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The Kon-Tiki Expedition by Thor Heyerdahl
Contributed by: Blake
  • 1. The Kon-Tiki Expedition, led by Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl in 1947, is a landmark adventure that captured the imagination of the world and challenged existing theories about pre-Columbian human migration. Heyerdahl set sail on a balsa wood raft, named Kon-Tiki, from the port of Callao, Peru, aiming to demonstrate that ancient South Americans could have crossed the Pacific Ocean to settle in Polynesia, a hypothesis that contradicted the prevailing notion that these islands were solely settled from the west. The journey, which covered over 4,300 miles across treacherous waters, took 101 days and involved Heyerdahl and his crew facing the elements, navigating through storms, and using only the technology available to ancient mariners. The expedition not only validated Heyerdahl's theories upon their successful arrival at Raroia in the Tuamotu Archipelago, but it also underscored the resilience and ingenuity of human beings in exploring uncharted territories. Captured in a documentary film and a best-selling book, The Kon-Tiki Expedition became a cultural phenomenon, inspiring generations of adventurers and researchers, and igniting discussions about the interactions between distant civilizations long before modern navigational technologies.

    Who was the leader of the Kon-Tiki Expedition?
A) Charles Lindbergh
B) Roald Amundsen
C) Thor Heyerdahl
D) Ernest Shackleton
  • 2. What type of raft was used in the Kon-Tiki Expedition?
A) Sailboat
B) Balsa wood raft
C) Rubber raft
D) Steel boat
  • 3. Which ocean did the Kon-Tiki cross?
A) Indian Ocean
B) Atlantic Ocean
C) Pacific Ocean
D) Arctic Ocean
  • 4. In what year did the Kon-Tiki Expedition take place?
A) 1945
B) 1960
C) 1950
D) 1947
  • 5. Where did the Kon-Tiki Expedition start?
A) Peru
B) Hawaii
C) California
D) Easter Island
  • 6. How long did the Kon-Tiki Expedition last?
A) 75 days
B) 50 days
C) 101 days
D) 150 days
  • 7. How many crew members were on the Kon-Tiki?
A) 6
B) 7
C) 8
D) 5
  • 8. What type of animal accompanied the crew on the journey?
A) Goat
B) Chicken
C) Dog
D) Parrot
  • 9. What did Heyerdahl propose about ancient civilizations?
A) They never sailed.
B) They could travel vast distances across oceans.
C) They only traveled by land.
D) They were isolated.
  • 10. What genre is the book written by Heyerdahl about the expedition?
A) Science fiction
B) Historical fiction
C) Adventure
D) Biography
  • 11. What was one of the main materials used for construction of the raft?
A) Pine wood
B) Balsa wood
C) Mahogany
D) Cypress
  • 12. On which continent did the Kon-Tiki Expedition begin?
A) Africa
B) Australia
C) South America
D) North America
  • 13. What was the destination of the Kon-Tiki Expedition?
A) Hawaii
B) Tahiti
C) Polynesia
D) Fiji
  • 14. Which ocean current did the Kon-Tiki take advantage of?
A) The Gulf Stream
B) The Antartic Circumpolar Current
C) The Kuroshio Current
D) The Humboldt Current
  • 15. What was the name of the raft used in the expedition?
A) Nautilus
B) Endeavour
C) Kon-Tiki
D) Ra-1
  • 16. What was the main goal of the Kon-Tiki Expedition?
A) To prove that South Americans could have settled in Polynesia
B) To study marine biology
C) To explore Antarctica
D) To find new trade routes
  • 17. What was another name for the balsa tree?
A) Pine
B) Coconut palm
C) Rubber tree
D) Ochroma
  • 18. Which island did the Kon-Tiki raft land on?
A) Tahiti
B) Raroia
C) Easter Island
D) Hawaii
  • 19. In what year did Thor Heyerdahl pass away?
A) 1995
B) 1985
C) 2010
D) 2002
  • 20. What was the total distance traveled by the Kon-Tiki?
A) 6,200 miles
B) 2,800 miles
C) 4,300 miles
D) 1,500 miles
  • 21. How did Thor Heyerdahl become famous after the expedition?
A) He wrote a bestselling book
B) He became a politician
C) He won a Nobel Prize
D) He disappeared at sea
  • 22. What year was the book 'Kon-Tiki' published?
A) 1945
B) 1950
C) 1955
D) 1960
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