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Quiz about Matryoshka  a Russian Toy
Quiz about Matryoshka  a Russian Toy

Matryoshka - a Russian Toy Trivia Quiz


While many traditional toys have been invented and reinvented in many places, the Matryoshka is considered uniquely Russian. Can you answer some questions about it?

A multiple-choice quiz by WesleyCrusher. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
400,553
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
231
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. First things first - what kind of toy is a matryoshka set? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. What material would you most likely find a properly crafted, high quality matryoshka set being made of? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. From when do the first known matryoshka sets date? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. What is the original and still most common theme for matryoshka sets? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. A traditional matryoshka set is made from a single block of raw material.


Question 6 of 10
6. What other name is used, particularly in the West, for a matryoshka set? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. The matryoshka term is also used metaphorically, especially in Russian publications, representing the unique structure of the set. Which other term for the same general model might you also find in literature? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Given that Russia is a strongly Christian country, religious matryoshka sets exist. Which of these themes would you be LEAST likely to find in one? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. How many individual pieces (parts) are contained in the world record breaking 2003 matryoshka set designed by Youlia Bereznitskaia? (Be careful with the number, especially if you research the answer!) Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Ever since the 1990s, there have also been political matryoshka sets made, often themed to represent Russian leaders. How do these sets most commonly order the various persons? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. First things first - what kind of toy is a matryoshka set?

Answer: A set of dolls

Matryoshka are a special set of dolls crafted to fit inside each other. All but the smallest, innermost doll can be opened, usually in the middle, revealing a smaller doll inside.
2. What material would you most likely find a properly crafted, high quality matryoshka set being made of?

Answer: Linden wood

While you can find some cheap plastic sets made for very small children, a proper, traditional matryoshka set is made of wood, with a possible thin layer of cork at the separation surfaces to give a tighter fit.
3. From when do the first known matryoshka sets date?

Answer: Late 19th century

While many in the West would think of matryoshka as collectible, intricately crafted items and they can well be found at antique fairs, they have actually only been invented in 1890. The first set, designed by Sergey Malyutin, and encompassing eight dolls, still exists.
4. What is the original and still most common theme for matryoshka sets?

Answer: Family

The traditional matryoshka set represents a family with the outermost doll almost invariably being a female, usually the grandmother. Then, as you progress inward, you will find progressively younger members of the family, either all female or both male and female, with the innermost doll usually representing a baby.
5. A traditional matryoshka set is made from a single block of raw material.

Answer: False

While this idea is somewhat common and the nesting nature of the dolls does suggest that they could indeed be carved from a single block, in reality, it would be impossible to do so with hand tools and, most likely, even with modern machinery. You only need to look at the joint between the two halves of an outer doll and how tightly it fits to imagine that it would not be realistic to carve the whole set of connectors from one block.
6. What other name is used, particularly in the West, for a matryoshka set?

Answer: Babushka

The word "matryoshka" literally translates to "little matron". As the family theme of most sets places a grandmother character on the outside, the alternate name of "babushka" - a term meaning grandmother or old woman - has also taken hold, however that term overemphasizes the outermost doll over the others.
7. The matryoshka term is also used metaphorically, especially in Russian publications, representing the unique structure of the set. Which other term for the same general model might you also find in literature?

Answer: Onion model

Matryoshka or onion models are found in many fields of science and technology. They are common in computer programming, with nested data structures and functions, and the term is also commonly used as a reference to complex, nested corporate holding structures often aimed at realizing tax or legal benefits from having offices and profit centers in multiple countries.
8. Given that Russia is a strongly Christian country, religious matryoshka sets exist. Which of these themes would you be LEAST likely to find in one?

Answer: The stations of the cross

Matryoshka dolls represent fertility and growth, so sets representing a negative or sad event such as the passion of Christ are virtually unknown. Easter and Christmas are common themes and sets representing saints, often painted in traditional icon styles, also exist, usually in very high quality and often featuring the virgin Mary as the outermost doll.
9. How many individual pieces (parts) are contained in the world record breaking 2003 matryoshka set designed by Youlia Bereznitskaia? (Be careful with the number, especially if you research the answer!)

Answer: 101

The 2003 world record set consists of 51 dolls, all but the smallest of which are of course made of two pieces (top and bottom) each, to yield a total of 101 parts. The biggest doll measures almost 54 centimeters while the smallest is a mere 3 millimeters. All dolls have similar faces and clothing, but the belly of each one shows a unique painted scene.
10. Ever since the 1990s, there have also been political matryoshka sets made, often themed to represent Russian leaders. How do these sets most commonly order the various persons?

Answer: By order of having taken office

The most common order of the political matryoshka set is to have the current or most recent leader on the outside and then go backwards in time until the smallest one frequently represents Lenin or one of the tsars. The opposite order also exists, which is technically closer to the traditional set that has the oldest member of the family on the outside.

The other orders are rarely if ever used.
Source: Author WesleyCrusher

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