Culture, History and Traditions

The 36 questions of the CCSE task Culture, History and Traditions, each with the correct answer.

1. The main characters of the novel Don Quixote are Don Quixote and…Sancho Panza.
2. Which Spanish scientist is recognised for her research?Margarita Salas.
3. Who wrote The House of Bernarda Alba?Federico García Lorca.
4. Who wrote Nada, a novel about post-war Spain?Carmen Laforet.
5. Which musician composed El amor brujo?Manuel de Falla.
6. What is typical on the Night of Saint John?Lighting bonfires.
7. What is the most characteristic instrument of flamenco music?The guitar.
8. Isabel Coixet is a…film director.
9. One of the most famous Spanish singers today is…Rosalía.
10. In which Spanish city is there a mosque that is a World Heritage Site?Córdoba.
11. In which Spanish city is the Alhambra, a World Heritage Site?In Granada.
12. What is the name of the Spanish director noted for her critical eye and for modernising national cinema?Pilar Miró.
13. Which successful book has Irene Vallejo written?El infinito en un junco.
14. What is the largest public research institution in Spain called?Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).
15. Paco de Lucía was a famous…guitarist.
16. What do we celebrate on 24 December?Christmas Eve.
17. Juan Mari Arzak is a famous…chef.
18. Who was Clara Campoamor?A defender of women's rights.
19. What typical songs are sung at Christmas?Carol songs (villancicos).
20. La Liga and the Copa del Rey are … competitions.football
21. Who has received the Nobel Prize in Literature?Vicente Aleixandre.
22. What festival is celebrated in Pamplona on 7 July?The Sanfermines.
23. Teresa Perales and Daniel Molina are…Paralympic champions.
24. What do Spaniards eat on the night of 31 December to celebrate the new year?Grapes.
25. Which woman is the author of the painting La verbena?Maruja Mallo.
26. In which Spanish museum can you see Picasso's painting Guernica?Reina Sofía Museum.
27. Which Spanish writer writes in another official language of Spain?Mercè Rodoreda.
28. Which three cultures coexisted in medieval Spain?Christian, Jewish and Muslim.
29. On 6 December Spain celebrates…Constitution Day.
30. Which city was a scientific centre in Al-Andalus, where medicine and astronomy were studied?Córdoba.
31. In which Spanish city is the Guggenheim Museum?Bilbao.
32. The Cervantes Prize is given to…writers.
33. Which award recognises the best actors and films?Goya Award.
34. Which awards promote scientific, cultural and humanistic values in Spain?The Princess of Asturias Awards.
35. Which of these sports is very popular in Spain?Football.
36. Which of these athletes plays tennis?Carlos Alcaraz.