The 15 quiz questions
Question 1 : Which vanished country or entity did this flag belong to?
Possible answers:
- Soviet Union (USSR)
- Vietnam
- North Korea
- China
Explanation: The hammer and sickle on a red background symbolized the union of workers and peasants. The USSR existed from 1922 to 1991.
Question 2 : Which empire used this flag with a crescent and star on a red background?
Possible answers:
- Ottoman Empire
- Byzantine Empire
- Mughal Empire
- Persian Empire
Explanation: The Ottoman crescent moon became the symbol of Islam worldwide. The empire lasted from 1299 to 1922 and controlled 3 continents.
Question 3 : Which empire was represented by this double-headed eagle flag?
Possible answers:
- Holy Roman Empire
- Austrian Empire
- Byzantine Empire
- Russian Empire
Explanation: The double-headed eagle symbolized temporal and spiritual power. The Holy Roman Empire lasted from 962 to 1806, when Napoleon dissolved it.
Question 4 : Which kingdom did this black and white flag with an eagle belong to?
Possible answers:
- Prussia
- Bavaria
- Saxony
- Austria
Explanation: The Kingdom of Prussia (1701-1918) unified Germany under Bismarck in 1871. The black eagle on a white background is an iconic military symbol.
Question 5 : This entirely green flag with no design belonged to which country (1977-2011)?
Possible answers:
- Libya
- Mauritania
- Pakistan
- Saudi Arabia
Explanation: Under Gaddafi, green symbolized the Green Book and the Islamic revolution. It was the simplest national flag in the world.
Question 6 : The American Confederate flag (starred X-cross) is associated with which war?
Possible answers:
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
- War of 1812
- Spanish-American War (1898)
- American War of Independence (1775-1783)
Explanation: The "Southern Cross" or "Dixie Flag" represented the Confederate States of the South. It remains a highly controversial symbol in the United States.
Question 7 : This blue-white-red tricolor flag with a red star belonged to which vanished country?
Possible answers:
- Yugoslavia
- Hungary
- Poland
- Czechoslovakia
Explanation: Yugoslavia (1945-1992) comprised 6 republics: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. Dissolved during the wars of the 1990s.
Question 8 : The Czech Republic kept the flag of Czechoslovakia after the 1993 separation. True or false?
Possible answers:
- True
- Neither
- Slovakia kept it
- False
Explanation: Despite an agreement prohibiting both countries from keeping common symbols, the Czech Republic kept the blue-white-red triangular flag. Slovakia created a new flag.
Question 9 : How many different flags has Afghanistan had since 1900?
Possible answers:
- About 20
- 3
- 5
- 10
Explanation: World record! Monarchy, republic, Soviet invasion, mujahideen, Taliban (1996), republic (2001), Taliban return (2021) — each regime imposed its own flag.
Question 10 : Which Asian country had a flag with a white elephant on a red background until 1917?
Possible answers:
- Siam (Thailand)
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Myanmar
Explanation: The white elephant was the royal symbol of Siam. In 1917, King Rama VI adopted the current red-white-blue stripes, inspired by the colors of the WWI Allies.
Question 11 : This flag, banned in a certain country, belongs to?
Possible answers:
- Tibet
- Kurdistan
- Taiwan
- Catalonia
Explanation: The Tibetan flag with the snow lion and rays is banned in mainland China. Tibet has been an autonomous region of China since 1950.
Question 12 : The Jolly Roger (skull and crossbones on a black background) was used by?
Possible answers:
- Caribbean pirates (17th-18th century)
- The British Navy
- The Vikings
- The Ottoman Empire
Explanation: Each pirate captain had their own version. Blackbeard, Calico Jack and others used it to terrorize merchant ships. Now a pop culture symbol.
Question 13 : This flag with hammer and compass belonged to which state that vanished in 1990?
Possible answers:
- East Germany (GDR)
- Czechoslovakia
- Hungary
- Communist Poland
Explanation: The GDR added hammer, compass and wheat ears to the German tricolor to distinguish itself from the West. Disappeared with reunification on October 3, 1990.
Question 14 : Which current European flag is exactly the same as that of the former Czechoslovakia?
Possible answers:
- Czech Republic
- Hungary
- Slovakia
- Poland
Explanation: The blue triangle with white and red stripes. Slovakia had to create a new flag (horizontal white-blue-red with coat of arms).
Question 15 : This unique flag combines the Union Jack and American stripes. It belongs to?
Possible answers:
- Hawaii
- Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Bermuda
Explanation: The only US state flag with the Union Jack, a legacy of King Kamehameha I who admired Great Britain. Adopted in 1845.
