AAJA-LA Trivia Bowl Questions & Answers
ROUND ONE: Current Events and History
1.This movie mogul, the founder of two companies with his brother, was fired on earlier this month from the company he launched with his brother after multiple accusations of sexual misconduct. Name him.
Harvey Weinstein
2. In the wake of the scandal that followed, actress Alyssa Milano was credited with popularizing what hashtag to bring more awareness to the pervasiveness of sexual harassment and assault against women?
#metoo
3. This U.S. soldier, who walked off his base in Afghanistan in 2009, pleaded guilty on Monday to desertion. Name him and give his rank.
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl
4. Sadiq Khan has had to deal with a number of terrorism incidents this year. He is the mayor of what international city?
London
5. Back home, name both the current Senate majority and Senate minority leaders.
Mitch McConnell and Charles (or Chuck) Schumer
6. In the Bill of Rights, the Fifth Amendment assures no double jeopardy while the Sixth Amendment guarantees our right to a fair and speedy trial. What does the Seventh Amendment guarantee?”
Right to trial by jury
7. Northern California’s wildfires have now killed more than 40 people, making the week of October 8 the deadliest week of wildfires in state history. Name three of the six counties that were affected.
Napa, Lake, Sonoma, Mendocino, Butte, Solano
8. This summer, Alex Honnold became the first person to do a free-solo ascent of a 3,000-foot wall at Yosemite, climbing all 3,000 feet without rope. What is the name of the geographic landmark he scaled?
El Capitan
9. In February, Norma McCorvey died at the age of sixty-nine and was saluted for her anti-abortion activism. She was better known by what pseudonym?
Jane Roe
10. Also in February, North Korea was suspected of orchestrating the assassination of Kim Jong Un’s half brother at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia. What was the half brother’s name?
Kim Jong Nam
11. Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel made headlines in August for decrying the growing humanitarian crisis in his home country. Name the country.
Venezuela
12. According to Forbes, the eight richest men in the world are collectively worth a staggering $426 billion. They include the likes of Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Jeff Bezos. Only two of these men are not American. Name one of them.
Carlos Slim or Amancio Ortega
13. On October 4, big-time hedge-fund manager Michael Novogratz joined the board of advisors for a new token-exchange project based on a digital currency similar to Bitcoin. Name it.
Ethereum
14. To celebrate International Women’s Day in March, what nation became the first country in the world to require equal pay for men and women?
Iceland
15. A pop-up museum has proven so popular in LA that its residency has been extended more than five times, It will now staying in the city through December. What is it a museum of?
Ice Cream [The Museum of Ice Cream]
16. Arizona Senator John McCain had a blood clot removed above his left eye earlier this year. When doctors diagnosed him, they found he had a certain type of brain tumor. What is the scientific name for that tumor?
Glioblastoma
17. An untitled 1982 painting of a skull sold for $110.5 million at an auction in May, making it the 6th-most-expensive painting sold at auction. Only 10 other works have ever topped the $110 million mark, putting this artist in league with Francis Bacon and Pablo Picasso. What is the full name of this artist?
Jean-Michel Basquiat
18. Old Ironsides is the world’s oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat. It is more formally known by what name?
USS Constitution
19. A new study says that nearly 1 in 3 adults and 1 in 6 children are obese. What state ranked as the most obese?
West Virginia
20. Real estate tycoon Robert Durst is standing trial for murder, The case is now in the preliminary hearing phase in L.A. Name the crime writer he is accused of killing, and the year he is accused of killing her.
Susan Berman, 2000.
ROUND TWO: Science, Geography and Literature
1. Millions of Americans witnessed a rare coast-to-coast solar eclipse this summer. The lucky ones experienced a few minutes of daytime darkness if they were situated along the path of what?
The path of totality
2. This summer, the Food and Drug Administration approved a cancer treatment drug that uses gene therapy to turn a patient’s own cells into medicine. What is the name of this drug?
Kymriah
3. NASA’s Cassini spacecraft ended its 13-year exploration of Saturn this year by burning itself up in the planet’s atmosphere. The suicide maneuver was intended to prevent the possible contamination of two moons that scientists think could be hospitable to life. Name the two moons.
Titan and Enceladus
4. Cassini wasn’t the only spacecraft to be deliberately crashed into something in the past year. What European Space Agency probe was crashed into a comet known as 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (CHU-RU-MOV YEH-RA-SEE-MENG-KUH)?
Rosetta
5. The Four Corners Monument is the only point in the U.S. shared by four states. Name the capitals of those four states.
Phoenix, Denver, Santa Fe, Salt Lake City
6. In Stephen King’s book-turned-blockbuster-film “It,” a clown named Pennywise feeds off of the fears of children living in what town?
Derry
7. Almost 90 percent of Catalan voters backed independence from Spain this month. Name two of the four provinces in Catalonia.
Barcelona, Girona, Lleido, Tarragona
8. The winner of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature wrote 1989’s “The Remains of the Day,” which became a film starring Anthony Hopkins. What is the full name of the author?
Kazuo Ishiguro
9. Since 2009, a growing number of scientists argue that humans have changed the planet so much that we now live in a distinct geological time period. What is the name they have given this new time period?
The Anthropocene epoch
10. Five years after the Declaration of Independence was signed, the British surrendered on October 19, 1781. Name the town and state in which that happened.
Yorktown, Pennsylvania
11. What did scientists do last New Year’s Eve to keep the official atomic clocks in sync with the rotation of the Earth?
They added a leap second to the last minute of 2016.
12. The young adult novel “Mirror Mirror,” a mystery that deals with bullying and gender identity, was released this month. It is the debut work of a supermodel and actress. Name her.
Cara Delevingne
13. What is the name of the Pulitizer Prize-winning book critic at the New York Times whose resignation in July sent shockwaves through the publishing industry?
Michiko Kakutani
14. What African nation boasts the most pyramids in the world?
Sudan
15. The author of “The Fault in Our Stars” just released his latest novel this month. Name the author and the book title.
John Green, “Turtles All The Way Down”
16. In April, scientists said they had discovered mastodon bones that appeared to have been scavenged by people 115,000 years before humans were thought to have arrived in North America. Where were the bones found?
San Diego
17. Canada, our neighbor to the north, is made up of how many provinces?
10
18. Business and self-help writer Spencer Johnson died in July at the age of 78. He is best known for his 1998 guide to change, featuring two mice, that sold more than 28 million copies. What is the name of that bestseller?
“Who Moved My Cheese?”
19. Super-popular kids’ collectibles Shopkins was created by a company called Moose Toys, which is based in what city and what country?
Melbourne, Australia
20. In February, NASA announced the discovery of a star called Trappist-1 that is orbited by how many Earth-sized planets?
Seven
ROUND THREE: Pop Culture, Arts & Entertainment
1. What actress was named People Magazine’s Most Beautiful Woman in the World in 2017, landing her a record-setting fifth title?
Julia Roberts
2. What Scandinavian city is the setting for the 2017 Tony award winner for Best Play?
Oslo
3. At 14 nominations, “La La Land” tied “Titanic” and what other movie for most Oscar nominations ever?
“All About Eve”
4. Which former Laker hired “Star Wars” composer John Williams to score a short film with the working title “Dear Basketball”?
Kobe Bryant
5. Which original “Hamilton” cast member of Puerto Rican descent used a Twitter storm to challenge President Trump’s management of Hurricane Maria recovery efforts?
Lin-Manuel Miranda
6. What won best musical at the 2017 Tony Awards?
“Dear Evan Hansen”
7. What is the title of the musical coming to L.A. next year that is loosely inspired by the childhood internment camp experience of George Takei?
“Allegiance”
8. Name the presenter who first announced “La La Land” as the 2017 Academy Award winner for best picture?
Faye Dunaway
9. Which filmmaker moved his planned art museum from San Francisco to Chicago before finally settling on Los Angeles?
George Lucas
10. An original painting from which Disneyland attraction sold at auction this year for $172,500?
The Haunted Mansion
11. Which Shakespeare play was staged in New York’s Central Park this summer with a decidedly Trump-like central character?
“Julius Caesar”
12. According to Box Office Mojo, what is, to date, the highest-grossing film of 2017? We’re talking domestic gross here.
“Beauty and the Beast”
13. In February 2017, Adele became only the second woman to win two Grammys for Album of the Year. Who was the first?
Taylor Swift
14. Hulu won five Emmy Awards this year for the hit TV series based on Margaret Atwood’s book “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Name the actress who plays the main character. Spelling counts.
Elisabeth Moss
15. Sofia Coppola became the second woman to win best director at Cannes Film Festival in the festival’s 71-year history. Name the film she won for.
“The Beguiled”
16. Prince Harry is dating Meghan Markle. What TV show did she allegedly quit amid rumors of their engagement?
“Suits”
17. NBC’s “The Voice” is currently airing its 13th season. Name the new judge who was announced for the 14th season.
Kelly Clarkson
18. The founder of Playboy, Hugh Hefner, died at 91 in September. Who did he feature on the cover of the first Playboy in 1953?
Marilyn Monroe
19. Beyonce gave birth to twins this year. What are their names? And who is their big sister?
Rumi and Sir. Blue Ivy
20. Netflix revealed that “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” is the show people binge-watched the fastest on the streaming service. What series was named runner-up?
“Fuller House”
ROUND FOUR: Sports and California
1. The Chargers moved to the Los Angeles area this year. What is the name of the stadium in which they currently play?
StubHub Center
2. California in 2016 raised the age to buy cigarettes from 18 to 21, becoming the second state to do so. What was the first state?
Hawaii
3. With his win at the U.S. Open this year, how many Grand Slam titles does tennis player Rafael Nadal have?
16
4. What clothing store is nearest Donald Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
Forever 21
5. Paris was picked to host the 2024 Olympics. Name one other year the city of light has hosted the Summer Games?
1900 or 1924
6. Name the popular Instagram spot at Calaveras Big Trees State Park that was brought down by a storm early this year.
Pioneer Cabin Tunnel Tree
7. A New York Yankee became the second major leaguer ever to hit at least 40 home runs in his rookie year. What is his name and what is the name of the first player to achieve that mark?
Aaron Judge and Mark McGwire
8. What is the name of the mascot that some activists want removed from Cal State University, Long Beach?
Prospect Pete
9. City officials projected the Batman signal on Los Angeles City Hall in honor of “Batman” actor Adam West, who died this year. What year was City Hall built?
1928
10. Pranksters in 2017 changed the Hollywood sign to read “Hollyweed,” but it happened once before. In what year did “Hollyweed” first appear?
1976
11. Speaking of which, what’s the name for the tri-county area in Northern California region considered the largest cannabis-producing region in the United States?
Emerald Triangle
12. What baseball team broke the American League record for consecutive wins this season?
Cleveland Indians
13. What swear word did Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti use in his speech at the 2014 L.A. Kings victory party at Staples Center?
Fucking
14. What infamous downtown hotel near 7th Street and Main was granted historic-cultural landmark status by the City Council this year?
Hotel Cecil or Stay on Main (former and current name)
15. Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball has two younger brothers who also play basketball. What are their names?
LiAngelo and LaMelo
16. The Wilshire Grand is now the tallest building in Los Angeles, as well as the tallest building west of the Mississippi. What is now the second-tallest building in Los Angeles?
U.S. Bank Tower
17. California named its official state dinosaur this year. What is the taxonomical name of this dinosaur?
Augustynolophus morrisi
18. The Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Cubs in the NL Championship Series in 2016. How many games did the series last?
6
19. Longtime politician Xavier Becerra was picked as California’s Attorney General by Gov. Jerry Brown. In what city did Becerra launch an unsuccessful run for mayor in 2001?
Los Angeles
20. In the 1987 Motley Crue ode to strip clubs, Vince Neil sings of LA establishments, “Girls girls girls, Body Shop and the Marble Arch, girls, girls, girls, BLANK is where I lost my heart.” Fill in the blank.
Tropicana or Tropicana’s
SUDDEN DEATH
1. Groundhog Day is a bizarre American tradition that’s been going on for more than a century. What’s the name of the groundhog, town name included? Spelling counts.
Punxsutawney Phil
2. A 12-year-old ventriloquist won this year’s “America’s Got Talent” competition. What is her name?
Darci Lynne Farmer
3. After leaving Fox News, Megyn Kelly jumped ship to NBC. Who was the first person she interviewed on her NBC premiere?
Vladimir Putin
4. The United States’ first president was George Washington. Who is generally regarded as Britain’s first prime minister?
Robert Walpole
5. The 2017 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine went to a group that studied biological clocks. What animals did they use in their experiments?
Fruit flies. (We will accept “drosophila,” their scientific name.)
6. U.S. Representative Jim Bridenstine of Oklahoma is President Trump’s pick to lead NASA. Where does Bridenstine want to set up a fuel-mining operation?
The moon
7. This year’s Nobel Prize in physics went to three scientists who led an experiment known as LIGO (LEE-GO). What does LIGO look for?
Gravitational waves
8. The Dodgers made a big splash this summer when they acquired a Japanese pitcher from the Texas Rangers to bolster their rotation. Name him.
Yu Darvish
9. What are the two official languages of the country of Pakistan?
Urdu and English
10. The villain known as the Mole Man first appeared in Issue No. 1 of what Marvel comic book series?
The Fantastic Four