The big news quiz of 2021 – do you know your Jackie Weavers from your German leaders?

Illustration: Lalalimola/The Guardian

1. 1 In January, Joe Biden became the second Catholic US president. Who was the first?

   1. Harry S Truman

   2. John F Kennedy

   3. Lyndon B Johnson

2. In January, 22-year-old Amanda Gorman became the youngest poet to read at a presidential inauguration, with which work?

   1. One Today

   2. Praise Song for the Day

   3. The Hill We Climb

3. 

   In January, online retailer Boohoo purchased which British brand and website for just £55m?

   1. Debenhams

   2. John Lewis

   3. Selfridges

4. In February, Jackie Weaver became an overnight star via a Twitter video showing her calm behaviour overseeing a Handforth parish council meeting on which platform?

   1. Skype

   2. Teams

   3. Zoom

5. In February, what was the name of Nasa’s Mars Exploration Program rover that landed on the Martian surface?

   1. Beagle

   2. Curiosity

   3. Perseverance

6. In February, Captain Sir Tom Moore passed away, aged 100. He raised more than £30m for NHS charities by initially walking how many laps of his garden?

   1. 10

   2. 100

   3. 1,000

7. In March, the Ever Given ship blocked the Suez canal. What was its length?

   1. 200 metres

   2. 400 metres

   3. 800 metres

8. 

   In March, which American star turned her Covid vaccination into a public service announcement for the vaccine?

   1. Cyndi Lauper

   2. Dolly Parton

   3. Tina Turner

9. In April, M&S launched legal action against Aldi, claiming they had infringed the trademark of what cake?

   1. Cedric the Caterpillar

   2. Colin the Caterpillar

   3. Cuthbert the Caterpillar

10. 

    In April, Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the Grand National riding which horse?

    1. Minella Times

    2. One For Arthur

    3. Tiger Roll

11. In April, longest-serving royal consort Prince Philip died two months before his 100th birthday. Where was he born?

    1. Denmark

    2. Greece

    3. Scotland

12. In May, how did Bill and Melinda Gates tweet their divorce announcement after 27 years of marriage?

    1. “A conscious uncoupling”

    2. “We no longer believe we can grow together as a couple”

    3. “We entered our relationship with love, and it’s with love we leave it”

13. In May, which cryptocurrency fell 30% after Elon Musk jokingly mentioned buying it as a Mother’s Day gift during his debut on Saturday Night Live?

    1. Bitcoin

    2. Dogecoin

    3. Litecoin

14. 

    At Euro 2020 in June, Spain took no players from which club for the first time?

    1. Atlético Madrid

    2. Barcelona

    3. Real Madrid

15. In July, US parents were reported as saying their children are acquiring British accents due to what?

    1. Doctor Who

    2. Peppa Pig

    3. The royal family

16. In July’s summer Olympics opening ceremony, who was a Team GB joint flag bearer with rower Mohamed Sbihi?

    1. Hannah Mills

    2. Jade Jones

    3. Laura Kenny

17. In July, Unesco removed its world heritage status from which UK site?

    1. Bath

    2. Liverpool

    3. Stonehenge

18. In July, which broadcaster quit GB News after being suspended for taking the knee in a discussion about racism towards England’s black footballers?

    1. Andrew Neil

    2. Guto Harri

    3. Stephen Dixon

19. 

    In August, who succeeded John Humphrys as Mastermind host?

    1. Clive Myrie

    2. Fiona Bruce

    3. Kirsty Wark

20. In August, what was stuck open for 12 hours due to a “technical failure”?

    1. Channel Tunnel

    2. Thames Barrier

    3. Tower Bridge

21. In August, Geronimo was ordered to be put down by Defra. What was he?

    1. Alpaca

    2. Guanaco

    3. Llama

22. 

    In September, Emma Raducanu became the first qualifier to win a tennis grand slam title, a month after reportedly getting an A* in which A level?

    1. Biology

    2. English

    3. Mathematics

23. In October, what Papers leaked world leaders’ secret offshore accounts?

    1. Panama

    2. Pandora

    3. Paradise

24. In October, Star Trek actor William Shatner became, at 90, the oldest person to go to space. Which British Dame described him as a “fool”?

    1. Helen Mirren

    2. Joan Collins

    3. Judi Dench

25. 

    In October, which pop star claimed to be a millionaire again due to Only Fans subs from “people with foot fetishes”?

    1. Geri Halliwell

    2. Jessie J

    3. Kerry Katona

26. Cop26 took place from 31 October in Glasgow. What does Cop stand for?

    1. Conference of the Parties

    2. Climatology Policy

    3. Conference for Policy

27. In November, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey resigned. What was his first ever tweet?

    1. “Hello world”

    2. “I love twitter”

    3. “Just setting up my twttr”

28. 

    In November, Nobel prize winner Malala Yousafzai married Asser Malik. Malik works for which organisation?

    1. Pakistan Cricket Board

    2. Pakistan International Airlines

    3. United Nations

29. In November, whose first female PM resigned hours after her coalition partner quit, before later being re-elected?

    1. Denmark

    2. Norway

    3. Sweden

30. In December, Olaf Scholz, of which party, became Germany’s chancellor?

    1. Christian Democratic Union

    2. Free Democrats

    3. Social Democratic party

Solutions

1:B, 2:C, 3:A, 4:C, 5:C, 6:B, 7:B, 8:B, 9:B, 10:A, 11:B, 12:B, 13:B, 14:C, 15:B, 16:A, 17:B, 18:B, 19:A, 20:C, 21:A, 22:C, 23:B, 24:B, 25:C, 26:A, 27:C, 28:A, 29:C, 30:C

Scores

1. 29 and above.

2. 28 and above.

3. 27 and above.

4. 26 and above.

5. 25 and above.

6. 24 and above.

7. 23 and above.

8. 22 and above.

9. 21 and above.

10. 20 and above.

11. 19 and above.

12. 18 and above.

13. 17 and above.

14. 16 and above.

15. 15 and above.

16. 14 and above.

17. 13 and above.

18. 12 and above.

19. 11 and above.

20. 10 and above.

21. 9 and above.

22. 8 and above.

23. 7 and above.

24. 6 and above.

25. 5 and above.

26. 4 and above.

27. 3 and above.

28. 2 and above.

29. 0 and above.

30. 1 and above.