NewsTracker Answers for week of July 25, 2016

Q: After some military officers failed in an attempt to seize control, many inside and outside Turkey fear that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will try to gain dictatorial power as he purges tens of thousands of people, including soldiers, police, judges and civil servants from government. Where is Turkey?

Circle the area on this map

Q: Some Turks say the government’s response seems more about Erdogan consolidating his power than just rooting out coup plotters. Similar concerns have been expressed by Turkey’s allies, including . . .

A. China

B. Israel

C. Russia

D. United States

D. Turkey is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which is comprised of several European nations and Canada and the United States.

Q: Erdogan’s political opponents have long been critical of the Turkish leader’s religious agenda and attempts to silence journalists and critics. What is the primary religion in Turkey?

A. Christian

B. Hindu

C. Islam

D. Judaism

C. Turkey is 99.8 percent Muslim. The other 0.2 percent are mostly Christians and Jews. Erdogan has pursued Islamist policies in the nation which was established as a secular state after World War I.

Q: Until recently, Turkish officials had been criticized for not doing enough to stop the flow of recruits and goods to the Islamic State forces in Syria and Iraq on Turkey’s . . .

A. Northern border

B. Eastern border

C. Southern border

D. Western border

C. Turkey is bordered by Syria and Iraq to the south; Iran, Armenia, and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the east; Georgia to the northeast; Bulgaria to the northwest; and Greece to the west.

Q: Turkey also has taken steps to stop the flood of refugees fleeing the fighting in Syria and Iraq. The refugees crossed what body of water to get to Greece on their way to northern Europe?

A. Aegean Sea

B. Black Sea

C. Caspian Sea

D. Dead Sea

A. Many refugees drowned as they tried to use small inflatable boats to reach Greek islands in the Aegean.