1. You are, no doubt, a smooth operator in all climes. See if you can match the tasteless question with the country where it would be offensive.

   A. Where do you live?	1. Qatar
   B. How's your wife?	2. France
   C. What did that cost?	3. England

2. In Belgium, which has the most complex legislation regarding language in Europe, your Flemish, French, and German skills may be exercised. True or false: Flemish is a variety of Dutch.
3. You are hosting a meeting in Wisconsin for Chinese executives. Which is not a blunder?

   A. Holding the meeting in room 444

   B. Passing out green caps (perhaps from the Green Bay Packers!)

   C. Staying out late entertaining your guests

   D. Serving Wisconsin cheese at every meal

4. True or false: Chileans think diamond-studded gold jewelry on men is uncouth.
5. True or false: It is a social gaffe to arrive on time for a dinner party in Mexico City.
6. Citizens of which country revel in "cutting down the tall poppy"(their phrase for deflating pompous people)?

   A. Uruguay

   B. Jamaica

   C. Australia

7. Suffering from a miserable cold, you travel to Japan. True or false: It is appropriate to use a handkerchief as discreetly as possible during your meetings.
8. Which of the following behaviors are not mal éléve (ill-mannered) in France?

   A. Going to the bathroom during a meeting

   B. Asking whom one voted for in the last election

   C. Feeding your dog from the chair next to you in a restaurant

9. Translation blunders often occur even among English speakers. True or false: The 1993 Warner Brothers' film Free Willy left many Londoners helpless with laughter.
10. Your elegant business card, which contains a great deal of red, draws peculiar looks from some international clients. This is because:

    A. Some belief systems (like Buddhists) traditionally write the names of those who are condemned to death, or are dead, in red.

    B. Some Mexicans find a name in red offensive.

    C. Red is the color of mourning in parts of Africa.

    D. All of the above.

Answers

1. A, 3; B, 1; C, 2 One's home is a personal affair for the English. In Islamic countries, wives are not an appropriate topic for conversation. Discussions of money - but not sex! - can make the French uncomfortable.
2. True.
3. C. The number 4 is inauspicious in Chinese (it sounds like death); a green hat means you are a cuckold; cheese was not a traditional food in China, and some Chinese are lactose-intolerant.
4. True. Chileans interpret a man's ostentatious display of jewelry as proof that he is in business to amass personal wealth, and has the poor taste to show it.
5. True. Guests commonly arrive an hour late for dinner.
6. C. Australians value modesty, and may sit in the front seat in taxis to avoid appearing pompous.
7. False. The Japanese find the custom of preserving mucous in a carefully folded handkerchief to be grotesque. Use disposable tissues.
8. C. Traditionally, dogs have been welcome in many French establishments.
9. True. In England, the word willy is slang for penis.
10. D.

1. Deciding on the world's tallest structure is problematical. Do you limit it to buildings or include TV towers? True or false: Although most of its height is under water, the MARS TLP oil drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico is taller than the world's tallest buildings.
2. While not notably tall, Italy's Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most famous towers in the world. Which of the following is correct about the Leaning Tower?

   A. It is one of several buildings in the Cathedral complex.

   B. It is built in the Gothic style.

   C. It was built as a mausoleum.

   D. All of the above are true.

3. True or false? At 553 meters, the CN Tower in Toronto is not only the tallest structure in Canada, but may be the tallest tower in the world.
4. Often described as the world's largest hydroelectric project, the Itaipú Dam straddles the border between Brazil and which of the following countries?

   A. Chile

   B. Ecuador

   C. Paraguay

5. True or false: The tallest completed structure in the southern hemisphere is in New Zealand.
6. The Japanese hold several records in construction. Which of the following world-record holders is not in Japan?

   A. Longest suspension bridge

   B. Longest tunnel

   C. Tallest skyscraper

7. Currently, the world's tallest hotel is the Chicago Beach Resort Hotel. True or false: This hotel is located in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
8. Following devastating floods in 1953, the Dutch have been building the Delta Works Project to hold back the sea. True or false: The new Delta storm surge barrier is a movable dike as long as the Eiffel Tower is tall.
9. These are three of the tallest buildings in the world. Match each with its home city.

   A. Jin Mao Building	1. Chicago, USA
   B. Petronas Towers	2. Shanghai, China
   C. Sears Tower	3. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

10. As part of its celebration for the year 1000, the UK will focus on the time-keeping town of Greenwich. True or false: Now under construction, the Greenwich Millennium Dome will be slightly smaller than Houston's Astrodome.

1. True. This oil rig is some 3,250 feet tall, compared to the World Trade Center, which reaches 1,728 feet (including antenna).
2. A. It was built as a bell tower in the Romanesque style.
3. True
4. C. Brazil has no common border with Chile or Ecuador.
5. False. However, when completed, New Zealand's Auckland Sky Tower will be taller than any extant structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
6. C. Yokohama's Landmark Tower is not even in the top ten.
7. True. However, this building may soon be eclipsed by the under-construction Emirates Tower, also in Dubai.
8. True
9. A,2; B,3; C,1
10. False. Greenwich will have the largest dome in the world.

1. Classic cars such as Cords, Duesenbergs, and Pierce-Arrows are fondly remembered, but many other US firms once built cars. True or false: From 1919 to 1932, DuPont Motors Inc. built luxury cars.
2. Match each of the following car manufacturers with its country of origin.

   A. Alvis	1. Australia
   B. Holden	2. Malaysia
   C. Proton	3. United Kingdom

3. True or false: The first Willy Jeeps were used by the United States Army during World War II as reconnaissance vehicles to replace the motorcycle.
4. True or false: The fondly remembered Talbot-Lago racing car was produced in France.
5. True or false: Founded in 1961, the Monteverdi automobile company produced luxury cars in Switzerland.
6. Which of the following is not a Japanese-owned car manufacturer?

   A. Daihatsu

   B. Fuji (Subaru)

   C. Hyundai

7. The classic Hispano-Suiza may be the best-remembered Spanish car. True or false: Since World War II, there have been no Spanish-owned automakers.
8. German cars are renowned for their quality. Which of the following German manufacturers, however, once produced underpowered compact cars?

   A. BMW

   B. Daimler-Benz

   C. Trabant

9. Swedish automakers are known for their attention to safety and technical innovations. True or false: The Saab car company began as an aircraft manufacturer.
10. Italy has often been a leader in automotive design. Which of the following is not an Italian car company?

    A. Alfa Romeo

    B. Ferrari

    C. Yugo

Answers

1. True
2. A,3; B,1; C,2
3. True
4. True. Talbot produced the race cars from 1936 to 1956.
5. True
6. C. Hyundai is a Korean car manufacturer.
7. False. Empresa Transportes Autocamiones SA of Barcelona has produced trucks, buses, and the well-regarded Pegaso sports car.
8. C. Built in Communist East Germany, the tiny, two-cylinder Trabi had a top speed of about sixty-two miles per hour.
9. True
10. C. The Yugo was manufactured in the former Yugoslavia.

1. Investment Bike author, Jim Rogers, fulfilled a common male fantasy by motorcycling around the world. Can you match each cycle with its country of origin?

   A. BMW	1. Japan
   B. Harley-Davidson	2. Germany
   C. Kawasaki	3. USA

2. Over the years, different breeds of animals have been prestigious acquisitions. True or false: A jellyfish in an aquarium is now considered a highly prized pet in Japan.
3. Many scouts dream of making archaeological discoveries in exotic lands. One successful expedition is described by Nicholas Clapp in his book, The Roadto Ubar. Where did he find the fabled city of Ubar?

   A. Italy

   B. Oman

   C. China

4. The finest watches are investments as well as timepieces. True or false: Swiss watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre is noted for its Reverso, which flips over to protect the crystal.
5. Why buy just a case of fine liquor, when you can buy the whole distillery? Match these exceptional spirits with the countries in which they are produced:

   A. Jack Daniels	1. Scotland
   B. Lagavulin	2. Sweden
   C. Absolut	3. USA

6. When money is no object, you buy...books? True or false: The world's richest man, Bill Gates, paid $30.8 million for a journal by Italy's brilliant Renaissance man, Leonardo Da Vinci.
7. Luxury vessels are on many wish lists. Where are Queenship yachts created?

   A. Canada

   B. The Netherlands

   C. South Africa

8. While you may never ride a legend such as Seattle Slew, you could own one of his offspring. True or false: Seattle Slew, the only undefeated Triple Crown winner in history, is available for a mere stud fee of $100,000.00.
9. Fly me to the moon! With enough money, you could build your own space vehicle. True or false: Geographically, Peru is an optimum rocket-launching site.
10. Rockets not your cup of tea? Try hot-air ballooning! True or false: The British firm, Cameron Balloons, once created an 85 foot balloon shaped like Malcolm Forbes.

Answers

1. A, 2; B, 3; C, 1
2. True. The Japanese also consider jelly fish an edible delicacy.
3. B. Sometimes described as "the Atlantis of Arabia," Ubar had been lost since its destruction between 300 to 500 A.D.
4. True. It was developed for polo-playing British officers serving in India at the end of the Twenties.
5. A, 3; B, 1; C, 2
6. True. Gates purchased Da Vinci's journal, called the Codex Leicester, in 1994.
7. A. Queenship is based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
8. True. Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky is home to the famous stallion.
9. True. Launching from Peru's high plains and equatorial location makes it easier to achieve orbit.
10. False. Forbes ordered a replica of Ludwig von Beethoven for a tour over Germany.

1. In the USA, the Amish (sometimes known as the Pennsylvania Dutch) speak a dialect of:

   A. Aramaic

   B. Dutch

   C. German

2. True or false: In Japan, most men and women speak different forms of Japanese.
3. Several dialects are recognized as distinct languages in Spain. Can you match the following languages with the appropriate data?

   A. Basque	1. Spoken in Galicia
   B. Castilian	2. Not related to Spanish
   C. Galician	3. Spain's official dialect

4. Muslims believe that God spoke Arabic, the official language of many countries such as Oman and Morocco. True or false: Spoken Arabic has no regional dialects.
5. Which of the following is not one of Belgium's three official languages?

   A. Flemish

   B. French

   C. German

   D. Luxembourgish

6. True or false: In 1966, the French government established a commission to combat Franglais, a mixture of French and English.
7. The official form of the German language is commonly known as Hochdeutsch. True or false: Martin Luther's translation of the Old Testament into Hochdeutsch helped make it the leading dialect.
8. Until recently, most Chinese immigrants to North America came from the region around Hong Kong. Which of the following Chinese dialects is the most widely used there?

   A. Cantonese

   B. Mandarin

   C. Shanghainese

9. Italy has many dialects, some of which are not mutually intelligible, but standard Italian is abased on a dialect used by such prestigious authors as Petrarch and Dante. Which dialect is it?

   A. Roman

   B. Sicilian

   C. Tuscan

10. Cockney immigrants to Australia brought their dialect, which employs a rhyming slang, in which rhymes are substituted for words. Can you match the original words with their Australian slang rhymes?

    A. Bread	1. Butcher's hook
    B. Look	2. Cheese and kisses
    C. Mrs.	3. Roses are red

Answers

1. C. The name Pennsylvania Dutch is derived from Deutsch, meaning "German."
2. True. The Japanese language has several degrees of politeness, and traditional Japanese women speak a very deferential form of the language.
3. A,2; B,3; C,1
4. False
5. D. Even in Luxembourg, Luxembourgish is not an official language!
6. True. Haut-Comité pour la défence et l'expansion de la langue Française created French terms to replace words borrowed from English.
7. True
8. A. Mandarin, however, is the official language of the People's Republic of China.
9. C. However, since Italy's biggest movie studios are in Rome, the Roman dialect is often heard in the media.
10. A,3; B,1; C,2

1. Can you match each of the following countries with its famous wine product?

   A. Chianti--a red wine in a straw-wrapped bottle	1. Hungary
   B. Pinotage--a hybrid red wine	2. Italy
   C. Tokay (Tokaj)--a sweet dessert wine	3. USA (California)
   D. White ("Pink") Zinfandel--a sweet, fruity wine	4. South Africa

2. True or False: Although many countries produce sherry, it is traditionally associated with Belgium.
3. What accounts for the sweetness of the white wines known as Sauternes?

   A. A fungal infection, botrytis cinerea (a.k.a. noble rot), on the grapes

   B. Individual grapes are hand-picked at the peak of ripeness

   C. The Sauterne grape is one of the sweeter varieties of grapes

   D. All of the above

4. Port comes from Portugal, but for centuries, the export of the wine has been largely controlled by vineyard owners from which country?

   A. Spain

   B. England

   C. The Netherlands

5. Sake is thought of as a Japanese rice wine (although it is technically a rice beer). True or False: Sake is properly served heated.
6. Which country is the largest wine producer in South America?

   A. Argentina

   B. Brazil

   C. Chile

7. In the last century, the phylloxera louse devastated many of the world's best wine-producing grapes. True or False: Geographically isolated, the vineyards of Chile have never been infected by phylloxera.
8. Australia has become a major wine producer. Which of the following is NOT true about Australian winemaking?

   A. The Syrah grape is also called Shiraz.

   B. Radically different grapes may be combined in wine, such as the unique Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon blend.

   C. Wine has replaced beer as the preferred drink in Australia.

9. New Zealand also exports wine. True or False: New Zealand produces wine which is nearly identical to that of Australia.
10. Madeira is another product of Portugal. True or False: Until the second half of the 19th century, it was the most popular wine in the USA.

Answers

1. A,2; B,4; C,1; D,3
2. False. Sherry is a traditional product of Spain.
3. D. Sauternes are also grown in Bordeaux, France.
4. B. The British took over the Port trade during the 17th century,when they were at war with France and needed a substitute for French wine.
5. True. Many recommend a temperature of 100 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. A. Although Chilean wines are better known in the export market, Argentina's wine production is about four times greater than Chile's.
7. True.
8. C. Beer remains the Aussies' #1 alcoholic drink.
9. False. New Zealand is generally cooler than Australia, and the climate yields different wines.
10. True. Disease and poor weather so damaged Madeira's crop that it lost popularity after 1920.

1. The tongueless Scottish Ghillie shoe is known for its comfort and its:

   A. distinctive heels

   B. rubber soles

   C. laces

2. A wooden sabot (or clog) was traditionally worn in the Netherlands, France, and elsewhere in Europe. True or False: Sabot is also the root of the word "sabotage."
3. During his 1926 coronation, Emperor Hirohito of Japan stood on 12 inch high:

   A. Chopines

   B. Getas

   C. Boots

4. Match the shoe designer with the product.

   A. Dave Little	1. Sandals
   B. L.L. Bean	2. Cowboy Boots
   C. André Perugia	3. Leather & Rubber Galoshes

5. When you need to muck out the stalls, or trek through some English countryside, grab your:

   A. Ferragamos

   B. Blahniks

   C. Wellingtons

6. Today's platform shoes are tame compared to their 15th & 16th century predecessors called chopines. True or False: In Venice, 30 inch high chopines required two servants to steady the wearer.
7. True or False: The slippers worn by toreadors in the bullfight ring are called zapatillas.
8. The ancient Chinese practice of footbinding was officially banned by Empress Dowager (Tz'u-hsi) in 1902. Prior to that, a Golden Lotus referred to a:

   A. 6 inch foot

   B. 3 inch foot

   C. 12 inch foot

9. Many Native Americans' shoes are distinguished by soles that extend up toward the top, so the toe is not on "ground level." True or False: These shoes are called crakows.

Answers

1. C.
2. True. Workers sometimes threw their wooden shoes into machinery to halt production.
3. B.
4. A, 2; B, 3; C,1
5. C. You need your sturdy rubber "Wellies."
6. True.
7. True. And those pink stockings set them off so nicely!
8. B.
9. False. They are moccasins. Crakows, from the 15th century, had points up to two feet long!

1. The Civil War delayed the opening of the oldest chartered zoo in the USA. True or false: The zoo is in Philadelphia.
2. Which country can boast many zoos, four of which are outstanding?

   A. Italy

   B. Spain

   C. Germany

3. True or false: Panama has two world-class zoos with large collections of Amazonian flora and fauna.
4. Which of the following zoos has the largest giant panda collection outside China?

   A. Buenos Aires Zoological Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina

   B. Zoológico de Chapultepec in Mexico City

   C. Park of the Legends Zoo in Lima, Peru

5. True or false: Established in the 1790s in Paris, the Jardin des Plantes Ménagerie is one of the oldest zoos in Europe.
6. Which country has one of the largest percentages of protected land areas?

   A. Colombia

   B. Costa Rica

   C. Chile

7. Zoos that have removed all visible bars or cages are known as open zoos.True or false: Singapore's Zoological Gardens employs moated enclosures,streams, and ponds.
8. Great Britain is home to two zoos that rank among the world's best. Which two are they?

   A. Edinburgh Zoo and London Zoo

   B. Perth Zoo and Royal Melbourne Zoo

   C. Bristol Zoo and Chester Zoo

9. Which of these Asian cities has not one but two major zoos?

   A. Bangkok, Thailand

   B. Taipei, Taiwan

   C. Tokyo

10. In which of these cities can you visit the Al Ain Zoo & Aquarium, the most comprehensive zoo in the Middle East?

    A. Bahrain, Bahrain

    B. Doha, Qatar

    C. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Answers

1. True. The Philadelphia Zoo was chartered in 1859 and opened in 1874.
2. C. The four zoos are: Zoologischer Garten Berlin, Carl HagenbeckTierpark, Munchener Tierpark Hellabrunn, and Wilhelma Zoologisch-BotanischerGarten.
3. False. Brazil's Jardim Botânico and São PauloZoological Park are in Rio de Janeiro.
4. B. Mexico City's Zoológico de Chapultepec has successfullybred giant pandas six times.
5. True
6. B. About twenty-seven percent of Costa Rica's land has been setaside as national parks, wildlife refuges, Indian reservations, or otherprotected areas.
7. True. The Singapore Zoological Gardens is an excellent example of anopen-zoo design.
8. A
9. C. Tokyo's Tama Zoological Park opened in 1958 to relieve crowdingat Ueno Municipal Zoo.
10. C