ROUND 1: CURRENT EVENTS
1. In July, the anticipated weekend closure of a Los Angeles freeway evolved into a major event. What became the popular apocalyptic nickname for this shutdown?
Carmaggedon
2. Known as the San Diego Freeway, what is the official three-digit designation of this freeway?
The 405
3. In March, one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded struck off-shore of this country. Name it.
Japan
4. Because of the massive movement of earth on the ocean floor, this earthquake triggered giant ocean waves that pounded this country’s coastline and was responsible for much of this disaster’s destruction and loss of life. What is the name of this type of wave?
Tsunami
5. A few weeks after resigning from his post, Apple’s co-founder and CEO died last week due to complications from pancreatic cancer. Name him.
Steve Jobs
6. In August, this financial services company downgraded the sovereign long-term credit rating of the United States from “AAA” to “AA+” Name this agency.
Standard & Poor’s or S&P
7. Following record-setting floods in the Mississippi River earlier this summer, the gates of the Morganza Floodway were opened for only the second time in its history. When opened, what’s the name of the Louisiana basin where these flooding waters are diverted into?
Atchafalaya Basin
8. Under the Affordable Health Care Act, parents can keep a child on their health insurance policy until what age?
26
9. In late September, a fifth celebrity joined the ranks of Twitter users to reach 10 million followers. What is the name of this celebrity?
Kim Kardashian
10. Asian American Law Professor Amy Chua found a firestorm of publicity shortly after an excerpt from her book on her experiences as a mom was published in the Wall Street Journal. What Ivy League School does Chua teach at?
Yale University
11. This main public square in Cairo, Egypt, was the focal point of the Egyptian Revolution that resulted in the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak. What is its name?
Tahrir Square (Liberation Square also acceptable)
12. The News Corp. phone-hacking scandal in Britain came to fever pitch this year when it was discovered that employees of the tabloid the News of the World hacked the cell phone of a girl who went missing in March of 2002, then was found murdered six months later. What was the name of that girl?
Milly Dowler
13. In the apology letter, the CEO of Netflix said the company would split its service and that while instant viewing would still fall under the name ‘Netflix.’… DVD-by-mail rentals would now fall under another name. Then, just this week, he said the company would keep the two services together. What was the name of this service?
Qwikster
14. In truth, Kate Middleton is not a princess. What official titles do William and Kate hold?
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
15. The Nobel Prize committee held a special meeting Oct. 3 when it found out that Ralph Steinman, and awardee, had died three days earlier. The Nobel committee is only supposed to consider living scientists. Saying they were unaware of Steinman’s death, the committee decided to give him a Nobel in good faith. In what field did Steinman win a Nobel prize?
Medicine
16. Seattle college student Amanda Knox was freed from an Italian jail Oct. 3 after her conviction for the 2007 murder of her roommate was dismissed. What was the name of the woman who was killed?
Meredith Kercher
17. At the age of 69, rock legend Paul McCartney was married for the third time last week to a New York business woman. Name her.
Nancy Shevell
18. Earlier this week, the governments of France, Belgium and Luxembourg agreed to nationalize this Belgian bank following a deep plunge in the value of its shares. Name it.
Dexia
19. In the past few weeks, more than 20 people have died across the country due to fruit contaminated with a bacteria. These fruits all came from one farm. Name the fruit, then name the bacteria, then name the state the farm is located in.
Cantaloupes. Listeria. Colorado.
20. In September, a heavily modified p-51 Mustang airplane crashed into the crowds at a Reno air show, killing 11 people including the pilot. What was the name of this destroyed airplane?
The Galloping Ghost
Round 2: MORE CURRENT EVENTS and HISTORY
1. In May, a U.S. special forces team conducted a raid the compound of Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan. What was the code name of this operation?
Neptune Spear.
2. Bin Laden’s body was buried at sea. What U.S. aircraft carrier was this done on?
The U.S.S. Carl Vinson
3. Although the names of the special operations personnel in the Bin Laden raid have not been officially released and likely never will, news reports did name the specially trained tracking dog on the mission. What was the dog’s name?
Cairo
4. Following last month’s repeal of the U.S. military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, this Asian American and former U.S. Army officer, who was discharged in 2009 in violation of the policy, said he plans to re-enlist. Name him.
Dan Choi
5. Last month, a high-ranking Afghan government official working on peace agreements with the Taliban was assassinated in a car bomb explosion. Name him.
Burhanuddin Rabbani
6. President Obama recently awarded the Medal of Honor to a former marine now living in Kentucky for his bravery in saving Americans and Afghans caught in a gunfight. Name him.
Dakota Meyers
7. The international hacker collective known as Anonymous has used masks of Guy Fawkes when appearing in public. What comic book and subsequent movie do these particular masks originate from?
V for Vendetta
8. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial that opened on the national mall last month has not been without controversy. Among the issues was the way a quote from one of his most memorable sermons was paraphrased on the statue.
This sermon was titled the “______ _______ Instinct”. Fill in the two-word phrase
Drum Major
9. Two men were inaugurated as U.S. presidents in the year 1881. Who were they?
James Garfield and Chester A. Arthur
10. In the NATO alphabet, B is Bravo, C is Charlie, and E is Echo. What is the letter F?
Foxtrot
11. What is the name of the Heene son who became dubbed “Balloon Boy” when his family’s helium balloon let loose in the Colorado skies in October 2009?
Falcon
12. This South Carolina military facility was where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. Name it.
Fort Sumter
13. A group of witches is called a coven; a group of priests is called a pontification. What is a group of bishops called?
A bench.
14. In the early 90s, what did AAJA-LA use to keep score in Trivia Bowl?
A flip chalkboard (chalkboard okay)
16. Much is made of the seven deadly sins, but what are considered the four cardinal virtues?
Prudence, Justice, Temperance (or Restraint), and Fortitude (or Courage)
17. This New York-born 19th Century photographer shot thousands of images of the Civil War that now are housed in the National Archives. Name him.
Matthew Brady
18. Rock and Roll king Elvis Presley… died August 16, 1977. What is the month, date and year… of his birth?
January 8, 1935
19. J. Howard Miller created the iconic poster now known as “Rosie the Riveter” for the war effort. What is the four-word phrase that Rosie is saying in this famous image.
“We Can Do It!”
20. This village in New York State played an important role in the women’s rights movement of the 19th Century. Name it.
Seneca Falls
Round 3: POP CULTURE, ARTS and ENTERTAINMENT
1. Montae Talbert, a.k.a. M Bone, was shot and killed in his car in May. He was part of a group best known for its hit, “Teach me How to Dougie.” Name this Group:
Cali Swag District
2. In June, Sanrio of Japan and Mercis BV of the Netherlands finally settled a legal feud centered on each company’s bunny rabbit characters. What is the name of the Dutch company’s bunny character?
Miffy
3. Nicole Polizzi, better known as Snooki, is best known for starring in MTV’s hit reality show “Jersey Shore.” Snooki is adopted by Italian-American parents. What country was Snooki born in?
Chile
4. One of the Jersey Shore’s contributions to American pop culture is through its vocabulary. For example, GTL stands for Gym, Tan, Laundry. According to the show, what does FTD stand for?
Fresh to Death (Fresh till Death acceptable)
5. This acclaimed Chinese-American cellist was recently named a 2011 recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor. Name him.
Yo-Yo Ma
6. This Japanese American, born in Washington State in 1912, was the architect who designed New York’s World Trade Center buildings, popularly known as the Twin Towers. Name the architect.
Minoru Yamasaki
7. In the 2001 movie Zoolander, Ben Stiller plays the title character, a male model famous for striking a look with his face that has its own name. What is that look called?
Blue Steel
8. Lady Gaga refers to her adoring fans with a nickname. Name it.
LIttle Monsters. Monsters okay.
9. Edward Hopper’s iconic 1942 painting “Nighthawks” depicts an American diner late at night. Visible above the diner is an ad for a brand of cigars, for only 5 cents. Name this brand.
Phillies.
10. British Grammy winner Amy Winehouse died this year at the same age as musicians Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Brian Jones, Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix. How old were they all when they died?
27
11. One of the best known characters from the Star Wars series is the wookiee Chewbacca. Chewbacca wears only one article of clothing, an over-the-shoulder ammunition belt. What is that article called?
A bandolier
12. In the Simpsons’ neighborhood of Springfield, the Crazy Cat Lady actually has a name. What is that name?
Eleanor Abernathy
13. For all her fame and acclaim, Susan Boyle did not win Britain’s Got Talent. A dance troupe did. What was the name of the dance troupe?
Diversity
14. Name the 5 Jackson brothers who constituted the Jackson 5.
Michael, Marlon, Jermaine, Tito, and Jackie
15. NBC had a big hit this spring with The Voice, a singing competition that featured four celebrity coaches turning their backs to contestants and picking teams based on what they heard. In what country did the original version of this show air?
Holland
16. Ashton Kutcher replaced Charlie Sheen in the CBS comedy Two and a Half Men, playing a brokenhearted Internet billionaire. What is the full name of this character?
Walden Schmidt
17. In July 2011, novelist George R. R. Martin released A Dance With Dragons, the fifth volume in the fantasy series of which Game of Thrones, adapted into a television drama by HBO, is a part. What is the name of this fantasy series?
A Song of Ice and Fire
18. The crab boats featured in the Discovery series Deadliest Catch all begin their seasons departing from the same international port in Unalaska, Alaska. What is the name of it?
Dutch Harbor
19. Hines Ward, a Korean American wide receiver on the Pittsburgh Steelers, found new fans after recently winning Dancing with the Stars. Name his Australian dance partner on the show.
Kym Johnson
20. This well-known graphic designer was best known for using kinetic typography in film title sequences, including “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World,” “Goodfellas,” the orginal “Ocean’s 11,” along several Alfred Hitchcock films. Name him.
Saul Bass
Round 4: SPORTS and CALIFORNIA LIVING
1. Los Angeles Laker Derek Fisher is the head of the NBA Players Union. What college did he go to? Be specific.
University of Arkansas, Little Rock.
2. After three years in the NBA finals and the last two as NBA champs, the Los Angeles Lakers were swept out of the playoffs by this year’s eventual champion. Name the city this team is from
.
Dallas
3. NBA Great Shaquille O’Neal announced earlier this year that he was going to retire. After leaving Los Angeles in 2004, he played for four more NBA teams. In the order he played from first to last, name these four teams by their city name.
Miami, Phoenix, Cleveland and Boston
4. Fill in the blanks on this memorable call of the USA- Brazil Women’s World cup Match, as time was about to expire: “Rapinoe gets a cross in. Oh, can you believe this? Abby Wambach has ___________ the USA’s ________ in this world cup.”
Saved and Life
5. A homerun has been hit out of Dodger Stadium and into the parking lot only four times. Pittsburgh Pirate Willie Stargell did it twice, Mark McGwire did it once as a St. Louis Cardinal. Name the only Dodger to do it.
Mike Piazza.
6. On his way to one of the greatest single seasons in decades, tennis player Novak Djokovic only lost to two players on his way to three Grand Slam titles this year, capped by his win at the U.S. Open in September. Name the two players he lost to.
Roger Federer, and Andy Murray.
7. In response the U.S.-led boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the Soviet Union led a 14-nation boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. One Warsaw Pact-member country did not join the boycott and participated in the Games. Name this country.
Romania
8. The NCAA conference known as the Big 10 expanded to 12 teams and now splits its conference into two divisions. What are the names of these two divisions?
Leaders and Legends
(CALIFORNIA LIVING)
9. What’s is the merging interchange in Orange County where the 5 and the 405 freeways meet popularly known as?
The El Toro Y
10. According to part of the chorus in Sir Mix-a-Lot’s biggest hit, “Baby Got Back,” Mix-A-Lot prefers women who have an L.A. ________ and an Oakland ________. Fill in the blanks.
Face, Booty
11. Following the line, “We’re unforgettable…” pop star Katy Perry’s song “California Gurls” describes a California girl as wearing what kind of bottom and what kind of top?
Daisy Dukes, Bikinis on Top
12. After more than 20 years on public television, California’s Gold host Huell Howser has been to just about every “amazing” part of the Golden State. What U.S. State was Howser born in?
Tennessee
13. According to the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture, this county led all others in the value of its agriculture production in 2009, with a value of more than $5.3 billion. Its main commodities are: Grapes, Almonds, Poultry, Milk, and Tomatoes. Name this county.
Fresno County
14. A bright orange/gold member of the damselfish family is a common sight for scuba divers off California’s coast. Its scientific name is Hypsypops rubicundus. What is this fish commonly known as?
Garibaldi
15. The oldest living tree in North America is a Great Basin bristlecone pine found in California’s Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. What is this tree’s well-known nickname?
Methuselah
16. This U.S. Marine Base is the home to the 1st Marine Infantry Division. Name it.
Camp Pendleton
17. What two words are on California’s state flag?
California Republic
18. California was admitted to the United States in 1850 as the what number state of the union?
31st
19. What is the name of the traditionalist Catholic church in Malibu founded by Mel Gibson?
Holy Family Chapel
20. In 2010, Asian American dance troupe Poreotix won season 5 of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew. What Orange County city do Poreotix hail from?
Westminster, Calif.
Round 5: SCIENCE, GEOGRAPHY, AND LITERATURE
1. Last month, European scientists reported that they observed neutrino particles traveling faster than the speed of what?
Light
2. Following the last space shuttle flight, NASA announced where the four remaining space shuttles will be sent. Los Angeles’s California Science Center will get one. Name the orbiter it will get.
Space Shuttle Endeavour
3. Earlier this summer, Arizona saw several large and intense dust storms. The term used for this is Arabic in origin as these types of storms are common in the Sahara desert and parts of the Middle East. Name this term.
Haboob
4. It takes 12 pentagons to form what solid shape?
A dodecahedron.
(GEOGRAPHY)
5. Juba is the largest city and current capital city of what African country?
South Sudan
6. This Ukrainian city was once home to the Black Sea Fleet of the Soviet Navy. Name it.
Sevastopol
7. The flags of both Australia and New Zealand contain stars that represent a night sky constellation. Name it.
The Southern Cross, or Crux.
8. U.S. Route 66 goes through seven states from Chicago to California. Heading West, What state is after Illinois?
Missouri
9. In order from North to South, name the three Central American countries between Honduras to Colombia
.
Nicauragua, Costa Rica, Panama
10. How many countries currently make up OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries?
Twelve (12)
11. In diners across the United States, if you order pigs in a blanket, you get sausages wrapped in a croissant. What do you get if you order zeppelins in a fog?
Sausages in mashed potatoes.
12. This city became the most recent to join AAJA as a chapter. Name it.
Denver
13. Which U.S. state has the shortest international border with Canada?
Pennsylvania
(LITERATURE)
14. In the Dewey Decimal system of classifying books, what category of books fill the 800-series range?
Literature
15. The title of this great American novel, first published fifty years ago, has become a common phrase for a no-win situation. Name the title.
Catch-22
16. Comic artist Lela Lee describes her Angry Little Asian Girl creation as, “one short-tempered little girl, she gets mad a lot and has the mouth of a sailor. When she’s angry, she’ll give the offending party an earful.” What is the Angry Little Asian girl’s first name?
Kim
17. Name the main protagonist of Suzanne Collins “Hunger Games” Trilogy. First name okay.
Katniss Everdeen
18. What is Eugenia Phelan’s nickname? She was a main character in Kathryn Stockett’s best-selling book, “The Help,” which was made into a film released earlier this year.
Skeeter
19. Meg Murry is the heroine of a well-known 1962 children’s science fiction classic by Madeline L’Engle. Name it:
A Wrinkle in Time
20. What is the name of Don Quixote’s horse?
Rocinante (or Rosinante)
