Difference between latest and earliest

[Guest]

Test No. errors/inter-14 "Great expections when you are so carried away", question 1

Have you heard the earliest news about our mutual friend, Mary?

(a) Have
(b) earliest
(c) mutual

Test No. errors/inter-14 "Great expections when you are so carried away", answer 1

Have you heard the latest news about our mutual friend, Mary?

Correct entry: latest
The error was: (b) earliest
_________________________

i cant figure out the mistake

[Alan]

Earliest means the first in a series from the point of view of time: the earliest train in the morning is the first one. Here you need latest meaning the most recent.
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Briefly

[lost_soul]

Hi, Alan

Could I also say "Have you heard the FIRST news about our mutual friend?" (with the opposite meaning) ?
_________________
Alex

A native speaker of Russian

[Conchita]