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That's News to Me (4) Trivia Quiz

How well do you remember some of the leading news of October 2003? Compiled from Britain, but not too difficult a quiz wherever you live.

A multiple-choice quiz by rialto88. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
rialto88

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
154,488

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
910

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. In October 2003 why did the England football team (soccer team as it is known within Funtrivia) threaten to boycott their vital European Championship game away to Turkey? Hint

The English Football Association would not pay them enough for the game

England fans were being refused admission to Turkey and it was unfair

An England player was alleged to have failed to attend a drugs test

Turkey are too rough in the way that they play

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Question 2 of 15

2. What was the score in the Turkey v England European Championship game in October 2003? Hint

1-1

0-0

1-0 to England

1-0 to Turkey

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Question 3 of 15

3. In October 2003 which film star became the governor-elect of California? Hint

Donald Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Sylvester Stallone

Mickey Mouse

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Question 4 of 15

4. According to a United Nations Population Fund report in October 2003 about how many young people (between the ages of 15 to 24) are infected with the HIV virus every day? Hint

1,000

6,000

500

750

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Question 5 of 15

5. In October 2003 what nationality was the prince who gave up his right of succession to the crown in order to marry? Hint

German

British

Dutch

Swedish

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Question 6 of 15

6. In October 2003 who celebrated their 25th anniversary in office? Hint

Alex Ferguson, as manager of Manchester United

The Rev. Ian Paisley, as a Member of Parliament

The Queen

The Pope

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Question 7 of 15

7. In October 2003 there was a train crash one Sunday morning on the London Underground. The train hit a tunnel wall. At which station was the accident? Hint

Euston

Camden Town

King's Cross

Morden

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Question 8 of 15

8. In October 2003 which of these organizations had five members resign and three more suspended immediately following a TV undercover exposure of racist activities by their new recruits? Hint

The police

The army

The Football Supporters Association

The Inns of Court in the legal profession

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Question 9 of 15

9. By October 2003 what did "IDS" mean in political parlance in Britian? Hint

A new and original system of democracy

A new deadly disease

A new political party

A particular person

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Question 10 of 15

10. Who at the end of October 2003 was expected to become the new leader of the Conservative Party, almost certainly taking it into the next general election? Hint

Tony Blair

Michael Portillo

Mickey Mouse

Michael Howard

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Question 11 of 15

11. What did Diane Abbott (Labour Member of Parliament) famously describe as "indefensible" to the media in October 2003? Hint

The war in Iraq

Private health care

The arms trade

Sending her son to a private school

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Question 12 of 15

12. In October 2003 the workers in which public service were starting to go on strike in different areas, starting from London? Hint

The police

The postal service

Traffic wardens

Doctors

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Question 13 of 15

13. Did the Pope beatify Mother Teresa in October 2003?

Yes

14. In October 2003 the ex-butler to Princess Diana published a book about her. It contained an alleged letter from her about someone who was going to tamper with the brakes of her car. What is the butler's name? Hint

Paul Purrell

Paul Turrell

Paul Surrell

Paul Burrell

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Question 15 of 15

15. In October 2003 the Prime Minister Tony Blair was admitted to hospital for what stated reason? Hint

Nerves

A car crash when the brakes on his car failed

Ingrowing toe nail

A heart problem

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In October 2003 why did the England football team (soccer team as it is known within Funtrivia) threaten to boycott their vital European Championship game away to Turkey?

Answer: An England player was alleged to have failed to attend a drugs test

Rio Ferdinand was dropped from the England squad after allegedly failing to attend a routine drugs test. The team withdrew the threat and eventually travelled and played the game without Ferdinand. Now who was thinking that the English team lacked strikers?

2. What was the score in the Turkey v England European Championship game in October 2003?

Answer: 0-0

England qualified for the finals in Portugal with a 0-0 draw. David Beckham managed to miss a first half penalty.

3. In October 2003 which film star became the governor-elect of California?

Answer: Arnold Schwarzenegger

Only recently entering politics, Mr Schwarzenegger won election as a Republican candidate. The economy of California was in such a mess that the protest vote flocked to him.

4. According to a United Nations Population Fund report in October 2003 about how many young people (between the ages of 15 to 24) are infected with the HIV virus every day?

Answer: 6,000

There is one young person being infected about every 14 seconds.

5. In October 2003 what nationality was the prince who gave up his right of succession to the crown in order to marry?

Answer: Dutch

Dutch Prince Johan Friso, who was second in line to the throne, decided that marrying the woman he loved was more important than the throne. The Dutch government would not approve of the marriage and this approval is necessary according to the Dutch constitution.

6. In October 2003 who celebrated their 25th anniversary in office?

Answer: The Pope

Pope John Paul II celebrated 25 years in office at the Vatican and in spite of fragile health was still setting a gruelling pace in his activities.

7. In October 2003 there was a train crash one Sunday morning on the London Underground. The train hit a tunnel wall. At which station was the accident?

Answer: Camden Town

This was the second derailment in 48 hours. Seven people were injured and 200 people led to safety from the tunnel. Given that the carriage was ripped open, there might have been many fatalities, had this crash happened in the weekday rush hour. The cause will eventually be reported, but privatization of services and chronic underfunding of the London Underground will not escape people's attention.

8. In October 2003 which of these organizations had five members resign and three more suspended immediately following a TV undercover exposure of racist activities by their new recruits?

Answer: The police

A reporter went undercover with police recruits and discovered blatant racism in parts of their probationary service. The question is: how widespread is this attitude across the force as a whole?

9. By October 2003 what did "IDS" mean in political parlance in Britian?

Answer: A particular person

IDS is the media's abbreviation for Iain Duncan Smith, who was dropped in October 2003 as leader of the Conservative Party by a vote of the Conservative MPs. Elected two years ago by the national membership of the Conserrvative Party, he was dumped without even fighting an election. If the national membership is given the chance to vote on his successor IDS can not stand under the procedures set down.

10. Who at the end of October 2003 was expected to become the new leader of the Conservative Party, almost certainly taking it into the next general election?

Answer: Michael Howard

Only one candidate had appeared by the end of October 2003 to replace Iain Duncan Smith, so if the election goes to the national membership of the Conservative Party (and it doesn't have to) they may only have one candidate to vote for or against.

11. What did Diane Abbott (Labour Member of Parliament) famously describe as "indefensible" to the media in October 2003?

Answer: Sending her son to a private school

The left wing MP has decided to spend �10,000 a year to privately educate her son rather than risk the state schools in her own constituency of Hackney. Now, isn't an MP meant to help improve the education service, and who do you go to if she's admitted defeat?

12. In October 2003 the workers in which public service were starting to go on strike in different areas, starting from London?

Answer: The postal service

The post was starting to grind to a halt (starting in London) with wild-cat strikes (an English term meaning spontaneous strikes without the usual official union backing) that were spreading across the country, different reasons being given by different groups of workers for their strikes.

The postal service being a most trodden-down service by its management, disputes are always likely to flare up without warning.

13. Did the Pope beatify Mother Teresa in October 2003?

Answer: Yes

This is the first of two stages towards making her a saint.

Answer: Paul Burrell

The book contained, amongst other things, an alleged letter to him from Princess Diana claiming that brakes on her car would be tampered with.

15. In October 2003 the Prime Minister Tony Blair was admitted to hospital for what stated reason?

Answer: A heart problem

he had an irregular heart beat that was corrected.

Source: Author rialto88

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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