• RQFTCIWSSSG12 Game 8, Rounds 4,6: national measures, soccer

    From Mark Brader@21:1/5 to All on Thu Jul 21 20:12:52 2022
    These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 2012-06-25,
    and should be interpreted accordingly. All questions were written
    by members of What She Said and/or of Smith & Guessin', but have
    been reformatted and may have been retyped and/or edited by me.
    I will reveal the correct answers in about 3 days.

    For further information, including an explanation of the """
    notation that may appear in these rounds, see my 2021-07-20
    companion posting on "Reposted Questions from the Canadian
    Inquisition (RQFTCI*)".


    * Game 8, Round 4 - Geography - Various National Measures

    This week we have thrown together some trivial numerical statistics
    about countries; even if you don't know the answers, you may be
    able to reason them out.

    All references to countries refer to land territories only,
    not oceanic claims. All border lengths are from the CIA World
    Factbook and have been updated.

    Note that when referring to capitals, some questions ask for the
    city and others for the country.

    1. Of all the national capital *cities* in the world, which one is
    farthest from any other *country* at 1,157 miles or 1,862 km
    away? (For example, for Ottawa the relevant distance would
    be about 40 miles or 65 km, to a point on the US border near
    Ogdensburg, NY, whereas for Washington it would be about 290
    miles or 465 km to a point near Ft. Erie, ON.)

    2. The longest distance between two capital cities of countries that
    *share a common land border* -- excluding overseas territories
    distant from the home country or its main part -- is 3,985 miles
    or 6,414 km. Name *either one* of these two capital *cities*.

    3. Same question except that now the capital cities must both be
    on the same continent, which is Asia; and this time you only
    have to name one of the *countries*, not a city. The distance
    is 2,770 miles or 4,459 km.

    4. Name the non-EU country that """has""" the longest total length
    of land border with one or more EU (European Union) countries,
    at 1,513 miles or 2,435 km.

    5. Same question except with "shortest" instead of "longest".
    The length is 2.1 miles or 3.4 km.

    6. The borders of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe """have
    not been clearly enough established""" to know for sure exactly
    how they meet; but disregarding that case, there """are""" still
    some other places in the world where countries that *don't have
    a common land border* do have territory less than 4 km apart.
    Name *both* countries of such a pair. (If you make two guesses,
    for clarity please give two countries both times even if one
    of them is the same in the two guesses.)

    7. Canada and the United States have the record as the two countries
    that share the longest total length of common land border between
    them; but which former Soviet republic """pairs with Russia"""
    to be in second place for this statistic, at 4,750 miles or
    7,644 km?

    8. Speaking of former Soviet republics, and also of short distances
    between countries that don't touch... Kazakhstan """is the
    9th-largest country""" in the world by area, and its border
    comes within 24 miles, or 38 km, from the """19th-largest"""
    country by size, without touching. What is this 19th-largest
    country that Kazakhstan is so so close to, yet so so far from?

    9. Looking at """most recent""" US and Canadian census figures (2010
    and 2011 respectively) and comparing them to the respective
    previous censuses (2000 and 2006), the metropolitan area in
    each country whose population *shrank* by the most residents
    (actual number, not percentage) are directly opposite each other
    along the border. *What international body of water* separates
    these two national shrinking leaders? *Note*: I believe the
    the situation described is no longer true, so for this question
    only the original answer based on 2010-11 will be accepted.

    10. Russia """is""" tied for countries of the world with the most
    neighbors, i.e. countries with which a nation shares a common
    land border, at 14. What is the other nation that also has 14
    direct neighbors?


    * Game 8, Round 6 - Sports - Soccer

    1. The biggest news in soccer """this summer""" is the Euro 2012
    Tournament. What country won """the last""" Euro competition,
    in 2008?

    2. Barclay's Premier League, the highest flight of "football"
    in England, is the second-richest sports league in the world,
    after cricket's India Premier League. The """current"""
    Barclay's champs are Manchester City, while Manchester United
    have won the most league titles. Name *any one* of the *other*
    """three""" teams that have won England's Premier League since
    its inception in 1992.

    3. Baseball is played on a diamond, basketball on a court; what
    is the proper name in English for a soccer field?

    4. Excluding the usual "injury time" and halftime, how long is a
    regulation professional soccer game?

    5. In North American we might call it a "cross-town rivalry" or
    "subway series". In soccer there is a specific term for
    a local rivalry. Although it originated in England, this
    term is used throughout the world for such fixtures, even in
    non-English-speaking nations. What is it?

    6. Two of the longest-running and most famous <answer 5>s in soccer
    are the "Merseyside" <answer 5> and the "Old Firm" <answer 5>.
    Name *any one* of the four teams involved in these two rivalries.

    7. Unlike Canadian and American sports leagues (even in soccer),
    what dubious outcome can befall a team in a European or South
    American national soccer league if they end a season in last
    place?

    8. Of the 6 FIFA global "confederations" of soccer, Canada is
    part of CONCACAF, the "Confederation of North, Central American
    and Caribbean Association Football". What is the name of the
    biannual tournament played by the national teams within CONCACAF?

    9. Canada """has only appeared in one""" FIFA World Cup Final
    (i.e. the current 32-team tournament for men, not just the
    championship game). Give *either* the year or the host nation.

    10. Name the country that will controversially host the 2022 FIFA
    World Cup, chosen amid storms of protests and allegations of
    bribery and buying votes and of it being glaringly obvious
    that FIFA had not considered many consequences of hosting the
    tournament there.

    --
    Mark Brader "Never re-invent the wheel unnecessarily;
    Toronto yours may have corners."
    [email protected] -- Henry Spencer

    My text in this article is in the public domain.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Dan Tilque@21:1/5 to Mark Brader on Thu Jul 21 20:09:49 2022
    On 7/21/22 18:12, Mark Brader wrote:


    * Game 8, Round 4 - Geography - Various National Measures

    This week we have thrown together some trivial numerical statistics
    about countries; even if you don't know the answers, you may be
    able to reason them out.

    All references to countries refer to land territories only,
    not oceanic claims. All border lengths are from the CIA World
    Factbook and have been updated.

    Note that when referring to capitals, some questions ask for the
    city and others for the country.

    1. Of all the national capital *cities* in the world, which one is
    farthest from any other *country* at 1,157 miles or 1,862 km
    away? (For example, for Ottawa the relevant distance would
    be about 40 miles or 65 km, to a point on the US border near
    Ogdensburg, NY, whereas for Washington it would be about 290
    miles or 465 km to a point near Ft. Erie, ON.)

    Canberra


    2. The longest distance between two capital cities of countries that
    *share a common land border* -- excluding overseas territories
    distant from the home country or its main part -- is 3,985 miles
    or 6,414 km. Name *either one* of these two capital *cities*.

    Paris


    3. Same question except that now the capital cities must both be
    on the same continent, which is Asia; and this time you only
    have to name one of the *countries*, not a city. The distance
    is 2,770 miles or 4,459 km.

    Russia


    4. Name the non-EU country that """has""" the longest total length
    of land border with one or more EU (European Union) countries,
    at 1,513 miles or 2,435 km.

    Norway


    5. Same question except with "shortest" instead of "longest".
    The length is 2.1 miles or 3.4 km.

    Vatican City


    6. The borders of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe """have
    not been clearly enough established""" to know for sure exactly
    how they meet; but disregarding that case, there """are""" still
    some other places in the world where countries that *don't have
    a common land border* do have territory less than 4 km apart.
    Name *both* countries of such a pair. (If you make two guesses,
    for clarity please give two countries both times even if one
    of them is the same in the two guesses.)

    Singapore and Malaysia

    (I understand the border situtation between Botswana, Namibia, Zambia,
    and Zimbabwe has now been established. There's a short border between
    Botswana and Zambia. I don't remember how long it is, but there's now a
    bridge between them across that short section.)


    7. Canada and the United States have the record as the two countries
    that share the longest total length of common land border between
    them; but which former Soviet republic """pairs with Russia"""
    to be in second place for this statistic, at 4,750 miles or
    7,644 km?

    Kazakhstan


    8. Speaking of former Soviet republics, and also of short distances
    between countries that don't touch... Kazakhstan """is the
    9th-largest country""" in the world by area, and its border
    comes within 24 miles, or 38 km, from the """19th-largest"""
    country by size, without touching. What is this 19th-largest
    country that Kazakhstan is so so close to, yet so so far from?

    Uzbekistan; Pakistan


    9. Looking at """most recent""" US and Canadian census figures (2010
    and 2011 respectively) and comparing them to the respective
    previous censuses (2000 and 2006), the metropolitan area in
    each country whose population *shrank* by the most residents
    (actual number, not percentage) are directly opposite each other
    along the border. *What international body of water* separates
    these two national shrinking leaders? *Note*: I believe the
    the situation described is no longer true, so for this question
    only the original answer based on 2010-11 will be accepted.

    Detroit River


    10. Russia """is""" tied for countries of the world with the most
    neighbors, i.e. countries with which a nation shares a common
    land border, at 14. What is the other nation that also has 14
    direct neighbors?

    China



    * Game 8, Round 6 - Sports - Soccer

    1. The biggest news in soccer """this summer""" is the Euro 2012
    Tournament. What country won """the last""" Euro competition,
    in 2008?

    2. Barclay's Premier League, the highest flight of "football"
    in England, is the second-richest sports league in the world,
    after cricket's India Premier League. The """current"""
    Barclay's champs are Manchester City, while Manchester United
    have won the most league titles. Name *any one* of the *other*
    """three""" teams that have won England's Premier League since
    its inception in 1992.

    Arsenal


    3. Baseball is played on a diamond, basketball on a court; what
    is the proper name in English for a soccer field?

    pitch


    4. Excluding the usual "injury time" and halftime, how long is a
    regulation professional soccer game?

    90 minutes


    5. In North American we might call it a "cross-town rivalry" or
    "subway series". In soccer there is a specific term for
    a local rivalry. Although it originated in England, this
    term is used throughout the world for such fixtures, even in
    non-English-speaking nations. What is it?

    6. Two of the longest-running and most famous <answer 5>s in soccer
    are the "Merseyside" <answer 5> and the "Old Firm" <answer 5>.
    Name *any one* of the four teams involved in these two rivalries.

    Liverpool FC


    7. Unlike Canadian and American sports leagues (even in soccer),
    what dubious outcome can befall a team in a European or South
    American national soccer league if they end a season in last
    place?

    relegation to a lower level league


    8. Of the 6 FIFA global "confederations" of soccer, Canada is
    part of CONCACAF, the "Confederation of North, Central American
    and Caribbean Association Football". What is the name of the
    biannual tournament played by the national teams within CONCACAF?

    Gold Cup


    9. Canada """has only appeared in one""" FIFA World Cup Final
    (i.e. the current 32-team tournament for men, not just the
    championship game). Give *either* the year or the host nation.

    10. Name the country that will controversially host the 2022 FIFA
    World Cup, chosen amid storms of protests and allegations of
    bribery and buying votes and of it being glaringly obvious
    that FIFA had not considered many consequences of hosting the
    tournament there.

    Qatar


    --
    Dan Tilque

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Dan Blum@21:1/5 to Mark Brader on Fri Jul 22 02:18:46 2022
    Mark Brader <[email protected]> wrote:

    * Game 8, Round 4 - Geography - Various National Measures

    1. Of all the national capital *cities* in the world, which one is
    farthest from any other *country* at 1,157 miles or 1,862 km
    away? (For example, for Ottawa the relevant distance would
    be about 40 miles or 65 km, to a point on the US border near
    Ogdensburg, NY, whereas for Washington it would be about 290
    miles or 465 km to a point near Ft. Erie, ON.)

    Wellington

    2. The longest distance between two capital cities of countries that
    *share a common land border* -- excluding overseas territories
    distant from the home country or its main part -- is 3,985 miles
    or 6,414 km. Name *either one* of these two capital *cities*.

    Moscow

    3. Same question except that now the capital cities must both be
    on the same continent, which is Asia; and this time you only
    have to name one of the *countries*, not a city. The distance
    is 2,770 miles or 4,459 km.

    China

    4. Name the non-EU country that """has""" the longest total length
    of land border with one or more EU (European Union) countries,
    at 1,513 miles or 2,435 km.

    Belarus

    5. Same question except with "shortest" instead of "longest".
    The length is 2.1 miles or 3.4 km.

    Vatican City

    7. Canada and the United States have the record as the two countries
    that share the longest total length of common land border between
    them; but which former Soviet republic """pairs with Russia"""
    to be in second place for this statistic, at 4,750 miles or
    7,644 km?

    Kazakhstan; Uzbekistan

    8. Speaking of former Soviet republics, and also of short distances
    between countries that don't touch... Kazakhstan """is the
    9th-largest country""" in the world by area, and its border
    comes within 24 miles, or 38 km, from the """19th-largest"""
    country by size, without touching. What is this 19th-largest
    country that Kazakhstan is so so close to, yet so so far from?

    Iran

    9. Looking at """most recent""" US and Canadian census figures (2010
    and 2011 respectively) and comparing them to the respective
    previous censuses (2000 and 2006), the metropolitan area in
    each country whose population *shrank* by the most residents
    (actual number, not percentage) are directly opposite each other
    along the border. *What international body of water* separates
    these two national shrinking leaders? *Note*: I believe the
    the situation described is no longer true, so for this question
    only the original answer based on 2010-11 will be accepted.

    Detroit River

    10. Russia """is""" tied for countries of the world with the most
    neighbors, i.e. countries with which a nation shares a common
    land border, at 14. What is the other nation that also has 14
    direct neighbors?

    China

    * Game 8, Round 6 - Sports - Soccer

    2. Barclay's Premier League, the highest flight of "football"
    in England, is the second-richest sports league in the world,
    after cricket's India Premier League. The """current"""
    Barclay's champs are Manchester City, while Manchester United
    have won the most league titles. Name *any one* of the *other*
    """three""" teams that have won England's Premier League since
    its inception in 1992.

    Leicester City

    3. Baseball is played on a diamond, basketball on a court; what
    is the proper name in English for a soccer field?

    pitch

    6. Two of the longest-running and most famous <answer 5>s in soccer
    are the "Merseyside" <answer 5> and the "Old Firm" <answer 5>.
    Name *any one* of the four teams involved in these two rivalries.

    Manchester United

    7. Unlike Canadian and American sports leagues (even in soccer),
    what dubious outcome can befall a team in a European or South
    American national soccer league if they end a season in last
    place?

    being relegated to a lower league

    10. Name the country that will controversially host the 2022 FIFA
    World Cup, chosen amid storms of protests and allegations of
    bribery and buying votes and of it being glaringly obvious
    that FIFA had not considered many consequences of hosting the
    tournament there.

    United Arab Emirates

    --
    _______________________________________________________________________
    Dan Blum [email protected]
    "I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't just made it up."

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Joshua Kreitzer@21:1/5 to Mark Brader on Thu Jul 21 23:17:18 2022
    On Thursday, July 21, 2022 at 8:12:58 PM UTC-5, Mark Brader wrote:

    * Game 8, Round 4 - Geography - Various National Measures

    All references to countries refer to land territories only,
    not oceanic claims. All border lengths are from the CIA World
    Factbook and have been updated.

    Note that when referring to capitals, some questions ask for the
    city and others for the country.

    1. Of all the national capital *cities* in the world, which one is
    farthest from any other *country* at 1,157 miles or 1,862 km
    away? (For example, for Ottawa the relevant distance would
    be about 40 miles or 65 km, to a point on the US border near
    Ogdensburg, NY, whereas for Washington it would be about 290
    miles or 465 km to a point near Ft. Erie, ON.)

    Canberra

    2. The longest distance between two capital cities of countries that
    *share a common land border* -- excluding overseas territories
    distant from the home country or its main part -- is 3,985 miles
    or 6,414 km. Name *either one* of these two capital *cities*.

    Moscow

    3. Same question except that now the capital cities must both be
    on the same continent, which is Asia; and this time you only
    have to name one of the *countries*, not a city. The distance
    is 2,770 miles or 4,459 km.

    China

    4. Name the non-EU country that """has""" the longest total length
    of land border with one or more EU (European Union) countries,
    at 1,513 miles or 2,435 km.

    Russia

    5. Same question except with "shortest" instead of "longest".
    The length is 2.1 miles or 3.4 km.

    Vatican City; Monaco

    6. The borders of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe """have
    not been clearly enough established""" to know for sure exactly
    how they meet; but disregarding that case, there """are""" still
    some other places in the world where countries that *don't have
    a common land border* do have territory less than 4 km apart.
    Name *both* countries of such a pair. (If you make two guesses,
    for clarity please give two countries both times even if one
    of them is the same in the two guesses.)

    USA and Russia

    7. Canada and the United States have the record as the two countries
    that share the longest total length of common land border between
    them; but which former Soviet republic """pairs with Russia"""
    to be in second place for this statistic, at 4,750 miles or
    7,644 km?

    Kazakhstan

    8. Speaking of former Soviet republics, and also of short distances
    between countries that don't touch... Kazakhstan """is the
    9th-largest country""" in the world by area, and its border
    comes within 24 miles, or 38 km, from the """19th-largest"""
    country by size, without touching. What is this 19th-largest
    country that Kazakhstan is so so close to, yet so so far from?

    Mongolia

    9. Looking at """most recent""" US and Canadian census figures (2010
    and 2011 respectively) and comparing them to the respective
    previous censuses (2000 and 2006), the metropolitan area in
    each country whose population *shrank* by the most residents
    (actual number, not percentage) are directly opposite each other
    along the border. *What international body of water* separates
    these two national shrinking leaders? *Note*: I believe the
    the situation described is no longer true, so for this question
    only the original answer based on 2010-11 will be accepted.

    Lake St. Clair; Detroit River

    10. Russia """is""" tied for countries of the world with the most
    neighbors, i.e. countries with which a nation shares a common
    land border, at 14. What is the other nation that also has 14
    direct neighbors?

    China

    * Game 8, Round 6 - Sports - Soccer

    2. Barclay's Premier League, the highest flight of "football"
    in England, is the second-richest sports league in the world,
    after cricket's India Premier League. The """current"""
    Barclay's champs are Manchester City, while Manchester United
    have won the most league titles. Name *any one* of the *other*
    """three""" teams that have won England's Premier League since
    its inception in 1992.

    Liverpool

    3. Baseball is played on a diamond, basketball on a court; what
    is the proper name in English for a soccer field?

    pitch

    4. Excluding the usual "injury time" and halftime, how long is a
    regulation professional soccer game?

    90 minutes

    5. In North American we might call it a "cross-town rivalry" or
    "subway series". In soccer there is a specific term for
    a local rivalry. Although it originated in England, this
    term is used throughout the world for such fixtures, even in non-English-speaking nations. What is it?

    derby

    6. Two of the longest-running and most famous <answer 5>s in soccer
    are the "Merseyside" <answer 5> and the "Old Firm" <answer 5>.
    Name *any one* of the four teams involved in these two rivalries.

    Glasgow Rangers

    7. Unlike Canadian and American sports leagues (even in soccer),
    what dubious outcome can befall a team in a European or South
    American national soccer league if they end a season in last
    place?

    relegation (to a lower-level league)

    8. Of the 6 FIFA global "confederations" of soccer, Canada is
    part of CONCACAF, the "Confederation of North, Central American
    and Caribbean Association Football". What is the name of the
    biannual tournament played by the national teams within CONCACAF?

    Gold Cup

    9. Canada """has only appeared in one""" FIFA World Cup Final
    (i.e. the current 32-team tournament for men, not just the
    championship game). Give *either* the year or the host nation.

    2006; 2002

    10. Name the country that will controversially host the 2022 FIFA
    World Cup, chosen amid storms of protests and allegations of
    bribery and buying votes and of it being glaringly obvious
    that FIFA had not considered many consequences of hosting the
    tournament there.

    Qatar

    --
    Joshua Kreitzer
    [email protected]

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Erland Sommarskog@21:1/5 to Mark Brader on Fri Jul 22 22:42:00 2022
    Mark Brader ([email protected]) writes:
    * Game 8, Round 4 - Geography - Various National Measures

    1. Of all the national capital *cities* in the world, which one is
    farthest from any other *country* at 1,157 miles or 1,862 km
    away? (For example, for Ottawa the relevant distance would
    be about 40 miles or 65 km, to a point on the US border near
    Ogdensburg, NY, whereas for Washington it would be about 290
    miles or 465 km to a point near Ft. Erie, ON.)

    Wellington

    2. The longest distance between two capital cities of countries that
    *share a common land border* -- excluding overseas territories
    distant from the home country or its main part -- is 3,985 miles
    or 6,414 km. Name *either one* of these two capital *cities*.

    Moscow and Beijing

    3. Same question except that now the capital cities must both be
    on the same continent, which is Asia; and this time you only
    have to name one of the *countries*, not a city. The distance
    is 2,770 miles or 4,459 km.

    China

    4. Name the non-EU country that """has""" the longest total length
    of land border with one or more EU (European Union) countries,
    at 1,513 miles or 2,435 km.

    Norway

    5. Same question except with "shortest" instead of "longest".
    The length is 2.1 miles or 3.4 km.

    The Holy See

    6. The borders of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe """have
    not been clearly enough established""" to know for sure exactly
    how they meet; but disregarding that case, there """are""" still
    some other places in the world where countries that *don't have
    a common land border* do have territory less than 4 km apart.
    Name *both* countries of such a pair. (If you make two guesses,
    for clarity please give two countries both times even if one
    of them is the same in the two guesses.)

    Monaco and Italy

    7. Canada and the United States have the record as the two countries
    that share the longest total length of common land border between
    them; but which former Soviet republic """pairs with Russia"""
    to be in second place for this statistic, at 4,750 miles or
    7,644 km?

    Kazakhstan

    8. Speaking of former Soviet republics, and also of short distances
    between countries that don't touch... Kazakhstan """is the
    9th-largest country""" in the world by area, and its border
    comes within 24 miles, or 38 km, from the """19th-largest"""
    country by size, without touching. What is this 19th-largest
    country that Kazakhstan is so so close to, yet so so far from?

    Mongolia

    9. Looking at """most recent""" US and Canadian census figures (2010
    and 2011 respectively) and comparing them to the respective
    previous censuses (2000 and 2006), the metropolitan area in
    each country whose population *shrank* by the most residents
    (actual number, not percentage) are directly opposite each other
    along the border. *What international body of water* separates
    these two national shrinking leaders? *Note*: I believe the
    the situation described is no longer true, so for this question
    only the original answer based on 2010-11 will be accepted.

    Lake Michigan

    10. Russia """is""" tied for countries of the world with the most
    neighbors, i.e. countries with which a nation shares a common
    land border, at 14. What is the other nation that also has 14
    direct neighbors?

    China

    * Game 8, Round 6 - Sports - Soccer

    1. The biggest news in soccer """this summer""" is the Euro 2012
    Tournament. What country won """the last""" Euro competition,
    in 2008?

    Spain

    2. Barclay's Premier League, the highest flight of "football"
    in England, is the second-richest sports league in the world,
    after cricket's India Premier League. The """current"""
    Barclay's champs are Manchester City, while Manchester United
    have won the most league titles. Name *any one* of the *other*
    """three""" teams that have won England's Premier League since
    its inception in 1992.

    Leicester (Which was not a correct answer in 2012)

    3. Baseball is played on a diamond, basketball on a court; what
    is the proper name in English for a soccer field?

    Football field

    4. Excluding the usual "injury time" and halftime, how long is a
    regulation professional soccer game?

    2*45 minutes

    5. In North American we might call it a "cross-town rivalry" or
    "subway series". In soccer there is a specific term for
    a local rivalry. Although it originated in England, this
    term is used throughout the world for such fixtures, even in
    non-English-speaking nations. What is it?

    Derby

    6. Two of the longest-running and most famous <answer 5>s in soccer
    are the "Merseyside" <answer 5> and the "Old Firm" <answer 5>.
    Name *any one* of the four teams involved in these two rivalries.

    Liverpool

    7. Unlike Canadian and American sports leagues (even in soccer),
    what dubious outcome can befall a team in a European or South
    American national soccer league if they end a season in last
    place?

    Demoted to a lower division

    (Try to suggest a closed league in about anything in Europe, and you will
    have to face some very angry fans.)

    8. Of the 6 FIFA global "confederations" of soccer, Canada is
    part of CONCACAF, the "Confederation of North, Central American
    and Caribbean Association Football". What is the name of the
    biannual tournament played by the national teams within CONCACAF?

    Concacaf Gold Cup

    9. Canada """has only appeared in one""" FIFA World Cup Final
    (i.e. the current 32-team tournament for men, not just the
    championship game). Give *either* the year or the host nation.

    1986

    But they will triple that number by appearing both in 2022 (qualified)
    and 2026 (host nation).

    10. Name the country that will controversially host the 2022 FIFA
    World Cup, chosen amid storms of protests and allegations of
    bribery and buying votes and of it being glaringly obvious
    that FIFA had not considered many consequences of hosting the
    tournament there.


    Qatar

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    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Mark Brader@21:1/5 to All on Mon Jul 25 16:44:10 2022
    Mark Brader:
    These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 2012-06-25,
    and should be interpreted accordingly... I will reveal the correct
    answers in about 3 days.

    Oops, I prepared the posting yesterday and then forgot to actually
    post it when the 3 days were up. Sorry about that.

    For further information... see my 2021-07-20 companion posting on
    "Reposted Questions from the Canadian Inquisition (RQFTCI*)".


    * Game 8, Round 4 - Geography - Various National Measures

    This week we have thrown together some trivial numerical statistics
    about countries; even if you don't know the answers, you may be
    able to reason them out.

    All references to countries refer to land territories only,
    not oceanic claims. All border lengths are from the CIA World
    Factbook and have been updated.

    Note that when referring to capitals, some questions ask for the
    city and others for the country.

    This was the hardest round in the original game, and contained
    several problematic questions or answers. I was able to fix some
    of them, but not all.

    1. Of all the national capital *cities* in the world, which one is
    farthest from any other *country* at 1,157 miles or 1,862 km
    away? (For example, for Ottawa the relevant distance would
    be about 40 miles or 65 km, to a point on the US border near
    Ogdensburg, NY, whereas for Washington it would be about 290
    miles or 465 km to a point near Ft. Erie, ON.)

    Canberra, Australia (to Fiordland National Park, New Zealand).
    4 for Dan Tilque and Joshua.

    I have sympathy for those who guessed Wellington, New Zealand.
    It's about 1,350-1,365 miles (2,175-2,200 km) away from the
    nearest points in mainland Australia or Tasmania. But Lord Howe I.,
    population 350, is several hundred miles or kilometers off the
    Australian coast and is part of New South Wales, Australia; and it's
    only about 1,095 miles (1,765 km) from Wellington.

    2. The longest distance between two capital cities of countries that
    *share a common land border* -- excluding overseas territories
    distant from the home country or its main part -- is 3,985 miles
    or 6,414 km. Name *either one* of these two capital *cities*.

    Moscow (Russia), Pyongyang (North Korea). 4 for Dan Blum and Joshua.
    3 for Erland.

    Without the exclusion for distant overseas territories -- in this
    case French Guiana -- the answers would be Brasilia and Paris at
    about 5,425 miles or 8,730 km.

    3. Same question except that now the capital cities must both be
    on the same continent, which is Asia; and this time you only
    have to name one of the *countries*, not a city. The distance
    is 2,770 miles or 4,459 km.

    As you see from the distance given, the intended answer was
    Indonesia (Jakarta) and Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby); but the
    latter is not always considered to be in Asia. Unlike the original
    question setters, I am therefore also accepting the next best pair
    at 2,594 miles or 4,174 km: China (Beijing) and Afghanistan (Kabul).
    4 for Dan Blum, Joshua, and Erland.

    4. Name the non-EU country that """has""" the longest total length
    of land border with one or more EU (European Union) countries,
    at 1,513 miles or 2,435 km.

    Russia (the main part with Finland, Estonia, and Latvia; and the
    Kaliningrad Oblast with Lithuania and Poland). (Still true.)
    4 for Joshua.

    Norway is next -- 1,476 miles or 2,375 km (with Sweden and Finland)
    -- and was the answer originally expected by the question setters,
    with that distance given in the question. In fact, the Usual Suspects
    scored in our game with this answer. But I'm not accepting it here;
    it's clearly wrong.

    By the way, Switzerland is third.

    5. Same question except with "shortest" instead of "longest".
    The length is 2.1 miles or 3.4 km.

    Vatican City (with Italy). 4 for Dan Blum, Dan Tilque, and Erland.
    3 for Joshua.

    Monaco is second at 3.7 miles or 6 km (with France).

    6. The borders of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe """have
    not been clearly enough established""" to know for sure exactly
    how they meet; but disregarding that case, there """are""" still
    some other places in the world where countries that *don't have
    a common land border* do have territory less than 4 km apart.
    Name *both* countries of such a pair. (If you make two guesses,
    for clarity please give two countries both times even if one
    of them is the same in the two guesses.)

    Malaysia and Singapore (about 520 m or 1,700 feet across the Johor
    Strait at 1�26'N, 103�56'E, and not much more than that for most of
    their border); Denmark and Sweden (about 3.7 km or 2.3 miles across
    the �resund or �resund at 56�2'N, 12�39'E); and Russia and the US
    (just about the same distance at Big and Little Diomede Island,
    about 65�46'N, 168�59'W). 4 for Dan Tilque and Joshua.

    As to the four African countries, the tensions between them have now
    relaxed enough to resolve the question, and Namibia and Zimbabwe
    now form a fourth -- and still closer -- pair on the list. It is
    now agreed that, within the Zambezi River, they are separated by
    about 150 m or 500 feet; and a bridge -- the Kazungula Bridge -- now
    crosses that short bit of the river to connect Zambia and Botswana.

    The original version of this question had Denmark and Sweden as the
    sole expected answer.

    Italy and Monaco are a near miss; that distance is 5.1 miles or
    8.2 km.

    7. Canada and the United States have the record as the two countries
    that share the longest total length of common land border between
    them; but which former Soviet republic """pairs with Russia"""
    to be in second place for this statistic, at 4,750 miles or
    7,644 km?

    Kazakhstan. (Still true.) 4 for Dan Tilque, Joshua, and Erland.
    3 for Dan Blum.

    8. Speaking of former Soviet republics, and also of short distances
    between countries that don't touch... Kazakhstan """is the
    9th-largest country""" in the world by area, and its border
    comes within 24 miles, or 38 km, from the """19th-largest"""
    country by size, without touching. What is this 19th-largest
    country that Kazakhstan is so so close to, yet so so far from?

    Mongolia. (Still true; the ranking assumes that Greenland does not
    count as part of Denmark.) 4 for Joshua and Erland.

    As to the wrong answers, Kazakhstan has a border over 1,000 miles
    long with Uzbekistan, but is roughly 300 miles from touching either
    Iran or Pakistan. Iran is indeed about the same size as Mongolia,
    but the other two are much smaller.

    9. Looking at """most recent""" US and Canadian census figures (2010
    and 2011 respectively) and comparing them to the respective
    previous censuses (2000 and 2006), the metropolitan area in
    each country whose population *shrank* by the most residents
    (actual number, not percentage) are directly opposite each other
    along the border. *What international body of water* separates
    these two national shrinking leaders? *Note*: I believe the
    the situation described is no longer true, so for this question
    only the original answer based on 2010-11 will be accepted.

    Detroit River. (Detroit - Warren - Livonia MSA dropped 156,528
    from 4,452,778 to 4,296,250; Windsor CMA dropped 4,096 from 323,342
    to 319,246.) 4 for Dan Blum and Dan Tilque. 2 for Joshua.

    10. Russia """is""" tied for countries of the world with the most
    neighbors, i.e. countries with which a nation shares a common
    land border, at 14. What is the other nation that also has 14
    direct neighbors?

    China. (Still true. Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar [Burma], India,
    Bhutan, India again, Nepal, India yet again, Pakistan, Afghanistan,
    Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, Russia again,
    North Korea.) 4 for everyone -- Dan Blum, Dan Tilque, Joshua,
    and Erland.


    * Game 8, Round 6 - Sports - Soccer

    1. The biggest news in soccer """this summer""" is the Euro 2012
    Tournament. What country won """the last""" Euro competition,
    in 2008?

    2008 answer: Spain. 2021 answer: Italy. (Like with the Olympics,
    the 2020 tournament was played in 2021.) 4 for Erland.

    2. Barclay's Premier League, the highest flight of "football"
    in England, is the second-richest sports league in the world,
    after cricket's India Premier League. The """current"""
    Barclay's champs are Manchester City, while Manchester United
    have won the most league titles. Name *any one* of the *other*
    """three""" teams that have won England's Premier League since
    its inception in 1992.

    2012 answer: Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea. 2022 answer: Also
    Leicester City and Liverpool. 4 for Dan Blum, Dan Tilque, and Joshua.
    3 for Erland.

    3. Baseball is played on a diamond, basketball on a court; what
    is the proper name in English for a soccer field?

    Pitch. 4 for Dan Blum, Dan Tilque, and Joshua.

    4. Excluding the usual "injury time" and halftime, how long is a
    regulation professional soccer game?

    90 minutes. 4 for Dan Tilque and Joshua. 3 for Erland.

    5. In North American we might call it a "cross-town rivalry" or
    "subway series". In soccer there is a specific term for
    a local rivalry. Although it originated in England, this
    term is used throughout the world for such fixtures, even in
    non-English-speaking nations. What is it?

    Derby ["DAR-bee", like the English city]. 4 for Joshua and Erland.

    6. Two of the longest-running and most famous <answer 5>s in soccer
    are the "Merseyside" <answer 5> and the "Old Firm" <answer 5>.
    Name *any one* of the four teams involved in these two rivalries.

    Everton, Liverpool, Glasgow Celtic, Glasgow Rangers. 4 for
    Dan Tilque, Joshua, and Erland.

    7. Unlike Canadian and American sports leagues (even in soccer),
    what dubious outcome can befall a team in a European or South
    American national soccer league if they end a season in last
    place?

    As in the Canadian Inquisition, they are relegated to the league or
    division one level down. 4 for everyone.

    8. Of the 6 FIFA global "confederations" of soccer, Canada is
    part of CONCACAF, the "Confederation of North, Central American
    and Caribbean Association Football". What is the name of the
    biannual tournament played by the national teams within CONCACAF?

    Gold Cup. 4 for Dan Tilque, Joshua, and Erland.

    9. Canada """has only appeared in one""" FIFA World Cup Final
    (i.e. the current 32-team tournament for men, not just the
    championship game). Give *either* the year or the host nation.

    1986, Mexico. (Still true, but Canada has qualified for the 2022
    event later this year.) 4 for Erland.

    10. Name the country that will controversially host the 2022 FIFA
    World Cup, chosen amid storms of protests and allegations of
    bribery and buying votes and of it being glaringly obvious
    that FIFA had not considered many consequences of hosting the
    tournament there.

    Qatar. 4 for Dan Tilque, Joshua, and Erland.


    Scores, if there are no errors:

    GAME 8 ROUNDS-> 2 3 4 6 TOTALS
    TOPICS-> Can Art Geo Spo
    Joshua Kreitzer 25 42 37 32 136
    Dan Blum 28 38 23 12 101
    Erland Sommarskog 32 8 23 34 97
    Dan Tilque 20 22 24 28 94
    Pete Gayde 21 32 -- -- 53

    --
    Mark Brader | "There is a pervasive illusion in certain quarters
    Toronto | that Mother Nature is our friend. Wrong; dead wrong. [email protected] | She doesn't care whether we live or die,
    | and she loves surprises." -- Henry Spencer

    My text in this article is in the public domain.

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