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1. CEO Sumner Redstone has announced that he will split his giant media company into two separate entities: CBS, acquired in 1999, and a cable and film business (which includes MTV), that will retain the parent company’s name, which is:
- Disney
- Viacom
- Sumstone
- Wal-mart
Correct answer: B. Viacom. The newly formed CBS group will include broadcast networks (i.e., CBS and UPN). Viacom will encompass cable and film businesses (including MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, BET and Paramount movie studio). Redstone will retain a majority stake in both companies.
2. Happy 25th birthday to this video game hero who has an insatiable appetite for dots and is afraid of ghosts. (Hint: his sworn enemies are Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde).
- Pong
- Spiderman
- Batman
- Pac-Man
Correct answer: D. Pac-Man. First developed in Japan as “Puck-Man,” the wildly successful game was introduced as Pac-Man in the United States in 1980 by Namco. The company debuted several new games this year, including "Pac-Mania 3D," "Pac-Man World 3" and "Pac-Man Pinball."
3. Picture this: Eastman Kodak will no longer manufacture this product, now purchased only by a niche market of artists and hobbyists.
- Photo greeting cards
- Black and white photo paper
- Disposable cameras
- Color film
Correct answer: B. Black and white photo paper. According to a Kodak spokesman (quoted on Businessweek.com) demand for black and white photo paper is declining by 25% a year, especially as many photographers switch to digital imaging. Kodak will continue making black and white film and processing chemicals.
4. 2005 hasn’t been a good year for this Detroit-based automaker. It posted a $1.1 billion first-quarter loss and saw its debt rating cut to "junk" status. Name this beleaguered, yet world’s largest, car maker.
- General Motors
- Toyota
- Lexus
- BMW
Correct answer: A. General Motors. Although GM anticipates sales of $153 billion this year, the company recently announced that it would cut 25,000 jobs by 2008. And GM’s market value is now just $20.3 billion, making it the least valuable company in the Dow.
5. This mega successful talk show host/entrepreneur snagged the #1 power spot on the Forbes “Celebrity 100” list this year, thanks to her global empire of magazines, books, movies and TV (including production of the “Dr. Phil Show”). Name her.
- Jessica Simpson
- Oprah Winfrey
- Ellen DeGeneres
- Judge Judy
Correct answer: B. Oprah Winfrey. Although Forbes ranked Winfrey only #2 in annual pay ($225 million, lagging behind “Star Wars” mogul George Lucas’s $290 million), they moved her to the top of the “most powerful” celebrity list in 2005, up from #3 last year.
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