Quiz: Are You Really a New York Fan?

Think you know New York? Test your knowledge with our 20-question quiz about the city's history, landmarks, and culture. Find out if you're a true New York fan—no cheating allowed!

Think New York is a cool city? But are you really a true fan? This quiz will help you find out. We created it with the help of scientists from the Geography American Group (G.A.G.). 🙂
To test your New York knowledge, grab a pen and paper and answer the 20 questions below. The point is to answer without help—no searching the internet or anywhere else. 😉
The answers are at the bottom of the page, along with your results. Ready? Let’s go!

New York Quiz Questions

1/ What is New York’s nickname?

A/ The Big Orange.
B/ The Big Banana.
C/ The Big Apple.

2/ What is the capital of New York State?

A/ New York City.
B/ Albany.
C/ Washington.

3/ What are the five boroughs that make up New York City?

A/ Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
B/ Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Harlem.
C/ Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Coney Island.

4/ What was New York called before it was named New York?

A/ New Amsterdam.
B/ New London.
C/ New Hudson.

5/ How tall is One World Trade Center, New York’s tallest building?

A/ 441 m (1,447 ft).
B/ 541 m (1,776 ft).
C/ 641 m (2,103 ft).

6/ New York has two NBA basketball teams: the New York Knicks and the…

A/ New York Yankees.
B/ Queens Warriors.
C/ Brooklyn Nets.

7/ Which of these film directors was not born in New York?

A/ Stanley Kubrick, director of 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Shining.
B/ Martin Scorsese, director of The Wolf of Wall Street and Taxi Driver.
C/ Quentin Tarantino, director of Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained.

8/ An iconic statue guards the entrance to New York’s financial district. What animal is it?

A/ A bull.
B/ A bear.
C/ A lion.

9/ Created by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the Statue of Liberty holds a book in her left hand. What date is inscribed on the book’s cover?

A/ July 4, 1776.
B/ July 14, 1789.
C/ October 28, 1886.

10/ What is the motto of the New York Police Department, displayed on all their vehicles?

A/ To Protect and to Serve.
B/ Courtesy, Professionalism, Respect.
C/ Honor, Duty, Fidelity.

11/ Which of these rivers actually flows through New York?

A/ The West River.
B/ The Salmon River.
C/ The East River.

12/ Who is the mayor of New York?

A/ Gordon Mamdani.
B/ Donald Mamdani.
C/ Zohran Mamdani.

13/ How many subway lines does New York have?

A/ 24 lines.
B/ 36 lines.
C/ 48 lines.

14/ You’ve probably heard of the SoHo neighborhood. But what does SoHo stand for?

A/ South of Houston Street.
B/ South Housing.
C/ South of Hoover Street.

15/ New York has a museum entirely dedicated to spies. It’s called the…

A/ Spyscape Museum.
B/ CIA Museum.
C/ DGSE Museum.

16/ Of these three musicals, which one has been running on Broadway for nearly 30 years?

A/ The Lion King.
B/ Chicago.
C/ Moulin Rouge.

17/ In New York, you can visit an aircraft carrier that has been turned into a museum. What is the name of this ship?

A/ USS Intrepid.
B/ USS Enterprise.
C/ USS Nimitz.

18/ Besides platforms and trains, what else can you find inside Grand Central Terminal?

A/ An aquarium.
B/ A movie theater.
C/ A tennis court.

19/ What famous landmark is located in New York State?

A/ The Grand Canyon.
B/ Mount Rushmore.
C/ Niagara Falls.

20/ In what year was CNEWYORK, the site you’re visiting right now, created? 🙂

A/ 1999.
B/ 2005.
C/ 2009.

That’s the end of the quiz! Now check your answers above. Count how many you got right and scroll down to find out what kind of New York fan you are. 🙂 Feel free to share your score in the comments below or on our Destination New York Facebook group!

Quiz Answers

1/ C. New York is nicknamed the Big Apple. Why? There are several stories behind it—find out in my article explaining why New York is called the Big Apple.
2/ B. The capital of New York State is Albany. Learn why New York City is not the capital of New York State.
3/ A. Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
4/ A. New Amsterdam. See my article on the History of New York.
5/ B. 541 m (1,776 ft). Learn more on the One World Trade Center page.
6/ C. The Brooklyn Nets, who play in Brooklyn. See our page on NBA basketball.
7/ C. Quentin Tarantino was born on March 27, 1963, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
8/ A. It’s the Charging Bull of Wall Street.
9/ A. July 4, 1776, the date of American independence. Learn more in my article about the Statue of Liberty.
10/ B. Courtesy – Professionalism – Respect. “To Protect and to Serve” is the motto of the Los Angeles Police Department. “Honor, Duty, Fidelity” is the motto of the New Jersey State Police.
11/ C. The East River.
12/ C. Zohran Mamdani.
13/ B. 36 lines. Read my article on the New York subway.
14/ A. South of Houston Street.
15/ A. Spyscape Museum. Learn more about the Spyscape Museum.
16/ B. Chicago has been running on Broadway since 1996. See the page on the musical Chicago.
17/ A. USS Intrepid. Learn more about the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
18/ C. A tennis court. Learn more about the tennis court at Grand Central Terminal.
19/ C. Niagara Falls. Learn more in my article on Niagara Falls.
20/ A. 1999! Discover the story of CNEWYORK.

Your Results

20 correct answers: Congratulations, you’re a New York expert! Feel free to email me if you’d like to create a quiz of your own! 🙂
17 to 19 correct answers: Great job—you know New York really well. Just a few more details to master, and you’ll be unstoppable. Join our Destination New York Facebook group!
14 to 16 correct answers: Excellent—you have solid New York knowledge. A few more visits and you’ll be a true expert on the Big Apple. See you on our Destination New York Facebook group!
11 to 13 correct answers: Great—you’ve passed the midpoint! Spend more time exploring this site and our Destination New York Facebook group to deepen your knowledge.
10 correct answers: Good—you’ve hit the average. Time to step it up and learn more about New York!
1 to 9 correct answers: Plan another trip to New York and explore this site to discover the city! 🙂
0 correct answers: You’re in for a treat—you have everything to discover! Take time to plan your first New York trip and explore the city that never sleeps.