Research from Gallup shows that teams with high engagement levels are 21% more profitable, yet December often sees participation fatigue as people mentally check out before the holidays. An interactive New Year quiz cuts through this disengagement by combining celebration with competition, helping your team reflect on the year's achievements whilst building connections that carry into January.
AhaSlides' interactive quiz platform gives trainers and facilitators everything needed to host a fun New Year quiz—whether you're working with 10 colleagues in a conference room or 500 employees joining remotely. With live polling, real-time leaderboards, and mobile participation, you can create an engaging experience that requires zero preparation from your attendees and minimal setup time for you.
20 New Year Quiz Questions for Professional Teams
Ready-made questions save preparation time and ensure your quiz strikes the right balance between challenging and accessible. These questions work for diverse professional teams and can be used directly in AhaSlides or adapted to your organisation's specific context.
Category 1: Year in Review
Question 1 (Easy): Which technology trend has most transformed workplace productivity in recent years?
- A) Artificial intelligence tools
- B) Cloud computing
- C) Mobile applications
- D) Social media platforms Answer: A) Artificial intelligence tools
Question 2 (Medium): What percentage of office workers now work in hybrid or remote arrangements?
- A) 15%
- B) 28%
- C) 42%
- D) 55% Answer: B) Approximately 28%
Question 3 (Medium): Which leadership quality do studies consistently identify as most crucial for modern managers?
- A) Strategic thinking
- B) Adaptability
- C) Technical expertise
- D) Financial acumen Answer: B) Adaptability
Question 4 (Challenging): What is the average time it takes for professionals to fully adjust to a major organisational change?
- A) 2-3 months
- B) 4-6 months
- C) 8-12 months
- D) 12-18 months Answer: C) 8-12 months
Question 5 (Easy): True or False: Employee engagement levels typically peak at the beginning and end of the calendar year.
- True
- False Answer: False (they typically dip at year-end)
Category 2: New Year Traditions Around the World
Question 6 (Easy): In Spain, people eat 12 of which fruit at midnight for good luck?
- A) Cherries
- B) Grapes
- C) Strawberries
- D) Dates Answer: B) Grapes
Question 7 (Medium): What is Scotland's traditional name for New Year's Eve?
- A) Hogmanay
- B) Bells Night
- C) First Footing
- D) Auld Eve Answer: A) Hogmanay
Question 8 (Medium): In which country is it traditional to wear polka dots and eat round fruits on New Year's Eve for prosperity?
- A) Brazil
- B) Philippines
- C) Portugal
- D) Thailand Answer: B) Philippines
Question 9 (Challenging): Which island nation is typically the first place in the world to celebrate the New Year?
- A) New Zealand
- B) Fiji
- C) Samoa
- D) Kiribati Answer: D) Kiribati (specifically the Line Islands)
Question 10 (Easy): What does "Auld Lang Syne" mean in English?
- A) Happy New Year
- B) Old Long Since (times gone by)
- C) New Beginnings
- D) Midnight Celebration Answer: B) Old Long Since (times gone by)
Category 3: Professional Development and Workplace Knowledge
Question 11 (Easy): What is the most common reason employees cite for leaving their jobs?
- A) Salary dissatisfaction
- B) Lack of career advancement
- C) Poor management
- D) Work-life balance issues Answer: C) Poor management
Question 12 (Medium): According to research, what percentage of New Year's resolutions are typically abandoned by February?
- A) 20%
- B) 40%
- C) 60%
- D) 80% Answer: D) 80%
Question 13 (Challenging): What is the recommended ratio of positive to negative feedback for optimal employee performance?
- A) 2:1
- B) 3:1
- C) 5:1
- D) 10:1 Answer: C) 5:1
Question 14 (Medium): Which generation now makes up the largest portion of the global workforce?
- A) Baby Boomers
- B) Generation X
- C) Millennials
- D) Generation Z Answer: C) Millennials
Question 15 (Easy): True or False: Companies with strong learning cultures are more likely to retain top talent.
- True
- False Answer: True
Category 4: Fun Facts About New Year Celebrations
Question 16 (Easy): Approximately how many people gather in Times Square, New York for the New Year's Eve ball drop?
- A) 50,000
- B) 100,000
- C) 500,000
- D) 1 million Answer: D) 1 million
Question 17 (Medium): The tradition of New Year's resolutions dates back approximately how many years?
- A) 400 years
- B) 1,000 years
- C) 2,000 years
- D) 4,000 years Answer: D) 4,000 years
Historical context: Ancient Babylonians started this tradition
Question 18 (Medium): In which month did the Romans originally celebrate New Year before Julius Caesar changed the calendar?
- A) March
- B) September
- C) October
- D) December Answer: A) March
Historical note: The calendar year originally began in spring
Question 19 (Challenging): How much confetti falls in Times Square on New Year's Eve?
- A) 500 pounds
- B) 1,500 pounds
- C) 3,000 pounds
- D) Over 3,000 pounds Answer: D) Over 3,000 pounds (approximately one tonne)
Fun fact: Made from recycled wishes written throughout the year
Question 20 (Easy): Which song is traditionally sung at midnight on New Year's Eve in English-speaking countries?
- A) Happy New Year by ABBA
- B) Auld Lang Syne
- C) What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
- D) New Year's Day by U2 Answer: B) Auld Lang Syne
How to Create Your New Year Quiz in AhaSlides
Step 1: Select Your Question Types in AhaSlides
AhaSlides offers multiple question formats that serve different learning and engagement objectives. Strategic trainers mix formats to maintain attention and accommodate different thinking styles.
- Multiple Choice questions: Best for factual knowledge, quick-paced rounds, large groups
- Open-Ended questions: Best for creative thinking, opinion gathering, smaller groups
- Image Choice questions: Best for visual learners, logo recognition, photo rounds
- Audio questions: Best for music rounds, podcast clips, historical speeches
- Matching questions: Best for relationships between concepts, dates to events, leaders to achievements
- Correct Order questions: Best for chronological events, process sequences, ranking information
Creating your question in AhaSlides:
- Log into your AhaSlides account (or create one free)
- Click "Create New Presentation"
- Select "Add Slide" and choose your question type
- Mark the correct answer(s) and set quiz time
Step 2: Configure Your Quiz Settings
Settings dramatically impact the quiz experience. These configurations should align with your facilitation style and training objectives.
Time limit per question
- 15-20 seconds: Fast-paced, energy-building rounds
- 30-45 seconds: Standard timing for most content
- 60-90 seconds: Complex questions requiring thought
- No limit: Best avoided; creates pacing issues
Points system
- Standard points (equal per question): Simplest approach for most contexts
- Weighted points: Assign more points to challenging questions
- Bonus points for speed: Rewards quick thinking; increases excitement
Advanced settings worth configuring:
- Show correct answers: Enable for learning-focused quizzes
- Display leaderboard frequency: After each question vs. after each round
- Multiple attempts: Generally disabled for competitive quizzes
- Profanity filter: Enable for professional contexts
- Team mode: Essential for large groups; participants join teams via their phones
Pro facilitation tip: Once you configure settings on your first question slide, click "Apply to all slides" to maintain consistency throughout your quiz.
Step 3: Host the New Year Quiz
You now have everything needed to host an engaging, professional New Year quiz that brings your team together, reinforces learning, and creates positive momentum heading into the new year. Host it in front of a live participants and watch participation skyrocket. Happy quizzing!
