1. As diplomats assembled in Germany for preparatory talks before this year’s climate conference, a group of EU-funded experts say THIS benchmark global warning target is moving out of reach. "We've run out of time because change takes time,” said one climatologist.
A. The 20% cut in glacier acreage melting
B. The 8 inch cut in lowland sea rising
C. The limit of 10 degree Celsius rise in North America’s mean summer temperature
D. The 1.5 degree Celsius threshold
Correct Response: D. The 1.5 degree Celsius threshold
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/climate-nears-point-no-return-land-sea-temperatures-break-records-experts-2023-06-30
2. France deployed 40,000 police officers to crack down on riots after THIS incident during a traffic stop in a Paris suburb went viral and sparked massive protests. The days of violence led President Macron to cancel a trip abroad.
A. The harsh response to rowdy fans outside a football stadium
B. The beatdown of peaceful protesting environmentalists
C. The fatal overdose of an ambassador
D. The deadly police shooting of a 17-year-old boy
Correct Response: D. The deadly police shooting of a 17-year-old boy
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/france-deploys-40000-police-to-quell-violence-after-shooting-of-teen-driver
3. The Israeli Defense Force attacked targets in the Jenin refugee camp in THIS occupied territory saying they were after “terrorist infrastructure” while the Palestinian PM called it an effort to “destroy the camp and displace its people.”
A. Sinai
B. Gaza
C. West Bank
D. Golan
Correct Response: C. West Bank
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-middle-east-66085089
4. High summer temperatures in Saudi Arabia at THIS Islamic religious observance killed over 230 and caused heat stress in thousands. It is an annual event that attracted about 1.8 million Muslims who were meeting their at least once-in-a-lifetime obligation.
A. Ramadan
B. Hajj
C. Eid
D. Zakat
Correct Response: B. Hajj
https://www.economist.com/interactive/christmas-specials/2022/12/20/how-will-the-haj-change-as-global-temperatures-rise
5. A court in Brazil banned THIS former President from holding office for eight years citing his abuse of power while in office.
A. Nicolás Maduro
B. Jair Bolsonaro
C. Andrés Manuel López Obrador
D. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Correct Response: B. Jair Bolsonaro
https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2023/06/30/jair-bolsonaro-is-barred-from-office-for-eight-years
6. The U.S. issued an advisory suggesting travelers reconsider going to THIS country as it said the “government arbitrarily enforces local laws, including issuing exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent process under the law.”
A. Myanmar
B. Belarus
C. China
D. North Korea
Correct Response: C. China
https://apnews.com/article/us-china-travel-advisory-8ee10ab5ed3b269ad3cdf4dfe715a22a
7. The President of THIS Russian ally confirmed Yevgeny Prigozhin had arrived in his country following the Wagner militia group’s failed mutiny.
A. Moldova
B. China
C. Belarus
D. Kazakhstan
Correct Response: C. Belarus
https://news.sky.com/story/yevgeny-prigozhin-will-keep-a-low-profile-in-belarus-but-wagner-boss-is-a-dangerous-animal-for-president-lukashenko-12912892
8. It’s the tenth anniversary of a coup that removed the first democratically elected civilian in Egypt resulting in repressive rule by THIS former General.
A. Mohammed Morsi
B. Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi
C. Hosni Nassar
D. Hafez al-Assad
Correct Response: B. Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/reintroducing-fear-barrier-10-years-sisis-coup-continues-squeezing-egypt
9. The Barbie movie will be banned by Vietnam in a dispute over a depiction of China’s territorial sea claims on a map depicted in the film showing THIS body of water.
A. Gulf of Tonkin
B. South China Sea
C. East China Sea
D. Mekong River
Correct Response: B. South China Sea
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66083761
10. A South Korea law passed under President Yoon Suk Yeol last year just came into effect to scrap THIS traditional method and fully adopt an international standard.
A. "Korean age," a baby is considered one year old as soon as it is born
B. Korean units of measurement, the base unit area is the pyeong
C. Age of consent, teenagers 13 or older
D. “Koryo medicine,” acupuncture, herbal medicine, and moxibustion
Correct Response: A. "Korean age," a baby is considered one year old as soon as it is born
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/south-korea-year-younger-traditional-way-counting-age-scrapped-rcna91609
