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100
Who announced the ending of her tenure as Canada's 30th governor general?
MARY SIMON—The governor general concludes her tenure this summer, marking five years in office. Mary Simon was sworn in on July 26, 2021, as the first Indigenous governor general. Premier Mark Carney has announced the appointment of Louise Arbour as the next governor general. Louise Arbour is a respected Canadian lawyer, judge, and former Supreme Court justice who also served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. She is well known internationally for her work in human rights, international law, and war crimes investigations.
100
What natural disaster occurred on May 18, 1980?
ERUPTION OF MOUNT ST. HELENS - On May 18, 1980, the massive eruption of Mount St. Helens occurred in the State of Washington. The eruption sent ash high into the atmosphere, darkening skies and spreading across several U.S. states. It killed 57 people and destroyed forests, roads, and homes. Scientists learned a great deal from the eruption, and it led to improvements in volcano monitoring and emergency warning systems around the world.
It was one of the most famous and destructive volcanic eruptions in modern North American history.
100
What is the name of the Russian author of the epic novel Anna Karenina?
LEO TOLSTOY—The Russian author of the epic novel Anna Karenina was Leo Tolstoy. He is considered one of the greatest writers in world literature.
Born in 1828 into an aristocratic Russian family, Tolstoy became famous for writing large, deeply philosophical novels that explored human emotions, morality, society, religion, and family life. His two most celebrated works are War and Peace and Anna Karenina.
100
Which royal abdicated the British throne in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson?
EDWARD VIII—The royal who abdicated the British throne in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson was Edward VIII. He became King of the United Kingdom, but his reign lasted less than a year. He wished to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee, which was not acceptable at the time to the British government, the Church of England, or the royal establishment. Because he refused to give up the relationship, Edward chose to abdicate the throne at the end of that year. He made a famous radio speech explaining that he could not carry out his duties as king without the woman he loved.
100
What tiny Arctic island made international news after a friendly "whiskey war” between Canada and Denmark finally ended in 2022?
HANS ISLAND - Hans Island is a small, rocky, uninhabited island located between Canada’s Nunavut territory and Greenland, which belongs to Denmark. The island is named after Hans Hendrik, a Greenlandic Arctic explorer and guide. The playful “Whisky War” began in the 1980s when Canadian and Danish patrols each visited the island, raised their own flag, and left behind a bottle of liquor—usually Canadian whisky or Danish schnapps — along with humorous notes claiming the island for their country.
200
What famous Canadian company, founded in 1786, is considered Canada's second-oldest company after the Hudson's Bay Company?
MOLSON - Molson was founded in Montreal by John Molson in 1786, making it one of Canada’s oldest surviving companies. Hudson's Bay Company was founded in 1670, more than 100 years before Molson. Originally known simply as “The Bay,” it began as a fur trading company and played a major role in the exploration and development of Canada. Hudson's Bay Company ceased operating its traditional department stores in June of 2025 after years of financial struggles and a shift in consumers' shopping habits toward online and discount retail.
200
What significant first by a woman happened on May 20, 1932?
AMELIA EARHART - On May 20, 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She flew alone from Newfoundland in Canada toward Europe in a small red airplane called a Lockheed Vega. Although she originally planned to land in Paris, difficult weather, strong winds, and mechanical problems forced her to land in a field in Ireland after nearly 15 hours of flying.
200
Which sea creature has three hearts, blue blood, and the ability to change color to hide from predators?
OCTOPUS - The octopus is a highly intelligent ocean animal. It has three hearts—two pump blood to the gills to pick up oxygen, and one pumps blood to the rest of the body. Its blood is blue because it contains a copper-based protein called hemocyanin. It is also a master of disguise. The octopus can instantly change its color and even the texture of its skin to match rocks, coral, or sand, helping it hide from predators or sneak up on prey.
200
Which king built the Palace of Versailles into the grand symbol of royal power?
LOUIS XIV - It was Louis XIV who transformed the Palace of Versailles into a grand symbol of royal power. Louis XIV, known as the “Sun King,” ruled France from 1643 to 1715. He greatly expanded a small hunting lodge at Versailles into a massive palace complex filled with grand halls, elaborate gardens, fountains, and luxurious apartments. Today, Versailles remains one of the most famous and visited palaces in the world, representing the height of royal luxury and political control in 17th-century Europe.
200
What is the name of Canada's northernmost permanently inhabited community?
ALERT, NUNAVUT - Canada’s northernmost permanently inhabited place is Alert, located on the very tip of Ellesmere Island in the high Arctic.
Alert is not a traditional town with families, shops, or schools. Instead, it is a small military and research station that operates year-round.
Facts:
Months of complete darkness in winter
Temperatures that can drop below –40°C
Very limited vegetation and wildlife
Isolation—no roads connect it to the rest of Canada
300
What is Timmy?
HUMPBACK WHALE—Timmy is a young humpback whale that wandered into shallow Baltic Sea waters near Germany and became repeatedly stranded. After weeks of concern and a major rescue effort involving a barge transport, he was guided back toward the North Sea in early May 2026. The story drew worldwide attention as a hopeful attempt to give a lost whale a second chance at returning to the open ocean. Timmy the humpback whale did not survive.
300
What did Christopher Columbus "discover" on May 4, 1494?
JAMAICA - On May 4, 1494, Christopher Columbus arrived at and claimed the island of Jamaica for Spain during his second voyage to the Americas.
At the time, Columbus believed he had reached islands near Asia, not a completely different part of the world. Today, historians often place the word “discover” in quotation marks because Jamaica was already inhabited by Indigenous Taíno people long before Columbus arrived. So while Columbus introduced the island to Europeans, he did not truly “discover” it. Jamaica later became an important Spanish colony and, afterward, a British colony before gaining independence in 1962.
300
Which nut is actually a seed and grows on the outside of its fruit?
CASHEW - The cashew is actually a seed, not a true nut in the botanical sense.
The tree produces a fleshy, pear-shaped structure called a “cashew apple.”
Attached to the bottom of the cashew apple is a hard shell shaped like a curved kidney bean.
Inside that shell is the edible cashew seed we eat.
So the cashew seed grows outside the fleshy part rather than inside it, which is very unusual in the plant world.
300
Which powerful female ruler expanded and modernized the Russian Empire in the 18th century?
CATHERINE THE GREAT—Catherine the Great was one of Russia’s most influential rulers. She came to power in 1762 and ruled for over 30 years. During her reign, she expanded Russia’s territory, strengthened its military, and introduced ideas from the Enlightenment to improve education, law, and government. She helped turn Russia into one of the major powers of Europe.
300
What Canadian Arctic territory has Yellowknife as its capital
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES—The Northwest Territories is one of Canada’s most dramatic northern regions, stretching deep into the Arctic. It is especially famous for its clear night skies, making Yellowknife a world-renowned destination for viewing the northern lights. The territory is also rich in Indigenous cultures and traditions that have been rooted in the land for thousands of years, alongside historic gold rush heritage that helped shape the capital city.
400
What is the name of the world's most prestigious film gathering held since 1946?
CANNES FILM FESTIVAL - The Canes Film Festival is the world's most prestigious and publicized film gathering, held annually in Cannes, France, featuring premier screenings of new international films across genres. It is an invite-only, highly exclusive event primarily for film industry professionals, journalists, and accredited filmmakers. One of the first winners at the 1946 Festival was "The Lost Weekend" directed by Billy Wilder.
400
What burst into flames at 7:20pm on May 6, 1937?
HINDENBURG - On May 6, 1937, the German airship LZ 129 Hindenburg burst into flames while attempting to land in Lakehurst. The Hindenburg was a giant passenger airship, often called a zeppelin, used to carry people across the Atlantic Ocean in luxury. It was filled with hydrogen gas, which is highly flammable. As the airship prepared to land after a flight from Germany, it suddenly caught fire and was destroyed within a minute. Of the 97 people on board, 36 died.
The disaster became one of the most famous tragedies in aviation history.
400
Name an animal that can sleep for up to three years.
SNAIL - YES, snails can sleep for up to three years when they hibernate in response to hot and dry climates. Snails need moisture to survive: so if the weather is not cooperating, they can actually sleep up to three years. Snails can live anywhere between 3 and 7 years in the wild and to 10 years in captivity
Snails do have many uses, food (protein), medicine, cosmetics, and environmental indicators.
400
Which famous Egyptian queen formed alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony?
CLEOPATRA - Cleopatra VII ruled Egypt during a very turbulent time when the Roman Republic was expanding its power across the Mediterranean. She was known for her intelligence and political skill, and she formed important alliances with powerful Roman leaders Julius Caesar and Mark Antony to help protect her kingdom. Despite her efforts, Egypt eventually became part of the Roman Empire after her death.
400
What bird is famous for undertaking the longest migration of any animal on Earth?
ARCTIC TERN - The Arctic tern is famous for its extraordinary migration. Each year, it travels from the Antarctic, where it spends the northern winter, all the way to the Arctic to breed during the northern summer. This round-trip journey can cover more than 70,000 kilometers annually—the longest known migration of any animal on Earth—allowing it to experience two summers every year.
500
What is the name of the speech that officially opens Canada’s Parliament?
THE KING'S SPEECH—The speech that officially opens Canada’s Parliament is called the Speech from the Throne, also known today as the King’s Speech. The King’s Speech matters to Canada because it officially opens Parliament and outlines the Canadian government’s plans, priorities, and proposed laws for the coming session. Although the speech is connected to the monarchy, it is actually written by Canada’s elected government and reflects what the prime minister and cabinet intend to focus on.
500
Who did U.S. Special Forces kill on May 2, 2011?
OSAMA BIN LADEN - On May 2, 2011, U.S. Special Forces killed Osama bin Laden in a raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Bin Laden was the leader of the extremist organization al-Qaeda, which was responsible for planning the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. The event was a major moment in modern world history, marking the culmination of a nearly 10-year international effort to find him after the 9/11 attacks.
500
What spice comes from the bark of a tree?
CINNAMON - Cinnamon, the spice, comes from the bark of a tree. Cinnamon is made by peeling the inner bark from trees in the Cinnamomum family. After the bark is removed, it dries and naturally curls into the familiar cinnamon sticks, also called “quills.” People have used cinnamon for thousands of years in cooking, perfumes, medicine, and even in ancient religious ceremonies.
500
Which British queen’s long reign gave its name to an entire era known for industry, empire expansion, and social change?
QUEEN VICTORIA - Queen Victoria ruled from 1837 to 1901, and her reign became known as the Victorian Era—a time of major industrial growth, scientific progress, and expansion of the British Empire. It was one of the most influential periods in British history.
For comparison, another long-reigning British monarch was Elizabeth II, who ruled for 70 years in the modern era, overseeing major social and technological change in the 20th and 21st centuries.
500
How many islands does the Canadian Arctic Archipelago consist of?
THIRTYSIXTHOUSANDFIVEHUNDREDAND SIXTYTHREE - 36,563 ISLANDS - Located north of mainland Canada, the islands are separated by channels that connect. The Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Northwest Passage. The group of islands cover approximately 1.4 million km and includes 94 major islands. It is the world's second largest high Arctic land area after Greenland.