World Expo quiz questions: a history of world's fairs

World Expos have been showcasing innovation and culture since the 19th century. These massive international exhibitions have given us the Eiffel Tower, the Ferris wheel, and countless other marvels. Here are five questions about these global showcases.

The questions

Q1: What famous landmark was created as an entrance arch for the 1889 World Expo, originally intended to be dismantled after 20 years?

Ans: The Eiffel Tower

Gustave Eiffel won the contract to build a 300-metre tower. Many Parisians initially hated it, but it became too useful as a radio transmission tower (and too beloved) to demolish.

Q2: Which 1893 World's Fair in an American city introduced the Ferris wheel, created to rival a famous landmark built four years earlier?

Ans: The Chicago World's Fair - to rival the Eiffel Tower (World's Columbian Exposition)

Engineer George Ferris built the original 80-metre wheel carrying 36 cars that held 60 people each. It was dismantled after a second fair and eventually scrapped.

Q3: The 1958 Brussels World's Fair gave us which iconic structure, a giant model of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times?

Ans: The Atomium

Built to represent the atomic age, the nine connected spheres contain exhibition spaces and a restaurant. Like the Eiffel Tower, it was meant to be temporary.

Q4: Expo 2025 is being held in which Japanese city, running from April to October?

Ans: Osaka

It's being held on the artificial island of Yumeshima. Japan previously hosted Expo '70 in Osaka and Expo 2005 in Aichi.

Q5: The 1939 New York World's Fair introduced television demonstrations to the public. Which broadcasting company showcased this new technology at the fair?

Ans: RCA (also accept NBC, which was owned by RCA)

The fair's "World of Tomorrow" theme showcased futuristic technologies. RCA demonstrated television broadcasts, kickstarting the medium's path to becoming a household staple.

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These questions make a good addition to a history or general knowledge round.