Here are the answers to our October quiz on key news topics, plus some additional background information

  1. Who is now the Prime Minister of Canada?

Answer: b

Additional notes: The October 21 federal election saw Trudeau’s Liberals retain power, but with a minority instead of a majority government. They captured 157 seats in the House of Commons, with 170 needed for a majority. This will require the Liberals to collaborate with another party to get anything passed.

  1. What is the Birks Diamond Tribute?

Answer: b

Additional notes: 2019 was the 5th year of the event to recognize and honour women making a significant contribution to the Canadian film industry.

  1. Who is the first rookie to win the US Open Tennis tournament?

Answer: a

Additional notes: Although all are professional tennis players Bianca is the first Canadian and first rookie ever to win the US Open.

  1. What is CCMA?

Answer: b

Additional notes: The Canadian Country Music Association awards take place annually to recognize artists of the genre.

  1. Who is Margaret Atwood?

Answer: a

Additional notes: Atwood is an award-winning Canadian author who just released a new book called The Testaments, a follow-up to the best-selling The Handmaid’s Tale.

  1. The Government of Canada is collaborating with the Government of Ontario on what?

Answer: a

Additional notes: This will be the first French language university in Ontario to serve its 600,000 Francophone families. It is expected to take eight years to build at a cost of $126,000,000.

  1. What is the gig economy?

Answer: a

Additional notes: In the gig economy a large part of the workforce is engaged with short-term or temporary work contracts.

  1. Who is Greta Thunberg?

Answer: d

Additional notes: Greta is credited with raising global awareness of the risks posed by climate change and with holding politicians to account for their lack of action on the climate crisis.

  1. What is a non-binary pronoun?

Answer: d

Additional notes: Some people identify as gender queer because their gender identity is androgynous. The non-binary pronoun of They is often used in the singular and has recently been included in the Merriam Webster dictionary.

  1. How many new words were added to the Merriam Webster dictionary?

Answer: c

Additional notes: New words are frequently added to a living language. When new words sustain themselves through wide usage, they need recognition and definition. Some of the new words added in 2019 include ‘dad joke’, ‘deep state’ ‘escape room’ and the non-binary pronoun ‘they’.

  1. What is the United Nations HeforShe initiative?

Answer: d

Additional notes: Through the fall there will be #getfree bus tour bringing together thought leaders to engage students across colleges and universities in Canada.

  1. What event occurred on September 27, 2019?

Answer: b

Additional notes: 85 cities across Canada participated with students leaving school for the day, urging immediate action on climate

Click here to view the questions.