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One of the things we like to do from time to time at the Thursday quiz is have a themed edition, and every January we enjoy a special numbers week. It’s the same mix of topical news, general knowledge and pop culture questions, but with a twist – every question and answer somehow revolves around numbers, however tenuous. You will soon get the hang of it. Do let us know how you get on in the comments!
The Thursday quiz, No 192 – numbers week
- 1.How many lynx were on the run in the Scottish Highlands last week?
- 2.The Maha Kumbh Mela began in India this week, for the first time in how many years?
- 3.Just Stop Oil sprayed '1.5 is dead' on whose grave this week?
- 4.Lauren Laverne is to step down from her regular radio breakfast slot after six years. She is a broadcaster on which station?
- 5.Spain has announced plans to impose a tax on property bought by non-residents from outside the EU – such as the UK – in an aim to tackle the country's housing crisis. How much did the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, say the tax could be?
- 6.It's scores on the doors with Swindon’s Diana Dors. The statue wants to take part in the numbers special too. How many points does a rider score when they win a Speedway heat?
- 7.It's Karl-Heinz and his opening lines. This week the Thursday quiz imagines the German soccer legend would like to ask you what number completes the opening line of George Orwell's novel 1984: 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking …?'
- 8.Talking of George Orwell, the Royal Mint has announced he would be honoured on a coin. Which coin?
- 9.It is the unexpected return of 'higher or lower with Tony Yeboah'. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. Is its apparent magnitude higher or lower than zero?
- 10.Chemistry! What is the atomic number of the metal cobalt, which hilariously appears to have got its name from German miners calling it 'goblin ore'?
- 11.Even more hilariously, last week Liz Truss tried to deflect attention from people repeatedly saying she crashed the economy by sending a legal letter asking Keir Starmer not to say she crashed the economy. That always works. Truss spent 49 days in No 10, building her terrible legacy as prime minister. But for how long was Rishi Sunak prime minister?
- 12.This is Willow, the official dog of the Guardian Thursday quiz. She wants you to tell her where the book of Numbers fits into the Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox Old Testaments.
- 13.Customer service experts Ryanair are calling for a limit on passengers having how many alcoholic drinks at EU airports before boarding flights?
- 14.In most weeks 'Lazio fire far-right eagle mascot handler over his social media penis posts' would have been a Thursday quiz question shoo-in, but there isn't a number angle, so instead how much is a ridiculous Norwich pizzeria attempting to charge people for pizza with pineapple on it (not pictured)?
- 15.And finally … who had a UK hit single in 1983 with a song called Numbers?
If you really do think there has been an egregious error in one of the questions or answers – and can show your working and are absolutely 100% positive you aren’t attempting to factcheck a joke – you can complain about it in the comments below. Alternatively, why not enjoy The Number One Song in Heaven by Sparks instead?
