in Denmark is as tall as a 72-story building. Denmark borders the
North Sea off the coast of which continent?

Europe

30. A cobra bit a chef in China 20 minutes after its head had been cut from its body.
China is located on which continent that includes a desert called the Gobi?

Asia

31. The world’s heaviest watermelon weighed as much as 10 koalas. It’s weird, but it’s
true! Koalas live in New South Wales on which continent?

Australia

32. Giraffes sometimes use their long tongues to clean their ears and noses. It’s weird, but
it’s true! One species of giraffe lives in Niger [NAHY-jer] on which continent?

Africa

33. The world’s largest leech can grow to be as long as two pencils. It’s weird, but it’s true!
This leech lives in Guyana and Suriname on which continent?

South America

34. More than 1,200 games of marbles are played in just four days during the annual
National Marbles Tournament. It’s weird, but it’s true! This tournament takes place
in the state of New Jersey on which continent that borders the Gulf of St. Lawrence?

North America

35. Kite fighting is a national sport in Thailand. It’s weird, but it’s true! Kite flying is a
popular activity in Bangkok on which continent that borders the Andaman Sea?

Asia

29
ROUND 5: World of Science
Teacher says: Round 5 is called World of Science. You will be asked questions about
the world and how it works. You will be given a choice of two answers, and you must
choose which one is the correct answer.

1. What is the term for the measure of how much matter an object has—gravity or
mass?

mass

2. Sometimes called thunderheads, which type of clouds bring thunderstorm weather—

cirrus [SIR-uhs] or cumulonimbus [kyoo-myuh-loh-NIM-buhs]?

cumulonimbus

3. What is the term for an underground layer of rock that holds groundwater – an arroyo
[uh-ROI-oh] or an aquifer?

aquifer

4. Seismology is a branch of science focused on the study of which phenomenon—

earthquakes or flooding?

earthquakes

5. What is the term for an environment where evaporation usually exceeds

precipitation—desert or rain forest?

desert

6. What do you call the plant life that is native to a region—flora or climate?

flora

7. What is the term for severe weather characterized by strong wind, blowing snow, and
cold temperatures—blizzard or sirocco [suh-ROK-oh]?

blizzard

8. What is the term for land that is capable of being used to grow crops—arable or
basalt?

arable

9. What is the term for molten rock in Earth’s interior—shale or magma?

magma

30
10. How do you describe a substance that has a pH of less than 7—acid or static?

acid

11. What do you call a broad inlet of the sea—bay or lake?

bay

12. What is the term for the moment when the sun’s edge completely disappears below
Earth’s horizon—sunset or solstice?

sunset

13. What is the term for the physical location where a plant or animal lives—habitat or
pattern?

habitat

14. A dune is a mound of sand that is formed by which force—fire or wind?

wind

15. What is the term for a fracture in rock caused by stress—mesa or fault?

fault

16. What is the term for a sub-particle of an atom that contains a negative charge—
nucleus or electron?

electron

17. The science and art of creating maps is called what—geology or cartography?

cartography

18. What simple marine animals secrete calcium carbonate to produce a hard external
skeleton—coral or lichen?

coral

19. What is the term for the vertical distance above sea level—altitude or atmosphere?

altitude

20. What is the term for a smaller stream channel that flows into a main stream
channel—hollow or tributary?

tributary

31
21. Which term describes a forest made up of trees with needle-like leaves that usually
stay green all year round—coniferous or deciduous?

coniferous

22. Which type of animal has a backbone—vertebrate or fungus?

vertebrate

23. Which material is used in pencils—silicon [SIL-ih-ken] or graphite?

graphite

24. Which kind of waves are used to make and receive cellphone calls—radio waves or
shock waves?

radio waves

25. Which term explains the shifting positions and ongoing movements of the
continents—plate tectonics or continental divide?

plate tectonics

26. What does a light-year measure—time or distance?

distance

27. Which is the term for a cloud layer at ground level that reduces visibility to less than
one mile—dew or fog?

fog

28. Which is the term for the amount of water vapor content in the air—humidity or
transpiration?

humidity

29. Which is the term for a cone-shaped feature on the floor of a cave that is formed by
deposits from slow dripping water—stalagmite or batholith?

stalagmite

30. Which type of rock is made up of compacted remains of plants—basalt or coal?

coal

32
31. What is the term for the crater that is formed by the collapse of a volcano after an
eruption—caldera or drumlin?

caldera

32. What is the term for the disintegration of rock by wind, water, or climate—
precipitation or weathering?

weathering

33. What is the term for the animal life of a particular region—fauna or algae?

fauna

34. What is the term for a mass of material moving rapidly down a slope—glaciation or
avalanche?

avalanche

35. What is the term for a large mass of ice and dust that orbits a star—comet or
meteorite?

comet

33
ROUND 6: Odd One Out
Teacher says: Round 6 is called Odd One Out, and you will be asked about countries
around the world. You will be given a choice of three answers, and you must choose the
one answer that does not belong. Here is an example: Which country is not crossed by
the Equator—Gabon, Guatemala, or Indonesia? The answer is Guatemala. Both Gabon
and Indonesia are crossed by the Equator, but Guatemala is not.

1. Which country does not experience frequent earthquakes—Chile, the United States,
or Nigeria?
Nigeria

2. Which country has not hosted the summer Olympics—China, Hungary, or Australia?
Hungary

3. Which country is not in the same time zone as the United Kingdom—Egypt,
Mauritania, or Liberia?
Egypt

4. Which country is not a former colony of France—Vietnam, Australia, or Central

African Republic?
Australia

5. Which country does not contain large areas of desert—Chad, Venezuela, or Iraq?
Venezuela

6. Which country does not border the Pacific Ocean—New Zealand, Uruguay, or
Mexico?
Uruguay

7. Which country does not have a coastline on the Mediterranean—Italy, Spain, or

Poland?
Poland

8. Which country does not contain areas of subarctic climate—Norway, France, or

Russia?
France

9. Which country is not located in the Western Hemisphere—Belize, Uzbekistan, or

Bolivia?
Uzbekistan

34
10. Which country does not have large areas of tropical rainforest—South Africa, Brazil,
or Costa Rica?
South Africa

11. Which country is not a major producer of rice—Vietnam, Bangladesh, or Belarus?

Belarus

12. Which country is not a major producer of coffee—Brazil, Saudi Arabia, or Ethiopia?
Saudi Arabia

13. Which country does not border the Black Sea—Ukraine, Switzerland, or Turkey?
Switzerland

14. Which country is not covered by large areas of grassland—Argentina, Kenya, or

Thailand?
Thailand

15. Which country is not located in the eastern part of Europe—Moldova, Belarus [bel-
uh-ROOS], or Portugal?
Portugal

16. Which country does not have significant proven petroleum deposits—Iran, Iraq, or
Israel?
Israel

17. Which country does not include part of the Nile River—Sudan, Ethiopia, or Namibia?
Namibia

18. Which country does not have a high population density—Bangladesh, Japan, or New
Zealand?
New Zealand

19. Which country does not border the Atlantic Ocean—Peru, Cuba, or Argentina?
Peru

20. Which country does not share a border with China—India, Indonesia, or North
Korea?
Indonesia

21. Which country does not have a largely urban population—Germany, Cambodia, or
Australia?
Cambodia

35
22. Which country is not located in the Pacific Ocean—Vanuatu [vah-noo-AH-too],
Bahamas, or Nauru [nah-OO-roo]?
Bahamas

23. Which country does not share a border with Russia—Mongolia, Iraq, or Finland?
Iraq

24. Which country does not include large areas of needleleaf forest—Canada, Russia, or
Congo?
Congo

25. Which country is not a former Soviet republic—Kazakhstan, Netherlands, or

Ukraine?
Netherlands

26. Which country does not border Lake Victoria—Ghana, Uganda, or Tanzania?
Ghana

27. Which country is not predominantly Muslim—Indonesia, Somalia, or Honduras?

Honduras

28. Which country does not border the Adriatic Sea—Albania, Latvia, or Italy?
Latvia

29. Which country does not include part of the Atlas Mountains—Algeria, Burkina Faso,
or Morocco?
Burkina Faso

30. Which country is not a major producer of natural rubber—Malaysia, Thailand, or

Yemen?
Yemen

31. Which country is not part of the Amazon Basin—Brazil, Panama, or Bolivia?
Panama

32. Which country is not a major producer of cocoa beans—Canada, Brazil, or Ghana?
Canada

33. Which country is not a major producer of palm oil—Indonesia, Malaysia, or Pakistan?
Pakistan

36
34. Which country is not crossed by the Carpathian Mountains—Romania, Slovakia, or
Belgium?
Belgium

35. Which country is not a major producer of pork—China, Oman, or the United States?

Oman

37
ROUND 7: Culture Connection
Teacher says: Be a citizen of the world! Round 7 is called Culture Connection and will
test your knowledge of the world and its people. You will be asked to name a country and
you will not receive a choice of answers.

1. The Taj Mahal is an example of architecture from the Mughal [MOO-gul] period in
what predominantly Hindu country?

India

2. More than a thousand concerts are held during the annual Copenhagen Jazz Festival,
which attracts a broad international audience to which European country?

Denmark

3. A boomerang is a curved throwing stick traditionally used for hunting by the

Aboriginals in what country in the Southern Hemisphere?

Australia

4. Public steam baths called hammams are part of the culture in cities such as
Casablanca and Marrakech in which African country?

Morocco

5. The siku [SEE-koo], a type of pan flute typically made from bamboo, is a traditional
instrument in a country just south of Ecuador. Name this South American country.

Peru

6. Theatrical performances are regularly held in the Natak Para theater district in the
city of Dhaka [DAH-kah] in which country that borders India?

Bangladesh

7. Matapa, a dish prepared with cassava leaves and served over rice, is a staple in which
African country that has Maputo [mah-POO-to] as its capital?

Mozambique

8. Handwoven ryijy [ROO-yuh] rugs, or tapestries, are a folk art in which European
country that borders Norway and Russia?

Finland

38
 9. The Benfica Handcrafts Market is an open-air market that sells paintings, sculptures,
jewelry, and other crafts just south of the capital city of Luanda in which African
country?

Angola

10. The Erawan [ee-RAH-wahn] Shrine, also called Thao Maha Brahma [TAOW MAH-
ha BRAH-muh], is a famous spirit house that was built to protect a nearby hotel. This
shrine is located in Bangkok in which Southeast Asian country?

Thailand

11. Wolof [WUH-loff] is widely spoken in Dakar and other cities throughout which West
African country?

Senegal

12. Thousands of colored lanterns are hung each year at a celebration at Chogye [CHO-
gyay] Temple in the city of Seoul in which Asian country?

South Korea (Also acceptable: Republic of Korea)

13. Reindeer provide food, clothing, and a means of transportation for native people who
live in Siberia. Siberia lies mostly in which country?

Russia

14. The tinikling [teeh-NEEHK-ling], a dance that involves bamboo poles, is a traditional
folk dance on an island country where Manila is the capital. Name this country.

Philippines

15. The city of Istanbul, considered a meeting place of Eastern and Western cultures, is
located in what country?

Turkey

16. The game of chess is a popular pastime in the city of Beersheba [bir-SHE-bah],
located in the Negev desert in which Southwest Asian country?

Israel

17. A dance called the tango originated in the capital city of Buenos Aires in what
country?

Argentina

39
18. Bergen is a starting point for tours of the fjords along the western coast of which
Scandinavian country?

Norway

19. Chinese make up the largest ethnic group on a small island country off the coast of
Malaysia. Name this country.

Singapore

20. People watch matadors perform at bullfights in Seville, a city in which European
country?

Spain

21. Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum, which contains many paintings by the famous artist,
is in what country?

Netherlands

22. Farsi, also known as Persian, is the official language of which Islamic country?

Iran

23. Acupuncture, an ancient medical treatment using needles to relieve pain and treat
diseases, originated in which East Asian country that borders Mongolia?

China

24. Coffeehouses are a cultural tradition in the European city of Vienna in what country?

Austria

25. Grasshoppers, known locally as chapulines [cha-poo-LEE-ness], are a delicacy in the

state of Oaxaca [wah−HAH−kah] in which North American country?

Mexico

26. Kabuki [kah-BOO-kee] is a popular form of theater that includes elaborate costumes
and makeup in which Asian island country?

Japan

27. An intricate kind of lace called nanduti [nyan-doo-TEE] combines Spanish and
Guaraní [gwar-ah-NEE] traditions in what landlocked country that borders Bolivia
and Argentina?

Paraguay

40
28. Gregorian chants, sacred music from the early centuries of the Roman Catholic
Church, developed in what country that borders the Adriatic and Ligurian Seas?

Italy

29. The Maya city of Copán [ko-PAHN] is a popular tourist attraction in what country
where the capital is Tegucigalpa [tay-goo-see-GAHL-pah]?

Honduras

30. Ful medames [FOOL meh-DAH-mez], a dish made from fava beans and spices, is a
national dish in what country that borders the Mediterranean and Red Seas?

Egypt

31. Shakespeare’s grave is located in Stratford-upon-Avon in which European country?

United Kingdom

32. Several grand hotels have made the town of Montreux [mon-TRUH], located on the
shores of Lake Geneva, a popular tourist destination in what country?

Switzerland

33. The coastal city of Monrovia, settled in the 1820s by freed American slaves, is located
in which present-day African country?

Liberia

34. Both residents and tourists enjoy scuba diving on the world’s second largest barrier
reef off the coast of which Central American country that borders Guatemala and
Mexico?

Belize

35. Geghard [GAYG-hart] Monastery, partially carved out of a mountain, is a World

Heritage site located east of the capital city of Yerevan [yer-eh-VAHN]. This
monastery is located in which country in the Caucasus region?

Armenia

41
 GEOG
AL

NATION

RA IC
PH
BEE

National Geographic
School Bee
2017

PRELIMINARY TIEBREAKER
QUESTIONS
(print pages 42-44)

Back to top

42
 Preliminary Competition Tiebreaker Questions
Note to teacher: The following tiebreaker questions may be needed if there are ties in
determining the finalists.

Teacher says: I will use a single-elimination procedure to break the tie. This means one
miss and you are out of the competition unless everyone misses the question. Each of you
will be asked the same question at the same time. You will have 15 seconds to write your
answer on the paper provided. When the timekeeper calls “Time,” each of you will put
down your marker and hold up your answer. When I call on you, read your answer aloud.
I will wait to give the correct answer until all the answers for that question have been
read. Please continue to hold up your answer until the scorekeeper has had a chance to
record each score. The judge will be responsible for verifying that each contestant’s
written answer matches his or her oral answer and that the scores have been recorded
correctly. We will follow this procedure for each question. I will continue asking
tiebreaker questions one at a time until the tie is broken. You will not be penalized for
inaccurate pronunciations or spellings as long as it can be determined that you know the
correct answer. I will read each question twice, so you may not ask for a repeat. Please
listen carefully before writing your answer.

1. Baton Rouge [bat-un-ROOHZH], an important center of the petrochemical industry,

is located at the head of deep-water navigation on which river?

Mississippi River

2. Which province of Canada uses French as its only official language?

Quebec

3. Canberra is located in the capital territory of which country?

Australia

4. The island of Bornholm, located in the Baltic Sea, is part of what country?

Denmark

5. The Strait of Gibraltar is a channel that connects the Atlantic Ocean with which large
body of water?

Mediterranean Sea

6. The Golden Temple in Amritsar is the center of Sikhism in the northern part of
which country?

India

43
 7. The Blue Mountains are visible from Kingston, the largest city in which island
country?

Jamaica

8. The city of Auckland is home to the largest concentration of indigenous Maori people
in which country?

New Zealand

9. The southernmost portion of the Yucatán Peninsula is made up of Belize and which
other Central American country?

Guatemala

10. The Caucasus Mountains stretch from the Black Sea in the west to what large body
of water in the east?

Caspian Sea

11. Which landlocked country is bordered by Mozambique, Zambia, and Tanzania?

Malawi

12. The Strait of Malacca separates Malaysia from which other country?

Indonesia

13. Kinshasa lies on the southern bank of the Congo River in which country?

Democratic Republic of the Congo (Note: Do not accept “Congo.”)

14. What historic region of northwest France was the site of an allied invasion of
German-occupied France in 1944?

Normandy

15. China’s largest Special Economic Zone is located on an island off the eastern coast of
Vietnam. Name this island.

Hainan

44
 GEOG
AL

NATION

RA IC
PH
BEE

National Geographic
School Bee
2017

FINAL COMPETITION
QUESTIONS
(print pages 45-6)

Back to top

45
 FINAL COMPETITION
FOR UP TO TEN FINALISTS
MODERATOR:
Please read aloud the following instructions.

Welcome to the [insert school name] National Geographic Bee final competition! A huge round
of applause for all participants, and for those who reached today’s final. Each year, the Nat Geo Bee
empowers four million students to be informed, curious, and knowledgeable global citizens.
Today we will determine our school champion, and that student will have the opportunity to
advance to the next level of the competition. The national champion wins a $50,000 scholarship
from National Geographic, and a prize trip! Before we begin, I would like to ask everyone in the
room to turn off all electronic devices. The audience may not record the school Bee in any
form, and any activity that could be distracting to the contestants is not permitted.

Today’s competition will consist of a final round and a championship round. Final round
questions will reduce the number of contestants to two. These two finalists will then compete in
the championship round.
In the final round, a contestant is eliminated after answering two questions incorrectly. I will
begin each series of questions with the same student. If this student has been eliminated,
questioning will begin with the next available student. After each student on stage has responded
to a question in a series, those who gave their second incorrect answer will be excused from the
stage unless all are eliminated. If this happens, those students who gave their second incorrect
answer during that series will continue to receive final round questions until two finalists and the
third-place winner are determined. If only one student remains after a series of questions, that
student automatically becomes one of the finalists and will be asked no more questions. Those
students who gave their second incorrect answer during that series will continue to receive
questions until the second finalist and the third-place winner are determined.
The procedures will change for the championship round. I will announce those procedures at
that time. Other rules remain the same as those that were followed in the preliminary
competition. As a reminder, you will have 15 seconds to answer, and you must start to give your
answer before the time limit is up. You may interrupt the final competition only twice to have
either a question repeated or a word spelled. Also, remember to listen carefully to each
question and use correct geographic terminology in your answers. For example, do not use
“Holland” as a synonym for the country “Netherlands,” and do not use “England” for the
country “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,” as England is a political
division. Give present-day names unless the question involves history and other names would
be correct in the context of the question. As the Bee is conducted in English, wherever
possible, conventional English place-names are used. Shortened forms of country names are
acceptable, such as “United Kingdom,” “Great Britain,” or “Britain” for “United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland.” You will not be penalized for inaccurate pronunciations
or spellings so long as it can be determined that you know the correct answer. Bee questions
follow the National Geographic Society’s policy of recognizing Europe and Asia as two
continents. Oceania is considered a region rather than a continent, and it will not be accepted
as a correct answer for the continent of Australia. In addition, the National Geographic Society
recognizes four oceans—Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific.
All information was current at the time the Bee questions were finalized in September 2016.

The rulings of the judge are final. Good luck!

46
Note to moderator: The number of final round questions needed to produce the two
finalists will vary from school to school. When two finalists remain, begin the
championship round on page 5. Make a note of the last final round question used, as you
may need unused final round questions if there is still a tie after asking the championship
tiebreaker questions.

FINAL ROUND
Moderator says: The first set of questions is about the United States and will require oral
answers. Each of you will answer a different question, and you will have 15 seconds to give
me your answer.

1. Name the U.S. state that is made up of two parts commonly called the Upper
Peninsula and the Lower Peninsula.

Michigan

2. Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello, is located near the Blue Ridge Mountains in
what state?

Virginia

3. Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States, is located in the Cascade
Mountains in which western state?

Oregon

4. Santa Catalina, Santa Cruz, and San Nicolas are part of the Channel Islands, an
archipelago off the coast of which state?

California

5. The Delmarva Peninsula includes parts of Delaware, Virginia, and which other state?

Maryland

6. The Alamo attracts many visitors to San Antonio, a city in which state?

Texas

7. Pamlico [PAM-lih-koh] Sound borders Cape Hatteras National Seashore in which

state?

North Carolina

8. Cajuns [KAY-jens] are associated with the bayou region of which southern state?

Louisiana

47
 9. The metropolitan area of Louisville extends from Kentucky into which neighboring
state?

Indiana

10. Carson Sink, Black Rock Desert, and Yucca Flat are physical features found in which
arid state?

Nevada

Alternate question (in case a question must be dropped for any reason):

Cuttyhunk, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket are islands that are part of which U.S.
state?

Massachusetts

Moderator says: All of you will respond to the next question by writing an answer on the
paper provided for you. You will have 15 seconds to write your answer. When I call “Time,”
put down your markers and hold up your answers. When I call on you, please read your
answer aloud. You will not be penalized for inaccurate pronunciations or spellings so long
as it can be determined that you know the correct answer. I will give the correct answer
after all answers have been given. Please keep your answers visible until the scorekeeper
has recorded the scores. I will read this question twice, so you may not ask for another
repeat.

11. In the summer, the amount of water pouring over Niagara Falls each second could fill
13,000 bathtubs. Niagara Falls is located on the border between Canada and which
U.S. state?

New York

Moderator says: We will pause for a moment while the scorekeeper records the scores.

Note to moderator: The next set of questions requires the distribution of copies of the
map at the back of this question booklet on page 6 to the finalists. If possible, project the
map for the audience and invite them to follow along. An alternate question is provided if
a problem arises and a question must be dropped. If it is used, the alternate should be the
last in the series.

Moderator says: The next set of final round questions involves a map that shows physical
features in the United States. Each of you, in turn, will use the information on the map to
answer your question. I will give all of you a moment now to look at your maps. (Pause
while they do this.) When it is your turn, please look at your map while I read your
question. You will have 15 seconds to answer.

48
12. What is the highest peak shown in Colorado?

Mount Elbert

13. Lake Champlain is located on the border between New York and which state?

Vermont

14. Which Great Lake is farthest north?

Lake Superior

15. Lake of the Ozarks is located in which state?

Missouri

16. What mountain range is shown on the map just east of Seattle?

Cascade Range

17. What mountain range is found in northern Alaska?

Brooks Range

18. The city of Chicago is located on which of the Great Lakes?

Lake Michigan

19. What mountain range runs through east-central California near its border with
Nevada?

Sierra Nevada

20. The Potomac River flows through which major city shown on the map?

Washington, D.C.

21. The Red River forms the entire border between Texas and which state?

Oklahoma

Alternate:

The source of the Mississippi River, Lake Itasca, is located in which state?

Minnesota

Note to moderator: Be sure the maps are picked up before proceeding to the next
question.

49
Moderator says: Once again, each of you will respond to the next question by writing your
answer on the sheet of paper provided for you. When I call “Time,” put down your markers
and hold up your answers. As before, I will wait to give the correct answer until all the
answers have been given. I will read this question twice, so you may not ask for another
repeat.

22. Fremantle, the principal port of Western Australia, lies along what ocean?

Indian Ocean

Moderator says: We will pause for a moment while the scorekeeper records the scores.

Moderator says: The remaining final round questions will require oral answers. Each of
you will answer a different question. You will have 15 seconds to answer the question.

23. Shinto shrines surround Mount Fuji in which country?

Japan

24. Volcanic in origin, the Canary Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean and
administered by what country?

Spain

25. Hammerfest, often referred to as the northernmost town in Europe, is located in what
Scandinavian country?

Norway

26. The city of Victoria, founded by the Hudson Bay Company in 1843, is located on the
Strait of Juan de Fuca [FYOO-kuh] in which country?

Canada

27. The easternmost point on the Horn of Africa is part of which country?

Somalia

28. The state of Tabasco, which means “damp earth,” receives abundant rainfall in which
country north of Guatemala?

Mexico

29. Jura [JUR-uh] and Lucerne [LOO-sern] are cantons of what mountainous country?

Switzerland

50
30. The Hague, home to the International Court of Justice, is a city on the west coast of
which country?

Netherlands

31. Angel Falls, the world’s tallest at 3,212 feet, is located in which South American
country?

Venezuela

32. Tower Bridge over the River Thames [TEMZ] is a famous landmark in which
European capital city?

London

33. The Aswan High Dam was built in the 1960s on what African river?

Nile River

34. The Great St. Bernard Pass is located in the Pennine [PEH-nine] Alps and connects
Switzerland to which other country?

Italy

35. San José is a capital city and important transportation hub on the Pan-American
Highway. This city is in what country?

Costa Rica

36. Jane Goodall helped secure national park status for the Gombe [GOM-bay] Stream
Game Preserve to help protect chimpanzees in what country?

Tanzania

37. Molloy Deep is one of the deepest points in which ocean, the smallest in the world?

Arctic Ocean

38. The Sea of Azov, the world’s shallowest sea, is linked by the Kerch Strait to what
larger body of water to the south?

Black Sea

39. Cairns [KARNZ], an important coastal city near the Great Barrier Reef, is located in
one of the wettest regions of what country?

Australia

51
40. Maquiladoras [mah-kee-lah-DOH-rahs], manufacturing firms that import parts for
assembly and re-export, are found in which country that borders the United States?

Mexico

41. Many residents of the city of El Alto work in neighboring La Paz, the administrative
capital of which South American country?

Bolivia

42. The Ovambo ethnic group, Namibia’s largest, lives predominantly in the northern part
of the country. Namibia borders what ocean?

Atlantic Ocean

43. Which small country, located on Mount Titano in Italy and totaling 24 square miles in
area, claims to be Europe’s oldest republic?

San Marino

44. Astana is the capital of the second-largest former Soviet republic. Name this present-
day country.

Kazakhstan

45. Which body of water, located between Saudi Arabia and Iran, has high salinity as a
result of evaporation rates that exceed freshwater inflow?

Persian Gulf (Also acceptable: Arab Gulf, Arabian Gulf)

46. Once a Belgian colony, what present-day country is the second largest in area in
Africa?

Democratic Republic of the Congo (Note: Do not accept “Congo.”)

47. Java, one of the world’s most densely populated islands, includes the city of Jakarta.
This city is the capital of which country?

Indonesia

48. One of the largest boiling lakes in the world is located on Dominica [do-MI-ni-kuh],
an island country bordered to the east by the Atlantic Ocean and to the west by what
body of water?

Caribbean Sea

52
49. Odense [OH-den-sah] is the third largest city in which northern European country
bordering Germany?

Denmark

50. The modernization of this East Asian country began with the end of the shogunate
system of government and the onset of the Meiji Restoration. Name this country

Japan

51. After 1960, the Brazilian government encouraged migration into the country’s sparsely
populated interior in conjunction with the creation of what new capital city?

Brasília

52. The Ore [OR] Mountains are an important industrial center for manufacturing
machinery and chemicals along the border of Germany and what neighboring country
to the southeast?

Czech Republic (Also acceptable: Czechia)

53. Remnants of Celtic monuments can still be found on the Dingle Peninsula, the
westernmost point of an island that is the second largest in the British Isles. Name
this island.

Ireland

54. Deforestation is a major concern in the populous Asian country bordering the Bay of
Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Name this country.

India

55. The southernmost national capital in the world is located in a powerful earthquake
zone on North Island in New Zealand. Name this city.

Wellington

56. Iguazú Falls, a series of waterfalls that are among the widest in the world, lie on the
border between Brazil and the northern part of which country?

Argentina

57. The second longest river in South America joins the Uruguay River to form the Río de
la Plata near Buenos Aires. Name this river.

Paraná River

53
58. What sultanate is divided by part of Malaysia?

Brunei

59. Which of the Baltic states speaks a language that is similar to Finnish?

Estonia

60. French and Arabic are the official languages of which multilingual country east of
Niger [NEE-zher]?

Chad

61. The only Portuguese colony in the Americas gained its independence in 1822 and
occupies about one-half of South America. Name this present-day country.

Brazil

62. Ha Long Bay, known for its naturally sculpted limestone outcroppings, is located
approximately 100 miles east of Hanoi along the coast of which country?

Vietnam

63. Benghazi, located on the Mediterranean Sea east of Tripoli, is an important port for
what North African country?

Libya

64. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec [te-WAHN-te-pek], once considered as a site for an

inter-oceanic canal, is located in the southern part of which country?

Mexico

65. A crucial railway line connects Brazzaville with the port of Pointe-Noire [pwant-
NWAR] in what central African country that borders Gabon?

Congo (Also acceptable: Republic of the Congo)

66. Bordering the Gulf of Bothnia, shipbuilding is an important economic activity in

which country whose capital is Helsinki?

Finland

67. Al ‘Amărah [al’ AH-mahr-uh], situated on the Tigris River, is a major port for which
Southwest Asian country?

Iraq

54
68. Angkor Wat, built as a tribute to Hinduism, is located in which Southeast Asian
country where Buddhism now predominates?

Cambodia

69. The most populous city in the Central African Republic is located near the country’s
southern border. Name this capital city.

Bangui [bahn-GEE]

70. Feng Shui [FUNG-SHWAY], literally meaning “wind-water,” is an ancient practice

that involves arranging your surroundings in harmony with the natural world around
you. Feng Shui originated in which country?

China

71. In the early 1990s, Ethiopia became landlocked following the independence of which
country whose population contains a nearly equal number of Muslims and Christians?

Eritrea

72. The Timor and Arafura Seas separate Indonesia from which country to the south?

Australia

73. Tuvalu, a microstate with an area of about ten square miles and a population of about
10,000, is located in which ocean?

Pacific Ocean

74. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are areas with significant oil reserves in which country?

United Arab Emirates

75. Punta del Este, a resort city known for its beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, is located
in which South American country?

Uruguay

76. The Sierra Maestra, a large mountain range rich in minerals such as copper and
manganese, is located in the southeast of which Caribbean country?

Cuba

77. Which country, with more than two million farms, leads the world in agricultural
exports?

United States

55
78. After his final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon was exiled to the island of St.
Helena, located in which ocean?

Atlantic Ocean

79. The Philippines and which other Southeast Asian country have a Roman Catholic
majority?

Timor-Leste (Also acceptable: East Timor)

80. In Geneva, a large city in western Switzerland, a majority of the people speak which
language?

French

81. Which island country, bordering the Tasman Sea in the South Pacific, was the first
country to grant women the right to vote?

New Zealand

82. What country, located on a peninsula in the Persian Gulf and once dependent on
pearl diving, now has one of the region’s highest per capita incomes?

Qatar

83. The most populous city in Nicaragua is located in the country’s westernmost valley,
where fertile volcanic soils have encouraged settlement. Name this city

Managua

84. Historically, the President of France and the Bishop of Urgel in northeastern Spain
have jointly ruled what small country located between France and Spain?

Andorra

85. Polish, Russian, and Czech are all examples of which Indo-European language group?

Slavic

86. The largest city in South Korea lies on a peninsula across the Yellow Sea from China’s
Shandong Bandao [BAN-DAU] peninsula. Name this city.

Seoul

87. Hundreds of species of butterflies live on what large island in the Indian Ocean that is
crossed by the Tropic of Capricorn?

Madagascar

56
88. Throughout much of the 17th century, whaling took place off the coast of Svalbard
[SVAHL-bar], an archipelago in the Barents Sea. What Scandinavian country
administers Svalbard?

Norway

89. The smallest country in Southeast Asia is home to the largest port in the region and
one of the busiest ports in the world. Name this country.

Singapore

90. The development of Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, and Montego Bay as tourist centers
has boosted the economy of what Caribbean country?

Jamaica

91. Which small European country that borders France, Belgium, and Germany has a
thriving economy that is based on banking services?

Luxembourg

92. Built in the middle of the 11th century, the Alcazaba [al-kah-SAH-bah] in Málaga
[MA-lah-gah] once served as a fortress for Moorish rulers in what present-day
Mediterranean country?

Spain

93. Calypso, music that reflects Spanish, Creole, and African influences, originated on
islands in which sea?

Caribbean Sea

94. Vedas, ancient texts originally composed in Sanskrit, are sacred to what religion
originating in Asia?

Hinduism

95. Suva is the capital of which South Pacific island nation comprising more than 300
islands?

Fiji (Also acceptable: Fiji Islands)

96. Israel captured the Golan Heights from which neighboring country in the Six-Day
War in 1967?

Syria

57
97. Sand dunes are a common sight in the westernmost desert of southern Africa. Name
this desert.

Namib

98. Of the more than 800 languages spoken, English, Hiri Motu, and Tok Pisin are the
most commonly spoken in which Pacific country that shares a large island with
Indonesia?

Papua New Guinea

99. Name the South American country which became landlocked after losing a war with
Chile.

Bolivia

100. Mount Isa [EYE-zuh], located near some of the most productive silver and lead
mines in the world, is in the northeastern part of which country?

Australia

58
 CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

Moderator says: Congratulations to our two finalists, who will now compete in the
championship round. You will be competing with a clean slate. The championship round
consists of three questions. I will ask both of you the same question at the same time, and
you will have 15 seconds to write your answers. When I call “Time,” you will put down
your markers and hold up your answers. Then I will ask each of you, in turn, to read your
answer out loud. I will wait to give the correct answer until both answers have been read.
Whoever correctly answers the most questions in the set of three will be the school
champion. As before, you will not be penalized for inaccurate pronunciations or spellings
as long as it can be determined that you know the correct answer. If there is a tie after the
set of three questions, I will explain the tiebreaker procedure. I will read each question
twice, so you may not ask for another repeat or spelling. Listen carefully before writing
your answers.

1. Last August, President Barack Obama announced the expansion of a marine national
monument, creating the world’s largest marine protected area. The
Papahanaumokuakea [pah-pah-ha-noh-moh-koo-ah-KAY-ah] Marine National
Monument is located off the coast of which U.S. state?

Hawaii

2. Archaeologists have begun excavating an ancient lost city in the region called La
Mosquitia [moh-skee-TEE-ah] in which country north of Nicaragua?

Honduras

3. The endangered snow leopard is being protected in the Annapurna Conservation

Area, which includes the Annapurna [ah-nuh-POOR-nuh] Massif in which Asian
country?

Nepal

59
 CHAMPIONSHIP TIEBREAKER QUESTIONS
Note to moderator: If there is a tie at the end of the championship round, proceed with
the following tiebreaker questions using a single-elimination procedure.

Moderator says: Now we will have a tiebreaker round using a single-elimination

procedure. You will continue to write an answer for each question asked. The first
contestant who correctly answers a question that the other one misses will be the school
champion. As before, I will read each question twice.

1. Colombia, with low coastal plains along both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean,
borders which Central American country?
Panama

2. The Bab el Mandeb, a strait between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa,
connects the Gulf of Aden to which body of water?
Red Sea

3. Irrigation from the Snowy Mountains in the Great Dividing Range makes it possible
to grow rice, potatoes, and tomatoes in the otherwise dry eastern interior of which
country?
Australia

4. The Vai [VIE] script is a unique indigenous writing system found in Sierra Leone and
what country to its southeast?
Liberia

5. The Donets [duh-NETS] Basin is an industrial area shared by Russia and which
neighboring country to the west?
Ukraine

6. Malabo [mah-LAH-boh], the capital city of Equatorial Guinea, is located on which

island off the coast of Africa?
Bioko (Also acceptable: Isla de Bioko)

Note to moderator: If a winner has not been determined, ask unused final round
questions using the written, single-elimination procedure.

60
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