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Here is this week’s Extemp Central news quiz. Good luck!
1. Who is the former Communist Party chief of Chongqing whose corruption trial has sparked a renewed interest in the Chinese anti-corruption efforts?
[toggle hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Bo Xilai. He stands accused of receiving bribes, embezzlement, and abusing his powers. Despite the accusations, he remains very popular in south-west China and among elements of the Chinese Communist Party who see his prosecution as politically motivated by current Chinese president Xi Jinping.[/toggle]
2. What Italian carmaker is set to take full control of Chrysler?
[toggle hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Fiat. It acquired a 20% stake in Chrysler in 2009 when the American carmaker was nearing bankruptcy.[/toggle]
3. The Justice Department recently sued Louisiana. Why?
[toggle hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]The Justice Department is suing Louisiana to block school vouchers for students in public schools that are under federal desegregation orders. The vouchers are to go into effect in 2014-2015. The Justice Department argues that letting students go to private schools in the voucher schemes would distort the racial balance in public schools.[/toggle]
4. What is the American attitude towards intervening in the Syrian civil war?
[toggle hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Recent polls demonstrate that Americans largely oppose intervention in Syria, even in the aftermath of chemical weapons use. A Reuters poll shows that 60% of voters do not favor an intervention, although some polls by the Pew Research Center dispute this conclusion.[/toggle]
5. Which U.S. state has the highest state minimum wage in the country and what do activists want to increase it to?
[toggle hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Washington, who has a minimum wage of $9.19/hour. Activists want to raise it to $15. Fast food and retail workers nationwide are planning a nationwide strike on August 29th to push for this same wage.[/toggle]
6. August 28th of this week marks the 50th anniversary of what major U.S. historical event?
[toggle hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]The March on Washington (also called the Washington March for Jobs and Freedom). This was where Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial.[/toggle]
7. Which Middle East ally of Syria has warned against an American attack as a result of alleged use of chemical weapons last week?
[toggle hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Iran. Iran has long been an ally of the Syrian government and has warned Washington that an attack on Syria would cross a “red line.”[/toggle]
8. During the weekend, Der Spiegel broke a story that the National Security Agency spied on the communications of this international body.
[toggle hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]The United Nations. According to the Der Spiegel report, the NSA broke the encryption of UN video conferences at its New York headquarters.[/toggle]
9. Who is Africa’s oldest leader?
[toggle hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, who is 89 years old.[/toggle]
10. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was forced to say that this would not happen with Greece, possibly to avoid a political backlash at home.
[toggle hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Merkel, along with Greek officials, denied that that parts of Greece’s debt would be “written down,” meaning that Greece’s debt burden would be reduced and certain parties would not collect what they were owed by the Greek government.[/toggle]