Problem: (CNN) -- Michael Jordan once summed up his social and political activism in four simple words: "Republicans buy sneakers, too."

In a world where athletes and celebrities seem more willing to attach their names to high-priced sneakers and headphones than real-world issues, many are thrusting themselves directly into an uncomfortable national debate over police brutality and racial injustice.

It's not only people with prominent names; there are medical students, congressional staffers, a university president and even a Northern California police chief.

A spate of controversial police slayings of unarmed black men served as the catalyst.

But the case of Eric Garner, a New York grandfather who was put in a fatal chokehold by a police officer trying to arrest him for selling cigarettes illegally, has resonated with whites and nonwhites alike.

Commentators across the political spectrum have united to condemn last week's decision by a grand jury not to indict white New York Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo in Garner's death, which was captured on a video seen around the globe. According to Pantaleo's lawyer, the officer says he didn't use a chokehold on Garner.

The outpouring started in earnest one week before the New York decision, with the long-awaited announcement of a grand jury's decision not to indict Ferguson, Missouri, Police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of unarmed teen Michael Brown. That decision was met with violent demonstrations in Ferguson and largely peaceful protests throughout the nation.

On November 3, five St. Louis Rams players infuriated some people with a silent message before a game against the Oakland Raiders. Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Chris Givens and Kenny Britt walked onto the field and raised their palms in the air, demonstrating the "hands up, don't shoot" gesture protesters in Ferguson had been using for months.
1. On what date did a football team protest by raising their palms?
2. Which team participated?
3. Was it the entire team?
4. How many members?
5. What were their names?
6. What did their gesture represent?
7. Where did that gesture originate?
8. Who died in Ferguson, Missouri to initiate protests?
9. Who was he shot by?
10. What profession did Darren Wilson have?
11. Was Michael Brown armed?
12. How old was he?
13. Who died as a result of a fatal chokehold?
14. Who placed him in the hold/
15. Why was Garner being arrested?
16. Was that officer convicted?
17. What was that officer's name?
18. Was there a video of the incident?
19. Was Michael Brown's killer convicted?
20. What race were both victims?
21. Were either of them armed?
Answer: 1. November 3
2. the St. Louis Rams
3. no
4. five
5. Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Chris Givens and Kenny Britt
6. "hands up, don't shoot"
7. Ferguson
8. Michael Brown
9. Darren Wilson
10. Police Officer
11. unarmed
12. a teen
13. Eric Garner
14. a police officer
15. for selling cigarettes illegally
16. no
17. Daniel Pantaleo
18. yes
19. no
20. black
21. no

Problem: CHAPTER X

MARSTON USES HIS POWER

Soon after Don Felix was buried two strangers visited the schooner. One was white but so burned by the sun and worn by the climate that he looked like a native. Peters was agent for a Hamburg merchant house with a factory on a neighboring lagoon, and told Wyndham he had come because he seldom met a white man. The other was a government officer and stated, apologetically, that his business was to make a few inquiries about Don Felix's death. His skin was nearly white, but his coarse lips and short, curling hair indicated a strain of negro blood.

Marston knew something about the officials who held small posts on the Caribbean coast. For the most part, they were mulattos, paid low wages and willing to augment the latter by presents and bribes. As a rule, he had found them good-humored and indolent, and he imagined Don Ramon Larrinaga would be satisfied with a few particulars and a little money. There was, he thought, no use in trying to put him on the track of the unknown poisoner. He let Wyndham take the man to the cabin and sat under the awning on deck with Peters, for whom he opened a bottle of vermouth.

Peters knew much about the country and told him some rather curious stories. He looked shriveled and desiccated, but his glance was keen and Marston imagined he was very shrewd. Marston, however, did not study him much; it was enough that he was an amusing companion while Wyndham was occupied. By-and-by the latter opened the cabin scuttle and beckoned.
1. Who had died?
2. Had he been buried yet?
3. How did he die?
4. Who visited the schooner?
5. What race were both of them?
6. Was the other completely white?
7. Did the officials get paid well?
8. Did they tend to accept extra money?
9. Who opened a bottle?
10. For who?
11. Did he know a lot about the area?
Answer: 1. Don Felix
2. Yes
3. the schooner
4. two strangers
5. One was white
6. Yes
7. No
8. Yes
9. Marston
10. Peters
11. Yes

Problem: One month before the Winter Olympics begin in the Russian resort town of Sochi -- and in the shadow of last month's deadly bombings in Volgograd -- a huge security operation has swung into gear.

A special exclusion zone went into force Tuesday under which only Sochi-marked vehicles, emergency or specially accredited intelligence service cars will be allowed into the wider Sochi area.

Air traffic and sea access will be restricted, and everyone going into the zone will have to go through heavy security and identity checks.

Russia is pouring huge resources into ensuring that the Games, seen as a flagship project of President Vladimir Putin, go off without incident.

Two bombings in 24 hours last month in Volgograd, one targeting the city's main train station and the second a trolley bus, raised concerns of a potential threat to the Sochi event.

No group has to date claimed responsibility for the attacks, but suspicion has fallen on Chechen separatist groups.

A bitter battle for an independent Chechnya, lasting almost two decades, spawned an insurgency that has spilled into neighboring republics in the North Caucasus region, including Dagestan.

Chechen warlord Doku Umarov, leader of the Islamist Caucasus Emirate group, last summer called on his followers to do what they can to disrupt the Games. He claims they will be held on the graves of Muslim occupants of Sochi, who he says were driven out by Russian imperial forces in the 19th century.

Despite the shockwaves of the Volgograd attack, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said he was confident that Russia would keep the Winter Olympics safe.
1. What event is upcoming?
2. Which organization runs it?
3. Who is in charge of that group?
4. What's his position?
5. Where are the Olympics being held?
6. Which is in what country?
7. Is it an urban location?
8. Who is the leader of Russia?
9. How many bombings were there?
10. How much time passed between them?
11. Where were the explosions?
12. In what city?
13. Has anyone been arrested?
14. Who is thought to have done it?
15. How long has the struggle in Chechnya gone on?
16. What region are they in?
17. Who is a leader in the struggle?
18. What organization is he in?
19. Is he in charge of that?
20. Who used to live in Sochi?
Answer:
1. the Winter Olympics
2. International Olympic Committee
3. Thomas Bach
4. Committee President
5. Sochi
6. Russia
7. no
8. Vladimir Putin
9. Two bombings
10. 24 hours
11. one targeting the city's main train station and the second a trolley bus
12. in Volgograd
13. No
14. Chechen separatist groups
15. almost two decades
16. the North Caucasus region
17. Doku Umarov
18. the Islamist Caucasus Emirate group
19. yes
20. Muslim occupants