Fun Facts Singapore

During the 14th century, Singapore was known as Temasek or _______________ because it was a meeting point for traders from different countries.

• Thousand Islands

• Sea Town

• Beautiful Islands

• The Land of Smiles

Answer explanation

During the 14th century, Singapore was known as Temasek or Sea Town because it was a meeting point for traders from different countries.

What does the name "Singapura" (the original name of Singapore) mean?

• Dragon City

• Jungle City

• Lion City

• Tiger City

Answer explanation

"Singapura" means "Lion City" in Sanskrit. The Merlion, a mythical creature with a lion’s head and a fish's tail. was partly inspired by the city’s ancient name of Singapura, which means ‘lion city’. The origins of this Sanskrit name is attributed to the Sumatran prince Sang Nila Utama, who ruled Temasek, a settlement on the Singapura island during the early 14^th century.

While hunting for animals, the prince spotted a strange creature moving quickly, which was identified as a lion by his advisors. However, there were no records of lions native to Singapore. It might have been a tiger that he saw, for tigers used to be found in the wild in Singapore, up until the 1930s.

Which of the following is the Singapore flag?

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Answer explanation

The design is a horizontal bicolour of red above white, overlaid in the canton (upper-left quadrant) by a white crescent moon facing a pentagon of five small white five-pointed stars. The elements of the flag denote a young nation on the ascendant, universal brotherhood and equality, and national ideals.

Which of the following places is NOT in Singapore?

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Answer explanation

Little India is a vibrant cultural enclave with temples and mosques, street art and brightly painted shophouses.

Chinatown's maze of narrow roads includes Chinatown Food Street, with its restaurants serving traditional fare like Hainanese chicken rice, noodles and satay.

Arab Street is a historical site in Singapore and is home to popular destinations like the Masjid Sultan mosque, the Projector cinema, and the Malay Heritage Centre

Singapore's most popular tourist attraction is an island which is completely covered in amusement parks and museums. What is the name of this island?

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Answer explanation

Sentosa Island has over a dozen separate attractions, including a water theme park, a replica Mayan city, an aquarium, an old fort, a butterfly park and more.

What language is the medium of instruction in Singaporean schools?

• English

• Tamil

• Mandarin Chinese

• Malay

Answer explanation

Virtually everyone in Singapore is at least bilingual, and many people speak three or four languages. Although around 70% of Singaporeans are of Chinese descent, there is no dominant mother tongue in Singapore. An amazing seven languages are spoken as a mother tongue by more than five per cent of the population.