Question: Of all the speeches at the Democratic convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, few offended conservative listeners more than the speech by Sandra Fluke.

There are plenty of good reasons to be annoyed. From the conservative point of view, Fluke is on the wrong side of a battle over religious freedom. Back in March, she testified in favor of a proposed Obama administration rule that would require Catholic institutions, like her own Georgetown University law school, to reject the teaching of their church and cover contraception in their university health plans -- plans not funded by taxpayers, by the way, but by tuition and other university revenues.

Now here Fluke was again, on the national stage, warning that a vote for the Republican ticket in 2012 was a vote for "an America in which you have a new vice president who co-sponsored a bill that would allow pregnant women to die preventable deaths in our emergency rooms. An America in which states humiliate women by forcing us to endure invasive ultrasounds we don't want and our doctors say we don't need.

"An America in which access to birth control is controlled by people who will never use it; in which politicians redefine rape so survivors are victimized all over again; in which someone decides which domestic violence victims deserve help, and which don't."

Shortly before Fluke spoke, conservative commentator Ann Coulter had tweeted: "Bill Clinton just impregnated Sandra Fluke backstage."

That was nothing compared with the outpouring of fury during and after the speech. 1. Where was the Democratic convention located?
2. Which city?
3. Were there any offensive speeches given?
4. Did one offend conservative participants?
5. By whom?
6. Does she recommend voting Republican in 2012?
7. What type of stage did she say this?
8. Did any commentators comment before she spoke?
9. How long before?
10. Who was it?
11. Is she liberal?
12. What is her orientation?
13. Which social media platform did she use?
14. Did she reference a former president in her comment?
15. Which one?
16. Has Fluke ever testified?
17. When?
18. Was she opposed to the rule?
19. Where did she go to college?
20. What did she study? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. North Carolina
2. Charlotte
3. Yes
4. Yes
5. Sandra Fluke.
6. No
7. National
8. Yes
9. Shortly
10. Ann Coulter
11. No
12. Conservative
13. Twitter
14. Yes
15. Clinton
16. Yes
17. March
18. No
19. Georgetown University
20. Law

Question: One school night this month I walked quietly up to Alexander, my 15-year-old son, and touched his cheek gently in a manner I hoped would seem casual.A year ago he would have ignored this disturbance but now he reacted impatiently and leaned back to his computer screen.

I made a mistake: breaking into my teenager's personal space. "The average teenager has pretty strong feelings about his privacy," Lara Fox and her friend Hilary Frankel told me. Mr.Frankel and Mr.Fox, both 17, are the authors of Breaking the Code, a new book that seeks to bridge the generational divide between parents and adolescents.It is being promoted by its publisher as the first self-help guide by teenagers for their parents, a kind of "Kids Are From Mars, Parents Are From Venus" that explains the language and actions of teenagers.The girls dealt with issues including hanging out late, money, school pressures, smoking etc.

Personally, I welcome their opinions.The most common missteps in interacting with teenagers arise from the war between parents exercising their rights to know what goes on under their roof and teenagers firmly guarding their privacy.Teenagers can be quick to interpret their parents' remarks and respond with anger that masks their vulnerability . Ms Fox said, "What we want above all is your approval.Don't forget, no matter how much we act as if we don't care what you say, we believe the things you say about us."

Nancy, a New York child-raising expert said she didn't agree with everything the authors suggested but found their arguments reasonable."When your kids are saying, ' _ ' there are lots of ways to respond so that they will listen and that is what the writers point out."

" My parents helped me see that, " Mr.Fox told me, " even though they used to stay out late and ride their bicycles to school, times have changed and the way parents educate children is different.These days there is a major fear factor in bringing up kids.Parents worry about their child crossing the street." The writers said they hoped simply to throw light on teenage thinking. 1. What's the son's name?
2. How old is he?
3. Did he respond to his face being touched?
4. How did he react?
5. Do teens care much about their privacy?
6. According to who?
7. And who else?
8. Who are they?
9. What did they write?
10. Are they older ladies?
11. How old are they?
12. What's the book like?
13. What's it about?
14. For who?
15. Is it helpful for them?
16. How so?
17. Does it tackle tough things?
18. Like what?
19. Do teens get mad at their mom and dad's words?
20. Where's Nancy from? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. Alexander.
2. 15.
3. Yes.
4. Impatiently.
5. Yes.
6. Lara Fox.
7. Hilary Frankel.
8. Authors.
9. Breaking the Code.
10. No.
11. Seventeen.
12. "Kids Are From Mars, Parents Are From Venus
13. Self-help guide.
14. Parents.
15. Yes.
16. Explains teenagers.
17. Yes.
18. Smoking.
19. Yes.
20. New York.

Question: CHAPTER II

NEWCOMERS AT THE ACADEMY

"Dan Baxter has escaped!" repeated Dick. "That is news indeed. Does your father give my particulars?"

"He says it is reported that the jailer was sick and unable to stop Dan."

"Humph! Then they must have had some sort of a row," put in Tom. "Well, it does beat the nation how the Baxters do it. Don't you remember how Arnold Baxter escaped from the hospital authorities last year?"

"Those Baxters are as slick as you can make them," said Frank. "I've been thinking if Dan would dare to show himself around Putnam Hall."

"Not he!" cried Larry. "He'll travel as far can and as fast as he can."

"Perhaps not," mused Dick. "I rather he will hang around and try to help his father out of prison."

"That won't help him, for the authorities will be on strict guard now. You know the stable door is always locked after the horse is stolen."

At this there was a general laugh, and when it ended a loud roll of a drum made the young cadets hurry to the front of the parade ground.

"Fall in, Companies A and B!" came the command from the major of the battalion, and the boys fell in. Dick was now a first lieutenant, while Tom and Sam were first and second sergeants respectively.

As soon as the companies were formed they were marched around the Hall and to the messroom. Here they were kept standing in a long fine while George Strong came to the front with half a dozen new pupils. 1. Did someone flee?
2. Who was that?
3. Who was the informant?
4. Did the warden try to stop?
5. What was Frank's impression of the escapee?
6. Why Dan would try to be around?
7. Is his father also imprisoned?
8. Did they think he will attempt to release him?
9. Did they think the bosses will be alert?
10. Were they amused about the situation?
11. What is Dicks rank now?
12. What about other two?
13. How many military companies are there?
14. Do they have any designation?
15. What are their companies called?
16. Who would be ahead of them?
17. Are they doing any drills?
18. Then where are they?
19. Are they just stationed there?
20. What are they doing then? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. yes
2. Dan Baxter
3. Dick.
4. yes
5. unknown
6. He'll travel as far can and as fast as he can."
7. yes
8. no
9. yes
10. yes
11. Dick was now a first lieutenant
12. first and second sergeants
13. Two
14. cadets
15. A and B
16. Dick, Tom, and Sam
17. no
18. Hall and to the messroom
19. no
20. a parade