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Quiz about White Flags Theyre Not  Black  White
Quiz about White Flags Theyre Not  Black  White

White Flags: They're Not Black & White Quiz


Whilst we tend to look at flags as an identity of any given state, if we twist that perception and look as white flags as a concept, then flags take on a whole new meaning. This quiz explores the variety of white flags. This is an Author challenge.

A multiple-choice quiz by 1nn1. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
1nn1
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
361,818
Updated
Jan 12 23
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
721
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: jrthomps2006 (3/10), Guest 207 (10/10), Guest 73 (1/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. The most recognised use of a white flag is in periods of war, where a white flag may be flown by either party (but usually the weaker one). What does a white flag in this context actually mean? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The Hague Conventions (1899, 1907) specifically addresses the regulations pertaining to a white flag. Persons carrying a white flag cannot be fired upon nor can they open fire themselves. Any breach of the conventions surrounding use of a white flag contravenes the rules of war. What is the name of this war crime? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. White flags have a place in several of the world's major religions. For example, Buddhists fly a white flag on specific occasions. What does the white flag symbolise in this setting? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. The "Christian flag" is a field of white with a red cross within a blue canton. What does the white field represent? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The Confederate States of America had a flag which, in its second guise, contained, all within the canton (left, upper quadrant), a blue saltire (diagonal cross) on a red background with the requisite number of white stars on the blue saltire. The other three quarters were white. This flag was initially favourable but soon lost this favour. Why? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. With lyrics like "And I won't put my hands up and surrender, There will be no white flag above my door", there is little wonder that the title of this song is "White Flag" (2003). Which artist wrote and sang the song? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Flags are used in sports such as auto racing. Racing flags are traditionally used to indicate the track conditions and to communicate important messages to drivers. However, the different organisations have not standardised their terminology. Which racing body, based in the US, flies a white flag during an auto race to show that the leading car is on the last lap OR there is a slow car in front? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. In national flags, white is the second most common colour behind red. Usually white represents a concept (Hope, peace, liberty to name a few). However some national flags have a plain white field (background) - a blank canvas so to speak - to enable other characteristics to have prominence. Keeping this in mind, which national flag has largest white area percentage? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The national flag of Latvia is unusual in two ways: it is a tricolor where the middle white bar is only 20% of the total height instead of the usual 33%. Additionally the colour of the two bands is crimson rather than a more traditional red. Given these facts, what does the white color represent? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. The Republic of Korea's people are known as "white-clothed people" because of the fondness for this colour in clothing. The white portion of the nation's flag therefore reflects the "homogeneity, integrity and peace-loving nature of the Korean people". What part of the Republic of Korea's national flag is therefore white, reflecting the Korean people? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 17 2024 : jrthomps2006: 3/10
Mar 02 2024 : Guest 207: 10/10
Feb 19 2024 : Guest 73: 1/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The most recognised use of a white flag is in periods of war, where a white flag may be flown by either party (but usually the weaker one). What does a white flag in this context actually mean?

Answer: Surrender

The white flag, which may be as simple as a white piece of clothing on a stick, symbolises "Surrender". It is an internationally recognised protective sign of truce or ceasefire and it is also a request for negotiation. There is a mention of a white flag of surrender in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 A.D. - 200 A.D.) in China and also by the Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus in A.D. 109.

It has also been chronicled as an indication of surrender by the Portuguese and noted in India in the 1500s.
2. The Hague Conventions (1899, 1907) specifically addresses the regulations pertaining to a white flag. Persons carrying a white flag cannot be fired upon nor can they open fire themselves. Any breach of the conventions surrounding use of a white flag contravenes the rules of war. What is the name of this war crime?

Answer: Perfidy

During war, "perfidy" is a form of deception and occurs when one side promises to act in good faith yet intends to breach the trust when the other side has shown themselves. The inclusion in the Hague Convention transferred this definition of perfidy into the 1949 Geneva Convention.
3. White flags have a place in several of the world's major religions. For example, Buddhists fly a white flag on specific occasions. What does the white flag symbolise in this setting?

Answer: Mourning

In Buddhist culture, white is the color of mourning, so a white flag would be seen where "western" cultures would fly a black flag.
4. The "Christian flag" is a field of white with a red cross within a blue canton. What does the white field represent?

Answer: Jesus' pact for non-violence and surrender to God's will

The Christian Flag is meant to represent all Christianity but is flown mainly in Protestant churches in North and Central America and Africa. Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches usually do not fly the flag.
5. The Confederate States of America had a flag which, in its second guise, contained, all within the canton (left, upper quadrant), a blue saltire (diagonal cross) on a red background with the requisite number of white stars on the blue saltire. The other three quarters were white. This flag was initially favourable but soon lost this favour. Why?

Answer: When limp with little wind, it could be mistaken for the flag of truce

This problem when there was little or no wind, making the "droopy" flag appear all white was rectified, in 1865, by adding a vertical red bar on the outer edge of the flag. Of course noting the date, this third version of the confederate flag flew for a very short time before the CSA were dissolved.
The flags of Alabama and Florida appear similar to the Confederate flags, but are actually derived from the Cross of Burgundy flag. This flag flew, initially, over the territory of Spanish Florida.
6. With lyrics like "And I won't put my hands up and surrender, There will be no white flag above my door", there is little wonder that the title of this song is "White Flag" (2003). Which artist wrote and sang the song?

Answer: Dido

By stating there will be "No white flag," Dido indicates she will not give up on the relationship and that she intends to fight until the bitter end, and that she will not give up on her relationship with her partner.
7. Flags are used in sports such as auto racing. Racing flags are traditionally used to indicate the track conditions and to communicate important messages to drivers. However, the different organisations have not standardised their terminology. Which racing body, based in the US, flies a white flag during an auto race to show that the leading car is on the last lap OR there is a slow car in front?

Answer: IndyCar

A white flag in IndyCar racing indicates slow vehicle ahead OR Last Lap. In NASCAR racing a white flag means "Final Lap" and In the FIA (Formula One, Karting, Rallying, Touring cars) a white flag means "Slow Vehicle on Track". In MotoGP (Motorcycles), a white flag warns riders of rain.
8. In national flags, white is the second most common colour behind red. Usually white represents a concept (Hope, peace, liberty to name a few). However some national flags have a plain white field (background) - a blank canvas so to speak - to enable other characteristics to have prominence. Keeping this in mind, which national flag has largest white area percentage?

Answer: Cyprus

Cyprus (Greek for "copper" after the large amounts of copper mined from the island) has the largest white area at 92%. Japan isn't far behind at 84%, South Korea (78%) and Israel at 64%. Mauritania has only green and yellow but no white in its flag.

Other features of the Cyprus flag is its neutrality (having no colours from the Greek or Turkish flags), the only country with a map of itself (copper in colour naturally) on the field of the flag (Christmas Island is not a country but has a map of itself on its flag) plus 2 crossed olive branches to indicate peace. Some sources state that the white background also indicates peace.
9. The national flag of Latvia is unusual in two ways: it is a tricolor where the middle white bar is only 20% of the total height instead of the usual 33%. Additionally the colour of the two bands is crimson rather than a more traditional red. Given these facts, what does the white color represent?

Answer: Absence of blood

While the national flag of Latvia was adopted in 1990, it was the same flag that was used when Latvia was "first" independent between 1917 and 1940. However it can trace its origin back to a Latvian battle in 1280 where (legend has it) a mortally wounded tribal chief was wrapped in a white sheet.

The flag was covered in blood on the edges, but the sheet remained white where he lay. In the next battle, the blood-stained sheet was used as a battle flag. This time the Latvians won the battle. Since then the flag has been based on the sheet. (Is this the first case where a flag was a blank canvas?)
10. The Republic of Korea's people are known as "white-clothed people" because of the fondness for this colour in clothing. The white portion of the nation's flag therefore reflects the "homogeneity, integrity and peace-loving nature of the Korean people". What part of the Republic of Korea's national flag is therefore white, reflecting the Korean people?

Answer: The field

The Korean flag is similar to, but not based on, the national flag of Japan (both were adopted in the late 1880s). It is the wide expanse of the field that represents the Korean people. The central circle of blue and red (the Taegeuk) represents the origin of all universal things. The four trigrams (all different) represent justice, vitality, wisdom and fruition.
Source: Author 1nn1

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