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Quiz about Samovar Teaset Is Missing
Quiz about Samovar Teaset Is Missing

Samovar Teaset Is Missing... Trivia Quiz


My Russian friend, Irina, recently gave me a gift of a beautifully decorated samovar. This inspired me to write this quiz about the samovar, Russian tea-drinking and other aspects of Russian culture.

A multiple-choice quiz by momonaco. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
momonaco
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
366,159
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
250
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. What does the Russian word 'samovar' mean? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Which city in Russia is the main manufacturing centre for samovars, and has two samovar museums? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. In which of Tolstoy's works is there much gossip about the heroine and her lover Count Vronsky at a society afternoon tea party around a samovar? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Now that I am interested in samovars, I would like to see some Russian paintings featuring them. If I am in Moscow, which Russian art gallery would I be able to visit? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Instead of sugar, Russians often use something else to sweeten their tea. What is it? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. A piece of cake would be the ideal thing to have with my tea. My friend, Irina, has told me about a Russian gingerbread that also comes from the same city as the samovars. What is it called? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. I've had enough tea for the moment, but I'm feeling thirsty so I would like to try another national drink of Russia that is very much like beer. What is it called? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. I have nearly completed my trip to Russia and would like to take home some typical souvenirs that might look well with a samovar. The first souvenir I would like to buy is a painted metal tray. Where are the most famous ones still made? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. A souvenir that would go well with my samovar is a set of Russian tea glasses. These would look lovely on my flower-painted tray. But what is the Russian word for a metal tea glass holder? (Hint: the Russian word for a 'glass' is 'stakan'.) Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Another souvenir I would like to buy is a set of Russian nested dolls. What are these called in Russian? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What does the Russian word 'samovar' mean?

Answer: Self-boiler

The name is derived from the Russian words 'samo' meaning 'self' and 'varit' meaning 'to boil'. A samovar is a decorative tea urn with a tap at the bottom so that you can serve your guests with tea while the samovar keeps the water boiling.
2. Which city in Russia is the main manufacturing centre for samovars, and has two samovar museums?

Answer: Tula

The main Tula samovar museum opened in 1990 and contains a huge collection of samovars. Among its most interesting exhibits are five tiny samovars presented in 1909 to the children of the last Russian tsar, Nicholas II, by the Batashev Samovar Factory. There is also a samovar museum at a hotel just outside Tula.
3. In which of Tolstoy's works is there much gossip about the heroine and her lover Count Vronsky at a society afternoon tea party around a samovar?

Answer: Anna Karenina

In the novel `Anna Karenina` the tea party in question takes place at the home of Betsy Tverskaya, a friend of Anna who is the hostess presiding next to the samovar to serve the tea.
4. Now that I am interested in samovars, I would like to see some Russian paintings featuring them. If I am in Moscow, which Russian art gallery would I be able to visit?

Answer: The Tretyakov Gallery

The Tretyakov Gallery contains, for example, a 1926 painting entitled 'The Samovar' by Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin. The Prado is an art gallery in Madrid, Spain. The Hermitage is an art gallery in St Petersburg and I made up the Museum of Russian Folk Art.
5. Instead of sugar, Russians often use something else to sweeten their tea. What is it?

Answer: Jam

Russians very often drink tea with jam (varenie). The best kind of jam to use has whole berries in a thick syrup.
6. A piece of cake would be the ideal thing to have with my tea. My friend, Irina, has told me about a Russian gingerbread that also comes from the same city as the samovars. What is it called?

Answer: Pryanik

Pryanik is a famous type of gingerbread cake made in Tula and filled with a layer of jam or condensed milk. These cakes are usually rectangular or round in shape and are very often imprinted with a design of the coat of arms of the city of Tula. You need a sharp knife to cut your 'pryanik' and several people to eat it as they are generally quite large cakes.
7. I've had enough tea for the moment, but I'm feeling thirsty so I would like to try another national drink of Russia that is very much like beer. What is it called?

Answer: Kvas or kvass

Kvas is a slightly fizzy drink that is best drunk chilled. It is made from fermented bread and is similar to beer but has a low alcohol content. Its origins go back fifty centuries.
8. I have nearly completed my trip to Russia and would like to take home some typical souvenirs that might look well with a samovar. The first souvenir I would like to buy is a painted metal tray. Where are the most famous ones still made?

Answer: Zhostovo

Zhostovo is a village near Moscow renowned for a factory which produces high quality beautifully hand-painted metal trays. The designs are often of fruit and flowers on a black background, although some of the Zhostovo artists specialise in atmospheric scenes of troikas dashing through snowy Russian landscapes.
9. A souvenir that would go well with my samovar is a set of Russian tea glasses. These would look lovely on my flower-painted tray. But what is the Russian word for a metal tea glass holder? (Hint: the Russian word for a 'glass' is 'stakan'.)

Answer: Podstakannik

In Russian, 'podstakannik' means literally 'thing under the glass'; 'chashka' is a cup, 'chainik' is a teapot and 'kubok' is a beaker or tumbler.
10. Another souvenir I would like to buy is a set of Russian nested dolls. What are these called in Russian?

Answer: Matryoshka dolls

Yes, of course, I remember now that they are called "matryoshka" dolls. It means "little matron". Many of the dolls are made in a factory at Semyonov near Nizhny Novgorod. As well as the traditional type of matryoshka dolls, you can also buy sets of nested politician dolls such as Gorbachev and Krushchev - but I think I prefer the traditional ones.
Source: Author momonaco

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