News Quiz - Week 49

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Introduction

Every week*, a free news quiz is available for students in primary, secondary, and vocational education. Thousands of teachers and students take part, often using the quiz to end the week. However, this news quiz can also be perfectly used at home or for a pub quiz. The quiz can be played directly from LessonUp: click on the image and start the quiz by pressing the “Teach” button. Participants join via their own device. *excluding regular school holidays.

News Quiz

School year 2025-2026

Week 49

In the UK Autumn Budget, which was summarized this week, the National Living Wage (NLW) for eligible workers aged 21 and over was set to increase to what amount per hour?

Question 1

A

£11.50

B

£12.71

C

£13.00

D

£15.77

New research published this week suggested that avian (bird) flu viruses pose a major threat to humans because they are resistant to which natural human defense mechanism?

Question 2

A

Antibodies

B

Fever

C

Stomach Acid

D

Mucus production

The UK Home Office announced legislation this week to tackle people smuggling by introducing a new crime with a five-year prison term. What is the name of this new offense?

Question 3

A

Endangering lives at sea

B

Facilitating Illegal Entry

C

Maritime Human Trafficking

D

Unauthorized Sea Transport

After a National Guard member's death in Washington D.C., President Trump halted immigration applications from which country for "re-examination"?

Question 4

A

Russia

B

Syria

C

Afghanistan

D

Belgium

Question 5

The UK government granted planning approval this week for the £9 billion Lower Thames Crossing. What type of infrastructure is this project?

A

A high-speed rail line connecting London and Scotland.

B

A new deep-sea port facility on the East coast.

C

The UK's largest road tunnel, connecting Essex and Kent.

D

An underwater data cable connecting the UK and Ireland.

Which European head of state was hosted by King Charles III this week on a three-day state visit, marking the first time a leader from that country had visited the UK in 27 years?

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Question 6

A

The President of France

B

The Chancellor of Austria

C

The President of Germany

D

The Prime Minister of Spain

Authorities in which major Asian city faced growing criticism and launched a major investigation after a tower block fire saw the death toll rise to over 150 people?

Question 7

A

Shanghai, China

B

Seoul, South Korea

C

Tokyo, Japan

D

Hong Kong

Question 8

A runaway reindeer, having escaped from a festive event, was pursued and rescued by the Merseyside Police. What was its name?

A

Rudolph

B

Buddy

C

Scrooge

D

Reindeer 67

Which British singer is offering fans specially themed tacos at her Mexican concerts?

Question 9

A

Charli XCX

B

Becky Hill

C

RAYE

D

Dua Lipa

1. In the Autumn Budget, the the UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the removal of the two-child limit in the child element of Universal Credit from April 2026, a measure estimated to lift 450,000 children out of poverty.

2. In the Philippines, massive protests denouncing corruption were held across the country in relation to an ongoing flood control scandal, highlighting public anger over the misuse of public funds.

3. A new report from the University of Oxford warned that the UK is one of the most nature-depleted nations on Earth, ranking in the bottom 10% of countries globally on the Biodiversity Intactness Index.

4. In an attempt to deter theft, an Italian supermarket has deployed geese to 'guard' the entrance and products.

5. The publisher of the Oxford Dictionary announced its Word of the Year 2025 this week. While the official winner was related to AI, a simultaneous poll was run to determine whether Die Hard counted as a Christmas movie.

Universal Credit

flood

10%

geese

Die Hard

PIP

birth

25%

armed drones

Love Actually

Fill in the blanks!

Question 10

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