2022 World Affairs Council of the Year
Network of Independent World Affairs Councils of America

“What In The World? Weekly Quiz” – Feb 17-23, 2020

Give to support global affairs awareness programs in the community and in your schools

Don’t forget to sign up as a World Affairs Council member (TNWAC.org/join) to be eligible to win the monthly quiz prize.

*** Link to Quiz ***
Keep up with global current events by following the World Affairs Council on Twitter @TNWAC. #TNWACquiz

LAST WEEK’S QUIZ WINNERS

Charles Bowers, Nashville, TN

Allan Ramsaur, Nashville, TN

Yezzie Dospil, Nashville, TN

Jacob Williams, Franklin, TN

Seth Emerson, Knoxville, TN

Pete Griffin, Nashville, TN

Jennifer Gustafson, Brentwood, TN

Sam Horner, Nashville, TN

If you’re a weekly winner you’ll be entered for the monthly prize drawing but you must be a TNWAC member to win.  TNWAC.org/join

Volunteers make the World (Affairs Council) go round!


FEBRUARY 2020 MONTHLY QUIZ PRIZE

The Silk Roads: A New History of the World

by Peter Frankopan

From Amazon

Far more than a history of the Silk Roads, this book is truly a revelatory new history of the world, promising to destabilize notions of where we come from and where we are headed next. From the Middle East and its political instability to China and its economic rise, the vast region stretching eastward from the Balkans across the steppe and South Asia has been thrust into the global spotlight in recent years. Frankopan teaches us that to understand what is at stake for the cities and nations built on these intricate trade routes, we must first understand their astounding pasts.

Frankopan realigns our understanding of the world, pointing us eastward. It was on the Silk Roads that East and West first encountered each other through trade and conquest, leading to the spread of ideas, cultures and religions. From the rise and fall of empires to the spread of Buddhism and the advent of Christianity and Islam, right up to the great wars of the twentieth century—this book shows how the fate of the West has always been inextricably linked to the East.


To get in on the quiz make sure you’re getting TNWAC emails (here’s the free subscription link: http://eepurl.com/gt6dn) and make sure you’re following @TNWAC on Twitter.

We’ll post the answers and the names of the winner(s) in next week’s quiz.

Here’s last week’s questions and answers:

WHAT IN THE WORLD QUIZ

WEEK OF FEB 10-16, 2020

1. China’s annual national holiday stand down ended on Monday after a ten day extension and hundreds of millions of workers would normally be returning to factories and offices. Instead anxiety over the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic resulted in a trickle of people heading to jobs. The national holiday was an observance of THIS.

A. Chinese Communist Party Anniversary
B. International Workers Day
C. People’s Republic of China Independence Anniversary
D. Lunar New Year

Correct Response: D. Lunar New Year
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health/coronavirus-cases-may-be-tip-of-the-iceberg-outside-china-who-idUSKBN20402G

2. The death toll from the Coronavirus pandemic hit 908 as of Sunday (Feb 10) with over 40,000 infections reported. All of these statements concerning the pandemic are true EXCEPT:

A. The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said, “The detection of a small number of cases may indicate more widespread transmission in other countries; in short, we may only be seeing the tip of the iceberg.”
B. Stocks fell across Europe as the impact to disruptions in the China-centric global supply chain began to be felt in automobile and electronics manufacturers and scores of other industries.
C. The International Maritime Workers Union announced a moratorium on crewing merchant ships bound for China, posing a threat to the country’s massive importation of everything from oil and raw materials to food and building products.
D. Scientists in the United Kingdom issued a warning that the death rate from Coronavirus was about 1% but could be as high as 4% — rates consistent with the major influenza outbreaks of the 20th Century.

Correct Response: C. The International Maritime Workers Union announced a moratorium on crewing merchant ships bound for China, posing a threat to the country’s massive importation of everything from oil and raw materials to food and building products.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health/coronavirus-cases-may-be-tip-of-the-iceberg-outside-china-who-idUSKBN20402G

3. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, head of Germany’s Christian Democrat party, withdrew from consideration of THIS position she was in line to assume.

A. Secretary General of NATO
B. President of the European Commission
C. Chancellor of Germany
D. Chair of the EU-UK Reconciliation Council

Correct Response: C. Chancellor of Germany
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-politics-kramp-karrenbauer/merkel-protegee-kramp-karrenbauer-confirms-she-wont-run-for-chancellor-idUSKBN2041KB

4. THIS country where mass shootings are rare was shocked over the weekend when a soldier went on a shooting spree that left 29 people dead, mostly at a major shopping mall.

A. Thailand
B. Indonesia
C. Taiwan
D. Philippines

Correct Response: A. Thailand
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-shooting/thai-king-grants-royal-funerals-to-mass-shooting-victims-pm-idUSKBN2040M1

5. The political landscape in Ireland was shaken in voting when THIS party, the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), out paced the two major center-right parties on the strength of positions on housing and healthcare. However, the party said it would form a ruling coalition on the condition of calling a referendum for unity with Northern Ireland.

A. Fianna Fáil
B. Sinn Fein
C. Solidarity
D. Workers Party

Correct Response: B. Sinn Fein
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ireland-election/sinn-fein-eyes-government-irish-unity-poll-after-election-surge-idUSKBN2040UF

6. The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, of THIS part of the United Kingdom said preparations were underway for an independence referendum. She said, “We are taking in Scotland the steps required to ensure that a referendum can be held that is legal and legitimate…”

A. Wales
B. Scotland
C. Northern Ireland
D. Gibraltar

Correct Response: B. Scotland
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-scotland-sturgeon/scotland-is-taking-steps-toward-independence-vote-sturgeon-idUSKBN2041NM

7. U.S. envoy David Friedman warned Israel not to begin THIS action in advance of further American coordination even though a Middle East peace plan announced by President Trump last month calls for it.

A. Annexation of land in the West Bank.
B. Stripping Arab Israelis of their citizenship.
C. Building new settlements in the Jordan River Valley.
D. Clearing neighborhoods in East Jerusalem.

Correct Response: A. Annexation of land in the West Bank.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-usa/u-s-warns-israel-against-unilateral-west-bank-moves-idUSKBN2030AA

8. The 2017 hacking of consumer credit bureau Equifax affected almost 150 million Americans, one of the largest data breaches in history according to the U.S. Attorney General. Now, the U.S has charged four military officers from THIS country with the crime.

A. North Korea
B. Russia
C. Iran
D. China

Correct Response: D. China
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51449778

9. For the first time in the 92-year history of the Academy Awards, the Oscars, in Hollywood a non-English language film won best picture. “Parasite” tells the story of two families in THIS city.

A. Tokyo
B. Seoul
C. Beijing
D. Manilla

Correct Response: B. Seoul
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-51440241

10. Chinese bombers flew “encirclement missions” last week against THIS island in an effort to intimidate and reinforce its claims to sovereignty.

A. Senkaku (DIaoju) Island
B. Taiwan
C. Paracel Island
D. Hainan

Correct Response: B. Taiwan
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-china-defence/taiwan-again-scrambles-jets-to-intercept-chinese-planes-tensions-spike-idUSKBN2030AE

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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.

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