Fifteen questions on general knowledge and topical trivia, plus a few jokes, every Thursday. How will you fare? Martin Belam Thu 4 Jan 2024 11.00 GMT 621 A new year. A time for change. A time for excitement. A time for optimism. A time for fireworks. And alas, a time for the same old tired bobbins of the Thursday quiz to shove itself in your face for the 141st occasion. Fifteen questions of varying degrees of topicality and obscurity, bundled in with some jokes and a picture of a dog. What could go wrong? There are no prizes, but let us know how you got on in the comments! The Thursday quiz, No 141 1.This is Willow, the official dog of the Guardian Thursday quiz, who genuinely did not bark once at fireworks on New Year"s Eve while the quiz master was doing the live blog. Good girl. But what is generally agreed to be the first recorded occasion in the UK when there was a firework display? Willow, the official dog of the Guardian"s Thursday quiz The wedding of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York in 1486 The birth of Henry VIII"s son Edward VI in 1537 The coronation of William III (William II of Scotland) in 1689 To mark royal assent of the English parliament"s Union with Scotland Act in 1706 Reveal 2.Queen Margrethe II of Denmark surprised everybody on New Year"s Eve, especially if they were doing a live blog, by announcing she would abdicate, in favour of who? Danish Queen Margrethe II Crown Prince Christian Crown Prince Joachim Crown Prince Frederik Crown Prince Meglos Reveal 3.Talking of princes and Denmark, hot priest actor Andrew Scott (not pictured, that is Yorick obviously) revealed that in 2017 he stopped Hamlet"s most famous soliloquy after what happened in the audience? Hamlet skull An audience member sitting in the front row fainted A couple were spotted performing a sex act in the back row An audience member took out a laptop to send emails Someone stood up and shouted: "You are Lobby Lud, and I claim my five pounds!" Reveal 4.There have been fireworks at the PDC world darts in London too, where the main story has been the rise of allegedly 16-year-old who? Dartboard in the Maxilla Club Sammy Smallton Joel Junior Steve Slight Luke Littler Reveal 5.On 4 January 1958, the little Soviet Union satellite that could, Sputnik 1, fell back to earth. How long had it been in orbit? Soviet technician working on Sputnik 1 32 days 52 days 72 days 92 days Reveal 6.British army medical officer Capt Harpreet Chandi (not pictured) claims to have set a new world record doing what? Roy Castle Becoming the fastest woman to ski solo across Antarctica Becoming the fastest woman to climb Mount Everest Becoming the fastest woman to swim the Channel Becoming the fastest woman to shoot 30-50 feral hogs in rural America Reveal 7.The Conservative-led government of the UK privatised the Royal Mail in 2013. Ten years later, in how many of areas of the country was the Royal Mail successfully reaching its target for first class mail delivery? Royal Mail 100% 64% 23% 0% Reveal 8.One question about every country taking part in the Euro 2024 finals this summer. This week: Austria. Who is the the current chancellor of the Republic of Austria? UEFA Count Friedrich Ferdinand von Beust Karl Nehammer Sebastian Kurz Prince Wenzel Anton of Kaunitz-Rietberg Reveal 9.Alaska and Hawaii are the two most recent states to have been admitted to the USA. In which year? US flags and the Capitol 1959 1949 1939 1929 Reveal 10.When iron oxide is heated with carbon (not pictured), iron is produced, but what happens to the iron oxide during this reaction? Chemistry The iron oxide is oxidised The iron oxide is neutralised The iron oxide is reduced The iron oxide has a long hard think about what it has done Reveal 11.Which of these is often given as the name of the main character in the 1892 two-act classical ballet The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, first choreographed with Marius Petipa? Ballet shoes Amy Clara Ruby Donna Reveal 12.It is the anniversary of the birth of Isaac Newton. Happy birthday, Isaac! It is a true or false question – did Isaac Newton briefly serve as an MP on two separate occasions? Sir Isaac Newton True False Reveal 13.Can you put Taylor Swift"s first four albums into the correct order? Reckless records Taylor Swift, Speak Now, Red, Fearless Taylor Swift, Speak Now, Red, 1989 Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, 1989 Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red Reveal 14.A freedom of information request by the SNP revealed that how much champagne was ordered at events and bought from the gift shop at the House of Lords last year? Champagne 589 bottles amounting to £32,396 1,089 bottles amounting to £60,986 1,589 bottles amounting to £88,987 2,089 bottles amounting to £116,988 Reveal 15.Talking of champagne moments, Thusday quiz favourite Liz Truss (pictured, with halo) got to put people in the House of Lords in her resignation honours list to mark her 49 triumphant days in Downing Street. How many people did Truss give the power to help make UK legislation for life? Liz Truss One Three Five Seven