The Living Singapore Trivia Quiz

Answer: Temasek

The island was known as Temasek, and it served as a major trade port for the Majaphit and the Siamese. For the next 200 years, the trading post continued until the Portuguese raided and destroyed much of the settlement to control the region in the 17th century. Eventually, Temasek was renamed Singapura, the Sanskrit for 'Lion City', after a tale where Utama saw a creature, claimed to be a lion, on the island.

Answer: Raffles Place

Stamford Raffles signed a treaty with the Sultan of Johor to develop Singapore into a viable trade route for the British East India Company. The southern parts of Singapore, which is now called Raffles Place, was the center of this trade activity, with many ships and bumboats taking in many goods and along with them, many migrants.

In modern times, Raffles Place is the epicenter of commerce and business, with many office buildings instead of ports, and the bumboats being used as a tourist water taxi for anyone interested in a guided tour around the Singapore River.

Answer: The British

Singapore was still very much an important port of call as a British colony, and it became more apparent that it must be defended when the First World War came. The construction of the Singapore Naval Base enabled The Singapore Strategy, a heavy naval and land defence of Singapore and the Straits of Johor, and it held till January 1942, in the midst of World War 2.

Answer: Syonan-to

Syonan-to means "Light of the South Land" in Japanese. The Japanese occupied Singapore until their defeat in 1945. During the Japanese occupation extreme harshness was dealt out to the population with many being sent on working parties throughout Japanese territories, with the Thailand-Burma railway being one of the best known.

The fall of Singapore was inevitable with the lack of supplies and the Japanese overcoming all the defences.

Answer: The atomic bombs

The destructive force of 'Little Boy' and 'Fat Man', the two atomic bombs that fell on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, changed the the war, and Japan surrendered after the catastrophic destruction of the two cities. The British would take Singapore back in their power, but the locals had other things in mind, namely independence.

Answer: David Marshall

David Marshall first began as a lawyer and a very prominent orator of his time. He would lead negotiations towards the British for an independent Malaya and Singapore, but feeling he couldn't fulfill his mission, he resigned from his post. But his legacy lives on, as his talks led to brighter days for Singapore's growth, with his successor Lim Yew Hock finally getting successful cooperation from the British for a new and free Singapore.

Answer: Lee Kuan Yew

Lee Kuan Yew changed the landscape of Singapore forever. He was bold, 'in your face' and well versed in many languages, and his leadership propelled Singapore forward, first by aligning with Malaya as one nation called Malaysia, in a bid to tackle Singapore's greatest problem, a lack of natural resources.

But after a year, political and ideological strife between Singapore and Malaysia hit major highs, and on August 9 1965, Singapore was expelled from Malaysia, and the island had become an independent nation.

This date would be celebrated every year as Singapore's National Day.

Answer: Hanging

Although in recent times fewer executions have taken place the legislation is still enforced, though now the judges have some discretion. Any executions usually take place at dawn on a Friday at Changi Prison.

Answer: Goh Chok Tong

Goh Chok Tong continued PM Lee's vision of Singapore's growth, focusing on entrepreneurial growth and business rather than natural resources. But the 90s saw rough patches, with the 1997 Asian Stock Market Crash hitting the nation hard. Eventually, they bounced back, and PM Goh would eventually become Senior Minister before retiring in 2011.

Answer: The death of Lee Kuan Yew

On 23rd March 2015, six months shy of Singapore's 50th birthday, Lee Kuan Yew passed away from pneumonia, at age 91. The nation mourned for days, with the Prime Minister and his son Lee Hsien Loong leading the procession. Many dignitaries came to pay respects to Mr. Lee, from former US President Bill Clinton, to the King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

His life saw the birth of a new nation, this Lion City that grew to a 'Bright Red Dot.'