Advisory News Quiz April 11th - 14th

World leaders expressed outrage after images emerged this week of civilians massacred in which Ukrainian town?

• Bucha

• Kramatorsk

• Kyiv

• Lutsk

• Odesa

Answer explanation

It’s Bucha. After Russian soldiers fled the town, images showed civilian bodies strewn about the streets, some seemingly killed with their hands tied behind their backs. A Times investigation found that some bodies had been there for weeks.

In response to apparent Russian atrocities, the European Union banned imports of what source of energy from Russia?

• Coal

• Grain

• Natural gas

• Solar panels

• Uranium

Answer explanation

It’s coal. Germany, which relies heavily on Russian energy, has resisted calls for a wider ban on Russian fossil fuels.

The Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, making her the third Black justice. Select the two Black justices who preceded her.

• Clarence Thomas

• Harry Blackmun

• Sandra Day O'Connor

• Thurgood Marshall

• Warren Burger

Answer explanation

It’s Marshall, whom the Senate confirmed in 1967, and Thomas, whom it confirmed to replace Marshall in 1991. Jackson, who won confirmation in a 53-47 vote, is the court’s sixth woman — and first Black female justice.

Which two European countries re-elected Putin-friendly leaders this week?

• Belarus

• France

• Hungary

• Israel

• Serbia

Answer explanation

Hungary re-elected Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and Serbia re-elected President Aleksandar Vucic. Both have cozied up to Putin in recent years. In France, which holds the first round of its presidential election on Sunday, the Putin-friendly Marine Le Pen is challenging President Emmanuel Macron.

Which billionaire, known in part for their social media presence, bought a nearly 10 percent stake in Twitter this week?

• Elizabeth Holmes

• Elon Musk

• Kylie Jenner

• Mark Zuckerberg

• Richard Branson

Answer explanation

It’s Elon Musk. The Tesla founder, whose tweets have moved stock and cryptocurrency prices, is now Twitter’s largest shareholder. This article explains how the deal came together.

Employees at a Staten Island warehouse of which company voted to form a union last week?

• Amazon

• Apple

• Johnson & Johnson

• Kellogg

• Sephora

Answer explanation

It’s Amazon, where employees voted to be represented by Amazon Labor Union, the first victory of its kind at the company in the United States. Unlike traditional unions, the Staten Island union drive relied almost entirely on current and former workers rather than professional organizers.

Which two of the following college basketball teams won national championships this month? (Select one men's team and one women’s.)

Mens: KANSAS or NORTH CAROLINA

Womens: SOUTH CAROLINA or UCONN

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

Kansas won the men’s tournament, and South Carolina won the women’s tournament.

Major League Baseball opened its season on Thursday with which of the following rule changes in place?

• A computer will call balls and strikes instead of an umpire.

• Games will be limited to three hours.

• The D.H. rule is abolished, meaning pitchers in both leagues now have to bat.

• The D.H. rule is universal, meaning no pitcher in either league will have to bat.

• The pitcher's mound will be moved back 14 inches.

Answer explanation

The designated hitter is now in both leagues. That means National League pitchers, for the first time, will no longer need to swing a bat.

The Biden administration announced this week that it was extending what pandemic relief program for four additional months?

• A moratorium on federal student loan payments

• A moratorium on New York City rent payments

• Emergency housing aid

• Mandatory vaccinations for all U.S. residents

• Monthly $1,400 stimulus checks

Answer explanation

It’s the student loan relief program. The delay will allow millions of federal student loan borrowers to freeze their payments until Aug. 31.

Which animal was captured on the grounds of the Capitol on Tuesday after biting at least nine people?

• A bat

• A ferret

• A fox

• A raccoon

• A rat

Answer explanation

It was a wild fox. The animal was euthanized after the attacks and tested positive for rabies on Wednesday, according to city health officials.