1) The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently estimated that raising the minimum wage to $10.10 would cost America how many jobs?
d) 500,000
On the other hand, the Obama administration points to the reports of other economists who have concluded that raising the minimum wage would have little to no effect on job numbers. The CBO report also projects that raising the minimum wage to $10.10 would lift 900,000 people out of poverty.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-usa-wage-cbo-20140218,0,274811.story
2) President Obama signed an executive order last week doing what?
c) Imposing higher fuel efficiency standards on trucks
President Obama argues that raising the standards will reduce pollution, slow climate change, and save people money at the pump. Truck manufacturers argue that the standards will increase the cost of new trucks and will adversely affect safety.
3) Monday was the fifth anniversary of the enactment of what law?
b) The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Stimulus Bill)
The $787 billion stimulus bill was passed in 2009 by Democrats over the objections of Republicans. The White House now argues that the injection of money into the economy prevented America from slipping into another depression. Republicans argue that the bill increased the national debt without solving our economic problems.
https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/17/us-usa-economy-obama-idUSBREA1G1F920140217
4) The president if this country fled the capital last weekend and was later voted out of office by his parliament. What country?
d) Ukraine
Protests have been raging in the capital city of Kiev since Pres. Yanukovych refused to sign a European-based trade agreement, preferring instead to align his country with Russia. Yanukovych’s arch-rival, former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, was released from prison on Sunday.
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/world/europe/ukraine.html?hp&_r=1
5) Drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was recently captured in what country?
c) Mexico
In 2001, Guzman escaped from a high security prison by hiding in a laundry basket. He is the reported leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel and was captured by American and Mexican law enforcement officials in a joint operation.
https://www.cnn.com/2014/02/22/world/americas/mexico-cartel-chief-arrest/
6) Which of the following is a true statement about January 2014?
d) Worldwide, it was the fourth warmest January sine 1880.
While much of America experienced a very cold January, the global average temperature was 1.17 degrees warmer than the 20th century average.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/20/warmest-january-world-record_n_4823713.html
7) The world’s largest solar energy plant recently opened. Where?
c) The Mojave Desert, California
The plant is partially-owned by Google.
https://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_25134528/huge-ivanpah-solar-power-plant-opens-industry-booms
8) A zoo in this country recently killed a healthy giraffe and then fed it to the lions in front of children. What country?
d) Denmark
The zoo claimed that the killing was necessary to prevent inbreeding.
9) Jimmy Fallon took over from Jay Leno as the host of The Tonight Show Monday. Who was his first guest?
c) Robert De Niro
Tina Fey, Will Smith, U2, and Stephen Colbert also joined Fallon on the first show. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-jimmy-fallon-tonight-show-debut-20140218,0,3568051,full.story#axzz2uCO5ajOK
10) What country won the most medals at the Sochi Winter Olympics?
b) Russia
Russia finished with 33 medals. The United States was second with 28.