NewsTracker Answers for week of Nov. 26, 2012

Q: Protests erupted across Egypt, as opponents of President Mohamed Mursi clashed with his supporters over a presidential edict that gave him unchecked authority and raised fears of a return to authoritarian rule. Where is Egypt on this map?

Circle the area on this map


Q: Reminiscent of the demonstrations that helped topple Musi's predecessor Hosni Mubarak, hundreds of protesters gathered in the capital's Tahrir Square. What is the capital of Egypt?

A. Alexandria

B. Cairo

C. Luxor

D. Memphis


B. Cairo is the capital of Egypt, and with a population of 6.76 million people, it is the largest city in the Arab world and Africa. Alexandria, Memphis and Luxor all served as ancient Egyptian capitals.


Q: Mursi's decree that no authority can revoke his presidential decisions, came one day after he helped secure a ceasefire in neighboring ...

A. Sudan

B. Libya

C. Gaza

D. Saudi Arabia


C. Mursi was praised by Western leaders for his role in securing a ceasefire between Hamas, which governs Gaza, and Israel with which Egypt signed a peace treaty in 1979. But, many world leaders were disturbed by Mursi's edict.


Q: "God’s will and elections made me the captain of this ship," Morsi said in defending his actions. Some opponents fear he is trying to establish a religion-based government called a ...

A. Autocracy

B. Plutocracy

C. Stratocracy

D. Theocracy


D. Theocracy is Greek for the "rule of god," and it is used to describe governments ranging from Islamic states to Vatican City. Mursi has said he backs the Muslim Brotherhood's famous slogan -- "Islam is the solution" -- and described its policy plans as having "a moderate Islamic reference."


Q: Opposition politician Mohamed ElBaradei complained that the president had "usurped all state powers and appointed himself Egypt's new pharaoh." The pharaohs ruled an ancient civilization that grew up along the banks of what river?

A. Amazon

B. Tigris

C. Euphrates

D. Nile


D. The annual Nile River flood allowed agriculture to flourish and led to the rise of a unified kingdom ruled by pharaohs starting about 3200 BC. Civilization along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in what is now Iraq dates back to about 6500 BC. While the Nile is the world's longest river, its water flow is dwarfed by the Amazon in South America.