Strike in Venezuela  (low)
Strike in Venezuela
Venezuela's oil unions say that they will end their strike for worker pay hikes.  The union officials say the decision was made after the government declared the strike illegal and sent troops to break up worker demonstrations in the western Zulia state.
Why were the workers on strike?
They wanted a higher salaries.
*
They wanted better working conditions.

We don't know.

What did the government do?
It met with union officials to solve the problem.

It organized demonstrations for the workers.

It declared the strike illegal.
*
How long was the strike?
Almost a week.

Only two days.

We don't know.
*
South Korea's New Airport (low)
South Korea's New Airport
South Korea's multi-billion dollar new Incheon International Airport has opened to commercial flights.  The Airport cost nearly five and a half billion dollars and is built on an island close to Incheon Port and about fifty kilometers west of Seoul.  The New airport plans to handle 170,000 flights a year and process 27 million passengers.
Where is the new airport?
On an island
*
Incheon Port

Seoul

How much did the airport cost?
nearly $15 billion

$170,000 million

almost $5.5 billion
*
How many passengers will use the airport each year?
50,000,000

27,000,000
*
We don't know.

China-US Plane Crash
China-US Plane Crash
US Military officials are denying accusations by China that a US Navy reconnaissance plane delibrately struck a Chinese fighter jet over the South China Sea, causing the jet to crash. The head of the United States Pacific Command says the collision occurred when the Chinese aircraft bumped the wing of the US plane. China says the US Navy plane rammed one of the two fighters sent up to track it off of Hainan Island. 
How many planes were involved in the accident?
two

three
*
Only one

Where did the accident take place?
In the South China Sea.
*
Over Hainan Island.

We don't know.

Why did the accident happen?
The pilots did not see each other.

The weather was bad.

We don't know.
*
Fire in Kenya
Fire in Kenya
Kenyan police suspect a fire that killed fifty-seven teenage boys, was deliberately set.  Another twenty-eight boys were injured in the blaze that engulfed thier boarding school dormitory in eastern Kenya early today.  Nine are hospitalized in serious condition.  Police say barred windows and a locked door prevented many of the youths from escaping the fire.
How many boys died in the fire?
nine

twenty-eight

fifty-seven
*
Where did the fire happen
In an apartment building.

At a school.
*
We don't know.

What caused the fire?
There was an accident in the kitchen.

Faulty electrical wiring.

We don't know.
*
Zapatista Rebels in Mexico
Zapatista Rebels in Mexico
Mexican President Vicente Fox has hailed the decision by Zapatista rebels to renew peace talks. In Mexico City Wednesday Mr. Fox told reporters the federal government and the Zapatistas and are advancing steadily on the path toward peace accords. Zapatista rebel leaders announced their decision to return to the negotiating table earlier Wednesday.
When will the rebels and the government meet again?
Wednesday.

Early next week.

We don't know.
*
According to Mr. Fox, how are the negotiations going?
The two sides are advancing steadily toward peace accords.
*
He critized the rebels for not wanting to renew peace talks.

We don't know.

Which word is in this story?
decide

decision 
*
deciding

Elections in Japan
Elections in Japan
Voters in Japan have elected an independent candidate as governor in Chiba prefecture, which is seen as bad news for the ruling coalition.  New state governor Akiko Domoto celebrated her win Monday with hundreds of her supporters in the suburban district of Chiba, east of Toyko.  Her victory is seen as significant because Chiba has been a stronghold of the ruling Democratic Party for more than twenty years.
By how many votes did Ms. Domoto win the election?
Only 100

Only 20

We don't know.
*
Why is Ms. Domoto victory significant?
She is the first woman elected as governor in Chiba.

An independent candidate has never won a major election in Chiba.

The Chiba prefecture is controlled by the Democratic Party.
*
Which words are in the story?
celebrated, supporters, seen
*
celebration, suburbs, see

celecbrates, supported, seeing

Hoof-and-Mouth Disease 1
Hoof and Mouth Disease: Part 1
Britain says it will decide by Saturday whether to start vaccinating some livestock against hoof-and-mouth disease.  The government's mass slaughter of livestock believed exposed to the disease has so far shown no sign of bringing the epidemic under control.  The vaccination is seen as a last resort because treated animals carry hoof-and-mouth antibodies in their blood stream and cannot be exported to disease-free countries.
When will the British government decide what to do?
Saturday.
*
Sunday.

We don't know.

What did the government do to stop the epidemic?
It slaughtered thousands of animals.
*
It vaccinated as many animals as possible.

It imported healthy animals.

What will happen if the government vaccinates the animals?
The animals cannot be exported.
*
The epidemic will definitely end.

We aren't sure.

Hoof-and-Mouth Disease 2
Hoof and Mouth Disease: Part 2
The number of hoof-and-mouth cases across Britain has risen to more than 890. The six-week old crisis has forced authorities to slaughter thousands of animals to contain the spread of the disease that is expected to cost the British economy $13 billion dollars this year.
How many cases of hoof-and-mouth disease are there?
890
*
Between 800 and 900

1890

How long have the British had this problem?
for several weeks

for six weeks
*
for almost two months

How much will this cost the British economy?
$13 million.

$30 million.

$13 billion
*
China-Taiwan-US Weapons
US-Taiwan weapons
Chinese President Jiang Zemin is urging the United States not to sell advanced weapons to Taiwan, warning that such sales would only force Beijing to accelerate its military modernization program.  Mr Jiang said he believes China and the United States could overcome problems in their relationship, but that mistakes on the Taiwan issue could be costly for Washington, Beijing or Taipei.
What did Mr. Jiang suggest that the US leaders do?
Accelerate global modernization programs.

NOT sell more weapons to Taiwan.
*
Meet with the leaders of Taiwan and China.

Where did Mr. Jiang make his announcement?
Beijing.

Taipei.

We don't know.
*
Which words are in the story?
warned, sells, advantage

warn, selling, relations

warning, sales, advanced
*
Oil Rig Accident in Brazil
Oil Rig Accident in Brazil
Despite a five-day struggle to save it, a 210-meter high oil rig carrying more than a million liters of crude oil and diesel fuel sank off the coast of Brazil Tuesday. Over the weekend, experts pumped nitrogen into the rig and expelled water from it, but that wasn't enough. The rig began to list again in bad weather overnight and sank in the early hours of Tuesday.  Ships encircled the rig with floating barriers in hopes of preventing an environmental disaster.
When did the oil rig sink?
Late Monday night

Early Tuesday
*
Thursday

How big is the oil rig?
200 meters

210 meters
*
We don't know.

How much oil and fuel was in the rig?
several million.

more than million.
*
almost a million

Fighting in Macedonia
Fighting in Macedonia
Top NATO and European envoys are in Macedonia where a military campaign against ethnic Albanian gunmen is under way. The envoys will hold talks with senior Macedonian officials, reportedly to urge a political solution to the conflict. Macedonian forces overran several villages held by the gunmen Sunday, and pledged that the military offensive would continue until the insurgents are driven out of the country. 
Who has gone to Macedonia to hold talks?
NATO and European envoys
*
Ethnic Albanians

Military leaders

When will the talks take place?
Sunday.

Saturday.

We don't know.
*
Where will the talks take place?
In the capital.

In a village.

We don't know.
*
China's Population (low)
China's Population
China's nationwide census data have been released, showing the population has grown by more than eleven percent in the last decade.  The census also shows China has a rapidly aging society and a growing imbalance between the sexes.
How much has the population in China grown?
7%

11%
*
18%

Over what period of time does the census measure?
one year.

ten years.
*
We don't know.

Which words are in the story?
rapid, shown, national

show, social, growth

rapidly, showing, society
*