Very Important Persons (of the Year)
1 of 12
Barack Obama was chosen as Person of the Year in 2008. Who received the honor in 2007?
Al Gore
Vladimir Putin
J.K. Rowling
ANSWER: Gore and Rowling were both runners-up, as were Hu Jintao and David Petraeus. Gore and Rowling were both runners-up, as were Hu Jintao and David Petraeus.
2 of 12
When was "Endangered Earth" named Planet of the Year?
1973
1988
2005
ANSWER: 
Time was criticized for comparing global warming to World War II with this recent cover.
Time was criticized for comparing global warming to World War II with this recent cover.

Time was criticized for comparing global warming to World War II with this recent cover.

Time was criticized for comparing global warming to World War II with this recent cover.
3 of 12
The Person of the Year has been awarded since 1927. Who was the first recipient?
Henry Ford
Charles Lindbergh
Babe Ruth
ANSWER:


4 of 12
When was Queen Elizabeth II named Person of the Year? (Hint: It was a few months before her coronation.)
1952
1962
1967
5 of 12
Because Time explains that the award will be given to "the person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, for good or ill," some argued Osama bin Laden should have been named Person of the Year in 2001. Who did Time editors choose instead?
George W. Bush
Rudy Giuliani
Todd Beamer
ANSWER: Time's explanation: "Maybe the purpose of all this," New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said at a funeral for a friend, "is to find out if America today is as strong as when we fought for our independence or when we fought for ourselves as a Union to end slavery or as strong as our fathers and grandfathers who fought to rid the world of Nazism and communism." The terrorists, he argues, were counting on our cowardice. They've learned a lot about us since then. And so have we. For leading that lesson, for having more faith in us than we had in ourselves, for being brave when required and rude where appropriate and tender without being trite, for not sleeping and not quitting and not shrinking from the pain all around him, Rudy Giuliani, Mayor of the World, is TIME's 2001 Person of the Year. Time's explanation: "Maybe the purpose of all this," New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said at a funeral for a friend, "is to find out if America today is as strong as when we fought for our independence or when we fought for ourselves as a Union to end slavery or as strong as our fathers and grandfathers who fought to rid the world of Nazism and communism." The terrorists, he argues, were counting on our cowardice. They've learned a lot about us since then. And so have we. For leading that lesson, for having more faith in us than we had in ourselves, for being brave when required and rude where appropriate and tender without being trite, for not sleeping and not quitting and not shrinking from the pain all around him, Rudy Giuliani, Mayor of the World, is TIME's 2001 Person of the Year.
6 of 12
When was the computer named Machine of the Year?
1977
1982
1993
ANSWER: From the cover story:
"By the millions, it is beeping its way into offices, schools and homes WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME, the bright red advertisement asks in mock irritation, WHAT A PERSONAL COMPUTER CAN DO? The ad provides not merely an answer, but 100 of them. A personal computer, it says, can send letters at the speed of light, diagnose a sick poodle, custom-tailor an insurance program in minutes, test recipes for beer. Testimonials abound. Michael Lamb of Tucson figured out how a personal computer could monitor anesthesia during surgery; the rock group Earth, Wind and Fire uses one to explode smoke bombs onstage during concerts; the Rev. Ron Jaenisch of Sunnyvale, Calif, programmed his machine so it can recite an entire wedding ceremony." (Read the full article.) From the cover story:
"By the millions, it is beeping its way into offices, schools and homes WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME, the bright red advertisement asks in mock irritation, WHAT A PERSONAL COMPUTER CAN DO? The ad provides not merely an answer, but 100 of them. A personal computer, it says, can send letters at the speed of light, diagnose a sick poodle, custom-tailor an insurance program in minutes, test recipes for beer. Testimonials abound. Michael Lamb of Tucson figured out how a personal computer could monitor anesthesia during surgery; the rock group Earth, Wind and Fire uses one to explode smoke bombs onstage during concerts; the Rev. Ron Jaenisch of Sunnyvale, Calif, programmed his machine so it can recite an entire wedding ceremony." (Read the full article.)
"By the millions, it is beeping its way into offices, schools and homes WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME, the bright red advertisement asks in mock irritation, WHAT A PERSONAL COMPUTER CAN DO? The ad provides not merely an answer, but 100 of them. A personal computer, it says, can send letters at the speed of light, diagnose a sick poodle, custom-tailor an insurance program in minutes, test recipes for beer. Testimonials abound. Michael Lamb of Tucson figured out how a personal computer could monitor anesthesia during surgery; the rock group Earth, Wind and Fire uses one to explode smoke bombs onstage during concerts; the Rev. Ron Jaenisch of Sunnyvale, Calif, programmed his machine so it can recite an entire wedding ceremony." (Read the full article.) From the cover story:
"By the millions, it is beeping its way into offices, schools and homes WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME, the bright red advertisement asks in mock irritation, WHAT A PERSONAL COMPUTER CAN DO? The ad provides not merely an answer, but 100 of them. A personal computer, it says, can send letters at the speed of light, diagnose a sick poodle, custom-tailor an insurance program in minutes, test recipes for beer. Testimonials abound. Michael Lamb of Tucson figured out how a personal computer could monitor anesthesia during surgery; the rock group Earth, Wind and Fire uses one to explode smoke bombs onstage during concerts; the Rev. Ron Jaenisch of Sunnyvale, Calif, programmed his machine so it can recite an entire wedding ceremony." (Read the full article.)
7 of 12
Who is the only person to be selected as Person of the Year three times?
Bill Clinton
Dwight Eisenhower
Franklin Roosevelt
ANSWER: FDR was Time's choice in 1932, 1934 and 1941. Eisenhower won in 1944 and 1959. Reagan won in 1980 and 1983. FDR was Time's choice in 1932, 1934 and 1941. Eisenhower won in 1944 and 1959. Reagan won in 1980 and 1983.
8 of 12
A few years ago, Time's selection was criticized (and ridiculed). Who or what was named Person of the Year in 2006?
You
YouTube
U2
ANSWER:


9 of 12
In December of 1989, who was named Man of the Decade?
Ronald Reagan
Mikhail Gorbachev
Pope John Paul II
ANSWER: 
I contemplated just showing the cover with the question, "Who is this?"
I contemplated just showing the cover with the question, "Who is this?"

I contemplated just showing the cover with the question, "Who is this?"

I contemplated just showing the cover with the question, "Who is this?"
10 of 12
Every President since Franklin Roosevelt has been named Person of the Year except one. Who did Time leave out?
George H.W. Bush
Jimmy Carter
Gerald Ford
ANSWER: Ford assumed the Presidency in 1974 and was defeated by Jimmy Carter in the election of 1976. In those three years, Time honored Saudi Arabia's King Faisal (1974), "U.S. Women" (1975) and Carter (1976). Ford assumed the Presidency in 1974 and was defeated by Jimmy Carter in the election of 1976. In those three years, Time honored Saudi Arabia's King Faisal (1974), "U.S. Women" (1975) and Carter (1976).
11 of 12
Which one of the following people was NEVER Time's Person of the Year?
Adolf Hitler
Joseph Stalin
Saddam Hussein
ANSWER: Hitler won in 1938; Stalin won in both 1939 and 1942. Hitler won in 1938; Stalin won in both 1939 and 1942.
12 of 12
As we said in question #1, Barack Obama was Time's 2008 Person of the Year. Who was NOT listed in the "Runners-Up" section?
Sarah Palin
Henry Paulson
Michael Phelps
ANSWER: Phelps didn't make the cut (of those who just missed making the cut). One finalist did have an Olympic connection – Chinese director Zhang Yimou, who coordinated the opening ceremonies. In addition to Palin and Paulson, the other runner-up was Nicolas Sarkozy.
Phelps didn't make the cut (of those who just missed making the cut). One finalist did have an Olympic connection – Chinese director Zhang Yimou, who coordinated the opening ceremonies. In addition to Palin and Paulson, the other runner-up was Nicolas Sarkozy.
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