1. President Biden hosted the first standalone summit, apart from multilateral meeting sideline events, with Japan’s and South Korea’s leaders at THIS venue. The three signed several agreements focused on responding to mutual threats as regional tensions with China and North Korea are on the rise.
A. Sunnylands, CA
B. Camp David, MD
C. Greenbrier, WV
D. Hickam AFB, HI
Correct Response: B. Camp David, MD
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-meets-leaders-japan-south-korea-camp-david-rcna100674
2. The U.S. declared THIS group defeated in 2017 in Syria and Iraq after a multinational campaign. The UN now reports fighters in the region are making a comeback with the organization’s Afghanistan offshoot growing to include about 6,000 fighters.
A. Al Qaeda
B. Hizbollah
C. ISIS
D. Taliban
Correct Response: C. ISIS
https://www.gzeromedia.com/the-islamic-states-rise-in-afghanistan
3. After the U.S. authorized release of THIS weapon to Ukraine, the Netherlands and Denmark announced they would transfer them from their inventory.
A. Abrams Tanks
B. Harpoon anti-ship missiles
C. F-16 Fighting Falcon jets
D. Improved long-range ATACMS
Correct Response: C. F-16 Fighting Falcon jets
https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-zelenskyy-netherlands-f16-9252de3ad10357a41212262c560874aa
4. A summit of THIS five-nation grouping of large developing nations will be held in Johannesburg this week. China’s President Xi Jinping will attend; indicted war criminal Russian President Putin will attend virtually. The group produces 25% of global economic activity and boasts 40% of the world’s population.
A. NATO
B. Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
C. BRICS
D. WTO
Correct Response: C. BRICS
https://www.gzeromedia.com/viewpoint-brics-countries-seek-to-expand-global-influence
5. Almost half a century after its last lunar exploration mission THIS country’s bid to land a craft, Luna 25, at the moon’s south pole ended in a crash landing.
A. India
B. China
C. Brazil
D. Russia
Correct Response: D. Russia
https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/20/world/luna-25-spacecraft-moon-collision-intl/index.html
6. The State Department announced visa restriction sanctions on 100 officials who supported President Daniel Ortega’s campaign to restrict human rights and undermine democracy in THIS Central American nation.
A. Guatemala
B. Paraguay
C. Costa Rica
D. Nicaragua
Correct Response: D. Nicaragua
https://apnews.com/article/nicaragua-sanctions-nicaraguan-officials-visas-7cbabf27fd31ba2e981d72b65f1c1459
7. Sweden raised its terrorism threat level to the second-highest mark following THIS string of public desecrations by a handful of anti-Islam activists, sparking outrage across Muslim countries. Sweden's request to join NATO was held up by Turkey over similar issues.
A. LGBTQ hate speech
B. Mosque disruption
C. Quran burning
D. Terrorizing Arab shops
Correct Response: C. Quran burning
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/sweden-raises-terror-threat-level-2nd-highest-recent-102337854
8. The official unemployment rate has risen to 33% in THIS African country, a member of the BRICS, the highest in the world. Last month, a United Nations report delivered to Deputy President Paul Mashatile described the situation as a "ticking time bomb."
A. Congo
B. Rwanda
C. South Africa
D. Botswana
Correct Response: C. South Africa
https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-unemployment-jobs-economy-un-ab41fc68f3641819cd0d5557e63b17a6
9. China launched a new round of military exercises aimed at intimidating Taiwan after THIS diplomatic development.
A. Taiwan vice president stopover in the U.S.
B. Success of Taiwanese independence minded political party
C. Visit of U.S. aircraft carrier group to Taiwan
D. Tokyo-Taipei summit
Correct Response: A. Taiwan vice president stopover in the U.S.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/13/china-condemns-visit-of-troublemaker-taiwan-vice-president-to-us.html
10. The financial troubles of THIS G-7 nation brought new woes to global stock markets as investors were concerned over real estate and debt problems and continued impact on growth forecasts. Observers worry the struggling economy and popular pushback may cause leadership to become increasingly aggressive abroad as distractions.
A. Canada
B. China
C. India
D. Malaysia
Correct Response: B. China
https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2023/08/16/how-bad-could-chinas-property-crisis-get
