“What in the World? Weekly Quiz" | Feb 1-7, 2021

A global affairs awareness service provided by the
Tennessee World Affairs Council

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Thanks to quiz master Matthew Jackson for this week’s quiz.

LAST WEEK’S QUIZ WINNERS

Jim Shepherd, Nashville, TN
Roger French, Washington, IL
David Hillinck, Huntsville, AL
Austin Travis, Nashville, TN
Jacob Williams, Franklin, TN
Charles Bowers, Nashville, TN
Donald McKenzie, Nashville, TN
Peter R. Sharadin, Blandon, PA

WELL DONE!

Hey! Dozens of quiz takers are on our weekly winners list. You will be eligible for our end of month quiz prize if you become a TNWAC member. Join today to be in the running for the December quiz prize.

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January 2021 – Quiz Prize Winner

Austin Travis of Nashville

The Back Channel: A Memoir of American Diplomacy and the Case for Its Renewal

Ambassador William Burns

February 2021 – Quiz Prize

World in Danger: Germany and Europe in an Uncertain Time

Wolfgang Ischinger

LAST WEEK’S QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What in the World? Quiz – Week of Jan 25-31, 2021

1. Russians took to the streets in over 90 cities on January 23rd braving temperatures as low as -50 degrees below zero, in protest of the jailing of an opposition leader. Over 3,500 were arrested. All of these statements about the protests are true EXCEPT.

A. The Kremlin announced there were only a “few” protesters.
B. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny was released from a Moscow prison.
C. Poland called for more EU sanctions on Russia
D. Putin’s spokesman charged the U.S. Embassy in Moscow with provoking demonstrations.

Correct Response: B. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny was released in Moscow.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55790699

2. President Biden signed a letter on his first day in office to the UN Secretary General signaling America’s rejoining of THIS agreement that bound over 200 countries to global goals combatting an existential threat.

A. The New START Nuclear Threat Reduction Treaty
B. The Paris Climate Accord
C. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear agreement
D. The Muslim Travel Ban

Correct Response: B. The Paris Climate Accord
https://thehill.com/changing-america/sustainability/climate-change/535474-what-rejoining-the-paris-climate-accord-means

3. Joining a list of world leaders who have contracted COVID-19 including Macron, Johnson and Bolsonaro was THIS President of Mexico who announced January 24th he was positive for the virus.

A. Nicolas Maduro
B. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
C. Vicente Fox
D. Enrique Peña Nieto

Correct Response: B. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/25/mexicos-andres-manuel-lopez-obrador-says-he-has-covid-19

4. A twin-bombing attack in Baghdad killed 23 and wounded 100 and is believed to be the work of THIS group that was suppressed by a U.S.-led coalition. The group may have launched the attack, first in three years in Iraq’s capital, to “prove its existence.” [“Daily Chatter” Question of the Week]

A. Iranian Republican Guard Corps
B. Al Qaeda
C. Islamic State
D. Al Nusra

Correct Response: C. Islamic State
“Daily Chatter” Newsletter, January 22, 2021

5. COVID-19 brought about a reduction in demonstrations recorded worldwide by about 70% but campaigns “roared back” according to a USIP report. Despite COVID there was an overall increase of 80% of protest movements in 2020. WHICH is most true? [USIP Question of the Week]

A. Racial injustice and police brutality protests brought 15 million Americans to the streets.
B. Indian farmers blocked highways and railroads to oppose overhauling farm prices.
C. Belarusian protestors launched a campaign demanding ouster of their president over election fraud.
D. All of the above

Correct Response: D. All of the above
https://www.usip.org/publications/2021/01/2021-will-see-more-global-protest-can-it-remain-peaceful

6. The Chinese Foreign Ministry complained about U.S. Navy “freedom of navigation” operations in the South China Sea in areas claimed by Beijing. Parts of the strategic waterway are claimed by numerous nations that border it including all of these nations EXCEPT.

A. Vietnam
B. Myanmar
C. Malaysia
D. Philippines

Correct Response: B. Myanmar
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-usa-security/china-says-u-s-military-in-south-china-sea-not-good-for-peace-idUSKBN29U0P0

7. Tensions between China and THIS country erupted again on January 20th as a patrol crossed the border into the Sikkim region. The “brawl” was said to be a minor incident but was a reminder of friction between these powers evidenced by fighting last June that left 20 soldiers dead.

A. Tibet
B. Mongolia
C. India
D. Pakistan

Correct Response: C. India
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55793112

8. Officials from THIS government denied rumors that the 2020 Olympic Games, rescheduled for this summer, that a decision has been reached to cancel them despite being hard hit with COVID-19.

A. Russia
B. China
C. Japan
D. South Korea

Correct Response: C. Japan
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/01/22/959534841/japan-tries-to-remain-optimistic-as-covid-19-threatens-to-cancel-tokyo-olympics

9. A new report from Leeds University scientists on global ice melting said the melt rate is now 57 percent faster than 30 years ago. They noted that ice loss from THIS source accounted for 22 percent of the annual total although IT accounts for only 1 percent of all global ice sources.

A. Mountain glaciers
B. North Pole ice pack
C. Antarctic floating icebergs
D. None of the above

Correct Response: A. Mountain glaciers
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-ice/earth-is-losing-ice-faster-today-than-in-the-mid-1990s-study-suggests-idUSKBN29U0U0

10. The U.S. State Department issued a statement of “rock solid commitment” for THIS state following several days of provocative flights including 15 warplanes on Friday that entered an air defense zone. The flights, intended to intimidate, are seen as a test of Biden Administration policy in the region.

A. Japan
B. Taiwan
C. South Korea
D. Philippines

Correct Response: B. Taiwan
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55788359

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH

THE MISSION of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world.

THE VISION of the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.