THE turkey has gone and so have the guests, so here's your chance to test your grey matter
rather than your waistline or patience. Answers at the bottom of the page.
NEWS1 Where is Europe's largest onshore wind farm to be built?
2 In July, the SNP gained a shock victory over Labour in a by-election, with a swing of 22.54%. Where? And who did John Mason defeat to win?
3 Which BBC broa
dcaster described national poet Robert Burns as "no more than a king of sentimental doggerel"?
4 Who did Alistair Darling describe as "not likable at all" whilst on a holiday retreat on the Isle of Lewis?
5 What was the final delegate count in the US Presidential election?
6 Which Hollywood film broke the worldwide box office record for opening-week takings?
7 What is the name of the 'pregnant man' who gave birth to a baby girl in the US this summer?
8 Where did Wayne Rooney and Coleen McLoughlin's wedding take place in June?
9 In the run-up to the Glenrothes by-election, the SNP employed the same campaign slogan that saw Barack Obama heading for the White House – though it proved false in Scotland. What was it?
10 Why did Alex Salmond accuse Labour of "blatant political manipulation" when Jack McConnell's appointment as high commissioner to Malawi was delayed?
BUSINESS1 In which month this year did the Bank of England make the single-biggest interest-rate cut, and by how much were rates reduced?
2 Which Wall Street giant filed for bankruptcy on September 15, 2008, plunging the world's banking system into crisis?
3 Which retailing stalwart went into administration this year, just one year shy of its 100th anniversary on the British high street?
4 On what date did HBOS shareholders vote in favour of the bank's merger with Lloyds TSB?
5 Who replaced Sir Fred Goodwin as chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland?
6 Which three banks benefited from a £37bn bail-out by the UK government on October 13?
7 What was TARP?
8 Which French energy firm agreed a takeover over of British Energy in September?
9 Oil reached 100 a barrel this year for the first time. Was it on a) January 2 b) March 2 c) July 2?
10 Name the American firm behind Budweiser beer that was acquired by Belgian rival InBev?
ENTERTAINMENT1 Christian Bale's Batman was torn between good and evil, and Heath Ledger's Joker was the year's most interesting baddie, but who played Two-Face in The Dark Knight?
2 Proving that they are still alive and kicking, which Scottish rock band celebrated their 30th anniversary this year?
3 There's nothing like a Dane, but which time-travelling Scottish actor wowed the critics this year with his Hamlet for the RSC?
4 Rick Rubin's record production resurrected the career of Johnny Cash. Who was the sparkling singer on the receiving end of his magic touch this year?
5 Their lead singer appears to have kept his shades on all year round, but which Scottish band made hay in the sunshine at this year's T in the Park and caused the traditional annual storming of the King Tut's tent?
6 The Forward Poetry Prize is one of the most valuable in the country. After a 20-year silence, which Scottish poet won?
7 What's the name of the young actor who played the daughter's boyfriend, Sky, in the mega-hit movie Mamma Mia!?
8 Which singer did Sharleen Spiteri say had influenced her first solo album?
9 James Kelman won the Saltire Society's Scottish Book of the Year award this year. What was the title of the novel?
10 While the world descended on Edinburgh in August, Oscar-winner Tilda Swinton launched her own film festival in her hometown. Where is that?
SPORT1 Chris Hoy returned from the Beijing Olympics with three gold medals, but can you name the events he won.
2 Who scored the winning goal for Spain in the final of Euro 2008?
3 Which US golfer impersonated a horse on the final day of the Ryder Cup?
4 Who scored the winning goal in the 2008 FA Cup final?
5 Which club were crowned Scottish rugby champions in 2008?
6 Sir Alex Ferguson guided Manchester United to the English Premier League title. How many times has he achieved this feat?
7 Who did Andy Murray beat in the semi-final of the US Open?
8 Which SPL club appointed a manager from Transylvania?
9 Tiger Woods missed much of the season because of a serious knee injury. Left or right?
10 How many gold medals did Team GB win at the Beijing Olympics?
ANSWERS
DIVORCEa Yes. Who doesn't think he got off lightly? Throw money at her Paul. Just make her go away! b Yes. c Yes – swearing undying fidelity, the couple had a $3m ceremony which they only felt able to share with millions of people over 20 or so pages of Hello! Magazine. d No. Rumours of infidelity didn't shake the power couple.
FASHION LINEa Yes, House of Harlow jewellery line. b Yes. She's signed a deal to produce 'Katie Holmes for Armani' – and has run upacoupleofherSuri'sdresses as well as this little number for herself. c Yes. She's produced a line for Mothercare called 'Baby K'. d Unfortunately, no. It was a joke during the election that she was going into partnership with Neiman Marcus to produce Palinwear – accessible and affordable clothing for today's hockey mom. As well as teen-maternity wear.
BABIESa Sunday Rose b Max and Emme c Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline d Zuma Nesta (a boy…)
TYING THE KNOTa Yes, in a super-secret ceremony with nearly 2,000 orchids for each guest b Yes, and that's some double-double barrelled surname… c No. There was talk of a shotgun wedding last year when Spears found she was pregnant at 16. But the happy couple postponed the wedding until their baby girl was able to be part of their happy day. The wedding has reportedly been postponed again because…17-year-old Spears is rumoured to be pregnant again. d Yes, after dating for a very lengthy two months…
NEWS1 South Lanakshire 2 Glasgow East, Margaret Curran 3 Jeremy Paxman 4 Former Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander 5 Barack Obama – 365, John McCain – 173 6 The Dark Knight 7 Thomas Beatie 8 Santa Margherita, on Italy's Ligurian coast 9 'Yes we can' 10 Because it meant that a potentially damaging by-election in Motherwell and Wishaw would be avoided
BUSINESS1 November, 1.5% 2 Lehman Brothers 3 Woolworths 4 December 12 5 Stephen Hester 6 Royal Bank of Scotland, HBOS and Lloyds TSB 7 It was the Troubled Asset Relief Program, otherwise known as the mother of all bail-outs (by the US government) 8 EDF 9 January 2 10 Anheuser-Busch
ENTERTAINMENT1 Aaron Eckhart 2 Simple Minds 3 David Tennant 4 Neil Diamond 5 Glasvegas 6 Mick Imlah 7 Dominic Cooper 8 Nancy Sinatra 9 Kieron Smith, Boy 10 Nairn
SPORT1 The keirin, the team sprint and the individual sprint 2 Fernando Torres 3 Boo Weekley 4 Kanu 5 Boroughmuir 6 Ten 7 Rafael Nadal 8 Hearts 9 Left 10 19
