Problem: Mali (i/mli/; French: [mali]), officially the Republic of Mali (French: Republique du Mali), is a landlocked country in West Africa. Mali is the eighth-largest country in Africa, with an area of just over 1,240,000 square kilometres (480,000 sq mi). The population of Mali is 14.5 million. Its capital is Bamako. Mali consists of eight regions and its borders on the north reach deep into the middle of the Sahara Desert, while the country's southern part, where the majority of inhabitants live, features the Niger and Senegal rivers. The country's economy centers on agriculture and fishing. Some of Mali's prominent natural resources include gold, being the third largest producer of gold in the African continent, and salt. About half the population lives below the international poverty line of $1.25 (U.S.) a day. A majority of the population (55%) are non-denominational Muslims.

Present-day Mali was once part of three West African empires that controlled trans-Saharan trade: the Ghana Empire, the Mali Empire (for which Mali is named), and the Songhai Empire. During its golden age, there was a flourishing of mathematics, astronomy, literature, and art. At its peak in 1300, the Mali Empire covered an area about twice the size of modern-day France and stretched to the west coast of Africa. In the late 19th century, during the Scramble for Africa, France seized control of Mali, making it a part of French Sudan. French Sudan (then known as the Sudanese Republic) joined with Senegal in 1959, achieving independence in 1960 as the Mali Federation. Shortly thereafter, following Senegal's withdrawal from the federation, the Sudanese Republic declared itself the independent Republic of Mali. After a long period of one-party rule, a coup in 1991 led to the writing of a new constitution and the establishment of Mali as a democratic, multi-party state.
1. what country is the article about?
2. when was the new constitution written?
3. which countries joined in 1959
4. is Mali a 1 party state?
5. how many natural resources of Mali are named?
6. what religion are most people?
7. what percent are non-denominational muslim?
8. what is the official name of Mali?
9. where is Mali located?
10. what is the population?
11. does anyone live in poverty?
12. is there fishing there?
Answer: 1. Republic of Mali
2. 1991
3. French Sudan and Senegal
4. No
5. Two
6. Non-denominational Muslims.
7. 55%
8. The Republic of Mali
9. West Africa
10. 14.5 million
11. Yes
12. Yes

Problem: Cairo (CNN) -- The recent health crisis for former Egyptian ruler Hosni Mubarak started when he slipped in a prison bathroom, his attorney told CNN Thursday.

The ousted strongman hurt his neck and developed a blood clot after the fall in Tora prison, attorney Farid El Deeb said.

El Deeb said Mubarak was taken off life-support equipment and his health improved on Wednesday, a day after grim and contradictory news emerged over the 84-year-old man's health.

The state-run Middle East News Agency reported that he was "clinically dead." The nation's military rulers denied the report, with one general saying Mubarak's health was deteriorating and he was in critical condition.

Mubarak was transferred from Tora prison to Maadi Military Hospital. Now, El Deeb said, his ailing client is out of a coma and under the care of doctors at the facility's intensive care unit.

"He had slipped in the bathroom of Tora prison and hurt his neck, which caused a blood clot that started all his medical problems that night, last Tuesday, including heart attack and irregular breathing," El Deeb said.

He said he had warned before that "the prison hospital was not equipped with well-trained nurses or personnel to assist him or proper equipment."

The lawyer said he hadn't been informed about how the latest bout of health problems started because he was in Lebanon when Mubarak fell sick.

"I was getting information by phone with a minute-to-minute update, but I learned that he fell when I returned to Cairo," he said.
1. Who is the article about?
2. Where is he from?
3. Did he slip in a hallway?
4. Where?
5. Is he okay?
6. Is he awake?
7. How old is he?
8. Did he slip at his home?
9. Where?
10. When did this happen?
11. Did he have legal counsel?
12. What was his name?
13. Where was he when he heard of the accident?
14. Were there daily reports of his status?
15. How fast were they?
Answer: 1. Hosni Mubarak
2. Egypt
3. no
4. in a bathroom
5. no
6. unknown
7. 84
8. no
9. Tora prison
10. ast Tuesday
11. yes
12. Farid El Deeb
13. in Lebanon
14. no
15. minute-to-minute

Problem: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill Friday that would have banned crates that severely limit the mobility of pregnant pigs, a move that will win favor with Iowa farmers and spark more speculation about Christie's presidential aspirations but cause outrage among animal rights activists who pushed for the ban.

Critics consider the small metal crates a form of animal cruelty -- the pigs aren't able to turn around in the limited space -- but advocates say they prevent sows from accidentally lying down or stepping on piglets.

Despite its strong bipartisan support in the state legislature, the Republican governor vetoed a version of the bill in 2013. When a nearly identical version passed again in the Democratic-led legislature, Christie faced mounting pressure this fall from activists and celebrities, including Bill Maher, Danny DeVito, Martha Stewart and Edie Falco.

Jon Stewart gave the issue wider attention when he featured it in a segment on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" this month. And Matthew Scully, a former speechwriter and adviser to President George W. Bush, wrote a lengthy essay for National Review Online, spelling out a case for banning the crates.

In a statement, Christie said the bill is a "solution in search of a problem" and a "political movement masquerading as substantive policy." Arguing that it's not a practice in New Jersey, Christie said it should be left to the state's Board of Agriculture, which currently doesn't outlaw the crates.

Read the full veto statement (PDF)

The move, announced by his office the day after Thanksgiving, places 2016 squarely in the spotlight. With more than 20 million pigs, Iowa is the nation's largest pork producer, and the state's governor, Terry Branstad, told The Associated Press that he urged Christie to veto the bill when a similar version came to the New Jersey governor's desk last year.
1. What position does Chris Christie have?
2. Of what state?
3. And what did he do on the day after Thursday?
4. Has he done a similar thing before?
5. When?
6. When did he vote against the legislation this time?
7. Were some people against his decision?
8. Were any of them famous people?
9. Such as?
10. Did anyone write about their disagreement with his decision in detail?
11. Who?
12. What did he used to do?
13. Does Christie think someone else should make the decision regarding the legislation?
14. Which group?
15. And what's that group's current position?
Answer:
1. Governor
2. New Jersey
3. vetoed a bill
4. yes
5. 2013
6. Friday
7. yes
8. yes
9. Bill Maher, Danny DeVito, Martha Stewart and Edie Falco.
10. yes
11. Matthew Scully
12. write speeches
13. yes
14. the state's Board of Agriculture
15. it currently doesn't outlaw the crates.