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

1. What international charity is winding down operations in Canada?

Answer: c

Additional notes: The charity is selling off assets, eliminating staff and winding down operations in Canada after being embroiled in a political scandal.

2. Canada’s debt ratio declined during the pandemic. What did it decline to?

Answer: b

Additional notes: Canadians owed $1.58 for every $1 they had to spend. This is down from $1.77, where it has hovered for the past few years.

3. The number of hurricanes in 2020 is about to exceed the letter names available. How will additional hurricanes be named?

Answer: c

Additional notes: For only the second time on record, the 2020 hurricane season has been so active that the regular list of names has been exhausted and hurricanes are now being named after letters of the Greek Alphabet. To date, Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta have named storms through September. Next up will be Epsilon, Zeta and Eta.

4. Who delivered the throne speech on Sept 23, 2020?

Answer: b

Additional notes: One of the roles of the Governor General is to read the Throne speech.

5. What Canadian TV series received seven Emmy awards this fall?

Answer: b

Additional notes: The Emmy Awards recognize excellence within various areas of television and emerging media. This year they were presented virtually and Schitt’s Creek swept through the comedy categories, taking every single trophy. This is the first time a Canadian show has done this.

6. Which team won the Stanley Cup?

Answer: b

Additional notes: The NHL completed the season in two bubbles, one in Toronto and one in Edmonton. The final games of the season for the Stanley Cup took place in Edmonton, with Tampa Bay winning the cup.

7. What is the Giller Prize?

Answer: d

Additional notes: The Giller was established in 1994 as a $25,000 prize to a Canadian author who published in English in the previous year. In 2005, Scotiabank became a co-sponsor of the prize and over the years has increased the value of the prize to what it is today, $140,000. The prize is announced in November.

8. Who is Kevin Brereton?

Answer: b

Additional notes: k-os is a Juno award-winning Canadian rapper who splits his time between Toronto and Vancouver. He is releasing new music that he created during the pandemic.

9. What new criteria did the Academy Awards add for nominations?

Answer: f

Additional notes: According to the academy, under-represented groups include women, people of colour, LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities. These new standards apply to nominations for Best Picture.

10. Health Canada approved an antigen device. What is it?

Answer: b

Additional notes: The new rapid antigen test can produce results in 20 minutes. The government has purchased 20 million tests from US based Abbott Laboratories.

Click here to view the questions.