This flags of the world quiz describes each flag in words, so you'll have to picture the maple leaves, crosses, eagles, dragons and stars yourself. It starts with the famous ones, then heads to trickier flags from the Middle East, the Himalayas and the Balkans. Each answer comes with a quick fact about what the design means, which makes the tough questions easier to remember.
The study of flags has its own name, vexillology, from the Latin word for a banner. Flag experts often point to a few simple design rules: keep it simple enough that a child could draw it from memory, use meaningful symbols, stick to two or three basic colors, avoid lettering and seals, and make it distinctive. Plenty of real flags break these rules, which is part of what makes them memorable.
Colors and shapes usually carry meaning. Red often stands for courage or the blood of those who fought for independence, blue for sea or sky, green for land or farming, and white for peace. Stars, suns and moons are popular symbols of hope, unity or faith, while animals and plants tend to represent something unique to that place. The Stars and Stripes is a living example: under the Flag Act of 1818, it keeps 13 stripes for the original colonies and adds a new star on the July 4 after a state joins the Union.
When a flag stumps you, look for the one feature nobody else has. A unique emblem is usually your best clue, and it's often tied to a famous legend or landmark.