The 15 quiz questions
Question 1 : What does the blue circle on the Brazilian flag represent?
Possible answers:
- The full moon
- Starry sky over Rio on November 15, 1889
- The Atlantic Ocean
- Earth seen from space
Explanation: The globe shows the stars as they appeared over Rio de Janeiro on November 15, 1889, the day the Republic was proclaimed.
Question 2 : What does the central symbol on the South Korean flag mean?
Possible answers:
- Mountain and sea
- World peace
- Cosmic balance (yin-yang)
- Day and night
Explanation: The Taeguk (yin-yang) represents the balance of opposing forces. The 4 black trigrams symbolize heaven, earth, water and fire.
Question 3 : How many points does the star on the Moroccan flag have?
Possible answers:
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 8
Explanation: The green pentacle (5-pointed star) is the Seal of Solomon. It was added to the red flag in 1915 under the French protectorate.
Question 4 : Which tree is represented on the Canadian flag?
Possible answers:
- Pine
- Oak
- Birch
- Maple
Explanation: The 11-pointed maple leaf became a national symbol in the 19th century. Maple syrup is a Canadian cultural icon.
Question 5 : Why does the Japanese flag have a red circle?
Possible answers:
- It represents the blood moon
- It's the imperial seal
- In tribute to the samurai
- It symbolizes the rising sun
Explanation: Japan is the "Land of the Rising Sun" (Nihon/Nippon). The red disc (Hinomaru) represents the sun goddess Amaterasu.
Question 6 : Which Pan-African colors appear on most African flags?
Possible answers:
- Orange, green and white
- Red, yellow and green
- Blue, white and black
- Red, white and blue
Explanation: Inspired by the Ethiopian flag, the only African country never colonized. Adopted as a symbol of liberation and Pan-African unity.
Question 7 : What does the text on the Saudi flag mean?
Possible answers:
- The country's constitution
- The king's name
- The Islamic declaration of faith (shahada)
- An ancient poem
Explanation: "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet." This is why the flag must never be flown at half-mast.
Question 8 : Why is the Swiss flag square?
Possible answers:
- Manufacturing error that became official
- Historical military tradition
- Symmetry of the cross
- An international treaty requires it
Explanation: The square format comes from medieval military banners. Officially adopted in 1889. Only the Vatican shares this peculiarity.
Question 9 : How many patron saint crosses make up the Union Jack?
Possible answers:
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Explanation: St George's Cross (England, red on white), St Andrew's Cross (Scotland, white on blue), St Patrick's Cross (Ireland, red X). Wales is not represented.
Question 10 : The 13 stripes on the American flag represent...
Possible answers:
- The 13 largest states
- The first 13 presidents
- The 13 founding colonies
- The 13 amendments
Explanation: The 13 colonies that declared independence in 1776. The number of stripes has never changed, unlike the stars (from 13 to 50).
Question 11 : On the Mexican flag, the eagle devours which animal?
Possible answers:
- A fish
- A rabbit
- A lizard
- A snake
Explanation: According to Aztec legend, the gods ordered a city to be founded where an eagle would devour a serpent on a cactus: Mexico-Tenochtitlan.
Question 12 : What do the 5 stars on the Chinese flag represent?
Possible answers:
- The Communist Party and the 4 social classes
- The 5 elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water)
- The 5 largest cities
- The 5 regions of China
Explanation: The large star = the CCP. The 4 small ones = workers, peasants, petty bourgeoisie and national bourgeoisie, united under the Party.
Question 13 : The green on the Italian flag traditionally represents...
Possible answers:
- Hope
- The forests
- The army
- Islam
Explanation: Green = hope, white = faith, red = charity. Other interpretations associate green with the plains, white with Alpine snow, red with blood.
Question 14 : Which famous building appears on the Cambodian flag?
Possible answers:
- Angkor Wat
- Temple of Preah Vihear
- Bayon
- Royal Palace of Phnom Penh
Explanation: Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world. It is the only building to appear on a national flag.
Question 15 : The Olympic flag borrows at least one color from every national flag. True or false?
Possible answers:
- Only for founding countries
- False
- True
- It's an urban legend
Explanation: Pierre de Coubertin chose the 5 colors (blue, yellow, black, green, red) + white background so that every nation in the world would have at least one of its colors represented.
