Problem: In the office of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, there is a picture of Catherine the Great, the legendary Russian Empress. When asked why she has the picture, Merkel says, "She was a strong woman". Many say the same of Merkel.

The most powerful woman in the world, according to US Forbes magazine, was in China last week. She came to discuss trade and environmental issues with China's top leaders. Germany's first woman leader is known as a brave and practical statesman . Even since her time at school, she had the habit of getting everything in order. Every day before doing her homework she would clean the desk and think about what to do next. "I prefer a long time for full preparations to make my decision. But once I decide, I will stand up for what I believe," Merkel said.

Perhaps it was good habits that helped her do well in her studies. At 32, she got a doctorate in physics and then she worked as a researcher.

However, the life of a scholar couldn't put off her love of politics. While working in labs, Merkel took time off to read political books and at last joined a political party. "Her calmness helped her stand out in the party. She could always find a way out while others felt hopeless," said one of her old friends.

In her first big political job as Minister for the Environment in 1994, her scientific background proved very useful. In 2005 she became Germany's youngest chancellor since the second World War.

Now half way through her four-year term, the 53-year-old woman has made a name for herself both in Germany and abroad. At the EU summit in 2005 when France quarreled with Britain over the EU budget , some people believed the EU was close to breaking down. But Merkel didn't give up. She shuttled between the heads of the two powers and had them reached an agreement.

"Strength comes from composure and courage. Many people say I am a strong woman. But I would rather say I have perseverance," said Merkel.
1. Who is the Chancellor?
2. From what country?
3. Who was in China last week?
4. What was she there to do?
5. What would she do right before her homework?
6. When did she receive her PHD in physics?
7. What did she do then?
8. As what?
9. What did she have a love for?
10. What position did she attain in 1994?
11. What proved useful to her then?
12. How many terms at 53?
Answer: 1. Angela Merkel,
2. Germany
3. The most powerful woman in the world
4. discuss trade and environmental issues
5. clean the desk and think
6. At 32
7. worked
8. a researcher.
9. politics.
10. Minister for the Environment
11. her scientific background
12. half way through her four-year term

Problem: "Get out of the plane!" Justin shouted. Teddy and he dropped to the ground,....

When Kathy and Victor reached the edge of the grassland, flames were shooting more than five meters into the air.

Kathy couldn't believe what she was seeing. One glance told her they needed medical attention immediately. She questioned Justin, " Is there anyone in the plane?"

"No," he said.

"Where are you able to radio for help?"

"There was no time."

" I'm a distance runner." Kathy said, "I'll go for help." Looking at the seriously injured men, she said, "It may take me several hours to get out." She started out.

When she was 23, Kathy set a women's-course record in a Marathon. She had run 42 kilometers. But now she was running the race of her life. She had nearly 30 kilometers of hard wilderness to cover to get help.

Kathy had been running for two hours. This was far back into the wilderness. The trail grew unclear. She stopped to take a quick compass reading. She had run for more than 20 kilometers. Her heart fell, her muscle aching. Finally she saw her car in the distance.

She jumped into the car and sped away. She reached a holiday house and called the police.

During the wait she walked around, relaxing her legs and drinking water. It took almost two hours for a helicopter to reach her. They needed her for one more task.
1. Who was a distance runner?
2. What did she do when she was 23?
3. Who was in the plane?
4. Were there flames that were 10 meters high?
5. Were the men injured?
6. How far had Kathy run in her marathon?
7. And how many kilometers did she have to cover now?
8. After running more than 20 kilometers, what did she see?
9. What did she do then?
10. Where did she call the police from?
11. How long did it take the helicopter to get there?
12. Did Justin say anyone was left in the plane?
13. Who was with Kathy at the edge of the grassland?
14. Were the men able to radio for help?
15. Why?
16. What did Justin yell at Teddy?
17. Did Kathy drink coffee while waiting for the helicopter?
18. What did she have instead?
19. Did she speed away in a BMW?
20. What did the rescuers need her for?
Answer: 1. Kathy
2. set a record
3. Teddy and Justin
4. the edge of the grassland
5. yes
6. 42 kilometers
7. nearly 30
8. her car
9. jumped into the car and sped away.
10. a holiday house
11. almost two hours
12. no
13. Victor
14. no
15. There was no time.
16. "Get out of the plane!"
17. no
18. water
19. unknown
20. one more task

Problem: The Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as Zaire, DR Congo, East Congo, DRC, DROC, Congo-Kinshasa or simply the Congo, is a country located in Central Africa. The DRC borders the Central African Republic and South Sudan to the north; Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania to the east; Zambia and Angola to the south; the Republic of the Congo to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest. It is the second-largest country in Africa (largest in Sub-Saharan Africa) by area and eleventh largest in the world. With a population of over 80 million, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the most populated officially Francophone country, the fourth most-populated nation in Africa and the seventeenth most populated country in the world.

The territory of the DR Congo was first settled by humans around 90,000 years ago. Bantu peoples began migrating into the region in the 5th century and again in the 10th century. In the West of the region, the Kingdom of Kongo ruled from the 14th to 19th centuries, while in the centre and East of the region, the kingdoms of Luba and Lunda ruled from the 16th and 17th centuries to the 19th century. In the 1870s, just before the onset of the Scramble for Africa, European exploration of the Congo was carried out, first led by Henry Morton Stanley under the sponsorship of King Leopold II of Belgium. Leopold formally acquired rights to the Congo territory at the Conference of Berlin in 1885 and made the land his private property, naming it the Congo Free State. During the Free State, the colonial military unit, the "Force Publique," forced the local population into producing rubber, and from 1885 to 1908, millions of Congolese died as a consequence of disease and exploitation. In 1908 Belgium, despite initial reluctance, formally annexed the Free State from Leopold, which became the Belgian Congo.
1. What's the second largest country in Africa?
2. What's one other name for it?
3. And another?
4. Is it also called the Congo?
5. When did humans first settle in it?
6. When was European exploration of it carried out?
7. Led by whom?
8. Sonsored by whom?
9. What was the King's name?
10. Which country was he king of?
11. Where did Leopold get the right to the Congo?
12. When was that?
13. While he held it, what was the military unit there called?
14. Was it his private property then?
15. What did the Force Publique make people do?
16. Did millions of these people die?
17. How did Belgium get the Belgian Congo?
18. From whom?
19. When?
20. Was Belgium reluctant to do this at first?
Answer:
1. The DRC
2. East Congo
3. The Democratic Republic of the Congo,
4. yes
5. around 90,000 years ago.
6. In the 1870s,
7. Henry Morton Stanley
8. The King
9. King Leopold II
10. Belgium.
11. the Conference of Berlin
12. 1885
13. yes
14. yes
15. produce rubber
16. yes
17. annexed it
18. Leopold
19. In 1908
20. ues