Here are the answers to our January quiz on key news topics, plus some additional background information.
1. Who is Chilly Gonzales?
Answer: a
Additional notes: Chilly Gonzales is a Canadian musician who was named an honorary fellow of the Royal Conservatory of Music.
2. Which province requested assistance from the armed forces to clean up after a major January snowstorm?
Answer: b
Additional notes: The storm brought 76.2 cm of snow to St. John’s. Winds were 130 km per hour. It was a record-setting storm.
3. What Netflix TV series does Harry, Duke of Sussex, want to stop making future episodes?
Answer: c
Additional notes: The first three seasons of The Crown track the monarchy from the time Queen Elizabeth took power. Harry does not want the next season to examine the relationship that he and his wife Meghan have with Royal Family.
4. Who is Jeff Bezos?
Answer: a
Additional notes: He is in the news recently because his cell phone was hacked. A forensic report indicates that a message from Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman extracted data from his phone and sent it over the Internet.
5. What is Corona?
Answer: b
Additional notes: CoronaVirus, or 2019-ncov as it has been called, is a virus never seen before. It first broke out in China, killing hundreds of people and infecting thousands more. The virus first showed up in Canada in mid January. The medical officer of health says there is no risk to the public in Canada as long as they practise good hygiene, including hand-washing and keeping hands away from the face. The World Health Organization has declared a global emergency as the number of cases continues to grow.
6. What ruling did the international court in The Hague make on Myanmar?
Answer: c
Additional notes: The court in the Hague ordered Myanmar to do all it can to prevent genocide against the Rohingya people, a ruling met by this Muslim minority with gratitude and relief.
7. What country is dealing with unprecedented fires?
Answer: c
Additional notes: Australia’s bush fire season started early and has been intense and widespread, resulting in severe devastation and poor air quality.
8. What Canadian basketball player made it to the all-star game?
Answer: c
Additional notes: Siakam is the 7th Raptor to make the all-star team.
9. It is awards season in the entertainment industry. Which one is Canadian?
Answer: a
Additional notes: The Junos are Canada’s music awards. The awards ceremony takes place March 15, 2020.
10 . Which Canadian fashion designer received positive global exposure at the Golden Globe awards?
Answer: b
Additional notes: Hampton is an indigenous designer based in Toronto. She is Anishinaabe Mohawk.
11. What important milestone did Britain mark on February 1, 2020?
Answer: b
Additional notes: Brexit finally happened when the EU parliament approved the separation of Britain from the EU after 47 years. Britain has one year to negotiate a trade agreement with the EU.
12. What do country of origin rules mean under the new USMCA agreement?
Answer: b
Additional notes: Mexico also agreed to have 45% of auto parts made by workers who earn at least $16 per hour by 2023.
Click here to view the questions.