ISAAC ASIMOV’S SUPER QUIZ

Take this Super Quiz to a PhD Score one point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, two points on the Graduate Level and three points on the PhD Level.

SUBJECT: EVENTS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

Name the country. (e.g., Twin Towers attack: 2001. Answer: USA.)

FRESHMAN LEVEL

1. Invasion and overthrow of the Taliban government: 2001. 2. A cardinal from this country became Pope Francis: 2013. 3. A US-led coalition invaded this country: 2003. 4. A referendum voted to leave the European Union: 2016. 5. Hamas fired hundreds of rockets into cities here.

GRADUATE LEVEL

6. A massive earthquake killed at least 230,000 in this island country: 2010. 7. Anti-globalization protesters marched at the G8 Summit in Genoa: 2001. 8. It agreed to have all chemical weapons stocks it owned destroyed: 2013. 9. It agreed to allow international inspectors on its nuclear sites: 2013. 10. This neutral European country became a member of the U.N.: 2002.

PHD LEVEL

11. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was elected president: 2001. 12. A conflict in Darfur escalated into a full-scale war: 2003. 13. A ballistic missile was fired across the Sea of Japan: 2017. 14. It unilaterally declared a fly recognition area over Senkaku Islands: 2013. 15. President Hugo Chavez died due to cancer: 2013.

ANSWERS FOR FRIDAY, JAN 19:

1. Acid rain. 2. Death Valley, California. 3. Hawaii. 4. Hurricanes. 5. Nobody does anything about it. 6. Groundhog Day (Feb 2.). 7. Waterspout. 8. Front. 9. Lightning.

SCORING:

24 to 30 points – congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points – honours graduate; 13 to 17 points – you’re plenty smart, but no grind; 5 to 12 points – you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 4 points – enrol in remedial courses immediately; 0 points – who reads the questions to you?