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 RUSSIA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) The bridge where Mr. Nemtsov was assassinated was in a heavily policed area of Moscow near the Kremlin. Why isn’t there any CCTV footage of the scene at the time of the murder?
c) Ask a parent: do you think Russian President Vladimir Putin is responsible for Boris Nemstov’s death?

3. For PAKISTAN:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) Why is the government taking this step?
c) What repercussions do cell phone owners face if they do not comply with this requirement?
d) What does the government acknowledge about this requirement? What reasoning do they use for why citizens should comply?
e) If our federal government made such a requirement, would you support it as a way to possibly prevent terrorism? Explain your answer. Then ask a parent and a grandparent the same question.

4. For CHINA:
a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item
b) What are the benefits of this train vs. air or sea transport between China and Spain?
c) What else is the Chinese small commodity market city of Yiwu (the world’s largest) well-known for?