Sample questions: The country of Sweden
Geography, climate, nature, natural resources and climate policy.
Sweden lies in the Nordic region of northern Europe and is the largest Nordic country. It stretches about 1,600 km from Treriksröset in the north to Smygehuk in the south. Despite its northern position the climate is mild, because the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Current carry warm water towards Europe. More than half of the land is covered by forest and the country has around 250,000 islands. Sweden is divided into the parts Götaland, Svealand and Norrland, into 25 provinces (landskap), 21 counties (län) and 290 municipalities. Almost 11 million people live here and about 85 per cent live in towns and cities. Key natural resources are iron ore and other minerals, forest, farmland and water. Sweden has a climate act with the goal of near-zero emissions by 2045.
The questions below are written by Medborgarklar for practice. They are not taken from a real test, they are not published by UHR, and we do not claim they have appeared in a sitting.
8 questions with answers and explanations
How many counties is Sweden divided into?
- A21 counties
- B25 counties
- C13 counties
- D290 counties
Correct answer: A. 21 counties
Why: Sweden is divided into 21 counties and 290 municipalities. The country is also divided into 25 provinces, which today have no significance for how Sweden is governed.
What are Sweden's three largest cities?
- AGothenburg, Malmö and Visby
- BMalmö, Umeå and Luleå
- CStockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö
- DStockholm, Uppsala and Kiruna
Correct answer: C. Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö
Why: The three largest cities are Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. About four million people live in and around these three cities.
Which Nordic country is the largest by area?
- ADenmark
- BNorway
- CSweden
- DFinland
Correct answer: C. Sweden
Why: The Nordic region consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Sweden is the largest country in the Nordic region.
What is Sweden's northernmost point called?
- ATreriksröset
- BKiruna
- CKebnekaise
- DSmygehuk
Correct answer: A. Treriksröset
Why: Sweden stretches about 1,600 kilometres from Treriksröset in the north to Smygehuk in the south.
Roughly how long is Sweden from its northernmost to its southernmost point?
- AAbout 4,000 kilometres
- BAbout 1,600 kilometres
- CAbout 600 kilometres
- DAbout 2,800 kilometres
Correct answer: B. About 1,600 kilometres
Why: Sweden is a long, narrow country stretching about 1,600 kilometres from Treriksröset to Smygehuk.
What is the sea on Sweden's east coast called?
- ASkagerrak
- BThe North Sea
- CKattegatt
- DThe Baltic Sea
Correct answer: D. The Baltic Sea
Why: The sea on the eastern coast is called the Baltic Sea. Sweden's two largest islands, Gotland and Öland, are located there.
Which are Sweden's two largest islands?
- AGotland and Öland
- BÅland and Gotland
- COrust and Tjörn
- DHisingen and Värmdö
Correct answer: A. Gotland and Öland
Why: Sweden's two largest islands, Gotland and Öland, lie in the Baltic Sea off the east coast.
Why does Sweden have a mild climate compared with other areas at the same latitude?
- ASweden lies close to the equator
- BThe mountain range blocks all cold air
- CThe Baltic Sea is a warm sea all year round
- DThe Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Current carry warm water towards Europe
Correct answer: D. The Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Current carry warm water towards Europe
Why: The Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Current carry warm water from the Gulf of Mexico across the Atlantic towards Europe. The sea water warms the air, which winds then bring in over Sweden.