1. a) Define moratorium as used in paragraph 6.
b) What has President Obama proposed regarding offshore drilling?

2. List people and groups and their reasons for opposing offshore drilling as described in this article.

3. What reasons do shrimp fishermen give for supporting offshore drilling?

4. a) For what reasons does Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell (a Republican) support offshore drilling off the coast of Virginia?
b) Name the politicians who agree with Gov. McDonnell.

5. a) The reporter interprets some East Coast residents' reactions as ambivalent in paragraphs 12-15. Define ambivalent.
b) What word do you think the reporter should have used instead of ambivalent to describe these residents' reactions to offshore drilling, based on what they said?

6. In 2008, President Bush lifted a presidential moratorium on the expansion of offshore drilling. Democrats in Congress would not lift their ban when President Bush called for it. Do you think Democrats in Congress will now support President Obama's call for more offshore drilling? Explain your answer.

7. With which side do you agree: opposing or supporting increased offshore drilling? Explain your answer.