1. For each of the 5 countries, give the following information:
a) the continent on which it is located
b) the name of the capital city
c) the type of government
d) the chief of state (and head of government if different)
e) the population

[Find the answers at the CIA World FactBook website. For each country: type of government, capital and executive branch (chief of state/head of government) can be found under the "Government" heading; population is listed under the "People" heading.  Go to worldatlas.com for a list of continents.]

2. For Italy:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What do you know about Pompeii that is not mentioned in the news blurb or Background?

3. For Russia:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Prime Minister Putin's office has released photos of Putin hunting, swimming, horseback riding and fishing. Media outlets say the photos are aimed at reinforcing Putin's tough-guy image that Russians like, speculating that he may run again for President of Russia. Putin has already served two terms as president and was not eligible to run for a third consecutive term. He is eligible to run again after another serves as president. The Prime Minister is the figurehead of the government in Russia; the President runs the government; he holds the real power. Would photos of a presidential candidate in the U.S. in rugged outdoor activities cause you to vote for that candidate? Why or why not?

4. For Iraq:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What had happened to many of the members at the church a week ago?
c) Many Iraqi Christians have been threatened, attacked or murdered by Muslims since the U.S. invaded in 2003. What should the U.S. do to protect Iraqi Christians?

5. For Germany:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) The protesters want to force the German government to stop using nuclear energy. What would be a better way for the protesters to permanently accomplish their goal?
c) What do you think of the method the protesters used?

6. For Cuba:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Why are the men in prison?
c) A political prisoner is a person who has been imprisoned for holding or advocating dissenting political views [for opposing the government in power; usually an authoritarian government or dictatorship]. Ask a parent why he/she thinks the Cuban government has broken its promise to Catholic Cardinal Jamie Ortega to release the political prisoners.