NewsTracker Answers for week of Jan. 11, 2021

Q: Pro-independence Scottish politicians are demanding that the government of the United Kingdom pay billions of pounds in compensation to Scotland for the mounting costs and disruption of Brexit. Where is Scotland?

Circle the area on this map

Q: Brexit has strained the bonds that tie together the United Kingdom (UK). Brexit is a term describing Britain’s exit from what?

A. European Union

B. North Atlantic Treaty Organization

C. United Nations

D. All of the above

A. After 47 years, Britain left the European Union (EU) last year and finally reached a “divorce agreement” with its 27 member nations in December. In a 2016 referendum on Brexit, England and Wales voted to leave but Northern Ireland and Scotland voted to stay.

Q: In addition to Northern Ireland and Scotland, voters in the UK’s capital also wanted to stay in the EU. What is the capital of the UK?

A. Belfast

B. Cardiff

C. Edinburgh

D. London

D. London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom. Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland. Cardiff is the capital of Wales, and Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland.

Q: Those campaigning for Brexit in 2016 said leaving would free Britain from decisions made by EU officials in Brussels. Where is Brussels?

A. Austria

B. Belgium

C. France

D. Netherlands

B. Three of the EU’s top institutions are in Belgium’s capital Brussels. Other EU institutions are located in France, Germany and Luxembourg.

Q: The Scottish National Party (SNP) said Brexit is “costing us billions in lost trade and growth.” The SNP wants Scotland to vote again on leaving a union that was first formed as the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. What is Great Britain?

A. Archipelago

B. Empire

C. Ethnic group

D. Island

D. Great Britain is the largest island in the British Isles and the largest island in Europe. Scots voted 55-45 percent against independence in 2014 referendum. Polls find most Scots now favor succession because of Brexit and the way the British government handled COVID-19.