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Oceans Ten Trivia Quiz

Oceania History

Did you know that outside the English-speaking world Oceania is considered a continent? Australia is thought of as Australasia, a big island in Oceania and not as a separate continent.

A multiple-choice quiz by ncterp. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
ncterp

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
412,074

Updated
Mar 23 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
182

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. While the British, French, Spanish, Dutch, German and even Japanese governments were claiming islands in Oceania for themselves, the Americans got into the act by annexing what two islands in 1857? Hint

Pitcairn and Howland

New Georgia and New Britain

Truk and Bougainville

Baker and Howland

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Question 2 of 10

2. On August 18, 1856, President Franklin Pierce signed in to law The Guano Islands Act. What was so special about guano? Hint

source of oil used in lamps

source of calcium

source of alkaline

source of saltpeter

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Question 3 of 10

3. Captain James Cook was killed by native Hawaiians when his crewmen spread disease among the native population. When disease struck down one of Cook's own men the native Hawaiians realized the members of the crew were not gods. When the Hawaiians attacked, Cook's crew was overwhelmed and Cook was killed. What was the name of Cook's ship to which the crew fled? Hint

HMS Brittle

HMS Greyhound

HMS Scout

HMS Resolution

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Question 4 of 10

4. What island grouping was once known as "the Cannibal Isles"? Hint

Fiji

New Guinea

Samoa

Tonga

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Question 5 of 10

5. What country was used by the U.S. and the U.K. for nuclear weapons testing during the 1960s and is the only country in the world to lie in all four hemispheres? Hint

Kiribati

Tuvalu

Nauru

Tonga

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Question 6 of 10

6. The International Date Line is an imaginary line that passes through Oceania and divides the earth into two days: today and tomorrow following 180 Meridian. Travel east to west to gain a day; travel west to east to lose a day. Why is the IDL important historically? Hint

It added or subtracted one extra day from the calendar

It provides a standard line of demarcation

It allowed cargo ships to reach port a day earlier

It allowed for greater fees when travelling east to west

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Question 7 of 10

7. Historically, transportation is important to the peoples of Oceania, both international and domestic. Air Mo'orea operates one of the shortest flights in the world to Tahiti. The pilot is the only crew member. How long is this flight on average? Hint

18 minutes

12 minutes

7 minutes

15 minutes

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Question 8 of 10

8. Stone Age farmers were discovered living in orderly villages on what island in 1938? Hint

Vanuatu

Eniwetok

The New Hebrides

New Guinea

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which European explorer named the Pacific Ocean? Hint

William Bligh

James Cook

Ferdinand Magellan

John Cabot

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Question 10 of 10

10. Gol or Nanggol, meaning land diving, is a sport played by men on the island of Vanuatu. It has claimed to be the first version of what extreme sport played around the world today? Hint

bungee jumping

body surfing

paragliding

free highline

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Baker and Howland

Both are uninhabited and were annexed mainly due to their location. Both lie just north of the Equator and about halfway between Australia and Hawaii. Hawaii became a U.S. territory in 1898.

2. On August 18, 1856, President Franklin Pierce signed in to law The Guano Islands Act. What was so special about guano?

Answer: source of saltpeter

Saltpeter is used in the production of gunpowder. By the 1850s, the U.S. and the U.K. combined to import almost one million tons of guano a year. The term "guano mania" lead to high prices and thence, the Act. The Act states that any U.S. citizen who discovers a deposit of guano on any island not under the control of another government, may take control of such island and empowered the president to employ the U.S. military to protect such claims.

Answer: HMS Resolution

The Resolution and Discovery eventually returned to England. The Hawaiians were captivated by the European use of iron.

4. What island grouping was once known as "the Cannibal Isles"?

Answer: Fiji

With the arrival of Europeans, the island's inhabitants were automatically labeled as "uncivilized". One Fijian is said to have consumed 872 people. In spite of the existence of some tall tales, there is some scientific evidence of cannibalism among the Fijian people.

5. What country was used by the U.S. and the U.K. for nuclear weapons testing during the 1960s and is the only country in the world to lie in all four hemispheres?

Answer: Kiribati

Kiribati consists of three main island groupings: the Gilberts, Phoenixes, and Line Islands. Major battles in WWII were fought in the Gilbert Islands, especially Tarawa. Kiritimati (Christmas) atoll is one of the largest atolls in the world.

Answer: It provides a standard line of demarcation

The International Date Line, established in 1884 is a consequence of the worldwide use of timekeeping systems arranged so that local noon corresponds approximately to the time at which the sun crosses the local meridian of longitude.
The IDL creates some interesting scenarios, such as celebrating New Year twice on some islands or being born on different days than your twin.

Answer: 7 minutes

There are no in-flight meals and the movies are really short. Air Mo'orea schedules this flight 40 times a day.

Air travel in Oceania really got its start with the U.S. Navy during WWII with the construction of runways on Guadalcanal and Bora Bora and many seaplane bases as well. Air travel in Oceania started out with seaplane bases and grew under French management during the 1950s and 1960s.

In August 2007, Air Mo'orea flight 1121 took off from Moorea bound for Tahiti with the pilot and 19 passengers aboard. All perished when the plane crashed into the sea shortly after takeoff.

8. Stone Age farmers were discovered living in orderly villages on what island in 1938?

Answer: New Guinea

The discovery took place on 4 August 1938, when Richard Archbold discovered the Grand Valley of the Baliem River, which were populated by 50,000 yet-undiscovered Stone Age farmers. The people, known as the Dani, were the last society of its size to make first contact with the rest of the world.

9. Which European explorer named the Pacific Ocean?

Answer: Ferdinand Magellan

Magellan named it Pacific because it was so peaceful. He was obviously unaware of what lurked beneath, the Ring of Fire. Home to 75% of the world's volcanoes and 90% of its earthquakes.

10. Gol or Nanggol, meaning land diving, is a sport played by men on the island of Vanuatu. It has claimed to be the first version of what extreme sport played around the world today?

Answer: bungee jumping

Gol is when men tie vines to their ankles and dive head-first off a cliff, tucking their heads in at the last minute and lightly brushing the ground with their shoulders. Good dives ensure the diver a plentiful harvest. Now that's what I call bungee jumping!

Source: Author ncterp

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor trident before going online.
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