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100
The reality of modern elections, writes The Times, is that a large chunk of the outcome is determined before Election day because of what? Record numbers of people are expected to participate this year. A. early voting B. the Electoral College C. gerrymandering D. polling
What is A. early voting? Early voting — by mail or at polling stations — is off to a fast start. More than 5.3 million votes have been cast already, far outpacing the rate for this period in 2012. Balloting is underway in 34 out of 37 early-voting states. In all, more than 46 million people are expected to vote before Election Day — or as much as 40 percent of all votes cast. So many Americans will have voted by Election Day — more than 40 percent in swing states, according to the Clinton campaign — that the winner could be all but settled before November.
100
Who implied that he would like to administer a physical beat-down to Donald Trump? A. Joe Biden B. Harry Reid C. Bill Clinton D. Mark Cuban E. Bernie Sanders?
What is A. Joe Biden? Dreaming back to his school days, Biden expressed his wish to take Trump 'behind the gym.'
100
The Target chain is refusing to sell which mask this Halloween season? A. clown B. vampire C. Frankenstein D. Donald Trump E. Hillary Clinton
What is A. clown? The store is banning clown masks after the many reported clown attacks across America.
100
Wildlife officials are investigating the death of 10,000 Titicaca water frogs, a critically endangered species, in which country? A. Peru B. France C. Zimbabwe D. Australia
What is A. Peru? The population of this 2-pound aquatic frog has declined by as much as 80% over the past 15 years!
100
The Chicago Cubs are headed to the World Series for the first time since 1945. But their opponent will be another team with a history of hard luck: the _________, who have not won a championship since 1948. A. Boston Red Sox B. Cleveland Indians C. Kansas City Royals D. New York Yankees
What is B. Cleveland Indians? The Cubs captured the National League pennant on Saturday with a 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers before a euphoric throng at Wrigley Field in Chicago. When the Series begins in Cleveland on Oct. 25, someone’s long wait will be near an end.
200
Decades after homosexuality was decriminalized in which country, the government announced on Oct. 20 that it would posthumously pardon thousands of gay and bisexual men who were convicted, in essence, of having or seeking gay sex. A. Britain B. Nigeria C. Saudi Arabia D. the U.S.
What is A. Britain? The law providing for the pardons, which could take effect in a matter of months now that it has the support of the Conservative government, is named for Alan Turing, the mathematician who made a major contribution to Britain in World War II by cracking Germany’s Enigma coding machine and was a central figure in the development of the computer. Homosexuality is still punishable by death in Nigeria & Saudi Arabia. The United States decriminalized homosexuality in Lawrence v. Texas, a 2003 Supreme Court decision. But, according to the article about Britain's announcement, George Chauncey, a history professor at Yale, said he was not aware of any similar blanket pardon being offered in the United States for sodomy, degenerate disorderly conduct or other charges commonly used against men caught trying to pick up other men.
200
In the final presidential debate on October 19th, Donald Trump repeated his assertion that the race was rigged against him, and he twice refused to do what? A. called Hillary Clinton a liar B. release his taxes C. say if he would accept the result of the election D. rally conservative voters with hard-line stands on illegal immigration and abortion rights
What is C. say if he would accept the result of the election? In a remarkable statement that seemed to cast doubt on American democracy, Donald J. Trump said that he might not accept the results of next month’s election if he felt it was rigged against him — a stand that Hillary Clinton blasted as “horrifying” at their final and caustic debate.
200
The United Nations has named which comic book superhero an "honorary ambassador"? A. Supergirl B. Marvel Girl C. Captain Marvel D. Wonder Woman E. Captain Universe
What is D. Wonder Woman? She is meant to be a symbol of female self-empowerment, although some critics object to honoring a large-breasted white woman.
200
An electronics manufacturer from what country said its products may have been inadvertently responsible for a massive cyberattack that disrupted some major internet sites in the U.S.? A. Chinese B. Japanese C. German D. Indian?
What is A. Chinese? The assault, which flooded Dyn’s servers with traffic, appears to have relied on hundreds of thousands of internet-connected devices like cameras, baby monitors and home routers that had been infected with malware. Election officials are concerned that similar attacks could affect voting. Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia permit internet voting for overseas military and civilians, and Alaska allows any citizen to vote online.
200
________ mountaineer Junko Tabei, the first woman to climb Mount Everest, died at aage 77. A. Japanese B. Swiss C. Iranian D. Turkish
What is A. Japanese?
300
Which country cut off internet access for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange? A. Ecuador B. Great Britain C. the Bahamas D. Russia?
What is A. Ecuador? Assange has been living in Ecuador's embassy since he was granted asylum in 2012 after a British court ordered his extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning on a rape allegation.
300
A new policy at Arlington National Cemetery places restrictions on what? A. balloons B. handguns C. Islamic prayer services D. bicycles
What is D. bicycles? The Army claims that bicycling commuters disrupt funeral services and pose safety concerns among pedestrian visitors.
300
Who has been accused of stealing furniture from the State Department for home decoration? A. Chelsea Clinton B. Newt Gingrich C. Hillary Clinton D. Condoleezza Rice
What is C. Hillary Clinton? The accusation comes from a former member of Clinton's security detail.
300
AT&T reached a deal to acquire ______ Inc., owner of HBO & CNN, for $85.4 billion. A. Viacom B. 21st Century Fox C. Time Warner D. Comcast
What is C. Time Warner? This new colossus would be capable of both producing content and distributing it to millions with wireless phones, broadband subscriptions and satellite TV connections. The proposed deal is likely to spur yet more consolidation among media companies, which have already looked to partners to get bigger.
300
The Chicago Cubs won the National League pennant and will be playing in the World Series for the first time in how many years? A. 55 B. 68 C. 71 D. 102
What is C. 71?
400
The Parliament in Iraq voted to ban the sale, import, and production of what product? A. cigarettes B. burkas C. guns D. alcohol
What is D. alcohol?
400
About 170 inmates escaped from a prison in which country, and most are still at large? A. Cuba B. Haiti C. Venezuela D. Dominican Republic
What is B. Haiti?
400
Which comedian and actor won this year's Mark Twain Prize for Humor? A. Bill Murray B. Chris Rock C. Chevy Chase D. Kevin Hart
Who is A. Bill Murray?
400
Retired Marine Gen. James Cartwright admitted in federal court that he leaked top-secret information about which government hacking program to two reporters? A. Sneakernet B. Whitenet C. Ghostnet D. Stuxnet
What is D. Stuxnet? Stuxnet was reportedly a joint U.S.-Israel effort using malware to mess with Iran's attempts to enrich uraniam gas.
400
After seven weeks of play, which NFL team remains undefeated? A. Dallas Cowboys B. Minnesota Vikings C. Philadelphia Eagles D. New England Patriots E. No team is still unbeaten.
What is E. No team is still unbeaten? The Vikings were the last team with a perfect record, but that was marred Sunday by the Philadelphia Eagles.
500
Officials in France were scheduled to clear out the so-called "Jungle camp in ________, which houses about 6,000 immigrants. A. Chamonix B. Paris C. Lyon D. Calais
What is D. Calais? Lines of migrants stretched for a mile in the cold along the routes leading out of the “Jungle,” as the camp is known, to be processed in a giant hangar. Buses waited along a side road to take them to dozens of reception centers scattered throughout France. Each migrant will have to choose between two regions, except for the island of Corsica and the Île-de-France region, which includes Paris.
500
President Rodrigo Duterte has announced his country's 'separation' from the United States and vowed to never again set foot in America. He leads which nation? A. Brazil B. Colombia C. Argentina D. Venezuela E. Philippines
What is E. Philippines? President Duterte heralded a new alignment with China and dismissed the importance of the USA.
500
90-year-old rock and roll legend, ________, is releasing his first album in 38 years. A. Bo Diddley B. Fats Domino C. Chuck Berry D. Little Richard
What is C. Chuck Berry? Berry's last album was Rock It in 1979.
500
The fate of the Mars lander deployed by the European Space Agency on Wednesday is uncertain after scientists lost contact with it. What is the lander's name? A. Dante B. Schiaparelli C. Oriani D. Zupi
What is B. Schiaparelli? The lander, a joint venture between the European Space Agency and Russia's Roscosmos space agency appears to have jettisoned its parachute too early and might have crashed.
500
What else is special about this week for American sports fans? A. Betting on fantasy sports is legal for the next 10 days. B. College football's Rose Bowl will be played this weekend. C. The presidential candidates traditionally make a bet 16 days before the election on the winner of that season's Super Bowl. D. This is the one week of the year when teams from all four major leagues will compete.
What is D. This is the one week of the year when teams from all four major leagues will compete? Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Hockey League and the National Basketball Association all play this week.
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