Current Events Week 4

In which continent would you find Lake Victoria?

• Europe

• North America

• Africa

Answer explanation

Africa - Lake Victoria is Africa's largest lake by area, the world's largest tropical lake, and the world's second-largest freshwater lake by surface area, after Lake Superior in North America.

A pollution control committee involved in keeping Mt Everest clean has estimated that the mountain has been polluted by around 3000kg of ...?

• Empty oxygen canisters

• Protein bar wrappers

• Human waste

Answer explanation

Human waste - Authorities are now requiring climbers to use plastic bags for waste which will be “checked upon their return”. In recent years, social media has exposed the filthy conditions tourists leave campsites on the world’s highest peak.

Who won the NFL Super Bowl last week?

• Kansas City Chiefs

• San Francisco 49ers

• Dallas Cowboys

Answer explanation

Kansas City Chiefs - This year’s Super Bowl was the most-watched TV program in US television history. Kansas City's 25-22 overtime victory over San Francisco averaged 123.4 million viewers across television and streaming platforms.

Much of the huge increase in viewership, especially among young women, has been attributed to the "Swift Effect".

Changing land uses in Sri Lanka has led to a steep rise in conflicts between people and which local wild animal?

• Hippos

• Lions

• Elephants

Answer explanation

Elephants - Elephant deaths have risen to more than 400, while 176 people were killed by elephants last year.

Conservation experts describe this trend as a “human/elephant conflict”. Expanding farmlands are encroaching on elephant habitats and the crops are a draw for the hungry animals. Sri Lanka has nearly 4000 elephants and wildlife tourism is worth some $400 million to the country annually.

Last week marked the one year anniversary of ...?

• Cyclone Gabrielle

• Tonga’s eruption and Tsunami

• The anti-mandate protest at Parliament

Answer explanation

Cyclone Gabrielle - Cyclone Gabrielle is the costliest tropical cyclone on record in the Southern Hemisphere, with total damages estimated to be at least NZ$13.5 billion. It was also the deadliest cyclone and weather event overall to hit New Zealand since Cyclone Giselle in 1968, surpassing

Cyclone Bola in 1988.

Chocolate prices are being hit by an increase in global cocoa prices.

Which part of a the cacao tree is cocoa made from?

• Bark

• Seeds

• Leaves

Answer explanation

Seeds - The cocoa bean is the seed of the cacao tree.

Global cocoa prices have hit a fresh record high as dry weather hurts crops in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, which are the world's two biggest producers of cocoa beans.

What was spotted on a salad in a Christchurch supermarket sold counter recently?

• A band-aid

• A mouse

• A diamond ring

Answer explanation

A mouse - Several supermarkets around the motu have been called out for rodent problems.

Countdown Dunedin South closed after footage showed rats in the store.

A customer has also reported seeing a mouse in a West Auckland supermarket.

Food Safety NZ has launched a nationwide review of Woolworths and Countdown supermarkets.

Which of these New Zealand lakes is a volcanic crater lake?

• Lake Tekapo

• Lake Taupō

• Lake Wakatipu

Answer explanation

Lake Taupō - Lake Taupō is in a caldera created mainly by a supervolcanic eruption which occurred approximately 25,600 years ago. Geological records show the volcano has erupted 29 times in the last 30,000 years.

Why is the Department of Conservation concerned about the SailGP race series returning to Christchurch?

• That the competing boats could spread marine pests

• That increased activity could stress nesting little penguins

• That collisions could occur between the boats and rare dolphins

Answer explanation

They are concerned about possible collisions with rare dolphins - DoC holds concerns about the safety of the

nationally vulnerable Hector’s dolphin following last year’s race when dolphins appeared on the race course.

Which attraction was threatened by the Christchurch hills fire last week?

• Christchurch Adventure Park

• Christchurch Gondola

• Christchurch Antarctic Centre

Answer explanation

Christchurch Adventure Park - The fire, which broke out on Wednesday afternoon, had burnt through around 650 hectares by Friday.

The Adventure Park, with mountain biking tracks and a chairlift, was previously devastated in 2017 by fire. The park then had to pay out $14m to homeowners whose houses were damaged after the park's chairlift was left running - spreading the flames.