Study guide

The 50 questions that come back

The exam draws from hundreds of possible questions, but a few dozen keep coming back. These are the 50 most-reported questions in our bank, ranked by how many people told us they were asked them.

The counts are ours, not the SRE's: they come from candidates who sat the exam and afterwards reported what they were asked. Treat this as the best place to start, not as the whole exam.

  1. 1

    Who was the first president of Mexico?

    Guadalupe Victoria

    Independence 21 reports

    Study note

    Guadalupe Victoria, born José Miguel Ramón Adaucto Fernández y Félix, fought in the War of Independence and became Mexico's first president in 1824, under the country's first federal constitution. He served his full term until 1829, something few presidents of that turbulent era managed.

    Don't confuse him with Agustín de Iturbide, who ruled newly independent Mexico before him — but as emperor (1822–1823), never as president.

  2. 2

    What is the name of the sea where sea lions and whales can be seen?

    Sea of Cortés

    Geography 18 reports

    Study note

    The Sea of Cortés, also known as the Gulf of California, is the body of water that separates the Baja California peninsula from the Mexican mainland. Its rich waters attract sea lions, whales, dolphins and hundreds of fish species; Jacques Cousteau famously called it "the aquarium of the world".

    Its islands and protected areas are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Don't confuse it with the Gulf of Mexico, which lies on the country's east coast.

  3. 3

    In what year did the Angel of Independence fall?

    1957

    Monuments 17 reports

    Study note

    The Angel of Independence is the monument on Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City, inaugurated by Porfirio Díaz in 1910 for the centennial of the start of the War of Independence. The golden statue of the winged Victory that crowns the column toppled during the earthquake of July 28, 1957, and was restored the following year.

    Be careful not to mix up the dates: 1910 is when the monument was inaugurated, and 1957 is when the angel fell. It withstood the great earthquake of 1985.

  4. 4

    Whom do federal deputies (diputados) represent?

    Electoral districts

    Government 17 reports

    Study note

    The Chamber of Deputies is one of the two houses of Mexico's Congress. Three hundred of its 500 members are elected directly in the electoral districts into which the country is divided, and the remaining 200 by proportional representation; that is why deputies are said to represent the electoral districts.

    Don't confuse them with senators, who represent the states of the federation.

  5. 5

    Why did the Spanish come to Mexico?

    In search of trade routes and riches, and because of the feudal problem

    Conquest 12 reports

    Study note

    In the early 1500s, Spain was searching for new westward trade routes to the spices and silks of Asia, and its explorers were drawn on by reports of gold and other riches. The so-called "feudal problem" also pushed men across the ocean: in Spain there was little land left to distribute, so nobles and soldiers hoped to win estates and titles in the New World.

    Hernán Cortés's expedition reached the Mexican coast in 1519 and completed the conquest of Tenochtitlan, the Mexica capital, in 1521.

  6. 6

    How is the Judicial Branch (Poder Judicial) divided?

    Supreme Court of Justice, Electoral Tribunal, Collegiate Circuit Courts, Unitary Circuit Courts, District Courts, Federal Judiciary Council and the Federal Jury of Citizens

    Government 12 reports

    Study note

    The Judicial Branch of the Federation interprets the law and settles disputes; at its head is the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), Mexico's highest court. Below it work the federal circuit courts and district courts, while the Electoral Tribunal resolves disputes over elections.

    Note that recent constitutional reforms have reorganized the judiciary: a 2021 reform converted the unitary circuit courts into appellate collegiate courts, and the 2024 judicial reform introduced the popular election of judges and replaced the Federal Judiciary Council with new disciplinary and administrative bodies.

  7. 7

    Where are the ruins of Monte Albán located?

    Oaxaca

    Pre-Columbian 12 reports

    Study note

    Monte Albán was the capital of the Zapotec civilization, built on a leveled hilltop overlooking the central valleys of Oaxaca. Founded around 500 BC, it is one of the oldest cities of Mesoamerica and remained a major power for over a thousand years, famous for its great plaza, its ball court and the carved figures known as "danzantes".

    Together with the historic center of Oaxaca City, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Don't confuse it with Mitla, another important Zapotec site in the same state.

  8. 8

    Who was the Mexica god of war?

    Huitzilopochtli

    Pre-Columbian 12 reports

    Study note

    Huitzilopochtli, whose name means "hummingbird of the left (south)", was the Mexica god of war and of the sun, and the patron deity of the Mexica people. According to legend, he guided their migration until they saw an eagle perched on a cactus — the sign to found Tenochtitlan, and the image that now appears on the Mexican flag.

    One of the two shrines atop the Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan was dedicated to him; the other belonged to Tlaloc, the rain god, with whom he is sometimes confused.

  9. 9

    Who was the first Secretary of Public Education?

    José Vasconcelos

    Revolution 11 reports

    Study note

    José Vasconcelos became the first head of the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) when it was created in 1921, under President Álvaro Obregón. He launched massive literacy campaigns, rural schools and popular libraries, and commissioned the murals of Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros that gave birth to Mexican muralism.

    A philosopher and writer, he is also known for his book La raza cósmica and for the UNAM motto "Por mi raza hablará el espíritu".

  10. 10

    Which author wrote The Lightning of August (Relámpagos de agosto)?

    Jorge Ibargüengoitia

    Literature 11 reports

    Study note

    Jorge Ibargüengoitia (1928–1983), from Guanajuato, was one of Mexico's sharpest satirical writers. His 1964 novel The Lightning of August (Relámpagos de agosto) pokes fun at the self-important memoirs of the generals of the Mexican Revolution.

    Don't confuse it with The Underdogs (Los de abajo) by Mariano Azuela, the classic serious novel of the Revolution. Ibargüengoitia died in a plane crash in Spain in 1983.

  11. 11

    Which Mexican tradition is considered Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity?

    Day of the Dead

    Traditions 11 reports

    Study note

    In 2008 UNESCO inscribed Mexico's "Indigenous festivity dedicated to the dead" — the Day of the Dead — on its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, after first proclaiming it a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage in 2003. On November 1 and 2, families set up ofrendas (altars) with cempasúchil flowers, food, photographs and candles to welcome the souls of their loved ones back home.

    Mexico has other elements on the UNESCO list as well, such as mariachi (2011) and traditional Mexican cuisine (2010), but the Day of the Dead was recognized before them.

  12. 12

    Which president nationalized the banks?

    José López Portillo

    Economy 10 reports

    Study note

    On September 1, 1982, in his final state-of-the-nation address, President José López Portillo (1976–1982) announced the nationalization of Mexico's private banks in the midst of a severe debt crisis and peso devaluation; he is remembered for promising to "defend the peso like a dog". The banks were re-privatized in the early 1990s under Carlos Salinas.

    Don't confuse this with the oil expropriation: it was Lázaro Cárdenas who nationalized the oil industry, in 1938.

  13. 13

    What does the name Cuauhtémoc mean?

    The eagle that descends

    Pre-Columbian 10 reports

    Study note

    Cuauhtémoc was the last tlatoani (ruler) of the Mexica and led the defense of Tenochtitlan during the Spanish siege of 1521. His name comes from Nahuatl — cuauhtli (eagle) and temo (to descend) — and means "the eagle that descends", evoking an eagle diving on its prey.

    Captured when the city fell, he was tortured and finally executed on Cortés's orders in 1525. He is honored as a symbol of resistance, with a famous monument on Paseo de la Reforma.

  14. 14

    Which Indigenous culture still lives in northern Mexico?

    Tarahumara

    Pre-Columbian 10 reports

    Study note

    The Tarahumara, who call themselves Rarámuri ("those with light feet"), are an Indigenous people who live today in the Sierra Tarahumara of Chihuahua, in northern Mexico — the mountain region that includes the Copper Canyon. They are famous worldwide as long-distance runners, able to run for hours across the sierra, often in huarache sandals.

    Most of Mexico's other well-known Indigenous cultures, such as the Zapotec or the Maya, live in the center and south of the country, which is why this question stresses the north.

  15. 15

    On what date was the first line of the Mexico City Metro inaugurated?

    September 4th, 1969

    History 10 reports

    Study note

    Line 1 of the Mexico City Metro — the pink line — was inaugurated on September 4, 1969, by President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, and originally ran between Zaragoza and Chapultepec. The system has since grown into one of the largest metros in the Americas, carrying millions of passengers a day.

    Don't mix the date up with 1968, the year Mexico City hosted the Olympic Games; the metro opened the following year.

  16. 16

    What are the supreme powers according to the Constitution?

    Executive, Legislative and Judicial

    Constitution 10 reports

    Study note

    Article 49 of the 1917 Constitution divides the Supreme Power of the Federation into three branches: the Legislative, exercised by the Congress of the Union (Chamber of Deputies and Senate); the Executive, held by the President of the Republic; and the Judicial, headed by the Supreme Court of Justice.

    This separation of powers exists so that no single person or body concentrates all public power.

  17. 17

    Who was the first viceroy of New Spain?

    Antonio de Mendoza y Pacheco

    New Spain 10 reports

    Study note

    Antonio de Mendoza y Pacheco arrived in 1535 as the first viceroy of New Spain, the representative of the Spanish Crown in the colony. He governed for about fifteen years, a period that saw the founding of important schools and the first printing press in the Americas, before being sent on to serve as viceroy of Peru.

    Don't confuse him with Hernán Cortés: Cortés led the conquest and governed in its immediate aftermath, but he was never a viceroy.

  18. 18

    What is the highest mountain in Mexico?

    Citlaltépetl

    Geography 9 reports

    Study note

    Citlaltépetl, "star mountain" in Nahuatl, is better known as the Pico de Orizaba. This dormant volcano on the border of Veracruz and Puebla rises about 5,636 meters, making it the highest peak in Mexico and the highest volcano in North America.

    Don't confuse it with Popocatépetl, Mexico's second-highest peak, which is more famous because of its frequent activity near Mexico City.

  19. 19

    To which politician did Mexico grant political asylum?

    Leon Trotsky

    History 9 reports

    Study note

    Leon Trotsky was one of the leaders of the Russian Revolution. After losing a power struggle with Stalin, he was exiled from the Soviet Union, and in 1937 President Lázaro Cárdenas granted him asylum in Mexico, where the painters Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo helped receive him.

    Trotsky settled in the Coyoacán district of Mexico City, where he was assassinated in 1940 by Ramón Mercader, an agent of Stalin. His house is now a museum.

  20. 20

    Which state is known for its seven traditional moles?

    Oaxaca

    Gastronomy 9 reports

    Study note

    Oaxaca is known as "the land of the seven moles" for its seven classic varieties: negro, rojo, coloradito, amarillo, verde, chichilo and manchamanteles. Mole is a complex sauce combining chiles, spices and seeds — and sometimes chocolate — usually served over meat.

    Don't confuse this with Puebla, which is famous for one celebrated mole, mole poblano, but not for the seven.

  21. 21

    Which figure of Mexican cinema embodied the charro mexicano?

    Jorge Negrete

    CinematographyCulture 9 reports

    Study note

    Jorge Negrete (1911–1953), known as "El Charro Cantor" (The Singing Charro), was the Golden Age film star who embodied the charro — the elegant Mexican horseman — in movies like ¡Ay, Jalisco, no te rajes! A trained opera baritone, he became a symbol of Mexican identity at home and abroad.

    He is often mentioned alongside Pedro Infante, the other great singing idol of the era; this question, however, refers to Negrete, whose very nickname was "El Charro Cantor".

  22. 22

    What cinematographic prize is awarded annually by the Mexican Academy of Film Arts and Sciences?

    Ariel

    Cinematography 9 reports

    Study note

    The Ariel is Mexico's most prestigious film award, presented since 1947 by the Mexican Academy of Film Arts and Sciences (AMACC) — the Mexican equivalent of the Oscar. Classics such as Luis Buñuel's Los olvidados and, more recently, Alfonso Cuarón's Roma have won it.

    Don't confuse it with the Diosa de Plata, a separate award given by Mexican film journalists, or with the Lunas del Auditorio, which honor live performances.

  23. 23

    On what date was the Angel of Independence inaugurated?

    September 16, 1910

    Monuments 8 reports

    Study note

    The Angel of Independence is a column on Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City, crowned by a golden statue of the winged goddess of victory. President Porfirio Díaz inaugurated it on September 16, 1910, for the centennial of the start of the War of Independence, and it holds a mausoleum with the remains of independence heroes.

    Don't confuse the inauguration date with July 28, 1957, when an earthquake toppled the golden angel, which was later restored.

  24. 24

    Who was the highest authority in New Spain?

    The viceroy (virrey)

    New Spain 8 reports

    Study note

    New Spain was the viceroyalty that Spain established after the conquest of Tenochtitlan in 1521, and it lasted until Mexico's independence in 1821. The viceroy governed it as the personal representative of the Spanish king; the first viceroy was Antonio de Mendoza, appointed in 1535.

    Don't confuse the viceroy with the tlatoani, the ruler of the Mexica before the conquest.

  25. 25

    Who was the first Mexican Miss Universe?

    María Guadalupe Jones

    Culture 8 reports

    Study note

    María Guadalupe 'Lupita' Jones, born in Mexicali, Baja California, won the Miss Universe crown in 1991, becoming the first Mexican to do so. She later founded and directed the national pageant organization Mexicana Universal.

    Mexico has since won Miss Universe twice more — Ximena Navarrete in 2010 and Andrea Meza in 2020 — so be careful not to confuse them with the first winner.

  26. 26

    According to the Constitution, what are the characteristics of education in Mexico?

    Compulsory, secular, and free

    Constitution 8 reports

    Study note

    Article 3 of the 1917 Constitution sets out the guiding principles of education in Mexico: it must be compulsory, secular (laica), and free of charge in public schools. 'Secular' means public education is kept independent of any religious doctrine, a principle rooted in Benito Juárez's Reform era.

    Don't confuse this with the question about which school levels are compulsory — here the exam wants the three defining characteristics of education.

  27. 27

    What drink is extracted from the maguey?

    Pulque

    Gastronomy 8 reports

    Study note

    Pulque is a milky, mildly alcoholic drink made by fermenting aguamiel, the sweet sap extracted from the heart of the maguey (agave). It has been drunk since pre-Hispanic times, when it was considered sacred and its consumption was strictly regulated.

    Don't confuse it with tequila and mezcal, which also come from agave plants but are distilled spirits, not fermented sap.

  28. 28

    What was Cantinflas's real name?

    Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes

    Cinematography 8 reports

    Study note

    Cantinflas was the stage name of Mario Moreno (1911–1993), a Mexico City-born comedian and star of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, famous for playing a fast-talking underdog in films like Ahí está el detalle. His trademark of talking endlessly while saying nothing gave Spanish the verb 'cantinflear,' recognized by the Royal Spanish Academy.

    Don't confuse him with Roberto Gómez Bolaños, 'Chespirito,' a later television comedian.

  29. 29

    Which famous Mexican sculptor specialized in monumental sculpture?

    Sebastián (Enrique Carbajal)

    ArtMonuments 8 reports

    Study note

    Sebastián is the artistic name of Enrique Carbajal González, born in 1947 in Camargo, Chihuahua. He is famous for enormous geometric steel sculptures painted in vivid colors; his best-known work is the yellow 'El Caballito' (Cabeza de caballo) on Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City, and his monumental pieces stand in cities across Mexico and abroad.

  30. 30

    What was the objective of the Plan of Casa Mata?

    Restore congress in Mexico and oust the emperor Agustín de Iturbide from power

    PlansHistory 8 reports

    Study note

    The Plan of Casa Mata was proclaimed on February 1, 1823, at the Casa Mata fort near Veracruz by Antonio López de Santa Anna and other military leaders. It demanded the restoration of the congress that Emperor Agustín de Iturbide had dissolved, and it gained support so quickly that Iturbide abdicated in March 1823, opening the way to the first federal republic.

    Don't confuse it with the Plan of Iguala (1821), which Iturbide himself proclaimed to achieve independence.

  31. 31

    By what other name is the Palace of Axayácatl known?

    Casas Viejas

    Pre-ColumbianConquest 8 reports

    Study note

    Axayácatl was the sixth Mexica tlatoani (ruler) and the father of Moctezuma II. His palace in Tenochtitlan, known as the 'Casas Viejas,' stood on the site now occupied by the Nacional Monte de Piedad, facing the Zócalo, and it was there that Moctezuma lodged Hernán Cortés and his men in 1519.

    The name distinguished it from Moctezuma II's own newer palace, the 'Casas Nuevas,' which stood where the National Palace is today.

  32. 32

    Who wrote La temporada de zopilotes?

    Francisco Ignacio Taibo II

    Literature 8 reports

    Study note

    Paco Ignacio Taibo II, born in Gijón, Spain, in 1949 and a naturalized Mexican, is a prolific writer and historian, also known for his crime novels and a celebrated biography of Che Guevara. La temporada de zopilotes (2009) is his narrative history of the Decena Trágica, the ten days of February 1913 in which a military coup toppled President Francisco I. Madero, who was then assassinated.

  33. 33

    Which Mexican won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on the ozone layer?

    José Mario Molina Pasquel y Henríquez

    Science 8 reports

    Study note

    Mario Molina (1943–2020), a chemist born in Mexico City, shared the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Paul Crutzen and F. Sherwood Rowland for showing how chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases destroy the ozone layer. His work helped bring about the Montreal Protocol, the international treaty that phased out CFCs.

    He is one of three Mexican Nobel laureates — don't confuse him with Alfonso García Robles, who won the Peace Prize (1982), or Octavio Paz, who won the Literature Prize (1990).

  34. 34

    Which civilization developed in Chiapas, Tabasco, Belize, Guatemala, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo?

    Maya

    Pre-Columbian 8 reports

    Study note

    The Maya were one of the great Mesoamerican civilizations, flourishing in what is now southeastern Mexico — Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo — as well as Guatemala and Belize. They built city-states such as Palenque, Uxmal, and Chichén Itzá, and developed a writing system, mathematics that included the concept of zero, and remarkably accurate calendars.

    Do not confuse them with the Mexica (Aztecs), who rose much later in central Mexico around their capital, Tenochtitlan.

  35. 35

    Which insects are edible in Mexico?

    Escamoles (ant larvae), chapulines (grasshoppers) and maguey worms

    Gastronomy 8 reports

    Study note

    Mexico has one of the world's richest traditions of eating insects, dating back to pre-Hispanic times. Escamoles are ant larvae harvested from the roots of agave plants and are so prized they are called "Mexican caviar"; chapulines are grasshoppers toasted with chile and lime, a specialty of Oaxaca; and maguey worms live in the agave and famously appear in some bottles of mezcal.

    These delicacies are rich in protein and are served in markets and fine restaurants alike.

  36. 36

    To whom is the phrase "You foolish men who lay guilt on women without reason, without seeing you're the cause of the very thing you blame" attributed?

    Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

    QuotesLiterature 8 reports

    Study note

    Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1651–1695) was a nun, poet, and scholar of New Spain, so admired that she was called the 'Tenth Muse.' The famous lines open her poem 'Hombres necios que acusáis,' a witty defense of women against the double standards of men.

    She is one of the most celebrated figures of Mexican literature, and her portrait has appeared on Mexican banknotes.

  37. 37

    What is the most important song and dance of Veracruz?

    La Bamba

    Music 8 reports

    Study note

    "La Bamba" is the most famous son jarocho, the traditional music of Veracruz played with harp and jarana guitars. At Veracruz weddings and fandangos, couples dance it with rapid footwork and, in the classic tradition, tie a ribbon into a bow using only their feet.

    The song became known worldwide when rock and roll singer Ritchie Valens recorded his hit version in 1958, but its roots lie in the traditional music of the Gulf coast.

  38. 38

    In what conflict did Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez and Leona Vicario participate?

    The War of Independence

    Independence 7 reports

    Study note

    Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, 'La Corregidora' of Querétaro, warned the conspirators in September 1810 that their plot had been discovered, prompting Miguel Hidalgo to launch the Grito de Dolores early. Leona Vicario used her fortune to fund the insurgency and ran information networks for the rebels.

    Both are celebrated as heroines of the War of Independence (1810–1821) — not of the Revolution, which came a century later.

  39. 39

    Who composed the music and lyrics of the Mexican national anthem?

    Francisco González Bocanegra (Lyrics) and Jaime Nunó (Music)

    National Symbols 7 reports

    Study note

    The lyrics of the national anthem were written by Francisco González Bocanegra, a poet from San Luis Potosí who won an 1853 contest — according to a famous anecdote, his fiancée locked him in a room until he finished his entry. The music is by Jaime Nunó, a Spanish-born band director, and the anthem was first performed publicly on September 15, 1854.

    A common trick on the exam is swapping their roles: remember that Bocanegra was the poet and Nunó the musician.

  40. 40

    Who wrote La noche de Tlatelolco, published in English as Massacre in Mexico?

    Elena Poniatowska

    Literature 7 reports

    Study note

    Elena Poniatowska, born in 1932, is a Mexican journalist and writer who received the Cervantes Prize, the highest award in Spanish-language letters, in 2013. La noche de Tlatelolco (1971) gathers testimonies of the October 2, 1968 massacre of students at the Plaza de las Tres Culturas in Tlatelolco, Mexico City, just days before the Olympic Games opened.

  41. 41

    What is the name of a famous ballad of the Mexican Revolution?

    La Adelita

    RevolutionMusic 7 reports

    Study note

    A corrido is a Mexican narrative folk ballad that tells stories of heroes, battles, and everyday events. During the Revolution (1910-1920), corridos spread news and legends from camp to camp, and La Adelita became the most famous of them all.

    The song honors the soldaderas, the women who traveled with and fought alongside the revolutionary armies. 'Adelita' became such a powerful symbol that the name is still used for any brave woman of the Revolution.

  42. 42

    What is the name of Mexico's national tree, under which Hernán Cortés is said to have wept on the Noche Triste?

    Ahuehuete

    ConquestNational Symbols 7 reports

    Study note

    The ahuehuete, or Montezuma cypress, was declared Mexico's national tree in 1921; the famous Árbol del Tule in Oaxaca is an ahuehuete with one of the widest trunks on Earth. According to tradition, Hernán Cortés wept beneath an ahuehuete in Popotla after the Noche Triste (June 30, 1520), the night the Mexica drove the Spaniards out of Tenochtitlan with heavy losses.

  43. 43

    What was the first institution of higher education in the Americas intended for Indigenous people?

    The Colegio de la Santa Cruz de Santiago Tlatelolco

    New Spain 7 reports

    Study note

    The Colegio de la Santa Cruz de Santiago Tlatelolco was founded by the Franciscans in 1536, with the support of Bishop Juan de Zumárraga and Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza, to educate the sons of Indigenous nobles in Latin, rhetoric, and philosophy. Fray Bernardino de Sahagún worked there with Indigenous scholars on the Florentine Codex, a monumental record of Nahua culture.

    Don't confuse it with the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico (1551), the first university in New Spain, which was not intended for Indigenous students.

  44. 44

    What is the longest river in Mexico?

    Río Bravo

    Geography 7 reports

    Study note

    The Río Bravo, known in the United States as the Rio Grande, runs about 3,000 kilometers and forms the natural border between Mexico and the United States from Ciudad Juárez to the Gulf of Mexico. Its role as the boundary line was fixed by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.

    Do not confuse it with the Lerma-Santiago system, the longest river lying entirely within Mexican territory; the Río Bravo is shared with the United States but is the country's longest river overall.

  45. 45

    What is the correct chronological order of the Conquest, the Independence, and the Revolution?

    Conquest, Independence, and Revolution

    History 7 reports

    Study note

    The Conquest culminated in 1521, when Hernán Cortés took Tenochtitlan. Independence began with Miguel Hidalgo's Grito de Dolores in 1810 and was consummated in 1821, and the Revolution broke out in 1910 against Porfirio Díaz, leading to the Constitution of 1917.

    Keeping the three key years in mind — 1521, 1810, 1910 — makes ordering these events easy.

  46. 46

    What does the word papalote mean in Nahuatl?

    Butterfly (papalotl)

    CulturePre-Columbian 7 reports

    Study note

    In Mexican Spanish a papalote is a kite, but the word comes from the Nahuatl 'papalotl,' meaning butterfly — a nod to the way kites flutter in the wind. Nahuatl, the language of the Mexica, gave Spanish many everyday words, including chocolate, aguacate, and tomate.

  47. 47

    What is the territorial extension of Mexico?

    1.964 million km2

    Geography 7 reports

    Study note

    Mexico covers about 1,964,375 square kilometers, making it one of the largest countries in the world — roughly the 13th by area — and the third largest in Latin America, after Brazil and Argentina. Its territory borders the United States to the north and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast, with coasts on the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea.

  48. 48

    On what date was the first civil registry formally established?

    July 28, 1859, with the Reform Laws (under Benito Juárez)

    History 7 reports

    Study note

    The Civil Registry is the institution that records births, marriages, and deaths. It was formally established by the Reform Laws issued by Benito Juárez's government in Veracruz — specifically the law of July 28, 1859 — which transferred these records from the Catholic Church to the State.

    Don't confuse this date with February 5, 1857, when the liberal Constitution of 1857 was proclaimed.

  49. 49

    According to the Constitution, at which academic levels is education compulsory?

    Basic education (preschool, primary, and secondary) and upper secondary (high school); previously only primary and secondary

    Constitution 7 reports

    Study note

    Article 3 of the Constitution makes basic education — preschool, primary, and secondary — and upper secondary (media superior, or high school) compulsory. Preschool was added by a 2002 reform and upper secondary by a 2012 reform; the original 1917 text required only primary schooling.

    Don't confuse this with the question about the characteristics of education, whose answer is that it must be compulsory, secular, and free.

  50. 50

    Which Mexican architect won the Pritzker Prize?

    Luis Barragán

    Art 7 reports

    Study note

    Luis Barragán (1902–1988), born in Guadalajara, is Mexico's most celebrated architect, known for an 'emotional architecture' of brightly colored walls, light, and water; his house and studio in Mexico City is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In 1980 he received the Pritzker Prize, architecture's highest honor, becoming its second laureate ever and the only Mexican to win it.

The next 73 questions — ranks 51 to 123

Reported less often, but still reported more than once. Question and answer only; open the flash cards for the study notes.

  1. Which weightlifter won the gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympics?Soraya Jiménez Mendívil
  2. Which article of the Constitution addresses freedom of work?Article 5
  3. Which movement emerged in Chiapas on January 1, 1994?Zapatista
  4. Which city is nicknamed the Pearl of the Bajío?León
  5. In what year did Mexico-Tenochtitlán fall to the Spanish?1521
  6. What did the Plan of Valladolid consist of?It sought to establish a congress in New Spain in the name of Fernando VII
  7. Who issues professional licenses in Mexico?Secretariat of Public Education (SEP)
  8. What are the national symbols of Mexico?Flag, coat of arms, and national anthem
  9. What were the children of Spaniards born in New Spain called?Criollos
  10. Which institution dedicated to technical education did Lázaro Cárdenas found?Instituto Politécnico Nacional
  11. Who painted the murals in the National Palace?Diego Rivera
  12. In what year was women's suffrage approved?1953
  13. What is the name of the protected reef in the Gulf of Mexico?Veracruz Reef System
  14. In which borough (alcaldía) of Mexico City is the Passion and death of Jesus Christ reenacted during Holy Week?Iztapalapa
  15. What was the Treaty of Tlatelolco about?Non-proliferation of nuclear arms in Latin America and the Caribbean
  16. Whom do senators represent?Federative entities
  17. Which president said, "Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace"?Benito Juárez
  18. What does the name Teotihuacán mean?City of the gods
  19. Which state does the Guelaguetza come from?Oaxaca
  20. How many senators are there in Mexico?128
  21. What is the Peña de Bernal?The third largest monolith in the world, located in Querétaro
  22. With which countries did Mexico sign NAFTA?United States and Canada
  23. What document governs Mexicans and foreigners in the national territory?Political Constitution of the United Mexican States
  24. Which state does chile en nogada come from?Puebla
  25. Which state is considered the cradle of independence?Guanajuato
  26. What type of institutions were the encomienda and the visitador?Colonial
  27. Which building was originally meant to be the Legislative Palace but ended up serving another purpose?The Monument to the Revolution
  28. Which mural in the Museum of Anthropology shows the feathered serpent Quetzalcóatl fighting the god Tezcatlipoca in the form of a jaguar?Duality (Rufino Tamayo)
  29. Which cadet was one of the Niños Héroes who defended Chapultepec Castle in 1847?Vicente Suárez Ferrer
  30. Who was the first Mexican astronaut?Rodolfo Neri Vela
  31. What are some Mexican dishes made from corn masa?Sopes, tlacoyos and memelas
  32. Which Mexican port was defended four times by its heroic inhabitants?Veracruz
  33. What technological contribution is attributed to Porfirio Díaz?The first phone call in Mexico, between Chapultepec Castle and the National Palace
  34. What were the schools for the children of nobles in México-Tenochtitlán called?Calmécac
  35. In which document can you read that America is free and independent of Spain and of any other nation, government or monarchy?Sentiments of the Nation
  36. Which article of the Constitution establishes the rights of Mexican citizens?Article 35
  37. Who founded La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz?Hernán Cortés
  38. Which Mexican sport was formalized in 1933?Charrería
  39. Which city is known as 'La Bella Airosa'?Pachuca
  40. Because of the palatial government and cultural buildings erected there between the 16th and 20th centuries, what is the area around Mexico City's Zócalo also known as?The City of Palaces
  41. Who enacts federal laws in Mexico?The Congress of the Union, through the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate
  42. What are the levels of government in Mexico?Federal, state and municipal
  43. What was the first constitution of independent Mexico?The Constitution of Apatzingán (1814), which never took effect; the Constitution of 1824 was the first actually in force
  44. During which period did Mesoamerican culture reach its greatest development?Classic
  45. Which giant tamal is a typical food of Veracruz?Zacahuil
  46. What was the most important city of the Mexica Empire?Tenochtitlán
  47. Which article of the Constitution establishes the obligations of Mexicans?Article 31
  48. Who founded El Pensador Mexicano?José Joaquín Fernández de Lizardi
  49. Who created La Catrina?José Guadalupe Posada
  50. Who administers justice in Mexico?The Judicial Branch (Poder Judicial)
  51. Who founded the Bank of Mexico?Plutarco Elías Calles
  52. What was chemist Luis Ernesto Miramontes's major contribution?The oral contraceptive
  53. What was inaugurated during the period of Abelardo Rodríguez Luján?The Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes)
  54. What site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992?El Tajín
  55. Which culture is considered the mother culture?Olmec
  56. When did NAFTA take effect?January 1st, 1994
  57. What did Guillermo González Camarena invent?Color TV
  58. What is Mexico's national animal?The golden eagle (águila real)
  59. What are the Magical Towns?Towns so designated because of the cultural and historical richness they hold
  60. Who wrote Las voces de Tlatelolco (The Voices of Tlatelolco)?José Emilio Pacheco
  61. What is the capital of Chihuahua?Chihuahua
  62. What does the Estela de Luz commemorate?It commemorates 200 years since Independence and 100 years since the Revolution (monument in Mexico City)
  63. What are the principal tourist ports in Mexico?Cozumel, Acapulco, Mazatlán
  64. What is a typical candy from Guanajuato?Charamuscas
  65. What dance involves people descending from a tall pole on ropes while one of them plays a flute and drum?The Voladores de Papantla (Flyers of Papantla)
  66. Who inaugurated the fountain of the Diana Cazadora?Manuel Ávila Camacho
  67. Who composed the children's song "El Ratón Vaquero" (The Cowboy Mouse)?Francisco Gabilondo Soler, known as Cri-Cri
  68. In what state is the Magical Town of Cholula?Puebla
  69. Where does the Plaza de la Constitución, now known as the Zócalo, get its name from?From the 1812 Constitution of Cádiz
  70. What does the expression "¡A darle que es mole de olla!" refer to?An invitation to do something enthusiastically and without delay
  71. In what state is the Magical Town of Izamal?Yucatán
  72. Who said: "To die is nothing, when one dies for the homeland"?José María Morelos y Pavón
  73. Which article of the Constitution addresses freedom of expression?Article 6

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