🧠 South America quiz questions with answers

Read each question, pick an answer, then tap “Show the answer”. The questions are made from the checked facts on the globe.

1. Which of these animals is the heaviest?

   1. Brown pelican
   2. American flamingo
   3. Red-eyed tree frog
   Show the answer

   Answer: A. Brown pelican
   Brown pelican (3.7 kg) · American flamingo (2.5 kg) · Red-eyed tree frog (10 g)

   💡 It is one of only two pelicans that dive head-first from the air to catch fish.

2. Which of these animals is endangered?

   1. Capybara
   2. Brown-throated three-toed sloth
   3. Chinchilla
   Show the answer

   Answer: C. Chinchilla

   💡 Its fur is so dense that it keeps clean by rolling in dust instead of getting wet.

3. Which of these animals is the lightest?

   1. Magellanic penguin
   2. Toco toucan
   3. Scarlet macaw
   Show the answer

   Answer: B. Toco toucan
   Magellanic penguin (4.6 kg) · Toco toucan (540 g) · Scarlet macaw (1 kg)

   💡 Its huge bill is light because it is mostly hollow inside, with a thin keratin shell.

4. Which of these countries is the smallest by area?

   1. Argentina
   2. Peru
   3. Brazil
   Show the answer

   Answer: B. Peru
   Argentina (2,780,400 km²) · Peru (1,285,216 km²) · Brazil (8,515,767 km²)

5. Which of these is closest to the equator?

   1. Angel Falls
   2. Salar de Uyuni
   3. Christ the Redeemer
   Show the answer

   Answer: A. Angel Falls
   Angel Falls (6°N) · Salar de Uyuni (20.1°S) · Christ the Redeemer (23°S)

   💡 It is named after US aviator Jimmie Angel, who flew over it in 1933.

6. Which of these animals is the longest?

   1. Electric eel
   2. Galápagos giant tortoise
   3. Nine-banded armadillo
   Show the answer

   Answer: A. Electric eel
   Electric eel (2 m) · Galápagos giant tortoise (1.2 m) · Nine-banded armadillo (80 cm)

   💡 It can give an electric shock of up to about 860 volts, and despite its name it is not a true eel but a knifefish.

7. Which of these is a legend that has never been proven to exist?

   1. Giant anteater
   2. Jaguar
   3. Caleuche
   Show the answer

   Answer: C. Caleuche

   💡 In Chiloé legend the ghost ship Caleuche lures sailors with music and can disguise itself as a floating log or a rock.

8. Which of these covers the largest area?

   1. Perito Moreno Glacier
   2. Lençóis Maranhenses
   3. Galápagos Islands
   Show the answer

   Answer: C. Galápagos Islands
   Perito Moreno Glacier (250 km²) · Lençóis Maranhenses (1,550 km²) · Galápagos Islands (8,010 km²)

   💡 Charles Darwin visited in 1835 aboard HMS Beagle.

9. Which of these animals is native to North America?

   1. Cougar
   2. Alpaca
   3. Llama
   Show the answer

   Answer: A. Cougar

   💡 It is known by many names, including puma, mountain lion and panther.

10. Which of these buildings has the most floors?

    1. Edifício Copan
    2. Altino Arantes Building (Farol Santander)
    3. Gran Torre Costanera
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. Gran Torre Costanera
    Edifício Copan (38) · Altino Arantes Building (Farol Santander) (35) · Gran Torre Costanera (62)

    💡 It is the tallest building in South America.

11. Which of these is the highest above sea level?

    1. Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain)
    2. Aconcagua
    3. Sugarloaf Mountain
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    Answer: B. Aconcagua
    Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain) (5,036 m) · Aconcagua (6,967 m) · Sugarloaf Mountain (396 m)

    💡 It is the highest mountain in the Americas and in the Southern Hemisphere.

12. Which of these countries has the most people?

    1. Bolivia
    2. Uruguay
    3. Paraguay
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Bolivia
    Bolivia (12.4 million) · Uruguay (3.4 million) · Paraguay (6.9 million)

13. Machu Picchu: which country is it in?

    1. Paraguay
    2. Uruguay
    3. Peru
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    Answer: C. Peru

    💡 Explorer Hiram Bingham made it famous around the world in 1911.

14. Which of these was completed most recently?

    1. Las Lajas Sanctuary
    2. Teatro Colón
    3. Casa Rosada
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Las Lajas Sanctuary
    Las Lajas Sanctuary (1949) · Teatro Colón (1908) · Casa Rosada (1898)

15. Which of these countries has the most people?

    1. Guyana
    2. Ecuador
    3. Colombia
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. Colombia
    Guyana (0.8 million) · Ecuador (18.1 million) · Colombia (52.9 million)

16. Iguazu Falls: which country is it in?

    1. Chile
    2. Brazil
    3. Peru
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Brazil

    💡 It is made up of about 275 separate cascades.

17. Which of these animals is the heaviest?

    1. Andean condor
    2. Green iguana
    3. Mantled howler
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Andean condor
    Andean condor (11 kg) · Green iguana (4 kg) · Mantled howler (6 kg)

    💡 It is the national bird of several Andean countries, including Chile, Colombia and Ecuador.

18. Which of these is the furthest north?

    1. Flower Clock, Viña del Mar
    2. Nazca Lines
    3. Valparaíso Hills & Funiculars
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    Answer: B. Nazca Lines
    Flower Clock, Viña del Mar (33°S) · Nazca Lines (14.7°S) · Valparaíso Hills & Funiculars (33°S)

    💡 The figures include a hummingbird, a monkey and a spider.

19. Which of these is in the Southern Hemisphere?

    1. Walled City of Cartagena
    2. Maracanã Stadium
    3. Ciudad Perdida
    Show the answer

    Answer: B. Maracanã Stadium

    💡 Officially 173,850 people watched the deciding match of the 1950 World Cup here.

20. Which of these is a mammal?

    1. Gentoo penguin
    2. Marine iguana
    3. Southern elephant seal
    Show the answer

    Answer: C. Southern elephant seal

    💡 A male's inflatable, trunk-like nose makes its roars louder when it fights rivals.

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