1. For each of the 3 countries, give the following information:
a) capital
b) location/the countries that share its borders:
c) the religious breakdown of the population:
d) the type of government:
e) 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]:
f) 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.  Go to worldatlas.com for a list of continents.]

NOTE: Before answering the questions below, read the info under “Background” and watch the videos under “Resources.”

2. For JAPAN:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) For what reasons do Japanese corporate employees work long hours and decline to take all of their vacation days?

3. For VENEZUELA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) For what reason did President Maduro have officials from the two chains arrested?
c) Read the “Background” on Venezuela below the questions.
President Maduro accused Dia a Dia of hoarding food during huge shortages in the country. A YahooNews reader commented: ‘He has accused companies of hoarding goods to keep "the population irritated, suffering" in order to fuel discontent against the government.’ I don't know of any company that wants to lose money in order to fuel discontent. Don't they still teach basic economics at Venezuelan universities?
Ask a parent: “Do you agree with this observation? Explain your answer.”

4. For ISRAEL:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item

b) Read the “Background” on Israel below the questions. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif said all sanctions against his country should be lifted, saying that if they had been intended to stop its nuclear ambitions they had failed. He said when sanctions had been imposed, Iran had 200 centrifuges, and "now we have 20,000." Iran has continued for years to work on its nuclear weapons program. How important is it for the U.S. and our allies to deter Iran from getting a nuclear weapon? Explain your answer.

c) Read the “Background” on Israel below the questions. Which country do you think is more likely to attack the other (or us) with a nuclear weapon: Israel or Iran? Explain your answer.