Berlin challenge

Question 1

1) What do Berliners mean when they talk about "the washing machine?"

a) a bank accused of money laundering

b) the Chancellor's Office

c) the city's main fire brigade

Question 2

What record is held by the soccer club Tasmania Berlin?

Question 3

"Girls Without a High School Diploma," "I'll Buy Myself Dave Lombardo When I Get Rich," and "On A Sunday in August" are all what?

Question 4

Where does the name Checkpoint Charlie come from?

Question 5

What is Berlin's largest zoo?

Question 6

Which of the following is not the name of a Berlin nightspot: Cookies, Delicious Doughnuts, White Trash Fast Food, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables or Café Burger?

Question 7

Who was famously quoted in 2006 as saying "I'm gay and that's okay?"

Question 8

What are you not allowed to bring with you on to the first car of a Berlin subway train?

a) a bicycle

b) food

c) any device that plays audible music

Question 9

A main street leading to Berlin's Olympic Stadium is named after which athlete?

Question 10

According to Berlin law, when do establishments serving alcohol have to close?

a) never

b) at 6;00 a.m.

c) one hour per day, whenever they want

Turn the page to find out how well you scored.

Answers

Question 1

(b) With its combination of squares and circles, the Chancellor's Office reminds Berliners of a washing machine. Other nicknames for prominent buildings include "the pregnant oyster" and "the beer brush."

Question 2

They were the worst team ever in the Bundesliga. In 1965, Tasmania were promoted to the top flight after Hertha Berlin was compulsorily relegated for illegal payments to players. They were clearly out of their depth, ending the season with only eight points and a goal difference of 15:108.

Question 3

They are names of bars. At some point after the turn of the millennium, it became fashionable for barkeepers to give their places impossibly long names.

Question 4

Checkpoint Charlie was named after American military radio code. It was the third American border crossing controlled by US troops after Checkpoint Alpha and Checkpoint Bravo.

Question 5

The Tierpark is Berlin's largest zoo. The Zoologischer Garten in the West may be better known, but the Tierpark in the East is far larger. In fact, it's the biggest zoo in all of Europe.

Question 6

Berlin clubs and bars often take over the premises of former stores and restaurants and keep their names. To date, however, there is no nightspot named after the legendary Dead Kennedys' record "Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables."

Question 7

When asked about his sexual orientation, it was Berlin Mayor Klaus Woworeit who said, "I'm gay and that's okay." A less catchy, but more literal translation of what he said would be "I'm gay and that's a good thing."

Question 8

(b) Bicycles are allowed on most Berlin mass transit, but not in the first cars of subway trains, ostensibly because they could impede the driver from getting out of his cabin. Those who violate this rule are usually given a gruff reprimand over the loudspeakers.

Question 9

The main street leading to Berlin's Olympic Stadium is named after Jesse Owens. Much to Hitler's dismay, the American track-and-field star was the crowd favorite at the 1936 Olympics.

Question 10

(c) Although not strictly enforced, a Berlin law requires bar owners to shut down for one hour per day to clean up the mess. That's the reason for the "Open 23 hours" signs you might see around the city.

How did you fair?

0-3 correct answers: Neophyte. You need to hop on a plane to the German capital and find out what you're missing.

4-7 correct answers: Intermediate. You've obviously dipped your beak in the water, but now's the time to take the plunge.

8-10 correct answers: Expert. Congratulations! To paraphrase John F. Kennedy: "Du bist ein Berliner."

Author: Jefferson Chase

Editor: Kate Bowen