Land of Silver Trivia Quiz

Answer: True

Argent is silver, and the country is named for it. The Rio de la Plata is a major river that forms part of the border between Argentina and Uruguay. Known as the Plate River or the Silver River, it is considered the widest river in the world by some. There are disagreements whether it is actually a river or simply an estuary formed by other tributaries and flowing out to the Atlantic.

It is located between the capitals of Uruguay and Argentina.

Answer: Roman Catholic

As the ethnic dominance is of European origin, primarily Italian and Spanish, the prime religion, Roman Catholicism, prevails. Argentina has a comparatively high percentage of Jewish people in South America, about 290,000 as of the early 21st century, and about half a million people of Middle Eastern descent. One of the largest mosques in Latin America is in Argentina. Immigrants from neighboring countries also settle there, and there is still a substantial indigenous population, mostly in outlying areas.

Answer: Good airs

Buenos Aires, and its environs contains about one third of the population of Argentina, but the Argentine population in general has one of the lowest growth rates in Latin America. Argentines enjoy a relatively high standard of living, but have felt the effects of lowered economic levels worldwide in the 2000s.

In 2002, for example, almost 40% of the population in the largest urban areas was living below the poverty line.

Answer: Exports and tourism

Three consecutive years of increased GDP, a boom in tourism and increased construction and industrial activity followed and led to further positive factors such as lower unemployment and higher investments. Revenue increased as did taxes, but the overall effect was positive.

Argentina's many rivers are essential to the production of fruits, vegetables, grains, and irrigation for other crops and livestock.

The NAFTA includes only Canada, US and Mexico.

Answer: Chile

The Andes are the longest continental range in the world (appx. 5500 miles long), running along the Pacific coast from the Caribbean to the southern tip of South America. There are high plateaus, ice fields, glaciers and fjords. Some of the rock formations have been estimated to be millions of years old. Mt Aconcagua is the highest peak in the Andes, and in the western hemisphere, at 22,830 feet.

The Andes are also considered to be part of the Pacific's 'ring of fire' and have volcanic activity at times.

Answer: Conservatives and radicals

The conservatives were in control until about 1916, when the radicals took over; their platform was democracy and fair elections. This allowed more middle class influence and power. With the 1930 ousting of the aged radical President Hipolito Yrigoyen, the conservatives gained the advantage. This lead the way for Juan Peron, who was a leader of the coup in 1943. He became Minister of Labor at first and worked his way up to president in 1946. His wife, Evita, was a popular and dynamic force in his rise to power.

Peron helped establish labor unions and five year plans for growth. By 1955, Peron was exiled by the military and the battle for power raged between them until the 70s when a compadre of Peron's won in the first public election. Decades of infighting and economic loss were compounded by terrorism and human rights abuses. The 1982 defeat by the British in the Falklands/Malvinas War further discredited the military.

Answer: Bolivia and Paraguay

Being landlocked can be a distinct strategic disadvantage. Bolivia, in its history, had a border on the Pacific, but it was closed off after the disastrous War of the Pacific (1879 - 83) with Chile vs Peru and Bolivia. Chile took the littoral zone that had been Bolivia's coast, and Bolivia was cut off from the sea, thus no longer needing a navy.

It also lost a great deal of mineral resources, saltpeter and nitrates, and has been stuck inland ever since. Bolivia does not enjoy as much prosperity as its coastal neighbors.

It was named for the Great Liberator, Simon Bolivar.

Answer: Drake

The Drake Passage is found between South America and Antarctica. Named for explorer and pirate, Sir Francis Drake (c.1540 - 1596), it is about 600 miles wide and runs between Cape Horn and the Southern Shetland Islands. Voyaging is treacherous in these waters, and the depth ranges roughly from 11 to 16,000 feet.

There are frequent storms and ice; generally late summer (February) is considered the least icy time to sail it. Cyclones are also born in the area and can tear a ship to shreds.

Answer: 2nd

It is the second largest country in South America, Brazil being first. Spanish is the primary language, whereas in Brazil, it's Portuguese. The residents are called 'Argentines'. The population in 2011 was close to 39 million and grows about a half percent a year. The literacy rate is 97 %, and life expectancy is about 76 years.

Argentina's main exports are soybeans and their byproducts, petroleum and gas, grains, vehicles and a small portion of beef. The estimated revenue/year has been around $85 billion in the early 21st century.

Answer: Frozen desert

The Andes Mountains cover almost 30% of the country, including the gradual and steep elevations leading to them. Patagonia is not completely desert, but considered semi-arid; it has a low population and includes the uninhabited island of Tierra del Fuego, shared with Chile. There are subtropical plains in the north of the country. The Pampas contains 80% of the population and wealth of Argentina. These are primarily level plains running from the foothills of the Andes to Patagonia and the Chaco, an area of lowland plains, rainforest and bogs.
The gauchos are the cowboys of Argentina.