Q 01/05

A meteor exploded over which Russian city on February 15, 2013, injuring more than a thousand people?

A) Novosibirsk

B) Omsk

C) Yekaterinburg

D) Chelyabinsk

Answer · why

D) Chelyabinsk

Chelyabinsk: the blast's shock wave blew in windows across the city, so most of the injured were cut by flying glass, not struck by falling rock.

Q 02/05

Which pope resigned on February 28, 2013?

A) John Paul II

B) Paul VI

C) John Paul I

D) Benedict XVI

Answer · why

D) Benedict XVI

Benedict XVI, the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years, announced it in Latin to a meeting of cardinals, and an Italian reporter who followed the ...

Q 03/05

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina took which papal name in March 2013?

A) Francis

B) John Paul III

C) John XXIV

D) Pius XIII

Answer · why

A) Francis

Francis: as the vote went his way, a Brazilian cardinal hugged him and whispered 'Don't forget the poor', and Francis of Assisi came straight to his m...

Q 04/05

In February 2013, which country swore in its first female president, the daughter of a former military ruler?

A) Taiwan

B) Philippines

C) South Korea

D) Indonesia

Answer · why

C) South Korea

South Korea: Park Geun-hye was the daughter of Park Chung-hee, the general who took power in a 1961 coup, and her own term ended early when a court up...

Q 05/05

Which former British prime minister died on April 8, 2013?

A) Edward Heath

B) James Callaghan

C) Margaret Thatcher

D) Harold Wilson

Answer · why

C) Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher: opponents marked her death by buying 'Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead', sending the 1939 Wizard of Oz song to number two in that week'...