Question: For Sparky, school was all but impossible. He failed every subject in the eighth grade. He didn't do much better in sports. Although he played for the school's golf team, he lost the only important match of the season. Sparky was a loser. He, his classmates...everyone knew it. Sparky never asked a classmate to go out in high school. He was too afraid of being refused. However, one thing was important to Sparky - drawing. He was proud of his artwork. Of course, no one else appreciated it. In his senior year of high school, he sent some cartoons to the editors of the Yearbook. Although the cartoons were turned down, Sparky was so confident about his ability that he decided to become an artist. After completing high school, he wrote a letter to Walt Disney Studios. He was told to send some samples of his artwork, and the subject for a cartoon was suggested. Sparky spent a great deal of time on it. Finally, the reply came from Disney Studios. He had been rejected once again. Another loss for the loser. So Sparky decided to write his own autobiography in cartoons. He described his childhood - a little boy loser and underachiever. The cartoon character would soon become famous worldwide. For Sparky, the boy who had little success in school and whose work was rejected again and again was Charles Schulz. He created the Peanuts comic strip and little cartoon character - Charlie Brown. 1. What did this person want to become?
2. Had he been doing well as one while schooling?
3. Did he have confidence in his skills?
4. What was his name?
5. Was that his real name?
6. What was it?
7. How did he do in middle school?
8. What happened?
9. Was he in any athletic programs?
10. What was it?
11. Was he good at it?
12. What happened?
13. Who did he send a note to about his art?
14. Did they show initial interest?
15. What did they do?
16. What did he end up creating?
17. What was it called?
18. Was it an animated feature film?
19. What was it then?
20. Who was the main character? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. an artist
2. yes
3. yes
4. Sparky
5. .no
6. Charles Schulz
7. nor well
8. . He failed every subject in the eighth grade.
9. yes
10. golf
11. no
12. , he lost the only important match of the season.
13. Walt Disney Studios
14. no
15. rejected him
16. his own autobiography in cartoons.
17. Peanuts
18. no
19. a comic strip
20. Charlie Brown.

Question: Baghdad is the capital of Iraq. The population of Baghdad, , is approximately 8,765,000, making it the largest city in Iraq, the second largest city in the Arab world (after Cairo, Egypt), and the second largest city in Western Asia (after Tehran, Iran).

Located along the Tigris River, the city was founded in the 8th century and became the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate. Within a short time of its inception, Baghdad evolved into a significant cultural, commercial, and intellectual center for the Islamic world. This, in addition to housing several key academic institutions (e.g., House of Wisdom), garnered the city a worldwide reputation as the "Centre of Learning".

For five centuries from its founding Baghdad was the largest city of the Middle Ages, peaking at a population of more than a million. The city was largely destroyed at the hands of the Mongol Empire in 1258, resulting in a decline that would linger through many centuries due to frequent plagues and multiple successive empires. With the recognition of Iraq as an independent state (formerly the British Mandate of Mesopotamia) in 1938, Baghdad gradually regained some of its former prominence as a significant center of Arab culture.

In contemporary times, the city has often faced severe infrastructural damage, most recently due to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and the subsequent Iraq War that lasted until December 2011. In recent years, the city has been frequently subjected to insurgency attacks. , Baghdad was listed as one of the least hospitable places in the world to live, and was ranked by Mercer as the worst of 221 major cities as measured by quality-of-life. 1. Who built Baghdad?
2. When?
3. Who sacked it?
4. When?
5. Who led the Mongols at that time?
6. Did they completely destroy the city?
7. Did the city frequently change hands?
8. What liberated Iraq?
9. What medieval power made Baghdad their capital?
10. What modern power uses it as their capital?
11. Is it a good place to live today?
12. How many military conflicts are mentioned in the article?
13. The most recent?
14. What was the city famous as in medieval times?
15. What's the largest city in Arabia?
16. In western Asia? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. the Abbasid Caliphate
2. the 8th century
3. the Mongol Empire
4. 1258
5. unknown
6. no
7. yes
8. recognition as an independent state
9. the Abbasid Caliphate
10. Iraq
11. no
12. Three
13. insurgency attacks
14. a cultural, commercial, and intellectual center
15. Cairo
16. Tehran

Question: Chicago, Illinois (CNN) -- Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was found guilty Tuesday of making false statements to the FBI, but escaped convictions on 23 other counts in a trial that is seen as at least a partial victory for Blagojevich.

The jury, which deliberated for 14 days, said it was hung on 23 counts against him and on the counts against the former governor's brother, Robert Blagojevich.

The former governor faced charges including racketeering, wire fraud, attempted extortion and bribery. A two-term Democrat, he was removed from office in January 2009 amid accusations that he attempted to sell the U.S. Senate seat that had been occupied by Barack Obama before Obama was elected president.

"On every charge except for one, they could not prove that I did anything wrong," said Rod Blagojevich, shorty after the jury was dismissed. "I told the truth from the very beginning."

He added he would appeal the one conviction and thanked members of the jury for finding what they did.

The next court date in the case is set for August 26, though prosecutors said they will try the former governor again.

The maximum penalty for making false statements is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Conviction on the counts of wire fraud, racketeering and attempted extortion would have carried a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, while a conviction on the count of solicitation of bribery would have had a maximum sentence of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000. 1. who was found guilty?
2. who is he?
3. what was he found guilty of?
4. to who?
5. were there many counts?
6. how many?
7. was he found guilty on all of them?
8. did the jury deliberate?
9. for how long?
10. is he going to appeal?
11. was there a fine he could have?
12. what is the amount?
13. what were the charges against him?
14. what type?
15. any other charges? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. Rod Blagojevich
2. Former Illinois Gov
3. making false statements
4. the FBI
5. yes
6. 23 counts against him
7. no
8. yes
9. deliberated for 14 days
10. he would appeal
11. yes
12. a $250,000 fine.
13. extortion and bribery.
14. , attempted extortion and bribery
15. yes