1. Pupils taking the English language and literature A-level next year will be able to study which controversial new set text?
Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone
2. Gordon Brown came close to a rebellion by MPs for abolishing the 10p tax rate for low earners. Which MP led the charge against the PM?
Frank Field
3. Who are to be actively recruited to become teachers in Britain's failing schools?
Former armed forces personnel
4. The Olympics minister, Tessa Jowell, was made to walk over hot coals for her budgeting of the 2012 Games, which she said would cost £4bn. How much is it thought to be now?
£9bn
5. The Italian edition of Vogue is set to defy the views of many in the fashion industry by doing what?
Using black models
6. A Surrey council has threatened a man with prosecution for erecting what outside his home - A statue of a naked figure, A jolly roger flag or A sign declaring "This is a nuclear-free zone"?
A jolly roger flag
7. Who does this year's Sunday Times rich list report to be Britain's wealthiest individual, with a fortune of £27.7bn?
Steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal
8. Why has the carmaker Volvo been ordered to pay compensation to a German driver who bought one of its models - The driver complained he could not turn the lights off, His feet were too big to use the accelerator or He could not find the ignition?
His feet were too big to use the accelerator
9. Who said Britain was in danger of "sleepwalking into a surveillance society"?
Liberty director Shami Chakrabati
10. Officials in the 1950s feared a nuclear missile attack on Britain would have a "very serious" impact on supplies of a certain product, with "a loss of 75% of stocks and substantial delays in imports". To what product were they referring?
Tea
11. In what country have Indian movies been re-introduced after having been banned in 1965?
Pakistan
12. Already soaring wheat prices are under threat from an infestation called what?
Wheat stem rust
13. Which EU country's MPs have passed a law against the promotion of anorexia?
France
14. Thousands of Somalis are risking their lives in a perilous sea journey to which country?
Yemen
15. By EU Law, Which animals are soon to be subjected to dope testing?
Bulls in Spain
16. Which country has just elected a former Maoist guerrilla to lead a constitutional convention and likely be the first president?
Nepal
17. Which former Labour cabinet minister has admitted suffering from bulimia?
John Prescott
18. Scientists were surprised to discover that the Thames had a breeding population of which creatures?
Seahorses
19. Which organisation has admitted to destroying 100,000 books?
Unesco
20. In what country are voters being subjected to a concerted campaign of beating and harassment before the likely second round of a presidential election?
Zimbabwe
21. Former Pop Idol star Darius Danesh is currently starring in Trevor Nunn’s musical adaptation of which literary and film classic at The New London Theatre?
Gone With The Wind
22. Which cricketer is Lancashire’s captain for the 2008 county season?
Stuart Law
23. Of which European country is Donald Tusk currently Prime Minister?
Poland
24. Which Irishman is the Chief Executive of British Airways?
Willie Walsh
25. With strong language and scenes of drug-taking and adolescent sex, in which city is the Channel 4 drama, Skins, set?
Bristol
26. Which spiritual leader’s title translated into English means ‘Ocean teacher’?
The Dalai Lama
27. What size shoes are worn by rinky dinky Kylie, who has just started her latest tour - Two, Three or Four?
Three
28. Who stripped off after playing arch-rivals Rangers to reveal a "God bless the Pope" T-shirt?
Celtic's Artur Boruc - Manager Gordon Strachan dismissed the incident, saying the Pope was "a good lad"
29. How many official portraits did Tony Blair sit for during his tenure as prime minister?
Two
30. Who ‘lost his head’ at Liverpool’s South Parkway transport hub last month?
Ringo Starr (his head was removed by vandals from the sculptured topiary exhibit of the Beatles)
31. Food prices are on the up due to factors such as poor harvests and crops being grown for biofuels. Which of these staples has risen the most - Eggs, Cheese, Milk or Cereals?
Eggs - up 31.6% in the past year
32. A venerable institution, running its first major recruitment drive for 40 years. Which one - The Catholic Church, Avon Cosmetics or The European Space Agency?
Avon
33. Of which European country is Fredrik Reinfeldt currently Prime Minister?
Sweden
34. Proof that no publicity is bad publicity - negative press about advertising bans has earned which company £1m of free publicity - Ryanair, Benetton or Pot Noodle?
Ryanair - which created £1m of "incremental media value" on the back of seven banned ads
35. Baby joy for ex-Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona. But who did she name baby Maxwell after?
Max Clifford - Baby Maxwell Croft was born at 5lbs 4oz, five weeks early
36. In a sporting sense, what currently links the following seven cities: Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, Chicago, Madrid, Prague, Baku and Doha?
They are all currently bidding to host the 2016 Olympic Games
37. Opera is to feature for the first time at which music festival this summer?
Glastonbury
38. After less than a year in the no-frills air travel business, which airline has gone into administration?
Duo
39. Which former football star was re-admitted to hospital after checking himself out following a heart scare?
Diego Maradona
40. Why is the corkscrew heading for the 'gadget graveyard'?
Because corks are being replaced by screw-caps
Tiebreakers
When the Sunday Times Rich List was first published in 1989, a fortune of £80m made 83rd place. Where would it land you today?
969th. Among the joint names in that place are hairdresser Vidal Sassoon, singer Robert Plant and ex-minister turned motor racing driver Lord Drayson. The Queen made 264th place with £320m and Phil Collins and Eric Clapton were joint 564th, with £140m.
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How many Acts of Parliament have been passed since 1801, based on estimates calculated by House of Commons researchers?
3,679 - but that is only a best guess. Nobody is quite sure!
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According to the CIA World Factbook, as of July 2007, what was the estimated population of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
60,776,238
Attachment: Quiztime NewsQuiz 070508.txt
