Quiz of the year

I thought my last post would be the last one of 2020, which is why I finished it with a Christmas greeting. But I had a lone weekend without the need to do thesis work, so I decided not to let a tradition die. Let me explain…

See, every year I since 2010 I’ve made a “quiz of the year”. Thirty-six questions, three for every month. I stopped reading them out at family parties years ago, but I wanted to maintain the sequence, at least to complete the decade, which of course happened last year.

This year, I considered writing one, but since the quiz is about the news, and since one subject has dominated the news this year—one that nobody wants to do a quiz about—I thought 2019 might be a good place to stop. But then I realised that the more interesting thing to do would be to write it as normal, but with an extra challenge: that none of the questions could relate to the pandemic. And since I don’t have any gatherings at which to read it out this year, I thought I’d post it here, for your amusement, and in case it’s useful for any family quizzes (via Zoom or otherwise).

I’ve posted the answers on a separate page. There’s no prize, but, if you have a go, let me know how you did in the comments! Feel free to share it if you like, as well. I should say, for any readers from outwith these isles, that there is a fairly heavy British bias in the subject matter. It’s also fairly hard in places, and sometimes the questions are deliberately a little misleading. But hopefully enough of it is at least guessable.

Here we go, then…

Which Assembly met, on 11th January, for the first time following its election in May 2017?
On 13th January, Buckingham Palace gave assent to a “period of transition”. What transition?
Which notable fantasy cartographer died, aged 95, on 16th January?
On 5th February, who was acquitted of abuse of power?
The Academy Award for Best Picture was given for the first time, on 9^th February, to a film not in the English language. In which language was the film made?
On 29th February, which country made all public transport free at the point of use?
On the next day, 1st March, which rail company was brought under the control of the UK Government, having previously been owned (ultimately) by the Government of Germany?
Which chef, with an apt surname, died on 11th March?
On 23rd March, which US state abolished the death penalty, becoming the 22nd to do so?
Which store chain, that went into administration for the second time on 6^th April, was founded by William Clark in 1778?
Who suspended his presidential campaign on 8th April, leaving Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee?
Which part of the Common Travel Area (roughly speaking, the British Isles) became the last part to legalise same-sex marriage, doing so on 23rd April?
On 6th May, the National Assembly for Wales was renamed to the “Welsh Parliament” in English, and to what in Welsh?
On 28th May, Royal Mail released a collection of stamps to commemorate the 60th anniversary of which television programme, which would take place later in the year?
On 30th May, two men rode a Dragon, setting off from a peninsula in Florida. Where did they arrive the next day?
On 6th June, in a newly designated square in Washington, DC, protestors added three words, “Defund the Police”, to three words painted the previous day by the city council. Which words did the city paint?
On 15th June, a cat was found dead in London, having been killed by a car. He had been the subject of nine books and a film, with another film released later in the year. What was the cat’s name?
On 27th June, Micheál Martin replaced Leo Varadkar in which office, normally known in English by its name in another language?
On 15th July, a statue of Jen Reid by the artist Marc Quinn was placed on a recently-vacated plinth in a British city; it was removed by the council the next day. Which city?
Which American civil rights leader and congressman (who shared a name with a British department store) died on 17th July?
On 30th July, it was announced that which book, once chosen by Alan Carr on Desert Island Discs, would be discontinued?
The actress Laila Morse, who plays Mo Harris in EastEnders, turned 75 on 1st August. She was born one day too late ever to be eligible to receive what from her employer?
On 13th August, Netflix announced that who would be the final Prince Philip in The Crown, replacing Tobias Menzies?
On 27th August, who became the leader of the Liberal Democrats?
On 4th September, which former Australian Prime Minister was controversially appointed to be a trade advisor to the Government of the United Kingdom?
The longest-serving Prime Minister of which country resigned on 16th September, on health grounds?
On 19th September, a 1634 edition of The Two Noble Kinsmen was discovered at the Royal Scots College in Spain. The play is generally considered to have been written by John Fletcher, and which other playwright?
On 1st October, the European Union announced that it had commenced legal action against the United Kingdom over which Bill of Parliament, which would (in amended form) become law in December?
On 11th October, which male tennis player equalled the men’s record for most Grand Slam singles titles, when he won the French Open?
Which islands were declared to be free of land mines on 23rd October, 38 years after the mines were placed?
Dominic Chappell was given a six-year prison sentence on 5th November, having been convicted of tax evasion. Which department store chain did he once briefly and controversially own?
He died on 8th November, having been the long-time host of a game show that is an American institution.
On 15th November, Lewis Hamilton won the Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship for the seventh time. Whose record did he equal by doing so?
Upon what did Nepal and China come to an official agreement on 8th December?
On 14th December, Jesy Nelson announced, citing her mental health, that she was leaving which musical group?
Also on 14th December, the Electoral College of the United States officially cast its votes for President and Vice-President. In 2016, ten electors were considered “faithless”, voting for someone to whom they were not pledged. How many faithless electors were there this year?

Answers are here. Good luck!

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