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Quiz about The Big Story Today Is
Quiz about The Big Story Today Is

The Big Story Today Is... Trivia Quiz


If our dedicated news team, Nessa, Edgar, Wes and Sharon presented these stories at the top of the hour, how many would you recognise?

A multiple-choice quiz by fiachra. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
fiachra
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
187,267
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
2993
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Wes and Nessa are here today (August 1926), to share the nation and the world's grief at the untimely passing of a screen idol. Yet another van of roses has arrived at Campbell's Funeral Home in Manhattan. Thousands brave the August heat to mourn. Who has died? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Ladies and Gentlemen, Sharon talking to you live from Newport (Rhode Island 1968), trying to find words to describe the experience of hearing for the first time 'Alice's Restaurant'. Who recorded this ballad? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. December 9, 2003, Wes here, I hope you can hear me back in the studio, the crowd is ecstatic. 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot' booms from every shop and is sung and whistled everywhere since the victory. What had England won earlier in 2003? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. May 22, 2004, Nessa and Sharon coming to you live from a rain-soaked Madrid. Crowds brave the downpour to be part of a momentous event in Spanish history. What was happening? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. 29 September, 1979. Edgar goes to Phoenix Park, Dublin. Ladies and gentlemen, there must be a million people young and old, packed into this park. The country is at a standstill. Why did this happen? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. December 2001, Nessa coming to you live from the capital city, where hundreds have gathered to celebrate the arrival of a new baby girl for Crown Princess Masako and Crown Prince Naruhito. Where are we? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. June 13, 1966. Wes and Sharon are live from outside the Supreme Court building awaiting what will be a very controversial decision in the Miranda v.------ case. Which US state was involved? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Sharon reporting today January 30, 1948 from New Delhi. As you can see I am visibly in tears one of the greatest statesmen has been assassinated on his way to prayers. Who has been killed? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. March 24, 1980 is a date that will not easily be forgotten here. Fear, panic, anger, incredulity describing the many emotions etched on faces trying to come to terms with the assassination of Oscar Romero while he was saying Mass at the Divina Providencia Cancer Hospital. Where was Edgar? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Wes reporting to you live from Beirut (1990), where we are awaiting our first glimpse of a hostage held by Islamic extremists for 1,597 days. Who was Wes about to see? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Wes and Nessa are here today (August 1926), to share the nation and the world's grief at the untimely passing of a screen idol. Yet another van of roses has arrived at Campbell's Funeral Home in Manhattan. Thousands brave the August heat to mourn. Who has died?

Answer: Rudolph Valentino

Valentino became a living legend after his performance in the silent movie 'The Sheik'. Estimates of mourners waiting to see the coffin vary from 40,000 to 100,000. His girlfriend, Pola Negri, was said to have sent 4,000 roses to the funeral.
2. Ladies and Gentlemen, Sharon talking to you live from Newport (Rhode Island 1968), trying to find words to describe the experience of hearing for the first time 'Alice's Restaurant'. Who recorded this ballad?

Answer: Arlo Guthrie

A twenty minute version was sung at the Newport Folk Festival in 1968 to rave reviews. 'You can get anything you want at Alice's restaurant', it states in its powerful lyrics.
3. December 9, 2003, Wes here, I hope you can hear me back in the studio, the crowd is ecstatic. 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot' booms from every shop and is sung and whistled everywhere since the victory. What had England won earlier in 2003?

Answer: Rugby World Cup

Dec. 9, was a bitterly cold day in London, undaunted up to half a million poured into the city to attend the victory parade from Marble Arch to Trafalgar Square. It was described as the biggest sporting celebration in British history.
4. May 22, 2004, Nessa and Sharon coming to you live from a rain-soaked Madrid. Crowds brave the downpour to be part of a momentous event in Spanish history. What was happening?

Answer: Wedding

All of these events took place in Spain in 2004. The happy event was the wedding of Crown Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz in Madrid's Almudena Cathedral. It was the first royal wedding in 98 years and generated great interest. After the Mass the couple briefly visited the Atocha site where 198 people had been murdered by terrorists on March 11, 2004.
5. 29 September, 1979. Edgar goes to Phoenix Park, Dublin. Ladies and gentlemen, there must be a million people young and old, packed into this park. The country is at a standstill. Why did this happen?

Answer: Papal visit

Of Ireland's 3.5 million catholics 2.5 million came to see the Pope for that whirlwind weekend visit. A fortnight previously, Lord Mountbatten was murdered by IRA in Ireland and terrible atrocities were reported nightly from Northern Ireland. "On my knees I beg you to turn away from violence", he begged. Unfortunately many more were to perish before peace was finally achieved.
6. December 2001, Nessa coming to you live from the capital city, where hundreds have gathered to celebrate the arrival of a new baby girl for Crown Princess Masako and Crown Prince Naruhito. Where are we?

Answer: Japan

Thousands, not hundreds gathered in Tokyo. It was their first baby and the parents broke with Japanese imperial tradition by naming her themselves. She is called Aiko meaning 'love' and Toshinomiya meaning 'respect for others'.
7. June 13, 1966. Wes and Sharon are live from outside the Supreme Court building awaiting what will be a very controversial decision in the Miranda v.------ case. Which US state was involved?

Answer: Arizona

Information got from a prisoner while in police custody is inadmissable in court unless certain minimum procedural safeguards are in place. 'The Miranda Warning' came into existence.
8. Sharon reporting today January 30, 1948 from New Delhi. As you can see I am visibly in tears one of the greatest statesmen has been assassinated on his way to prayers. Who has been killed?

Answer: Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of passive resistance, who had done so much to obtain freedom for India, was assassinated by Nathuram Godse. On hearing of his death the US Secretary of State, George Marshall, described Gandhi as "the spokesman for the conscience of mankind".
9. March 24, 1980 is a date that will not easily be forgotten here. Fear, panic, anger, incredulity describing the many emotions etched on faces trying to come to terms with the assassination of Oscar Romero while he was saying Mass at the Divina Providencia Cancer Hospital. Where was Edgar?

Answer: El Salvador

Oscar Romero is one of the unsung heroes of the 20th century. Chosen as a compromise candidate and dismissed as a bookworm, he became the "bishop of the poor". In his weekly radio homilies he asked for an end to American funds being used in war in his country.

He begged the soldiers to refuse to obey officers in the death squads. He demanded peasant rights. For his courage he became a target and was assassinated. No one has been brought to trial for this crime.
10. Wes reporting to you live from Beirut (1990), where we are awaiting our first glimpse of a hostage held by Islamic extremists for 1,597 days. Who was Wes about to see?

Answer: Brian Keenan

All of those mentioned were hostages in that troubled time in the Lebanon. Brian Keenan was a lecturer in the university. He wrote a chilling account of his days in captivity "An Evil Cradling".
Many thanks to our dedicated news team, whose initials you will have noticed spell NEWS.
Source: Author fiachra

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Beatka before going online.
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