1.
How many countries border Belarus?
Correct Answer
C. 5
Explanation
They are Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Ukraine, and Russia
2.
Which of the following slavic tribes occupied the most territory of what is now Belarus?
Correct Answer
D. Krivichi
Explanation
Other major tribes were the Polochanians and Radivichians
3.
What is the approximate population of Belarus
Correct Answer
A. 10 million
Explanation
The approximate population of Belarus is 10 million.
4.
In which city of what is now Belarus, whose founding predates that of Moscow, is located one of the only three St. Sophia Cathedrals in the FSU?
Correct Answer
D. Polotsk
Explanation
The town of Polotsk, founded in the year 864, was the seat of government of the Principality of Polotsk, an independent kingdom..
5.
In which of these decades did Russia conquer the territory that is now Belarus?
Correct Answer
C. 1790s
Explanation
In the 1790s, Russia conquered the territory that is now Belarus.
6.
Where did a French army suffer defeat in Napoleon's retreat from Russia?
Correct Answer
D. Berezina
Explanation
In Napoleon's retreat from Russia, a French army suffered defeat at Berezina. This location is significant because it was the site of a major battle between the French forces and the Russian army during the retreat. The French army faced significant losses and was unable to secure a successful crossing of the Berezina River, resulting in a defeat that further weakened their position and contributed to the overall failure of Napoleon's campaign in Russia.
7.
In which city did a small garrison of Red Army troops in a fortress hold off the Nazi invasion for a week in the early days of the war?
Correct Answer
D. Brest
Explanation
During the early days of the war, a small garrison of Red Army troops in the fortress of Brest held off the Nazi invasion for a week. This implies that the city of Brest was under attack by the Nazis, and the Red Army troops successfully defended it for a significant period of time.
8.
Which tall, beautiful top-ranked tennis player is from Belarus?
Correct Answer
D. Victoria Azarenka
Explanation
Victoria Azarenka is the correct answer because she is a top-ranked tennis player from Belarus. She has achieved significant success in her career, including winning multiple Grand Slam titles and reaching the world number one ranking. Azarenka is known for her powerful and aggressive style of play, as well as her tall and beautiful appearance.
9.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries many people from what is now Belarus, Ukraine, and also Russia immigrated to the US. Which of these famous gangsters was born in what is now Belarus?
Correct Answer
D. Meyer Lansky
Explanation
Meyer Lansky was born in what is now Belarus. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many people from Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia immigrated to the US. Lansky was a famous gangster who was born in Grodno, which was part of the Russian Empire at the time but is now located in Belarus. He became a prominent figure in organized crime in the US, particularly in the 1930s and 1940s.
10.
Which of these foods is the most common traditional Belarusian dish?
Correct Answer
D. Draniki
Explanation
draniki is a grated potato pancake, sometimes served with strips of pork
11.
Belarus was sometimes called by which of these names?
Correct Answer
D. Ruthenia
Explanation
Belarus was sometimes called Ruthenia.
12.
What was the last name of three brothers who formed a Jewish partisan band that held out against the Nazis for the duration of the war by hiding in the forest in Belarus?
Correct Answer
D. Bielski
Explanation
The correct answer is "Bielski." The Bielski brothers, Tuvia, Asael, and Zus, formed a Jewish partisan band during World War II. They fought against the Nazis by hiding in the forests of Belarus and organizing resistance activities. The Bielski partisans managed to save over 1,200 Jews and actively fought against the German forces, making them a symbol of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust.
13.
For the manufacturing of what product did Belarus become famous?
Correct Answer
D. Tractors
Explanation
Belarus became famous for the manufacturing of tractors. Tractors are agricultural vehicles used for various farming tasks such as plowing, planting, and harvesting. Belarus has a long history of producing tractors, with companies like Minsk Tractor Works being well-known for their high-quality and reliable machines. The country's expertise in tractor manufacturing has made it a major player in the global agricultural machinery industry.
14.
Which treaty, negotiated in what is now Belarus, ended Russian participation in the first world war?
Correct Answer
D. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Explanation
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, negotiated in what is now Belarus, ended Russian participation in the first world war. This treaty was signed between the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire) and Soviet Russia. It resulted in Russia ceding significant territories to the Central Powers, including Ukraine, Belarus, and the Baltic states. The treaty allowed Russia to focus on its internal conflicts and the Russian Civil War, while also marking a turning point in the war by effectively removing Russia from the conflict.
15.
Under the treaty ending the first world war on the Eastern front which country was to occupy almost all of what is now Belarus?
Correct Answer
A. Germany
Explanation
Under the treaty ending the first world war on the Eastern front, Germany was to occupy almost all of what is now Belarus. This indicates that Germany was given control over the territory as a result of the treaty.
16.
Which of these artists was originally from Belarus?
Correct Answer
C. Marc Chagall
Explanation
Marc Chagall was originally from Belarus. He was a renowned artist known for his unique style that combined elements of Cubism, Symbolism, and Surrealism. Chagall was born in Vitebsk, Belarus in 1887 and later moved to France where he gained international recognition for his paintings, stained glass windows, and tapestries. His work often depicted dreamlike scenes, Jewish folklore, and vibrant colors. Chagall's art has left a lasting impact on the art world and he is considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
17.
What are the colors of the flag of Belarus?
Correct Answer
C. Red and green
Explanation
The flag of Belarus consists of two horizontal bands of color - red on top and green on the bottom. Therefore, the correct answer is red and green.
18.
Which of these is against the law in Belarus?
Correct Answer
B. Operating an international dating agency
Explanation
Operating an international dating agency is against the law in Belarus. This means that individuals or companies cannot legally run a business that facilitates international dating services within the country. The government of Belarus has regulations in place that prohibit such operations, possibly due to concerns about human trafficking or other illegal activities associated with international dating agencies.
19.
Who is the president of Belarus?
Correct Answer
D. Lukashenko
Explanation
Lukashenko is the correct answer because he is the current president of Belarus. He has been in power since 1994 and has maintained a strong grip on the country, often criticized for his authoritarian rule. His presidency has been marked by political repression, media censorship, and human rights abuses. Despite facing international condemnation and protests from his own citizens, Lukashenko has managed to hold onto power for over two decades.
20.
Which large animal, widely hunted by the nobility in what is now Belarus and neighboring countries from the 13th to the 17th century, is now extinct
Correct Answer
B. Auroch
Explanation
The correct answer is Auroch. The auroch was a large animal that was widely hunted by the nobility in what is now Belarus and neighboring countries from the 13th to the 17th century. However, it is now extinct.
21.
In the late 1500s the territory of what is now Belarus was controlled by which country?
Correct Answer
C. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Explanation
In the late 1500s, the territory of what is now Belarus was controlled by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state formed by the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which had a significant amount of control over Belarus at that time. The Commonwealth was a powerful and influential force in Eastern Europe during this period, and its control over Belarus lasted until the late 18th century when it was partitioned by neighboring countries.
22.
Belarus still calls its security service the KGB?
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
Belarus still calls its security service the KGB. This is because Belarus, which was formerly a part of the Soviet Union, has retained many aspects of its Soviet-era governance and institutions. The KGB, or the Committee for State Security, was the main security agency during the Soviet era, and Belarus continues to use the same name for its security service even after gaining independence.
23.
Which American songwriter was born in Belarus
Correct Answer
C. Irving Berlin
Explanation
Irving Berlin was born in the village of Tyumen in Mogilev Oblast. The US state department incorrectly maintains that he was born in Tyumen in Russia, but the only available written evidence of where he was born, the draft card he completed during WWI, as well as the recollection of his sisters recorded in a biography by one of his children, agree that Berlin was born in Mogilev oblast, in what is now Belarus. Irving Berlin wrote "God Bless America", among many other popular songs of the first half of the 20th century.