The Nation
This is a test to help TIME readers and their friends check their knowledge of current affairs. For most of the 100 questions there are four choices--and only one is the correct answer. Be careful: note that in many cases all but one of the four alternatives are true, which makes the false alternative the correct answer to the question. Any number can play if those taking the test merely write the letters representing their answers on a sheet of paper and make no marks on these pages. The correct answers are printed on page 118--but don't peek! Anyone who can get 100% is really well informed.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1. In his annual economic report, President Eisenhower reported all but one of the following:
a) The 1959 gross national product was $482 billion, a new record.
b) The 116-day steel strike did not hurt business.
c) By the end of the 1960s, the G.N.P. is expected to reach $750 billion.
d) Personal income in the U.S. in 1959 was a record $335 billion.
2. Surveying the state of the U.S. since the first annual economic report was issued in 1946, Ike reported all but one of the following:
a) Infant mortality has declined from 33.8 to 26.3 per 1,000 live births.
b) Real income (in 1959 dollars) rose from $1,605 per capita to $1,891.
c) The number of bachelor's degrees conferred by colleges declined only slightly.
d) Americans won about half of the Nobel Prizes in medicine, chemistry and physics.
3. In his budget for fiscal 1961, the President proposed all but one of the following:
a) A 10% increase in expenditures for the farm program.
b) Nearly doubled spending in nonmilitary space activities.
c) More new money for missiles than for manned airplanes.
d) A 10% cut in corporate income tax. 4. In his State of the Union message, the President said the U.S. wants to do all but one of the following:
a) Widen'' people-to-people exchanges with the Soviet Union.
b) Carry on the talks seeking to solve the nuclear-test deadlock.
c) Look for "sudden and revolutionary results."
d) Seek further disarmament talks.
The Presidency
5. Ike is planning trips in 1960 that will take him to several countries, including all but one of the following:
a) Russia. c) Japan.
b) Uruguay. d) China.
The Economy
6. The steel industry signed a new labor contract, with all but one of the following results:
a) "Victory is yours," Steel Union Chief Dave McDonald told his union.
b) "We took a hell of a licking," said a top steel executive.
c) The terms are less inflationary than any for which steel settled since the end of World War II, said U.S. Steel Chairman Roger Blough.
d) Steel prices promptly went up.
The Atom
7. Just before the Soviet-U.S. nuclear-test moratorium expired, the U.S. announced that it would: a) Resume testing.
b) Test small, "clean" nuclear devices, but no big bombs.
c) Consider itself free to resume testing at any time, but not without specific advance announcement.
d) Continue the moratorium one year.
Foreign Relations
8. As relations between the U.S. and Cuba worsened, the U.S. did all but one of the following:
a) Recalled Ambassador Philip Bonsai for consultation.
b) Reaffirmed its friendship for the Cuban people.
c) Sent 10,000 Marines to the Guantaanamo naval base.
d) Announced that there would be no reprisals against Cuba.
Defense
9. The Soviets fired a missile 7,762 miles into the Pacific, and this was:
a) Not as far as the U.S. has fired the Atlas.
b) Not as far as the U.S. has fired the Titan.
c) Farther than the U.S. has fired any missile.
d) Twice as far as the U.S. has fired any missile.
10. On the criterion of accuracy, the U.S. Atlas:
a) Is as close to pinpoint perfection as the Soviet Pacific missile.
b) Is always many miles off target.
c) Has not been tested.
d) Is far better than the Soviet missile.
11. Thomas S. Gates, the new U.S.
Secretary of Defense, served earlier as:
a) Secretary of the Air Force.
b) Secretary of the Army.
c) Secretary of the Navy.
d) Chairman of the I.C.S. 12. The U.S. commissioned the submarine George Washington, which will be able to do all but one of the following:
a) Roam the seas at speeds and depths far beyond enemy search ability.
b) Serve, when surfaced, as a landing strip for Navy fighters.
c) Fire 16 nuclear-tipped, 1,200-mile-range Polaris missiles at 16 separate targets from below the surface within a few minutes.
d) Operate for years without refueling.
The Congress
13. Southern members of the House are in a dilemma about blocking Negro Congressman Adam Clayton Powell from a committee chairmanship because they don't want to:
a) Provoke national criticism.
b) Violate the seniority principle.
c) Provoke criticism overseas.
d) Cause a serious rift in the party.
14. Rhode Island's Senator Theodore Green announced at 92 that he will not stand for reelection. He was first elected to the Senate when he
was:
a) 26. b) 70. c) 56. d) 80.
Politics
15. This state's primary put Arthur Vandenberg out of the Republican race for the presidency in 1940, stopped Willkie in 1944, and will be a key Democratic battleground in 1960:
a) New Hampshire. c) Oregon.
b) Wisconsin. d) California.
16. As Massachusetts' Senator John Kennedy moved into the 1960 Democratic primaries the acknowledged leader in the race, he said his "principal adversary" was:
a) Hubert Humphrey.
b) Lyndon Johnson.
c) Richard Nixon.
d) Adlai Stevenson.
17. All but one of these prospective candidates for the presidency are millionaires: a) Lyndon lohnson. b) Adlai Stevenson.
c) Richard Nixon.
d) John Kennedy.
Aviation
|g In an effort to promote air safety, FAAdministrator Elwood Quesada has done all but one of the following: a) Cracked down on infractions of rules by pilots.
b) Ordered fluoroscope inspection of all passengers' luggage.
c) Forbidden pilots to fraternize with passengers during flight.
d) Forbidden passengers to drink liquor in
flight unless it is served by a member of the crew.
Who Said That?
Below are six statements by prospective presidential candidates in 1960 and a list of six presidential possibilities. Match candidate and quote: a) Lyndon Johnson.
b) John Kennedy.
c) Hubert Humphrey.
d) Richard Nixon.
e) Adlai Stevenson.
f) Stuart Symington. 19. "If You think Andy Jackson had an inauguration party, wait until I get there."
20. "Of course it is important to elect a good man with good intentions--Lincoln and Buchanan were both good men of good intentions--but there is a Lincoln Room in the White House and no Buchanan Room."
21. "The Democratic Party doesn't practice political birth control."
22. "Harry Truman was somewhat of a table pounder. He got some results that way. Mr. Eisenhower is a persuader. He's gotten results, too."
23. "I would look on any office with great respect."
24. "I certainly would like to be President."
Labor
25. Into retirement went this labor leader, who once called a Vice President of the U.S. "a labor-baiting, poker-playing, whisky-drinking, evil old man": a) George Meany. c) William Green.
b) Harry Bridges, d) John L. Lewis.
Louisiana
26. Louisiana finally turned the back of its ballot on the Long dynasty, and nominated for Governor: a) New Orleans Mayor deLesseps Morrison.
b) Herman Talmadge.
c) Earl Short.
d) Songwriter Jimmie Davis.
Crime
27. Chicago cops rounded up a gang of thieves and found that most of them were: a) Juveniles. c) Gangsters.
b) Women. d) Cops.
FOREIGN NEWS
The Nations
23, Identify the leader who said: "Why blame the Lord God and say that the grain didn't ripen? Sow in time, and then the Lord will say, you did your part and now I'll do mine." a) Pope John.
b) Konrad Adenauer.
c) Nikita Khrushchev.
d) The Shah of Iran. 29. As the "population explosion" became a topic of worldwide discussion, all but one of the following emerged as important factors: a) A baby is born in the U.S. every eleven seconds.
b) In the world, three babies are born every second.
c) The world has little empty space left.
d) The annual birth rate in India equals the population of New York City. 30. The number of refugees still displaced around the world and existing on U.N. doles totals: a) 2,500,000 c) 30,000,000
b) 40,000,000 d) 100,000
France
31. At the heart of the trouble in Algeria was the French settlers' belief that President Charles de Gaulle had: a) Been too severe in his treatment of Algerian rebels.
b) Gone too far in offering the Algerians self-determination.
c) Gone too far to the right.
d) Given too much power to the army. 32. When De Gaulle ousted Antoine Pinay as Finance Minister, it became clear that the French President is: a) Moving out of his government men with independent political strength.
b) Moving farther to the right in economic policy.
c) Ridding his government of bankers.
d) Losing his grip on the Cabinet.
Russia
33. Announcing a new more-rattle-for-a-ruble armament policy, Nikita Khrushchev said all but one of the following: a) Standing armed forces will be reduced from 3,623,000 to 2,423,000.
b) The new program will save the government $1.6 billion.
c) It will result in a balanced budget.
d) Conventional weapons will be cut in favor of missiles. 34. A rapidly growing facet of private enterprise in the Soviet Union is: a) Selling autos.
b) Production of vodka.
c) Leasing houses to commuters.
d) Selling land.
Egypt
35. When the Soviet Union said it was ready to join in construction of the second stage of the Aswan Dam, President Nasser of the United Arab Republic sent back: a) A statement that the U.A.R. can do the rest itself.
b) His "greatly overjoyed" acceptance.
c) A "reluctant acceptance."
d) A statement that Egypt wants the West to finance the second phase.
India
36. Prime Minister Nehru worked hard to stir up a good welcome for Soviet President Voroshilov because he: a) Regards the Soviets as on his side in restraining Communist China.
b) Considers the Soviet Union democratic rather than Communist.
c) Wants to get military aid from the Soviet Union.
d) Wants to form an Indian-Russian alliance.
Japan
37. Premier Kishi, who traveled to Washington to sign a new U.S.-Japanese Treaty, in the past did all but one of the following: a) Participated in the decisions leading to Pearl Harbor.
b) Served three years in prison as a war-crime suspect.
c) Signed Japan's declaration of war against the U.S.
d) Became Premier within a year after war's end. 38. The new U.S.-Japanese Treaty pledges all but one of the following: a) Both nations will react if the forces of either are attacked in Japan.
b) Japan agrees to severely limit its exports to the U.S.
c) The two will consult before U.S. forces in Japan receive nuclear arms.
d) Japan is released from further support of U.S. troops in Japan.
Iran
39. The Shah of Iran took a bride --after she was "discovered" by his: a) Previous wife. c) Son.
b) Daughter and d) Minister of
son-in-law. Matrimony.
Africa
40. At the Kenya constitutional conference the African members' chief special adviser was: a) Kwame Nkrumah.
b) Thurgood Marshall.
c) Jomo Kenyatta.
d) Tom Mboya.
Great Britain
41. Sir Anthony Eden published his memoirs, and one of the major villains of the piece was: a) John Foster Dulles.
b) Harold Macmillan.
c) Eisenhower.
d) Konrad Adenauer.
LATIN AMERICA
Latin America was an area of uproar and trouble on one hand, and of heartening achievement on the other. Match each of these statements with the correct letter from the map. 42. During the last year, one third of the $850 million U.S. investment in this chaotic country has been seized by the revolutionary government.
43. Despite trouble, an austere dictatorship of long standing held firm on this half of an island.
44. In hate-the-U.S. demonstrations here, rioters attempted to plant their flag on an important piece of U.S.-controlled property.
45. President Manuel Prado called for a hemisphere disarmament conference--but his navy was buying two cruisers from Britain.
46. This country will soon occupy its new custom-built capital, the newest city in the world.
47. Ruled most of its 130 years by dictators this oil-rich country was making genuine progress as a constitutional democracy.
48. Here President Arturo Frondizi weathered many a political and economic crisis.
49. This country's President, while amassing a solid record of progress, visited the U.S. and Canada last fall, plans a visit soon to Russia.
50. On this half of an island where the presence of the U.S. Marines was once an emotional and troublesome issue, the Marines are back helping to train local troops.
CANADA
51. In prosperous Canada, Prime Minister John Diefenbaker outlined an agenda for Parliament which called for:
a) A big new military program. b) No drastic changes.
c) An ambitious industrial development program.
d) A sweeping revision of welfare policy. 52. Quebec had its second new premier in four months. His name: a) Maurice Duplessis.
b) Paul Sauve.
c) Antonio Barrette.
d) Maurice Richard.
PEOPLE
53. He was teeing off on a golf course one day when someone used the word handicap, and he cracked: "Talk about handicap--I'm a one-eyed Negro Jew." His name: a) Sugar Ray Robinson.
b) Nat King Cole.
c) Sammy Davis Jr.
d) Cab Galloway. 54. He was promoted without a raise in pay, and his boss said: "He has earned the job. We need a good man right away to do it." a) Thomas Gates.
b) Elvis Presley.
c) Eddie Rickenbacker.
d) Jacques Massu. 55. He said: "I would give almost anything I have to reverse the course of my life in the last three years." a) Errol Flynn.
b) Robert Spears.
c) Mennen Williams.
d) Charles Van Doren.
ART
56. An American collector gave a group of 50-odd sculptures to Israel's National Museum. The collector: a) Robert Lehman.
b) Billy Rose.
c) Averell Harriman.
d) Huntington Hartford.
CINEMA
57. The most expensive movie ever made was beginning to pay for itself: a) Black Orpheus.
b) The Ten Commandments.
c) Ben-Hur.
d) They Came to Cor dura.
EDUCATION
58. In Dixie-oriented Washington, D.C., where "massive" integration of the public school system began in 1954, Negroes now make up this percentage of the student body: a) 50%. b) 26%. c) 76%. d) 10%. 59. In the Soviet Union, the educational system is pushing toward--but is far from--a goal set by Khrushchev to have all children:
a) Take art. b) Study agriculture.
c) Go to boarding schools.
d) Learn to fly.
MEDICINE
60. One of the serious new challenges besetting the medical profession is that certain strains of Staphylococcus bacteria are: a) Causing nervous disorders.
b) Resistant to the new wonder drugs.
c) A cause of cancer.
d) Increasing alcoholism.
61. After years of bitter argument, spokesmen for the two sides in the smoking-and-cancer controversy met in San Francisco and agreed: a) Most lung cancer is caused by cigarette smoking.
b) Most of it is caused by general atmospheric pollution.
c) Both appear to play a part.
d) Neither is a factor. 62. A new device in the treatment of heart disease is the portable "pacemaker," which, through an electrode attached to the heart: a) Causes the patient to slow down.
b) Regulates the flow of blood.
c) Restores an ailing heart to normal beat.
d) Reduces tensions. 63. After studying the sleeping habits of youngsters, a University of Munich pediatrician came to all but one of the following conclusions: a) Early-to-bed is always a good policy.
b) Children need less sleep than many parents believe.
c) Ten-year-olds need only ten hours' sleep.
d) 14-year-olds need not more than nine hours.
MUSIC
64. The Joy of Music is the title of a new:
a) Popular song. b) Musical on Broadway.
c) Tennessee Williams play.
d) Book by Leonard Bernstein. 65. The season's big new star at the Metropolitan Opera is Soprano: a) Rise Stevens.
b) Lily St. Cyr.
c) Birgit Nilsson.
d) Anne Bancroft.
PRESS
66. The battle between newspapermen and TV newsmen erupted as: a) Eisenhower banned TV at his regular press conferences.
b) All three major TV networks announced that their men no longer would appear at "separate but equal" news conferences scheduled for TV by the governors of New York and California.
c) Speaker Sam Rayburn decided to allow TV cameras in the House.
d) The Republican National Committee voted against TV speeches. 67. In Cuba, Fidel Castro closed in on the press, with all but one of the following results: a) Havana-based for eign correspondents were subjected to a barrage of abuse.
b) Newspapers were forced to run statements that stories which criticized the Castro regime were untrue. c) A leading Cuban editor fled the country.
d) The government seized all daily newspapers.
RELIGION
68. After years of study of the Methodist Church's racial policy, a church commission said that segregation should be: a) Continued indefinitely.
b) Abolished at once.
c) Wiped out gradually over a period of five years.
d) Eliminated in the North but not in the South. 69. After a trip through the Soviet Union, a World Council of Churches delegation reported all but one of the following: a) Religion in the Soviet Union is "remarkably rich and intense."
b) Theological seminaries are well filled with high-caliber students.
c) Congregations are surprisingly large.
d) Religious youth groups are active.
SCIENCE
70. On the desert in Utah, a big plant is rushing construction of the Minuteman, which is a: a) Solid-fuel missile.
b) New type of plane.
c) New radar device.
d) Space capsule. 71. The U.S. Navy sent its bathyscaph to the bottom of the Marianas Trench and found that the trench is all but one of the following: a) 1.7 miles deeper than Mount Everest is high.
b) Uninhabited by any sea life.
c) Half a mile deeper than expected.
d) Covered at the bottom with soft silt.
SHOW BUSINESS
72. In a number of varied performances he proved his versatility as an actor and became one of the TV hits of the season: a) Mickey Rooney. b) Jackie Gleason. c) Art Carney. d) Lawrence Welk. 73. In the wake of the TV investigations, all three major networks promised that they will: a) Devote at least one hour every week to public-service shows. b) Drop all quiz shows.
c) Drop all crime shows.
d) Ban disk jockeys. 74 Watching taste in music, music-men concluded that rock 'n' roll is: a) Hotter than ever.
b) Suffering a decline.
c) Spreading from teen-agers to adults.
d) Holding its own.
SPORT
75. Guy Rodgers, the shortest full-time starter in the National Basketball Association, stands: a) An even 6 ft. c) 6 ft. 5 in.
b) 5 ft. 5 in. d) An even 5 ft. 76. The holder of the world record in the high jump, a college freshman, was back in the air after recovering from a serious injury. His name: a) John Thomas. c) Gordie Howe.
b) Traudl Hecher. d) Lars Macropus. 77. The 1960 Winter Olympics will be held at: a) Rome. b) Squaw Valley, Idaho.
c) Sun Valley, d) Squaw Valley, Calif.
BUSINESS
78. As the problems of the commuter grew more serious in almost every U.S. metropolitan area, New Haven Railroad President George Alpert was pushing as the main solution: a) More bus lines.
b) More helicopter service.
c) A Government subsidy.
d) More railroads. 79. Following a seasonal pattern, the stock market in the first weeks of 1960: a) Rose.
b) Dropped steadily.
c) Held steady.
d) Rose sharply, then fell sharply. 80. This industry leader said, with good reason: "Ours is the only major industry where prices are lower--and yet quality is higher--than ten years ago." a) Textileman James Spencer Love.
b) Sugarman Boyd MacNaughton.
c) Boatman William C. Scott.
d) General Electric's Ralph Cordiner. 81. In the fourth quarter of 1959, corporate profits in the U.S.: a) Rose in nearly all industries.
b) Just held even.
c) Dropped.
d) Ran below the same quarter of 1958. 82. One of the hottest economic issues in election year 1960 is the interest ceiling on long-term Government bonds, which stands at: a) 5%. b) 4 1/44%. c) 6%. d) 3%. 83. The new compact cars: a) Are failing to sell.
b) Have taken less than 1.5% of the auto market.
c) Are outselling standard cars.
d) Have grabbed about 25% of the market.
B4. One of the negative factors in the U.S. economic picture for 1959 was the fact that the U.S. balance of trade showed a deficit of: a) $4 billion. c) $10 million.
b) $75 billion. d) $4 million.
BOOKS
85. All but one of the following have been on the nonfiction bestseller list for several weeks: a) Folk Medicine.
b) The Status Seekers.
c) Advise and Consent.
d) Act One.
THEATER
B6.AH but one of the following are new Broadway shows based on the lives of famous people: a) The Sound of Music.
b) The Miracle Worker.
c) Fiorello!
d) The Tenth Man.
MILESTONES
87. Born. To Mme. Jacques Charrier, a 7-lb. boy (name: Nicholas Jacques). Mother is: a) An actress. c) A sculptress.
b) A figure skater. d) A columnist. 88. Died. A 60-year-old author (On the Beach) who once said he would prefer to die "in an aeroplane, since aeroplanes have been the best part of my life"; of a stroke. His name: a) Albert Camus. c) Havelock Ellis.
b) Ronald Knox. d) Nevil Shute. 89. Died. A 46-year-old author (The Myth of Sisyphus) who would have considered the way he died, in a speeding sports car, absurd. His name: a) Nevil Shute. c) Ronald Knox.
b) Havelock Ellis, d) Albert Camus. 90. Died. Margaret Sullavan, 50, actress, who after death revealed a cause of her tragic behavior. She left: a) A note about her frustrations.
b) Her ear bones to the cause of medical research on deafness.
c) AH her property to a church.
d) Her full estate to a hospital.
Watch the Language
Match the word and the meaning: a) exobiology. 9 1. A summer house.
b) connection. 92. The study of
life that may exist beyond this earth.
c) Outer Seven. 93. A dope supplier.
d) magnetohy-94. A European drodynamics. economic league.
e) kook. 95. Way out.
f) barfy. 96. The study of plasmas of ion ized particles.
g) Endsville. 97. An odd bird.
h) naturopath. 98. A mysterious virus.
i) Q flu. 99. fesses One to who heal pro by use,,of air, light, water, vibrations, heat, etc.
j) gazebo. 100. Sick; really sick.
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