question: Cuba (), officially the Republic of Cuba (), is a country comprising the island of Cuba as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located in the northern Caribbean where the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Ocean meet. It is south of both the U.S. state of Florida and the Bahamas, west of Haiti, and north of Jamaica. Havana is the largest city and capital; other major cities include Santiago de Cuba and Camaguey. Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, with an area of , and the second-most populous after Hispaniola, with over 11 million inhabitants.

Prior to Spanish colonization in the late 15th century, Cuba was inhabited by Amerindian tribes. It remained a colony of Spain until the SpanishAmerican War of 1898, which led to nominal independence as a "de facto" United States protectorate in 1902. As a fragile republic, Cuba attempted to strengthen its democratic system, but mounting political radicalization and social strife culminated in the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1952. Further unrest and instability led to Batista's ousting in January 1959 by the July 26 Movement, which afterwards established a dictatorship under the leadership of Fidel Castro. Since 1965, the state has been governed by the Communist Party of Cuba. A point of contention during the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States, a nuclear war nearly broke out during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Cuba is one of the few remaining MarxistLeninist socialist states, where the role of the vanguard Communist Party is enshrined in the Constitution. Independent observers have accused the Cuban government of numerous human rights abuses, including arbitrary imprisonment.
1. Before Spain arrived, who inhabited Cuba?
2. When did the Spanish come?
3. Until what year did it remain a colony?
4. What historic event happened that year?
5. What did that lead to for the country?
6. Who protected them?
7. What did the nation attempt to do next?
8. Did they succeed?
9. What did the failure result in?
10. When did that end?
11. What was the dictator's name?
12. When was he overthrown?
13. By what group?
14. Who was their leader?
15. What group took over the nation after these events?
16. Did events in the nation almost lead to war?
17. What was the name of this crisis?
18. Of which year?
19. Is the nation a capitalism?
20. Do they have a good track record involving human rights?
****
answer: 1. Amerindian tribes
2. in the late 15th century
3. 1898
4. the SpanishAmerican War
5. nominal independence
6. the United States
7. strengthen its democratic system
8. no
9. a dictatorship
10. unknown
11. Fulgencio Batista
12. January 1959
13. the July 26 Movement
14. Fidel Castro
15. the Communist Party
16. YES
17. the Cuban Missile Crisis
18. 1962
19. no
20. no

question: CHAPTER II.

BIRTH OF WILLIAM.

A.D. 912-1033

Castle at Falaise.--Present ruins of the castle.--Scenery of the town and castle.--Wall and buildings.--Watch-towers.--Sentinels.--Enchanting prospect.--Chronological history of the Norman line.--Rollo.--William I., second duke.--Richard I., third duke.--Richard II., fourth duke.--Richard III., fifth duke.--Intrigues of Robert.--He becomes the sixth duke.--Robert and Henry.--William's mother.--Robert's first meeting with Arlotte.--He is captivated.--Robert sends for Arlotte.--Scruples of her father.--Arlotte sent to the castle.--Robert's affection for her.--Birth of William.--The nurse's prediction.--William's childhood.--He is a universal favorite.--Robert determines to visit the Holy Land.--Dangers of the journey.--He makes William his heir.--Surprise of the assembly.--The nobles do homage to William.--William is taken to Paris.--He is presented to the French king.

Although Rouen is now very far before all the other cities of Normandy in point of magnitude and importance, and though Rollo, in his conquest of the country, made it his principal head-quarters and his main stronghold, it did not continue exclusively the residence of the dukes of Normandy in after years. The father of William the Conqueror was Robert, who became subsequently the duke, the sixth in the line. He resided, at the time when William was born, in a great castle at Falaise. Falaise, as will be seen upon the map, is west of Rouen, and it stands, like Rouen, at some distance from the sea. The castle was built upon a hill, at a little distance from the town. It has long since ceased to be habitable, but the ruins still remain, giving a picturesque but mournful beauty to the eminence which they crown. They are often visited by travelers, who go to see the place where the great hero and conqueror was born.
1. Who was the father of William?
2. What would Robert become?
3. Which in line?
4. How was William known?
5. Where did he live when he was young?
6. Where was it located?
7. Where is that?
8. How can you verify that?
9. Were there people close to the castle?
10. Was there water nearby?
****
answer:
1. Robert
2. the duke
3. sixth
4. the Conqueror
5. in a great castle
6. at Falaise
7. is west of Rouen
8. from the map
9. no
10. yes