NewsTracker Answers for week of June 27, 2011

Q: Despite angry protests in the streets, Greek politicians were expected to enact new spending cuts and tax hikes in return for a $171 billion debt bailout deal. Where is Greece?

Circle the area on this map

Q: Demonstrators projected the word "Thieves" across the facade of the Parliament building in Athens. The ancient city is known as the birthplace of . . .

A. Athena

B. Bowling

C. Civilization

D. Democracy

D. "Rule of the people" was established in Athens after a revolt against a tyrant in 508 BC. But, a recent study found that 9 out of 10 modern Greeks believed that their elected politicians were corrupt.

Q: One demonstrator called the Athens protest "our Thermopylae," referring to an ancient battle between Greeks and Persians. What is Persia called today?

A. Iran

B. Iraq

C. Syria

D. Turkey

A. Before 1935, Iran was known internationally as Persia. The ancient Persian Empire once ruled over a million square miles, but it eventually was defeated by Alexander the Great.

Q: In addition to voting on austerity measures, Parliament was expected to consider a corruption investigation into a military deal with Greece's World War II foe . . .

A. Russia

B. Britain

C. Germany

D. France

C. A former Greek defense minister is accused of corruption in the procurement of submarines from Germany, which occupied Greece during World War II. Parliament members are immune from prosecution in Greece.

Q: Germany is a leader in the deal to bail out Greece, its fellow member in . . .

A. Eurozone

B. European Union

C. NATO

D. All of the above

D. While both countries belong to all three entities, the Eurozone is most threatened by Greece's debt crisis. A default by Greece could dramatically weaken the euro, the common currency shared by the 17 nations in the Eurozone.