FSU Trivia

[mendeleyev]

Here are some fun trivia facts to discover about Russia:

1- T or F
Beards were common on Russian Orthodox and Muslim men. To tidy up Russia's image with Europe, Peter the Great levied a tax on beards.


2- T or F
Russian police can issue tickets to drivers of dirty cars.


3- What was the name of the dog Russia sent into space in 1957?


4- T or F
Largely due to alcohol poisoning, 25% of males die before age 55.


5- In what year (surprisingly recent) did the government declare beer to be an alcoholic beverage?


6- T or F
Russia is bigger than Pluto.


7- How many dollars did the USA pay Russia for Alaska in 1867?


8- T or F
Siberia takes up approximately 77% of Russia.


9- What was the name of the famous St Petersburg (Leningrad) hotel where Hitler had planned to celebrate Nazi capture of the city?


10- T or F
At 145 km, Sochi is the longest city in Europe.



Each question is worth 10 points. What is your score?


If your score was less than perfect, here is a "Redemption" question for 10 bonus points:

- Which city is considered to be the Russia's "northern capital"?

[Larry1]

Here are your questions followed by my answers in blue:

1- T or F
Beards were common on Russian Orthodox and Muslim men. To tidy up Russia's image with Europe, Peter the Great levied a tax on beards.

True

2- T or F
Russian police can issue tickets to drivers of dirty cars.

Complete guess. I'll say yes.

3- What was the name of the dog Russia sent into space in 1957?

Laika

4- T or F
Largely due to alcohol poisoning, 25% of males die before age 55.

Also a guess - I'll say yes


5- In what year (surprisingly recent) did the government declare beer to be an alcoholic beverage?

2014 (although it was probably 2013, bc I almost always remember that things happened more recently than they actually did happen)


6- T or F
Russia is bigger than Pluto.

I'll guess true

7- How many dollars did the USA pay Russia for Alaska in 1867?

$7.2 million

8- T or F
Siberia takes up approximately 77% of Russia.

I think that is True

9- What was the name of the famous St Petersburg (Leningrad) hotel where Hitler had planned to celebrate Nazi capture of the city?

Metropole?

10- T or F
At 145 km, Sochi is the longest city in Europe.

No idea

Each question is worth 10 points. What is your score?


If your score was less than perfect, here is a "Redemption" question for 10 bonus points:

- Which city is considered to be the Russia's "northern capital"?

Two possibilities come to mind. I'll say Novgorod.

[mendeleyev]

I won't post answers yet to give others a chance, but while you have an opportunity to "modify" you might wish to reconsider three questions, and try again on the Bonus question. 

[Larry1]

I won't post answers yet to give others a chance, but while you have an opportunity to "modify" you might wish to reconsider three questions, and try again on the Bonus question. 

Looking the answers up wouldn't be fair

I'll stick with my 70% score.

[KenInUtah]

I asked Lily, she got 6 of them right!

[2tallbill]

Note, Angel Eyes might have helped me 

1- T or F
Beards were common on Russian Orthodox and Muslim men. To tidy up Russia's image with Europe, Peter the Great levied a tax on beards.
True

2- T or F
Russian police can issue tickets to drivers of dirty cars.
Hmmmmmm False  The license plate number must be readable

3- What was the name of the dog Russia sent into space in 1957?
Laika

4- T or F
Largely due to alcohol poisoning, 25% of males die before age 55.
I've read that is true (but I can't believe it)

5- In what year (surprisingly recent) did the government declare beer to be an alcoholic beverage?
January 1 2013

6- T or F
Russia is bigger than Pluto.
True

7- How many dollars did the USA pay Russia for Alaska in 1867?
$7.2 million

8- T or F
Siberia takes up approximately 77% of Russia.
True

9- What was the name of the famous St Petersburg (Leningrad) hotel where Hitler had planned to celebrate Nazi capture of the city?
Leningrad's Astoria Hotel,

10- T or F
At 145 km, Sochi is the longest city in Europe.
True


Each question is worth 10 points. What is your score?


If your score was less than perfect, here is a "Redemption" question for 10 bonus points:

- Which city is considered to be the Russia's "northern capital"?
St Petersburg

[Larry1]

Mendy,

You never gave us the correct answers to this quiz. It probably slipped your mind.

[mendeleyev]

Thanks for the reminder, Larry. I had forgotten.


1- T or F
Beards were common on Russian Orthodox and Muslim men. To tidy up Russia's image with Europe, Peter the Great levied a tax on beards.

True


2- T or F
Russian police can issue tickets to drivers of dirty cars.

True


3- What was the name of the dog Russia sent into space in 1957?

Laika


4- T or F
Largely due to alcohol poisoning, 25% of males die before age 55.

True


5- In what year (surprisingly recent) did the government declare beer to be an alcoholic beverage?

2013 (On New Year's Day)


6- T or F
Russia is bigger than Pluto.

True


7- How many dollars did the USA pay Russia for Alaska in 1867?

$7.2 million


8- T or F
Siberia takes up approximately 77% of Russia.

True

9- What was the name of the famous St Petersburg (Leningrad) hotel where Hitler had planned to celebrate Nazi capture of the city?

Hotel Astoria


10- T or F
At 145 km, Sochi is the longest city in Europe.

There are legitimate sources that dispute the claim, arguing that Russia's claim for "Greater Sochi" is fudged. Ukrainians say that Krivoy Rog, with 75 kilometers is really the longest. (Since there is that dispute, we should perhaps scratch this question. At the time I was not aware that Russia includes "greater" Sochi in that distance.


Each question is worth 10 points. What is your score?


If your score was less than perfect, here is a "Redemption" question for 10 bonus points:

- Which city is considered to be the Russia's "northern capital"?

St Petersburg

[msmobyone]

I got  60, but if I didn't know the Sochi question - I'd be 'dead'..

[2tallbill]

I got  60, but if I didn't know the Sochi question - I'd be 'dead'..

You would probably be well advised not to consider that silly theory about
Sochi Proper and Krivoy Rog

[jone]

I missed the Alaska question and the Hotel Astoria question.  Both are fun trivia to know.  And I'll also take the waiver on Sochi.

[JayH]

10- T or F
At 145 km, Sochi is the longest city in Europe.

There are legitimate sources that dispute the claim, arguing that Russia's claim for "Greater Sochi" is fudged. Ukrainians say that Krivoy Rog, with 75 kilometers is really the longest. (Since there is that dispute, we should perhaps scratch this question. At the time I was not aware that Russia includes "greater" Sochi in that distance.

MMM --ok-- key words here  "in Europe" --that rules Sochi out by definition--it is not in Europe by definations I have read-- correct?
Krivoy Rog=
Second--it is  126kms "long"
 "The city extends for 126 km from north to south."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kryvyi_Rih

So on the point of being "long"--KR is long--not wide!!

KR area = Area
 • Total   410 km2 (160 sq mi)
Sochi area = Area (city) (January 2008)   176.77 km2 (68.25 sq mi)[
(from wiki)

Population of KR is about twice that of Sochi.

Russian claims smack of the Texas "everything is bigger & better " syndrome !!

[Anotherkiwi]

MMM --ok-- key words here  "in Europe" --that rules Sochi out by definition--it is not in Europe by definations I have read-- correct?

Turkey (east of the Bosporus) is classed as Asia Minor, but I'm not sure how you would define Sochi, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.  They're still west of the Caspian Sea (and the Urals) so, if they were further north you would still consider them part of Europe.

Krivoy Rog=
Second--it is  126kms "long"
 "The city extends for 126 km from north to south."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kryvyi_Rih

So on the point of being "long"--KR is long--not wide!!

KR area = Area
 • Total   410 km2 (160 sq mi)
Sochi area = Area (city) (January 2008)   176.77 km2 (68.25 sq mi)[
(from wiki)

Population of KR is about twice that of Sochi.

Russian claims smack of the Texas "everything is bigger & better " syndrome !!

It's quite interesting looking at Krivoy Rog/Kryvyi Rih on Google Earth - it may or may not be the longest, but there would be little doubt that it's the narrowest!

[msmobyone]

MMM --ok-- key words here  "in Europe" --that rules Sochi out by definition--it is not in Europe by definations I have read-- correct?
Krivoy Rog=
Second--it is  126kms "long"
 "The city extends for 126 km from north to south."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kryvyi_Rih

So on the point of being "long"--KR is long--not wide!!

KR area = Area
 • Total   410 km2 (160 sq mi)
Sochi area = Area (city) (January 2008)   176.77 km2 (68.25 sq mi)[
(from wiki)

Population of KR is about twice that of Sochi.

Russian claims smack of the Texas "everything is bigger & better " syndrome !!

 

I always thought in - Russia's case - that Asia started east of the Urals...

KR extends 125km and Greater Sochi 145km.. longer... but less area - something to do with a mountain range immediately behind it 

But, while the former has a bigger population - wasn't the question about being the LONGEST ...

As for 'EUROPE V ASIA..

http://www.dauntlessjaunter.com/2013/07/12/armenia-azerbaijan-and-georgia-in-asia-or-europe/

'Well done', Mendy - you sparked off an interesting discussion

[mendeleyev]

How much do you know about Belarus?


1- What is the first and last name of the president of Belarus?


2- What is the capital of Belarus?


3- T or F:  Russia and Belarus are officially a "Union State." There is a Union Parliament which meets annually, and the Union Presidency rotates between the two.


4- Usually a traveler can obtain a visa upon entering the airport in Minsk. However, if there is a Belarussian ___________ in your country, that may not be possible.


5- T or F: The total population in Belarus is over 10 million people.


6- What is the currency of Belarus? 


7- T or F: In size, Belarus is almost 5 times larger than the Netherlands.


8- What is the "country code" used to make telephone calls to Belarus?


9- Websites in Belarus must have a national registration. An example is .ru for Russia. What is the two letter domain registration for Belarus?


10- Belarus shares a border with 5 nations. Can you name at least 3 of them?


Each answer is worth 10 points. If you answered perfectly, then stop here. However if you need some bonus points, keep going.


11- There are 14 cities in Belarus with over 100,000 population? Besides Minsk, can you name at least one other?


12- T or F: Russian and Belarusian are both official languages.

[jone]

Dunno the country code or the internet extension.  But I got the two bonus questions.  Fun quiz, Mendy.

[Larry1]

1- What is the first and last name of the president of Belarus?

Alexander Lukashenko (I use the Russian and not the Belarusian Lukashenka)

2- What is the capital of Belarus?

Minsk

3- T or F:  Russia and Belarus are officially a "Union State." There is a Union Parliament which meets annually, and the Union Presidency rotates between the two.

I don't know the answer.

4- Usually a traveler can obtain a visa upon entering the airport in Minsk. However, if there is a Belarussian ___________ in your country, that may not be possible.

Consulate

5- T or F: The total population in Belarus is over 10 million people.

False. it's about 9.9 million.

6- What is the currency of Belarus? 

Belarusian ruble

7- T or F: In size, Belarus is almost 5 times larger than the Netherlands.

T

8- What is the "country code" used to make telephone calls to Belarus?

375

9- Websites in Belarus must have a national registration. An example is .ru for Russia. What is the two letter domain registration for Belarus?

BY

10- Belarus shares a border with 5 nations. Can you name at least 3 of them?

Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine

Each answer is worth 10 points. If you answered perfectly, then stop here. However if you need some bonus points, keep going.


11- There are 14 cities in Belarus with over 100,000 population? Besides Minsk, can you name at least one other?

Grodno, Mogilev, Vitebsk, and Brest are the biggest, after Minsk. I think also Polotsk and Novopolotsk may be over 100,000.

12- T or F: Russian and Belarusian are both official languages.

T

[jone]

Damn, Larry!

You know your Belarus trivia.  Did, perchance, you have some personal experience with this country that led you to your current knowledge? 

[Larry1]

Damn, Larry!

You know your Belarus trivia.  Did, perchance, you have some personal experience with this country that led you to your current knowledge?

I did indeed. Belarus is my favorite country of FSU. I learned about Belarus when I dated a wonderful Belarusian girl

[mendeleyev]

For those waiting for the answers, just see Larry's response. 

For number 3, add TRUE.

[Larry1]

For those waiting for the answers, just see Larry's response. 

For number 3, add TRUE.

Thanks Mendy.

As I read back through my answers I realized that I forgot about Gomel in question number 11, which I think is the second biggest city in Belarus.  Also, I checked population figures for Novopolotsk and Polotsk and they are both under 100,000.

Edited to add this:

I thought I would look around a bit and add a list of the largest cities by population.

Minsk
Vitsyebsk (Vitebsk)
Homyel (Gomel)
Mahilyow   (Mogilev)
Hrodna   (Grodno)
Brest   
Babruysk   
Baranavichy   
Pinsk   
Orsha   

I put the Russian names in parentheses, at least the ones I knew. One of the frustrating things about dealing with city names in Belarus is that there are often three names - one in the Belarusian language, one in Russian, and one in Polish (for many years this area was part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth).

This information came in this chart:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Largest_cities_of_Belarus

Its formatting didn't make it here so I left out most of the information.

[mendeleyev]

Coming soon....a quiz about Ukraine. Here is some preparation that might help us get ready:










Footnote: some of the facts presented are really opinions, but most are grounded in reality. So, good stuff overall.

[Anotherkiwi]

Coming soon....a quiz about Ukraine. Here is some preparation that might help us get ready:










Footnote: some of the facts presented are really opinions, but most are grounded in reality. So, good stuff overall.

Unfortunately, though, the first two videos were made in 2013, and several of the facts have been rendered obsolete by the events of the past couple of years (especially the "Top Ten Facts about Crimea" which is linked from the second Ukraine video).

The last one, however, is presented by the bubbly Olga Reznikova, who is always a delight to watch, and is obviously much more recent.  I must confess that I had no idea that Ukraine's Constitution pre-dated the United States' one by such a huge margin of time.

[mendeleyev]

AnotherKiwi,

I was not previously aware of her until I stumbled onto this video. As you say, she is quite energetic and perhaps we should feature more of her insights.

[JohnDearGreen]

The 3 professions in most need of workers in Ukraine:
1) Tractor driver
2) Sanitary system installer
3) Tailor
$50 million USD allocated for training of above.
http://www.5.ua/ekonomika/kabmin-vyznachyv-try-naibilsh-defitsytni-profesii-v-ukraini-141960.html