NOTE: Before answering the questions below, read the info 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.]

2. For SOUTH AFRICA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What was the significance of Nelson Mandela's presidency?

3. For URUGUAY:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What will Uruguay's law allow citizens to do? Be specific.
c) Why did the government pass this law?
d) Reuters reports: "Uruguay is one of the safest Latin American countries with little of the drug violence or other violence seen in countries such as Colombia and Mexico." What do you think: Will legalizing marijuana increase violent crime, decrease it, or will it stay the same? Explain your answer.
e) Opponents say government sponsoring the consumption of marijuana, and legalizing it this way will increase consumption among Uruguay's citizens. What do you think?

4. For CANADA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Canada Post faces a $6.5 billion pension (retirement) fund shortfall. Ask a parent how he/she thinks Canada's postal service, and in turn the U.S. Postal Service, which faces similar problems with its pensions, should handle the crushing deficit.