question: (CNN) -- Mitt Romney is rumored to be announcing a choice soon for his vice presidential running mate, and conventional thinking suggests his pick is going to be "safe," someone who brings a high measure of conservative street cred, and preferablyfrom a swing state.

In other words, the rumor is the guy who has trouble getting people to like him is going to pick someone even more boring than him.

It seems he hasn't figured out that as long as Barack Obama is president, his base will be fired up in spite of his dull personality, so what he doesn't need to do is waste this pick on a running mate Republicans will like.

What he needs is someone who can attract voters on the fence.

A media darling with a successful track record to point to and someone whose social politics won't immediately get them labeled by independents as "crazy."

Romney risks playing running mate hand too early

Enter Michael Bloomberg: that union-fighting/gay-couple-loving renegade who would make things complicated for Democrats because he's managed to get elected three times in the most diverse region in the country while being a rich, old white guy.

Four years ago, Sen. John McCain selected a game changer who turned out to be better in theory than in practice. Like Sarah Palin, Bloomberg would be a curve ball. But while she got people talking,the New York mayor would get people talking and thinking.

How?

By being something many of the other VP options are not: a real Republican. An old school Republican.
1. Who does the author say might be a curveball to the campaign?
2. What position is he being considered for?
3. For which presidential candidate?
4. What party is he running under?
5. Is he expected to make a "safe" choice?
6. From which type of state would a "safe" person be?
7. Who is Romney running against?
8. Who might Bloomberg make things "complicated for"?
9. Does he support unions?
10. Who else was described as a "game changer" in a previous election?
11. Who selected her?
12. How many years ago was that?
13. Who does the author describe as a "rich, old white guy"?
14. How many times was he elected, despite that reputation?
15. Does the author find Romney boring?
****
answer: 1. \ Michael Bloomberg
2. VP
3. Mitt Romney
4. Republican.
5. yes
6. a swing state.
7. unknown
8. Democrats
9. no
10. Sarah Palin
11. John McCain
12. Four
13. Michael Bloomberg
14. three times
15. yes

input: Make use of the article to answer the questions. Rebel-controlled northern Syria (CNN) -- Mohamed Rashid walked out of the gate of his house with a giant blood stain on his white T-shirt.

"This is the blood of a martyr! Of a hero! Of a lion!" he bellowed. "This is his blood. It is pure!"

Mad with grief, Rashid kissed his bloody T-shirt before being led away by worried relatives.

Just hours before, Rashid learned his son Abdul was killed in battle in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Housam Abdul Rashid was a 22-year-old defector from the army. He was also the fourth man from his small hilltop village to be killed fighting for the rebels.

The younger Rashid is one of the casualties of the five-day-old rebel offensive on Aleppo, the country's commercial capital. Another rebel, who asked only to be named "Khorshid" because his wife and children were still living in Aleppo, described how his comrade was killed by a helicopter gunship, while climbing onto a rooftop.

Syria: As al-Assad's grip loosens, what could come next?

"Housam's specialty was a sniper," Khorshid said. "He went to the roof, and a helicopter gunship killed him. Another fighter from Aleppo with him was also killed. I was just 4 meters away when it happened."

Khorshid said the rebels mounted their offensive on Aleppo last Friday, two days after a bomb killed four of Syria's top security officials.

Rebel commanders and fighters claimed they made gains, particularly in the neighborhood of Salahuddin. But they were also clearly suffering casualties.

What began 17 months ago as a peaceful protest movement has evolved into a full-fledged armed insurgency. 1. Who's blood was on Mohamed's shirt?
2. What was his son's name?
3. What animal did he compare Abdul to?
4. Where did he die?
5. How old was he?
6. What was his role when he was battling rebels?
7. What specifically caused his death?
8. Was he the only one who died on the roof that day?
9. How many soldiers died with him?
10. Who provided this information?
11. Why didn't he want to provide his real name?
12. When did the rebels begin planning their attack?
13. How did 4 Syrian personnel die?
14. Do the rebels feel they are making progress?
15. Where is the progress most evident?
16. Was Housam the only person from his village to be lost from the battling?
17. How many others?
18. What did all this start as?
numbered_answers:
1. His sons
2. Housam Abdul Rashid
3. A lion
4. in battle in the Syrian city of Aleppo.
5. 22
6. a sniper
7. "He went to the roof, and a helicopter gunship killed him
8. No
9. One
10. Khorshid
11. because his wife and children were still living in Aleppo,
12. last Friday,
13. a bomb killed them
14. Yes
15. in the neighborhood of Salahuddin.
16. No
17. Three
18. 17 months ago