The Heartbeat of South America! Quiz

Answer: Star

Only three countries worldwide have the shared feature of having different images on the obverse and reverse sides of their flag -- Moldova and Saudi Arabia have mirror images on their respective flag sides. Paraguay however, has a yellow star encircled by a green wreath on its obverse side and a yellow lion below a red Phrygian cap on its reverse side. Each side of the flag has three horizontal bands colored red, white and blue from top to bottom.

Answer: Spain

Indigenous tribes inhabited the Paraguay countryside for thousands of years before the Spanish explorers arrived. The first Spanish explorers arrived in 1516 but it wasn't until 1537 that Juan de Salazar established the settlement of Asuncion. This city became the colonial capital and the center of a Jesuit mission. On May 14th 1811, a military coup overthrew the Spanish administration and independence was promptly declared.

The first leader of Paraguay was a dictator by the name of Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia. From 1814 until 1840, de Francia ruled with an iron fist with the intention to create a society based upon the teachings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. New laws restricting the powers of religious churches and personal freedoms led to frequent attempts to overthrow the new regime.

Answer: Soybean

The soybean is a legume that is native to Asia but grown all over the world. In the United Kingdom it is known as the soyabean. The United States and Brazil are the two largest producers of soybean but Paraguay produces it as a major export crop. The soybean is an edible bean that has many uses. It is incorporated into animal feed, made into oil, consumed in milk products and as part of prepackaged foods. Soybeans are also used in industrial manufacturing of products such as plastics, soaps, cosmetics, and clothing. This versatile crop is one of the number one products in biodiesel.

Answer: LDS Church

The Spanish explorers and conquistadors aggressively sought to indoctrinate and convert indigenous peoples to Christianity. The Spanish influence was especially prominent in bringing the people of Paraguay to worship in the Roman Catholic church. Today over 90% of the population of Paraguay is Roman Catholic. Less than 1% of the population still practices indigenous religious rites.

Other denominations that are actively strong in Paraguay include Protestantism, Judaism, Mormonism, Islam, and even a strong Mennonite population in Boquerón.

In 2002, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints opened their first temple in Asuncion. Some estimates suggest that there are over 100,000 members of the Mormon church now living in Paraguay.

Answer: Soccer

South America has a rich history in the sport of Association Football (soccer). Nearby countries of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay have all won World Cup titles. Not to be outdone, the Paraguay football team earned a surprise silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens.

The team beat Iraq 3-1 in the semi-finals before losing 1-0 to fierce rivals Argentina in the gold medal match. Paraguay has competed in a total of eight World Cup competitions including the inaugural tournament held in Uruguay in 1930.

Answer: Taiwan

If a person with a very large drill was to stand on almost any part of Taiwan and drill a very large hole straight through the Earth's core, they would eventually come out somewhere in Paraguay. Only the northwest coast of Taiwan would not make the trip to Paraguay. Drillers starting in the Taiwan capital city of Taipei would actually find themselves showing up in Argentina.

Answer: River

Paraguay does indeed take the country name from a major South American river. The Paraguay River moves through Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. The river actually helps form the international border between Paraguay and Bolivia, and Paraguay and Argentina. The river is over 2,500km long and meets another major waterway in the Parana River. The word itself is from the Guarani language meaning 'water that goes to the ocean'.

Answer: Tropic of Capricorn

The Tropic of Capricorn is one of five major circles of latitude around the globe. The other four include the Arctic Circle, Tropic of Cancer, the Equator, and the Antarctic Circle. In South America, this line of latitude also cuts through Chile, Brazil, and Argentina. Worldwide, the Tropic of Capricorn traverses Australia, Madagascar, Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, and South Africa.

Answer: Argentina

Argentina is a federal republic located in southeastern South America. The country borders five nations (Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay) and the Atlantic Ocean. The border with Paraguay is demarcated by three rivers; the Pilcomayo, the Parana, and the Paraguay. These boundaries were agreed upon in 1876. The name Argentina comes from the Latin "argentum" meaning silver. The silver coins in the picture clue are actually silver medals from the 1896 Summer Olympic Games held in Athens, Greece.

Answer: Asuncion

Asuncion is both the largest city and the capital of Paraguay. Founded on August 15th 1537, Asuncion is the longest continually habited city on the Rio de la Plata Basin. Over time it has earned the nickname of "Mother of Cities." The city sits right on the Paraguay River and the greater metropolitan area is home to over two million people. According to one source, the name Asuncion is not particularly common -- it ranks as the 16,925th most commonly used name in the world. Where that statistic comes from is anyone's guess.

The name is believed to have been given in honor of the Virgin Mary in celebrating her assumption into Heaven.