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Panama trivia: 46 questions and answers

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The country at a glance

  1. What is the capital of Panama?

    1. A. Panama City
    2. B. Colón
    3. C. David
    4. D. Santiago de Veraguas
    Show the answer

    Panama City. Panama City, at the Pacific entrance of the canal, is the capital and by far the largest city.

  2. Which two countries share a land border with Panama?

    1. A. Costa Rica and Colombia
    2. B. Costa Rica and Nicaragua
    3. C. Colombia and Venezuela
    4. D. Nicaragua and Colombia
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    Costa Rica and Colombia. Costa Rica and Colombia are the neighbours: Costa Rica to the west and Colombia to the southeast.

  3. Which two currencies are legal tender in Panama?

    1. A. The balboa and the US dollar
    2. B. The balboa and the euro
    3. C. The Costa Rican colón and the US dollar
    4. D. The Colombian peso and the balboa
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    The balboa and the US dollar. The balboa and the US dollar: the balboa is fixed at one to one with the dollar, and all paper money is US dollars.

  4. Panama has a coast on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

    True or false?

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    True. True. The Caribbean washes its northern coast and the Pacific its southern one.

History

  1. In 1513, what did Vasco Núñez de Balboa become the first known European in the Americas to see?

    1. A. The Pacific Ocean
    2. B. The Amazon River
    3. C. The Andes
    4. D. Lake Nicaragua
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    The Pacific Ocean. He crossed the isthmus and saw the Pacific Ocean, which he called the South Sea.

  2. Which privateer captured and sacked the first Panama City in 1671?

    1. A. Henry Morgan
    2. B. William Kidd
    3. C. Edward Teach (Blackbeard)
    4. D. Walter Raleigh
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    Henry Morgan. Henry Morgan marched across the isthmus with about 1,400 men; the city was destroyed by fire and rebuilt 8 km to the southwest.

  3. Panama won its independence from Spain in 1903.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. Panama broke away from Spain in 1821 and joined Gran Colombia; in 1903 it separated from Colombia.

  4. Who led the French company that began digging a canal across Panama in 1881?

    1. A. Ferdinand de Lesseps
    2. B. George Washington Goethals
    3. C. Gustave Flaubert
    4. D. Napoleon III
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    Ferdinand de Lesseps. Ferdinand de Lesseps, builder of the Suez Canal, led the attempt; disease and landslides defeated it and the company went bankrupt in 1889.

  5. Panama took full control of the Panama Canal at noon on 31 December 1999.

    True or false?

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    True. True. This was agreed in the Torrijos–Carter Treaties of 1977.

  6. In 1698, settlers from which country tried to found a colony called New Caledonia in Darién?

    1. A. Scotland
    2. B. France
    3. C. The Netherlands
    4. D. Portugal
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    Scotland. Scotland: the Darien scheme failed by 1700, and its losses helped push Scotland into union with England in 1707.

Food and drink

  1. What are patacones?

    1. A. Slices of green plantain, fried twice
    2. B. Small corn tortillas
    3. C. Yuca fritters stuffed with beef
    4. D. Coconut sweets
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    Slices of green plantain, fried twice. Patacones are slices of green plantain, fried twice: fried, flattened and fried again until crisp.

  2. Which fish is the most popular choice for ceviche in Panama?

    1. A. Corvina
    2. B. Salmon
    3. C. Cod
    4. D. Trout
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    Corvina. Corvina, a kind of sea bass, is the favourite; shrimp and octopus ceviche are popular too.

  3. Carimañolas are made from a dough of which root vegetable?

    1. A. Yuca (cassava)
    2. B. Potato
    3. C. Sweet potato
    4. D. Beetroot
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    Yuca (cassava). The dough is boiled, mashed yuca (cassava), filled with meat or cheese and fried.

  4. What is sancocho, Panama's best-loved soup, made with?

    1. A. Chicken, ñame and culantro
    2. B. Fish, coconut milk and rice
    3. C. Beef, beans and chilli
    4. D. Pork, cabbage and potatoes
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    Chicken, ñame and culantro. Chicken, ñame and culantro: sancocho is chicken simmered with ñame (yam) and the strong local herb culantro.

  5. Panamanian food is known for being very spicy.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. It is mild; if you like heat, add hot sauce made with ají chombo peppers yourself.

  6. Geisha coffee is grown in Panama's Chiriquí highlands, but in which country did the Geisha plant originally come from?

    1. A. Ethiopia
    2. B. Brazil
    3. C. Jamaica
    4. D. Indonesia
    Show the answer

    Ethiopia. The Geisha variety came from Ethiopia; a Boquete Geisha won the Best of Panama competition in 2004 and made it famous.

  7. In Panama, rice with pigeon peas and coconut is a traditional dish of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

    True or false?

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    True. True. Arroz con guandú y coco is a favourite at the end-of-year feasts.

  8. The city of La Chorrera is famous as the home of bollos and which corn drink?

    1. A. Chicheme
    2. B. Horchata
    3. C. Mate
    4. D. Seco
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    Chicheme. Chicheme is a thick, sweet drink of hulled corn spiced with cinnamon and served cold.

Cities

  1. Colón was founded in 1850 as the Caribbean end of the Panama Railway.

    True or false?

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    True. True. It grew up on a marshy island at the Atlantic terminal of the railway.

  2. At the carnival of Las Tablas, which two sides of the town compete?

    1. A. Calle Arriba and Calle Abajo
    2. B. Norte and Sur
    3. C. Montaña and Mar
    4. D. Rojos and Azules
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    Calle Arriba and Calle Abajo. Calle Arriba and Calle Abajo (Uptown and Downtown) each have their own carnival queen, parades and music.

  3. From Yaviza, the Pan-American Highway continues by road into Colombia.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. The road ends at Yaviza; beyond it lies the roadless jungle of the Darién Gap.

  4. Which mountain town in Chiriquí is famous for its coffee farms and cool climate?

    1. A. Boquete
    2. B. Colón
    3. C. Chitré
    4. D. Portobelo
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    Boquete. Boquete lies about 1,200 m above sea level on the slopes of Volcán Barú.

Landmarks

  1. Which of these is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

    1. A. Darién National Park
    2. B. The Biomuseo
    3. C. The Bridge of the Americas
    4. D. The Miraflores Locks
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    Darién National Park. Darién National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.

  2. Which architect designed the Biomuseo in Panama City?

    1. A. Frank Gehry
    2. B. Zaha Hadid
    3. C. Oscar Niemeyer
    4. D. Santiago Calatrava
    Show the answer

    Frank Gehry. Frank Gehry designed it; it was his first building in Latin America and opened in 2014.

  3. Which bridge, completed in 1962, crosses the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal?

    1. A. The Bridge of the Americas
    2. B. The Centennial Bridge
    3. C. The Golden Gate Bridge
    4. D. The Rainbow Bridge
    Show the answer

    The Bridge of the Americas. The Bridge of the Americas crosses the canal near Balboa; the Centennial Bridge further north opened in 2004.

  4. Casco Viejo was built after the first Panama City was destroyed in 1671.

    True or false?

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    True. True. The new city was founded in 1673 on a walled peninsula about 8 km to the southwest.

  5. The Iglesia de San Felipe in Portobelo is famous for which statue?

    1. A. The Black Christ
    2. B. The Virgin of Guadalupe
    3. C. Christ the Redeemer
    4. D. Saint James on horseback
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    The Black Christ. The Black Christ is honoured at a great festival every 21 October.

  6. On a clear day, both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea can be seen from the top of Volcán Barú.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True, although clear days are rare. It is Panama's highest mountain, about 3,475 m high.

Fun facts

  1. In 1928 Richard Halliburton paid the lowest toll ever charged for crossing the Panama Canal: 36 cents. How did he cross it?

    1. A. He swam
    2. B. He paddled a canoe
    3. C. He sailed a small yacht
    4. D. He rowed a boat
    Show the answer

    He swam. He swam the canal in 1928, and the 36 cents he paid is still the lowest toll on record.

  2. The Panama hat was first made in Panama.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. It comes from Ecuador; it got its name because the hats were shipped through Panama.

  3. What is the national bird of Panama?

    1. A. The harpy eagle
    2. B. The resplendent quetzal
    3. C. The toucan
    4. D. The scarlet macaw
    Show the answer

    The harpy eagle. The harpy eagle, one of the largest eagles in the world, also appears on the coat of arms.

  4. What does Panama's national motto, "Pro Mundi Beneficio", mean?

    1. A. For the benefit of the world
    2. B. Out of many, one
    3. C. Liberty and order
    4. D. Strength through unity
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    For the benefit of the world. "Pro Mundi Beneficio" is Latin for "For the benefit of the world".

  5. Molas, colourful panels of layered cloth sewn by hand, are made by women of which Indigenous people?

    1. A. The Guna
    2. B. The Maya
    3. C. The Aztecs
    4. D. The Quechua
    Show the answer

    The Guna. The Guna: Guna women make molas and wear them on the front and back of their blouses.

  6. A ship crossing the Panama Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific travels roughly from northwest to southeast.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. Because of the S-shape of the isthmus, the Pacific end of the canal lies further east than the Atlantic end.

  7. Portobello Road in London is named after what?

    1. A. The British capture of Portobelo in Panama in 1739
    2. B. A Portuguese wine merchant
    3. C. A famous racehorse
    4. D. An Italian port town
    Show the answer

    The British capture of Portobelo in Panama in 1739. It celebrates the British capture of Portobelo in Panama in 1739, which caused great excitement in Britain.

Words

  1. In Panama, what does "fren" mean?

    1. A. Friend
    2. B. Brother
    3. C. Boss
    4. D. Neighbour
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    Friend. Fren comes from the English word friend and is used for men and women alike.

  2. What is a "pelao" in Panama?

    1. A. A kid
    2. B. A bus
    3. C. A fish
    4. D. A hat
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    A kid. Pelao means a kid or child, in Panama and in Colombia.

  3. In Panama, what is a "cuara"?

    1. A. A 25-cent coin
    2. B. A bus ticket
    3. C. A bottle of beer
    4. D. A slice of bread
    Show the answer

    A 25-cent coin. A 25-cent coin: a cuara is a quarter.

  4. In everyday Panamanian Spanish, "vaina" means "thing" or "stuff".

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. It is a very common, informal word for a thing or a matter.

Phrases

  1. How do you ask for the bill in a restaurant?

    1. A. La cuenta, por favor
    2. B. Con permiso
    3. C. ¡Buen provecho!
    4. D. Mucho gusto
    Show the answer

    La cuenta, por favor. "La cuenta, por favor" means "The bill, please".

  2. On a local bus, what do you call out to the driver when you want to get off?

    1. A. ¡Parada!
    2. B. ¡Salud!
    3. C. ¡Buen provecho!
    4. D. ¡Buenas noches!
    Show the answer

    ¡Parada!. Call out "¡Parada!" ("Stop!"), or tell the driver in advance.

  3. What does "¡Buen provecho!" mean?

    1. A. Enjoy your meal!
    2. B. Cheers!
    3. C. Excuse me!
    4. D. Good night!
    Show the answer

    Enjoy your meal!. "¡Buen provecho!" means "Enjoy your meal!" and is said before eating or to people who are eating.

Local customs and tips

  1. When is the dry season, the most popular time to visit Panama?

    1. A. About December to April
    2. B. About June to September
    3. C. About August to November
    4. D. About May to July
    Show the answer

    About December to April. About December to April is the dry season, called verano; the rainy season runs from about May to November.

  2. Why should you carry small US dollar notes in Panama?

    1. A. Many businesses refuse 50 and 100 dollar notes
    2. B. Coins are not accepted anywhere
    3. C. Shops only take euros
    4. D. Large notes must be changed at a bank first
    Show the answer

    Many businesses refuse 50 and 100 dollar notes. Many businesses refuse 50 and 100 dollar notes because of forgeries, so small notes are easier.

  3. You should ask permission before photographing Indigenous people in traditional dress.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. Ask first, and use the names of the peoples, such as Guna, Emberá and Ngäbe.

  4. Tap water is unsafe to drink in most Panamanian towns.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. Tap water is safe in most towns; the main exception is Bocas del Toro, where bottled water is recommended.

Answer key

The country at a glance

  1. A. Panama City
  2. A. Costa Rica and Colombia
  3. A. The balboa and the US dollar
  4. True

History

  1. A. The Pacific Ocean
  2. A. Henry Morgan
  3. False
  4. A. Ferdinand de Lesseps
  5. True
  6. A. Scotland

Food and drink

  1. A. Slices of green plantain, fried twice
  2. A. Corvina
  3. A. Yuca (cassava)
  4. A. Chicken, ñame and culantro
  5. False
  6. A. Ethiopia
  7. True
  8. A. Chicheme

Cities

  1. True
  2. A. Calle Arriba and Calle Abajo
  3. False
  4. A. Boquete

Landmarks

  1. A. Darién National Park
  2. A. Frank Gehry
  3. A. The Bridge of the Americas
  4. True
  5. A. The Black Christ
  6. True

Fun facts

  1. A. He swam
  2. False
  3. A. The harpy eagle
  4. A. For the benefit of the world
  5. A. The Guna
  6. True
  7. A. The British capture of Portobelo in Panama in 1739

Words

  1. A. Friend
  2. A. A kid
  3. A. A 25-cent coin
  4. True

Phrases

  1. A. La cuenta, por favor
  2. A. ¡Parada!
  3. A. Enjoy your meal!

Local customs and tips

  1. A. About December to April
  2. A. Many businesses refuse 50 and 100 dollar notes
  3. True
  4. False

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