2020 News Quiz: Do You Know the Top Stories of the Year?

By BrainFall Staff - Updated: April 9, 2024

Let's journey back in time, shall we? Ah, 2020, the year that kept us all on the edges of our socially-distanced seats. We had it all: close encounters with comets, lockdowns that turned our living rooms into makeshift offices, and a whole new vocabulary—think 'Zoom fatigue.' Understatement of the decade: it was a year like no other. So, we've put together a 2020 news quiz that'll test your memory. Are you ready to prove you've got the best recollection in town, or has all that banana bread baking fogged up the old noggin?

We're not just asking you to remember the big-ticket items—no, that would be too easy for news buffs like us. We're talking about the quirky side stories, the feel-good moments, and yes, the political whirlwinds that swept through our feeds faster than you can say 'social media detox.' We promise it'll be more fun than your tenth virtual trivia night (and we know you've had plenty).

Prepare to laugh at the absurdity, gasp at the revelations, and maybe even shed a nostalgic tear or two. Gather the gang, or go it alone if you're feeling like a maverick—either way, it's time to dive into the news highlights (or lowlights, depending on who you ask) of 2020. Will you emerge as the BrainFall news quiz champion, or will you be left wondering if you accidentally slept through the entire year? There's only one way to find out!

Pandemic and Politics

Before we dive into the maze of major events, let's sharpen our pencils for a sketch of 2020—a year where health hazards and political high-wires had us all on the edge of our seat. Now, let's wind back the clock!

Covid Chronicles

Remember when we were all trying to figure out how to bake bread at home? Yeah, the coronavirus pandemic turned our lives into a real-life game of Survivor. Elbow bumps replaced handshakes, and our vocabulary expanded faster than our collection of funky face masks—terms like "social distancing" became as common as our coffee breaks!

• Presidential Proclamations: President Trump's daily briefings turned into must-see TV, with the White House becoming the stage for a battle against an invisible enemy.
• Lockdowns & Letdowns: From coast to coast, lockdowns had us redecorating our living spaces—because, you know, that wall definitely needed a new color for the third time.

Election Extravaganza

Oh, the drama! The 2020 presidential election was like the season finale of America's long-running reality show. The twist and turns had us glued to our screens, wondering if our votes would get lost in the mail like that sweater we ordered online.

• Campaign Clash: Joe Biden tossed his hat in the ring, promising to be the calm after the storm, while President Trump rallied his base with the confidence of a TikTok teen.
• Ballot Battles: Let's not forget the nail-biting, hair-pulling state-by-state showdown. Our nerves were more frayed than our favorite pair of quarantine sweatpants!

Supreme Court Shuffle

Like a plot twist in a telenovela, the Supreme Court had its moments of suspense with seats changing faster than the tunes on a DJ's playlist.

• Judicial Jukebox: The passing of Justice Ginsburg had us all in a somber mood, while the swift nomination of Amy Coney Barrett turned the court's composition into a hot debate topic—popcorn, anyone?

Ready to see how well you remember the rollercoaster that was 2020? Head over to BrainFall and take our "2020 News Quiz: Do You Know the Top Stories of the Year?" to find out if you're a news ninja or if you've been living under a rock (no judgment, rocks can be cozy!).

Culture and Cataclysms

Before we dive into the whirlwind that was 2020, let's set the stage. Our collective memories are sure to be a bit hazy—after all, it was a year that felt like a decade. But from Tinseltown tremors to sports stadiums sans fans, we're about to have a blast challenging our knowledge of last year's most jaw-dropping moments.

Hollywood and Hashtags

2020 doled out plot twists like they were going out of style! We saw #OscarsSoWhite take center stage in Hollywood, pushing for long-overdue diversity. Under the glitzy surface, the pandemic turned movie palaces into ghost towns. But hey, our couches became the best seats in the house for streaming flicks! Then, the Grammy Awards still managed to shimmy its way to our screens, even if the applause was a touch more... digital.

Athletic Antics

It wasn't just the entertainment industry getting a makeover; sports looked wildly different without roaring fans. Can you believe some games were played in eerie silence? While stadiums stood empty, sports kept our spirits up, whether we were cheering from home or shaking our heads at cardboard cut-out crowds that couldn't give a victory wave. Plus, remember the athletic protests? Players took powerful stands, showing us that some wins can't be confined to a scoreboard.

Global Gaffes

The Democratic Republic of Congo faced challenges that ranged from serious to 'did-that-really-happen' silly. Closer to home, protestors filled the streets, advocating for momentous societal shifts, all while some leaders bumbled their way through responses to crises. From leadership slip-ups that had us facepalming to weekly news quizzes for students that had us scratching our heads, trying to keep up with international doozies was like flipping through a never-ending reality show—without the option to change the channel.

Grab your thinking caps and let's see if our brains can triumph over 2020's chaos—as a team, we've totally got this! Ready to reminisce on the rollercoaster ride? Fire up that quiz, and let's get cracking!