by Mingming Shi
How well do you know Iceland? Here is a new quiz to help you find out! Answers will be posted in Over the Circle next week!
1. Who was the first female mayor of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland?
a) Auður Auðuns
b) Mingming Shi
c) Ingibjörg H. Bjarnason
d) Bríet Bjarnhéðinsdóttir
2. What does the name of one of the country’s landmark buildings, Perlan, mean in English?
a) ‘The Sky’
b) ‘The Glacier’
c) ‘The Forest’
d) ‘The Pearl’
3. Please identify the iconic Iceland cat in the picture below.
a) Rósalind
b) Púki
c) Diegó
d) Móri
4. Which one of the following is a national political party in Iceland?
a) Framsóknarflokkurinn (Progressive Party)
b) Miðflokkurinn (The Centre Party)
c) Viðreisn (Liberal Reform Party)
d) Píratar (Pirate Party)
5. Which of the following science fiction movies was not filmed in Iceland?
a) Star Trek Into Darkness
b) Prometheus
c) Predator: Badlands
d) Star Wars: Rogue One
6. Which of the following statements about the foreign policy and diplomatic relations of Iceland is incorrect?
a) Iceland has supported Ukraine after that country was invaded by Russia.
b) Iceland does not have an Embassy in South Korea.
c) Iceland is not a member of NATO.
d) Iceland joined the United Nations until 1946.
7. Which of the following events did not take place after Iceland’s 2008 banking crisis?
a) Iceland secured a loan from the International Monetary Fund.
b) Iceland’s currency, the króna (pictured above), was temporarily suspended in favour of the euro for about two years.
c) All three major commercial banks in the country collapsed.
d) The UK government used anti-terrorism legislation to freeze the British accounts of one Icelandic bank.
8. Which of these statements about the current President of Iceland, Halla Tómstdóttir, is incorrect?
a) She is the third female president of Iceland.
b) She has a background in business.
c) She was elected in 2024, following an unsuccessful run for office in 2016.
d) She has published a book entitled Hugrekki til að Hafa Áhrif (The Courage to Make a Difference)
9. Which of the following behaviour is allowed in a public swimming complex in Iceland?
a) Using a device to film without requesting permission from staff.
b) Guests of different genders using the same sauna room.
c) Entering a pool without taking a shower.
d) Bringing a pet.
10. What is Iceland’s national animal?
a) Sheep
b) Gyrfalcon
c) Puffin
d) Icelandic horse
11. Which of the following movies is from Iceland?
a) Amma Hófi
b) Snerting
c) Nýtt Lýf
d) Sætur
12. Which of the following statements about the Icelandic fishing industry is incorrect?
a) As an export, seafood is one of the largest sources of income for the country.
b) Thirty percent of Iceland’s population is employed in the fishing industry.
c) Iceland does not import fish from other countries.
d) Besides exporting fish, Iceland has also developed other usages of fish, such as for medical purposes.
13. Which shopping mall is the largest in the country?
a) Kringlan
b) Smáralind
c) Glerártorg
d) Glæsibær
14. What phrase is not an appropriate way to express gratitude in Icelandic?
a) ‘Takk fyrir’
b) ‘Þakka þér’
c) ‘Þetta reddast’
d) ‘Takk’
15. Which of the following supermarkets is not an Icelandic brand?
a) Bónus
b) Rema 1000
c) Hagkaup
d) Krónan
16. What material is the ‘Sólfar: The Sun Voyager’ sculpture in Reykjavík (pictured) made from?
a) Cast iron
b) Stainless steel
c) Copper-plated steel
d) Platinum combined with steel
17. Which of the following airlines does not operate flights into Iceland to date?
a) Air Greenland
b) Finnair
c) Japan Airlines
d) Easyjet
18. Which of the following statements about the famous site of Jökulsárlón (pictured) is incorrect?
a) Its scenery is a result of climate change and the melting of glaciers.
b) Its ice forms in summer and disappears in winter.
c) It is dangerous to swim or bathe in its waters.
d) It is a habitat for marine animals such as seals.
19. Which of the following statements about geothermal energy in Iceland is incorrect?
a) This energy has been used to grow local vegetables and fruits, including cucumbers, tomatoes and bananas.
b) Most households in the country are heated by geothermal energy.
c) It is a clean (and carbon neutral) resource.
d) Sales of this resource abroad contribute heavily to the annual GDP of Iceland.
20. In which town can this famous statue be found?
a) Akureyri
b) Stöðvarfjörður
c) Stykisshómur
d) Seyðisfjöður
Gangi þér vel! (Good luck!)
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