Weekly world news quiz

Info

It's the World News 7 days 7 questions weekly quiz - a chance to find out how much global news from the past week you've read, heard and watched... and how much has stayed lodged in the old grey matter.

1.) Multiple Choice Question

Witches in Romania were putting a curse on the government on Thursday over new legislation forcing them to do what?

1. Document their spells
   
2. Pay taxes
   
3. Obtain licences
   

2.) Multiple Choice Question

Thousands of birds rained down on a small town in the US state of Arkansas earlier this week, baffling scientists at the time. What explanation was subsequently given as the most likely reason for the deaths?

1. Fireworks
   
2. Military tests
   
3. Poisoning
   

3.) Multiple Choice Question

A new edition of the literary classic Huckleberry Finn is to be published in the US with the word "nigger" changed to "slave". The word "injun" will also be changed. What to?

1. Indian
   
2. Native American
   
3. American Indian
   

4.) Multiple Choice Question

Millions of people in South Sudan are preparing to vote on whether or not to split with the North. The vote is likely to lead to the creation of the world's newest country. What will it be called?

1. Kush
   
2. Nubia
   
3. Southern Sudan
   
4. It hasn't been decided yet
   

5.) Multiple Choice Question

Which country is to put marriage records online because of a surge in the number of men taking mistresses and second wives?

1. China
   
2. South Africa
   
3. Finland
   

6.) Multiple Choice Question

Hospitals in central Queensland have reportedly been stockpiling anti-venom after snakes have been active in rising floodwaters. This venomous snake, native to Australia, was snapped in the waters. What is it?

1. Copperhead Snake
   
2. Bushmaster
   
3. Brown Snake
   

7.) Multiple Choice Question

Almost 350kg of what set a record at auction this week, by fetching the equivalent of US$396,000?

1. Truffles
   
2. Tuna
   
3. Kobe beef
   

Answers

1. It's pay taxes. The new law covers a wide range of occupations including witches and fortune-tellers. Several witches were planning a ceremony by the River Danube, involving a mandrake plant and a string of incantations designed to put a hex on the Romanian government personnel responsible.
2. It's the fireworks. Scientists say that the Arkansas incident was most likely to do with New Year's Eve fireworks. Since then, however, there have been other mass bird deaths in other US states and in Sweden. These have not been attributed to end of year festivities.
3. It's Indian. Twain scholar Alan Gribben said he decided to re-issue the 19th Century classic replacing certain words because the original offended many readers.
4. It hasn't yet been decided what the new country will be called. At the moment, the government refers to itself as the Government of Southern Sudan or GOSS.
5. It's China. Apparently, China's exploding wealth has created a culture of secret mistresses and second wives. Officials are putting marriage records online so lovers and spouses can check for cheaters.
6. It's a Brown Snake. Emergency officials have warned that the snakes are aggressive. There is also a threat from crocodiles, which have been flushed from rivers by the rising floods.
7. It was the tuna. A massive bluefin tuna sold for a record 32.49 million yen in Tokyo's famed Tsukiji fish market.

Your Score

0 - 2 : Hard to stomach

3 - 5 : Hungry for more

6 - 7 : Food for thought