October 21 Answers

1) Congress and President Obama reached a temporary funding deal last week that ended the government shutdown.  According to the deal, when will the funding run out?

a) January 15 2014  

The shutdown lasted 16 days, and the Republicans did not achieve their goal of defunding or delaying the implementation of “Obamacare.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/17/us/congress-budget-debate.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

 

2) Congress also agreed to suspend the debt limit last week.  When does the suspension end?

a) February 7 2014

Because the deal reached last week suspended the debt limit instead of raising it, there is a great deal of confusion about what will happen on that date if Congress does not act on the issue in the interim.

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/18/business/economy/lingering-confusion-in-debt-ceiling-deals-temporary-fix.html

 

3) According to the Obama administration, how many people have signed up for health insurance through the “Obamacare” health exchanges since they went live on October 1?

a) 500,000

The exchanges have been dogged by technical glitches making it both difficult to enroll and difficult to determine how many people have enrolled.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-20/obamacare-said-to-take-in-almost-500-000-applications.html

 

4) President Obama recently nominated Jeh Johnson to what cabinet level position?

a) Secretary of Homeland Security

Johnson used to be the top lawyer at the Pentagon.  He will get the job if the Senate confirms him.

https://bigstory.ap.org/article/dhs-selection-suggests-priority-shift-security

 

5) What financial giant recently agreed to pay the United States government $13 billion in order to put an end to a number of government investigations into its business?

c) JP Morgan

The government was investigating certain mortgage-related activities that occurred between 2005 and 2007, prior to the 2008 housing market collapse.  Some of the acts being investigated were committed by individuals at Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual, two companies that JP Morgan acquired in 2008.

https://money.cnn.com/2013/10/18/investing/google-stock/

 

6) What company’s stock price recently reached $1,000 a share?

b) Google

Shares of Google are up forty percent this year. https://money.cnn.com/2013/10/18/investing/google-stock/

 

7) What state will begin to recognize gay marriages on Monday?

d) New Jersey

The recognition is the result of a court ruling, not a legislative decision.

https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2013/1018/Gay-marriage-can-begin-in-New-Jersey-for-now-state-s-top-court-rules-video

 

8) What country recently turned down an invitation to become a temporary member on the U.N. Security Council?

c) Saudi Arabia

In a press release, the Saudi government stated that the Security Council is incapable of solving the world’s problems.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/10/18/saudi-arabia-un-security-council/3007069/

 

9) Last week, representatives from Iran sat down with representatives from the “P5 plus 1” powers to try and negotiate an end to the economic sanctions currently upon Iran.  Where did the representatives meet?

d) Geneva, Switzerland

The “P5 plus 1” countries are the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, France and Germany.  Those countries want Iran to be more transparent with respect to its nuclear program.  Talks will resume in November.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/iran-presents-nuclear-proposals-geneva-talks-20584299

 

10) Football players from this university boycotted their own game last weekend.  What university?

c) Grambling State University

The players are upset about their travel arrangements, their practice facility, and their coaching situation.

https://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9845085/grambling-state-tigers-game-jackson-state-tigers-canceled-players-refuse-board-buses


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