Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

Ashton Carter, the former second-in-command at the Pentagon, appears to be the top choice to replace outgoing Secretary Chuck Hagel.

Barring any last minute complications, Ash Carter will be President Barack Obama's choice as the new Secretary of Defense, several U.S. administration officials told CNN.

An administration official had said that Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, a former General Counsel at the Pentagon, was also still on the list of possibilities, but on Tuesday morning, sources said Johnson was no longer being considered. The prospect of an additional confirmation hearing for Johnson's replacement if he were to move to the Pentagon as the Senate switches to Republican control would have been problematic for the White House.

Related: Was Hagel doomed from the start?

Hagel announced his resignation last week, but has said he will stay on until his successor is confirmed by the Senate.

Carter, who served as Deputy Defense Secretary under both Leon Panetta and Hagel, would bring a wide range of experience to a department confronting multiple crises in the Middle East and preparing to enter a new phase in Afghanistan as the NATO combat mission ends.

Carter's ability to hit the ground running from his past experience at the Pentagon, in addition to the respect many senior military leaders have for him are seen as major benefits to winning confirmation should Obama nominate him.

"His career has sort of prepared him perfectly for this kind of a moment," says Michael O'Hanlon, a defense industry analyst at the Brookings Institution.

1. who is the homeland security secretary?
2. who resgined last week?
3. how long will he stay?
4. by?
5. who is the president in question here?
6. who is his choice as the new secretary of Defense?
7. what was carter doing before?
8. where?
9. what is one benefit for him?
10. who has he served under?
11. as?
12. has his career prepared him?
13. according to who?
14. who is Michael?
15. where?
16. who was not being considered anymore?
17. could there be complications?
18. what is Hagel's first name?
19. has carter handled crises internationally?
20. where?
21. and what else?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. Jeh Johnson
2. Hagel
3. until his successor is confirmed
4. the Senate
5. Barack Obama
6. Ash Carter
7. second-in-command
8. Pentagon
9. the respect many senior military leaders have for him
10. Leon Panetta and Hagel
11. Deputy Defense Secretary
12. yes
13. Michael O'Hanlon,
14. a defense industry analyst
15. Brookings Institution
16. Johnson
17. yes
18. Chuck
19. yes
20. Middle East
21. preparing to enter a new phase in Afghanistan

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

CHAPTER XVII

GUERILLA WARFARE

Thus ended the opening engagement of the campaign, seemingly in a victory for the _Cosy Moments_ army. Billy Windsor, however, shook his head.

"We've got mighty little out of it," he said.

"The victory," said Psmith, "was not bloodless. Comrade Brady's ear, my hat--these are not slight casualties. On the other hand, surely we are one up? Surely we have gained ground? The elimination of Comrade Repetto from the scheme of things in itself is something. I know few men I would not rather meet in a lonely road than Comrade Repetto. He is one of Nature's sand-baggers. Probably the thing crept upon him slowly. He started, possibly, in a merely tentative way by slugging one of the family circle. His nurse, let us say, or his young brother. But, once started, he is unable to resist the craving. The thing grips him like dram-drinking. He sandbags now not because he really wants to, but because he cannot help himself. To me there is something consoling in the thought that Comrade Repetto will no longer be among those present."

"What makes you think that?"

"I should imagine that a benevolent Law will put him away in his little cell for at least a brief spell."

"Not on your life," said Billy. "He'll prove an alibi."

Psmith's eyeglass dropped out of his eye. He replaced it, and gazed, astonished, at Billy.

"An alibi? When three keen-eyed men actually caught him at it?"

"He can find thirty toughs to swear he was five miles away."

1. Which army is mentioned?
2. Did they win?
3. Who disagreed?
4. Were there injuries?
5. Whose ear was hurt?
6. And whose hat was damaged?
7. Who was removed from the scheme?
8. Where wouldn't Psmith want to meet him?
9. What name does Psmith call him?
10. Who may have he hit?
11. Or perhaps who else?
12. Does Psmith think Repetto will be around forever?
13. Where might he go?
14. A large or small one?
15. Who will put him there?
16. For a long time?
17. Does Billy agree?
18. What does he think Repetto will do?
19. How many men caught him?
20. How many toughs would swear differently?
21. Where will they say he was?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. Cosy Moments
2. yes
3. Billy Windsor
4. yes
5. Comrade Brady's
6. Psmith
7. Comrade Repetto
8. in a lonely road
9. Nature's sand-baggers
10. his nurse
11. his young brother
12. no
13. in a cell
14. small
15. the Law
16. at least a brief spell
17. no
18. prove an alibi
19. three
20. thirty
21. five miles away

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

(CNN) -- After months of speculation, one of Formula One's worst kept secrets has finally been confirmed.

Fernando Alonso, the double world champion who recently left Ferrari, will rejoin McLaren for the 2015 season, which gets underway in March.

The Spaniard, who won back-to-back world titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006, joins the British team after ending his four-year association with Ferrari.

He will be partnered by Jenson Button, whose services were retained above Kevin Magnussen, who stays on as a test and reserve driver.

Between them, Alonso and Button have won three world titles, 47 grands prix and achieved 147 podium finishes from a combined 500 races.

Now 33, Alonso will be expected to boost McLaren's fortunes after a season which saw it struggle to match the pace set by the all-conquering Mercedes team.

"Over the past year I have received several offers, some of them really tempting given the current performance of some of the teams that showed interest," he said in a statement.

"But, more than a year ago, McLaren-Honda contacted me and asked me to take part, in a very active way, in the return of their partnership -- a partnership that dominated the Formula 1 scene for so long."

Between 1988 and 1992, McLaren and Honda won 44 grands prix out of 80, with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost winning all but one of the 16 races in one season.

"I still remember, as a kid, the posters in my wardrobe, my toy cars in which I dreamed I would one day emulate Ayrton, and the kart that my father built for my older sister, and that I ended up falling in love with," Alonso added.

1. Who ended their partnership with Ferrari?
2. How long was he with Ferrari?
3. Which team will he join?
4. For which season?
5. When does it begin?
6. What country is he from?
7. Who will be his partner?
8. How many races have they finished, combined?
9. And how many top three finishes from those?
10. How old is Alonso?
11. Has he dreamt of racing since he was a child?
12. Did he have several offers from other teams?
13. When did McLaren-Honda contact him with an offer?
14. Does McLaren-Honda have a winning track record?
15. How many Grand Prix races has the team won?
16. Out of how many?
17. In how many years?
18. Which two drivers won the majority of their season's races?
19. How many did they lose?
20. Who will be on the team as a test and reserve driver?

Numbered answers:

A:
1. Fernando Alonso
2. four years
3. McLaren
4. 2015
5. March
6. Spain
7. Jenson Button
8. 500
9. 147
10. 33
11. yes
12. yes
13. more than a year ago
14. yes
15. 44
16. 80
17. four
18. Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost
19. only one
20. Kevin Magnussen