question: Local businessmen are increasingly facing competition from on line retailers. Larry Pollock, owner of Camera Co/Op on South Congress, said he has been dealing with this kind of problem for years, even before the Internet. The struggle began with mail-order catalogues, which are similar to online retailers in that they have few employees to pay, no sales tax fees and no business venue to lease and manage.

"Their overhead is lower, but they don't offer a service like we do," Pollock said.

Pollock, however, said providing a valuable service to customers does not always guarantee continued sales.

"We spend 30 minutes to an hour with somebody and they go home and buy it online," he said.

According to the state comptroller's office, online shopping is developing at a more rapid rate than traditional businesses.

In spite of how fair or unfair online shopping may be to the local businessmen, consumers will continue to turn to the Internet for its variety and accessibility, said Mitch Wilson, an online shopper. "You have a larger selection and it's easier to compare prices."

Wilson said he built his personal computer and paid a third of the price by shopping online.

"Before the Internet, I would have had to go and buy an assembled computer from somebody like Dell," he said. "Before I started shopping online I could never find all the pieces I wanted. No single store had everything needed, so shopping online saved me from having to buy from Dell."

Janny Brazeal, a psychology freshman, said online shopping is too impersonal.

"I'd rather see it in person, touch it, know that I'm getting it," she said.

Brazeal also said she would not give out her credit card number or other personal information online no matter how safe the site claims it is.
1. What doesn't always guarantee continued sales?
2. Who made this assertion?
3. What company does he own?
4. Where's that located?
5. Has he been dealing with this issue since before the Internet?
6. For how long?
7. Is the overhead for online businesses higher or lower?
8. Do they offer the same service as Pollock?
****
answer: 1. Providing a valuable service
2. Larry Pollock
3. Camera Co/Op
4. South Congress
5. Yes
6. Years
7. Lower
8. No.

input: Make use of the article to answer the questions. PANAMA CITY, Panama (CNN) -- Ricardo Martinelli, the multimillionaire owner of a supermarket chain, was inaugurated as president of Panama on Wednesday.

Ricardo Martinelli is a pro-business conservative who defeated a candidate from the ruling center-left party.

National Assembly President Jose Luis Varela performed the swearing-in and placed the presidential sash on Martinelli, a pro-business conservative who defeated a candidate from the ruling center-left party in May.

The citizens of Panama "want things to be done differently," Varela said at the inauguration. "An attitude of change starts today."

In his first speech as president, Martinelli promised a smaller government budget but raises for public workers.

Public safety, an issue that the outgoing administration of Martin Torrijos struggled to maintain, will be a priority, Martinelli said.

"Our prisons will be rehabilitation centers, not schools for criminals," he said.

Panama will also work with Mexico and Colombia to combat drug trafficking in the region, Martinelli said.

Among the dignitaries at the inauguration was deposed Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in a military-led coup Sunday. The Organization of American States has condemned the coup, and Zelaya has continued to carry out his presidential duties.

The son of Italian immigrants, Martinelli, 57, is a self-made businessman who is chairman of the Super 99 supermarket chain, one of the largest private companies in Panama.

The U.S.-educated president previously served as minister and chairman of the board of directors of the Panama Canal Authority and formerly was director of social security for Panama, according to his Web site. 1. In which country does this story take place?
2. Who was the winner of the election?
3. What was his prior job?
4. Was he born rich?
5. Were his parents Panamanian?
6. Where were they from?
7. Were they any foreign politicians at the ceremony?
8. Who?
9. Where is he from?
10. Who performed the ceremony?
11. What did he say the people of Panama want?
12. What did Varela place on the new president?
13. Who did Martinelli win against?
14. Who was the previous president?
15. What issue did he have problems with during his presidency?
16. Will Martinelli increase the budget?
17. What countries does he plan on working together with?
18. What will they fight against?
19. Did the new president give a speech?
20. What country was he educated in?
numbered_answers:
1. Panama
2. Ricardo Martinelli
3. minister and chairman of the board of directors of the Panama Canal Authority
4. no
5. no
6. Italy
7. yes
8. Jose Manuel Zelaya
9. Honduras
10. Jose Luis Varela
11. things to be done differently
12. the presidential sash
13. a candidate from the ruling center-left party.
14. Martin Torrijos
15. Public safety
16. no
17. Mexico and Colombia
18. drug trafficking
19. yes
20. The U.S.