Bing Quiz › All quizzes › World Cities Quiz
Bing World Cities Quiz: 10 Questions With Answers
Global cities are major hubs that drive the world's economy, culture, and innovation. These power centers connect finance, trade, and ideas across continents. This quiz explores what makes certain cities global leaders and how they're ranked worldwide.
Looking for Microsoft's own quiz? It is on your Microsoft Rewards dashboard. This page is our own practice quiz on the same topic, so you can learn the facts first. For the daily image quiz see today's Bing Homepage Quiz.
Play the quiz
Pick A, B or C for each question. The right answer turns green and a short fact explains it.
All 10 questions and answers
Every question with its answer and explanation. Open “Show answer” after you guess.
1 Which sociologist popularized the term 'global city' through a 1991 book?
- A Saskia Sassen
- B Peter J. Taylor
- C Patrick Geddes
Show answer
✓ Answer: A. Saskia Sassen
Did you know? Saskia Sassen's book 'The Global City: New York, London, Tokyo' introduced the modern concept of global cities. Patrick Geddes used the earlier term 'world city' in 1915, and Peter J. Taylor founded the GaWC research network in 1998.
2 What year did the term 'world city' first appear in The Illustrated London News?
- A 1904
- B 1886
- C 1915
Show answer
✓ Answer: B. 1886
Did you know? The Illustrated London News used the term 'world city' in May 1886 to describe Liverpool. The term 'megacity' emerged later, with the earliest known use in a 1904 University of Texas publication.
3 Which of these is NOT listed as a typical characteristic of global cities?
- A Headquarters of multinational corporations
- B International financial services
- C Agricultural production dominance
Show answer
✓ Answer: C. Agricultural production dominance
Did you know? Global cities are characterized by international financial services, multinational corporation headquarters, and innovation centers—not agricultural production. They are defined by their roles in finance, trade, and culture.
4 According to the GaWC rankings, how many cities hold the highest 'Alpha ++' classification?
- A Four
- B Two
- C Eight
Show answer
✓ Answer: B. Two
Did you know? Only London and New York City are classified as 'Alpha ++' cities by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. The next tier, 'Alpha +', includes eight cities including Tokyo, Paris, and Singapore.
5 The Globalization and World Cities Research Network is based at which university?
- A University of Tokyo
- B University of Chicago
- C Loughborough University
Show answer
✓ Answer: C. Loughborough University
Did you know? GaWC is based in the geography department of Loughborough University in Leicestershire, United Kingdom. The organization was founded by Peter J. Taylor in 1998.
6 Which four cities are most commonly mentioned as top global cities?
- A New York City, London, Dubai, and Singapore
- B New York City, London, Tokyo, and Paris
- C London, Tokyo, Sydney, and Beijing
Show answer
✓ Answer: B. New York City, London, Tokyo, and Paris
Did you know? New York City, London, Tokyo, and Paris are the most commonly mentioned top global cities. These cities consistently rank highly across multiple ranking systems.
7 In Kearney's Global Cities Index, how many metrics are used to rank cities?
- A 27
- B 15
- C 50
Show answer
✓ Answer: A. 27
Did you know? Kearney's ranking uses 27 metrics across five dimensions: business activity, human capital, information exchange, cultural experience, and political engagement.
8 Which organization published the Global Power City Index starting in 2008?
- A The Mori Memorial Foundation
- B Oxford Economics
- C A.T. Kearney
Show answer
✓ Answer: A. The Mori Memorial Foundation
Did you know? The Tokyo-based Institute for Urban Strategies at The Mori Memorial Foundation first published the Global Power City Index in 2008. They rank cities across six categories including economy and research and development.
9 According to Oxford Economics' 2025 rankings, which city ranks highest on their Global Cities Index?
- A London
- B Paris
- C New York City
Show answer
✓ Answer: C. New York City
Did you know? New York City ranks first in Oxford Economics' 2025 Global Cities Index. Oxford Economics ranks the world's largest 1,000 cities based on 27 indicators with emphasis on economic factors.
10 What are the three ranking categories used by Resonance's World's Best Cities ranking?
- A Economy, culture, and livability
- B Livability, lovability, and prosperity
- C Finance, innovation, and accessibility
Show answer
✓ Answer: B. Livability, lovability, and prosperity
Did you know? Resonance ranks cities across three categories: livability, lovability, and prosperity, each using different factors. London tops their 2026 rankings.
About World Cities
The term 'global city' was popularized by sociologist Saskia Sassen in her 1991 book 'The Global City: New York, London, Tokyo.' However, the concept of world cities dates back much further—the term 'world city' first appeared in an 1886 description of Liverpool by The Illustrated London News, and British geographer Patrick Geddes used it in 1915.
Questions and facts checked against the Wikipedia article Global city. How we write quizzes: editorial policy.
World Cities Quiz FAQ
Is this the official Bing World Cities Quiz?
No. BingQuiz.net is independent and not affiliated with Microsoft. This is our own free practice quiz on world cities, written from the Wikipedia article linked on this page. Microsoft's quiz is on the Microsoft Rewards dashboard.
Where do I play the official quiz for Microsoft Rewards points?
Sign in to your Microsoft account and open the quiz card on the Microsoft Rewards dashboard (rewards.bing.com) or on Bing.com. Points are only credited there.
Do I need an account to play this quiz?
No. Every quiz on BingQuiz.net is free and works without signing up.