This week in Humberside, England, 77-year-old John Wildey, a passenger on a light aircraft, was forced to land the plane himself when the pilot passed out. Air traffic control and two flight instructors helped the man land safely, though he'd never flown a plane before. "I was just the person holding the stick," said Wildey humbly. Do you have that kind of grace under pressure? Find out with this week's Slate News Quiz.

Question 1 of 12

What began to be dismantled this week, in an operation of unprecedented scale that is expected to last until mid-2014?

Two teams are already on the ground in Damascus; the United Nations plan to eventually dispatch 100 specialists, who will be based in Cyprus, to sequester and demolish the weapons.

Question 2 of 12

According to an upcoming book excerpted in the New York Times Magazine this week, "Friendstalker" was an early name considered for what?

"Friendstalker" was soon replaced by "Vibrate," which led to "Twitch" and finally "Twitter."

Question 3 of 12

A surprising new study from England's University of Lincoln suggests that what, contrary to popular belief, stresses out most cats?

The cats in the study all showed elevated levels of stress hormones when handled by humans. Some just tolerated it better than others.

Question 4 of 12

Which of the following currently has the lowest approval rating?

The news from the new Public Policy poll isn't all bad for members of Congress: They're still more popular than heroin, Charles Manson, Syria, and Miley Cyrus.

Question 5 of 12

Three defendants convicted of murder in DUI cases are each asking the New York State Court of Appeals to throw out their convictions on what grounds?

In this novel defense, the defendants claim they were too intoxicated to know they were driving intoxicated.

Question 6 of 12

In a surprise result, Ireland voted last Friday against an austerity referendum to abolish what?

Prime Minister Enda Kenny had argued that the upper chamber of the Irish parliament was increasingly irrelevant to the nation's government.

Question 7 of 12

Government shutdown veteran Newt Gingrich has offered to personally pay for what federal function, which has been out of service since last Tuesday?

Gingrich is a high-profile animal lover who once dreamed of a career as a zoo director.

Question 8 of 12

Talking to Jimmy Fallon on Monday night, Sir Paul McCartney rather improbably claimed to have invented what?

They showed a photo he took of himself in the 1960s. He also joked about inventing the photobomb.

Question 9 of 12

What newly redesigned items were released Tuesday by the U.S. government, now incorporating a blue 3-D "security ribbon"?

The strip, which shifts from "100"s to images of the Liberty Bell, is designed to make the bill harder to counterfeit—at least until forgers figure out how to duplicate it.

Question 10 of 12

A new study in Science by two New York psychologists found that subjects could increase their empathy by doing what?

In a victory for snobs everywhere, writers like Chekhov and Dickens improved readers' empathy skills much more than popular fiction or nonfiction did.

Question 11 of 12

On Wednesday, President Obama nominated the first woman ever to what government post?

Economist Janet Yellen is currently the Fed's vice chairwoman.

Question 12 of 12

A woman in Zaporozhye, Ukraine, is dead after she and her boyfriend decided to "experience an extreme sensation" by having sex where?

The man had both his legs amputated by the train, and to make matters worse, the railroad may prosecute him for trespassing.