Play the Slate News Quiz


At the end of a week when "Gangnam Style" dethroned Justin Bieber's "Baby" as the most-watched YouTube video of all time, we present another wildly popular Internet tradition: the Slate News Quiz. In fact, I'd like to get this week's quiz up to 803,761,000 hits as well, so please tell your friends.

Question 1 of 12

On Wednesday, the White House rolled out a new hashtag asking supporters to take to Twitter in support of what?

The hashtag #My2K refers to the $2,000 tax hike an average middle-class family will experience should all the Bush-era tax cuts expire as part of the "fiscal cliff" at the end of the year.

Question 2 of 12

What can a tiny jellyfish called Turritopsis dohrnii do that earned it a 6,500-word profile in the New York Times Magazine this week?

The so-called "Benjamin Button jellyfish" can transform itself back into a polyp and is thought to be potentially immortal.

Question 3 of 12

Mexican president Felipe Calder?n called a news conference last week to announce his plan to remove what two words from Mexico's official name?

The country is officially the Estados Unidos Mexicanos. "Mexico doesn't need a name that emulates another country and that no one uses on a daily basis," said Calder?n.

Question 4 of 12

According to new government statistics released a week ago, what country has seen a skyrocketing suicide rate, with a 50 percent increase in attempts over the past three years?

Before its economic crisis began, Greece had the lowest suicide rate in the European Union.

Question 5 of 12

What surprising fate has befallen Sandy Island, in the Coral Sea between Australia and New Caledonia?

An Australian science ship has sailed right through where Sandy Island was supposed to be. The island is now believed to be a cartographic error that's remained on maps for 140 years.

Question 6 of 12

Where were confidential Long Island police documents?including a Mitt Romney motorcade route?discovered last week?

Question 7 of 12

Who went on strike Wednesday in solidarity with the protestors in Tahrir Square?

The judges went on strike in protest of President Mohamed Morsi's edict last Thursday giving him near-absolute power.

Question 8 of 12

A new international study of 508 chimps and orangutans has revealed that apes, like many humans, may have what?

Like most humans, the apes studied were found to be happier at the beginning and end of their life than they are in between.

Question 9 of 12

Which of these groups from this week's headlines has the oldest average age?

The Stones, whose 50th anniversary tour kicked off in London last Sunday, are over 68 1/2, on average. The runners-up, the Supreme Court justices, have an average age of just under 67.

Question 10 of 12

There was international concern Tuesday about new activity at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station. What happens at Sohae?

Question 11 of 12

Who told an interviewer this week, "You've had some people discussing impure thoughts on national television"?

Norquist was referring to Republican lawmakers hedging on the no-higher-taxes pledge they signed when elected.

Question 12 of 12

The Taiwanese government has refused to register a new political party supporting free health care for what unusual reason?

The NBA star has not endorsed the fledgling Jeremy Lin Party, which will not be appearing on Taiwanese ballots anytime soon.

You got 8 out of 12 answers correct in 20 minutes 30 seconds.

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=db0149718fe8452f51743a6240fe460d

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