Q: (CNN) -- The fledgling International Premier Tennis League suffered a blow when two of the world's most recognized female athletes snubbed the event.

Max Eisenbud, the agent of both Maria Sharapova and Li Na, told CNN on Thursday that neither would be appearing in the team tournament that is set to make its debut in Asia this November.

Sharapova transcends tennis and has long been a magnet for sponsors -- the Russian is perennially listed as the world's richest female athlete by Forbes -- while China's Li is one of the marquee names in Asia, having captured a second grand slam title at the Australian Open in January.

Li was "confirmed" as one of the entrants by the League in a press release last May.

"Maria and Li Na will not be participating," Eisenbud said in an email.

Mahesh Bhupathi, a grand slam doubles winner and the main man behind the project modeled after cricket's highly successful Indian Premier League, will now be hoping he can secure the likes of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

Roger Federer, the 17-time grand slam champion and still the biggest name in the sport, told Gulf News this week he generally backed the idea.

The player list is expected to be revealed Friday.

"Firstly, I want to see whether it takes off or not," Federer told Gulf News. "I know a lot of people have invested in it or are part of it. Anywhere where tennis grows is a good thing, so I hope it takes off and becomes very successful.

Answer the following questions:
1. Who are Maria and Li?
2. Who represents them?
3. What happened in May?
4. Will she be joining?
5. IS everyone else staying on?
6. Who else pulled out?
7. Who is Roger Federer?
8. Is he well known?
9. What happens at the end of the week?
10. Where is the team going?
11. When?
12. For what?
13. Has Li won any special events?
14. What?
15. Where?
16. When?
17. Is she from Australia?
18. Where then?
19. Who makes the most money?
20. Where is she from?
A: 1. female tennis players
2. Max Eisenbud
3. Li was "confirmed" as one of the entrants
4. no
5. no
6. Maria
7. 17-time grand slam champion
8. yes
9. The player list is expected to be revealed
10. Asia
11. this November.
12. the team tournament
13. yes
14. grand slam title
15. at the Australian Open
16. in January.
17. no
18. China
19. sharapova
20. Russia
Q: My mother, Marisol Torres, came with her family to Australia in the early 1960s. Then my parents' marriage ended and Mum began the study of precious stones. Her interest in opals took her to the New South Wales remote town of Lightning Ridge. There were no luxuries , but she was closer to nature and had a chance to find black opals and make some money. My mother was beautiful with dark hair and brown eyes, but she was also quiet and shy. Early in the Ridge years, she kept to herself, but later, she started going to the neighbourhood centre to make friends. It was her dream to mine, but her get-rich-quick thinking was unrealistic. She was cheated and she was never very successful. But she kept a sense of humour and a charming smile. Then, just as friendships began to blossom, she was diagnosed with cancer and had to return south for treatment. She had the intention of cooking Spanish food as special treat for her Ridge friends, but died too soon. In her honour, my aunt, Marisa, and I fulfilled her desire when we visited the Ridge in March last year. People who mine the Ridge come from a cross section of society, from lawyers to travels. Looks don't mean much: it can be hard to tell who is millionaire and who is poor. Opals attracted Sebastian and Hanna Deisenberger to Lightning Ridge. They planned a two-year stay, but became permanent residents. Then there's Neil Schellnegger, 45, who moved to the area with his parents when he was a child. He lives with his son, Luke. Luke is a shy 19-year-old boy who enjoys helping his dad. They haven't had much luck over the past couple of years, but their passion for opals conquers disappointment. They love the peaceful lifestyle. Danny Hatcher, 38, is a second-generation miner and president of the Lightning Ridge Miners' Association. He is an optimistic man, driven by the desire to find the perfect opal. "It's magic," he explains. "Once you start opal mining you don't want to do anything else... There is always the potential for finding a million dollars. Nothing beats it." It's a place where dreams --- spiritual or material --- can be fulfilled; a place, for one last bet in life.

Answer the following questions:
1. Who is the author's mom?
2. What did she study?
3. Where?
4. What gem was she looking for there?
5. Are they valuable?
6. Was she successful in her search?
7. What illness did she end up having?
8. Did she stay in Lightning Ridge?
9. What was she planning to cook?
10. Did she end up doing it?
11. Who did?
A: 1. Marisol Torres
2. precious stones
3. Lightning Ridge.
4. opals
5. unknown
6. no
7. cancer
8. no
9. Spanish food
10. no
11. her child and Marisa
Q: Genzeb Tibeb is very bright. At only 11 years old, her future is looking promising. She is ranked 2nd Out of 56 students at her govemment school in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where she has been seleeted for a special program because of her talent. She knows she is special and proudly shows off her certificate and book signifying her accomplishments in this special program.

But her future hasn't always looked so bright. While her mother, Bekelech, sacrificed immensely for Genzeb, she would not have been able to continue sending her to school. When her husband died, Bekelech was the sole provider for their five children. In order for them to survive, she began the daily routine of walking approximately 8-10 miles a day collecting sticks to sell near her 8' x 10' home in Kichene. It wouldn't have been long before Genzeb would have been, forced to quit school in order to help her mom. But Bright Future changed all that.

Genzeb has been at Bright Future for 3 years. Since Ethiopian schools let out early, Genzeb walks to the facility right after lunch. Because of her high ability, she even helps teach the younger children there, building confidence and locking in important foundational academic skills. There's also other meaningful opportunities Genzeb experiences which allow her eyes to be opened to the different opportunities that are available to her if she completes her studies. Field trips are one of her most favorite activities of all. She especially loved the one to Addis Ababa University.

She knows it goes beyond fun trips, though. "I am happy because I get extra help for school from Bright Future," Genzeb shares. At so many levels, her involvement with Bright Future allows her to receive a better education, which she values. For one day she wants to help people in need by becoming a doctor. And now she knows, that with a lot of hard work, that dream might just become a reality.

Answer the following questions:
1. How old is Genzeb Tibeb?
2. Where is the location of her school?
3. How many children are in her family?
4. Why has she been selected for a special program?
5. What does Genzeb want to do when she grows up?
6. What does her Mother do to make ends meet?
7. Does Genzeb help younger students by teaching them at Bright Future?
8. What Feild trip did she especially like?
9. What did Genzeb receive to signify her accomplishments?
10. How long has she been at Genzeb?
11. What did she rank in her goverment school?
12. Does she appreciate the extra help for school she gets from bright future?
A:
1. 11
2. Ethiopia
3. Five
4. because of her talent
5. unknown
6. collecting sticks to sell
7. yes
8. the one to Addis Ababa University.
9. a certificate and book
10. 3 years
11. 2nd
12. yes