Question: Homer ( , "Hómēros") is the name ascribed by the ancient Greeks to the legendary author of the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey", two epic poems which are the central works of ancient Greek literature. The "Iliad" is set during the Trojan War, the ten-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Greek states. It focuses on a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles lasting a few weeks during the last year of the war. The "Odyssey" focuses on the journey home of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, after the fall of Troy. 

Many accounts of Homer's life circulated in classical antiquity, the most widespread being that he was a blind bard from Ionia, a region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey. Modern scholars consider them legends. 

The Homeric Question—by whom, when, where and under what circumstances were the "Iliad" and "Odyssey" composed—continues to be debated. Broadly speaking, modern scholarly opinion falls into two groups. One holds that most of the "Iliad" and (according to some) the "Odyssey" are the works of a single poet of genius. The other considers the Homeric poems to be the result of a process of working and re-working by many contributors, and that "Homer" is best seen as a label for an entire tradition. It is generally accepted that the poems were composed at some point around the late 8th or early 7th century BC. The poems are in Homeric Greek, also known as Epic Greek, a literary language which shows a mixture of features of the Ionic and Aeolic dialects from different centuries; the predominant influence is Eastern Ionic. Most researchers believe that the poems were originally transmitted orally. 1. Can you name one of Homer's poems?
2. Can you name another?
3. Who is the main character in the Odyssey?
4. Was he a king?
5. Of which place?
6. After which event did the Odyssey take place?
7. How long did the Trojan war last?
8. Was Troy a state?
9. What was it?
10. Name one of the main characters in the Iliad?
11. Can you name another?
12. What is the "Homeric Question"?
13. Has it been settled?
14. Where was Homer from?
15. What modern country is that part of?
16. Was he blind?
17. On the Homeric Question, how many sides are there?
18. Does one side think there was only one author of the Iliad?
19. What language are Homer's poem written in?
20. Around when were they put together? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. Odyssey
2. Iliad
3. Odysseus
4. YES
5. Ithaca
6. the fall of Troy
7. ten years
8. no
9. city
10. King Agamemnon
11. Achilles
12. by whom, when, where and under what circumstances were the "Iliad" and "Odyssey" composed
13. no
14. Ionia
15. Turkey
16. yes
17. two
18. yes
19. Homeric Greek
20. late 8th or early 7th century BC


Question: (CNN) -- The 2009 snooker world champion John Higgins has said his "conscience is clear" following allegations of match fixing. 

British newspaper The News of the World claimed the 34-year-old accepted a $398,000 bribe to throw frames in future matches during a meeting with undercover reporters in Kiev, Ukraine. 

However, in a statement read out on the BBC, the Scotsman denied ever intentionally losing a match or taking a bribe at any point in his career. 

"My conscience is 100 percent clear," said Higgins. 

"I have never been involved in any form of snooker match fixing ... I have never deliberately missed a shot, never mind intentionally lost a frame or a match." 

Snooker's governing body -- The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) -- announced through an official statement that Higgins had been suspended from future tournaments pending an investigation. 

The same statement confirmed his manager, Pat Mooney, resigned from his position on the board of the WPBSA after he was alleged to have been at the meeting with Higgins in Kiev. 

The three-time world champion claimed clearing his name will be the biggest challenge of his career and he will assist snooker authorities with the forthcoming investigation. 

"Today is the start of the biggest match of my life. I will co-operate fully with the snooker authorities. I have built my reputation on honesty and integrity." 

Higgins is one of the most successful snooker players in history and has won game's top prize on three occasions, taking last year's championship in addition to previous triumphs in 1998 and 2007.  1. Who is John Higgins
2. What were the allegations
3. What  is one British newspaper
4. How old is John
5. What was the amount of the bribe
6. What was the meeting with
7. Where
8. What nationality is John
9. What did he deny
10. What is his conscience
11. How much is it clear
12. What is WPBSA
13. Did Pat Mooney resign
14. From what?
15. Who is John's manager Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. The 2009 snooker world champion
2. match fixing
3. The News of the World
4. 34
5. $398,000
6. reporters
7. Kiev
8. Scottish
9. intentionally losing
10. clear
11. 100%
12. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
13. yes
14. WPBSA board
15. Pat Mooney


Question: (CNN) -- For all the headaches on the campaign trail, you would not think a candidate would be hounded by his own dog. 

That, however, has been the relentless fate of Republican contender Mitt Romney. A trip to Canada 30 years ago with the family pooch in a car top carrier, has been the gift that just keeps giving to Democrats. They've lampooned him as cruel at worst, foolish at best, with bumper stickers and T-shirts that say "Dogs aren't luggage!" and "Mitt is Mean!" 

Republicans have counterattacked by pointing out that President Obama wrote in his own book about eating dog as a child, helping the dog fight become a theme at this year's White House Correspondents Association dinner. 

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel nipped at both of them. "If Mitt Romney offers you a ride, call shotgun. And if President Obama starts buttering you, run!" 

It would be easy to dismiss all of this as political silliness were it not for one troubling fact: Sometimes the way a president connects with critters can affect the way voters relate to him. 

"Presidents and their pets have a long and storied history," says Garrett Graff, a goldfish owner and editor-in-chief at Washingtonian magazine. His theory about why voters take such an interest in such matters: "Most of us don't 'get' Middle East oil politics, and the rise and fall of the G.D.P., but we can 'get' if you connect with a dog or you connect with a cat." 

First a little history. Ever since George Washington took office with horses and hounds in tow, presidents have welcomed animals into their lives. A lot of animals.  1. How long ago did someone go on a trip?
2. Where did they go?
3. What is this story about?
4. Did he have a pet?
5. What kind?
6. Why were people mad at him?
7. What did they say?
8. Are any other presidents mentioned?
9. Which is one?
10. Did he have a pet?
11. Did he eat a cat?
12. What did he eat?
13. Who made fun of them?
14. Did anybody else?
15. What did he say about Mitt?
16. And the other?
17. Which editor is mentioned? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. 30 years ago
2. Canada
3. Mitt Romney
4. yes
5. dog
6. the family pooch was in a car top carrier
7. unknown
8. yes
9. President Obama
10. no
11. no
12. dog
13. Democrats
14. Jimmy Kimmel
15. If Mitt Romney offers you a ride, call shotgun
16. And if President Obama starts buttering you, run!
17. Garrett Graff