World Facts and Geography

Cuba is historically known as 'The Queen of the Antilles' or 'La Perla del Antilles' due to its strategic location, natural beauty, and cultural prominence among the Greater Antilles islands in the Caribbean. This nickname highlights Cuba's perceived status as the most significant island in the Antilles chain.

Ireland is called 'The Emerald Isle' because of its lush green landscapes resulting from abundant rainfall and temperate climate. This poetic nickname references the country's natural beauty and verdant countryside, which has made it famous worldwide.

Hong Kong has historically been known as the 'Pearl of the Orient' due to its strategic location, natural harbor, economic importance, and beautiful skyline. This nickname reflects its status as a prized gem in East Asia. Bhutan, Japan, and Lhasa are not associated with this specific epithet.

The question asks which country is called the 'Armpit of Africa'. Cameroon is marked as the correct answer. This appears to be a colloquial or slang term, not a formal geographical designation.

Upper Volta was the former name of the West African country that gained independence from France in 1960. In 1984, the country was renamed Burkina Faso, meaning 'Land of Incorruptible People' in local languages.

Iran adopted the red rose as its national flower in 1990. Rose holds cultural significance in Persian poetry and traditions.

Captain James Cook claimed eastern Australia for Britain in 1770 during his first Pacific voyage. This marked European discovery of the continent.

Brazil is the largest country in Latin America by both area and population. It covers nearly half the continent's land area. Argentina is second-largest, while Mexico and Chile are significantly smaller. Brazil is also the largest Portuguese-speaking country.

Mikhail Kalashnikov was from Russia (then Soviet Union) and invented the famous AK-47 assault rifle. Yugoslavia, Hungary, and Poland were communist countries but not the origin of the Kalashnikov. The AK-47 became one of the most widely used firearms in the world.

Penguins are primarily found in Antarctica and the southern hemisphere. While some penguin species exist in temperate zones like New Zealand, South America, and South Africa, Antarctica is home to the largest penguin populations including Emperor and Adelie penguins. Alaska and Canada are in the northern hemisphere where penguins are not found naturally.

Indonesia is the only Asian member of OPEC among the options given. Indonesia joined OPEC in 1962 and was a member until 2016, though it has since rejoined. Malaysia, Japan, and Thailand are not OPEC members.

The United Kingdom, while a member of the European Union, retained the British Pound as its currency and never adopted the Euro. Countries like Italy, Germany, and Spain all use the Euro as their official currency.