GeoQuiz Sunday, January 1st, 2006 (New Year's Day!)

PREVIEW:

• United States Geography: Minnesota...
• World Geography: Greece...
• Interesting Article: 2006 - A New Year for New Orleans...

FACT: Did you know that Richard Milhouse Nixon was the first US President whose name contains all the letters from the word "criminal", and William Jefferson Clinton was the "second"?

UNITED STATES GEOGRAPHY: The correct answer to yesterday's question is d. Presidents' Day is now known to also celebrate Lincoln's birthday, although it originally wasn't.

This week's topic is... Minnesota!

Minnesota: Minnesota is the "Gopher State", and can be found east of North and South Dakota, north of Iowa, and west of Wisconsin. The biggest state in the Midwest, Minnesota has its most significant metropolitan area in the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul. Minnesota has many lakes, bordering Lake Superior and Lake of the Woods, and is ranked 21st in area as a state.

Today's question: The Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, one being the largest and the other being the capital city of Minnesota, are relatively close to each other. What major river separates the Twin Cities and causes them to be almost symmetrical across it?

• a. Mississippi River
• b. Missouri River
• c. Wisconsin River
• d. River of the Woods

WORLD GEOGRAPHY: The correct answer to yesterday's question is d. Cerro Aconcagua was formed by the subduction of the Nazca Plate under the South American Plate.

This week's topic is... Greece!

Greece: Home of the Olympic Games, Athens, and more than 3,000 islands, Greece is a remarkable place built on an ancient civilization. From Greek philosophers like Aristotle to Greek writes like Homer, the people of Greece did well to build up their ancient civilization. Coming into a political view, Greece was the birthplace of western civilization and democracy. As we come to study its past, it reveals more and more about the motiviations of the present.

Today's question: While Greece is commonly called Greece by many people, it's official name is totally different. What is it?

• a. Hellas Republic
• b. Hellenic Republic
• c. Democracy of Greece and Balkan Plantations
• d. Aegean-Ionian Republic

WORD OF THE DAY: repast - taken as food; a meal

INTERESTING ARTICLE: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051231/ap_on_re_us/new_orleans_new_year_s