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.

 

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Geo Quiz


A Song Contest Stirs Up Human Rights Issues

Eurovision host Azerbaijan isn't scoring very well in the human rights competition in this cartoon by Scotland's Frank Boyle (Cartoon: Frank Boyle, Edinburgh Evening News, Scotland)

The Geo Quiz takes us to an oil-rich city on the Caspian Sea where 42 countries are competing to win a song contest. The event is shining a spotlight on the poor human rights record of this former Soviet state.

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Toronto’s Housing: Up in the Clouds, Literally and in Price

The rate of construction of high-rise buildings in Toronto is the highest in North America. (Photo: Jason Margolis)

Toronto’s skyline is starting to look a lot like Manhattan and so are the housing prices.

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World’s Oldest Fossils on Display in Houston

(Photo: The Houston Museum of Natural Science)

Sandstone rocks discovered in Australia about a year ago are believed to contain fossils of the earliest living cells.

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The Forgotten Circassian Nation

Historical Circassia

Monday is the anniversary of the 1864 massacre of the Circassians, an ethnic people from the North Caucasus. Their descendants are scattered around the world, including in northern New Jersey. Now they are pushing to go back to their cultural home. Can you name it?

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Fencing Makes a Comeback in Libya

In a post-Gaddafi era, fencing is making a comeback in Libya. (Photo: Robert Blazek/Wikipedia)

For the Geo Quiz we are looking for the largest city in a North African country where fencing is enjoying a resurgence.

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No Shouting: Istanbul Tells its Street Vendors

Vendor in Istanbul. (Photo: David Trilling)

In Istanbul’s rapid urbanization process, it has banned shouting by vendors in open-air markets.

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What Europe can Learn from an Ancient Empire with a Common Currency

Roman Dupondius 23 BCE-250 CE (Photo: Dirty Old Coins/Wiki Commons)

For the Geo Quiz, we are looking for a vast area that used a common currency, about 2,000 years ago.

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Colombian Flowers Mark the Start of New Free Trade Agreement

Packing Colombian Roses for Export (Photo: Association of Colombian Flower Exporters)

A huge shipment of fresh Colombian roses and carnations arrived at Miami International Airport, the very first products to enter the USA under a free trade agreement with Colombia that’s just gone into effect. Augusto Solano, president of the Colombian Association of Flower Exporters says the new trade agreement is good news for Colombia.

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Italian Museum Burns Art in Protest to Save Art

Museum director Antonio Manfredi set fire to the first painting. (Photo: Casoria Contemporary Art Museum)

Casoria Contemporary Art Museum has embarked on a controversial campaign to protest budget cuts to the arts. It’s burning works of art one by one to protest government indifference. Where is the museum located?

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World’s Top Race Walkers Compete in Russia’s Mordovian Capital

IAAF World Race Walking Cup, Sarinsk, Russia (Photo: IAAF)

The IAAF World Race Walking Cup is happening this weekend in Saransk, the capital of the Russian region of Mordovia. The US racewalking team will compete against formidable opponents from Russia and China in city that goes bananas for race walking!

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Mystery of Madrid’s Blue Clay Tennis Courts

Madrid Open (Photo: Madrid Open/Facebook)

To Madrid, the capital of Spain, for the GeoQuiz. Name the venue for the Madrid Open tennis tournament. It looks like a big cube with a roof that slides off almost magically. But the real novelty is the blue clay court.

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China Activist Chen Guangcheng and his American Confidant

Chen Guangcheng with his family at a hospital in Beijing on May 1, 2012 (Photo: US State Department)

Jerome Cohen, a key adviser to Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng says he’s hoping to welcome the blind activist to New York University’s School of Law.

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India’s Schoolchildren Connect to their Global Peers

Classroom in Lucknow, India (Photo: City Montessori School)

The City Montessori School would seem to be bursting at the seams. 42,000 students attend this private secondary school in the northern Indian city of Lucknow. Students at the school participated in a BBC World Service program to consider this question: What matters to me?

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St. George Festival on West Bank Attracts Muslims and Christians

Saint George and the Dragon (Photo: State Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg)

Al-Khader is a Palestinian village where the Festival of St. George is celebrated each year. The World’s Matthew Bell visited the monastery in Al-Khader where the legend of St. George the Dragon Slayer still inspires Christians and Muslims alike.

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Mayan Stone Engraving and the End of the World

The Stela, Mayan Ruins. Cancun, Mexico. (Photo: Jake Warga)

For Friday’s Geo Quiz name the city where a stone engraving supposedly predicts the end of the world. Hint: You might find a swim up bar nearby.

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