praj-17/QA-MCQ-Open-ended huggingface dataset:
Title: Alaska
Context: The Alaska Constitution was written so as to discourage dedicating state funds for a particular purpose. The Permanent Fund has become the rare exception to this, mostly due to the political climate of distrust existing during the time of its creation. From its initial principal of $734,000, the fund has grown to $50 billion as a result of oil royalties and capital investment programs. Most if not all the principal is invested conservatively outside Alaska. This has led to frequent calls by Alaskan politicians for the Fund to make investments within Alaska, though such a stance has never gained momentum.

question: Was Alaska's Constitution written to encourage or discourage state funds being used for a particular purpose? 

answer: discourage

question: Why is the Permanent Fund an exception to the premise of the Alaskan Constitution? 

answer: political climate of distrust existing during the time of its creation

question: Where is the principal of the Permanent Fund invested? 

answer: outside Alaska

question: How much was the initial principal of the Permanent Fund? 

answer: $734,000

question: How high has the principal of the Permanent Fund grown? 

answer: $50 billion
Title: Alaska
Context: Starting in 1982, dividends from the fund's annual growth have been paid out each year to eligible Alaskans, ranging from an initial $1,000 in 1982 (equal to three years' payout, as the distribution of payments was held up in a lawsuit over the distribution scheme) to $3,269 in 2008 (which included a one-time $1,200 "Resource Rebate"). Every year, the state legislature takes out 8% from the earnings, puts 3% back into the principal for inflation proofing, and the remaining 5% is distributed to all qualifying Alaskans. To qualify for the Permanent Fund Dividend, one must have lived in the state for a minimum of 12 months, maintain constant residency subject to allowable absences, and not be subject to court judgments or criminal convictions which fall under various disqualifying classifications or may subject the payment amount to civil garnishment.

question: How long must an Alaskan have lived in the state in order to receive a Permanent Fund Dividend? 

answer: minimum of 12 months

question: What percentage of the Permanent Fund is divided betwen Alaska's eligible residents? 

answer: 5%

question: When did disembursements from the Permanent Fund begin? 

answer: 1982

question: How much was the initial disembursement from the Permanent Fund? 

answer: $1,000
Title: Alaska
Context: The Tanana Valley is another notable agricultural locus, especially the Delta Junction area, about 100 miles (160 km) southeast of Fairbanks, with a sizable concentration of farms growing agronomic crops; these farms mostly lie north and east of Fort Greely. This area was largely set aside and developed under a state program spearheaded by Hammond during his second term as governor. Delta-area crops consist predominately of barley and hay. West of Fairbanks lies another concentration of small farms catering to restaurants, the hotel and tourist industry, and community-supported agriculture.

question: Which crops are produced in the Delta-area? 

answer: barley and hay

question: Small farms west of Fairbanks cater to whom? 

answer: restaurants, the hotel and tourist industry, and community-supported agriculture

question: Which area did Hammond develeop during his second term? 

answer: Delta Junction area
Title: Alaska
Context: Most food in Alaska is transported into the state from "Outside", and shipping costs make food in the cities relatively expensive. In rural areas, subsistence hunting and gathering is an essential activity because imported food is prohibitively expensive. Though most small towns and villages in Alaska lie along the coastline, the cost of importing food to remote villages can be high, because of the terrain and difficult road conditions, which change dramatically, due to varying climate and precipitation changes. The cost of transport can reach as high as 50¢ per pound ($1.10/kg) or more in some remote areas, during the most difficult times, if these locations can be reached at all during such inclement weather and terrain conditions. The cost of delivering a 1 US gallon (3.8 L) of milk is about $3.50 in many villages where per capita income can be $20,000 or less. Fuel cost per gallon is routinely 20–30¢ higher than the continental United States average, with only Hawaii having higher prices.

question: What causes food in Alaskan cities to be relatively expensive? 

answer: shipping costs

question: How high can the cost of transport be in some remote areas? 

answer: 50¢ per pound ($1.10/kg)

question: Which state in the US is the only to have higher fuel prices than Alaska? 

answer: Hawaii

question: How much does it cost to transport a gallon of milk in some rural areas of Alaska? 

answer: $3.50
Title: Alaska
Context: Alaska has few road connections compared to the rest of the U.S. The state's road system covers a relatively small area of the state, linking the central population centers and the Alaska Highway, the principal route out of the state through Canada. The state capital, Juneau, is not accessible by road, only a car ferry, which has spurred several debates over the decades about moving the capital to a city on the road system, or building a road connection from Haines. The western part of Alaska has no road system connecting the communities with the rest of Alaska.

question: Why is there a debate about moving the capital of Alaska to another town? 

answer: Juneau, is not accessible by road

question: Which part of Alaska has no road system connecting it to other areas? 

answer: western part

question: Compared to the rest of the US, does Alaska has many or few road connections? 

answer: few
Title: Alaska
Context: Built around 1915, the Alaska Railroad (ARR) played a key role in the development of Alaska through the 20th century. It links north Pacific shipping through providing critical infrastructure with tracks that run from Seward to Interior Alaska by way of South Central Alaska, passing through Anchorage, Eklutna, Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali, and Fairbanks, with spurs to Whittier, Palmer and North Pole. The cities, towns, villages, and region served by ARR tracks are known statewide as "The Railbelt". In recent years, the ever-improving paved highway system began to eclipse the railroad's importance in Alaska's economy.

question: What year was the Alaska Railroad built? 

answer: around 1915

question: To what does "The Railbelt" refer? 

answer: region served by ARR tracks

question: Which development in 1915 played a key role in developing Alaska? 

answer: Alaska Railroad (ARR)
Title: Alaska
Context: The Alaska Railroad was one of the last railroads in North America to use cabooses in regular service and still uses them on some gravel trains. It continues to offer one of the last flag stop routes in the country. A stretch of about 60 miles (100 km) of track along an area north of Talkeetna remains inaccessible by road; the railroad provides the only transportation to rural homes and cabins in the area. Until construction of the Parks Highway in the 1970s, the railroad provided the only land access to most of the region along its entire route.

question: The ARR was one of the last railroads in the US to use what? 

answer: cabooses

question: When are cabooses still used occasionally? 

answer: some gravel trains

question: When was the Parks Highway constructed? 

answer: 1970s
Title: Alaska
Context: Alaska's well-developed state-owned ferry system (known as the Alaska Marine Highway) serves the cities of southeast, the Gulf Coast and the Alaska Peninsula. The ferries transport vehicles as well as passengers. The system also operates a ferry service from Bellingham, Washington and Prince Rupert, British Columbia in Canada through the Inside Passage to Skagway. The Inter-Island Ferry Authority also serves as an important marine link for many communities in the Prince of Wales Island region of Southeast and works in concert with the Alaska Marine Highway.

question: What is the name of Alaska's ferry system? 

answer: the Alaska Marine Highway

question: Which other Ferry group works alongside the Alaska Marine Highway to coordinate travel? 

answer: The Inter-Island Ferry Authority

question: Which areas does the Alaska Marine Highway serve? 

answer: southeast, the Gulf Coast and the Alaska Peninsula
Title: Alaska
Context: Cities not served by road, sea, or river can be reached only by air, foot, dogsled, or snowmachine, accounting for Alaska's extremely well developed bush air services—an Alaskan novelty. Anchorage and, to a lesser extent Fairbanks, is served by many major airlines. Because of limited highway access, air travel remains the most efficient form of transportation in and out of the state. Anchorage recently completed extensive remodeling and construction at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport to help accommodate the upsurge in tourism (in 2012-2013, Alaska received almost 2 million visitors).

question: Which two cities are served by major airlines? 

answer: Anchorage and, to a lesser extent Fairbanks

question: What is the most efficient means of transportation into and out of Alaska? 

answer: air travel

question: How many visitors came to Alaska between 2012-2013? 

answer: almost 2 million
Title: Alaska
Context: Regular flights to most villages and towns within the state that are commercially viable are challenging to provide, so they are heavily subsidized by the federal government through the Essential Air Service program. Alaska Airlines is the only major airline offering in-state travel with jet service (sometimes in combination cargo and passenger Boeing 737-400s) from Anchorage and Fairbanks to regional hubs like Bethel, Nome, Kotzebue, Dillingham, Kodiak, and other larger communities as well as to major Southeast and Alaska Peninsula communities.

question: Which service allows government to subsidise regular air travel in Alaska? 

answer: Essential Air Service program

question: Which airline offers in-state travel with jet-service? 

answer: Alaska Airlines

question: What are some Alaskan regional hubs? 

answer: Bethel, Nome, Kotzebue, Dillingham, Kodiak
Title: Alaska
Context: The bulk of remaining commercial flight offerings come from small regional commuter airlines such as Ravn Alaska, PenAir, and Frontier Flying Service. The smallest towns and villages must rely on scheduled or chartered bush flying services using general aviation aircraft such as the Cessna Caravan, the most popular aircraft in use in the state. Much of this service can be attributed to the Alaska bypass mail program which subsidizes bulk mail delivery to Alaskan rural communities. The program requires 70% of that subsidy to go to carriers who offer passenger service to the communities.

question: What are the names of a few regional Alaskan airlines? 

answer: Ravn Alaska, PenAir, and Frontier Flying Service

question: What model is the most popular aicraft in Alaska? 

answer: Cessna Caravan

question: How much of the subsidized bulk mail delivery program goes to carriers who offer passenger service? 

answer: 70%
Title: Alaska
Context: Many communities have small air taxi services. These operations originated from the demand for customized transport to remote areas. Perhaps the most quintessentially Alaskan plane is the bush seaplane. The world's busiest seaplane base is Lake Hood, located next to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, where flights bound for remote villages without an airstrip carry passengers, cargo, and many items from stores and warehouse clubs. In 2006 Alaska had the highest number of pilots per capita of any U.S. state.

question: Which plane is considered quintessentially Alaskan? 

answer: bush seaplane

question: Where is the busiest seaplane base in the world? 

answer: Lake Hood

question: Which state had the most pilots per capita than any other US state? 

answer: Alaska

question: Lake Hood is located next to what International Airport? 

answer: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
Title: Alaska
Context: Another Alaskan transportation method is the dogsled. In modern times (that is, any time after the mid-late 1920s), dog mushing is more of a sport than a true means of transportation. Various races are held around the state, but the best known is the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, a 1,150-mile (1,850 km) trail from Anchorage to Nome (although the distance varies from year to year, the official distance is set at 1,049 miles or 1,688 km). The race commemorates the famous 1925 serum run to Nome in which mushers and dogs like Togo and Balto took much-needed medicine to the diphtheria-stricken community of Nome when all other means of transportation had failed. Mushers from all over the world come to Anchorage each March to compete for cash, prizes, and prestige. The "Serum Run" is another sled dog race that more accurately follows the route of the famous 1925 relay, leaving from the community of Nenana (southwest of Fairbanks) to Nome.

question: Which Alaskan way of transport is more for sport than for transportation? 

answer: dogsled

question: Which dog-sled race in Alaska is the most famous? 

answer: Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

question: What does the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race commemorate in Alaskan history? 

answer: the famous 1925 serum run to Nome

question: Why were sled-dogs used to deliver medicine to Nome in 1925? 

answer: all other means of transportation had failed

question: Which dogsled race most accurately follows the route of the 1925 serum run? 

answer: "Serum Run"
Title: Alaska
Context: Alaska's internet and other data transport systems are provided largely through the two major telecommunications companies: GCI and Alaska Communications. GCI owns and operates what it calls the Alaska United Fiber Optic system and as of late 2011 Alaska Communications advertised that it has "two fiber optic paths to the lower 48 and two more across Alaska. In January 2011, it was reported that a $1 billion project to run connect Asia and rural Alaska was being planned, aided in part by $350 million in stimulus from the federal government.

question: Which two companies provide internet and data transport to Alaska? 

answer: GCI and Alaska Communications

question: In what year was a project to connect Asia and rural Alaska announced? 

answer: 2011

question: How much money did the federal government contribute via stimulus to the connectvitiy between Asia and Alaska? 

answer: $350 million

question: Which company owns and operates the Alaska United Fiber Optic System? 

answer: GCI
Title: Alaska
Context: To finance state government operations, Alaska depends primarily on petroleum revenues and federal subsidies. This allows it to have the lowest individual tax burden in the United States. It is one of five states with no state sales tax, one of seven states that do not levy an individual income tax, and one of the two states that has neither. The Department of Revenue Tax Division reports regularly on the state's revenue sources. The Department also issues an annual summary of its operations, including new state laws that directly affect the tax division.

question: How does Alaska finance its state government operations? 

answer: petroleum revenues and federal subsidies

question: How many states in the US do not have sales tax? 

answer: five

question: How many US states do not collect an individual income tax? 

answer: seven

question: Which state has the lowest tax burden of the entire US? 

answer: Alaska
Title: Alaska
Context: Alaska regularly supports Republicans in presidential elections and has done so since statehood. Republicans have won the state's electoral college votes in all but one election that it has participated in (1964). No state has voted for a Democratic presidential candidate fewer times. Alaska was carried by Democratic nominee Lyndon B. Johnson during his landslide election in 1964, while the 1960 and 1968 elections were close. Since 1972, however, Republicans have carried the state by large margins. In 2008, Republican John McCain defeated Democrat Barack Obama in Alaska, 59.49% to 37.83%. McCain's running mate was Sarah Palin, the state's governor and the first Alaskan on a major party ticket. Obama lost Alaska again in 2012, but he captured 40% of the state's vote in that election, making him the first Democrat to do so since 1968.

question: Which political party does Alaska generally support? 

answer: Republicans

question: How many elections have Democrats won in Alaska? 

answer: one

question: Which candidate was the only Democrat to win Alaska in a landslide election in 1964? 

answer: Lyndon B. Johnson

question: Which Democratic candidate was the first to win 40% of the vote in Alaska since 1964? 

answer: Barack Obama
Title: Alaska
Context: The Alaska Bush, central Juneau, midtown and downtown Anchorage, and the areas surrounding the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus and Ester have been strongholds of the Democratic Party. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough, the majority of Fairbanks (including North Pole and the military base), and South Anchorage typically have the strongest Republican showing. As of 2004[update], well over half of all registered voters have chosen "Non-Partisan" or "Undeclared" as their affiliation, despite recent attempts to close primaries to unaffiliated voters.

question: The areas surrounding which university has been historically a Democratic stronghold? 

answer: University of Alaska Fairbanks

question: Which areas of Alaska have the highest Republican concentrations? 

answer: The Matanuska-Susitna Borough, the majority of Fairbanks (including North Pole and the military base), and South Anchorage

question: As of 2004, how many Alaskan residents refuse to select a political party? 

answer: well over half
Title: Alaska
Context: The Unorganized Borough has no government of its own, but the U.S. Census Bureau in cooperation with the state divided the Unorganized Borough into 11 census areas solely for the purposes of statistical analysis and presentation. A recording district is a mechanism for administration of the public record in Alaska. The state is divided into 34 recording districts which are centrally administered under a State Recorder. All recording districts use the same acceptance criteria, fee schedule, etc., for accepting documents into the public record.

question: Into how many recording districts is Alaska divided? 

answer: 34

question: What is the function of an Alaskan recording district? 

answer: a mechanism for administration of the public record in Alaska

question: Which documents do recording districts universally use between areas? 

answer: acceptance criteria, fee schedule, etc.
Title: Alaska
Context: As reflected in the 2010 United States Census, Alaska has a total of 355 incorporated cities and census-designated places (CDPs). The tally of cities includes four unified municipalities, essentially the equivalent of a consolidated city–county. The majority of these communities are located in the rural expanse of Alaska known as "The Bush" and are unconnected to the contiguous North American road network. The table at the bottom of this section lists the 100 largest cities and census-designated places in Alaska, in population order.

question: What are CDPs? 

answer: census-designated places

question: How many incorporated cities and CDPs does Alaska have, according to the 2010 Census? 

answer: 355

question: Are the majority of CDPs connected or disconnected from the North American road network? 

answer: unconnected

question: In what area are the majority of cities and CDPS located in Alaska? 

answer: "The Bush"
Title: Alaska
Context: Of Alaska's 2010 Census population figure of 710,231, 20,429 people, or 2.88% of the population, did not live in an incorporated city or census-designated place. Approximately three-quarters of that figure were people who live in urban and suburban neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city limits of Ketchikan, Kodiak, Palmer and Wasilla. CDPs have not been established for these areas by the United States Census Bureau, except that seven CDPs were established for the Ketchikan-area neighborhoods in the 1980 Census (Clover Pass, Herring Cove, Ketchikan East, Mountain Point, North Tongass Highway, Pennock Island and Saxman East), but have not been used since. The remaining population was scattered throughout Alaska, both within organized boroughs and in the Unorganized Borough, in largely remote areas.

question: In 2010, what percent of Alaska's population did not live in a city or CDP? 

answer: 2.88%

question: What four areas have not been established as CDPs by the Census Bureau? 

answer: Ketchikan, Kodiak, Palmer and Wasilla

question: Which seven CDPs were incorporated as part of the 1980 Census? 

answer: Clover Pass, Herring Cove, Ketchikan East, Mountain Point, North Tongass Highway, Pennock Island and Saxman East
Title: Alaska
Context: The Alaska State Troopers are Alaska's statewide police force. They have a long and storied history, but were not an official organization until 1941. Before the force was officially organized, law enforcement in Alaska was handled by various federal agencies. Larger towns usually have their own local police and some villages rely on "Public Safety Officers" who have police training but do not carry firearms. In much of the state, the troopers serve as the only police force available. In addition to enforcing traffic and criminal law, wildlife Troopers enforce hunting and fishing regulations. Due to the varied terrain and wide scope of the Troopers' duties, they employ a wide variety of land, air, and water patrol vehicles.

question: In what year did Alaskan State Troopers become an official organization? 

answer: 1941

question: What is different about a "Public Safety Officer" that distiguishes the position from a policeman? 

answer: have police training but do not carry firearms

question: What do wildlife enforcers regulate? 

answer: hunting and fishing regulations

question: What type of vehicles do Troopers operate? 

answer: a wide variety of land, air, and water patrol vehicles
Title: Alaska
Context: There are many established music festivals in Alaska, including the Alaska Folk Festival, the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, the Anchorage Folk Festival, the Athabascan Old-Time Fiddling Festival, the Sitka Jazz Festival, and the Sitka Summer Music Festival. The most prominent orchestra in Alaska is the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, though the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra and Juneau Symphony are also notable. The Anchorage Opera is currently the state's only professional opera company, though there are several volunteer and semi-professional organizations in the state as well.

question: What is Alaska's most prominent orchestra? 

answer: Anchorage Symphony Orchestra

question: Which company is Alaska's only professional opera? 

answer: The Anchorage Opera

question: What are a few of Alaska's noteworthy music festivals? 

answer: Alaska Folk Festival, the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, the Anchorage Folk Festival
Title: Alaska
Context: One of the most prominent movies filmed in Alaska is MGM's Eskimo/Mala The Magnificent, starring Alaska Native Ray Mala. In 1932 an expedition set out from MGM's studios in Hollywood to Alaska to film what was then billed as "The Biggest Picture Ever Made." Upon arriving in Alaska, they set up "Camp Hollywood" in Northwest Alaska, where they lived during the duration of the filming. Louis B. Mayer spared no expense in spite of the remote location, going so far as to hire the chef from the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood to prepare meals.

question: Which Alaskan native starred in a film also set in Alaska? 

answer: Ray Mala

question: Where did actors on the set of The Magnificent live during their stay in Alaska? 

answer: "Camp Hollywood"

question: In what area of Alaska was Camp Hollywood located? 

answer: Northwest

question: Which chef was hired to prepare meals for the actors in The Magnificent? 

answer: from the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood