Elementary/Middle
Division
Current Events
Round 2
2015 - 2016 Local Tournament Questions
1. Sports
With his win at the Belmont Stakes, this race
horse became the first winner of the Triple
Crown since 1978. What was his name?
A. California Chrome
B. Secretariat
C. American Pharoah
D. Go Blue
2. Science/Technology
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and
Prevention has been investigating a measles
outbreak spreading from Disneyland in California to
other western states during 2015. This measles
outbreak has caused a debate over vaccinations
since the CDC declared the USA measles-free in
what year?
A. 2004
B. 2003
C. 2001
D. 2000
3. International News and Politics
On September 24, over 700 Muslim pilgrims
were killed and more than 850 injured in a
stampede on the annual holy journey in Saudi
Arabia. It was the deadliest incident during the
hajj pilgrimage in a quarter-century. In which
city did this tragic event happen?
A. Jerusalem
B. Lourdes
C. Mecca
D. Riyadh
4. National News and Politics
United States officials announced in June that at
least four million federal employees were involved
in a data breach by hackers from a foreign country.
The breach was one of the largest ever of federal
employee data and involved employees past and
present. What country hacked U.S. government
employee data?
A. North Korea
B. Germany
C. China
D. Russia
5. Entertainment
Which HBO TV show won the 2015
Emmy Award for best drama series?
A. Mad Men
B. Doctor Who
C. Modern Family
D. Game of Thrones
6. National News and Politics
After John Boehner retired, this Congressman was
elected by fellow Republicans to succeed Boehner
as Speaker of the House. Who became Speaker of
the House in October 2015?
A. Paul Ryan
B. Rand Paul
C. Nancy Pelosi
D. John Kasich
7. International News & Politics
This Middle Eastern country reached an historic
agreement with the United States, United Kingdom,
France, China, Russia, and Germany, to limit its
ability to produce a nuclear weapon in exchange for
the lifting of crippling economic sanctions. What
country reached this agreement?
A. Iran
B. Iraq
C. Israel
D. North Korea
8. Sports
Which team won their first world series in
30 years in 2015?
A. San Francisco Giants
B. New York Mets
C. Kansas City Royals
D. Chicago Cubs
9. Science/Technology
A team of more than 60 scientists announced
in late 2015 that a major discovery had been
made in a cave in South Africa. What was
found in the cave?
A. Paleolithic paintings
B. a previously unidentified species of
an early human lineage
C. some of the purest water on Earth
D. the "Bigfoot of spiders", a new
species
10. People in the News
On September 9, this person became the
longest-reigning monarch in British history,
surpassing Queen Victoria. Who is this
person?
A. King Henry III
B. Prince Charles
C. Queen Elizabeth I
D. Queen Elizabeth II