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


Kite surfing in Asia

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For today’s Geo Quiz we’re tracking kite surfing tour Asia. Some of the best kite surfers in the world recently converged on an island in the Philippines. We’re looking for the name of this island that’s home to Bulabog Beach…where the wind and the waves make for perfect kite surfing conditions. Download MP3

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Beckham likely to miss World Cup

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David Beckham’s dream of playing in a fourth soccer World Cup looks to be over after he tore his left Achilles tendon while playing for AC Milan on Sunday. The 34-year-old England midfielder had surgery in Finland today. The World Cup tournament starts in June in South Africa. The World’s William Troop tells us more. Download MP3
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The heel of Italy’s boot

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The recipe for today’s Geo Quiz calls for some orecchiette and something called cima di rapa. The first is a type of pasta shaped like ears. The second is what Italians call turnip tops or greens. You may find both ingredients at your local grocery store. But if you want them freshly picked — and deliciously prepared — try south-eastern Italy.

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Greek islands

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For today’s Geo Quiz, we’re looking for a group of Greek islands. They have names like Corfu, Paxos and Ithaca… Download MP3

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The world’s fourth-largest island

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We head south from Somalia about 1600 miles for today’s Geo Quiz. We’re heading to the world’s fourth-largest island. Let’s give you a little help right off the bat. The three largest islands in the world are Greenland, New Guinea, and Borneo. So you can rule those out… Download MP3

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Hot and dry

For today’s Geo Quiz we’re looking a parched part of the world. Where the skies have finally opened up. This country in the southern hemisphere has always been a hot, dry place. But lately it’s been even worse than usual. Much of it is in the grip of a 10-year drought… that’s left farms and cities alike seriously thirsty…

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Scattered chips

For our Geo Quiz today we’re looking for one of Germany’s historic squares. This one’s just a short distance from the Brandenburg Gate.

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Walking across the world’s deepest lake

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We’re tracking two Canadian adventurers for our Geo Quiz today. They’re attempting to cross a frozen lake in Siberia. It’s not just any lake – it’s about 400 miles across and its the deepest lake in the world. It’s the planet’s largest reservoir of fresh water. Download MP3


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Birds rock

An art museum figures in today’s Geo Quiz. It’s not the Hermitage, the Louvre, or the Met. But its one of Europe’s largest performance art museums, home to an eclectic mix of music, theatre, and dance events.

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Nuts for coconuts

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A state in south west India is on our radar for today’s Geo Quiz. It lies right in between the Laccadive Sea, that’s part of the Indian Ocean and the Western Ghats, the mountain range that runs down to the southern tip of India. By the way this state is famous for its coconuts as well as coconut oil, coconut cake, coconut toddy, coconut water..you get the idea…they go nuts for coconuts. We’ll hear about a possible creative solution to that problem and reveal the answer on today’s show. Download MP3 (Photo: Adithya Sambamurthy)


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Economic woes

Another European country with economic woes figures in today’s Geo Quiz. We’re searching for a country at the edge of the Baltic Sea. Its neighbors include Russia, Estonia and Belarus. Its economy was on the upswing until about 2007.

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Dangerous Mexican city

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In the Geo Quiz we’re looking for a Mexican city that has made headlines recently as one of the world’s most violent: registering thousands of homicides in the last two years alone. Yet a high school student exchange program continues there as usual, despite the dangers, and the exchange students say they couldn’t be happier as Monica Ortiz Uribe reports. Download MP3


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Southernmost wind farm

Today’s Geo Quiz is wind powered. We’re looking for the world’s southernmost wind farm today. It’s located on Crater Hill, on Antarctica’s Ross Island. The three wind turbines can generate up to one megawatt of electricity. That’s enough to help power two nearby scientific research stations. We want you to name those stations. One’s operated by the US, the other by New Zealand. It’s a remote setting, but there’s a great view.

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Simple scanner

Today’s Geo Quiz sends us to a landlocked country in Western Europe. This neighbor of Liechtenstein stretches out between the Jura Mountains and the Alps…

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White Sun of the Desert

[Audio clip: view full post to listen] Download MP3 The 1969 film is called “White Sun of the Desert.” It’s hailed as the first Soviet Western. It’s also one of the most popular Russian films of all time. Cosmonauts reportedly watch it before every launch from Russia’s cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazahkstan. The landscape there is [...]

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