2018 year-end quiz:

Today is the 9th of December, which means there are only 22 days left in a year dwindling down to a point where a president is praised as ‘‘presidential’’ for managing to sit still through a funeral service.

Just 22 days left in a year that has stockmarkets spooked, a simmering Chinese US trade war, and our nation wrestling with the philosophy of Father Christmas. As Plato wrote all those years ago: ‘‘Human behaviour flows from four main sources: desire, emotion, knowledge, and the reassurance that Santa is white.’’

They don’t make years like they used to, that’s for sure. Who’d want to live through this one twice? History only repeats for those who don’t learn from it, so let’s review the lessons of 2018 by following this handy little practice test with answers provided.

Just as an aside – and I hope I’m not jinxing anything – remember 2016 when everyone died? Horrible, wasn’t it? But at the end of it all, the wonderful Clive James had endured, having more or less signed out and apologised for still being here. Another year and another have passed, and still, he goes on. There’s your Christmas miracle.

Anyway, please pick up your pencils, your time starts now.