2025 TRIVIA BOWL XXVII QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
ROUND 1: CURRENT EVENTS
1. After mass protests in December 2024, Yoon Suk Yeol was eventually ousted in early 2025 as president of what country? Two word answer required.
2. In February, Google searches for “flared jeans” spiked by 5000 percent following a Super Bowl halftime performance by what rapper?
3. The shooting of Charlie Kirk became a cultural flashpoint for free speech when Disney abruptly pulled the plug on what late night host’s talk show?
4. Of the devastating wildfires in January, which fire originated in the San Gabriel Mountains, primarily affecting Altadena and Pasadena?
5. The 39-year old Chloe Malle is succeeding what woman as the editor of Vogue magazine? This woman served as Vogue’s editor for a generation-defining 37 years.
6. In the 2025 Catholic Church conclave, Robert Prevost was selected to be the next pope. What papal name has he adopted, the XIV of his name?
7. In May, the Trump administration was criticized for accepting a Boeing 747-8 luxury jetliner as a gift from what Middle Eastern country?
8. What Democratic Socialist, the son of filmmaker Mira Nair, pulled off an upset in the Democratic primary race for New York City mayor?
9. A decadent style of chocolate bar filled with kadayif and pistachio-tahini cream has gone viral in the last year. It is named after what Middle Eastern city?
10. Jeff Bezos drew backlash when he took over Venice this June for his wedding to what woman? This woman was onboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket as part of an all-female space crew.
11. Who is the current prime minister of Canada? In March, this Liberal Party member was elected to replace Justin Trudeau.
12. “Gen Z protests”, sparked by an attempted ban on social media platforms, have brought down the government of what small Asian nation? Sushila Karki serves as the country’s interim prime minister.
ROUND 2: POLITICS, LITERATURE & HISTORY
1. In March, Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle what cabinet department, currently headed by Secretary Linda McMahon?
2. What was the former name of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam? Although the city’s name was changed in 1976, locals still widely use the previous name.
3. “Sunrise on the Reaping” by Suzanne Collins is the latest book in what franchise? This 2025 release is told from the perspective of Haymitch Abernathy.
4. The “Four Noble Truths” and the “Eightfold Path” are foundational frameworks in what Eastern religion?
5. “Careless People” is a 2025 memoir written by former Facebook director of public policy Sarah Wynn-Williams. The title takes inspiration from what 1925 American novel, in which the following quote appears: “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy”?
6. Last November, Andy Kim became the first Korean American to be elected to the US Senate. What East Coast state does he represent?
7. In September, the Library of Congress named Chinese American Arthur Sze the 25th person to hold what position?
8. Imran Khan, a former prime minister of Pakistan, was previously a star player in what sport? He is ranked fourth overall in Test history.
9. Over the summer, the Liberal Democratic Party suffered a major electoral defeat. The LDP has been almost continuously in power in what Asian country since 1955?
10. Gavin Newsom’s congressional redistricting plan, also known as the Election Rigging Response Act, will be put before California voters this November as a proposition known by what number?
11. What Southeast Asian country was formerly known as the “Dutch East Indies”, before nationalists declared independence in 1945?
12. What 2025 Kamala Harris memoir details her experiences during the 2024 presidential campaign? The memoir is titled after the number of days Harris spent on the campaign trail.
ROUND 3: 2025 POP CULTURE
1. What HBO Max series, which follows the medical staff at an emergency room in Pennsylvania, won this year’s Emmy award for Best Drama Series?
2. The CEO and head of HR of the tech company Astronomer were caught having an affair during a concert held by what band?
3. What line of collectible toys, designed by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, has become a coveted item released by Chinese retailer Pop Mart? Correct spelling required.
4. While the girl group in KPOP Demon Hunters is called Huntr/x (HUNT-TREX), what is the name of the demon boy band?
5. The box office hit Sinners shed light on the history of Chinese American grocers in which US state, where the movie is set?
6. What company had its wings clipped after it ran a controversial series of ads with the tag “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”?
7. What Amazon Prime Video television series, based on a trilogy of young adult novels by Jenny Han, follows Belly’s love triangle with brothers Jeremiah and Conrad?
8. Speaking of love triangles, what 2025 Celine Song movie sees Dakota Johnson choosing between ultra-rich Pedro Pascal and ultra-broke Chris Evans?
9. What song by Blackpink’s Rose featuring Bruno Mars won the 2025 VMA for Song of the Year? Kissy face, kissy face, sent to your phone!
10. Chinese Canadian producer Samantha Quan collected an Oscar in March for producing what Best Picture-winning film?
11. Taylor Swift announced her 12th album, The Life of a Showgirl, on what podcast hosted by her fiance Travis Kelce and her future brother-in-law Jason Kelce?
12. What Broadway musical starring Helen J. Shen and Darren Criss as two helper-bots living in Seoul won the 2025 Tony Award for Best Musical?
ROUND 4: SCIENCE, TECH & GEOGRAPHY
1. The 2024 Nobel Prize in what category was controversially awarded to John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey E. Hinton? Critics said their work on machine learning and artificial neural networks was unrelated to the category they won for.
2. While New Delhi may be the capital, what city is the most populous city in India? Please give this city’s CURRENT name.
3. Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs have become famous for their weight loss effects, but they were originally produced to treat what metabolic condition?
4. ChatGPT and Gemini are examples of LLMs. What does LLM stand for?
5. Of the 12 Disney theme parks around the world, the smallest one is located in which Asian city?
6. What AI start-up from China stunned the world when it unveiled its R1 model this January? Co-founder Liang Wenfeng claims the company spent just $5.6 million on its base model, a fraction of the money spent by US companies on equivalent technology.
7. Indian American Vivek Murthy served in what public health role under three administrations, doing so for Obama, Trump, and Biden?
8. The world’s most powerful supercomputer is named after what vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park?
9. In May, infant KJ Muldoon was born with a rare genetic disorder. He became the first person successfully treated using what six-letter gene editing technology?
10. The Irrawady River is the primary river of what Asian nation? Either name of this country will be accepted.
11. What company’s fully autonomous robotaxis, pictured here, launched in Los Angeles in November 2024?
12. What bay in northeastern Vietnam, whose name means “descending dragon,” is a UNESCO World Heritage site? The bay is famous for its limestone karst formations.
ROUND 5: SPORTS & CALIFORNIA LIVING
1. What pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, a three-time National League Cy Young Award winner, announced he will retire at the end of this season?
2. Solvang, CA is famous for paying homage, in both its architecture and culture, to what European country?
3. The San Francisco 49ers play their home games at Levi’s Stadium. In what city is the stadium located, 45 miles south of San Francisco?
4. What restaurant on 6th street in Downtown LA is famous for its French dip sandwich? While this restaurant initially announced its closure this summer, a surge in foot traffic has kept the 117-year old restaurant open.
5. In March, Alysa Liu won the World Championship in what sport, becoming the first American woman to win the world title since Kimmie Meissner in 2006?
6. One of the top 4 most commonly spoken languages in California is what national language of the Philippines? Hint: it’s not “Filipino.”
7. Atthaya Thitikul, the No. 1 golfer on the LPGA tour, and Alex Albon, a Formula One driver for Williams, both represent what Southeast Asian nation?
8. Goliath, Superman, and X2 are all rollercoasters that can be found at what Southern California amusement park?
9. South Korean soccer star Son Heung-min now plays for LAFC. He transferred from what English Premier League team?
10. What Orange County mission was once famous for a yearly migration of cliff swallows? Although the swallows no longer come, the mission still commemorates them each year.
11. What is the team name of the WNBA expansion team in California’s Bay Area, which played its first season this year?
12. The subject of a 2020 documentary, Ted Ngoy was a Cambodian immigrant who became famous for operating a chain of shops selling what food item in Southern California?
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ROUND 1 ANSWERS:
- SOUTH KOREA
- KENDRICK LAMAR
- JIMMY KIMMEL
- EATON FIRE
- ANNA WINTOUR
- LEO
- QATAR
- ZOHRAN MAMDANI
- DUBAI
- LAUREN SANCHEZ
- MARK CARNEY
- NEPAL
ROUND 2 ANSWERS:
- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
- SAIGON
- THE HUNGER GAMES
- BUDDHISM
- THE GREAT GATSBY
- NEW JERSEY
- US POET LAUREATE
- CRICKET
- JAPAN
- PROP 50
- INDONESIA
- 107 DAYS
ROUND 3 ANSWERS:
- THE PITT
- COLDPLAY
- LABUBU
- SAJA BOYS
- MISSISSIPPI
- AMERICAN EAGLE
- THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY
- MATERIALISTS
- APT (PRONOUNCED: “APA-TEU”)
- ANORA
- NEW HEIGHTS
- MAYBE HAPPY ENDING
ROUND 4 ANSWERS:
- PHYSICS
- MUMBAI
- DIABETES
- LARGE LANGUAGE MODEL(S)
- HONG KONG
- DEEPSEEK
- US SURGEON GENERAL
- EL CAPITAN
- CRISPR (PRONOUNCED: CRIPS-ER)
- MYANMAR OR BURMA
- WAYMO
- HA LONG BAY
ROUND 5 ANSWERS:
- CLAYTON KERSHAW
- DENMARK
- SANTA CLARA
- COLE’S FRENCH DIP
- FIGURE SKATING
- TAGALOG
- THAILAND
- SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN (ALSO ACCEPT EITHER “SIX FLAGS” OR “MAGIC MOUNTAIN”
- TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
- MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
- GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES
- DONUTS