Friday, May 20 News Quiz of the Week: Cold War II

Welcome to our weekly current events trivia challenge, the May 20 News Quiz of the Week: Test your knowledge of 2022 current events trivia and the week’s headlines. In world politics: Which countries decided to join Nato? In Television: What’s connecting She-Hulk and The Hulk? And in History: What was the first American fast-food restaurant to open in the Soviet Union? Make sure you know what happened this week. Our weekly news trivia game with the week’s best trivia questions and answers begins when you hit “Start Quiz.”

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News Quiz of the Week (Current Events Trivia) for Friday, May 20, 2022

News Quiz of the Week: 12 General knowledge questions from the past week. No time-limit. How smart are you this weekend?

1 / 12

1. The US is the largest NATO member by population. Which country is the second-largest?

Image: JayCoop (derivative), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Germany.

The UK.

Turkey.

Russia.

The US has a population of an est. 335 million in 2022, making it the largest NATO member. Turkey is the second-largest, with a population of 85.5 million, Germany comes next with a population of 84 million, and the UK is fourth, with a population of 68.5 million. Russia is not a member of NATO.

What’s Turkey’s stand on broadening NATO?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated on May 16, 2022, hours after Stockholm followed Helsinki by confirming it would apply for membership in NATO, that diplomatic delegations from the two countries should not bother coming to Ankara to discuss Turkey’s approval of the move. The Turkish government objected to Finnish and Swedish NATO membership, citing their history of hosting Kurdish militant groups and Sweden’s recent suspension of arms sales to Turkey over Ankara’s military operation in Syria. After weeks of diplomacy, the objection was lifted on June 28, 2022. Turkey said it had “got what it wanted,” including full cooperation in the fight against the Kurdish rebel groups.

2 / 12

2. Which bloc was Sweden a part of during the cold war?

Photo: Fredrik Rubensson from Stockholm, Sweden, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Eastern Bloc.

The Western Bloc.

The European Union.

They kept neutral.

Sweden has avoided military alliances since the end of the Napoleonic Wars and kept its policy of neutrality during World War II and the Cold War. Thus, approximately 70,000 Finnish children were evacuated and placed with families in Sweden during the Second World War, and nearly all of Denmark’s Jewish population.

Is Sweden ending its neutrality?

After being firmly against NATO membership for decades, public opinion in Sweden and Finland shifted following Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine. Sweden decided on May 16, 2022, to seek NATO membership. The country’s governing Social Democratic party endorsed a plan for the country to join the trans-Atlantic alliance one day after Finland’s government announced a similar move.

3 / 12

3. What was the first American fast-food restaurant to open in the Soviet Union?

Photo: Zac Allan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

McDonald’s.

Burger King.

KFC.

Pizza Hut.

Two months after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, McDonald’s opened its doors in Moscow – the first American fast-food restaurant to enter the Soviet Union. 33 years later, on May 16, 2022, McDonald’s confirmed that it is selling its 850 restaurants in Russia, increasing the country’s isolation over its war in Ukraine.

4 / 12

4. Élisabeth Borne became France’s second female prime minister in 2022. Who was the first?

Screenshot: France 24

Élisabeth Guigou.

Yvette Roudy.

Patricia Adam.

Édith Cresson.

Cresson. Screenshot: TV5 Monde

Édith Cresson is the first woman to have held the office of Prime Minister of France. She served from May ’91 to Apr. ’92, and left office due to corruption charges dating from her tenure as European Commissioner for Research, Science and Technology.

Who’s Élisabeth Borne?

On May 16, 2022, Élisabeth Borne, 61, became France’s first female prime minister in 30 years and second in modern French history. A Macron ally, Borne served as minister for transport, environment, and labor during his first term.

5 / 12

5. What do “The Great Replacement” conspiracy theorists in the US believe?

Screenshot: Vice News / HBO

That leftist and Jewish elites are planning to replace the white electorate with non-white immigrants.

That Donald Trump is secretly fighting a "deep state" cabal of satanic pedophiles and cannibals.

That a secret group called the Illuminati has been looking to create a one-world government.

That the top-level US government is actually controlled by shape-shifting reptilian aliens.

The “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory suggests that a powerful cabal of leftist and Jewish politicians and businessmen plan to replace white Americans with masses of indebted immigrants from other ethnic groups. Investigations into the May 14, 2022, mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, are focusing on a 180-page manifesto containing the white nationalist conspiracy theory that is believed to have been written by the gunman Payton Gendron aged 18. Gendron was charged with shooting at about a dozen mostly Black people.

6 / 12

6. What’s the US death toll from COVID-19 as of mid-May 2022?

Photo: Lawrence Jackson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

7 million.

1 million.

500,000.

250,000.

The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 hit 1 million on May 14, 2022 – roughly the number of Americans who died in the Civil War and World War II combined – according to death certificate data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. The U.S. has the highest reported COVID-19 death toll of any country, but we should note that the actual number of deaths in places such as India, Brazil, and Russia is probably much higher than the official figures.

7 / 12

7. Where is the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge?

Screenshot: Jarda Konečný on YouTube

Japan.

India.

Portugal.

The Czech Republic.

Sky Bridge 721, The longest pedestrian suspension bridge, is located in the northeastern part of the Czech Republic near the border with Poland. The 721-meter (2,365-foot) -long bridge, which opened on May 13, 2022, was built at more than 1,100 meters (3,610 feet) above sea level. It connects two ridges of the mountains and hangs up to 95 meters (312 feet) above the valley below. The bridge will be closed for safety if winds reach 135 kph (84 mph). The previous longest pedestrian bridge is in Arouca, Portugal, and is 516 meters (1,693 feet) long.

8 / 12

8. What did Jason Momoa apologize for doing wrong during his visit to The Sistine Chapel?

Photo: Jason Momoa’s Instagram account

Taking pictures.

Using his cell phone.

Not observing absolute silence.

Bringing his dog along.

Screenshot: Jason Momoa via Instagram

“Aquaman” and “Game of Thrones” vet Jason Momoa used his Instagram account on May 14, 2022, to shirtless apologize for taking photos in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel – a series of photographs he uploaded to the social platform on May 9. Momoa, 42, is shooting “Fast X,” the 10th “Fast & Furious” film in Rome.

Is taking pictures forbidden in the Sistine Chapel?

During the visit to the Sistine Chapel, visitors are requested to observe absolute silence. According to the Sistine Chapel rules for visits, taking pictures and filming videos in the Chapel is strictly prohibited. The use of mobile phones is also forbidden. Pets are not allowed. During the visit to the Sistine Chapel, visitors are requested to observe absolute silence.

9 / 12

9. Which country’s representatives performed the first rap song to win the Eurovision Song Contest?

Screenshot: 2022 Eurovision Song Contest

The UK.

Finland.

Ukraine.

France.

“Stefania” by Ukrainian folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra won the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, making it the first song sung entirely in Ukrainian and the first rap song ever to win the competition.

10 / 12

10. What’s connecting She-Hulk and The Hulk?

Screenshot: She-Hulk: Attorney at Law / Marvel Studios / Disney+

They’re cousins.

They’re siblings.

They’re married.

They’re colleagues.

She-Hulk (AKA Jennifer Walters) is the lawyer cousin of The Hulk (AKA Bruce Banner). According to “The Savage She-Hulk #1” comic book published in 1980, she acquired a milder version of the Hulk condition through an emergency transfusion of her cousin’s blood. She-Hulk, portrayed by actress Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), makes her live-action debut in the Disney+ comedy series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, which premiered on Aug. 17, 2022. Watch the first trailer.

11 / 12

11. Can you name these characters?

Screenshot: MultiVersus / Warner Bros. Games

"Scooby" Doo, Cersei Lannister, Iron Man, and Bugs Bunny.

Shaggy, Arya Stark, Batman, and Bugs Bunny.

Fred Jones, Daenerys Targaryen, Spider-Man, and Bugs Bunny.

Fred Flintstone, Lyanna Stark, Thanos, and Bugs Bunny.

Batman, Arya Stark, Shaggy, and Bugs Bunny take on Superman, Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, Tom & Jerry, and the Tasmanian Devil (AKA Taz) in Warner Bros. Games new “MultiVersus,” a free-to-play platform fighter game. One-on-one matches, team-based 2 vs. 2 battles, and a 4-player free-for-all mode will all be part of the game, available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One consoles, as well as PC (via Steam). MultiVersus is scheduled to arrive in July 2022. Originally released May 16, 2022, the trailer features the real Maisie Williams as the voice of Arya Stark. Watch the hilarious trailer.

12 / 12

12. Which Van Gogh painting inspired this Lego set?

Image: Lego

Starry Night Over the Rhône.

The Starry Night.

Café Terrace at Night.

Irises.

Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night inspired a 2,316 three-dimensional piece Lego set released on Lego’s website on June 1, 2022, in cooperation with New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

Challenge your friends to see if any of them can do any better!

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The May 20 News Quiz of the Week Video

We Stand with Ukraine

It seems everybody these days has publicly declared their position on the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine. We stand with Ukraine and its people, fighting against military forces attacking civilians. We salute Ukraine’s heroic battle for democracy as we stand with every nation fighting against tyranny and for human rights. Our empathy extends to the Russian people, Belarusians, and all who suffer under oppressive governments, including soldiers forced to die in the name of their leaders. We also side with the truth, so here’s a quick list of reliable sources on the conflict.

• Breaking News & Live Updates on Russia-Ukraine from AP News.
• Live Updates and Video Coverage of the Russia-Ukraine War on The New York Times.
• Coverage of the Russia-Ukraine crisis by The Guardian.

Sources for the May 20 News Quiz of the Week

Read more on this week’s significant and general-knowledge-worthy current affairs.

• Sweden ends neutrality, joins Finland in seeking NATO berth (AP News)
• Turkey says it will not approve of Sweden and Finland joining Nato (The Guardian)
• Élisabeth Borne becomes France’s first female prime minister in 30 years (The Guardian)
• Explainer: What is ‘The Great Replacement,’ and what are its origins? (Reuters)
• US deaths from COVID hit 1 million, less than 2 1/2 years in (AP News)
• Longest pedestrian suspension bridge opens in Czech resort (AP News)
• Jason Momoa apologizes after taking photos in the Sistine Chapel (CNN)
• Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra wins Eurovision Song Contest 2022! (Eurovision Song Contest)
• New MultiVersus Game Trailer Must Be Seen to Be Believed (gizmodo.com)
• ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Drops First Disney+ Trailer (The Hollywood Reporter)
• All the details not to be missed in Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night (LEGO®)

The May 20 News Quiz of the Week Question List

• What did Jason Momoa apologize for doing wrong during his visit to The Sistine Chapel?

  Photo: Jason Momoa’s Instagram account

  Taking pictures.

  Using his cell phone.

  Not observing absolute silence.

  Bringing his dog along.

  Which country's representatives performed the first rap song to win the Eurovision Song Contest?

  Screenshot: 2022 Eurovision Song Contest

  The UK.

  Finland.

  Ukraine.

  France.

  Which bloc was Sweden a part of during the cold war?

  Photo: Fredrik Rubensson from Stockholm, Sweden, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

  The Eastern Bloc.

  The Western Bloc.

  The European Union.

  They kept neutral.

  What was the first American fast-food restaurant to open in the Soviet Union?

  Photo: Zac Allan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

  McDonald’s.

  Burger King.

  KFC.

  Pizza Hut.

  What’s the US death toll from COVID-19 as of mid-May 2022?

  Photo: Lawrence Jackson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

  7 million.

  1 million.

  500,000.

  250,000.

  Where is the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge?

  Screenshot: Jarda Konečný on YouTube

  Japan.

  India.

  Portugal.

  The Czech Republic.

  What do "The Great Replacement" conspiracy theorists in the US believe?

  Screenshot: Vice News / HBO

  That leftist and Jewish elites are planning to replace the white electorate with non-white immigrants.

  That Donald Trump is secretly fighting a "deep state" cabal of satanic pedophiles and cannibals.

  That a secret group called the Illuminati has been looking to create a one-world government.

  That the top-level US government is actually controlled by shape-shifting reptilian aliens.

  Can you name these characters?

  Screenshot: MultiVersus / Warner Bros. Games

  "Scooby" Doo, Cersei Lannister, Iron Man, and Bugs Bunny.

  Shaggy, Arya Stark, Batman, and Bugs Bunny.

  Fred Jones, Daenerys Targaryen, Spider-Man, and Bugs Bunny.

  Fred Flintstone, Lyanna Stark, Thanos, and Bugs Bunny.

  The US is the largest NATO member by population. Which country is the second-largest?

  Image: JayCoop (derivative), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

  Germany.

  The UK.

  Turkey.

  Russia.

  Élisabeth Borne became France’s second female prime minister in 2022. Who was the first?

  Screenshot: France 24

  Élisabeth Guigou.

  Yvette Roudy.

  Patricia Adam.

  Édith Cresson.

  What's connecting She-Hulk and The Hulk?

  Screenshot: She-Hulk: Attorney at Law / Marvel Studios / Disney+

  They’re cousins.

  They’re siblings.

  They’re married.

  They’re colleagues.

  Which Van Gogh painting inspired this Lego set?

  Image: Lego

  Starry Night Over the Rhône.

  The Starry Night.

  Café Terrace at Night.

  Irises.

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