Test your global knowledge on topics like geography, human rights, climate and more. June 2023: News Round-Up What have you learned from News Decoder in June? Test your knowledge now. Start QuizPage 1 of 5 TRUE OR FALSE: Japan is classified as more “democratic” than both the United States and France. True False Page 2 of 5 In 2022, ___ journalists around the world were imprisoned for doing their jobs. 84 241 363 602 Page 3 of 5 When U.S. troops pulled out of this country in August 2021, the Taliban banned women from universities. Afghanistan Iraq Saudi Arabia Lebanon Page 4 of 5 What is fusion energy? Splitting an atom in two to produce energy Combining two lighter atoms to form a new, heavier one Using infrared technology to produce renewable energy Powering machines through solar rays Page 5 of 5 What is fracking? A naturally-occurring process that cleans waterways A term used to describe the migratory pattern of the Atlantic sturgeon A process used to determine the grams per meter of dissolved oxygen in a waterway A process that removes oil and natural gas from rocks May 2023: News Round-Up What have you learned from News Decoder in May? Test your knowledge now. Start QuizPage 1 of 12 In Italy, this is the name of the payment business owners pay in return for protection from and by the Mafia. Pizzo Pizza Addio Ciao Page 2 of 12 True or False: The World Health Organization estimates that an additional 250,000 deaths per year will occur in the next decades as a result of climate change. True False Page 3 of 12 In the United States, who of the following has declared their intention to run for president in 2024? Donald Trump Joe Biden Nikki Haley All of the above Page 4 of 12 Which of the following is the third largest country in Africa? Central African Republic Sudan Chad Nigeria Page 5 of 12 According to Reporters Without Borders, ___ of the 547 media outlets that were operating in Afghanistan before the United States pulled out have since stopped their activities. 129 184 219 402 Page 6 of 12 In India, the ______ Act of 2005 empowers Indians to access information under government control. Freedom of Information Information Liberty Digital Access Right to Information Page 7 of 12 How long is the sun’s typical solar minimum to solar maximum cycle? 5 years 11 years 14 years 21 years Page 8 of 12 ____ is a range of climate technologies that aim to either stop emissions before they leave a factory or to suck carbon directly out of the air. Carbon capture Hydrogen energy Solar power Wind innovation Page 9 of 12 There are approximately 14,000 Afghan refugees living in Italy, only __% of which are women. 5 10 15 20 Page 10 of 12 True or False: Today, more people work in slave conditions than in any other moment in history. True False Page 11 of 12 ___ is the study of nature to solve human problems. Chemistry Biomimicry Physics Engineering Page 12 of 12 Starting in the late 1960s, Italy experienced the ____, during which right and left-wing terrorism killed nearly 300 people. Troubles Propaganda Years Historic Compromise Years of Lead April 2023: News Round-Up What have you learned from News Decoder in April? Test your knowledge now. Start QuizPage 1 of 10 Some protestors in France are calling for the resignation of President _________ as discontent over pension reform mounts. Emmanuel Macron François Holland Charles de Gaulle Nicolas Sarkozy Page 2 of 10 The first Earth Day was celebrated in which year? 1953 1968 1970 1982 Page 3 of 10 Which of the following was Oxford English Dictionary’s word of the year in 2016? Gaslighting Carbon footprint Selfie Post-truth Page 4 of 10 The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that “both exports and imports will be around ___% lower in the long run than if the UK had remained in the EU.” 10 15 20 25 Page 5 of 10 This dog breed is often used to track and kill hares in Spain. Spanish Greyhound Labrador Retriever Beagle Irish Setter Page 6 of 10 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is quoted as saying this country is “the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order, and increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to do it.” Brazil China India Russia Page 7 of 10 According to Medical News Today, ___ of the almost 17 million menstruating females living in poverty in the U.S. are unable to afford essential hygiene products. Two-thirds One-half Three-quarters One-tenth Page 8 of 10 True or False: The bigger and older a tree, the more carbon it will capture. True False Page 9 of 10 The Good Friday Agreement marked a peace between which parties? France and United Kingdom Spain and Republic of Ireland United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland France and Spain Page 10 of 10 Approximately ____ Ukrainians sought refuge in France in 2022. 50,000 115,000 500,000 632,000 March 2023: News Round-Up What have you learned from News Decoder in March? Test your knowledge now. Start QuizPage 1 of 13 If you reside further than ____ away from a grocery store, you live in a food desert. 0.5 mile (0.8 km) 1 mile (1.6 km) 2 miles (3.2 km) 2.5 miles (4 km) Page 2 of 13 In February 2023, the U.S. military downed a Chinese balloon off the coast of this U.S. state. South Carolina Texas California Alaska Page 3 of 13 True or False: When Kenya first established its digital ID system, the country did not have a data protection law. True False Page 4 of 13 True or False: A no-kill shelter always saves 100% of the animals that come through its doors. True False Page 5 of 13 Approximately __% of the Sri Lankan population of 22 million is working abroad sending money back home to support their families. 5 10 15 20 Page 6 of 13 What is one reason China stopped short of sending material support to Russia? China is philosophically against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. China secretly hopes to see Ukraine win the war. China prefers to remain neutral in world conflicts. China fears a furious reaction from the United States. Page 7 of 13 Spinal implants made of this material are resistant to erosion. Titanium Plastic Copper Wood Page 8 of 13 In the United States, 1 in ___ women will have had an abortion before they’re 45 years old. 3 4 5 6 Page 9 of 13 True or False: The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that people can say whatever they want no matter what. True False Page 10 of 13 Why have many French people been out in the streets protesting in recent weeks (Q1 2023)? Proposal to leave the European Union Proposal to lower taxes on the rich Proposal to raise taxes on the rich Proposal to raise the retirement age by two years Page 11 of 13 These two countries are the only in South America that do not recognize the identity of trans people in their laws. Peru and Paraguay Chile and Peru Argentina and Paraguay Brazil and Chile Page 12 of 13 In 2022, the World Bank spent around _____ on climate actions. $10 billion $20 billion $30 billion $40 billion Page 13 of 13 A 2019 study found that ___% of all college students experience significant symptoms of depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions. 20 25 33 41 February 2023: News Round-Up What have you learned from News Decoder in February? Test your knowledge now. Start QuizPage 1 of 10 In what year did the Soviet Union officially collapse? 1984 1988 1991 1993 Page 2 of 10 The Great Barrier Reef is approximately the size of which individual country? Japan United Kingdom Switzerland the Netherlands Page 3 of 10 How many hours of sleep is recommended to teenagers and young adults per night? 5-7 hours 8-10 hours 10-12 hours 12-14 hours Page 4 of 10 According to Franceinfo (January 2023), ___% of boulangeries in France reported that they were at risk of bankruptcy due to rising energy costs. 50 60 70 80 Page 5 of 10 True or False: In Florida (USA), school districts have hired National Guard members as high school teachers in response to teacher shortages. True False Page 6 of 10 Sports psychologist Dr. Christine Jehu believes that ____ is the “freest way to support depression and anxiety.” Drinking water Being in nature Movement Reading books Page 7 of 10 There are different terms for types of light pollution. ____ is described as numbers of different artificial lights bunched together and ____ is defined as light shining where it is not needed or intended. Clutter; light trespass Glare; clutter Light trespass; clutter Skyglow; clutter Page 8 of 10 A 2021 survey found that ___% of youth aged 15-25 believed that people have failed to take care of the planet. 50 71 83 90 Page 9 of 10 In 2008, the question of NATO membership for which two countries came up at a NATO ministerial meeting? Georgia and Ukraine Ukraine and Russia Kosovo and Serbia Belarus and Bulgaria Page 10 of 10 In January 2023, the ______ announced that it would pledge £100 million to address the past wrongs of its historic links with the colonial-era slave trade. Russian Orthodox Church British House of Commons U.S. Congress Church of England January 2023: News Round-Up What have you learned from News Decoder in January? Test your knowledge now. Start QuizPage 1 of 7 Which of the following was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2022? Chinese traditional tea processing Afghan kite fighting U.S. NASCAR racing French macaron making Page 2 of 7 In 2021, what percentage of people living in France were immigrants? 5.8% 10.3% 15.5% 21.2% Page 3 of 7 What was the official date of traditional Orthodox Christmas this past season? December 24 December 25 January 1 January 7 Page 4 of 7 In the United States, public debt is ___% of its GDP (Gross Domestic Product). 32% 58% 115% 200% Page 5 of 7 In 1992, the Dublin Statement declared this natural resource to be a “finite and vulnerable resource.” Oil Water Coal Sand Page 6 of 7 Which of the following countries is NOT a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council? The United States Russia China Germany Page 7 of 7 Ndaga Muntu is the name of the mandatory digital ID system in which country? India Uganda Kenya Serbia Climate Decoder Quiz Consider yourself a climate expert? Take our Climate Decoder Quiz to test your knowledge. Start QuizPage 1 of 8 True or False: Since its launch in 2001, the S&P Global Water Index has outperformed the S&P Global Broad Market Index. True False Page 2 of 8 What is the average temperature on planet Mars? - 200°C - 55°C 60°C 125°C Page 3 of 8 Food systems are estimated to account for as much as ___% of total greenhouse gas emissions. 15 22 34 50 Page 4 of 8 Where was COP27 (United Nations Climate Summit) held in 2022? Geneva Egypt Dubai Scotland Page 5 of 8 Experts generally agree that, in order to prevent catastrophic climate-related risks, the world must stay below a ____ degree Celsius rise in global temperatures compared to pre-industrial levels. 0.5 1.5 2.7 3.1 Page 6 of 8 Vulnerable nations are calling for funds to help them cope with climate-related catastrophes, known as _____ funds. Climate Action Tracker (CAT) Paris Agreement Loss and Damage Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) Page 7 of 8 In 2020, this country pulled out of the 2015 Paris Agreement, before rejoining in 2021. China India Moldova the United States Page 8 of 8 The Great Barrier Reef is roughly the size of which individual country? Japan the United Kingdom the United States Switzerland End-of-year current events quiz News Decoder correspondents help us understand what happens across the globe. Let's test your knowledge from the stories they reported this past year. Start QuizPage 1 of 7 Which country had three prime ministers in just a 4-month period? Switzerland Italy South Africa The United Kingdom Page 2 of 7 In what country did a candidate called the "Tropical Trump" face off against a former metalworker in a presidential election closely watched around the world? Peru Brazil Costa Rica Ecuador Page 3 of 7 What island nation saw inflation surge to more than 30%? Sri Lanka Madagascar Mauritius Cyprus Page 4 of 7 In what Asian country were girls barred from going to school? Afghanistan Nepal Myanmar Uzbekistan Page 5 of 7 What country, outside of Russia, took in the most Ukranian refugees? The United States Ireland Poland Germany Page 6 of 7 Which country hosted the Paralympic Winter Games? Malaysia Russia China South Korea Page 7 of 7 What country produced a movie that won best feature film at the Zanzibar International Film festival and was expected to be nominated for an Oscar? South Africa Nigeria Tunisia Morocco How much do you know about Current Events? Start QuizPage 1 of 10 What does NATO stand for? North American Trade Organization New Alternative To Oil North Atlantic Treaty Organization None of the above Page 2 of 10 Ukraine borders which sea? Caspian Sea Red Sea Black Sea Dead Sea Page 3 of 10 Russia annexed which part of Ukraine in 2014? Crimea Moldova Chechnya Bulgaria Page 4 of 10 Which holiday was celebrated by billions of people around the world on February 1, 2022? Mardi Gras Solstice Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Festival Page 5 of 10 An estimated 1.5 million number of refugees living in Lebanon come from which country? Syria Sudan Yemen Iraq Page 6 of 10 How many children are forced to work around the world? 400,000 children 850,000 children 160 million children 55 million children Page 7 of 10 Who is the president of France? Justin Trudeau Angela Merkel Jean Castex Emmanuel Macron Page 8 of 10 Who said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Nelson Mandela Trevor Noah Albert Einstein Desmond Tutu Page 9 of 10 What is an example of economic sanctions? Trade embargoes Asset freezes Travel bans All of the above Page 10 of 10 Sanctions have been around for thousands of years. Which ancient Greek city imposed a trade embargo on neighboring Megara in 432 B.C? Carthage Naples Alexandria Athens View ResultsEnter your email address to be included in News Decoder quiz contests. Or click below to skip and see your results.Email AddressFirst NameGDPR *Yes, I agree with the privacy policy and terms and conditions.SubmitSkip and continue to results How much do you know about Flags? Start QuizPage 1 of 10 The study of flags is called this. Vexillology Textillology Flagiology Tribology Page 2 of 10 Many flags across the African continent feature a variation of the Pan-African colors. Which is NOT one of those colors? Red Yellow Blue Black Green Page 3 of 10 This country's flag is the only flag in the world with more than four sides. Indonesia Nepal Bhutan Vanuatu Page 4 of 10 Which is the flag of Georgia? Flag1 Flag4 Flag2 Flag5 Page 5 of 10 This country's flag is widely considered to be the oldest in the world, dating to the 13th century A.D. Switzerland Norway Turkey Denmark Page 6 of 10 This country has the newest flag in the world, adopted in August 2017. Libya South Sudan Malawi Mauritania Page 7 of 10 The symbolism of flags extends beyond a nation's borders. In 2019, protestors in this former British colony marched with the UK's Union Jack and the United States' stars and stripes flag in hopes to appeal to emotions overseas. Hong Kong Myanmar Palestine South Africa Page 8 of 10 What country does this flag represent? Germany Romania Austria Belgium Page 9 of 10 What is the rarest color to be seen on a flag? Red White Yellow Purple Page 10 of 10 Ecuador's flag features a large bird stretching its wings to symbolize that country's power, greatness and strength. What is that bird called? Bald eagle Turkey vulture Great albatross Andean condor View ResultsEnter your email address to be included in News Decoder quiz contests. Or click below to skip and see your results.Email AddressFirst NameGDPR *Yes, I agree with the privacy policy and terms and conditions.SubmitSkip and continue to results. How much do you know about Climate Change? Start QuizPage 1 of 10 True or false: Natural disasters caused more human displacement than conflict in 2020. True False Page 2 of 10 More than 30 million people in West Africa rely on the Lake Chad Basin for their agricultural livelihoods. Since the 1960s Lake Chad has shrunk by 90%, exacerbating conflicts over resources in the region and displacing more three million people, with 12.5 million more in need of humanitarian assistance. Which country does NOT border Lake Chad? Niger Cameroon Namibia Chad Page 3 of 10 The United Nations Climate Change Conference — also known as COP26 — is taking place in which city in 2021? Greenwich Edinburgh Geneva Glasgow Page 4 of 10 Sales of these have soared more than 40% to 3 million registrations in 2021, with most auto manufacturers now offering at least one full-battery model and a hybrid version. Electric bicycles Scooters Hoverboards Electric vehicles Page 5 of 10 Climate scientists fear that continuing destruction of the ______ — “the lungs of the world” — could reach a tipping point soon. If 20-25% of the tree cover were hacked down, its capacity to suck in carbon dioxide would collapse. Amazon rainforest Redwood forest Valvidian rainforest Sherwood forest Page 6 of 10 Global warming is wreaking havoc in many countries in Africa, particularly in this bio-diverse nation where more than a million people are struggling to get enough to eat. Mauritania Malawi Madagascar Morocco Page 7 of 10 Space debris — or space junk — constitutes what percentage of all objects in orbit around Earth? 15% 50% 75% 95% Page 8 of 10 Moving our societies towards a "circular economy" can cut emissions and create huge energy savings through measures such as: Ramping up the insulation of buildings Expanding car sharing and car rental programs Innovating plastics recycling technology All of the above Page 9 of 10 In August 2021, a United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report concluded that: We’re on track to exceed critical temperature thresholds in the period 2021-2040 Some climate changes may be irreversible, such as sea-level rise caused by the melting of ice sheets on Greenland and Antarctica There is overwhelming evidence linking climate change to man-made greenhouse gases All of the above Page 10 of 10 COP26 brings together 197 national and institutional participants to take action on climate change. All decisions at the conference are made by: Consensus Majority rules Secret ballot Show of hands View ResultsEnter your email address to be included in News Decoder quiz contests. Or click below to skip and see your results.Email AddressFirst NameGDPR *Yes, I agree with the privacy policy and terms and conditions.SubmitSkip and continue to results. How much do you know about Human Rights? Start QuizPage 1 of 10 Climate change impacts human rights because it can negatively affect people’s rights to: Healthcare Housing Water All of the above Page 2 of 10 Freedom of the media is essential to protecting other human rights because: The news industry provides many millions of jobs Investigative journalists can shine a light on abuses of power Women hold positions of influence in the news industry Social media influencers can boost contributions to charity Page 3 of 10 The World Food Programme has called the situation in this country “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis”: Syria South Sudan Ethiopia Yemen Page 4 of 10 The right of all people to vote in elections is one of the most fundamental human rights. Election observers: Monitor voting and report instances of suspicious practices Prevent electoral fraud by arresting offenders Are barred from visiting polling stations ahead of a vote Keep their reports secret to prevent undermining the system Page 5 of 10 The U.S. Civil Rights movement: Started with the Black Lives Matter Movement in 2020 Led to the revolt of white settlers against Great Britain and to the American Revolution Urged the segregation of schools to ensure equal educational opportunities Resulted in a federal judiciary ruling allowing interracial marriages Page 6 of 10 Healthcare is a human right. COVID-19 exposed flaws in global healthcare in part because: Many more people were vaccinated early on in rich countries than in poorer nations The WHO’s headquarters are in Switzerland It was difficult to wear a mask in tropical climates Testing was widely available Page 7 of 10 While in power in Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001, the Taliban: Forbade women to work outside the home Banned television and music Prohibited women from wearing white socks All of the above Page 8 of 10 Which country had colonized about 85% of the world by the start of World War One? Germany France United Kingdom United States Page 9 of 10 Which country ranked highest in The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2020 Democracy Index? Norway New Zealand Canada Iceland Page 10 of 10 The Gini coefficient measures inequality in the distribution of income and wealth. Which of these countries had the highest Gini coefficient — meaning the highest level of inequality — in 2020? Slovak Republic Greece Romania United States View ResultsEnter your email address to be included in News Decoder quiz contests. Or click below to skip and see your results.Email AddressFirst NameGDPR *Yes, I agree with the privacy policy and terms and conditions.SubmitSkip and continue to results How much do you know about Geography? Start QuizPage 1 of 10 Which country does not have an internationally recognized border with Afghanistan? China Iran India Pakistan Page 2 of 10 Which country is the biggest by land mass? Canada United States China Russia Page 3 of 10 Which country has the highest mountain in Europe? France Italy Russia Switzerland Page 4 of 10 This country was not part of Yugoslavia. Kosovo Slovakia Slovenia Montenegro Page 5 of 10 The Amazon River does not flow through this country. Ecuador Colombia Argentina Peru Page 6 of 10 Which of these land masses is not a continent? Antarctica Australia/Oceania The Arctic North America Page 7 of 10 From 1971 to 1997, this country — by area, the largest in sub-Saharan Africa — was called Zaire. Zimbabwe Democratic Republic of the Congo Zambia Republic of the Congo Page 8 of 10 In 2017, North Korea launched a ballistic missile over this country, which does not share a land border with the Communist state. Taiwan Japan The Philippines South Korea Page 9 of 10 Most Rohingya refugees from Myanmar have escaped to this neighboring country. Malaysia Bangladesh Thailand China Page 10 of 10 The Kashmir region is administered by three countries. Which country does not administer part of the territory? India Afghanistan China Pakistan View ResultsEnter your email address to be included in News Decoder quiz contests. Or click below to skip and see your results.Email AddressFirst NameGDPR *Yes, I agree with the privacy policy and terms and conditions.SubmitSkip and continue to results Share this:TwitterFacebookLinkedInLike this:Like Loading....