The Independent State of Samoa ( Samoan: Malo Sa 'oloto Tuto 'atasi o Samoa, IPA: [samoa]), commonly known as Samoa (Samoan: Samoa) and formerly known as Western Samoa, is a Unitary Parliamentary Republic with eleven administrative divisions. The two main islands are Savai'i and Upolu with four smaller islands surrounding the landmasses. The capital city is Apia. The Lapita people discovered and settled the Samoan islands around 3,500 years ago. They developed a unique language and cultural identity.

The origins of the Samoans are closely studied in modern research about Polynesia in various scientific disciplines such as genetics, linguistics and anthropology. Scientific research is ongoing, although a number of different theories exist; including one proposing that the Samoans originated from Austronesian predecessors during the terminal eastward Lapita expansion period from Southeast Asia and Melanesia between 2,500 and 1,500 BCE. The Samoan origins are currently being reassessed due to new scientific evidence and carbon dating findings from 2003 and onwards.

Answer this series of questions:

1. What did the Independent State of Samoa used to be called?
2. What are the 2 main islands?
3. How many smaller islands are there?
4. What is the capital?
5. When were the islands discovered?
6. By who?
7. Was their language one that was used elsewhere?
8. What is the Independent State of Samoa's shorter name?
9. How many divisions are there?
10. What kind of republic is it?
11. What is the name in the \Samoan language?
12. W
13. What scientific fields study the Samoans?
14. Is the research already done?
15. When was the expansion period?
16. Where are the Samoans thought to have come from during that period?

Numbered answers:
1. Western Samoa
2. Savai'i and Upolu
3. Four
4. Apia
5. 3,500 years ago
6. The Lapita people
7. no
8. Samoa
9. 11
10. Unitary Parliamentary Republic
11. unknown
12. unknown
13. such as genetics, linguistics and anthropology.
14. ongoing
15. between 2,500 and 1,500 BCE
16. Austronesian