Problem: Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, and the Black Sea to the east. With a territory of , Bulgaria is Europe's 16th-largest country.

Organised prehistoric cultures began developing on current Bulgarian lands during the Neolithic period. Its ancient history saw the presence of the Thracians, Greeks, Persians, Celts, Romans, Goths, Alans and Huns. The emergence of a unified Bulgarian state dates back to the establishment of the First Bulgarian Empire in 681 AD, which dominated most of the Balkans and functioned as a cultural hub for Slavs during the Middle Ages. With the downfall of the Second Bulgarian Empire in 1396, its territories came under Ottoman rule for nearly five centuries. The Russo-Turkish War of 187778 led to the formation of the Third Bulgarian State. The following years saw several conflicts with its neighbours, which prompted Bulgaria to align with Germany in both world wars. In 1946 it became a one-party socialist state as part of the Soviet-led Eastern Bloc. In December 1989 the ruling Communist Party allowed multi-party elections, which subsequently led to Bulgaria's transition into a democracy and a market-based economy.
1. When were the first Bulgarian cultures started?
2. Were the Greeks ever in the area?
3. How many others are listed?
4. About when was the first unified state there?
5. What was it called?
6. What area did it control?
7. Who was there?
8. Was this during the Renaissance?
9. What was this time period called?
10. What occurred in 1396?
11. Who took over then?
12. Were they in charge for a long time?
13. What was the outcome of the Russo-Turkish War?
14. What year was that?
15. Did they join the allies in WW2?
16. Were they democratic in the years after the war?
17. Did they ever become that?
18. When?19. What body of water is Bulgaria west of?
20. How many countries in Europe are bigger?
Answer: 1. the Neolithic period
2. yes
3. seven
4. 681 AD
5. the First Bulgarian Empire
6. most of the Balkans
7. Slavs
8. no
9. the Middle Ages
10. the downfall of the Second Bulgarian Empire
11. the Ottomans
12. yes
13. the formation of the Third Bulgarian State
14. 187778
15. no
16. no
17. yes
18. After December 1989
19. the Black Sea
20. 15

Problem: (CNN) -- Serena Williams was forced to pull out of the Madrid Open with a thigh injury ahead of her quarter final tie with Petra Kvitova Friday.

The withdrawal will come as a blow to the world No. 1's preparations for the French Open with the year's second major beginning in two weeks' time.

Williams had been playing with heavy strapping all week, although confirmed she hopes to be able to take part in the Italian Open in Rome next week.

"I have a left thigh injury and, unfortunately, have to withdraw from this year's Madrid Open," Williams told the WTA website.

"It happened during my first round match. It started to get better, but most importantly right now, I just need some time to rest and recover.

"I am planning to play in Rome. Fortunately, I have a bye next week so will have an extra day of rest."

Williams has won the title in Madrid for the last two years and used the event as a springboard to take the French Open crown at Roland Garros last May.

She added: "It's beyond words. It's so frustrating. We couldn't ask for a better tournament and I love it here in Madrid. I love being a champion here."

Elsewhere in the women's draw, Maria Sharapova overcame world No. 2 Li Na 2-6, 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 to reach the semifinals where she will face Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska who defeated surprise package Caroline Garcia 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Williams' withdrawal means the second semifinal will pit Kvitova against No.4 seed Simona Halep who trumped the in-form Ana Ivanovic 6-2, 6-2.
1. Did Serena Williams withdraw from the Madrid Open?
2. Why?
3. What part of her was injured?
4. Who was she going to play on Friday?
5. What was she wearing in play earlier in the week?
6. What is she hoping to take part in next week?
7. Where?
8. Who did Maria Sharapova overcome?
9. Who did Radwanska defeat?
10. Where is Radwanska from?
11. When did Williams' injury happen?
12. Then what happened to it?
13. What does she need now?
14. ANything else?
15. Where is the French Open held?
16. When?
17. How many times has Williams won Madrid?
18. Does she hate it there?
19. Which website was Williams talking to?
20. For Williams, Madrid was a springboard for what?
Answer: 1. yes
2. an injury
3. a thigh
4. Petra Kvitova
5. unknown
6. Italian Open
7. Rome
8. Li Na
9. Caroline Garcia
10. Poland
11. her first round match
12. It started to get better
13. some time
14. rest
15. Roland Garros
16. May
17. two
18. no
19. the WTA's
20. to take the French Open crown

Problem: Greenwich is on the River, five miles from the middle of London, and its history is two thousand years old. The first English people were fishermen there, and they named the place Greenwich, meaning "green village". Later the English kings and queens lived at Greenwich in their beautiful places.

The name of the earliest palace was Placentia. Henry VIII lived there. He knew that England must be strong at sea. So he started two big ship-yards at Greenwich. But trouble was coming to Greenwich. In 1649, a war started in England and for eleven years there was no king. The men who had worked for him at Placentia decided to live the place themselves. They sold all its beautiful things. Finally, the war ended and King Charles II came back. But Placentia was falling down. So King Charles built a new and bigger palace, which is now open to the public.

At this time, Charles was worried about losing so many of its ships at sea: their sailors did not know how to tell exactly where they were. So in 1675, Charles made John Flamsteed, the first astronomer in England, try to find the answer. Flamsteed worked in a new building on the high ground in Greenwich Park. From it with a telescope which he made himself, Flamsteed could look all round the sky. And he did, night after night, for twenty years. Carrying on Flamsteed's work a hundred years later, an astronomer called Harrison finally made a clock which told the time at sea, and helped sailors to know where they were. You can see Harrison's clock, still working, in Greenwich's museum of the sea. Because of Flamsteed's work, every country in the world now tells its time by Greenwich Time.
1. how far from London is Greenwich?
2. Does it have a meaning?
3. who built the ports?
4. did he have a house there?
5. named what?
6. where is the clock now?
7. when did the war start?
8. how old is Greenwhich's history?
9. who made the telescope?
10. why did he make it?
11. who made the clock?
12. what happened to everything in Placentia?
13. by who?
14. who appointed Flamsteed?
15. Did King Charles make a new house?
16. where did Flamsteed work?
17. for how long?
18. Did the clock help?
19. who did it help?
20. how?
Answer:
1. five miles
2. meaning "green village"
3. Henry VIII
4. yes
5. Placentia
6. n Greenwich's museum of the sea
7. In 1649
8. two thousand years old
9. Flamsteed
10. look at round the sky
11. Harrison
12. it was destroyed
13. the war
14. Charles
15. yes
16. Flamsteed worked in a new building on the high ground in Greenwich Park
17. for twenty years
18. yes
19. helped sailors
20. to know where they were