1) President Obama announced last week that he is going to withdraw one-third of all American forces from this country (33,000 troops) by September 2012. What country?
b) Afghanistan
In making the announcement, Obama argued that American troops in Aghanistan had substantially weakened both the Taliban and al-Qaeda. All combat troops are scheduled to be withdrawn by 2014.
https://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/23/afghanistan-withdrawal-barack-obama-troops
2) What state recently legalized gay marriage?
a) New York
Of the six states that have legalized gay marriage, New York is the largest. The measure was supported by almost all of the Democrats in the New York Senate and a small number of Republicans. Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill shortly after it was passed by the legislature.
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/25/nyregion/gay-marriage-approved-by-new-york-senate.html?_r=1
3) Massive floods hit this state late last week. What state?
c) North Dakota
Minot – North Dakota’s fourth largest city – was particularly hard hit. https://articles.cnn.com/2011-06-24/us/north.dakota.flooding_1_flood-concerns-river-won-t-crest-evacuations?_s=PM:US
4) What former vice-presidential candidate was indicted recently for allegedly breaking campaign finance laws?
c) John Edwards
In 2008, certain of Edwards’ supporters paid “hush money” to Edwards’ mistress. The government argues that these payments were illegal, unreported campaign donations. Edwards argues that the purpose of the payments was to conceal his affair from his wife, not to benefit his presidential campaign.
5) What New York Congressman resigned recently after it was discovered he had engaged in inappropriate on-line relationships with various women?
a) Anthony Weiner
Weiner initially claimed that he was the victim of hackers but later admitted his wrongdoing and resigned.
6) What woman recently announced that she is running for president in 2012?
c) Michelle Bachmann
Bachmann is the founder of the Tea Party Caucus in the House of Representatives. https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20070942-503544.html
7) Ten members of Congress recently filed a lawsuit against President Obama. According to the suit, what law has President Obama broken?
a) 1973 War Powers Act
The lawsuit alleges that President Obama has violated the War Powers Act by involving the American military in the Libyan conflict without Congressional approval. President Obama has responded that the law does not apply to the Libyan situation because American troops are not involved in direct combat there.
https://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/06/dennis_kucinich_files_lawsuit.html
8) Six states have recently passed laws making what activity illegal?
b) Having an abortion after twenty weeks
It is argued by some that these laws violate the constitutional right to abortion outlined in Roe v Wade and other Supreme Court cases. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/27/us/27abortion.html
9) Earlier this month, Germany suffered an outbreak of E. coli that killed 44 people. What country suffered a similar outbreak last week?
c) France
So far, no one has died from the outbreak in France. The French are blaming the outbreak on bean seeds sold by a British firm.
https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/06/25/ap/business/main20074418.shtml
10) Four surviving members of what group went on trial Monday on charges of genocide?
d) Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge killed approximately two million Cambodians between 1975-1979. They were eventually ousted by Vietnamese soldiers.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/06/27/khmer-rouge-trial998.html
11) What country is on the verge of receiving a second bailout package from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund?
d) Greece
Greece will only receive the $170 billion bailout if it enacts additional spending cuts.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13798000
12) The Supreme Court recently dismissed a lawsuit filed by 1.6 million female employees of what company?
b) Walmart
The women claimed in the lawsuit that Walmart pays its female employees less than its male employees and that Walmart systematically denies promotions to its female employees. The Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that the women could not sue as one group. The women are still free to bring their lawsuits individually.
https://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/jun/20/walmart-sex-discrimination-class-action-rejected
13) The International Criminal Court recently indicted what world leader?
a) Muammar Gaddafi
The indictment charges Gaddafi with crimes against humanity.
https://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/06/20116278148166670.html
14) What famous saxophonist died last week?
c) Clarence Clemons
The 69 year old Clemons was a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/e-street-bands-clarence-clemons-dies-at-69-20110618
15) What 22 year old recently won golf’s U.S. Open?
a) Rory McIlroy
McIlroy is the youngest man to win the tournament since Bobby Jones in 1923.
https://www.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/golf/06/19/golf.us.open.mcilroy/index.html?hpt=hp_t2