Here is this week’s Extemp Central news quiz! Good luck!
1. Before this weekend, how many wars has Israel fought with Hamas since 2007?
Spoiler
Four. These wars took place in December 2008, November 2012, July-August 2014, and May 2021. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a fifth campaign against Hamas on Saturday after Hamas launched rockets into Israel and made incursions into southern and central Israel, killing Israeli civilians and military forces and taking hostages.
2. Back in 2006, why did Israel and the U.S. cut off aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip after Hamas won a majority of seats in a Palestinian legislative election?
Spoiler
Aid was cut off because Hamas refused to renounce violence and recognize Israel’s right to exist. Israel has also imposed a blockade on Gaza since 2007 when Hamas forces permanently took control of the territory from forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
3. Which country has denied culpability in helping Hamas conduct its weekend series of attacks on Israel?
Spoiler
Iran. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denied that Iran helped Hamas carry out its weekend attacks on Israel. Iran has been a longtime supporter of terrorist groups in the region such as Hezbollah and Hamas, providing them with more than a billion dollars a year annually.
4. Hamas’ weekend attacks on Israel recalled another surprise attack that hit the country 50 years ago. That attack led to what war?
Spoiler
The Yom Kippur War. The conflict lasted from October 6-25, 1973 where Israel fought a coalition of Arab states led to Egypt and Syria. Attacks from the Egypt and Syrian-led coalition caught Israeli military planners off guard as it took place during the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. Historians argue that even though Israel prevailed in the conflict, the losses endured in the conflict pushed Israel toward negotiations with its neighbors and the Palestinians in the years that followed.
5. Which person did former President Donald Trump endorse for Speaker of the House?
Spoiler
Ohio Representative Jim Jordan. Jordan is seen as one of the leading candidates to replace Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted from his post last week. Jordan’s top challenger is expected to be Louisiana Representative Steve Scalise.
6. What is the current U.S. unemployment rate?
Spoiler
3.8%. This is unchanged from last month. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the U.S. economy added 336,000 jobs last month even though interest rates are rising. Jobs numbers for July and August were also revised upward to 236,000 and 227,000 jobs added, respectively.
7. There are a group of people in the United States and Canada that compromise 30% of the adult population. They are labeled as “nones.” What does this mean?
Spoiler
The label “none” means that someone does not have an organized religious belief or is not involved in organized religion. In the United States, 7% of nones identify themselves as atheist, 7% as agnostic, and 16% as “nothing in particular.” Others embrace a combination of religious belief that works for them but does not find an expression in any coherent or organized form of religious belief. The largest group of nones are between the ages of 18-29 as 43% of young people say that label describes them.
8. New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently made a trip to what world region?
Spoiler
Latin America. Adams visited the region over four days, making stops in Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico. New York City is reeling from an influx of tens of thousands of migrants and Adams has argued that the city could pay up to $12 billion to support them over the next three years. At the end of his trip, Adams called for the U.S. government to do more so that migrants and asylum seekers could work legally in the U.S.
9. Now that it is no longer the first state in the Democratic presidential nominating contest, where will Iowa’s nominating contest fall?
Spoiler
Super Tuesday. The Democratic National Committee accepted Iowa’s plan last week to release its presidential preference numbers on Super Tuesday, which will take place on March 5. Iowa Democrats say they will lobby for an earlier date in 2028. Democrats there will receive presidential preference cards in the mail on January 12 and hold in-person caucuses on January 15. However, the preference cards can be turned in before the Super Tuesday deadline to be counted.
10. President Biden has entrusted which cabinet department to look into new pathways to reduce student loan debt?
Spoiler
The Department of Education. After the Supreme Court struck down President Biden’s debt cancelling proposal earlier this year, the administration is looking for new options. The Department of Education is tasked with formulating a new plan, selecting participants for a negotiated rulemaking. Participants are being drawn from borrowers, student loan services, colleges, and universities. The goal is to publish a rule by November 1 that will go into effect for the following year. However, it is likely that whatever rule is agreed to will still face a legal challenge.
