Question: From 1989 through 1996, the total area of the US was listed as 9,372,610 km2 (3,618,780 sq mi) (land + inland water only). The listed total area changed to 9,629,091 km2 (3,717,813 sq mi) in 1997 (Great Lakes area and coastal waters added), to 9,631,418 km2 (3,718,711 sq mi) in 2004, to 9,631,420 km2 (3,718,710 sq mi) in 2006, and to 9,826,630 km2 (3,794,080 sq mi) in 2007 (territorial waters added). Currently, the CIA World Factbook gives 9,826,675 km2 (3,794,100 sq mi), the United Nations Statistics Division gives 9,629,091 km2 (3,717,813 sq mi), and the Encyclopdia Britannica gives 9,522,055 km2 (3,676,486 sq mi)(Great Lakes area included but not coastal waters). These source consider only the 50 states and the Federal District, and exclude overseas territories.

By total area (water as well as land), the United States is either slightly larger or smaller than the People's Republic of China, making it the world's third or fourth largest country. China and the United States are smaller than Russia and Canada in total area, but are larger than Brazil. By land area only (exclusive of waters), the United States is the world's third largest country, after Russia and China, with Canada in fourth. Whether the US or China is the third largest country by total area depends on two factors: (1) The validity of China's claim on Aksai Chin and Trans-Karakoram Tract. Both these territories are also claimed by India, so are not counted; and (2) How US calculates its own surface area. Since the initial publishing of the World Factbook, the CIA has updated the total area of United States a number of times. 1. Is the US larger than China?
2. Is it larger than Russia?
3. How does the US rank in size with land only?
4. Who is larger than US?
5. What was the US total area listed as in 1992?
6. what areas did that include?
7. what did the area change to when they added the Great Lakes and Coastal water?
8. when was that?
9. What did they add later on?
10. when?
11. what did that bring the total area to?
12. Which source currently lists the US area the largest amount?
13. what does it list?
14. which source lists the smallest area?
15. what is it?
16. are there any other sources?
17. how much does it list?
18. which source includes the overseas territories?
19. how many areas' claim is disputed?
20. what are they?
21. which 2 areas are disputed by 2 nations claiming them?
22. which 2 nations disagree on claim? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. Maybe according to how it is measured
2. No
3. third largest country
4. Russia and China
5. 9,372,610 km2
6. land + inland water only
7. 9,629,091 km2
8. 1997
9. territorial waters
10. 2007
11. 9,826,630 km2
12. CIA World Factbook
13. 9,826,675 km2
14. Encyclopdia Britannica
15. 9,522,055 km2
16. United Nations Statistics Division
17. 9,629,091 km2
18. None
19. Two
20. China's territory claim and how the US calculates its own surface area.
21. Aksai Chin and Trans-Karakoram Tract
22. China and India

Question: (CNN) -- It is not easy to capture a man's life in 152 minutes, let alone a life as illustrious and complex as Nelson Mandela's. For London-born actor Idris Elba, who played the South African leader in the 2013 biopic "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom," the task was sure to feel Herculean.

"I could never really articulate what it felt like to play Mandela properly in an interview," he admits in a phone conversation with CNN.

Though the actor is British, and physically bears little resemblance to the late South African leader, Elba recalls the unexpectedly warm reception he received, particularly from extras on set -- many of whom were locals who lived through the apartheid era.

"South Africa is very embracing. Even though I'm not from South Africa and was about to play Mandela, they still gave me a lot of love," he says. By the end of filming, many were even calling him "Madiba."

The experience, life-changing in many ways, was bound to feel odd. For Elba, the best way to capture not just the man but the feeling of playing him on film, was through music.

Next week will see the release of "Mi Mandela," a tribute to Mandela made up of songs written and produced by Elba himself, and performed by a mixture of South African and British talent, including Mumford & Sons, the Mahotella Queens and Maverick Sabre.

"There were various sensations I experienced (playing Mandela), and I could never give an answer I was satisfied with. I think this album represents that answer. It allows me to express the feelings of playing him," says Elba. 1. what is released next week?
2. how long is it?
3. what sort of life did Mandela have?
4. who played him?
5. what year?
6. in what film?
7. how was he talking to cnn?
8. where is Elba from?
9. and does he look like Mandela?
10. what type of reaction did he get?
11. from anyone in particular?
12. where were they from?
13. what had they endured?
14. who has written and produced the songs on Mi mandela?
15. Only british singers/performers?
16. where else?
17. name a couple of artists
18. what does the albumn represnt?
19. by the end of filmin what was he being called?
20. What did Elba say SOuth Africa have given hi,? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. "Mi Mandela"
2. 152 minutes
3. illustrious and complex
4. Idris Elba
5. 2013
6. "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom"
7. by phone
8. London
9. no
10. unexpectedly warm reception
11. from extras on set
12. locals
13. the apartheid era
14. Elba
15. no
16. South African
17. Mumford & Sons, the Mahotella Queens and Maverick Sabre
18. how Elba felt playing Mandela
19. "Madiba
20. a lot of love