Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
The Seven Years' War was fought between 1755 and 1764, the main conflict occurring in the seven-year period from 1756 to 1763. It involved every great power of the time except the Ottoman Empire, and affected Europe, the Americas, West Africa, India, and the Philippines. Considered a prelude to the two world wars and the greatest European war since the Thirty Years War of the 17th century, it once again split Europe into two coalitions, led by Great Britain on one side and France on the other. For the first time, aiming to curtail Britain and Prussia's ever-growing might, France formed a grand coalition of its own, which ended with failure as Britain rose as the world's predominant power, altering the European balance of power.

Realizing that war was imminent, Prussia preemptively struck Saxony and quickly overran it. The result caused uproar across Europe. Because of Prussia's alliance with Britain, Austria formed an alliance with France, seeing an opportunity to recapture Silesia, which had been lost in a previous war. Reluctantly, by following the imperial diet, most of the states of the empire joined Austria's cause. The Anglo-Prussian alliance was joined by smaller German states (especially Hanover). Sweden, fearing Prussia's expansionist tendencies, went to war in 1757 to protect its Baltic dominions, seeing its chance when virtually all of Europe opposed Prussia. Spain, bound by the Pacte de Famille, intervened on behalf of France and together they launched an utterly unsuccessful invasion of Portugal in 1762. The Russian Empire was originally aligned with Austria, fearing Prussia's ambition on the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, but switched sides upon the succession of Tsar Peter III in 1762.
1. How long did the Seven Years' War last?
2. When did it start?
3. When did it end?
4. Why was it called the Seven Years' War?
5. Who were the leaders of the two alliances?
6. Who came out ahead?
7. Who fired the first shot?
8. Who did most of the Holy Roman Empire join?
9. Who did Russia join?
10. Who attacked Portugal?
11. Who won?
12. Which major European power stayed neutral?
13. What was this war a prequel of?
14. Why did Austria join?
15. Which state was the first to be defeated?
16. What was India's role?
17. What ruler's rise changed the balance of power significantly?
18. Whom did Prussia have its eye on?

Numbered answers:
1. Nine years
2. 1755
3. 1764
4. Because the main part of the conflict happened from 1756-1763.
5. Great Britain and France
6. Great Britain
7. Prussia
8. France
9. Both
10. Spain and France
11. Portugal
12. Ottoman Empire
13. The World Wars
14. To recapture Silesia.
15. Saxony
16. unknown
17. Tsar Peter III
18. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
General Motors Company, commonly known as GM, is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, that designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes vehicles and vehicle parts, and sells financial services. With global headquarters at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan, United States, GM manufactures cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2008, 8.35 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under various brands. GM reached the milestone of selling 10 million vehicles in 2016. Current auto brands are Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Holden, and Wuling. Former GM automotive brands include McLaughlin, Oakland, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Hummer, Saab, Saturn, as well as Vauxhall, and Opel, which were bought by Groupe PSA in 2017.

The company was founded by William C. Durant on September 16, 1908 as a holding company. The company was the largest automobile manufacturer from 1931 through 2007.

In addition to brands selling assembled vehicles, GM has also had various automotive-component and non-automotive brands, many of which it divested in the 1980s through 2000s. These have included Euclid and Terex (earthmoving/construction/mining equipment & vehicles); Electro-Motive Diesel (locomotive, marine, and industrial diesel engines); Detroit Diesel (automotive and industrial diesel engines); Allison (aircraft engines, transmissions, gas turbine engines); Frigidaire (appliances including refrigeration and air conditioning); New Departure (bearings); Delco Electronics and ACDelco (electrical and electronic components); GMAC (finance); General Aviation and North American Aviation (airplanes); GM Defense (military vehicles); and Electronic Data Systems (information technology).
1. Who founded the company?
2. when?
3. where is it headquartered?
4. What milestone did it reach in 2016
5. Are there many brands?
6. how many current?
7. Do they own Opel?
8. who aquired it?
9. when?
10. Is the company currently the largest automobile manufacturer?
11. was it ever?
12. when?
13. how many countries do they operate in?
14. how many cars and trucks were sold in 2008?
15. Where is the global headquarters?
16. what does GM stand for?
17. What does Terex sell?
18. How about fridgidaire?
19. doe sGM own them?
20. what division sells military vehicles?

Numbered answers:
1. William C. Durant
2. \ September 16, 1908
3. Detroit, Michigan
4. selling 10 million vehicles
5. yes
6. six
7. not anymore
8. Groupe PSA
9. 2017
10. no
11. yeas
12. 1931 through 2007
13. 35
14. 8.35 million
15. Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan
16. General Motors
17. earthmoving, construction, and mining equipment
18. appliances including refrigeration and air conditioning
19. yes
20. GM Defense

Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
Washington (CNN) -- With his budget approved by the House, Paul Ryan is turning his attention to Iowa to headline a high-profile Republican event that will only fuel speculation he's laying the groundwork for a potential presidential run in 2016.

Lawmakers approved the Wisconsin Republican's 2015 spending plan on Thursday. But there were notable conservative defections, making his appearance at Friday's Lincoln Dinner in Cedar Rapids more interesting.

The question that confronts Ryan is whether his budget, dubbed the "path to prosperity," will help pave a path for him to compete in the early contest state in two years. Or will it prove a political liability when Republicans choose their next White House nominee?

Ryan's role as the chief fiscal expert in the GOP is the main reason he was tapped as Mitt Romney's running mate in 2012, and remains his main calling card in a potential national campaign.

Since Republicans took control of the House in 2010, top GOP leaders have deferred to the Budget Committee chairman to construct the party's blueprint to address the growing national debt.

He has shepherded four budgets through the House and brokered a deal with Democrats last fall to avoid another government shutdown and possible default on the nation's credit limit.

Ryan budget details

Some say not aggressive enough

But that resume has not won over some tea party groups who believe Ryan isn't' being aggressive enough about slashing the size of the federal government.

The group of fiscal conservatives in the House introduced an alternative budget that balances the federal budget in four years, instead of the 10 years in Ryan's plan.
1. Who made a budgeting plan?
2. Does the plan have a nickname?
Numbered answers:
1. , Paul Ryan
2. unknown