General Awareness: Quiz on Leading Ladies

1. This Lady explorer had a very vivid imagination, and, after living in the ruins of the ancient city of Palmyra for some years, believed herself to be the Queen of the Desert. She eventually died in Lebanon, in 1839. Who was she?

a) Hester Stanhope
b) Freya Stark
c) Priscilla Beaulieu
d) Constance Weyburn

The correct answer is a) Hester Stanhope

2. Even today, venturing into parts of Papua New Guinea is not advisable, but this intrepid American woman did so in the early 20th century. Which anthropologist caused quite a commotion with her books on the sexual lives of natives on South Pacific islands?

a) Mary Leakey
b) Rachel Carson
c) Margaret Mead
d) Rosalind Franklin

The correct answer is c) Margaret Mead

3. The "New York Times" once described this modern day lady explorer as a 'real life Lara Croft'. She was the first person to kayak the length of the Niger River solo, and she may be remembered by Libyan locals for climbing Devil's Mountain, which they believe is inhabited by demons. What is the name of this woman?
 
a) Mina Kazan
b) Annabel Croft
c) Kira Salak
d) Lara Pitt

The correct answer is c) Kira Salak

4. Dubbed "America's greatest woman explorer" by the New York Times, this early 20th century woman traveled extensively throughout South America, Asia and the South Pacific. Which author, linguist, photographer and WWI war correspondent was she?

a) Margaret Bourke-White
b) Dorothea Dix
c) Harriet Chalmers Adams
d) Clara Barton

The correct answer is c) Harriet Chalmers Adams

5. This lady explorer was one of the first foreign women to visit the ruins of Babylon, and worked with T.E. Lawrence in the Middle East. She is also remembered for her role in the birth of the modern day nation of Iraq. Who was she?

a) Sarah Armstrong-Jones
b) Margaret Rose Windsor
c) Gertrude Bell
d) Louise Boyd

The correct answer is c) Gertude Bell

6. It would be understandable if someone described this next woman as a female Indiana Jones. She was an archaeology professor and explorer, and explored much of the globe right up until her death in 1935. In 1908, she was the first person to climb Huascarán in Peru. What was her name?

a) Annie Oakley
b) Annie Smith Peck
c) Marie-Anne Gaboury
d) Ann Bancroft

The correct answer is b) Annie Smith Peck

7. This Native American was part of the Lewis and Clark expedition to Oregon in 1804-1806. Which Shoshone woman was credited as being an interpreter and guide during the Corps of Discovery expedition?

a) Pocahontas
b) Sacagawea
c) Maria TallChief
d) Sasheen Littlefeather

The correct answer is b) Sacagawea

8. When her husband died during his expedition to China to bring back a giant panda, this lady decided to fulfil his dream and go there herself. She trekked across two provinces of China, before finding a panda, and brought it home to the United States. Known as "the Panda Lady", who was she?
 
a) Marnie Walker
b) Gilda Caine
c) Ruth Harkness
d) Bridget Nielsen

The correct answer is c) Ruth Harkness

9. This woman co-founded the Society of Woman Geographers, and used her experiences of living amongst tribes in South America and Asia to help her write many travel books. What was the name of this woman, who was married to the famous deep sea explorer William Beebe?

a) Blair Niles
b) Jane Goodall
c) Dorothy Hodgkin
d) Eva Dickson

The correct answer is a) Blair Niles

10. Born Elizabeth Cochran, this intrepid lady reporter wrote some amazing news reports after going undercover in a lunatic asylum, before literally going "Around the World in Eighty Days" in honour of Jules Verne's novel. By what name is she better known?

a) Sally Lyn
b) Bessie Ing
c) Nellie Bly
d) Dolly Ray

The correct answer is c) Nellie Bly