Q: Washington (CNN) -- There are political upstarts, rebels with and without a cause, and then there's Ted Cruz.

The first-term Republican senator from Texas has achieved the rare notoriety of having almost everyone in Washington mad at him, at least for now.

His legislative maneuverings led to last year's 16-day government shutdown, and he almost single-handedly scuttled this week's congressional approval of a year-long debt ceiling extension that denies fiscal conservatives a key negotiating tool until after the November elections.

Democrats dislike Cruz for his right-wing social and economic policies such as vehement opposition to gay marriage and President Barack Obama's signature health care reforms.

Cruz's Republican colleagues, especially those in the Senate, are angry because he forces them to choose between conservative purity and political pragmatism, a particularly tough spot in an election year.

To Cruz, a tea-party favorite who arrived in Washington just over a year ago, it's all about telling the truth -- as he sees it.

Election-year logic explains GOP dysfunction

Cruz: Politicians are lying to the people

Washington politicians -- including fellow Republicans -- don't want to be honest with America about their unwillingness to tackle tough issues like the rising federal debt, Cruz said Thursday in an interview with conservative talk radio host Mark Levin.

"People don't like to be lied to," he said to explain historically low approval ratings for Congress, adding that forcing Republican politicians to tell the truth "makes their head explode."

Others, including fellow legislators, say Cruz puts his personal agenda of galvanizing a right-wing political movement ahead of what's best for his party as a whole as it tries to reclaim control of the Senate and retain its House majority in November.

Answer the following questions:
1. What is Ted Cruz's position?
2. Where is he from?
3. How do people in Washington feel about him?
4. Did he cause the shutdown?
5. How long did it last?
6. Why do opposition party members not like Cruz?
7. What else?
8. What are his own party members mad at him for?
9. Does the Tea Party like Cruz?
10. Does he believe honesty is important?
A: 1. he has right-wing social and economic policies
2. Texas
3. almost everyone is mad at him
4. yes
5. 16-dayys
6. his opposition to gay marriage
7. his opposition to President Barack Obama's health care reforms.
8. because he forces them to choose between conservative purity and political pragmatism
9. yes
10. yes
Q: CHAPTER I.

SIR LIONEL GOES TO HIS WOOING.

Yes, they were off. All the joys of that honeymoon shall be left to the imagination of the reader. Their first conversation, as it took place in the carriage which bore them from Mr. Bertram's door, has been given. Those which followed were probably more or less of the same nature. Sir Henry, no doubt, did strive to give some touch of romance to the occasion; but in no such attempt would his wife assist him. To every material proposition that he made, she gave a ready assent; in everything she acceded to his views; she would dine at two, or at eight, as he pleased; she was ready to stay two weeks, or only two days in Paris, as best suited him; she would adapt herself to pictures, or to architecture, or to theatres, or to society, or to going on and seeing nothing, exactly as he adapted himself. She never frowned, or looked black, or had headaches, or couldn't go on, or wouldn't stay still, or turned herself into a Niobean deluge, as some ladies, and very nice ladies too, will sometimes do on their travels. But she would not talk of love, or hold his hand, or turn her cheek to his. She had made her bargain, and would keep to it. Of that which she had promised him, she would give him full measure; of that which she had not promised him--of which she had explained to him that she had nothing to give--of that she would make no attempt to give anything.

Answer the following questions:
1. Was she in love?
2. Did they hold hands?
3. Why?
4. What happened on the Honeymoon?
5. Who is the first person mentioned by name?
6. And the second?
7. Was he romantic?
8. Did his wife help?
9. Who Chose when they ate?
10. Where was the Honeymoon?
A: 1. No
2. No
3. She had not promised him that
4. unknown
5. Mr. Bertram
6. Sir Henry
7. Yes
8. No
9. Sir Henry
10. Paris
Q: CHAPTER XXV

THE TRAIL THROUGH THE JUNGLE

"Sid Merrick is certainly in deadly earnest," was Mr. Rover's comment, after the boys had finished their tale. "He means to get hold of that treasure by hook or by crook, and he will stop at nothing to gain his end."

"We want to go after him and his gang," said Dick. "We ought not to lose a minute doing it."

"Can you walk, Dick?"

"I guess so, although being tied up made me rather stiff."

"I see your wrist is bleeding."

"Yes, and I tried pretty hard to free myself."

"And I tried, too," added Sam. "But I couldn't budge a single knot."

"We could not unknot the knots," added Tom, who was bound to have his joke.

It was now morning, for which all were thankful. The lights were put out, and the whole party partook of some of the provisions on hand.

"I believe Merrick would have left us to starve," said Sam. "He is the greatest rascal I ever knew!"

The Rover boys pointed out the direction Sid Merrick and his party had taken. Bahama Bill said that trail was new to him, and if it led to the treasure cave he did not know it.

"But I'll know the cave as soon as I see it--if it is still there," he added.

"Well, you won't see it if it isn't there," said Dick, grimly. "That earthquake may have changed the whole face of that portion of the isle."

The trail appeared to make a wide sweep to the westward, and led them over ground that was unusually rough. The trailing vines were everywhere and they had to brush away innumerable spider webs as they progressed. Once Songbird came upon some spiders larger than any he had yet seen and two crawled on his shoulder, causing him to yell in fright.

Answer the following questions:
1. How many boys are mentioned?
2. What are their names?
3. Why does Dick have trouble walking?
4. Why?
5. Does he have any injuries?
6. What?
7. How did that happen?
8. Did the other children try, too?
9. Were they successful?
10. Who did this to them?
11. What is he after?
12. Where does he expect to find it?
A:
1. Three
2. Dick, Sam & Tom
3. He is rather stiff
4. He was tied up.
5. Yes
6. His wrist is bleeding
7. When he tried to free himself
8. Yes
9. No
10. Merrick
11. Treasure
12. A cave