Thursday News Quiz October 29: Six Stories, Six Questions

Welcome to the Thursday news quiz, six questions drawn from the biggest stories of the past few days. Each question has four options and only one correct answer. Read the question, pick an answer, then check the explanations below to see how you did. If you followed the earlier preview of the Fed decision and the Bank of Canada move, two of these questions will feel familiar. The stories span interest rates, a record stock market debut, an election without a winner, a football award, baseball and basketball, so a good score takes more than following one beat.

The questions

Question one. The Federal Reserve left its benchmark rate unchanged this week. Which two officials wanted a quarter-point increase instead? A) Jerome Powell and John Williams. B) Lisa Cook and Beth Hammack. C) Michelle Bowman and Christopher Waller. D) Austan Goolsbee and Neel Kashkari.

Question two. Jio Platforms made its stock market debut in India this week. By roughly how much did the shares rise above the issue price on listing? A) 5 percent. B) 12 percent. C) 21 percent. D) 34 percent.

Question three. Israel's election left neither main bloc with a governing majority. How many seats are needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset? A) 55. B) 61. C) 67. D) 70.

Question four. Harry Kane won the men's Ballon d'Or in London this week. Which two players did he beat to the prize? A) Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. B) Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah. C) Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal. D) Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka.

Question five. Milwaukee won the World Series opener against Tampa Bay. What was the final score? A) 3-2. B) 5-3. C) 4-1. D) 2-1.

Question six. The defending NBA champions finally won their first game of the season against Detroit. Which Knick posted 27 points and 20 rebounds in that win? A) Jalen Brunson. B) Karl-Anthony Towns. C) Mikal Bridges. D) OG Anunoby.

Answers explained

In this Thursday news quiz, answer one is B. According to Reuters, the Federal Reserve held its target range at 3.75 percent to 4 percent in a 10-2 vote, with Governor Lisa Cook and Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack preferring a quarter-point increase. The committee described economic activity as strong and inflation as elevated, and said more information would help it judge the stance needed to return inflation to its 2 percent goal. Read the report: Reuters on the Fed decision.

In this Thursday news quiz, answer two is C. Jio Platforms shares opened at 1,358 rupees on both main Indian exchanges, a premium of 21.36 percent over the issue price of 1,119 rupees, according to exchange data reported at listing. The offering was India's largest public offering to date, and the debut valuation made Jio India's second most valuable listed company, behind its parent Reliance Industries. Details: Jio Platforms IPO listing details.

In this Thursday news quiz, answer three is B. According to Reuters, with about 86 percent of votes counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc was projected to win 53 seats, the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot was projected to win 48, and Arab parties were projected to win 19. A majority in the 120-seat Knesset requires sixty-one seats, so neither main bloc could govern alone on those projections. Read the report: Reuters on the Israel election.

In this Thursday news quiz, answer four is C. Harry Kane won his first Ballon d'Or at a ceremony in London, beating Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal to the prize, as reported by USA Today and CNN. Kane is the first Englishman to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001, and Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas won the women's award for the third time. Read the report: USA Today on Kane's Ballon d'Or.

In this Thursday news quiz, answer five is A. The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays by three runs to two in the World Series opener at American Family Field, in the franchise's first World Series game in 44 years, as reported by ESPN and USA Today. Closer Trevor Megill struck out Jonny DeLuca to end a tense ninth inning after a replay review had overturned an apparent game-ending double play. Read the report: USA Today on the World Series opener.

In this Thursday news quiz, answer six is B. Karl-Anthony Towns scored twenty-seven points and pulled down twenty rebounds as the New York Knicks beat the Detroit Pistons 111-97 at Madison Square Garden, according to Reuters and the New York Post. The win was the defending champions' first after three straight defeats to open the season, and Jalen Brunson added 23 points and seven assists. Read the report: New York Post on the Knicks win.

That is the Thursday news quiz October 29. Four or more correct answers means you kept up with a busy few days across politics, markets and sport. Three or fewer means the explanations above are worth a second read, since several of these stories, from the Fed's next meeting to Israel's coalition talks, will keep developing in the weeks ahead.