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.”

2. For MEXICO:

a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) How many tourists were trapped in Acapulco for almost a week?
c) How were approximately 24,000 tourists transported out of Acapulco?

3. For BRAZIL:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What negative economic impact will the Brazilian president's cancellation of her White House state visit have on private business, and the government?
c) In March 2011, President Obama went to Brazil for a two-day state visit (before flying to Chile, a close U.S. ally, and then El Salvador). White House officials cast the trip as a way to renew relations with a region that is an emerging market for U.S.-made goods. In a Reuters analysis: "President Rousseff's decision to call off her upcoming state visit to the White House is an embarrassing setback that will probably stymie cooperation on trade, regional affairs and other issues for years to come. Despite other priorities, namely Syria, Obama spent 45 minutes with Rousseff at a September 5th summit in Russia to try to ease her concerns. He also made a last-minute plea by phone for 20 minutes on Monday."  Do you think the cancellation of such a high-profile visit, despite two last-minute personal appeals to Rousseff by President Obama, is a negative reflection on Obama's foreign policy skills, or just an unfortunate result of Snowden's NSA spying revelations? Explain your answer.

4. For COLOMBIA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Read the information about FARC under "Background" below (for more details, visit the link under "Resources.")  Should Colombia's president negotiate a truce with FARC guerrillas, or is former President Uribe right to denounce this? Explain your answer.