October Quiz

A monthly quiz of general history, traditions, geography questions for October
1. Which city was known as Britain's front door into China?
Hong Kong
Beijing
Shanghai
Shanghai, bridge, road, cityscape

2. Wuhan was formed out of Wuchang, Hankou and which other city in 1926?
Huangshi
Yueyang
Hanyang
Wuhan
Town of Wuhan on the Bank of the Yangzi River, with View of the Huanghe Tower, Buildings, and Boats. Hubei Province, China, 1874. Image by Boiarskii, Adolf-Nikolay Erazmovich available under a Creative Commons License

3. Which province is the hottest in July?
Fujian
Guangdong
Jiangsu
Dali, lake, Yunnan
Erhai, Dali Lake, Yunnan. November 2009
Image by Brücke-Osteuropa available under a Creative Commons license

4. The British embassies to China led by Lord Maccartney and Lord Amherst both foundered on which problem?
Language translation
Performing the kowtow
Exchanging gifts
Macartney, embassy, kowtow
William Alexander's drawing of the reception of the Macartney embassy to China. Young Thomas Staunton (kneeling not kowtowing) receives a gift from the Emperor. Image by William Alexander available under a Creative Commons License

5. 'Sinkiang' is an old spelling of which Chinese place?
Shaoxing
Xinjiang
Xinxiang
Gansu, mountains
Qilian mountains on the border of Gansu and Qinghai

6. In a traditional betrothal what event could result in breaking off the engagement?
Seeing each other
Becoming unemployed
Becoming blind
wedding, marriage
Traditional Chinese wedding. 20th March 2009. Image available under a Creative Commons license .

7. Where in China did Britain invade in 1903?
Tibet
Xiamen
Shandong
Diamond Sutra, image_bookcover, printing
A page from the oldest known printed book - the Diamond Sutra, discovered near Dunhuang by Sir Marc Aurel Stein in 1907.
British Library, London
Image available under a Creative Commons license

8. Between the whole period 1990 to 2007 what was China's average annual economic growth rate?
15%
20%
6%
Chongqing, skyscraper
New, modern office buildings in Chongqing, 2014

9. The downfall of the Sui dynasty is mainly attributed to the failed military campaign to conquer which country?
Korea
Burma
Mongolia
Hebei, Sui dynasty, bridge
The earliest spandrel bridge in the world at Anji, Hebei from Sui dynasty

10. Maotoi is a famous Chinese liquor, where in China is it made?
Shaoxing
Kunming
Guizhou
music, guzheng
Guzheng is a traditional Chinese musical instrument belonging to the zither family of string instruments

11. Blue and white porcelain is mostly associated with which dynasty?
Ming
Qing
Song
chinoiserie, plate, willow pattern, blue and white, pottery
Plate: round, flat with decor in blue in sk. Willow pattern. On the bottom of the inside a river landscape with buildings. Around this a lace-like border with outward-facing heads. Around a lambrequin burlap with flowers and spiral and honey cell patterns. Willow-pattern, Qing dynasty, about 1770. Image by Hallwylska museum available under a Creative Commons License

12. Yang Guifei was a concubine who became infatuated by which Emperor?
Wudi
Xuanzong
Qianlong
Yang Guifei, tang dynasty
Color woodcut by Yashima Gakutei (Japan, c.1786-1868). Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Image by Gallery available under a Creative Commons License

13. When did China launch its first satellite?
1995
1990
1970
china, space launch, rocket launch, long march
The launch of Long March 3B Rocket, Xichang Satellite Center, China. 1997 or 1998. Image by AAxanderr available under a Creative Commons License

14. What proportion of those who set out on the Long March reached the destination?
32%
12%
22%
Long march;rally
A Communist cadre leader addressing survivors of the Long March. Image available under a Creative Commons License

15. The ancient examinations required learning the Confucian classics by heart, which consist of how many characters?
400,000
200,000
50,000
Confucius, Qufu
Temple of Confucius, Qufu, Shandong
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