Problem: CHAPTER XVII

Wingate, after several strenuous hours spent in Slate's office, returned to his rooms late that night, to find Peter Phipps awaiting him. There was something vaguely threatening about the bulky figure of the man standing gloomily upon the hearth rug, all the spurious good nature gone from his face, his brows knitted, his cheeks hanging a little and unusually pale. Wingate paused on the threshold of the room and his hand crept into his pocket. Phipps seemed to notice the gesture and shook his head.

"Nothing quite so crude, Wingate," he said. "I know an enemy when I see one, but I wasn't thinking of getting rid of you that way."

"I have found it necessary," Wingate remarked slowly, "to be prepared for all sorts of tricks when I am up against anybody as conscienceless as you. I don't want you here, Phipps. I didn't ask you to come and see me. I've nothing to discuss with you."

"There are times," Phipps replied, "when the issue which cannot be fought out to the end with arms can be joined in the council chamber. I have come to know your terms."

Wingate shook his head.

"I don't understand. It is too soon for this sort of thing. You are not beaten yet."

"I am tired," his visitor muttered. "May I sit down?"

"You are an unwelcome guest," Wingate replied coldly, "but sit if you will. Then say what you have to say and go."

Phipps sank into an easy-chair. It was obvious that he was telling the truth so far as regarded his fatigue. He seemed to have aged ten years.
1. Who returned to his room?
2. When?
3. After what?
4. Spent where?
5. Who was waiting in his room?
6. Where was he standing?
7. Was he threatening?
8. What was his body type?
9. Was he pale?
10. Did he want him there?
11. How much had Phipps aged?
12. Did he have a seat?
13. Where?
14. Why?
15. Was he beaten yet?
16. Was Wingate prepared?
17. Did his hand go into his pocket?
18. To retrieve what?
19. Does he have anything to discuss with his visitor?
Answer: 1. Wingate
2. Late that night
3. several strenuous hours
4. Slate's office
5. Peter Phipps
6. hearth rug
7. Yes
8. bulky
9. Yes
10. No
11. ten years
12. Yes
13. easy-chair
14. he was tired
15. No
16. Yes
17. Yes
18. unknown
19. No

Problem: Western Sahara (; "", , Spanish and French: Sahara Occidental) is a disputed territory in the Maghreb region of North Africa, partially controlled by the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and partially Moroccan-occupied, bordered by Morocco proper to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its surface area amounts to . It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly consisting of desert flatlands. The population is estimated at just over 500,000, of which nearly 40% live in Laayoune, the largest city in Western Sahara.

Occupied by Spain until the late 20th century, Western Sahara has been on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories since 1963 after a Moroccan demand. It is the most populous territory on that list, and by far the largest in area. In 1965, the UN General Assembly adopted its first resolution on Western Sahara, asking Spain to decolonise the territory. One year later, a new resolution was passed by the General Assembly requesting that a referendum be held by Spain on self-determination. In 1975, Spain relinquished the administrative control of the territory to a joint administration by Morocco (which had formally claimed the territory since 1957) and Mauritania. A war erupted between those countries and a Sahrawi nationalist movement, the Polisario Front, which proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) with a government in exile in Tindouf, Algeria. Mauritania withdrew its claims in 1979, and Morocco eventually secured "de facto" control of most of the territory, including all the major cities and natural resources. The United Nations considers the Polisario Front to be the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people, and maintains that the Sahrawis have a right to self-determination.
1. What did the Spanish occupy?
2. Until when?
3. Does it govern itself?
4. According to whose records?
5. Is it big or small compared to other types on the records?
6. When were the Spanish asked to back off?
7. By whom?
8. Did they end up backing off?
9. When?
10. How many places took over then?
11. And they got along?
12. What happened between them?
13. Who won in the end?
14. What part of the world is this in?
15. Where is that?
16. Who shares controlling factors?
17. What is at its border?
18. To what side?
19. What about to the opposite of that?
20. Is there water at any border?
Answer: 1. Western Sahara
2. the late 20th century
3. no
4. the United Nations
5. big
6. 1965
7. the UN General Assembly
8. yes
9. In 1975
10. Morocco and Mauritania
11. no
12. A war erupted
13. Morocco
14. the Maghreb region
15. North Africa
16. Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Morocco
17. Morocco proper
18. the north
19. Mauritania
20. yes

Problem: Hong Kong, China (CNN) -- Hong Kong lawmakers resumed debate Wednesday on a bill that may result in the region's first statutory minimum wage.

The Minimum Wage Bill is a controversial piece of legislation that lawmakers hope will protect the most vulnerable workers in Hong Kong, one of the few places in the world without any sort of minimum wage law.

The debate is set to take two to three days.

A recent government survey showed that around half a million workers in Hong Kong earn less than $4 an hour. These include low-skilled workers from the catering, retail, and cleaning industries.

According to Man Hon Poon, a policy researcher at the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Union, the lack of legal protection for workers has led to serious exploitation.

"Workers in restaurants have to work for 12 hours or even 14 hours a day to earn a living," he said. "They cannot even go to the cinema."

Legislator Tommy Cheung, however, claims that the government should not interfere with the free market economy, which he says has served Hong Kong well in the past. A minimum wage could deter investors and lead to increased unemployment, said Cheung, who represents the catering industry.

"There is one fear within the industry, that they would have to close down," he said. "When you see a closure, everyone loses out."

The government first proposed the current bill in 2008 following a failed attempt at a voluntary minimum wage. Labor unions, however, have been lobbying for a minimum wage since 1998, following the Asian financial crisis.
1. what are they trying to legislate?
2. where?
3. are they currently discussing the issue?
4. how long is the discussion expected to last?
5. are people currently being expolited?
6. did someone say that?
7. who?
8. his position?
9. is someone who legislates mentioned by name?
10. who?
Answer:
1. statutory minimum wage
2. Hong Kong
3. yes
4. two to three days
5. yes
6. Yes
7. Man Hon Poon
8. Policy researcher at the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Union
9. yes
10. Legislator Tommy Cheung