Recent News: January, 17th 2025

The Supreme Court on Jan. 10 grappled over a law that could determine the fate of TikTok in the United States.

Congress enacted the law that would effectively ban the enormously popular social media app for which of the following reasons?

• Fears that teenagers are spending too much time on the app and damaging their mental health

• National security concerns about the company’s ownership

• The need to curtail the many trends that the app has spawned, like the lip sync and face wax challenges

As TikTok faces a potential ban in the U.S. over national security concerns, American users are flocking to another popular Chinese social media app, Xiaohongshu, also known as what?

• Red Note

• Taobao

• QQ

• WeChat

It was a big week for playoff football, in college and the pros. Which of the following was NOT an outcome of the games?

• Ohio State will play Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship.

• Both No. 1 seeds – the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions – were knocked out in the first round of the N.F.L. playoffs.

• Both Washington-Baltimore area teams – the Ravens and the Commanders – advanced to the second round in the N.F.L. playoffs.

What did the trial judge rule at the sentencing hearing for President-elect Donald J. Trump’s New York criminal case on Jan. 10?

• He declared that Mr. Trump would need to perform 100 hours of community service.

• He ordered an “unconditional discharge” of Mr. Trump’s sentence, ending the possibility of jail time.

• He sentenced Mr. Trump to one year in prison.

The five living presidents, pictured above, made a rare simultaneous appearance on Jan. 9 at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral. Who are they?

• Donald J. Trump, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Gerald Ford

• Donald J. Trump, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George Herbert Walker Bush and Ronald Reagan

• Donald J. Trump, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton

The Times published the above graph this week. What does it show?

• After years of holding steady, American vaccination rates against once-common childhood diseases have been dropping.

• U.S. children got sick with whooping cough, polio and measles during the 2023-24 school year.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced victory over deadly childhood diseases.

What big change to its social media platforms did Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, announce on Jan. 7?

• It would discontinue the use of pop-up ads.

• It would end the collection of private user information.

• It would remove the Like button feature.

• It would no longer fact-check content.

Which country artist will perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration?

• Beyoncé

• Carrie Underwood

• Luke Combs

• Shaboozey

The Styles section recently discussed whether the polarizing new footwear pictured above is hideous or genius. What is the unofficial nickname for these shoes?

• “Leakers”

• “Penny Joggers”

• “Silver Slippers”

• “Snoafers”

Perry, a miniature donkey pictured above, died earlier this month at the age of 30. He was the model for which famous animated movie character?

• Donkey in “Shrek”

• Eeyore in “Winnie the Pooh”

• Lampwick in “Pinocchio”