“What In The World? Weekly Quiz” – Apr 20-26, 2020

Give to support global affairs awareness programs in the community and in your schools. 

Don’t forget to sign up as a World Affairs Council member (TNWAC.org/join) to be eligible to win the monthly quiz prize.

by Michael T. Klare

[Michael Klare is the “Cover to Cover” Teleconference guest for May 14, 2020 — You’re invited to the conversation — Register Here]

All Hell Breaking Loose is an eye-opening examination of climate change from the perspective of the U.S. military.

The Pentagon, unsentimental and politically conservative, might not seem likely to be worried about climate change—still linked, for many people, with polar bears and coral reefs. Yet of all the major institutions in American society, none take climate change as seriously as the U.S. military. Both as participants in climate-triggered conflicts abroad, and as first responders to hurricanes and other disasters on American soil, the armed services are already confronting the impacts of global warming. The military now regards climate change as one of the top threats to American national security—and is busy developing strategies to cope with it.

Drawing on previously obscure reports and government documents, renowned security expert Michael Klare shows that the U.S. military sees the climate threat as imperiling the country on several fronts at once. Droughts and food shortages are stoking conflicts in ethnically divided nations, with “climate refugees” producing worldwide havoc. Pandemics and other humanitarian disasters will increasingly require extensive military involvement. The melting Arctic is creating new seaways to defend. And rising seas threaten American cities and military bases themselves.

While others still debate the causes of global warming, the Pentagon is intensely focused on its effects. Its response makes it clear that where it counts, the immense impact of climate change is not in doubt.

1. Pope Francis said Easter Sunday mass in a virtually empty St. Peter’s Basilica addressing the faithful by live-streamed broadcasts in “a world already faced with epochal challenges and now oppressed by a pandemic severely testing our whole human family,” saying, “this is an Easter of solitude lived amid the sorrow and hardship that the pandemic is causing, from physical suffering to economic difficulties.” What is the home country of Pope Francis?

A. Italy
B. Poland
C. Argentina
D. France

Correct Response: C. Argentina
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/world/europe/pope-easter-mass-coronavirus.html

2. The Covid-19 pandemic afflicting India’s 1.35 billion people has led to increased demonization of THIS GROUP, which numbers 200 million. Some government officials have referred to them as “human bombs” and some young men from this group have been attacked and called “virus spreaders.”

A. Rohingya
B. Muslims
C. Chinese
D. Pakistanis

Correct Response: B. Muslims
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/world/asia/india-coronavirus-muslims-bigotry.html

3. The national intelligence agency of Israel, known as THIS NAME, reportedly had an important role in the country’s battle against Covid-19 by acquiring medical materials – PPE, testing kits and ventilators – that the Health Ministry was have difficulty obtaining.

A. MI-6
B. Shin Bet
C. Mossad
D. MoD

Correct Response: C. Mossad
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/12/world/middleeast/coronavirus-israel-mossad.html

4. In recent days cities in China that were locked down in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic have begun to open up. However, authorities are seeing a resurgence of the virus traced to incoming foreigners with over half reported to come from this THIS NEARBY NATION.

A. Thailand
B. Russia
C. Vietnam
D. Kazakhstan

Correct Response: B. Russia
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china/russian-border-becomes-chinas-frontline-in-fight-against-second-virus-wave-idUSKCN21V06R

5. Dams along THIS RIVER in China reportedly held back water from downstream Southeast Asian nations during a damaging drought season even though there were higher-than-average water levels in Chinese upriver areas.

A. Yellow River
B. Mekong River
C. Yangtze River
D. Pearl River

Correct Response: B. Mekong River
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mekong-river/chinese-dams-held-back-mekong-waters-during-drought-study-finds-idUSKCN21V0U7

6. Officials in THIS COUNTRY are scrambling for explanations as to why 116 patients who were ruled to have been recovered from Covid-19 infections were subsequently found to have been reinfected.

A. Egypt
B. Brazil
C. South Korea
D. Spain

Correct Response: C. South Korea
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-southkorea/south-korea-reports-more-recovered-coronavirus-patients-testing-positive-again-idUSKCN21V0JQ

7. Indonesian health officials are warning that the anticipated exodus of millions of people to their home towns to celebrate a festival at the conclusion of THIS HOLY MONTH may accelerate Covid-19 pandemic spread.

A. Hajj
B. Eid
C. Umrah
D. Ramadan

Correct Response: D. Ramadan
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-indonesia-ramadan/indonesia-study-warns-ramadan-exodus-would-fuel-coronavirus-idUSKCN21V15W

8. The Japanese Environment Minister warned that provisions being carried out under THIS AGREEMENT could suffer if post-Covid-19 economic recovery measures that undermined climate change consideration.

A. The Helsinki Accord | UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
B. The Paris Agreement | UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
C. The Tokyo Agreement | UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
D. The Chicago Accord | UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Correct Response: B. The Paris Agreement | UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-japan/japan-minister-paris-accord-under-threat-if-coronavirus-trumps-climate-change-idUSKCN21V13T

9. Iran has emerged as a Middle East epicenter of Covid-19 pandemic spread with a death toll of over 4,500 and over 73,000 infections, the most in the region. Which of these statements is NOT TRUE regarding the Covid-19 pandemic situation in Iran?

A. Iran has rejected humanitarian aid offered by the United States Government.
B. The government in Tehran relaxed travel within provinces this weekend.
C. Iran has rejected monitoring by World Health Organization doctors.
D. Iranian officials blame Washington for sanctions that have made the virus worse.

Correct Response: C. Iran has rejected monitoring by World Health Organization doctors.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-iran/iran-records-4585-coronavirus-deaths-as-restrictions-eased-idUSKCN21V0PT

10. Global producers, the so-called “OPEC-Plus,” reached an agreement to stem the bottoming of oil prices. Which of the following is NOT TRUE regarding the agreement and the international oil markets?

A. The oil-price “crisis” was accelerated when Russia used its swing-capacity to dump extra millions of barrels of oil per day onto the market.
B. The agreement provides for a cut of about 19.5 million barrels per day from the global oil market.
C. The oil-price “crisis” was a result of inventory over-supply just as global demand crashed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
D. The talks were spurred by President Trump over concerns of damage to U.S. shale oil producers.

Correct Response: A. The oil-price “crisis” was accelerated when Russia used its swing-capacity to dump extra millions of barrels of oil per day onto the market.
B. The agreement provides for a cut of about 19.5 million
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-oil-saudi/saudi-energy-minister-says-effective-global-oil-cuts-at-more-than-19-million-bpd-idUSKCN21V1B8

---

We need and appreciate your support of 

the World Affairs Council.

---

THANKS TO BELMONT UNIVERSITY’S CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

THANKS TO THE NASHVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COUNCIL

---

THANKS TO THE TNWAC WEEKLY QUIZ PARTNERS

---

THE MISSION of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world.

THE VISION of  the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.   

---

Learn more about the Council and find how you can join, donate and volunteer at: www.TNWAC.org  — 

Join / Donate / Volunteer

Copyright 2020. Tennessee World Affairs Council
Fidelity Hall 304A, Belmont University
1900 Belmont Blvd., Nashville, TN 37212