TASK DEFINITION: In this task, you will be presented with a passage and have to answer a question based on your understanding of the events inferred from the passage. Among the entities, try to find the best entity that is most likely to fill in "_" and classify the answers based on options.
PROBLEM: Washington (CNN) -- Just two months after the brinksmanship of the "fiscal cliff," on Friday Washington faced yet another deadline to avoid yet another fiscal calamity of its own making. But this time, something is different. As congressional leaders met in the White House on Friday for what was little more than a photo-op on the day forced budget cuts went into effect, this time there are no 11th-hour negotiations to save the day. There is no last-minute effort to call in Vice President Joe Biden on behalf of Democrats or Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on behalf of Republicans to get things back on track.Washington faced yet another fiscal deadline -- this time with no real effort to negotiateCouples therapist: Democrats, Republicans lost sight of big picture, are just arguing to winCouples mediator: Disagreements should be used to find solutions 
 Questions:"And that's exactly what they're doing -- the Democrats and the _ are doing with each other. (A) Washington (B) CNN (C) White House (D) Joe Biden (E) Democrats (F) Senate (G) Mitch McConnell (H) Republicans

SOLUTION: (H)

PROBLEM: (CNN) France's defeated political establishment has begun to rally against far-right leader Marine Le Pen as she goes head-to-head against political novice Emmanuel Macron in the final race for the French presidency. As Le Pen continued to celebrate the highest-ever voting tally for her National Front party, French President François Hollande joined candidates knocked out in the first round in endorsing Macron, who ended his insurgent campaign with a result that confounded expectations. Macron, a pro-European centrist, took first place with 24.01% of the first round voting, while the anti-immigrant, anti-EU Le Pen came second on 21.30%, according to final results released Monday by the French Interior Ministry.Le Pen taking leave of absence as National Front leaderFrench President Hollande says he will vote for Macron 
 Questions:The French stock markets rose on Monday morning, and the euro jumped to its highest level since November against the dollar as investors bet against the chances of _ winning. (A) CNN (B) France (C) Marine (D) Le Pen (E) Emmanuel Macron (F) French (G) National Front (H) François Hollande (I) Macron (J) European (K) Interior Ministry (L) Hollande

SOLUTION: (D)

PROBLEM: Crippling cuts to defence spending have left Britain unable to defend itself or stand up to Russia, according to the former head of the Army. General Sir Peter Wall said the 'consequences' of the squeeze on funding is now 'playing out' in the UK's approach to dealing with Vladimir Putin. He joins a growing chorus of criticism of the refusal by any of the main parties to protect defence spending from cuts after the election, despite a pledge to increase foreign aid budgets being enshrined in law. General Sir Peter Wall said the 'consequences' of the squeeze on funding is now 'playing out' in the UK's approach to dealing with Vladimir PutinSir Peter Wall says consequences of budget cuts are now 'playing out'UK is reluctant to face up to Russia incursions into airspace and watersJoins chorus of criticism of the impact of spending cuts on the militaryCameron under pressure to commit 2% of GDP to defence under UN target 
 Questions:Up to 30,000 service personnel could go - with the _ likely to bear the heaviest cuts - leaving the armed forces with a combined strength of just 115,000 by the end of the decade, it predicted. (A) Britain (B) Russia (C) Army (D) Peter Wall (E) UK (F) Vladimir Putin (G) Cameron (H) UN

SOLUTION:
(C)

