Problem: The War of 1812 (18121815) was a conflict fought between the United States, the United Kingdom, and their respective allies. Historians in Britain often see it as a minor theater of the Napoleonic Wars; in the United States and Canada, it is seen as a war in its own right. 

Since the outbreak of war with Napoleonic France, Britain had enforced a naval blockade to choke off neutral trade to France, which the United States contested as illegal under international law. To man the blockade, Britain impressed American merchant sailors into the Royal Navy. Incidents such as the "Chesapeake–Leopard" Affair inflamed anti-British sentiment. In 1811, the British were in turn outraged by the "Little Belt" Affair, in which 11 British sailors died. British political support for a Native American buffer state, which conducted raids on American settlers on the frontier, hindered American expansion. On June 18, 1812, President James Madison, after receiving heavy pressure from the War Hawks in Congress, signed the American declaration of war into law. Senior figures such as Lord Liverpool and Lord Castlereagh believed it to have been an opportunistic ploy to annex Canada while Britain was fighting a war with France. The view was shared in much of New England.
1. Who signed a declaration for America?
2. When did he do it?
3. What specific declaration was it?
4. Which war did this begin?
5. Who was it between?
6. Did the Brits view it as part of a larger engagement?
7. Which one?
8. What other country was a major player in that conflict?
9. Which country had a naval blockade imposed on them?
10. Did the US believe this was legal?
11. What did the Brits do to keep the blockade running?
12. How long did the American war last?
13. Did people believe this conflict was an attempt to add more territory to the US?
14. Which people in particular?
15. Was this opinion common in much of the South?
Answer: 1. James Madison
2. 1812
3. American declaration of war
4. The War of 1812
5. he United States, the United Kingdom, and their respective allies
6. Yes
7. the Napoleonic Wars
8. Canada
9. France
10. No
11. impressed American merchant sailors into the Royal Navy
12. 3 years
13. Yes
14. Senior figures such as Lord Liverpool and Lord Castlereagh
15. No

Problem: (CNN)It was in a New York cab. That's when Grammy Award-winning signer Angelique Kidjo realized the extent that "fear-bola" had spread. 

"The driver just asked, 'where are you from?' Of course I have an accent, and I'm not going to hide the fact that I'm from West Africa. Then he said, 'Ebola', and I said, 'do I LOOK like I have Ebola?'" 

Later, when announcing her recently wrapped up Carnegie Hall tribute to South African singer Miriam Makeba, aka, Mama Africa, the trolls came out again. 

"It should be Mama Ebola," one wrote, and "I wonder if she is bringing any Ebloa (sic) with her?" chimed in another. 

"Until that point, I felt the hysteria of it, but I kept saying to myself, 'it's just the media.' Then it comes to you direct." 

Overall, she's not been impressed with how the Western media has covered the epidemic. In her opinion, the current coverage represents a tragically lost opportunity. 

"I thought Ebola would bring greater journalism, that they'd write about the need for great nurses and great doctors, or how every human being on this planet has the right to a good healthcare system," she confesses. Clearly, she's been disappointed. 

"I hoped they'd show the beauty of the people. But it's much more dramatic and more entertaining to show us dying." 

In typical Kidjo fashion, she channeled her outrage into advocacy, and penned a New York Times op-ed. That is how the Benin-born singer-songwriter operates. When something makes her angry, she speaks out. 
1. Who was the singer who realized how scared people are of ebola?
2. The Singer who figured it out in a taxi?
3. What did the taxi driver ask her?
4. Why?
5. What was he concerned about?
6. What isMiriam Makeba's alias?
7. What did one mean person say it should be?
8. Does she think the media has does a good job covering the outbreak?
9. What does she think they should be reporting?
10. What did they report instead?
11. What did she do in response?
Answer: 1. Miriam Makeba
2. Angelique Kidjo
3. 'where are you from?'
4. because she had an accent
5. Ebola
6. Mama Africa
7. Mama Ebola
8. no
9. about the need for great nurses and doctors
10. people dying
11. penned a New York Times op-ed

Problem: They hugged at the Rafah border crossing. Cheered in Gaza City. And in Mitzpe Hila, Israel, they gave a hero's welcome for the young soldier who last saw his hometown five years ago. 

The release of Israeli soldier Gildad Shalit in exchange for the eventual release of 1,027 Palestinians held by Israel unleashed a powerful wave of celebration among Palestinians and Israelis alike. 

It also raised the ire of some Israelis, who worry the deal would lead to more violence. 

In Mitzpe Hila, onlookers waved Israeli flags, danced, cheered and tossed white roses at a convoy carrying the young soldier home. He emerged from a white van and briefly acknowledged the crowd with a wave before uniformed officers hustled him away, apparently into his parents' home. 

At the Rafah crossing from Egypt to Gaza, masked Hamas gunmen accompanied buses filled with released prisoners to a terminal where they met with friends and relatives for emotional reunions before a mass celebration and parade in Gaza City. 

Some of them chanted, "We want another Shalit," CNN's Matthew Chance reported. 

Crowds of Palestinians flooded the streets of Gaza, waving flags and banners to welcome the released prisoners home. They pressed up to buses carrying the prisoners to a rally in Gaza City, reaching out to touch the newly freed as they leaned out windows. People shouted, "With our blood and with our hearts we sacrifice for you prisoners." 

Ahmed Qawasmi was awaiting the release of his son Amer, who was arrested when he was 17 and had been in prison 24 years. 
1. What did onlookers toss at the convoy?
2. What were they waving?
3. Who was it carrying?
4. To where?
5. What is Gildad's profession?
6. Where did he receive a hero's welcome?
7. Was he cheered anywhere?
8. Where?
9. How long has it been since he's last seen his hometown?
10. Is he an old man or younger?
11. How many people were exchanged for his release?
12. What nationality were they?
13. Was everyone in Israel happy?
14. What were some Israelis worried the deal would lead to?
15. Who were wearing masks?
16. Where is the Rafah crossing?
17. What did the gunman go along with?
18. What did some people chant?
19. Who reported that?
20. How long had Ahmed Qawasmi waited for the release of his son?
Answer:
1. white roses
2. Israeli flags
3. r Gildad Shalit
4. home.
5. Israeli soldier
6. Mitzpe Hila, Israel
7. yes
8. in Gaza City.
9. five years ago.
10. young
11. 1,027
12. Palestinians
13. no
14. more violence.
15. Hamas gunmen
16. from Egypt to Gaza
17. buses filled with released prisoners
18. "We want another Shalit,"
19. Matthew Chance
20. 24 years.