Problem: 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?
Answer: 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.

Problem: Syria may be embroiled in a brutal three-year civil war, but that's not stopping the government from holding controversial presidential elections this week.

The election, which has been branded a sham by the West and by the Syrian opposition, is widely expected to return President Bashar al-Assad to power.

CNN International Correspondent Frederik Pleitgen has reported from inside Syria numerous times during the conflict, which has left an estimated 150,000 people dead. He breaks down the key questions ahead of Tuesday's election.

Why is it happening now?

The government says Syria's new constitution stipulates that presidential elections must be held now. The regime says it shows the country is moving forward and that it is the first time a president will be elected by the people rather than appointed. The opposition says the election is a fraud, that voting will be rigged and that the poll serves only to cement Assad's power.

Who are the other candidates?

The other two candidates are relative unknowns. One is Maher Hajjar, an entrepreneur and member of parliament. He keeps out of the limelight and has not been heard from much. Hajjar's election posters declare that "Syria is with Palestine," which seems like a very narrow slogan. Other than that it is unclear what he would change should he win.

The more intriguing candidate is Hassan Nouri, a former economics professor and cabinet minister who told me he had to resign because he was too critical of Assad's government. Nouri studied at the University of Wisconsin and still refers to himself as a Badger. He says the election is an uphill battle for him, but feels he is making headway. His main message is economic. He is for market liberalization and fighting corruption in government and in the private sector. But when it comes to fighting Syria's civil war, Nouri says he wouldn't do anything differently -- and much like Assad, he refers to the regime's three-year assault on the opposition as "fighting terrorism."
1. How many people have died?
2. Who is expected to win the election?
3. What does the constitution stipulate?
4. What does the regime say about it?
5. What does the opposition say?
6. Did they say anything else?
7. What?
8. Who is Maher Hajjer?
9. What do he do for a living?
10. Is he well known?
11. Does he have an election slogan?
12. What is it?
13. What does he plan to change besides that?
14. Is there another candidate running?
15. What is his name?
16. What is his profession?
17. Why is he a former economics professor and cabinet minister?
18. Where did he get his education?
19. How does he feel about the election?
20. What is his main message?
21. What are his economic views?
Answer: 1. 150,000
2. President Bashar al-Assad
3. that presidential elections must be held now.
4. it is the first time a president will be elected by the people rather than appointed
5. the election is a fraud
6. Yes
7. that voting will be rigged to keep Assad in power.
8. One of the candidates.
9. is an entrepreneur and member of parliament.
10. No
11. Yes
12. "Syria is with Palestine,"
13. it is unclear what he would change
14. Yes
15. Hassan Nouri,
16. he is a former economics professor and cabinet minister
17. because he was too critical of Assad's government
18. the University of Wisconsin
19. That it is an uphill battle but feels he is making headway.
20. economic
21. Market liberalization and fighting corrupt government

Problem: CHAPTER XII

CONSOLATION

On the following Sunday neither Tudor nor Norman was at Hampton. They had both felt that they could not comfortably meet each other there, and each had declined to go. They had promised to write; and now that the matter was decided, how were they or either of them to keep the promise?

It may be thought that the bitterness of the moment was over with Norman as soon as he gave up; but such was not the case. Let him struggle as he would with himself he could not rally, nor bring himself to feel happy on what had occurred. He would have been better satisfied if Alaric would have triumphed; but Alaric seemed to take it all as a matter of course, and never spoke of his own promotion unless he did so in answer to some remark of his companion; then he could speak easily enough; otherwise he was willing to let the matter go by as one settled and at rest. He had consulted Norman about the purchase of a horse, but he hitherto had shown no other sign that he was a richer man than formerly.

It was a very bitter time for Norman. He could not divest his mind of the subject. What was he to do? Where was he to go? How was he to get away, even for a time, from Alaric Tudor? And then, was he right in wishing to get away from him? Had he not told himself, over and over again, that it behoved him as a man and a friend and a Christian to conquer the bitter feeling of envy which preyed on his spirits? Had he not himself counselled Alaric to stand this examination? and had he not promised that his doing so should make no difference in their friendship? Had he not pledged himself to rejoice in the success of his friend? and now was he to break his word both to that friend and to himself?
1. What type of time was Norm having?
2. What had Tudor gotten recently?
3. What was there no indication of after this?
4. How many would not be attending on Sunday?
5. What was one's full name?
6. Where would they not go?
7. Why?
8. What was the jealous one wishing to do?
9. What religious type of follower was Norm?
10. What did the other ask him about?
Answer:
1. bitter
2. a horse
3. that he was a richer man than formerly
4. Two
5. Alaric Tudor
6. Hampton
7. They had both felt that they could not comfortably meet each other there
8. unknown
9. a Christian
10. a purchase