How well do you remember the top stories of 2024? Take our end-of-year news quiz

We finally made it to the end of the year, and if you felt like 2024 was longer than 12 months (and a day, don’t forget about the leap year), you’re not alone. From U.S. elections to international crises to the latest chunky baby animal hitting the internet, this year had a lot to offer. Take our quiz and test your knowledge of the top stories of the year. #quiz{box-sizing:border-box;padding:2rem 0;max-width:640px;margin:0 auto;font-size:1.2rem;line-height:1.6rem;color:#191919;font-family:"Pratt",Georgia,Palatino,"Book Antiqua","Times New Roman",serif}.question-grp{margin-bottom:4rem}#quiz strong,.question,.question-index{font-family:"Pratt-Bold",Georgia,Palatino,"Book Antiqua","Times New Roman",serif}.question-index{display:inline-block}.question{font-size:1.2rem}.question-index:before{content:""}.question-index:after{content:".";margin-right:.25em}.description{display:none;padding:1rem 2rem;background:#e5eff1}.description.active{display:block}.answers{margin:1rem 0;margin-bottom:0}.answer{border:1px solid #eeedea;margin-bottom:.3rem;cursor:pointer;padding:.5rem 1rem;opacity:.8;transition:.2s}.answer:hover{opacity:1;background:#f4f3f1}.complete .answer,.complete .answer:hover{transition:none;opacity:.5;background:0 0;border:1px solid #fff}.complete .answer.correct,.complete .answer.correct:hover{color:#268626;background:#e5f0e5;opacity:1;border:1px solid #fff}.complete .answer.wrong,.complete .answer.wrong:hover{color:#da161f;text-decoration:line-through;background:#fae1e1;opacity:1;border:1px solid #fff}.result-grp{display:none;padding:2rem;background:#e5eff1}.result-grp.active,.result.active{display:block}.result{display:none;padding:0}.score{font-size:1.3rem;margin-bottom:1rem} 1Former prime minister Brian Mulroney died this year at 84. Which historic treaty did he reach during his nine years in office? a. NAFTA b. NATO c. The Five Eyes d. The United Nations a. NAFTA. Originally called the Canada-U.S. free-trade agreement before Mexico joined in, Mr. Mulroney worked with U.S. presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush to secure the deal, which helped spark life into the Canadian economy at the time. 2Former B.C. premier John Horgan died on Nov. 12 at the age of 65. After stepping down as premier in 2022, he was the Canadian ambassador for which country? a. Germany b. Switzerland c. Brazil d. Japan a. Germany. The BC NDP leader served as premier from 2017 until 2022, when he stepped down after developing cancer for the second time. He was posted to Canada's embassy in Germany in 2023, before being diagnosed with cancer again this June. 3What is “mewing,” the trend that spread among teen and tween boys this year that has parents and teachers concerned? a. Stealing packs of Pokémon cards from stores in an effort to catch the elusive Mew collectible b. A tongue exercise where boys flatten their tongues on the roofs of their mouths in an effort to develop a sharper jawline c. Scaring elderly folks by loudly meowing behind them like a cat d. A TikTok trend that encourages boys to eat a whole cup of Pop Rocks candy, often leading to injuries b. A tongue exercise where boys flatten their tongues on the roofs of their mouths in an effort to develop a sharper jawline. As Sadaf Ahsan reported in August, the trend can contribute to insecurities and body image issues in young boys, who begin to believe they must strive to a certain attractiveness standard. There is no scientific research or evidence behind mewing to suggest it actually works. 4Robby Clark was at the centre of one of the largest real estate lending insolvencies in Canadian history this year after his investment empire left hundreds of private lenders on the hook. Before this scandal, what was Mr. Clark best known for? a. His successful real estate TikTok channel b. An iconic billboard in downtown North Bay, Ont. c. Starring in a 2000s YTV kids' show d. A line of failed energy drinks c. Starring in a 2000s YTV kids' show. Born in Chicago and raised in Oakville, Ont., Mr. Clark’s first success came while starring in the 2000-02 Canadian children's TV show The Zack Files, a YTV-created spoof of the Fox hit The X-Files. As Shane Dingman reported this year, Mr. Clark was the majority owner of a series of companies that went on a reckless buying spree that amassed more than 600 properties across Ontario. 5Just hours before she was set to deliver the fall economic statement, Chrystia Freeland announced she would be resigning as finance minister after being informed that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau intended to replace her in the role a few days earlier. How did Ms. Freeland find out she was going to be ousted from her role? a. Mr. Trudeau announced the change at a press conference b. Through a Zoom call with Mr. Trudeau c. At the Liberals’ holiday party d. She wasn’t informed — she found out on social media b. Through a Zoom call with Mr. Trudeau. Ms. Freeland, who was Canada’s first female federal finance minister, wrote in her resignation letter that she and the Prime Minister have been “at odds” over the past few weeks. Sources say Mr. Trudeau told his long-time colleague and deputy prime minister that she was going to be replaced, and offered her a different position in the cabinet, which she refused. 6After a long campaign that included facing two different Democratic rivals, surviving assassination attempts and a criminal conviction, Donald Trump won a second term in office. Since his win in November, what hasn’t he done? a. Announced plans to enact huge tariffs against Canada, China and Mexico b. Said he intends to deport millions of undocumented migrants c. Preordered his signature McDonald’s Christmas dinner d. Introduced his picks for top government jobs, including an anti-vaxxer and a Fox News host c. Preordered his signature McDonald’s Christmas dinner. Mr. Trump hasn’t wasted any time ruffling feathers since becoming the second president to be elected to two non-consecutive terms. Mr Trump’s threats of high tariffs and pledge to renegotiate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement are already causing panic for Canadian businesses and lawmakers. 7In October, U.S. regulators slapped TD Bank with a historic fine after it was named at the centre of a massive money laundering operation. How much were they fined? a. US$500-million b. US$1-billion c. US$2.5-billion d. US$3-billion d. US$3-billion. In May, the U.S. Department of Justice said TD Bank was central to a criminal ring that laundered US$653-million worth of drug money through American financial institutions. Globe reporters found that TD’s problems run much deeper than some rogue employees – dense bureaucracy has stifled decision-making, departed leaders are leaving gaps in the company and its internal culture is eroding. 8On April 8, more Canadians than ever before witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime event; a total solar eclipse. What was the largest Canadian city on the eclipse’s path of totality, where the sun was completely obscured? a. Vancouver b. Calgary c. Toronto d. Montreal d. Montreal. They get good bagels and poutine, and now an eclipse? The rare celestial event hit Ontario and Quebec before curving off into the Atlantic provinces, and millions of Canadians gathered for a few minutes of total obscurity. 9This year, Ottawa announced a series of measures aimed at easing pressures that an influx of international students is putting on services such as housing and health care, including a two-year cap on the number of international study visas, and cuts to the number of projected permanent residents it plans to admit in 2025. How many international students currently in Canada will see their work permits expire by the end of 2025, potentially leaving them with no options to stay in the country? a. 70,000 b. 130,000 c. 200,000 d. 400,000 c. 200,000. As Vanmala Subramaniam reported this year, 203,260 international students in Canada hold postgraduation work permits that will expire in the next 15 months. The decision by the Liberals to lower immigration rates comes barely a year before a federal election and amid a housing affordability crisis that many Canadians have linked to soaring population growth. 10When historians look back on 2024, they will mark it as the year that Moo Deng was born. The baby pygmy hippo – who is as feisty as she is chunky – has taken the internet by storm, gathering millions of fans on social media and drawing big crowds to her zoo in Thailand. What does her name translate to? a. Pork Stew b. Bouncing Pig c. Bacon Strips d. Little Oinker b. Bouncing Pig. Born in July, Moo Deng has charmed people around the world with her antics, which include trying to nibble her handler, despite lacking teeth. 11It feels like forever ago, but the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics were just a few months ago. And Canada didn’t do half-bad. Canada won more medals in Paris since which other Summer Olympic Games? a. Amsterdam, 1928 b. Los Angeles, 1984 c. Beijing, 2008 d. Trick question – this was Canada’s best Summer Olympics yet b. Los Angeles, 1984. Canada won 27 medals – nine gold, seven silver and 11 bronze – in Paris, and made history along the way. Swimmer Summer McIntosh became the first Canadian to win three gold medals at a single Olympics, Philip “Phil Wizard” Kim won the first-ever men’s breaking gold, and Ethan Katzberg became Canada’s first men’s hammer throw champion. 12Not everything was peachy keen for Canada at the Paris Olympics. Coaching staff of the Canadian women’s soccer team – who were the reigning gold medal champions at the time – were caught spying on an opposing team’s practice, which snowballed into Canada’s most embarrassing Olympics blunder in decades. How was Canada Soccer allegedly spying on other teams, reportedly for several years? a. Filming practices with drones b. Stealing uniforms and attending internal meetings c. Sneaking recording equipment into game balls d. Bribing officials for information a. Filming practices with drones. Ahead of their first game, French police arrested a Canada Soccer staffer who was using a drone to spy on the New Zealand Women’s team, which led to the bombshell revelation that Canada Soccer staff were engaged in drone spying for years before getting caught. 13As we were recovering from New Year’s Eve celebrations over brunch, the Professional Women’s Hockey League was ringing in its inaugural game on Jan. 1. Which Canadian city currently does not have a team in the PWHL? a. Toronto b. Montreal c. Vancouver d. Ottawa c. Vancouver. The PWHL’s current six teams – the Toronto Sceptres, Montréal Victoire, Ottawa Charge, Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost and New York Sirens – were only named in September ahead of their second season, and played this year under just their city names. As Rachel Brady reports, the PWHL’s first season broke multiple attendance records, and established a new worldwide mark for attendance at a women’s hockey game. 14Move over, baby boomers. This year, Statistics Canada reports that which new generation has taken over as the most populous group in the country? a. Gen X b. Millennials c. Gen Z d. Gen Alpha b. Millennials. The baby boomer generation (1946 to 1965) became the largest in Canada in 1958 – seven years before the last baby boomer was even born. The reign of millennials (1981 to 1996) in Canada might not be as long-lived; Statscan estimates Generation Z could overtake millennials in numbers some time between 2038 and 2053. 15Taylor Swift entered her Canadian era this year, bringing her world-spanning Eras Tour to Toronto and Vancouver. How many visitors reportedly travelled to Toronto for its six shows in November? a. 50,000 b. 100,000 c. 500,000 d. 1 million c. 500,000. Tens of thousands of Swifties donned their Eras Tour-inspired outfits and descended on downtown Toronto every night for the pop star's stay in the city. Destination Toronto said the tour was expected to inject more than $282-million into the local economy, with visitors accounting for 93 per cent of spending. 16The long-awaited public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections is under way, with public hearings beginning in January of this year. In a bombshell testimony in October, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he received intelligence that Conservative Party politicians and members were engaged in or were susceptible to foreign interference. Why wasn’t Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre briefed on the information? a. He refused to obtain top-secret security clearance b. He claimed he was blocked by Ottawa’s bureaucracy c. The Liberals are withholding the names until the inquiry’s final report d. CSIS has redacted them a. He refused to obtain top-secret security clearance. Mr. Poilievre said he has refused to undergo a screening process to obtain the security clearance, claiming it would hamper his ability to criticize the government. In December, CSIS said Mr. Poilievre will be briefed without the need for clearance. The foreign interference inquiry, which began after a CSIS report warned that China views Canada as a “high priority target,” is set to release its final report in January, 2025. How well did you do? Answer all of the questions to see your result Congratulations! You're all caught up on 2024's top stories, and ready to dive into the new year. Good effort. There was a lot going on in 2024 but you stayed up to date on most of the top stories! 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