1.  What is the role of the U.S. State Department?

2.  What was the State Department investigating about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?  Why did they begin such an investigation?

3.  Why did the State Department close its investigation without coming to a conclusion about President Ahmadinejad?

4.  Who was the U.S. President during the hostage crisis?  For how long were the hostages held?
CHALLENGE QUESTION:  Why did the Iranians release the hostages after such a long period of time?

5.  Define recall as used in paragraph 8.

6.  Re-read paragraph #'s 7, 8, 10, 13, 14.  Remember the fact the the State Department did investigate based on the hostages' accusations.  The State Department did not conclude that Ahmadinejad was a hostage taker, but they did not conclude that he was not a hostage taker.  Look at the photos which some former hostages have said are proof that Ahmadinejad is one of their captors.
Which of the following conclusions do you think are probably true?  Explain your answer.

• Ahmadinejad is lying
• Ahmadinejad is telling the truth
• The former hostages are lying
• The former hostages are sincerely mistaken about Ahmadinejad
• The former hostages are right about Ahmadinejad - he was one of their captors