Geo Quiz | PRI's The World - Part 29

The World’s GEO QUIZ

Today’s Geo Texting game winners (Yakutsk):

Temperance in Fruitridge CA

Scott in Cherokee, CA

Shawn in Tampa, FL

Texting Game Sign up to get the Geo Quiz delivered to your mobile phone via text message.

How do I play? Text the keyword GEOQUIZ to 69866 from your mobile phone. Instructions will follow via text. You will need to reply with your name and zip code to enter. Once you have signed up, you will receive a quiz every Wednesday. We expect to add other days fairly shortly. Simply tune-in to the show to see if you got the correct answer. Answers will also be sent via text later and posted on The World’s website at theworld.org/geoquiz.We will select three people who answered the quiz correctly and mention your first name and city during the broadcast and post here on theworld.org

What are the terms and conditions? By signing up for the Geo Quiz texting game, you are subscribing to receive text alerts from Public Radio International (PRI) and The World. The Geo Quiz is free, but message and data rates from your mobile carrier may apply. You may opt-out any time by replying STOP to a text message from PRI or The World, or by sending a request to theworld@pri.org. You must include the mobile phone number you want opted out.

Who can I contact to get more information? For more information about the Geo Quiz texting game and its guidelines email theworld@pri.org. The World’s Geo Quiz tests your knowledge of world geography, and introduces you to fascinating people and places around the globe. Produced by The World’s David Leveille. Geo Quiz Podcast on iTunes Geo Quiz Podcast via RSS

Geo Quiz theme music:

SONG TITLE: Diaraby

ARTISTS:Ali Farka Toure with Ry Cooder

CD TITLE: Talking Timbuktu

CD LABEL: World Circuit Purchase the CD here

Geo Quiz

Ethiopia’s child brides

By The World ⋅ June 6, 2011 ⋅ 4 comments ⋅

Ethiopian girl (Flickr image: Evgeniy Zotov)

Name the northwestern region of Ethiopia, which is home to the Amharic language.

Where ex-pat Peruvians vote

By The World ⋅ June 3, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

The Geo Quiz is looking for the name of a city outside Washington, D.C. where Peruvian ex-pats will go to vote this weekend.

‘Worms from Hell’

By The World ⋅ June 2, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

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We’re looking for a province of South Africa for the Geo Quiz this time. It’s located near the center of the country and it borders tiny landlocked Lesotho. This is a province that’s peppered with gold mines. Some extend a mile down or more. A team of scientists has made a discovery way down there …
Download MP3

New Dangers for Clownfish

By The World ⋅ June 1, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

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For our Geo Quiz, we’re looking for the world’s largest coral reef. It’s actually made up of about 3,000 smaller reefs and 900 islands, and it stretches over 1,500 miles. It’s located in warm waters of the southern hemisphere. The reef is home to an abundance of marine life: starfish and sea turtles, eels and at least a thousand species of fish, including clownfish. And clownfish seem to be facing new dangers lately… Download MP3

The Titanic Was Built Here

By The World ⋅ May 31, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

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We step back 100 years for the Geo Quiz. A luxury liner launched from our mystery city on May 31, 1911. You may have heard of the ship. It was called the Titanic. Where was it built? Download MP3

PowerPlay Golf

By The World ⋅ May 30, 2011 ⋅ 8 comments ⋅

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In the Geo Quiz, we’re looking for a city in southern Wales that’s home to the Celtic Manor golf resort. The city is located on the banks of the River Usk near the Bristol Channel, the narrow waterway that separates Wales from southwest England. Golfers are currently at the Celtic Manor to launch a faster-paced version of golf. So where is this happenning? Download MP3

Video: How to Play PowerPlay Golf

Tight and Loose Cultures

By The World ⋅ May 27, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

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Some countries are strict, others are a little more laid back – You could say “tight” or “loose.” An international team of scientists has come up with a psychological and cultural study of 33 countries. The study compares how those nations enforce social rules and customs. The results are in a study published in the journal “Science.” So for our Geo Quiz, we want you to name the two countries that are on the opposite ends of the tight/loose spectrum. Download MP3

Dominican Dictatorship Remembered

By The World ⋅ May 26, 2011 ⋅ 3 comments ⋅

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For the Geo Quiz this time: we’re looking for a city in the Caribbean once nicknamed “Ciudad Trujillo” or Trujillo’s City. The name dates back to the 1930s when this city in the Dominican Republic was ruled by the dictator Rafael Trujillo. Dominicans haven’t forgotten Trujillo’s iron-fisted rule, now there’s a museum dedicated to his victims. It’s located in the heart of the Dominican capital we want you to name. Download MP3

Indigenous Protest in Cambodia

By The World ⋅ May 25, 2011 ⋅ One comment ⋅

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We’re on the Indochinese peninsula for this Geo Quiz, looking for the name of a southeast Asian forest. It’s home to indigenous Kui people who’ve lived in the forest for centuries. Illegal logging and mineral mining are taking a toll on the ancient forest. If that sounds like something out of Avatar, then you won’t be surprised to hear that some Kuy tried to dress like characters in the movie to protest the destruction of their sacred forest. Can you name that forest? Download MP3

New View of the Night Sky

By The World ⋅ May 24, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅

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In the Geo Quiz, we’re looking for a town that has a reputation as one of coldest places in South Africa but its location in a vast desert called the Great Karoo makes it a perfect place to view the night sky. That’s why the Southern African Large Telescope, nicknamed SALT, is there. It’s the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere. So, name this town located in the Northern Cape province if you can… Download MP3

Interactive Feature: Milky Way Panorama

Female Driver in Saudi Arabia

By The World ⋅ May 23, 2011 ⋅ One comment ⋅

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The Geo Quiz takes a look at the rights of women in Saudi Arabia this time. The Saudi city we’d like you to name today is located on the coast of the Red Sea. It’s Saudi Arabia’s second largest city after the capital Riyadh. For the past few days a woman has been driving around this city. That takes a lot of nerve in a country that forbids women to drive… Download MP3

On The World: Women’s rights in Saudi Arabia

Home of the Prime Meridian

By The World ⋅ May 20, 2011 ⋅ One comment ⋅

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Time to synchronize our clocks now to the Geo Quiz: we’re searching for a district of London. It’s home to the Royal Observatory which looks out over the River Thames. The observatory marks the location of the prime meridian. That’s 0 degrees longitude. It serves as the starting point for all time zones spanning the globe. Download MP3

Slideshow: Old Railway Maps of the World

Cycling the World

By The World ⋅ May 19, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

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We’re trying to track down Somen Debnath in the Geo Quiz. He is traveling around the world on bicycle to raise awareness of AIDS and Indian culture. Somen grew up just outside of Kolkata, India. Back in 2004 he headed off on his bicycle. By his own count, he’s visited 60 countries – where is he now? Download MP3

Video: Somen on tour in Europe

Surf’s Up in South America

By The World ⋅ May 18, 2011 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅

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Surf’s up for our Geo Quiz: we are looking for one of the few capital cities in the world with good waves. Foreign surfers who land at this South American city’s airport can be riding the waves within an hour. Ocean currents rolling in from both hemispheres and collide all along the 1,500 miles of coastline – all year round. Download MP3

Slideshow: John Otis’s Surfing Pictures

India’s Hoop Star

By The World ⋅ May 17, 2011 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

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For the Geo Quiz we are looking for an Indian state wedged between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. This state’s neighbors are Karnataka to the north and Tamil Nadu to the east. Among its many natural resources are black pepper, cardamom and tigers. Download MP3