In the first few days of the London Olympics, we get fresh reminders that it is a political as well as athletic event. See what games were being played this week -- in London and around the world.
Here are some random but actual hints: We'd rather swim than ski; she won't be able to walk off the field; avoid the zombie pet apocalypse; and the Swedish Chef begs to differ. Now put those to good use and take the quiz! Answers are at the bottom.
1) Sally Ride, who died this week, made history in 1983 as the first U.S. woman in space aboard what shuttle?
a. The Columbia
b. The Atlantis
c. The Enterprise
d. The Challenger
2) NASA reported that Greenland experienced something not seen there since 1889. What happened?
a. The surface of nearly all of its ice cover melted at least temporarily
b. An earthquake struck the island
c. A plague of locusts ravaged its crops of hops
d. It was below -40° for 33 consecutive days
3) Why did the North Korean women's soccer team walk off the field in its first game at the London Olympics?
a. They lost the game
b. Their coach did not show up at the game after she defected to the UK
c. The South Korean flag was raised at the stadium
d. Their bus dropped them off at the wrong stadium
4) Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands got some unwelcome news. What was it?
a. Moody's lowered the outlook for each country from "stable" to "negative," though it did not lower their AAA ratings
b. Moody's lowered their AAA ratings to AA+
c. Greece is coming to dinner
d. Their economies slipped into technical recession in the past quarter
5) Mitt Romney's campaign is accusing Virginia of trying to register what type of voters?
a. Dead people, children, cats and dogs
b. Out-of-state voters, illegal immigrants, and Germans
c. People who had registered as Republicans in nearby states
d. Made-up online characters from Second Life
6) Ending extensive speculation, who showed off his previously unknown new wife this week?
a. Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
b. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Eun
c. Actor Tom Cruise
d. Cartoon character Alvin Chipmunk
7) Israel's leaders said they would react how if Syria's chemical and biological weapons fell into the hands of Islamist rebels?
a. Military attack on Syrian targets
b. Unleash a computer virus on systems used by Syrian rebels
c. Move to a better neighborhood
d. Grant diplomatic recognition to the rebels
8) Sanford Weill, the former chief of Citigroup who spearheaded a successful campaign to reduce financial services regulation and create complex financial conglomerates, said what should be done?
a. Merge large banks so they become stronger and better able to withstand financial instability
b. State governments should set up their own banks to ensure lending is available to small businesses
c. The federal government should buy all outstanding mortgages add end the foreclosure crisis
d. The biggest banks should be dismembered
9) The Pew Research Center polled American voters about religion and politics. What did they find?
a. 34 percent of voters think the president should take an oath to adhere to the Ten Commandments
b. 70 percent of voters refused to state their own religion
c. Most voters say they would vote for an atheist for president
d. Fewer voters know that Barack Obama is a Christian than know that Mitt Romney is Mormon
10) Whom did actor Christian Bale visit this week?
a. The producers of the next Twilight film
b. America's athletes in London for the Olympics
c. Victims of the shooting at a theater showing The Dark Knight Rises
d. A fan convention for the 1960s Batman TV show
BONUS QUESTION) The battle lines have been drawn over fast-food chain Chick-fil-A and its politics. Who's on which side?
a. President Obama and Governor Romney support Chick-fil-A, Michele Obama opposes it
b. Rick Santorum and Michael Huckabee support the views of the company's leaders, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Muppets oppose them
c. Anthony Bourdain supports Chick-fil-A, Andrew Zimmern and Sara Moulton oppose it
d. Bill Maher and Newt Gingrich support Chick-fil-A, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo opposes it
Is that still not enough news for you? Join us for each of our Week to Week news commentary programs at The Commonwealth Club's San Francisco auditorium. See the Week to Week website for event dates, audio, and more.
1) d. 2) a. 3) c. 4) a. 5) a. 6) b. 7) a. 8) d. 9) d. 10) c. BONUS: b.