News Quiz 2014: A test of your news knowledge

Happy New Year’s Eve! Now that all the wrapping paper, decorations and celebrity versions of “Baby, it’s Cold Outside” have been put away for the season, it’s time to break out the champagne and settle down for the annual Press Democrat Editorial Department News Junkies Quiz. We’re proud to say that this is the 21st year that we have been offering this feature, which returns once again with great enthusiasm, deep analysis and relatively little public demand. As always, we ask that you keep your eyes on our own paper and place your books, smartphones and ‘I’ items (iPods, iPads and other igadgetry) under your desk. This is not an open-electronics exam. So without further delay, here is the 2014 quiz:

1. SMART was applauded in August when it decided not to cut down a rare chimera redwood in Cotati as part of its track work. Instead SMART:

a. Moved the tree 450 feet to a site near a train station.

b. Moved the tree to a site near the new Student Center at Sonoma State University.

c. Slightly altered the course of the tracks.

d. Donated the tree to a collector of albino arbors.

2. Santa Rosa’s new city manager, Sean McGlynn, has a master’s degree from UCLA that may prepare him to deal with any drama at City Hall. In what subject did he earn his degree?

a. Public administration

b. Theater arts

c. Law

d. Counseling.

3. True or False: Santa Rosa set a new December record for rainfall in just two weeks with the string of storms that started the month.

4. How much beef ended up being recalled following a federal raid on the Rancho Feeding slaughterhouse in Petaluma earlier this year?

a. 276,000 pounds

b. 1.27 million pounds

c. 4.3 million pounds

d. 8.7 million pounds

5. An indictment handed down this year against state Sen. Leland Yee alleged, among other things, that the San Francisco Democrat sought money in exchange for:

a. Helping to pass legislation making it easier to open gaming casinos in urban areas.

b. Helping to pass legislation making it easier to bypass state environmental rules for big-box stores in rural areas.

c. Helping to pass legislation making it harder for professional football players to obtain workers compensation in California.

d. Niner tickets and other SWAG

6. Among unemployment rates in California’s 58 counties, Sonoma County this year had:

a. The third highest

b. The fifth highest

c. The fifth lowest

d. The third lowest

7. The Emerald Cup is the name of:

a. A new soccer tournament at Trione Fields.

b. A hockey tournament at Snoopy’s Home Ice.

c. The trophy that goes to the winner of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway.

d. A celebration of cannabis at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.

8. What was Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo wearing when he was arrested in July on suspicion of trying to access - a charge later changed to attempted peeking - a neighbor’s home in July?

a. Just underwear

b. Socks and underwear

c. Jogging clothes

d. Just legal briefs

9. The Healdsburg City Council this year voted to prohibit:

a. Minors under the age of 18 from entering tasting rooms.

b. Those under the age of 21 from buying cigarettes and other tobacco products.

c. Fluoridation of the city’s water supply.

d. Roundabouts

10. As the San Francisco Giants were winning their third World Series in five years, pitcher Madison Bumgarner was assembling one of the most remarkable records in Major League history. Tell us how many earned runs Bumgarner gave up in 52 and 2/3 innings of post-season competition.

11. One Sonoma County city is represented by two City Council members who were not born in the U.S. Name the city, the council members and the countries in which they were born.

12. True or False: In November, Eyesight Technologies became the largest company ever based in Sonoma County.

13. State and federal officials this year warned that this industry inflicts a “staggering” impact on the wildlife habitat of North Coast counties. Name the industry.

14. True or False: In the new year, the City of Santa Rosa plans to begin construction on the reunification of Old Courthouse Square.

15. The Santa Rosa firefighters union was fined $2,000 for robocalls aimed at two City Council candidates. Tell us why the union was fined, and, while you’re at it, tell us the names of the two candidates.

16. Name the financially troubled community institution that closed its doors in April.

17. In the pre-dawn hours of Aug. 24, Napa was hammered by a magnitude-6.0 earthquake. Federal emergency officials estimated damages at more than $400 million. Name the earthquake fault that caused the temblor.

18. A total of 9,935 cases of pertussis (whooping cough) were reported to the California Department of Public Health this year, the highest number in:

a. Five years

b. Seven years

c. 12 years

d. 70 years

19. According to a California health report in May, the county with the highest whooping cough infection rate was:

a. Marin County followed by Sonoma and Tehama counties

b. Sonoma County followed by Marin and Tehama counties.

c. Mendocino County followed by Marin and Sonoma.

d. Tehama County, followed by Sonoma and Marin.

20. A former furniture store on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa went back on the market in January after plans fell through to transform it into:

a. A microbrewery

b. A medicinal marijuana shop

c. A roller derby rink

d. A boxing club.