1) On Thursday, this country’s military ousted the democratically elected president Mohammed Morsi. In what country did this occur?
a) Egypt
Morsi is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood party, and his opponents accused him of preventing of those not in the Brotherhood from participating in the political system. The military has promised to install a new civilian government as soon as possible.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/07/03/egypt-morsi-protests-army-deadline/2485355/
2) Last week, the Obama administration announced that it would delay implementation of one part of the 2010 health care law (“Obamacare”) for one year. What part?
b) The employer mandate that requires businesses to provide health care for their employees or pay a fine
The Treasury Department is going to spend the year trying to simplify the provision’s regulations to make it easier for businesses to comply with them.
https://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/obamacare-provision-postponed-93677.html
3) On Monday, Congress allowed certain interest rates to double from 3.4% to 6.8%. Interest rates on what?
a) Federally-subsidized student loans
As a result, young people paying back loans for college will see their payments increase. Congress could still undo the increase, but Congressional Democrats and Congressional Republicans have so far been unable to agree on how to do that.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/07/01/student-loan-rates-double-as-calendar-turns-to-july/
4) Which of the following countries has NOT offered asylum to Edward Snowden, the man who publicized the American government’s PRISM intelligence gathering program?
b) Russia
So far, those are the only three countries to offer Snowden a safe haven from prosecution. Snowden is currently holed up in the transit section of the Moscow airport, trying to decide on his next move.
5) What American landmark re-opened to the public on July 4?
d) The Statue of Liberty
The statue closed after suffering damage during Hurricane Sandy last year. https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57592294/statue-of-liberty-re-opening-for-first-time-since-sandy/
6) What European country was recently accused of running a spy program similar to the American PRISM program?
c) France
Like the American government, the French government has been collecting “metadata” on phone calls made and emails sent by French citizens. Like the American government, the French government has denied analyzing the content of the phone calls and emails. Rather they claim to be monitoring who is communicating with whom.
https://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/04/france-electronic-spying-operation-nsa
7) The king of this country recently decided to abdicate the throne. What country?
b) Belgium
King Albert II, who has been on the throne since 1993, is abdicating in favor of his son, Crown Prince Philippe.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23167525
8) Kevin Rudd recently became prime minister of this country after losing the same job to fellow Labor Party member Julia Gillard three years and three days ago. What country?
b) Australia
The ruling Labor Party decided to make the leadership change from Gillard to Rudd ahead of September’s national parliamentary elections, elections which Labor is expected to lose.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23076517
9) On Saturday, a plane crashed while landing at an airport in what city?
d) San Francisco
The flight was coming to San Francisco from Seoul, South Korea. Two Chinese girls died in the crash, but the other 305 people on the flight, fortunately, survived.
https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/06/us/california-plane-incident
10) On Sunday, this man became the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years. What man?
c) Andy Murray
Murray defeated Serb Novak Djokovic in three sets in the final. Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli won the Ladies’ Championship.