Quiz of the week, 29 August – 4 September

1. Farm animal Double Diamond sold for 350 guineas (£367,500) this week, breaking the record for the most expensive of its kind to be sold at auction. What kind of animal was he?

a. Ram,

b. Bull,

c. Stallion,

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d. Boar

2. At least how many subsidised meals were eaten by diners as part of the August “Eat out to Help Out” scheme?

a. 75 million,

b. 80 million,

c. 85 million,

d. 100 million

3. Australia slid into a recession this week after two consecutive quarters of contractions. It had previously held the record for the developed country with the longest period of continued growth. When did it last fall into recession?

a. 1993,

b. 1989,

c. 2008,

d. 1991

4. Which long-ruling world leader announced his resignation this week due to ill health?

a. Kim Jong-Un,

b. Shinzo Abe,

c. Lee Hsien Loong,

d. Prayut Chan-o-cha

5. The government used taxpayers' money to pay whom to promote the NHS Test and Trace service?

a. Nurses,

b. The cast of Downton Abbey,

c. Love Island cast members,

d. Daniel Craig

6. Which East Asian country is facing a growing risk of sovereign default as coronavirus takes a toll on its economy?

a. Laos,

b. Myanmar,

c. Cambodia,

d. Indonesia

7. MacKenzie Scott, philanthropist, author and ex-wife of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, became the wealthiest woman in the world this week, surpassing L’Oreal heiress Françoise Bettencourt Meyers. What is Scott’s net worth?

a. $62.4bn,

b. $66.3bn,

c. $68bn,

d. $56.5bn

8. India reported a record daily rise of Covid-19 cases this Thursday with how many new infections?

a. 79,883,

b. 81, 883,

c. 85, 883,

d. 83,883

9. Swedish oat milk company Oatly was in hot water this week after it was revealed a huge stake was sold to Blackstone, a powerful private equity firm with links to deforestation and headed by Trump donor Stephen Schwarzman. How much was the stake worth?

a. $180m,

b. $200m,

c. $240m,

d. $150m

10. Sandwich-shop chain Pret a Manger is to launch what service this week in an attempt to get customers back in to its shops following a serious sales slump during lockdown?

a. A refer-a-friend scheme,

b. 50% off everything on the menu,

c. A monthly subscription service,

d. A skip-the-queue, contactless, free collection service

Answers

1. a. Ram. A trio of breeders joined forces to pay the highest price ever for a sheep.

2. d. 100 million .

3. d. 1991.

4. b. Shinzo Abe

5. c. Love Island cast members. The social media campaign reached over 7 million people in the government’s latest bid to promote the test and trace service.

6. a. Laos. The country’s foreign exchange reserves have fallen below $1bn, less than its annual debt payments. The ministry of finance has asked China, the country’s biggest creditor, for advice on restructuring.

7. c. $68bn.

8. d. 83,883.

9. b. $200m.

10. c. A monthly subscription service. The offer will allow customers up to five drinks a day every month for £20 per month, covering coffee, tea, hot chocolate, smoothies, and frappés.