sneakydeaky quiztime (IV): the answers

click to enlarge (worth it)

Ladies and gentlemen, boyz and girlz...it's the moment of truth (SFX drumroll)

SNEAKYDEAKY QUIZTIME IV: THE ANSWERS

Yesssssssssssssssssssssss, it's the moment the tenterhooked world of ciberespacio gets its relief. Well, actually the seven (YES SEVEN!) players this week and maybe the others who were watching the action from the sidelines. So here we jolly well go.....hang on ter yer hatz!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I asked:
1) Peru was awarded investment grade this week, but which ratings agency gave them the prize?

a) Standard & Poors
b) Fitch
c) Moody's
d) Nielsen

The answer was b), Fitch. That was the easy warmer-upper, as I've posted on it at least 4 times this week and it was plastered everywhere else, too.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I asked
2) This week, Iran offered U$230m to build a new hydroelectric dam in the region. In which country?

a) Honduras
b) Venezuela
c) Bolivia
d) Nicaragua

The answer was d), Nicaragua. Beats me why Iran didn't offer the project to Colombia, but there you go............

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I asked
3) This week, scientific tests report that Botox may be a health danger, as if injected in the face the toxins may move to the brain. Which Latin American president is the most at risk from this news?

a) Michelle Bachelet
b) Rafael Correa
c) Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner
d) Manuel Noriega

The answer was c), Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. Please don't take my word for it, though. Compare how Klishtina looks when fully prepared and when not at her best. (or perhaps this one). YOU BE THE JUDGE!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I asked
4) Which of the following countries had the lowest rate of inflation for the month of March?

a) Chile
b) Peru
c) Brazil
d) Colombia

The answer was c), Brazil. Now I'm being a little bit sneakydeaky on this one cos Brazil has only published its Sao Paolo city inflation so far, but as it's 0.31% it's very unlikely to be above the 0.8% of Chile and Colombia and the impressive (??) 1%+ in Peru. So the answer is Brazil, and it's my blog...so tough.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I asked
5) In 2007, Mexico's oil production stood at 2.94Mbbl/d. What is the projected production for the year 2021, according to the Mexican gov't?

a) 2.6Mbbl/d
b) 2.2Mbbl/d
c) 1.8Mbbl/d
d) 1.4Mbbl/d

The answer was c), 1.8Mbbl/d, and that's a lot of down from today's level. The reason is the rapidly drying Cantarel production zone combined with the mañana attitude of the locals. They're now waking up to the problem. Time will tell if they actually do something about this (like invading Venezuela, perhaps?)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I asked
6) Due to the agro strike, to which country did Cristina Kirchner cancel her state visit this week?

a) The UK
b) The USA
c) France
d) Brazil

The answer was a), the UK. And myyyyy ooooooooooooooh myyyyyyy, how was she feeling when she saw Michelle Bachelet shaking hands with Queen Liz 2? Y'see, Klishtina was booked on the same package tour. Mind you, she did find time to zip across to la belle France over the weekend to get kozy with Sarkozy. France has a better class of restaurant and duty-free shop, too. Week saved! Phew!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I asked
7) Colombia revealed that it has paid an informant for revealing the exact location of the now bombed out FARC Ecuador camp. How much was the reward payment?

a) U$1m
b) U$1.8m
c) U$2m
d) U$2.7m

The answer was d), U$2.7m, and that's serious moolah. I can only assume it went to one of the FARC rebels (make that ex-FARC rebels) who should be thinking about a new place to live for security reasons, perhaps. Here's my suggestion.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I asked
8) According to this week's gov't figures, what percentage of GDP is Argentina's foreign debt?

a) 67%
b) 20%
c) 42%
d) 49%

The answer was a), 67%. Crazy innit? This is the country that proudly boasts of having paid off the IMF, but while nobody's looking wants another U$8Bn on the books to keep things ticking over nicely. For spanish speakers, check out the post dated 7th April at this excellent Argentina economics blog that shows what kind of obligations Argentina is facing in the immediate future. No wonder they want to squeeze the soybean farmers for all they can.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I asked
9) According to the latest approval ratings which of these four presidents is most popular with their own citizens?

a) Evo Morales
b) Michelle Bachelet
c) Lula da Silva
d) Alan Garcia

The answer was a), Evo Morales. Most of you went for Lula, but his 55% recent rating was pipped at the post by Evo's very handy 56% result (reliable survey company, too). Michelle has improved a bit recently, but still scores mid 40s. Alan? Oh dear.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I asked
10) According to a report recently published by the Cuban gov't, what is the annual consumer inflation rate in the country?

a) 4%
b) 6.5%
c) 7%
d) 11%

The answer was a), 4%, and although it was quite limited in its scope the Survey of Prices in the Informal Sector was a bit of a landmark disclosure, as it's the first time in ages we've had a stat like this published by Cuba. The Raul revolution continues. Hasta la victoria siempre.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

And there you have it. And the winner is the glamorous and wise and witty and generally super-duper IFI FROM GREECE, who scored an extremely impressive 9/10 (and will probably have a go at me about the inflation question too). Ifi, you totally totally rule and you've given me the greatest idea for next week's top prize. She knows and I know...the rest of you stay tuned.

Special mention goes to my brother, who scored a highly respectable 7/10 (esp if you consider how his school leaving exam results totally sucked at the time)....you rule bro!

So watch out for the next sneakydeaky quiz, coming to a screen near you this Saturday. Enjoy Paraguay, Ifi.

Toodle pip!