Here are the answers to our May quiz on key news topics, plus some additional background information.
1. Who is Caster Semenya?
Answer: a
Additional notes: Caster is a two-time gold medal winner who lost a ground-breaking case in the Court of Arbitration for Sports. Caster has a naturally high testosterone level, above what the International Association of Athletics Federation says is acceptable for women.
2. Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan had a baby of which gender?
Answer: a
Additional notes: His name is Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
3. What legislation did Iceland just pass?
Answer: b
Additional notes: Under the legislation companies with more than 25 employees are obliged to obtain a government certificate demonstrating pay equality, or they will face fines.
4. Canada created a record number of new jobs in April, 2019. How many were created?
Answer: c
Additional notes: The bulk of the jobs were full-time, leaving the unemployment rate at 5.7%.
This is a solid message that employers still have faith in the Canadian economy.
5. WestJet Airlines is becoming privately owned. The shares closed on the stock exchange Friday May 10 at $18.52? How much were they valued at for the takeover?
Answer: a
Additional notes: Onex Corporation is paying a 67% premium for the shares. The deal is expected to close sometime this year or in early 2020.
6. What country is the US escalating its trade war with?
Answer: b
Additional notes: The US government has imposed a 25% tariff on the $200 billion in Chinese goods it imports. China has added additional tariffs on $60 billion of US goods brought into China.
7. What percentage of Canadians is opposed to provincial governments using taxpayer money to battle the federal carbon tax?
Answer: d
Additional notes: According to Nanos Research, about 64% of Canadians said it is unacceptable for provinces to opt out of the federal effort to combat climate change and the same number said they oppose provincial governments using taxpayer dollars to fight the tax.
8. What was celebrated on May 3?
Answer: d
Additional notes: World Press Freedom Day is an annual event on May 3. It is the day the Windhoek Declaration was adopted. This is a statement of free press principles. It is to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Alison Hargreaves, an accomplished mountaineer summited Everest on May 3, 1995. On May 3, 1926 Britain had its first and only general strike.
9. What is Eurovision?
Answer: b
Additional notes: In its 64th year the Eurovision Song Contest is taking place in Tel Aviv after the 2018 win by Israeli Netta for the song Toy.
10. Who did Donald Trump pardon?
Answer: a
Additional notes: Black, a Canadian, served 42 months in a Florida prison for fraud and obstruction of justice. Trump personally called Black to tell him he was being pardoned.
Click here to view the questions.