Kids Current Events Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. Why did the large U.S. cicada emergence of 2024 attract unusual attention from scientists and the public?
Cicadas appeared for the first time outside tropical rainforests
The insects remained above ground throughout the entire year
Every cicada species in the world emerged in one city
Broods with 13-year and 17-year cycles emerged during the same year
2. In India's 2024 general election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party fell short of winning a majority by itself. What followed from that result?
Modi relied on allied parties to form a government
The election was canceled and repeated nationwide
India replaced its parliament with a royal council
The United Nations selected India's next prime minister
3. China's Chang'e 6 mission achieved a space-exploration first in 2024 by returning what to Earth?
Photographs taken from the surface of Mars
Samples from the far side of the Moon
Pieces collected from an asteroid
Ice gathered from a comet
4. After a cargo ship struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024, why did the collapse also become a major transportation and business story?
It disrupted a key road route and access to a major port
It closed every airport in the Baltimore area
It interrupted the city's drinking-water supply
It stopped all train travel along the East Coast
5. On April 8, 2024, students in parts of North America saw daylight briefly turn dark as the Moon covered the Sun. Through which three countries did the path of totality pass?
Canada, Greenland, and Iceland
Brazil, Colombia, and Panama
Mexico, the United States, and Canada
The United States, Cuba, and the Bahamas
6. A headline says, “Countries meet in Baku for COP29.” What was the main subject of this international meeting?
Climate action and funding
Protection of historic buildings
Plans for exploring the Moon
Rules for international soccer competitions
7. A news report says the European Union's AI Act sorts artificial-intelligence systems by risk. What is the law designed to do?
Require every school subject to be taught by AI
Ban all computer-generated images in Europe
Replace national elections with computer voting
Set rules and safeguards based on how AI is used
8. Nihon Hidankyo received the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. What is this Japanese organization especially known for?
Restoring forests damaged by wildfires
Providing equipment to Olympic athletes
Sharing atomic-bomb survivors' testimony and advocating against nuclear weapons
Building earthquake-resistant schools
9. Which city hosted the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games?
Rome
Paris
Los Angeles
Brisbane
10. South Africa's African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority in the 2024 election. What did that result make necessary when forming a government?
Holding a second presidential election in every province
Allowing the United Nations to appoint a government
Transferring all national powers to local councils
Working with other parties in a coalition-style government
11. What historic milestone did Claudia Sheinbaum reach in Mexico's 2024 election?
She became Mexico's first president under age 30
She became the first woman elected president of Mexico
She became the first president chosen by Mexico's Congress
She became the first independent candidate elected president
12. After the January 1, 2024 earthquake on Japan's Noto Peninsula, authorities issued tsunami warnings. Why can a strong coastal earthquake create a tsunami concern?
Earthquake light can rapidly heat the ocean surface
Movement of the seafloor can displace a large amount of water
Damaged power lines can pull seawater toward the shore
Shaking can make normal tides arrive several days early
13. The privately built spacecraft Odysseus made news in February 2024 by completing a soft landing on which world?
The Moon
Venus
Mars
Mercury
14. Sweden formally joined NATO in March 2024. What kind of organization is NATO?
A scientific group that operates space telescopes
A global organization that manages Olympic sports
A European agency that issues one shared currency
A political and military defense alliance
15. Which activity made its Olympic debut as a medal sport at the 2024 Paris Games?
Cricket
Squash
Breaking
Bowling
16. World leaders gathered in Normandy in June 2024 to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Why was Normandy the setting?
World War II officially ended there in 1944
The United Nations was founded there in 1944
Allied forces landed on its beaches in 1944
The first modern Olympic Games were held there