Problem: Laos (, , , or ; , , "Lao"), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao: , "Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao") or commonly referred to its colloquial name of Muang Lao (Lao: , "Muang Lao"), is a landlocked country in the heart of the Indochinese peninsula of Mainland Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar (Burma) and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southwest, and Thailand to the west and southwest.

Present day Lao PDR traces its historic and cultural identity to the kingdom of Lan Xang Hom Khao (Kingdom of a Million Elephants Under the White Parasol), which existed for four centuries as one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. Due to Lan Xang's central geographical location in Southeast Asia, the kingdom was able to become a popular hub for overland trade, becoming wealthy economically as well as culturally.

After a period of internal conflict, Lan Xang broke off into three separate kingdoms Luang Phrabang, Vientiane, and Champasak. In 1893, it became a French protectorate, with the three territories uniting to form what is now known as the country of Laos. It briefly gained freedom in 1945 after Japanese occupation, but was recolonised by France until it won autonomy in 1949. Laos became independent in 1953, with a constitutional monarchy under Sisavang Vong. Shortly after independence, a long civil war ended the monarchy, when the Communist Pathet Lao movement came to power in 1975.
1. What is Laos colloquial name?
2. What is the official name/
3. Is it landlocked?
4. What is one country it borders with?
5. And another?
Answer: 1. Muang Lao
2. Laos
3. Yes
4. Myanmar
5. China

Q: They had been in Nepal for a week trying to reach Thorong La Pass, 17,769 feet above sea level, when they were caught in a snowstorm, unable to make it to the nearest village.

Avalanches roared down the mountain.

Jeremy Aerts and his girlfriend May Wong pressed on: Extreme hiking enthusiasts, they had committed to making it all the way through.

For some people, the idea of facing such obstacles -- especially voluntarily -- seems crazy. And yet many in the extreme hiking community wouldn't have it any other way.

The new film "Wild," based on the memoir by Cheryl Strayed, chronicles a grueling solo hike along 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, on the border with Mexico, after Strayed's divorce and the death of her mother.

The movie, which hits theaters Friday, might encourage more travelers to try extreme hiking.

Aerts, 30, a GIS analyst from Pittsburgh, describes that night in Nepal this past spring as the closest he has ever been to death.

Despite being unable to see 10 feet ahead of them, Aerts and Wong continued.

"At one point the wind was so strong it knocked me off my feet," said Aerts. "We had to break into an abandoned cabin just before dark to spend the night with our guide and another trekking group."

The payoff came the next day when the couple reached the tiny village of Muktinath, surrounded by Himalayan peaks.

"It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever had the chance to see," he said.

Answer the following questions:
1. where did the couple reach the following day?
2. what did he say about it?
3. how long had they been in Nepal?
4. what obstacle did they meet?
5. where did they seek refuge?
6. is there a movie mentioned?
7. which one?
8. how high were they trying to get? (in feet)
9. what was the name of the place?
10. what knocked Aerts off his feet?
11. do extreme hikers like taking risks?
12. who was Jeremy with?
13. her name?
14. were there avalanches?
15. did they get to the cabin after dark?
16. when?
17. what was the movie based on?
18. what does it talk about?
19. who else were they in the cabin with?
20. where is Aerts from?
A: 1. tiny village of Muktinath
2. It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever had the chance to see,
3. a week
4. a snowstorm
5. an abandoned cabin
6. yes
7. Wild
8. 17,769
9. Thorong La Pass
10. strong wind
11. yes
12. his girlfriend
13. May Wong
14. yes
15. no
16. just before dark
17. the memoir by Cheryl Strayed
18. a grueling solo hike along 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trai
19. with their guide and another trekking group."
20. Pittsburgh

Problem: Thousands of protesters surrounded Bangkok's Government House on Friday seeking the removal of Thailand's embattled caretaker government amid soaring political tensions following the ouster of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The People's Democratic Reform Committee, which has been protesting the government since November, is pushing to replace the caretaker administration with an unelected interim government.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban told those gathered: "We will sleep here tonight, we will eat here."

The PDRC has been seeking to rid Thai politics of the alleged influence of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin is Yingluck's brother and a telecommunications tycoon who was overthrown in a 2006 military coup. He has since lived in self-imposed exile to avoid a corruption conviction.

"If the speaker is a slave of Thaksin, there will be one treatment; if not, there will be another treatment for them," Thaugsuban said.

Some 20,000 protesters massed in the capital and split into groups. About 4,000 or 5,000 gathered outside Government House. That is the former prime minister's residence, but Yingluck has already vacated it.

Lt. Gen. Paradon Patthanathabut, security adviser to the government, told CNN the PDRC had mobilized supporters from the countryside to join the protests in the capital.

He said smaller groups also gathered at Bangkok television stations and other locations around the city.

"We are monitoring (the situation) closely," he said, adding that 60,000 security forces were on standby.

At the Royal Thai Police Club, command center of the temporary security task force, the Center for the Administration for Peace and Order, police used tear gas and water cannon on protesters who attempted to enter the complex, said Paradon. Four people were injured.
1. Why did protesters go to Bangkok's Government House?
2. Who is Suthep Thaugsuban?
3. What does PDRC stand for?
4. How many security forces were on standby?
5. In what country was this happening?
6. How many total protesters faced the 60000 security forces?
7. What is the name of the prime minister?
8. And so who is his brother?
9. What job did he used to have?
10. What happened with this old job?
11. Where is he living now?
12. Why is that?
13. And what happened with his brother Yingluck?
14. Who or what is governing Thailand now?
15. Was the interim government elected?
16. W?
17. Who is the security adviser to the government?
18. And what did he tell CNN?
Answer:
1. Wanted to oust the government
2. former Prime Minister
3. People's Democratic Reform Committee
4. 60,000
5. Thailand
6. Some 20,000
7. Yingluck Shinawatra
8. Thaksin Shinawatra
9. Prime Minister
10. overthrown in a military coup
11. self-imposed exile
12. to avoid a corruption conviction.
13. vacated his house
14. unknown
15. No
16. caretaker government
17. Lt. Gen. Paradon Patthanathabut
18. the PDRC had mobilized supporters from the countryside to join the protests in the capital.