Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Mexican teens rule geography bee

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published August 10, 2007

SAN DIEGO - A trio of Mexican teenagers won the eighth National Geographic World Championship on Thursday, dethroning the United States, a four-time champion.

To win, they had to name the historic site that was carved from sandstone in 1200 B.C. and features two massive temples and statues of an ancient ruler. The teens nailed the answer - the Egyptian monument Abu Simbel.

"To win gold, it's really great," said team member Emanuel Johansen Campos, 15, of Tejalpa, Mexico. "I don't have any words."

The competition tests teenagers on geography, demographics and political history. Teams and individuals were asked to identify errors on maps, countries based on demographic statistics and the origin of tribal musical instruments and carved relics loaned by the San Diego Museum of Man.

It was the first finals appearance for Mexico. Johansen was joined by Carlos Franco Ruiz, 14, of Zapotlan de Juarez, north of Mexico City, and team captain Angel Aliseda Alonso, 16, of Guadalajara. The team had help from a translator in the contest, which was held in English.

- Put the following explorers in order, from the earliest exploration to the most recent: Jacques Cartier, Suleiman the Merchant, Marco Polo. Bonus question: During part of Marco Polo's travels, he followed the Oxus River. What is this river's present-day name?

- In addition to Tetum, what is East Timor's other official language?

- The Escondida mine, which is in an arid region southeast of Antofagasta, is one of the world's largest sources of what metal?

- What mountain range contains Vinson Massif, Antarctica's highest peak?

- In 1983, President Felix Houphouet-Boigny designated his hometown as his country's new capital city. Name this West African city.

Answers: 1. Suleiman the Merchant, Marco Polo, Jacques Cartier. Bonus: Amu Darya. 2. Portuguese. 3. Copper. 4. Ellsworth Mountains, or Sentinel Range. 5. Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast.

Fast Facts:

Sampling of questions in the final round

[Last modified August 9, 2007, 23:02:58]