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Race to the South Pole Trivia Quiz

2011/2012 is the 100th anniversary of the first men to reach the South Pole. Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott competed in a bid to reach the pole that remains fascinating to this day.

A multiple-choice quiz by Marcuspug. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Marcuspug

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
346,869

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
558

Last 3 plays: Guest 109 (4/10), gibbysgab (0/10), Guest 93 (6/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

1. Using dog sledges and experience gained in the Arctic, who was the first to reach the South Pole on December 14th, 1911? Hint

Robert Scott

Roald Amundsen

It was a tie between Scott and Amundsen

Lt "Birdie" Bowers sprinted ahead

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2. On January 17th, 1912 the British Antarctic Expedition reached the South Pole. Who wrote in his journal, "Great God! this is an awful place and terrible enough for us to have laboured to it without the reward of priority"? Hint

Roald Amundsen

Apsley Cherry-Garrard

Edward Atkinson

Robert F. Scott

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3. What method did the British Antarctic Expedition primarily use for pulling their sledges? Hint

Dogs

Man-hauling

Motorized tractors

Siberian ponies

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4. What was the advantage for Amundsen using Greenland huskies to pull the sledges to the South Pole? Hint

The dogs were used to the cold

All of these

Amundsen and his men were experienced dog handlers

Dogs will eat dog

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5. What was the problem with the Siberian ponies on the British Antarctic Expedition? Hint

They struggled in soft snow

The ponies used were mostly old and infirm

All of these

Antarctica is far more harsh than what the ponies could handle

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6. What country was the last port of call for the British Antarctic Expedition before going south? Hint

Nyasaland

Argentina

New Zealand

Bechuanaland Protectorate

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7. How did the British Antarctic Expedition polar party know they were beaten by the Norwegians in the race to the South Pole? Hint

They met as the Norwegians were returning. Rather embarrassing!

They came across sled tracks and dog droppings near the pole

Amundsen waited for Scott at the pole

They saw each other in the distance

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8. What member of the British Antarctic Expedition polar party, in an effort to save his compatriots and willingly going to his own death, purportedly said "I am just going out and may be some time"? Hint

Petty Officer Edgar Evans

Dr. E. A. Wilson

Lieutenant "Birdie" Bowers

Captain Lawrence Oates

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9. What was the ultimate fate of the British Antarctic Expedition polar party? Hint

They died of cold, frostbite, hunger and scurvy

No one knows. They were never found

They returned as heroes to Great Britain

Like the Franklin expedition, they resorted to cannibalism

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10. Amundsen was in some ways overshadowed by the "heroic" death of the British Antarctic Expedition polar party. What was the final fate of Amundsen? Hint

Became a well-respected statesman for Norway

Shot by an irate Englishman accusing him of cheating

Lost in the Arctic searching for survivors of the "Italia" expedition

Retired from active life and became a recluse

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May 26 2025 : Guest 109: 4/10
Apr 30 2025 : gibbysgab: 0/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Using dog sledges and experience gained in the Arctic, who was the first to reach the South Pole on December 14th, 1911?

Answer: Roald Amundsen

Amundsen was the quintessential explorer if there ever was such a job description. Methodical and professional, he used his experience living with the Canadian Inuit to find the best tools for the job. Sledging technique, dog teams, clothing and even snow goggles were all borrowed from the Inuit.

Answer: Robert F. Scott

Not only the physical hardship, but the psychological shock of being beaten by Amundsen must have been devastating. From then on, their trek was a race against time, bad weather, failing strength, and starvation. Edward Atkinson was a doctor left in charge of the Cape Evans base. Apsley Cherry-Garrard later wrote a classic of polar exploration aptly called "The Worst Journey in the World."

3. What method did the British Antarctic Expedition primarily use for pulling their sledges?

Answer: Man-hauling

Although the British used all four methods, poor planning, inexperience, sick ponies and unreliable tractors led them to rely mostly on man-hauling. Pulling a heavy sledge over snow and ice is some of the most gruelling work ever devised. Those man-hauling never had enough food to replace the energy expended.

4. What was the advantage for Amundsen using Greenland huskies to pull the sledges to the South Pole?

Answer: All of these

While Scott's tractors broke down, his ponies needed fodder, and his few dogs were not well used, Amundsen used only dogs. When his dogs weakened or were no longer needed, the Norwegians killed them and ate them and also fed them to the other dogs.

5. What was the problem with the Siberian ponies on the British Antarctic Expedition?

Answer: All of these

With nicknames like "Nobby" and "Weary Willie," the British Antarctic Expedition members were truly fond of their charges. However, the harsh conditions of the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica was more than the ponies could handle. All succumbed to the soft snow and the bitter cold. Expedition members were forced to shoot all of them in the end.

6. What country was the last port of call for the British Antarctic Expedition before going south?

Answer: New Zealand

The last port of call was Port Chalmers near Dunedin, New Zealand. The last main port of call was Lyttelton, New Zealand. For many years, Lyttelton saw many a ship depart for "the ice." As a young boy I remember seeing my first U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker in port. The U. S. Navy still maintains support forces in Christchurch, New Zealand for Antarctica.

7. How did the British Antarctic Expedition polar party know they were beaten by the Norwegians in the race to the South Pole?

Answer: They came across sled tracks and dog droppings near the pole

Scott was hindered by the scientific requirements of his expedition. Amundsen's only goal was to reach the pole.

Answer: Captain Lawrence Oates

The death of Captain Oates is near legendary in polar history. His martyrdom and the later death of the remaining members elevated Scott's last expedition to tragic hero status. Today, revisionist historians have taken a different approach to the mythology of Captain Scott.

9. What was the ultimate fate of the British Antarctic Expedition polar party?

Answer: They died of cold, frostbite, hunger and scurvy

PO Evans died near the foot of the Beardmore glacier and was never found; neither was the body of Captain Oates. The remaining three were left in their tent on the Ross Ice Shelf, 11 miles from possible safety at One Ton Depot.

10. Amundsen was in some ways overshadowed by the "heroic" death of the British Antarctic Expedition polar party. What was the final fate of Amundsen?

Answer: Lost in the Arctic searching for survivors of the "Italia" expedition

Always searching for the path less travelled, he spent years in the Arctic, but never returned to Antarctica. Amundsen disappeared in a search plane while looking for Umberto Nobile in the lost airship "Italia."

Source: Author Marcuspug

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