1. For each of the 3 countries, give the following information:

1. capital
2. location/the countries that share its borders
3. the religious breakdown of the population
4. the type of government
5. the chief of state (and head of government if different) If monarch or dictator, since what date has he/she ruled? – include name of heir apparent for monarch
6. the population

Find the answers at the CIA World FactBook website. For each country, answers can be found under the “Geography” “People” and “Government” headings.

NOTE to students: Before answering the questions below, read the information under “Background.”

2. For ECUADOR:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) From the “Background” below the questions, “The Ecuador earthquake began deeper underground than the recent Japan quake, which would have lessened the shaking on the ground.” Why then was there more destruction in Ecuador?

3. For GREAT BRITAIN:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What is the NHS?
c) Why did the NHS introduce the self check-in system for A&E (Accident and Emergency) patients? Why isn’t it effective?
d) The Telegraph reports:
-“The trust [governement-run medical corporation is one of many] failing to hit A&E target to see 95 per cent of patients within four hours, and has failed to reach the target since November 2013. Latest figures show just 78 per cent of patients are being seen within the required period.”
AND
-“But now patients who may not be critically injured/sick have been found to be exaggerating their situation, to persuade doctors to treat them as an emergency case. Chief medical officer Kevin Phillips said: ‘People who are not that sick are entering details which make them look sicker.’”
Wait times to see a doctor for many patients is notoriously slow in Britain’s free national healthcare system. (Much longer than wait times to see a doctor in the U.S. - with the exception of our federal government-run VA - medical facilities for our veterans).
Should the patients be blamed for trying to see a doctor in a more timely fashion? OR
Shouldn’t the patients just wait their turn, since it’s "free"?
Explain your answer.
e) President Obama and many Democrats would like to implement a national healthcare system for every American ("free" healthcare). The problem is, there are unintended consequences in such a system. Ask a parent: do you think the pros outweigh the cons for government-run healthcare for all? Please explain your answer.

4. For VENEZUELA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What is significant about Venezuela’s oil supply?
c) What did Luis Miguel Lopez, a member of the opposition party, say about President Maduro’s decree?
d) Do you agree with Mr. Lopez? Explain your answer.