TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you will be presented with a passage and have to answer a question based on your understanding of the events inferred from the passage. Try to find the best answer that is most likely to fill in "_". Note that the URLs in the text have been replaced with [Link].
PROBLEM: Moscow (CNN) -- Russia's upper house of parliament voted Wednesday to revoke the right of President Vladimir Putin to use troops in Ukraine as efforts continue to calm a separatist uprising in Ukraine's east. The Federation Council had approved Putin's request for a resolution allowing the use of force on March 1. But Tuesday, Putin sent a letter to the speaker of the upper house seeking to cancel the resolution. One lawmaker voted against revoking the powers Wednesday, with 153 in favor. Putin's request was made in light of ongoing talks on how to settle the crisis in Ukraine's eastern regions, said presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.NATO agrees to a package of support to help Ukraine defend itselfRussia's Federation Council cancels resolution authorizing use of troops in UkrainePresident Vladimir Putin asked for the step in light of peace talks, his spokesman saysJohn Kerry and other NATO foreign ministers are meeting in Belgium 
 Question:The parliamentary action is a positive step, _ said, but it could be easily reversed.

SOLUTION: John Kerry

PROBLEM: WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Members of the Senate Finance Committee met Tuesday with treasury secretary nominee Tim Geithner over concerns involving his personal taxes and the immigration status of a former housekeeper, transition officials said. Timothy Geithner has been nominated for the post of treasury secretary in the Obama administration. The Geithners employed a housekeeper whose employment authorization document expired about three months before she stopped working for them in October 2005, according to a written statement from the Senate Finance Committee. Later, the housekeeper, who is married to a U.S. citizen, was granted a green card, transition officials said. The second concern involves Geithner's taxes while he worked for the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to a statement released by the committee, Geithner failed to pay self-employment taxes while the IMF paid him from 2001 to 2004.Committee: Housekeeper worked for 3 months after employment document expiredGeithner failed to pay self-employment taxes while working for IMF, committee saysErrors were "honest mistakes," don't rise to "level of disqualification," chairman saysTax issue a "common mistake," incoming White House spokesman says 
 Question:After _ nominated him for treasury secretary, Geithner voluntarily amended his taxes for 2001 and 2002, paying $25,970 for those taxes and interest, the committee said.

SOLUTION: Obama

PROBLEM: Washington (CNN) With the special election for Alabama's Senate seat less than two weeks away, the candidates appear headed for a photo finish, with Democrat Doug Jones gaining a slight edge over his Republican competitor Roy Moore, according to a new poll out Saturday. Jones is up 3% among likely voters, with 50% to Moore's 47%, according to a Washington Post-Schar School Poll. The survey found that allegations of improper sexual behavior made against Moore in recent weeks factored heavily in the candidate's drooping numbers. On the topic of moral conduct, 53% of voters said Jones had higher standards. Only about a third of those polled said Moore, a former district attorney, former Alabama state Supreme Court justice, and strong proponent of Christianity, has higher moral standards. Moore is perhaps best known for his strident opposition to LGBT rights and Islam and embrace of Christian theocratic principles.Jones is up 3% among likely voters, with 50% to Moore's 47%53% of voters said Jones had higher moral standards 
 Question:However, the pollsters did not disclose that _ was a sponsor of the poll until the end of the interview to avoid influencing the answers of respondents with opinions about the news organization's coverage of the allegations against Moore.

SOLUTION:
Washington Post