The 2018 Allendale Columbia Current Events Test
Covering the Events of 2017 For all Multiple Choice questions write a Large "X" through the letter of the answer on your answer sheet.
Part I: State and Local Events
1. In April, 2017, New York State announced that children in families earning less than $125,000 per year could get A) free health care B) free college tuition at state universities C) free day care D) free private school tuition
2. In late 2017, Rochester sent this company a proposal to become its second headquarters: A) Amazon B) Frito-Lay C) Netflix D) Facebook
3. This local judge was in the news many times during 2017, all stemming from her DWI conviction: A) Cheryl Dinolfo B) Laura Rideout C) Leticia Astacio D) Judge Judy
4. At the end of 2017, this New York Senator was attacked on Twitter by President Trump after calling on him to resign: A) Kirsten Gillibrand B) Chuck Schumer C) Tom Reed D) Louise Slaughter
5. This Rochester mayor won reelection in 2017, earning 60% of the vote: A) Rich Funke B) Lovely Warren C) James Sheppard D) Cheryl Dinolfo
6. In 2017, the New York State Canal Corporation began A ) filling in sections of the canal west of Rochester B) filling the canal with otters C) removing trees from the canal banks D) the process of selling the canal to the Disney Corporation
7. In 2017, unprecedented flooding impacted homeowners near A) Lake Ontario B) the Genesee River in Henrietta C) Canandaigua Lake D) the Sea Breeze water park
8. What gigantic project in the city neared completion in the fall of 2017? A) Filling in the east section of the Inner Loop B) Turning Kodak Tower into a casino C) Uncovering and refilling with water the section of the old Erie Canal at Broad Street D) Rebuilding the flour mills at High Falls
9. In the Allendale Columbia musical The Sound of Music, what was unusual about Becky McQuilkin’s Mother Abbess character? A) She had a pet ferret B) She could not talk C) She wore an eye patch D) She was in a wheelchair
10. This local university found itself in the middle of a sexual misconduct situation involving one of its cognitive science professors: A) Nazareth B) University of Rochester C) St. John Fisher D) SUNY Geneseo
11. In late 2017, this local team announced that it was suspending operations for the upcoming season: A) The Amerks B) The Rhinos C) The Red Wings D) The Knighthawks 12. In the spring of 2017, the barge pictured below was traveling down the Erie Canal through the Rochester area. Where was it headed? A) The Buffalo Zoo B) The Genesee brewery C) Kodak Tower D) Nick Tahou’s
13. This local giant, who died in 2017, worked at Kodak, served as Rochester city manager, established the Sam Patch canal boat service, and was an Allendale Columbia parent and former head of the A/C Board of Trustees: A) Thomas Richard B) Ted Curtis C) Bill Johnson D) Tom Ryan
14. In October, 2017, a man killed eight people in New York City with A) an automatic rifle B) a knife C) a truck D) a bomb
15. In the fall of 2017, this HAC team won its third straight sectional title and finished sixth in New York State: A) Girls Soccer B) Girls Tennis C) Girls Volleyball D) Girls Cross Country Part II: National News
16. The first controversy that the Trump Administration became involved in concerned A) the size of the crowd at his inauguration B) the attempt to repeal Obamacare C) tax reform D) an infrastructure bill
17. What is the name of President Trump’s first National Security Advisor, who pleaded guilty to lying to the F.B.I. in November, 2017? A) Ted Cruz B) Paul Manafort C) Jared Kushner D) Michael Flynn
18. In October, 2017, the Boy Scouts of America announced that A) they are disbanding B) they are going to admit girls C) they are going to invite President Trump to speak at their jamboree every year D) they are adopting a new “everybody gets the Eagle rank” policy
19. What is the acronym for the program that shields from deportation nearly 800,000 young immigrants living in the country illegally after being brought to the United States as minors? A) DACA B) DAFB C) ROTC D) DMV
20. This item was the top toy searched for on Google in 2017: A) Fidget Spinner B) Dusty the Super Duper Garbage Truck C) Mini Helicopter Drone D) Disney Pixar Coco Guitar
21. According to Congressional hearings held in the fall of 2017, what social media site was used by Russia in an attempt to influence the 2016 presidential election? A) Facebook B) Google C) Twitter D) All of the above
22. In one of the most exciting World Series ever, what major league baseball team not only won the franchise its first World Series title, but also gave its flood-recovering city a much-needed reason to celebrate? A. Miami Marlins B. Texas Rangers C. Houston Astros D. Los Angeles Dodgers
23. With a “thumbs down” vote from Senator John McCain in July, 2017, the Senate killed A) the attempt to repeal Obamacare B) the project to build a wall on the Mexican border C) Social Security D) the federal college tuition assistance Pell Grant program
24. On February 1, 2017, a protest at the University of California, Berkeley turned violent. What was the protest about? A) The proposed wall on the Mexican border B) An appearance by Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos C) A proposal to raise tuition by 18% D) The announcement that Justin Bieber was coming to campus
25. What disaster hit southern California in late 2017? A) A series of earthquakes B) A series of power outages C) A series of wildfires D) The announcement that the Dodgers are moving back to Brooklyn
26. In the fall of 2017, this American became engaged to a member of Britain’s royal family: A. Gal Gadot B. Rose McGowan C. Margaret Atwood D. Meghan Markle 27. What group of Americans staged a protest in Washington, D.C. the day after President Trump’s inauguration? A) Muslim immigrants B) African-Americans C) Women D) Democratic civil servants
28. The map below was the path of an event that took place in August, 2017. What was it? A) A march to oppose the Keystone pipeline B) A running race to raise money for U.S. veterans C) A solar eclipse D) A cloud of locusts that destroyed much of the nation’s soybean crop
29. In late 2017, by a vote of 3-2, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to A) put itself out of existence B) end “Net Neutrality” C) end the regulation of telephone service D) take over the U.S. Postal Service
30. Despite her protestations that another artist deserved the accolades, this singer won five Grammy Awards at the 2017 ceremony: A. Adele B. Beyoncé C. Sarah Jarosz D. Ariana Grande
31. On October 1, 2017, the deadliest mass shooting in American history took place in A) Las Vegas B) Chicago C) Sacramento D) Oklahoma City
32. Of the following, who was not accused of sexual harassment or assault in 2017? A) Today Show anchor Matt Lauer B) Senator Al Franken C) Actor Tom Hanks D) Music entrepreneur Russell Simmons
33. What is the name of the Director of the F.B.I. who was fired in May, 2017? A) James Comey B) Robert Mueller C) Michael Flynn D) Christopher Wray 34. What city is pictured in the photo below, taken in August, 2017? B) Tampa B) New Orleans C) Buffalo D) Houston
35. During the finale at the Oscar Awards in February, 2017, the musical La La Land was announced as the Best Picture of 2016, except it wasn’t. Due to a backstage mix-up, the wrong film had been announced. What film actually won Best Picture of 2016? A. Manchester by the Sea B. Arrival C. Zootopia D. Moonlight
36. In June, 2017, an American student named Otto Warmbier returned home in a coma after spending 17 months in a foreign prison. He died a week later. In what nation was he imprisoned? A) Iran B) Iraq C) North Korea D) Yemen
37. What was the most famous hashtag of 2017? A) #photooftheday B) #DumpTrump C) #MeToo D) #CrookedHillary
38. The U.S. economy continued to grow at a healthy rate in 2017, and the year ended with the unemployment rate at A) 2.9% B) 4.1% C) 6.9% D) 10.9%
39. What part of the United States did Hurricane Maria hit, knocking out electricity for millions? A) New England B) The Texas coast C) The Carolinas D) Puerto Rico 40. Who is the man pictured below, who was paroled from prison in July, 2017? A) Harvey Weinstein B) Terry Nichols C) Charles Manson D) O.J. Simpson
41. What NFL team won its fifth Super Bowl title in a first-ever Super Bowl overtime after coming back from being behind 28-9 as late as the fourth quarter? A. Pittsburgh Steelers B. Atlanta Falcons C. New England Patriots D. Cleveland Browns
42. In 2017, this American cultural icon announced that it was ending its existence after 146 years: A) Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus B) Dunkin’ Donuts C) Sears & Roebuck D) the Chicago White Sox
43. In October, 2017, four American Green Beret soldiers were killed in A) Afghanistan B) Nigeria C) Niger D) Syria
44. What is the name of the new Supreme Court justice who was confirmed in 2017? A) John Roberts B) Samuel Alito C) Neil Gorsuch D) Antonin Scalia
45. This White House press secretary resigned in July, 2017: A) Sean Spicer B) Kellyanne Conway C) Sarah Huckabee Sanders D) Michael Flynn 46. What was the January, 2017, protest in the photo about? A) President Trump’s plan to build a wall on the Mexican border B) President Trump’s plan to repeal and replace Obamacare C) President Trump’s executive order banning immigrants from six nations D) President Trump’s infrastructure construction program
47. A bill passed by Congress in March, 2017, promised to do what by 2033? A) Balance the budget B) Put a human on Mars C) Annex Antarctica D) Provide every American family with a driverless car
48. A huge year on Wall Street left the Dow Jones average at what level at the end of 2017? A) A little over 12,000 B) A little over 18,000 C) Close to 25,000 D) A little over 35,000
49. Each of the following individuals died in 2017 except A) rock-n-roller Chuck Berry B) former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger C) former Secretary of State Zbigniew Brzezinski D) actress Mary Tyler Moore
50. In reaction to a statement made by President Trump, approximately how many NFL players kneeled during the national anthem during Week 3 of the NFL season? A. 2 B. 20 C. 200 D. 2000 51. In a big special election upset in December, 2017, the Democratic Senate candidate Doug Jones won the open Senate seat in A) Arkansas B) Michigan C) Georgia D) Alabama
52. The photo below was taken in August, 2017, in A) Oxford, Mississippi B) Charlottesville, Virginia C) Athens, Georgia D) Columbus, Ohio
Significant Quotes of 2017
For Questions 53-56, match the quote to the person who said it:
53. “I think it was great at a time when families were united, even though we had slavery, they cared for one another.”
54. “Sean Spicer, our press secretary, gave alternative facts.”
55. “John Conyers is an icon in our country.”
56. “I think there is blame on both sides.”
A. Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore B. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi C. Presidential advisor Kellyanne Conway D. President Donald Trump Part III: International News
57. This foreign leader was called “short and fat” by Donald Trump in a recent tweet: A) Angela Merkel B) Kim Jong Un C) Vladimir Putin D) Benjamin Netanyahu
58. The photo below was taken at an unsanctioned demonstration in Moscow in the spring of 2017. What were the protestors demonstrating against? A) President Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin B) Government corruption C) The shortage of bread in Moscow food stores D) The announcement that Russia was going to be banned from the 2018 Winter Olympics
59. An independence movement in the Catalan region of this country became violent and was declared invalid after a bloody police crackdown to stop the vote: A) Mexico B) Canada C) Thailand D) Spain
60. The value of this international currency has risen more than 1000% since the beginning of the year: A) the dollar B) bitcoin C) the Euro D) renminbi
61. The spring presidential election in this nation saw the centrist candidate defeat the right wing candidate who, like her famous father, opposed the policy of open immigration: A) Netherlands B) France C) Germany D) Spain 62. In 2017, high-energy cosmic rays helped scientists explore A) the atmosphere of Mars B) the interior of the Great Pyramid C) the bottom of the Pacific Ocean D) the nutritional make-up of the McRib
63. Despite mounting evidence that they attempted to influence the 2016 American presidential election, this nation continues to steadfastly deny the allegations: A) Iran B) China C) Russia D) Syria
64. 22 people were killed at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, in May, 2017 due to A) an earthquake B) a roof collapse C) a terrorist attack D) a fire in the concessions area
65. In September, 2017, the Cassini space probe, a joint mission of NASA and the European Space Agency, ended its 19 year mission when it plunged into the atmosphere of A) Saturn B) Uranus C) Jupiter D) Ahch-To
66. In November, 2017, after 37 years in power, Robert Mugabe resigned as president of A) Nigeria B) Kenya C) Zimbabwe D) Somalia
67. In the event pictured below, which took place on April 22, 2017, over a million people around the globe staged a world-wide A) March for Science B) March for Food C) March for Peace in the Middle East D) March for LGBTQ Rights Part IV: World Leaders in the News. Match these leaders, each of whom was in the news in 2017, to the correct nation.
68. Emmanuel Macron A) Mexico 69. Enrique Peña Nieto B) Germany 70. Benjamin Netanyahu C) Great Britain 71. Theresa May D) Russia 72. Kim Jong Un E) China 73. Shinzo Abe F) Syria 74. Vladimir Putin G) Japan 75. Xi Jinping H) France 76. Bashar al-Assad I) Israel 77. Angela Merkel J) North Korea
Part V: Years Ending in "7": Match the following events to the year in which each took place.
78. President Truman’s Doctrine launches the “containment” strategy of the Cold War 79. The United States wins the battle of Saratoga, convincing France to aid its war of independence 80. Dolly the sheep becomes the first cloned animal 81. Construction of the Parthenon begins in Athens 82. The 14th Amendment, one of the chief accomplishments of the Reconstruction era, is ratified 83. The Japanese invasion of eastern China results in the Nanjing Massacre 84. Martin Luther writes his 95 Theses and begins the Protestant Reformation 85. The United States enters World War I 86. The Beatles release their album Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band 87. The Black Death begins in Europe
A) 447 B.C. D) 1777 G) 1937 J) 1997 B) 1347 E) 1867 H) 1947 C) 1517 F) 1917 I) 1967
Tie-Breaker Question: How many named storms (hurricanes) were there in 2017? (Put your answer in the Tie-Breaker space at the bottom of the answer sheet) Part VI: International Events: Match the nation to the statement that describes it. A. Japan D. Great Britain G. South Korea J. Colombia L. Italy B. Israel E. Germany H. France K. Qatar M. Turkey C. Philippines F. North Korea I. Saudi Arabia
88. Donald Trump’s fulfillment of his pledge to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in this country has caused great international distress.
89. Six Middle East nations cut economic and diplomatic ties with this neighbor, which is slated to be the host of the 2022 World Cup Soccer Championships.
90. The world faces a new threat because this country has now launched missiles capable of reaching the United States and its young leader is unpredictable.
91. In late 2017, this soccer power was eliminated from the World Cup qualifications for the final tournament in Russia in 2018. It will be the first time since 1958 that they will not be a part of the final tournament.
92. The monarch of this country reached her Sapphire Jubilee, marking 65 years on the throne.
93. In 2017, United Nations committee announced the disarmament of the revolutionary organization FARC after decades of civil conflict in this nation.
94. This nation’s President Rodrigo Duterte has been praised by President Trump for the way that he is conducting the war on drugs in his country.
95. ISIS claimed responsibility for a New Year’s day attack on a nightclub that killed 39 people in this nation’s largest city.
96. Women are now allowed to drive by themselves in this country instead of being required to be chauffeured by men.
97. Shohei Ohtani, whose skills as both a pitcher and hitter has led to comparisons with Babe Ruth, will join the Los Angeles Angels this spring. What is his native country?
98. In March, 2017, the female president of this country was removed from office on charges of corruption and abuse of power.
99. In 2017, the Trump Administration withdrew from the climate accord that the U.S. had entered in 2016. The accord was negotiated in the capital city of this nation.
100. In January, 2017, executives of one of the big carmakers in this nation were indicted for manipulating in-car electronics so that vehicles would appear to meet U.S. nitrogen oxide emissions regulations.