Here are the answers to our January quiz on key news topics, plus some additional background information.
1. Time Magazine named a kid of the year for the first time ever. Who did they name?
Answer: b
Additional notes: She is a 15-year-old scientist and inventor whose process for solving problems follows this sequence: observe, brainstorm, research, build and communicate.
2. What was the top Google search by Canadians during 2020?
Answer: a
Additional notes: The other three were in the top five.
3. What should Canadians expect to pay more for in 2021?
Answer: d
Additional notes: Supply chain issues as a result of the pandemic will increase overall food costs by about $600 per year.
4. Who won the Nobel Peace Prize for 2020?
Answer: c
Additional notes: It was awarded to the World Food Program for its efforts to fight hunger and for its contribution towards improving conditions in conflict areas to achieve peace.
5. How much did a mint condition Wayne Gretzky rookie trading card sell for?
Answer: a
Additional notes: The card set a record for the most expensive hockey card in the world. It is a 1979 O-Pee-Chee card which has a photo of Gretzky in his Oiler uniform playing in a game against Gordie Howe.
6. What are the colours of the year for 2021?
Answer: e
Additional notes: Each year all the major paint companies along with the Pantone Institute of Colour determine the colour of the year based on the mood and trends of the country. Pantone actually selected two colours for 2020: ultimate gray and illuminating yellow to reflect our difficult current situation and our collective hope for the future.
7. What is the Gateway treaty?
Answer: a
Additional notes: As part of the agreement, Canada has secured a spot for a Canadian astronaut to go to the future space station. The new outpost will orbit the moon and use robots operating through artificial intelligence when astronauts are not present.
8. What ruling has The Court of Arbitration for Sport given to Russia?
Answer: d
Additional notes: This ruling reduced an earlier ruling from four years to two years. This is a result of Russia’s state-sponsored doping program.
9. What is the Great Conjunction?
Answer: b
Additional notes: Jupiter and Saturn come together in our vision, culminating on the night of December 21. Some people refer to this as the Christmas Star. In 1623, the solar system’s two giant planets, Jupiter and Saturn, travelled together across the sky. Jupiter caught up to and passed Saturn, in an astronomical event known as a Great Conjunction. It has been nearly 400 years since the planets passed this close to each other in the sky, and nearly 800 years since the alignment of Saturn and Jupiter occurred at night, as it did in 2020, allowing nearly everyone around the world to witness this Great Conjunction.
10. What is in the Brexit trade deal?
Answer: e
Additional notes: UK residents will require visas if they want to stay in the EU more than 90 days. There will be additional paperwork and regulations for goods travelling between the UK, Northern Ireland and the EU. The EU is implementing this process immediately.
11. Who is the next head of the Canadian Armed Forces?
Answer: d
Additional notes: Art McDonald is the former commander of the Navy and he has been appointed the next Chief of Defence, steering the entire Canadian military.
12. How many Canadians succumbed to Covid-19 in 2020?
Answer: b
Additional notes: There were 602,000 cases with 15,866 deaths. It is important to stay vigilant by wearing a mask, washing your hands and keeping two metres apart.
Click here to view the questions.