Washington (CNN) -- For political junkies, 2013 was expected to be a quiet year following the presidential election and it basically followed the script.

Nonetheless, there were some interesting developments at the ballot box.

New Jersey, as expected, returned Gov. Chris Christie to office and also sent Cory Booker to the U.S. Senate. Bill de Blasio became the first Democrat elected New York City Mayor in two decades, and Democrats, led by Terry McAuliffe, swept the top three executive offices in Virginia for the first time in recent memory.

Were these outcomes isolated or do they mean anything for 2014, when candidates will heat up the campaign trail big time ahead of next November's congressional midterms and key gubernatorial elections?

In the new year, 435 House seats are up as are 35 in the Senate. There will be 36 gubernatorial races as well. Most of these campaigns won't be nail biters, but there could be collective power shifts in Washington and in state houses.

Here, CNN Politics focuses on the Senate, where Republicans aim to retake control. Republicans must pick up six seats to claim the majority and key races are wide open at this point.

The top 12 campaign questions of 2014

Five key races:

Kentucky

The incumbent is Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is under pressure from two fronts: Democrats, naturally, and from a tea party challenger within his own Republican Party who says he's not conservative enough.

While McConnell is likely to defeat his primary opponent, Matt Bevin, he is expending money and other resources he'd rather use in a general election campaign against Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. what was 2013 expected to be?
2. What would be the interesting developments?
3. What happened in New Jersey?
4. Who was the first Democrat elected mayor in two decades?
5. How many house seats were up in the new year?
6. who plans on retake control?
7. How many seats do theyneed to pick up?
8. what were the top 12 campaign questoins of 2014
9. Who is Mitch McConnell?
10. Who was Matt Bevin?
11. What is he expending money on?
12. against who?
13. What is her name?
Answer: 1. a quiet year
2. Mayoral and Gubernatorial elections
3. Gov. Chris Christie returned to office
4. Bill de Blasio
5. 435
6. Republicans
7. six
8. unknown
9. Senate Minority Leader
10. his primary opponen
11. a general election campaign
12. Kentucky Secretary of State
13. Alison Lundergan Grimes

Problem: CHAPTER XIII.

MR. TAPPITT IN HIS COUNTING-HOUSE.

Luke Rowan, when he left the cottage, walked quickly back across the green towards Baslehurst. He had sauntered out slowly on his road from the brewery to Bragg's End, being in doubt as to what he would do when he reached his destination; but there was no longer room for doubt now; he had said that to Rachel's mother which made any further doubt impossible, and he was resolved that he would ask Rachel to be his wife. He had spoken to Mrs. Ray of his intention in that respect as though he thought that such an offer on his part might probably be rejected, and in so speaking had at the time spoken the truth; but he was eager, sanguine, and self-confident by nature, and though he was by no means disposed to regard himself as a conquering hero by whom any young lady would only be too happy to find herself beloved, he did not at the present moment look forward to his future fate with despair. He walked quickly home along the dusty road, picturing to himself a happy prosperous future in Baslehurst, with Rachel as his wife, and the Tappitts living in some neighbouring villa on an income paid to old Tappitt by him out of the proceeds of the brewery. That was his present solution of the brewery difficulty. Tappitt was growing old, and it might be quite as well not only for himself, but for the cause of humanity in Devonshire, that he should pass the remainder of his life in that dignity which comfortable retirement from business affords. He did not desire Tappitt for a partner any more than Tappitt desired him. Nevertheless he was determined to brew beer, and was anxious to do so if possible on the spot where his great-uncle Bungall had commenced operations in that line.
1. Where did Rowan walk?
2. from where?
3. was he walking quickly?
4. His road went from where?
5. Was he sure what he was going to do?
6. Who did he say that to?
7. Was he planning to ask Rachel something?
8. What?
9. Who had he talked to about it?
10. Did he think he might be rejected?
11. Where was he imagining his future to be?
12. with whom?
13. who would be living in a nearby villa?
14. Was the brewery doing great?
15. Was Tappitt young?
16. did he want Tappitt as a partner?
17. Did Tapitt want to be his partner?
18. What was he determined to do?
19. who is his great uncle?
Answer: 1. Towards Baslehurst
2. The cottage
3. Yes
4. From the brewery to Bragg's End
5. No
6. unknown
7. Yes
8. To be his wife
9. To Mrs. Ray
10. Yes
11. Baslehurst
12. Rachel
13. The Tappitts
14. No
15. No
16. no
17. No
18. To brew beer
19. Bungall

question: A pub /pb/, or public house is, despite its name, a private house, but is called a public house because it is licensed to sell alcohol to the general public. It is a drinking establishment in Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Denmark and New England. In many places, especially in villages, a pub can be the focal point of the community. The writings of Samuel Pepys describe the pub as the heart of England.

The history of pubs can be traced back to Roman taverns, through the Anglo-Saxon alehouse to the development of the modern tied house system in the 19th century.

Historically, pubs have been socially and culturally distinct from cafes, bars and German beer halls. Most pubs offer a range of beers, wines, spirits, and soft drinks and snacks. Traditionally the windows of town pubs were of smoked or frosted glass to obscure the clientele from the street but from the 1990s onwards, there has been a move towards clear glass, in keeping with brighter interiors.
1. What does a public house sell?
2. to who?
3. What is described as the heart of England?
4. what is the pub considered to the community?
5. Are pubs and bars the same?
6. What do they offer?
7. Do they have windows?
8. what do they look like?
9. why?
10. Has that changed recently?
11. when?
12. What changed then?
13. why?
14. Where is the history of pubs traced back to?
15. what was the name of the ale house?
16. Who wrote about the heart of england?
****
answer:
1. alcohol
2. public house is, despite its name, a private house, but is called a public house because it is licensed to sell alcohol to the general public
3. the pub
4. focal point
5. No
6. range of beers, wines, spirits, and soft drinks and snacks.
7. Yes
8. frosted glass
9. to obscure the clientele from the street
10. Yes
11. the 1990s
12. move towards clear glass
13. in keeping with brighter interiors.
14. Roman taverns
15. Anglo-Saxon
16. Samuel Pepys