In a gloomy week the Thursday quiz stands as an eternal beacon of joy, light, dog pictures and slightly frustratingly obtuse categories. Fifteen questions on quirky news, pop culture, general knowledge and some of the quizmaster’s weird obsessions await you. There are no prizes, as it is just for fun, but let us know how you get on in the comments. The Thursday quiz, No 129 1.BOOKS BOOKS BOOK: Who won the 2023 Nobel prize in literature last week? Nobel prize Abdulrazak Gurnah Peter Handke Kazuo Ishiguro Jon Fosse Reveal 2.DON"T LOOK BACK IN ANGER: Which bridge (not pictured) over the Thames is having to close for emergency repairs, causing artist Ben Wilson to lose all of his work? Thames Barrier at night Tower Bridge Millennium Bridge Queen Elizabeth II Bridge London Bridge Reveal 3.TO BE OR NOT TO BE: Boards believed to have been trodden by William Shakespeare have been discovered under layers of flooring at England’s oldest medieval guildhall as it undergoes refurbishment. Where? Portrait of William Shakespeare Chichester Guildhall in Chichester, West Sussex St Vastra"s Guildhall in Mael, Hertfordshire Lydd Guildhall in Lydd, Kent St George’s Guildhall in King’s Lynn, Norfolk Reveal 4.SHOE WOULD BELIEVE IT?: Which shoe manufacture has announced a new cowboy boot design complete with spurs? Some feet Doc Martens Crocs Converse Nike Reveal 5.THE SHOES HAVE IT: Another week, another marathon record. Who pushed the men"s marathon record even closer to potentially being sub-two hours in Chicago? 2023 Chicago Marathon Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya Bashir Abdi of Belgium Seifu Tura Abdiwak of Ethiopia Henry van Statten of the US Reveal 6.HAPPY BIRTHDAY: It is Dave Vanian"s birthday today. Happy birthday, Dave! Which punk band is he the lead singer of? Dave Vanian and who? Sham 69 The Stranglers UK Subs The Damned Reveal 7.HAPPY BIRTHDAY (SLIGHT RETURN): It is also Hugh Jackman"s birthday today. Happy birthday, Hugh! He voiced a character called Roddy in which animated movie? Hugh Jackman Flushed Away Happy Feet Despicable Me Frozen Reveal 8.MUSIC TO HER EARS: This is Willow, the official dog of the Guardian Thursday quiz. She knows that last week members of New Zealand’s symphony orchestra played a special piece composed to appeal to a particular type of animal. Which animals? Willow, the official dog of the Guardian Thursday quiz, photographed by Emma Belam Donkeys Chickens Cows 30-50 feral hogs Reveal 9.TWEET TWEET: Who was named Australian bird of the year for 2023 on Friday? Australian flags Gang-gang cockatoo Willie wagtail Swift parrot One very naughty miniature dachshund Reveal 10.THE SKY MAY FALL ON THEIR HEADS TOMORROW: The next summer Olympics are in Paris. But which iconic Olympic venue is contemplating removing its roof due to safety concerns? Olympic rings in Paris Olympiastadion, Berlin Olympic Stadium Spyros Louis, Athens Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro Beijing National Stadium, Beijing Reveal 11.NORTH OR SOUTH WITH THE POKÉMON MEOWTH: Which of these cities in Germany is farthest north? Pokémon Meowth in a Walthamstow pub using Pokémon Go Bremen Hanover Dortmund Leipzig Reveal 12.ODDS OR EVENS WITH SHAKIN" STEVENS: Hartshead Moor East, near Bradford, has been voted Britain’s worst motorway services for the second year in a row. But this week the Welsh rock"n"roll legend wants to know, which motorway is it on? Shakin" Stevens Odds – the M59 Evens – the M62 Reveal 13.MATHS WITH GOTHS: Carl McCoy from Fields of the Nephilim needs to factorise 6x + 3. Can you help him? Is it … Fields Of The Nephilim 2(3x + 1) 3(2x + 1) 6(x + 1) 3(2x + 3) Reveal 14.ARE "FRIENDS" ELECTRIC: Which European capital announced this week it would ban petrol and diesel cars from its centre from 2025? The Doctor"s car Bessie Stockholm Prague Berlin Cardiff Reveal 15.HANGNG ON THE TELEPHONE: Who did Harry Maguire say phoned him with advice after he was getting loads of stick from fans? Harry Maguire Paul Gascoigne Stuart Pearce David Beckham Kate Bush