Loading ...Trivia for National Arab American Heritage Month
By: Arwa Almasaari / Arab America Contributing Writer
In honor of National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM), we invite you to explore and celebrate the diverse history, culture, and achievements of the Arab American community and the Arab world. This trivia is divided into two sections: The Arab World and The Arab American Community, with questions arranged by difficulty level. Whether you’re a member of the community or simply interested in learning more, this quiz is a fun way to discover the impactful contributions of Arab Americans and the beauty of the Arab world.
Trivia about the Arab World
Easy (Basic Knowledge / Common Facts)
What is the capital of Saudi Arabia?
• A) Dubai
• B) Riyadh
• C) Makkah
• D) Doha
• Answer: B) Riyadh
Which country is home to the ancient city of Petra?
• A) Egypt
• B) Morocco
• C) Jordan
• D) Lebanon
• Answer: C) Jordan
Which Arab country is known for the pyramids and the Sphinx?
• A) Iraq
• B) Lebanon
• C) Egypt
• D) Algeria
• Answer: C) Egypt
Which river runs through Egypt and is one of the longest in the world?
• A) Amazon
• B) Nile
• C) Tigris
• D) Euphrates
• Answer: B) Nile
What is the official currency of Egypt?
• A) Dirham
• B) Riyal
• C) Pound
• D) Dinar
• Answer: C) Pound (Egyptian Pound)
Which Arab country is famous for its cedar trees and features them on its flag?
• A) Lebanon
• B) Syria
• C) Tunisia
• D) Yemen
• Answer: A) Lebanon
Which Arab country hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022?
• A) Saudi Arabia
• B) UAE
• C) Qatar
• D) Egypt
• Answer: C) Qatar
Which Arab football team became the first to reach the FIFA World Cup semifinals in 2022?
• A) Egypt
• B) Saudi Arabia
• C) Morocco
• D) Tunisia
• Answer: C) Morocco
Which is the largest Arab country by land area?
• A) Saudi Arabia
• B) Sudan
• C) Algeria
• D) Iraq
• Answer: C) Algeria
What is the largest desert in the Arab world?
• A) Sahara Desert
• B) Gobi Desert
• C) Arabian Desert
• D) Mojave Desert
• Answer: A) Sahara Desert
What is the Arabic word for coffee?
• A) Espresso
• B) Qahwa
• C) Mocha
• D) Cappuccino
• Answer: B) Qahwa
Which country is known for the ancient ruins of Carthage?
• A) Tunisia
• B) Algeria
• C) Syria
• D) Jordan
• Answer: A) Tunisia
Medium (Geography, Culture, and History Knowledge Needed)
How many countries are officially part of the Arab world?
• A) 15
• B) 22
• C) 27
• D) 30
• Answer: B) 22
Which of these countries is NOT an Arab country?
• A) Lebanon
• B) Turkey
• C) Mauritania
• D) Comoros
• Answer: B) Turkey
Which Arab country has the highest population?
• A) Saudi Arabia
• B) Algeria
• C) Iraq
• D) Egypt
• Answer: D) Egypt
Which Arab country recognizes Somali, Arabic, and French as official languages?
• A) Djibouti
• B) Libya
• C) Syria
• D) Sudan
• Answer: A) Djibouti
Which Arab country is home to the indigenous Nubian people?
• A) Lebanon
• B) Sudan
• C) Qatar
• D) Morocco
• Answer: B) Sudan
Which North African country has the highest number of Amazigh (Berber) speakers?
• A) Morocco
• B) Tunisia
• C) Sudan
• D) Jordan
• Answer: A) Morocco
Which Arab country has Arabic and Kurdish as official languages?
• A) Yemen
• B) Iraq
• C) Libya
• D) Morocco
• Answer: B) Iraq
Which of these languages is widely spoken by Arab minorities but is not a dialect of Arabic?
• A) Amazigh (Berber)
• B) Levantine Arabic
• C) Gulf Arabic
• D) Sudanese Arabic
• Answer: A) Amazigh (Berber)
Hard (Specific Historical, Religious, or Natural Landmarks Knowledge Required)
Which Arab country is home to the famous Wadi Shab Waterfalls?
• A) Saudi Arabia
• B) Oman
• C) Yemen
• D) Lebanon
• Answer: B) Oman
Which waterfall in Iraq is known for its clear water and beautiful surroundings in the Gali Ali Bag area?
• A) Ahmad Awa
• B) Baatara Gorge
• C) Gali Ali Bag
• D) Afqa Waterfall
• Answer: C) Gali Ali Bag
Which famous waterfall in Iraqi Kurdistan is a popular spot for hiking and outdoor activities?
• A) Ahmad Awa
• B) Jezzine Waterfall
• C) Bekhal Waterfall
• D) Ayn Khor
• Answer: A) Ahmad Awa
Which river is the primary water source for Jordan, flowing from the Sea of Galilee into the Dead Sea?
• A) Orontes River
• B) Jordan River
• C) Euphrates River
• D) Nile River
• Answer: B) Jordan River
Which famous river flows through both Iraq and Syria, alongside the Tigris River?
• A) Nile River
• B) Jordan River
• C) Euphrates River
• D) Indus River
• Answer: C) Euphrates River
Which strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, playing a crucial role in global trade?
• A) Strait of Gibraltar
• B) Bab el Mandeb
• C) Strait of Hormuz
• D) Suez Canal
• Answer: B) Bab el Mandeb
Which major mountain range extends through Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine?
• A) Taurus Mountains
• B) Anti-Lebanon Mountains
• C) Atlas Mountains
• D) Hijaz Mountains
• Answer: B) Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Trivia about the Arab American Community
Easy
1. Which Arab American founded Apple Inc.?
• A) Steve Jobs
• B) Jeff Bezos
• C) Elon Musk
• D) Bill Gates
• Answer: A) Steve Jobs
2. Which U.S. city has one of the largest Arab American populations?
• A) Los Angeles
• B) Houston
• C) Dearborn
• D) Boston
• Answer: C) Dearborn
3. Which Arab American news anchor is well known for hosting NBC’s “Today Show”?
• A) Hoda Kotb
• B) Diane Sawyer
• C) Katie Couric
• D) Christiane Amanpour
• Answer: A) Hoda Kotb
4. Which Arab American poet wrote The Prophet, one of the best-selling books of all time?
• A) Nizar Qabbani
• B) Khalil Gibran
• C) Mahmoud Darwish
• D) Edward Said
• Answer: B) Khalil Gibran
5. Which Arab American politician made history as one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress and is of Palestinian descent?
• A) Ilhan Omar
• B) Rashida Tlaib
• C) AOC
• D) Nancy Pelosi
• Answer: B) Rashida Tlaib
6. Which state has the highest concentration of Arab Americans in the U.S.?
• A) California
• B) Michigan
• C) Texas
• D) New York
• Answer: B) Michigan
7. Which Arab American scientist won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1999?
• A) Ahmed Zewail
• B) Elias Corey
• C) Michael DeBakey
• D) Farouk El-Baz
• Answer: A) Ahmed Zewail
8. Which Arab American founded the famous St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital?
• A) Danny Thomas
• B) Rami Malek
• C) Tony Shalhoub
• D) Casey Kasem
• Answer: A) Danny Thomas
9. Which Arab American actor is best known for playing Adrian Monk in the TV series Monk?
• A) Tony Shalhoub
• B) Rami Malek
• C) Mena Massoud
• D) George Clooney
• Answer: A) Tony Shalhoub
10. Which of the following is NOT a correct use of the word “Arabian”?
• A) Arabian Peninsula
• B) Arabian Horses
• C) Arabian People
• D) Arabian Nights
• Answer: C) Arabian People
Medium
11. Which Arab American NBA player played for the Phoenix Suns and is of Lebanese descent?
• A) Karl-Anthony Towns
• B) Enes Kanter
• C) Rony Seikaly
• D) Hakeem Olajuwon
• Answer: C) Rony Seikaly
12. Which Arab American economist served as the CEO and co-CIO of PIMCO, one of the largest investment management firms in the world?
• A) Mohamed El-Erian
• B) Amr Shadi
• C) Mohamed Salah
• D) Hisham El-Serafi
• Answer: A) Mohamed El-Erian
13. Which Arab American comedian is known for his stand-up comedy and Netflix specials?
• A) Dave Chappelle
• B) Mo Amer
• C) Maz Jobrani
• D) George Carlin
• Answer: B) Mo Amer
14. What is the official language spoken in Arab countries?
• A) Arab
• B) Arabian
• C) Arabic
• D) Middle Eastern
• Answer: C) Arabic
15. Which Arab American NHL player, of Assyrian Christian descent, is known for his stellar career and commitment to helping his Syrian relatives?
• A) Brandon Saad
• B) Tony Amonte
• C) Mike Modano
• D) Paul Kariya
• Answer: A) Brandon Saad
16. Which Lebanese American fashion designer is known for creating high-end men’s clothing and founding a well-known brand?
• A) Michael Kors
• B) Ralph Lauren
• C) Joseph Abboud
• D) Tommy Hilfiger
• Answer: C) Joseph Abboud
17. Which Arab American journalist is known for his reporting on the Arab Spring and his work as a correspondent for NBC News?
• A) Ayman Mohyeldin
• B) Anderson Cooper
• C) Bob Woodruff
• D) Christiane Amanpour
• Answer: A) Ayman Mohyeldin
18. Which Arab American politician became the first Muslim mayor of a major U.S. city (Dearborn, Michigan)?
• A) Ilhan Omar
• B) Rashida Tlaib
• C) Abdullah Hammoud
• D) Keith Ellison
• Answer: C) Abdullah Hammoud
Hard
19. Rashid Khalidi is best known for his role as the Edward Said Professor at which prestigious university?
• A) Harvard University
• B) Yale University
• C) Columbia University
• D) Princeton University
• Answer: C) Columbia University
20. Cherien Dabis is a director, screenwriter, and actress who is most famous for which award-winning debut feature film?
• A) The Visitor
• B) Amreeka
• C) Paradise Now
• D) Omar
• Answer: B) Amreeka
21. Edward Said was a renowned intellectual. What was one of the key themes of his work?
• A) Criticism of capitalist economic systems
• B) The portrayal of the Arab world in Western literature and media
• C) The development of Islamic philosophy
• D) The impact of global warming on the Middle East
• Answer: B) The portrayal of the Arab world in Western literature and media
22. Shireen Abu Akleh was a veteran reporter for which prominent television network, covering major events in the Palestinian territories?
• A) CNN
• B) Al Jazeera
• C) BBC
• D) Reuters
• Answer: B) Al Jazeera
23. Before becoming a comedian, Bassem Youssef had a career in which field?
• A) Law
• B) Medicine
• C) Architecture
• D) Journalism
• Answer: B) Medicine (He was a heart surgeon)
24. Which Arab American journalist was known as “the First Lady of the Press” for her role as a White House correspondent?
• A) Helen Thomas
• B) Barbara Walters
• C) Andrea Mitchell
• D) Katie Couric
• Answer: A) Helen Thomas
25. The Pen League (al-Rābiṭah al-Qalamīyah) was founded in which U.S. city by a group of Arab immigrants?
• A) Los Angeles
• B) New York
• C) Chicago
• D) Washington D.C.
• Answer: B) New York
Arwa Almasaari is a scholar, writer, and editor with a Ph.D. in English, specializing in Arab American studies. She often writes about inspirational figures, children’s literature, and celebrating diversity. You can contact her at arwa_phd@outlook.com
Want more articles like this? Sign up for our e-newsletter!
Check out our blog here!
