1. For CHINA, give the following information:

1. capital
2. location/the countries that share its borders
3. the religious breakdown of the population
4. the type of government
5. the chief of state (and head of government if different) If monarch or dictator, since what date has he/she ruled? – include name of heir apparent for monarch
6. the population

Find the answers at the CIA World FactBook website. For each country, answers can be found under the “Geography” “People” and “Government” headings.

NOTE: Before answering the following questions, read the info under “Background” and watch the video under “Resources” below.

2. For CHINA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What did China’s consulate in Houston ask the Rockets to do?
c) How did the team respond to the Communist government’s request?
d) How did the NBA respond to China’s outrage?
e) Tom Scocca writes at Slate:

What are you going to do, after all, turn your back on 1.4 billion people? Or 1.399 billion, if you don’t count the 1 million [Muslim] Uighurs reportedly held in prison camps where their culture is trained out of them by force (in a territory where the NBA established a training camp)?

Yes. That is what to do. Especially for the NBA, whose relationship with China is chiefly monetary. NBA China is reportedly worth $4 billion. That’s a lot of money to walk away from over one tweet. And that’s exactly why the NBA should walk away now.

China has already played its hand. If Hong Kong is nonnegotiable, there’s nothing to discuss. The subject will become more sensitive, not less, if the Hong Kong police move from tear gas and rubber bullets to the routine use of live ammunition, or if the People’s Liberation Army moves in. Would the NBA muzzle its employees then? Would the players and staff of a globally prominent American company censor their own feelings to protect the Chinese market? Why not take the stand before it gets to that?

Do you agree or disagree with Mr. Scocca? Explain your answer.

f) Should fans call on the NBA and every team and player to cut their ties with the Chinese Basketball Association and Chinese businesses unless they end their blacklist of the Houston Rockets? Explain your answer.

g) Should China be surprised that an American would stand up for freedom? Explain your answer.