Singapore Trivia!

What is the National Language of Singapore?

• English

• Chinese

• Malay

• Tamil

Answer explanation

Singapore's official languages are Malay, Mandarin, Tamil, and English.

The national language of Singapore is Malay, which plays a symbolic role, as Malays are constitutionally recognized as the indigenous peoples of Singapore, and it is the government's duty to protect their language and heritage.

The name "Singapore" ("Singapura" in Malay) is derived from Sanskrit. What is the meaning?

• Sea Town

• Lion City

• Water City

• Port City

Answer explanation

Singapura stands for "Lion City" and is derived from the Sanskrit words "Simha" or "lion", and "Pura" or "city".

Which year did Singapore gain its independence?

• 1955

• 1958

• 1960

• 1965

Answer explanation

On 9 August 1965, Singapore separated from Malaysia to become an independent and sovereign state.

The Singapore dollar is interchangeable with which ASEAN country's currency?

• Malaysian Ringgit

• Thai Baht

• Indonesian Rupiah

• Brunei Dollar

Answer explanation

In 1967, Singapore and Brunei signed the Singapore-Brunei Currency Interchangeability Agreement (CIA). This arrangement has been around for over 50 years now, and is the only such arrangement in the whole of Asia.

Fun fact: Singapore had a similar agreement with Malaysia until the latter terminated the agreement in 1973.

Singapore is the smallest country in Southeast Asia. To put its size into context, Singapore is how many times smaller than Malaysia?

• 150

• 220

• 300

• 460

Answer explanation

Malaysia is approximately 329,847 sq km, while Singapore is approximately 728 sq km, making Singapore 0.22% the size of Malaysia. The mainland of Singapore measures 50 km from east to west and 27 km from north to south.

Bonus question: Which former Indonesian president infamously referred to Singapore as the "Little Red Dot"?

Which attraction was inscribed as Singapore's first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015?

• Singapore Botanic Gardens

• Sentosa Island

• Merlion Park

• Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Answer explanation

The Gardens is valued for having two outstanding universal qualities - its role in the rubber trade which transformed the region in the 1900s and its unique tropical colonial gardens landscape.

What is so special about the "Night Safari" of Singapore?

• It is the world's largest night zoo

• It is the world's first night zoo

• It is the world's best night zoo

• It is the world's most diverse night zoo

Answer explanation

Singapore’s Night Safari provides a nocturnal experience like no other in the city; it’s also the world’s very first night zoo. Opened in 1994, the 35-hectare park features over 1,000 animals in their naturalistic night-time environments.

Which is NOT one of Singaporeans' favourite pastimes?

• Queuing for freebies/good deals

• Complaining about the government

• Sleeping

• Going to shopping malls to escape the heat

Answer explanation

According to various sleep surveys, Singaporeans are among the world’s most sleep-deprived people.

What culture was inscribed as Singapore's first element on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity?

• Complain Culture

• Hawker Culture

• Work Culture

• Chinese Opera

Answer explanation

Hawker culture in Singapore, community dining, and culinary practices in a multicultural urban context

What unofficial language is commonly spoken in Singapore across all races?

• Singlish

• Cantonese

• Hokkien

• Mandarin Chinese

Answer explanation

Lah, Leh, Lor... (more to come)