These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on the dates
indicated below, and should be interpreted accordingly. If any
answers have changed due to newer news, you are still expected to
give the answers that were correct on that date.
On each question you may give up to two answers, but if you give
both a right answer and a wrong answer, there is a small penalty.
Please post all your answers in a single followup to the newsgroup,
based only on your own knowledge. (In your answer posting, quote
the questions and place your answer below each one.) I will reveal
the correct answers in about 3 days.
All questions were written by members of Smith & Guessin' and are
used here by permission, but have been reformatted and may have
been retyped and/or edited by me. The posting and tabulation of
current-events questions is independent of the concurrent posting
of other rounds. For further information see my recent companion
posting on "Questions from the Canadian Inquisition (QFTCI*)".
* Game 5 (2017-10-23), Round 1 - Current Events
1. This playoff season is unique in Major League Baseball. The New
York Yankees, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago
Cubs all entered the two league championship series leading
to this week's World Series. What makes this so unique and
lucrative for baseball?
2. After the Harvey Weinstein scandal in the US focused attention
on sexual harassment in the entertainment industry, two more
entertainment personalities, this time from Canada, have resigned
or been removed from their positions. Name either one.
3. New Zealand gets its youngest prime minister in 50 years after
the Labour Party joined with the New Zealand First Party to form
a new government this week. She is 37 years old and assumed
Labour's leadership in August. Elections on September 23
were inconclusive. Name her.
4. Two key aides for former premier Dalton McGuinty went on
trial last week for mischief and criminal breach of trust in
connection with the destruction of thousands of email messages
and other government records. The email and records were about
the government's controversial decision to cancel two gas-fired
power plants before the 2011 election. Name either one of the
two staffers.
5. These days, in our current economic climate, there aren't too
many large strikes. But last week faculty at Ontario's community
colleges went on strike, the main issue being the trend to
part-time rather than full-time teaching staff. About 70%
are now part-time but the union wants that to be 50% or less.
The number of students affected by the strike has been variously
reported as all the way from 220,000 to 500,000, depending on
who is counted, but how many colleges are involved, within 3?
6. Three men died in Fernie, BC, last week as they worked at the
town's memorial arena. it is believed the deaths may be the
first of their kind in Canada. What was the cause of death?
7. In a bid to avoid sky-high tariffs threatened by the US,
Bombardier has announced it plans to sell control of its
signature C Series plane to another aircraft manufacturer.
Which company has agreed to take over this venture in the hope
of new aerospace revenue for the next two decades?
8. A federal court based in Hawaii has blocked a third attempt
by the Trump administration to limit entry to the US from six
Muslim-majority countries. Visa restrictions will still be
permitted, but family members of American citizens and sponsored
refugees will not be prohibited from entry. The Supreme Court
is soon expected to rule on the issue of keeping out residents
of Muslim-majority countries. Name *any three* of the six.
(Note: North Korea and Venezuela were also affected by the
executive order but are outside the scope of the court case.)
9. In one of the biggest terrorist attacks so far in 2017,
276 people were killed and hundreds more injured by a truck
bomb. Name the *city and country* where this took place.
10. In Quebec a controversial new law called the Religious
Neutrality Act came into effect this past week. It is intended
to prevent Muslim women wearing the niqab from getting government
services without showing their faces. However, the provincial
government contends it is not discriminating against Muslim
women, because what non-religious item would also have to be
removed to receive government services under the new act?
* Game 6 (2017-10-30), Round 1 - Current Events
1. He played Benson in a hit TV comedy from 1979 to 1986, and
he voiced Rafiki in "The Lion King". He died last week at 89.
Who was he?
2. This piano-playing rock-and-roller from New Orleans is best
known for his cover of the 1940 song "Blueberry Hill". He also
died last week at 89. Name him.
3. An African leader has his controversial appointment as a
goodwill ambassador for the World Health Organization rescinded
after widespread protests. Name him.
4. In Japan, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party coalition won
another election victory last week. Name the prime minister
who consequently will soon become Japan's longest-serving one.
5. The new US ambassador to Canada, Kelly Craft, who is married to
a coal billionaire, made the news with what statement soon
after taking office?
6. The manager of the New York Yankees was fired last week after
10 years on the job, including a World Series victory in 2009.
Name him.
7. Canadian athletes are tuning up for the upcoming Winter Olympics
in South Korea. Our figure skaters won gold medals in two
events at Skate Canada. Name *either* the women's singles
winner *or both* members of the winning ice-dancing team.
8. What prominent author and feminist activist spoke in Toronto
last week at Branksome Hall, a private girls' school?
9. Alberta's newly formed United Conservative Party elected a new
leader this past Saturday. Who?
10. The Canada C3 Expedition just ended a 150-day, 23,000 km voyage
around Canada's three coasts to mark the country's 150th
anniversary year. "Canada C3" ("C3" as in "coast to coast to
coast") was the temporary name of the ship used for this journey;
what is its usual name?
--
Mark Brader | "...not one accident in a hundred deserves the name.
Toronto | [This occurrence] was simply the legitimate result
m...@vex.net | of carelessness." -- Washington Roebling
My text in this article is in the public domain.