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Here is this week’s Extemp Central news quiz.  Good luck!

To accesquiz-01s a list of all our old quizzes, click here.

1. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is trying to extend the Syrian ceasefire to this city.

[toggle title_open=”Close Me” title_closed=”Open Me” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Aleppo.  The city is divided between government and rebel groups and violence there is ruining peace talks.  Government air strikes and actions by rebels have killed hundreds of civilians over the past week.[/toggle]

2. The environmental organization Greenpeace recently published confidential documents concerning this international agreement.

[toggle title_open=”Close Me” title_closed=”Open Me” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), which would be a free trade deal between the United States and the European Union.  Greenpeace warns that the agreement would hand too much power to big businesses at the expense of consumers, and would lower food safety and environmental standards.[/toggle]

3. The terrorist group ISIS recently published a “hit list” of seventy U.S. military personnel that are engaged in this type of warfare.

[toggle title_open=”Close Me” title_closed=”Open Me” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]The individuals on the “hit list” are responsible for drone strikes on ISIS positions in Syria, Iraq, and Libya.  The Obama administration has preferred drone strikes to fight the group, viewing them as a precise way of carrying out the war on terrorism and putting fewer civilians at risk.[/toggle]

4. Who did Ted Cruz say that he would make his vice-presidential nominee if he wins the Republican presidential nomination?

[toggle title_open=”Close Me” title_closed=”Open Me” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Former Hewlett-Packard executive Carly Fiorina.  Fiorina feuded with Cruz’s current rival, Donald Trump, during the Republican presidential campaign.  She was noted for strong debate performances, but was not able to generate sufficient momentum in Iowa or New Hampshire and dropped out early in the race.  Fiorina has never held public office.[/toggle]

5. What is May Day?

[toggle title_open=”Close Me” title_closed=”Open Me” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Also known as International Workers’ Day, May Day is a celebration of workers and the international labor movement.  The date commemorates the beginning of agitations in Chicago that led to the Haymarket Square Riot in 1886.  The recent rallies on May Day have also called attention to immigrant rights.[/toggle]

6. The second-in-command police official of this city was forced to resign after sending racist e-mails on his work account.

[toggle title_open=”Close Me” title_closed=”Open Me” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Los Angeles.  Sheriff Jim McDonnell resigned after sending e-mails from his work account that directed slurs at African Americans, Latinos, and Muslims.  This is not the first time that Los Angeles law enforcement has had to face this issue as fourteen officers were involved in a texting scandal last year.[/toggle]

7. This city’s school district had to cancel classes due to a “sickout.”

[toggle title_open=”Close Me” title_closed=”Open Me” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Detroit.  The sickout took place because teachers were informed that they would not be paid for May or June.  Detroit’s school system is $515 million in debt and is asking Michigan’s government to provide funds so that summer programs do not have to be cancelled.[/toggle]

8. Which university will President Obama’s daughter Malia attend?

[toggle title_open=”Close Me” title_closed=”Open Me” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Harvard.  However, it was announced that Malia Obama will take a “gap year” before her admission to the university.  Some think this was due to avoid the attention she may receive during an election year and as her father completes his presidency.[/toggle]

9. Last week the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments concerning the corruption conviction of this former governor.

[toggle title_open=”Close Me” title_closed=”Open Me” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Robert McDonnell.  McDonnell served as Virginia’s governor from 2010 to 2014.  He was convicted with his wife on federal corruption charges for receiving improper gifts while in office.  His legal team argues that he was the victim of overzealous prosecution that used vague anti-corruption laws to advance a political agenda.  Also, McDonnell says that the benefits that he took did not result in favors that violated federal law.[/toggle]

10. What was the U.S. economy’s growth rate in the first quarter of 2015?

[toggle title_open=”Close Me” title_closed=”Open Me” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]0.5%.  Businesses cut back on investment and consumer spending slowed as well.  All of this is taking place amongst evidence that wages are rising and gas prices are low, leading some to think that people are still hesitant about the economy.  Additional research in the GDP report showed that Americans have cut back on consumption since last summer, and declining global demand could be playing a role in dampening the prospects of American exporters as well.[/toggle]