It was reported this week that a French snail farmer has invented an industrial process for extracting 15 tons of slime from his prize gastropods—and even that won't be enough to keep up with the demand from Japan, where beauty salons are charging patrons $250 to have snails crawl all over their faces. By contrast, taking the Slate News Quiz is much less expensive and 100 percent mucus-free.

Question 1 of 12

Which of these countries has not offered asylum to NSA leaker Edward Snowden?

As Russia continues to weigh Snowden's request, his lawyer says he remains in a Moscow airport wearing "the same shirt and jeans that he wore when he arrived."

Question 2 of 12

Robert McDonnell publicly apologized for the first time this week, returning a controversial $120,000 loan from a nutritional supplement company. What is McDonnell's elected office?

The beleaguered McDonnell was once considered a possible presidential contender for Republicans in 2016.

Question 3 of 12

A new study from the London School of Economics has reported that 23 and 69 are the two what?

The findings suggest that 23-year-olds are most hopeful about the future, while 69-year-olds have bounced back from their various midlife crises.

Question 4 of 12

Departing for Brazil from Rome's Ciampino Airport on Monday, Pope Francis was lauded for his "common touch" in doing what?

The pope doesn't have his own plane, but he does charter a special Alitalia jet for international travel.

Question 5 of 12

What hard-to-believe fate reportedly befell Norwegian interior designer Marte Deborah Dalelv in Dubai after she claimed that a colleague had raped her?

This week, Dalelv was pardoned by the sheikh of Dubai and released after an international outcry over her 16-month jail sentence.

Question 6 of 12

The real-life title object of what film is currently on sale on eBay for $3 million?

The seller, a California collector, says there are only four copies of the historic document in existence.

Question 7 of 12

On Monday, militants armed with car bombs and rocket-powered grenades freed 500 prison inmates, some from death row, where?

An al-Qaida-linked group has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Baghdad prison, which followed 10 days of violence there.

Question 8 of 12

Of these four names in the news this week, which is the only one that's previously belonged to a British monarch?

There have been six kings of Great Britain named George, most recently George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth.

Question 9 of 12

Researchers at England's University of Bristol have unveiled a new type of fuel cell that can power a cellphone using what?

As bacteria in the fuel cell break down the pee, they produce enough electrical charge for brief phone calls. "One product that we can be sure of an unending supply is our own urine," said one engineer.

Question 10 of 12

Which of these controversial figures was unexpectedly back in the news this week after rescuing a family of four from a rollover SUV accident?

Zimmerman happened to be driving by the accident, which took place less than a mile from the street where he shot Trayvon Martin.

Question 11 of 12

Researchers in Belgium were able to raise bookstore sales by up to 40 percent using what tactic?

The study, from the new Journal of Environmental Psychology, found that chocolate-fueled sales of romance novels and cookbooks were especially strong.

Question 12 of 12

There are now three direct-descendant heirs to the British throne for the first time since 1894, but what other European country swore in a new king on Sunday while the previous king was still living?

Albert II officially abdicated his throne in favor of his son, who is now King Philippe I of Belgium.

You got 8 out of 12 answers correct in 20 minutes 30 seconds.