Think You're Up On The News? Take The Quiz

1.

Massachusetts has legalized casino gambling, but the latest estimate puts the opening of the Bay State's first casino when?

A.

2014
B.

2015
C.

2016
D.

2017

Correct Answer
D. 2017

Explanation
According to the Associated Press: "The bottom line is that casino licenses are unlikely to be awarded until early 2014, and it may well be 2017 before gamblers are actually placing bets in sparkling new resorts."

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2.

The Eagle's letter to the editor section has been blowing up over the politically pejorative term "useful idiots." What is the first documented use of that term in the U.S.?

A.

Hillary Clinton's 1996 book, "It Takes a Village"
B.

A 1981 "Saturday Night Live" skit
C.

A New York Times article in 1948
D.

A 1952 speech by Joseph McCarthy

Correct Answer
C. A New York Times article in 1948

Explanation
A New York Times article from 1948, on contemporary Italian politics, documented usage of the term in an article from the social-democratic Italian paper L'Umanita, according to Wikipedia.

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3.

Berkshire County's October unemployment rate was higher than the rates both nationally and statewide. True or false?

A.

True
B.

False

Correct Answer
B. False

Explanation
Berkshire County's rate, at 6.1 percent, was lower than the nation (7.9 percent) and the state (6.6 percent) in October.

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4.

In the Thanksgiving Day game, the New England Patriots scored three touchdowns in the span of how many seconds?

A.

52
B.

58
C.

62
D.

71

Correct Answer
A. 52

Explanation
It took just 52 seconds for the Patriots to score three touchdowns against the New York Jets.

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5.

The medical marijuana referendum that Massachusetts voters passed earlier this month will allow certain patients to grow pot on their property. True or false?

A.

True
B.

False

Correct Answer
A. True

Explanation
Some patients with a verified financial hardship — or other permissable reason — will be allowed to grow a 60-day supply of medical marijuana on their property.

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6.

Abundant in the Berkshires, the width of the woolly bear caterpillar’s reddish-brown band indicates what?

A.

A wet summer is ahead
B.

It will be a cold winter
C.

The age of the caterpillar
D.

It's a Denver Broncos fan

Correct Answer
C. The age of the caterpillar

Explanation
According to Ruth Smith's "Outside" column in The Eagle: "It has been said that if the brown band is wide, the coming winter will be mild, but if it is narrow, we are in for lots of snow and cold. Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence to back up this old husband’s tale. However, the width of the woolly bear’s bands does indicate the age of the caterpillar."

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7.

An Otis homeowners association recently set aside land specifically to build the habitat to accomodat what nearly endangered species?

A.

The harpoon clubtail dragonfly
B.

The mountain lion
C.

The hairy-fruited sedge
D.

The New England cottontail rabbit

Correct Answer
D. The New England cottontail rabbit

Explanation
The population of the New England cottontail, which is nearly endangered and is the only type of hare native to southern Berkshire County, has been drastically dwindled and is now a candidate for federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. Land in Otis has been set aside to benefit the rabbit. (And yes, the harpoon clubtail dragonfly and the hairy-fruited sedge are real and are considered rare species in Massachusetts.)

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8.

Pittsfield's Christmas tree-lighting celebration will be held when?

A.

Friday, Nov. 30
B.

Saturday, Dec. 1
C.

Sunday, Dec. 2
D.

Monday, Dec. 3

Correct Answer
A. Friday, Nov. 30

Explanation
The Pittsfield Department of Community Development Recreation Program has announced that the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held at Park Square on Friday, Nov. 30, at 6 p.m.

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