Q: Syria's prime minister defected Monday, becoming the latest among high-profile politicians and leaders to leave the embattled regime of Bashar al-Assad.

"I announce today my defection from the killing and terrorist regime and I announce that I have joined the ranks of the freedom and dignity revolution. I announce that I am from today a soldier in this blessed revolution," Riyad Hijab said in a written statement read by a Syrian opposition official on Al Jazeera.

CNN Inside Syria

Analysts described Hijab's departure as a significant symbolic blow for al-Assad's government but noted that the former prime minister had been on the job for only a few months.

Al-Assad appointed Hijab prime minister in June, a month after parliamentary elections that were boycotted by supporters of those seeking to oust al-Assad.

"In short, this isn't going to bring a lot of insight into what Assad is thinking or doing. It is certainly embarrassing and does some damage to regime," said David Hartwell, a senior analyst of Islamic Affairs at Jane's. "But all indications are that Hijab was probably kept in the dark. This wasn't a man who had Assad's ear. Assad appointed him just a few months ago. He was essentially just another Cabinet member without much power at all."

Hijab was tasked with creating a new Cabinet for al-Assad's regime.

Opposition leaders said Hijab had defected, while Syrian state television said al-Assad dismissed Hijab from his post Monday.

Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi said officials hadn't "heard anything from the former prime minister," according to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency

Answer the following questions:
1. Who resigned?
2. What role did he leave?
3. How long had he held that position?
4. Was his election peaceful?
5. Were the previous elections peaceful?
6. Who boycotted?
7. How long after this was Hijab appointed?
8. Was his role a crucial one?
9. Who described the resignation "embarrassing?"
10. What job does he hold?
11. Who claimed that Hijab defected?
12. What job does Omran al-Zoubi hold?
13. Does he claim that Hijab contacted him regarding the resignation?
14. How did Hijab describe the regime he was leaving?
15. What role does he wish to take in the revolution?
16. How does he describe this revolution?
17. Does he see himself as fighting for freedom and dignity?
18. What was one of his tasks while still in his former position?
19. For whom?
20. Did he complete it?
A: 1. Hijab
2. prime minister
3. since June,
4. he was appointed
5. no
6. supporters of those seeking to oust al-Assad
7. a month
8. no
9. David Hartwell
10. a senior analyst
11. Opposition leaders
12. Information Minister
13. no
14. as a killing and terrorist regime
15. soldier
16. asblessed
17. yes
18. creating a new Cabinet
19. al-Assad's regime
20. unknown
Q: Imagine you are in a jumping contest. Animals and insects can also enter this contest. But they might just leave humans in the dust!

The first event is the long jump. The human athlete is Mike Powell. In 1991, he jumped nearly 30 feet, which is the world record for the long jump. That is about five times his own height.

His competitor in the long-jump contest is a frog named "Rosie the Ribbiter." Rosie set the world record for frogs in 1986 by jumping more than 21 feet. Her record has never been broken by any other frog. Compared to Mike Powell, Rosie's jump is not that amazing. But wait! Rosie is only about 10 inches long when her legs are stretched to their full length. She can jump more than 25 times her size. Rosie, the frog, wins the long-jump event.

The next event is the high jump. Javier Sotomayor, the world record holder, can jump a bar 8 feet high. That is about as high as the ceiling in most homes.

Looking around for someone to challenge his record, Javier might need a magnifying glass . The next _ is a tiny insect called the spittlebug .

The spittlebug can jump 28 inches into the air. It is only a quarter-inch long, less than the width of a pencil. If the spittlebug were the same size as Javier, it would be able to jump 600 feet into the air. That is like a human jumping over a building 55 stories high!

Though the humans lose the "jumping contest," their competitors would probably agree that Mike and Javier are still pretty excellent athletes. If only Rosie and the spittlebug could speak!

Answer the following questions:
1. How high can the spittlebug jump?
2. What hyptothetical scenario is the author asking you to envision?
3. Which person is the best long-jumper?
4. What is the distance that he jumped?
5. And which person is the best high-jumper?
6. And what was his best high-jump?
7. Is that better than the high-jump of the bug?
8. Were there similar results with the frog's long-jump?
9. How far was that long-jump?
10. And when did it happen?
A: 1. 28 inches
2. Animals and insects can enter a contest.next to human and they may be better at it
3. Mike Powell
4. 30 feet,
5. Javier Sotomayor
6. 8 feet high
7. Not if you take into account the size of the bug
8. yes
9. 21 feet.
10. 1986
Q: CHAPTER XV

SOMETHING OF A MYSTERY

"Dan Baxter!"

The cry came simultaneously from several of the crowd.

"I think Dick is right," said Songbird. "I thought it must be Dan, but I wasn't sure, for I didn't expect to see him here."

"He and that Sack Todd must have become friends," put in Tom. "I would like to know what Dan is doing out here."

"He is certainly up to no good," answered Dick. "I must say this adds to the mystery, doesn't it, boys?"

"That's what it does," chimed in Sam. "I wish we could catch Baxter and bring him to justice."

"Or reform him," came from Dick.

"Reform him, Dick!" cried Tom. "That would be mighty uphill work."

"It isn't in him," added Fred. "He is tee-totally bad."

"I used to think that of Dan's father, but Arnold Baxter has reformed--and he wants his son to do likewise."

"Well, that isn't here or there," said Tom after a pause. "What are we to do just now?"

"Let us push on to town first," answered Songbird. "After that, we can rearrange our plans if we wish."

This was considered good advice, and once again they urged their steeds along. Coming to a high point in the trail, they made out Caville a mile distant, and rode into the town about noon.

It was not much of a place, and the single hotel afforded only the slimmest of accommodations. But they had to be satisfied, and so made the best of it.

Answer the following questions:
1. Who was everyone surprised to see?
2. Who was first to recognize him?
3. Is everyone happy to see him?
4. What do they think he is doing there?
5. Who do they suspect is buddies with him?
6. Do they know what Dan's purpose there is?
7. Was Songbird sure that it was Dan when he first saw him?
8. What does Dick want to do with Dan?
9. What does Sam want to do?
10. Who does Tom agree with?
11. What about Fred?
12. Why does Fred think he can't be reformed?
13. Who is Arnold?
14. Was he bad person at one point?
15. Has he given up on Dan?
A:
1. Dan Baxter
2. Dick
3. No
4. up to no good
5. Sack Todd
6. no
7. wasn't sure
8. reform him
9. bring him to justice."
10. Sam
11. Sam
12. He is tee-totally bad
13. Dan's father,
14. Yes he has reformed
15. he wants his son to do likewise."