Quiz of the week's news



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1.) Multiple Choice Question

The Canadian author Nancy Huston won the annual Literary Review Bad Sex Award this week. Which of the following is a quote from her work?

Nancy Huston
  1. She smells of almonds... and he is the spoon
  2. Down, down, on to the eschatological bed
  3. Flesh, that archaic kingdom that brings forth tears

2.) Multiple Choice Question

Some Swedes are worried that new European Union rules may outlaw "snus". What is snus?

Swedish flag
  1. Traditional Swedish mono-ski
  2. Traditional Swedish moist snuff
  3. Traditional Swedish log cabin for one

3.) Multiple Choice Question

The UK Scout Association is considering a new oath for which group?

  1. Atheists
  2. Republicans
  3. Anarchists

4.) Multiple Choice Question

The US Congress this week voted to remove which old-fashioned word from all federal law?

  1. Lunatic
  2. Banshee
  3. Idiot

5.) Multiple Choice Question

Celebrating its big premiere this week, what has stage and now film musical Les Miserables NEVER been nicknamed?

  1. The Glums
  2. Les Mis
  3. The Miserichords

6.) Multiple Choice Question

The first text message was sent 20 years ago this week, by a 22-year-old engineer. It said "Merry Christmas". What was the reply?

Mobile phone
  1. Happy Xmas 2 u 2
  2. Merry Christmas back
  3. No reply

7.) Multiple Choice Question

Australian PM Julia Gillard recorded a spoof message announcing the end of the world. What did she NOT say was a possible cause of armageddon?

Julia Gillard
  1. Flesh-eating zombies
  2. Reality television
  3. Triumph of K-pop


  1. It's the "archaic kingdom" line. The award's aim is to discourage "redundant passages of sexual description in the modern novel". Among the other shortlisted authors was BBC reporter Paul Mason.
  2. It's the moist snuff. Snus sellers are worried by a crackdown over tobacco content and the use of aromas.
  3. It's atheists. There is a consultation into a new oath for those who feel unable to pledge a "duty to God".
  4. It was lunatic. The house voted 398-1 in favour of the move. Dissenting Rep Louie Gohmert said the measure was a waste of time.
  5. It's The Miserichords. Many of its fans know it as Les Mis or Les Miz. An early critic called it The Glums.
  6. There was no reply - the text was sent from a computer to an Orbitel 901 mobile phone but there was no way to send a text from a phone until 1993.
  7. Reality television was not mentioned. Gillard recorded the skit, referring to the supposed Mayan prediction for the end of the world, for radio station Triple J.

Your Score

0 - 3 : Damp squib

4 - 6 : Horsemen nearing

7 - 7 : Apocalypse now


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