ROUND 1: Current events

 

1. Gossip has it that this actor not only managed to win an Oscar at
   the recent awards ceremony, but asked for and got fellow-winner
   Nicole Kidman's phone number afterward. Name him.

A. Adrian Brody 


2. Which Canadian novelist is receiving a $1M advance from 
   Harper-Collins for her new novel, "The Way The Crow Flies", 
   due out in the fall?

A. Anne-Marie MacDonald 
 

3. Which director has signed on for the proposed 2005 remake of 
   King Kong? 

A. Peter Jackson 


4. She said, "He's so caught up in everything. I'd rather be with a
   construction worker than with someone who craves the spotlight
   like that." Who said it, or who did she say it of? You can give
   just first names--it's not like this was a long-term relationship
   or anything. 

A. Zora [Andrich] now-ex of Evan [Marriot], 
   both of "Joe Millionaire" fame 


5. David G. R. Murray was born on March 23, 2003 in Edinburgh. 
   Who is his mum? 

A.  J. K. Rowling 


6. A parking lot at King and John streets, part-owned by Ivan
   Reitman, is slated to contain the new, permanent home of which
   Toronto institution? 

A. Toronto International Film Festival 


7. Who recetly resigned as chairman of the US Defense Policy Board
   after being dogged by conflict-of-interest allegations on account
   of his private dealings with various defense and security
   companies? 

A. Richard Perle 


8. Which Pulitzer-prize winning NBC reporter was fired after giving
   an interview to Iraqi TV in which he expressed doubts about the 
   US war plans? 

A. Peter Arnett 


9. The World Health Organization doctor who first identified the
   outbreak of SARS has himself died of the disease. Name him. 

A. Carlo Urbani 


10. Danny won the Crufts, but is now in danger of being stripped 
    of his title. Why? 

A. it has been alleged that he had facial surgery 
   (accept "a facelift") (Crufts is a dog show; Danny is a Pekingese) 


11. Who is the US soldier who was freed from captivity in Iraq 
    after a rescue raid? 

A. Jessica Lynch 


12. Our correspondent informs us that there was a "majestic unbeaten
    140 off 121 balls" and that "the [winners] skittled the [losers]
    for 234 in 39.2 overs". Who were the winners--of the 2003 World
    Cup of cricket, if you hadn't guessed? 

A. Australia 


13. Which guitar hero has cancelled the North American leg of his
    current tour as the result of a motorcycle accident a few 
    weeks ago? 

A. Mark Knopfler 


14. Which retailing behemoth is Sam The Record Man suing for
    trademark infringement on account of its intention to bring its
    similarly named warehousing concept to Canada in the fall? 

A. Wal-Mart 


15. Now we'll end this season's current events the way we began it,
    with a question about a politician who wishes some of his numbers
    weren't quite so high. In US dollars, and within $US 100, how
    much did BC premier Gordon Campbell have to pay in fines, fees,
    and court costs on account of his conviction in Hawaii for drunk
    driving? 

A. $913 (accept $813 - 1013)