NOTE: Before answering the questions below, read the information under “Background.”

1. For each of the 3 countries, provide the following information:

a) capital:

b) location/the countries that share its borders:

c) the religious breakdown of the population:

d) the type of government:

e) 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]:

f) 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.  Go to worldatlas.com for maps and a list of continents.]

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

2. For ISRAEL:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Read more about Prime Minister Sharon under "Background" and "Resources" below. What 2 or 3 words best describe Mr. Sharon as a leader? Explain your choices.

3. For INDONESIA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Apart from recent activity in the past few years, when was the last time Mount Sinabung was active?
c) What is "the Ring of Fire"?

4. For CHINA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What are Chinese "re-education" or "forced labor" camps? Be specific.
c) The labor camp system was criticized as an "urgent human rights concern" by the United Nations in 2009. At the start of 2013, there were approximately 160,000 people in labor camps, according to Human Rights Watch. What do you think is the Communist government's motive for apparently closing the labor camps?