Academic World Quest 2012

We wish to thank the staff of the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home for

their generous assistance and historic setting.

Special thanks toIBM and the Handel

Foundation for their generous

contributions toward making the Academic

World Quest 2012 possible.

Participating High Schools

Arlington High SchoolRoy C Ketcham High School

Oakwood Friends SchoolRoosevelt High SchoolKingston High School

Poughkeepsie Day SchoolWashingtonville High School

Cornwall High School

Academic World Quest Committee

Rita Alterman Martin Charwat

Joe LombardiMatt MurrayZoë Fruchter

Judges

Rita AltermanMartin Charwat

Matt Murray

MC Sheila Appel

Any team found with any means of assistance other than brain power will be DISQUALIFIED.

PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CELLULAR PHONES AND REMOVE ANY HAND-HELD DEVICES.

The only items on your table should be the answer sheets and the pad and pencil supplied by the committee.

Current Events

Round 1

1. What city will host the 2012 summer Olympics?

A. RioB. ParisC. LondonD. Johannesburg

2. Boko Haram is a terrorist group operating in what country?

A. YemenB. NigeriaC. SomaliaD. Libya

3. What country recently passed a resolution making it a crime to deny that Armenians in the Ottoman Empire were victims of genocide?

A. United KingdomB. ItalyC. FranceD. Norway

4. Politics have played an unexpected role in the modern Olympic Games. In the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Adolf Hitler's attempt to demonstrate the superiority

of his 'master race' was dealt a crushing blow by which of the following?

A. Mark Spitz winning 7 Gold medalsB. Jesse Owens winning 4 Gold medals **C. Tommy Smith and John Carlos dominating the track and field eventsD. Jack Armstrong winning the Decathalon

5. Cultural and religious repression of ethnic minorities in China is widespread

in:A. Inner MongoliaB. ManchuriaC. YunnanD. Xinjiang

6. The Olympic torch relay was created in 1936. In 2012 how many torchbearers are expected

to carry the torch?

A. 2,500B. 6,000C. 8,000D. 10,200

7. Which of the following states was responsible in great part for the release of the three US hikers who strayed over the Iranian

border while hiking in Iraq?

A. IndiaB. OmanC. Saudi ArabiaD. Turkey

8. In which Olympic Games did the terrorist group known as 'Black September' kill members of the Israeli wrestling team?

A. 1964B. 1968C. 1972 *

D. 1996

9. The United Nations Special Tribunal investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri was recently

renewed for three more years. What country did Rafiq Harir lead?

A. SyriaB. TunisiaC. LebanonD. Morocco

Middle East

Round 2

1. Since the Arab Spring began, leaders of all of the following countries have been overthrown EXCEPT:

A. TunisiaB. Egypt C. JordanD. Yemen

2. Sunni Muslims are the largest religious group in all of the following countries EXCEPT:

A. Saudi ArabiaB. IraqC. EgyptD. Syria

3. All of the following countries export oil through the Strait of Hormuz EXCEPT:

A. IraqB. IranC. Saudi ArabiaD. Syria

4. The Jordan River flows through all of the following countries EXCEPT:

A. TurkeyB. SyriaC. LebanonD. Israel

5. Which of the following countries has the highest gross domestic product (GDP) per capita?

A. Saudi ArabiaB. IsraelC. IranD. Egypt

6. The Euphrates River flows throw which three countries:

A. Syria, Lebanon, JordanB. Turkey, Lebanon, IsraelC. Lebanon, Jordan, IraqD. Turkey, Syria, Iraq

7. Substantial numbers of the Kurdish ethnic group are found in all of the following countries EXCEPT:

A. SyriaB. LebanonC. IranD. Iraq

8. Which of the following led to the cancellation of the Aswan High Dam in Egypt by the International Bank for Reconstruction and

Development (World Bank)?

A. The 1956 Suez WarB. Palestinian militant attacks into Israel from

GazaC. The nationalization of the Suez Canal

CompanyD. The introduction of Soviet military advisors

into Egypt

9. In Lebanon the Prime Minister is a:

A. Maronite ChristianB. Shia MuslimC. Sunni MuslimD. Druze

NATO

Round 3

1. All of the following are NATO countries EXCEPT:

A. AlbaniaB. TurkeyC. GeorgiaD. Slovenia

2. Article V of NATO’s founding treaty is an example of:

A. Collective DefenseB. Preemptive Self-DefenseC. Unilateral DisengagementD. Responsibility to Protect

3. How many founding members did NATO have?

A. 8B. 12C. 18D. 22

4. NATO’s Article V has only been invoked once. When?

A. Just prior to the launching of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm

B. Just after NATO announced its intervention in Kosovo in 1999

C. Just after the 9/11 attacksD. On the eve of the 2003 invasion of Iraq

5. Which of the following HAS NOT been part of the Obama Administration’s “reset” with Russia?

A. The deployment of sea-based SM-3 missiles to the eastern Mediterranean

B. US-Russian agreement to reduce their nuclear stockpiles

C. The slow path to NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia

D. The US’ declaration that Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz is a “red line”

6. What non-NATO member has contributed to NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan?

A. JapanB. AustraliaC. IsraelD. Mexico

7. According to the report, The Future of NATO, prior to 2009 the forces comprising ISAF were evenly split between American

and non-American members. What has been the trend since 2009?

A. Non-Americans make up a relatively larger proportion of ISAF

B. Americans make up a relatively larger proportion of ISAF

C. The ratio has remained the sameD. Non-NATO members have become the

largest troop contributors

8. Former US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates gave a speech criticizing some

members of the NATO alliance. What were his two criticisms?

A. Lack of troop contribution in Afghanistan and slow acceptance of new NATO members

B. Lack of support from key NATO members in Libya and low levels of defense spending

C. Lack of will to implement a land-based nuclear missile shield and a lack of coherence over Iran

D. The inability of members to proactively engage Russia and the acceptance of Albania into NATO

9. What two countries were supposed to be part of NATO’s land-based missile shield?

A. Turkey and GreeceB. Estonia and NorwayC. Albania and GermanyD. Poland and Czech Republic

US Economic Competitiveness

Round 4

1. The United States was ranked 4th in overall competitiveness in 2010-11 according to the

World Economic Forum. Which of the following was not among the three countries

ranked ahead of the US?A. GermanyB. SingaporeC. SwitzerlandD. Sweden

2. In 2010, President Obama proposed the creation of a ______ to enhance America’s

economic competitiveness by leveraging public and private capital to fund improvements. In 2011,

a group of US Senators put forward a similar measure. What was it?

A. The National Export Initiative B. Privatization of municipal bridges and toll

roadsC. Block grant awards for innovations in clean

energy transportationD. National Infrastructure Bank

3. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), in 2011 the US budget deficit amounted to __ of GDP

A. 2.5%B. 6.2%C. 9.8%D. 13.3%

4. In 2011, the US federal government’s budget was approximately how many

times larger than it had been when President Clinton left office?

A. It had declined by halfB. It was about the sameC. It had doubledD. It had tripled

5. Manufacturing accounts for what percentage of US GDP?

A. 8%B. 14%C. 18%D. 22%

6. Between 1977 and 2002 productivity gains in the US manufacturing sector ____ other sectors of the economy?

A. outpacedB. laggedC. closely resembledD. were epiphenomenal relative to

7. Manufacturing jobs as a percentage of total employment ___ between 1977 and 2002.

A. fellB. roseC. remained the sameD. was difficult to determine

8. Technological innovation contributed to the doubling of US agricultural yields since

the beginning of the 20th century. The percentage of the population involved in

agriculture declined from ___ at the beginning of the 20th century to ___ in 2000.

A. 42%; 1%B. 55%; 8%C. 65%; 7%D. 38%; 3%

9. Modern sewage treatment in the US helped eliminate all of the following

water-borne diseases EXCEPT:

A. Typhoid feverB. DiarrheaC. PolioD. Cholera

Child Health

Round 5

1. Of all deaths worldwide among pregnant women, infants, and under five children, what percentage occurs in developing

countries?

A. 35%B. 50%C. 75%D. 99%

2. Although the total number of under-five deaths is declining worldwide, how many under-five children died in 2009?

A. 4 millionB. 6 millionC. 8 millionD. 10 million

3. Since 1990, child mortality rates have been more than halved in three areas mentioned below. Which area mentioned is the

exception?

A. South AsiaB. Latin AmericaC. CaribbeanD. Western Asia

4. Which area accounts for nearly half the total under-five deaths worldwide?

A. North AfricaB. OceaniaC. South AsiaD. Sub-Saharan Africa

5. At least a third of all under-five deaths are caused by

A. MalariaB. Inadequate nutritionC. Pneumonia D. Diarrhea

6. The country that has surpassed the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target for reducing under-five deaths is

A. EgyptB. TurkmenistanC. VietnamD. Liberia

7. An African country that has made impressive gains in reducing infant and child mortality is

A. NamibiaB. TanzaniaC. ZambiaD. Uganda

8. The world’s largest supplier of vaccines for children in developing countries is

A. UNICEFB. World BankC. UNESCOD. World Health Organization

9. Global coverage of key immunizations for children has increased from less than 5% in 1974 to approximately what percentage

today?

A. 60%B. 70%C. 80%D. 90%

Azerbaijan

Round 6

1. The Azerbaijani heritage is strongly influenced by which two groups?

A. Seljuk Turks and ancient PersiansB. Armenians and GreeksC. Slavs and ChechensD. Iranians and Turkmen

2. Over the centuries, the following empires were engaged in controlling the South Caucasus. Which empire DOES NOT belong

on the list?

A. BritishB. RussianC. OttomanD. Persian

3. Who established the present-day frontiers of Azerbaijan?

A. League of NationsB. BritishC. OttomansD. Russians

4. Complete the statement. More than three-fourths of Azerbaijanis are ____.

A. Zoroastrian B. Greek OrthodoxC. Sunni MuslimD. Shiia Muslim

5. The largest post-cold war civil conflict in the South Caucasus was over Nagarno-

Karabakh (N-K). All the following statements regarding this conflict are correct EXCEPT:

A. N-K is an Armenian majority autonomous region within Azerbaijan.

B. With the dissolution of the Soviet Empire, ethnic violence began in this area.

C. Within a few years, Azerbaijani forces had taken control of almost all of N-K, displacing a large Armenian population.

D. A cease-fire was negotiated by Russia in 1994.

6. Azerbaijan’s regional ally is ____.

A. DagestanB. RussiaC. GeorgiaD. Turkey

7. The countries with proven oil reserves in the Caspian Basin are all of the following EXCEPT:

A. UzbekistanB. TurkmenistanC. IranD. Azerbaijan

8. All of the following statements are correct EXCEPT:

A. The BTC pipeline signifies the route through Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan

B. The pipeline carries natural gasC. The pipeline was completed in 2006D. A consequence of the pipeline’s

construction is the revival of archeological research, financed by American and British corporations

9. Complete the following statement. The Azerbaijani city that is experiencing a spectacular building booms is

A. GroznyB. BakuC. BeslanD. Moshad

China

Round7

1. Of the many ethnic groups in China, the largest is the ____

A. ManchuB. MongolC. HanD. Uighur

2. Of the five sanctioned “Patriotic Religious Associations” in China, the largest is the ____ .

A. BuddhistB. TaoistC. MuslimD. Protestant

3. The Chinese leader most responsible for market reforms in the last quarter of the 20th century was

A. Jiang ZeminB. Li PengC. Deng XiaopingD. Lu Hsun

4. Which of the following is NOT an accurate statement concerning energy use in China?

A. In 2010, China led the world in clean energy investment

B. China is the world’s largest importer of crude oil

C. Coal makes up the bulk of China’s energy production

D. China is the world’s largest energy consumer

5. In 1972, US President Nixon traveled to China and at the conclusion of his trip,

both the US and China issued the “Shanghai Communiqué.” In that

document, the US:A. Established full diplomatic relations with

ChinaB. Acknowledged that there is only one China,

and Taiwan is part of ChinaC. Acknowledged China’s claim to the Spratley

Islands in the East China SeaD. Supported China’s claim to Tibet

6. The leader of the Long March in the 1930’s and the individual responsible for the defeat of the KMT in 1949 was:

A. Liu Shao ChiB. Mao Tse TungC. Chiang kai-shekD. None of the above

7. Which of the following is not a principal relationship in which humans are involved, according to Confucius?

A. Mother and DaughterB. Ruler and SubjectC. Father and SonD. Friend and friend

8. What was the Forbidden City?

A. The Palace of the Emperor of ChinaB. The Land ofthe Rising SunC. Lhasa Tibet D. Xian

9. n 2008 China became the world's largest internet user. In 2011 what

percentage of China's population had access to the internet?

A. 32%B. 42%C. 65%D. 86%

US Education

Round 8

1. In Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education, international

comparisons of US students with those in other developed countries place US

students A. In the top third of the fieldB. In the middle of the pack or lowerC. Improving, especially among women and

minoritiesD. At the very bottom of the pack

2. Over the last several decades the industrial economy based on manufacturing has shifted to a service economy based on information, knowledge and innovation. In 1967 information services constituted 36% of the US economy. By 2008, information

services accounted for what percentage of all jobs in the US economy?

A. 45%B. 50%C. 60%D. More than 75%

3. Critical thinking and problem solving, i.e. cognitive skills, will differentiate the economic leaders from the laggards among the world’s

developed and developing countries. In a 2003(Programme for International Student

Assessment), PISA assessment of problem solving in 40 countries, US 15 year olds ranked

A. 12th

B. 23rd

C. 29th

D. 40th

4. Over the last 10 years, growth in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) jobs was how much faster than in non-STEM

jobs?

A. Twice as fastB. Three times as fastC. Four times as fastD. Five times as fast

5. One of the more distinguishing characteristics of STEM workers in the US is their educational

attainment. Which of the following statements is INACCURATE concerning educational attainment

for US workers?

A. More than 2/3 of STEM workers have a Bachelor’s degree or higher

B. Physical and Life Sciences have the highest educated workforce

C. Very few opportunities (less than 10%) exist for those with an Associate Degree

D. In Physical and Life Sciences, nearly 40% hold a graduate degree

6. In South Korea, 38% of all undergraduates receive their degrees in natural sciences or engineering, in France the figure is 47%, in China

50% and in Singapore, 67%. In the US, the corresponding percentage is

A. 15%B. 20%C. 25%D. 30%

7. Which of the following closely approximates the percentage of foreign born Ph.Ds working in the US in science and technology.

A. 15-20%B. 20-25%C. 25-28%D. 35-38%

8. According to PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment), what does “literacy” mean?

A. Capacity of students to apply knowledge and skills

B. Ability of students to read and writeC. Ability of students to grasp a foreign

languageD. Ability of students to use proper grammar in

speech

9. As of 2000, about what percentage of US workers have some type of post secondary education?

A. 60%B. 50%C. 40%D. 30%

Afghanistan/ Pakistan

Round 9

1. According to Sen. John Kerry, US interests in Afghanistan include all of the following EXCEPT:

A. Putting Afghans in charge of their own affairs

B. Initiating talks with the TalibanC. Destroying al-QaedaD. Preventing Afghanistan from ever again

becoming a terrorist sanctuary

2. The US spends more on foreign aid in Afghanistan than in any other country. Which of the following is true?

A. In the last 10 years there has been a sevenfold increase in the number of Afghan children attending school.

B. An estimated 50% of Afghanistan’s GDP is derived from spending related to international military and donor community presence

C. Evidence is overwhelming that multinational stabilization programs are succeeding

D. Most US aid in Afghanistan is funneled through the Afghan government

3. All of the following are threats facing Pakistan, EXCEPT:

A. Rising extremismB. A failing economyC. A growing middle classD. Chronic underdevelopment

4. Which group within Pakistan is considered the most serious threat in terms of anti-state violence and sectarian intolerance?

A. IsmailisB. Deobandi radicalsC. Pakistani ShiaD. The Afghan Taliban

5. Pakistan faces separatist pressures in which of the following regions or cities?

A. IslamabadB. PunjabC. KarachiD. Baluchistan

6. Among the main security challenges for Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal are all of the following EXCEPT:

A. Keeping the integrity of the command structure

B. Ensuring the physical security of the nuclear weapons

C. Preventing illicit proliferation from insidersD. Sharing nuclear know-how with existing

nuclear weapons states

7. According to estimates in January 2011, Pakistan is believed to have about ___ nuclear weapons

A. 50-70B. 90-110C. 130-150D. 180-200

8. Pakistan maybe responding to India’s nuclear arsenal by doing all of the following EXCEPT:

A. Increasing its fissile production capabilityB. Improving its delivery vehiclesC. Buying nuclear weapons from KazakhstanD. Accelerating its current nuclear weapons

efforts

9. Pakistan’s nuclear posture is designed to do all of the following EXCEPT:

A. Pressure Afghanistan to accept the current border with Pakistan

B. Preserve territorial integrity against an Indian attack

C. Prevent military escalationD. Counter its main rival’s conventional

military superiority

US Energy Policy

Round 10

1. In 2010, approximately what percent of all energy used in the US consisted of renewable sources?

A. 5%B. 8%C. 10%D. 12%

2. Which country is the world’s leading producer of wind turbines and solar modules?

A. United StatesB. GermanyC. IndiaD. China

3. In 2010, which region of the world received the most clean energy investment?

A. EuropeB. AsiaC. North AmericaD. Middle East

4. According to the Pew Charitable Trusts December 2010 study, “Global Clean Power,” investment in clean power assets could

amount to as much as ____ over the 2010-’20 period.

A. $1 trillionB. $1.7 trillionC. $2.3 trillionD. $2.8 trillion

5. Clean energy targets can take many forms including all of the following EXCEPT:

A. Nationwide requests that a percentage of total energy be derived from renewable resources

B. Mandating that fossil fuel plants undergo annual safety inspections

C. Goals for installation of a certain amount of solar or wind generating capacity

D. Utility-level requirements for clean energy production

6. Which of the following countries was NOT among the top 3 in five-year growth in renewable energy capacity between 2005-

2010?

A. ChinaB. South KoreaC. United StatesD. Turkey

7. According to the IEA, all of the following factors are driving natural gas demand and supply EXCEPT:

A. It is considered to be an inexhaustible supply of fuel for the next millennium

B. When replacing other fossil fuels, natural gas can lead to lower emissions of greenhouse gases and local pollutants

C. It can help to diversify energy supply, and so improve energy security

D. It can provide the flexibility and back-up capacity needed as more variable capacity comes on-line in power generation

8. Worldwide demand for gas is growing so dramatically that each of the following is true EXCEPT:

A. An increase in production equivalent to about 3 times the current production of Russia will be required simply to meet the growth in gas demand in 2035

B. By 2035 unconventional gas will meet more than 40% of the increase in demand

C. China will grow to become one of the largest importers of natural gas globally

D. Based on the assumptions of the GAS Scenario, from 2010 to 2035 gas use will increase by more than 75% by 2035

9. According to US Energy Secretary, Steven Chu, President Obama has committed the United States to generating what percentage of

its electricity from clean sources by 2035?

A. 65%B. 75%C. 80%D. 90%

Tie Breakers

Tiebreakers-Round 1

1. Adherents of the Zoroastrian religion can still be found in:

A. IranB. SyriaC. EgyptD. Saudi Arabia

2. Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) molecules damage the Earth’s ozone. What was the name of the agreement that phased out

CFCs?

A. Bonn AgreementB. Montreal Protocol C. Seoul DeclarationD. Rome Statute

3. The Syrian Accountability Act was originally signed into law by which US President?

A. Barack ObamaB. Ronald Reagan C. George W. BushD. Bill Clinton

Tiebreakers-Round 2

1. What fraction of all under-five deaths occur before the first 28 days of life?

A. 1/5B. 1/3C. 2/3D. 1/2

2. Which of the following was not a term that China agreed to as an obligation for accession

into the World Trade Organization?

A. Increase subsidies for agricultural production and the maintenance of agricultural export subsidies

B. Reduce the average tariff for industrial goods and agricultural products

C. Within three years of accession, grant full trade and distribution rights to many foreign enterprises

D. Provide non-discriminatory treatment to all WTO members.

3. According to NATO’s Strategic Concept, all of the following are technology-related

trends that will significantly impact NATO’s military planning EXCEPT:

A. Laser weaponsB. Chinese acquisition of an aircraft carrierC. Electronic warfareD. Technologies that impede access to space

Sudden Death

1. In the latest elections in Taiwan, the party that won the majority of the votes supported which of the following positions?

A. Independence for TaiwanB. Stationing US forces on the islandC. Closer relations with ChinaD. Reducing Taiwan’s investment in China’s

computer manufacturing operations

2. The leader of what Arab country first advanced the idea of

an Arab military intervention in Syria?

A. KuwaitB. United Arab EmiratesC. QatarD. Saudi Arabia

3. In its attempt to stymie a rebel movement that seeks to depose the president of Syria, President Assad of Syria has been able to count on support in the United Nations from:

A. Russia and ChinaB. The Arab LeagueC. The Gulf Cooperation CouncilD. India and Pakistan

Roosevelt Round

1. “The day of infamy speech” was addressed to Congress on what day?

A. December 7th, 1941B. December 8th, 1941C. December 7th, 1942D. None of the above

2. The Presidential election of 1944 was the only time in history that two opposing

candidates resided in the same county. Who was FDR’s opponent at that time?

A. DeweyB. Cox C. Van Buren

D. Smith

3. Which president proclaimed Eleanor Roosevelt to be the “First Lady of the World?”

A. Franklin D. RooseveltB. Harry Truman C. John F. Kennedy D. Herbert Hoover

4. What year was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted?

A. 1942 B. 1948 C. 1945D. 1962

5. What position did FDR hold when he was elected President?

A. Senator B. Governor C. Assistant Secretary of the Navy D. Vice President

6. Who did President Roosevelt welcome to the United States & Hyde

Park in June 1939?

A. King Leopold III B. King George VI & Queen Elizabeth C. Madam Chiang Kai-shek D. Marian Anderson

7. FDR immortalized Four Freedoms: Freedom of Speech and Expression, Freedom from Want,

Freedom of Worship, and _____________. What is the fourth freedom?

A. Freedom from Hate B. Freedom of Assembly C. Freedom from Fear D. Freedom to Care

8. What college did Franklin D. Roosevelt graduate from?

A. Harvard B. Columbia C. West Point D. Yale

9. The Declaration by The United Nations set up a united front against the Axis powers during

WWII. This Declaration included 4 major world powers, The United States, Soviet Union,

United Kingdom, and what other country?

A. Canada B. Chile C. Mexico D. China

10. The Eighteenth Amendment established Prohibition in the United States. The passing of what amendment repealed Prohibition?

A. 19th amendment B. 21st amendment C. 22nd amendment D. 26th amendment

Roosevelt Round Tiebreakers

1. Which of these was not a lifelong hobby of FDR?

A. Collecting StampsB. Sailing C. Bird WatchingD. Smoking

2. Which individual was not a Vice President during the Roosevelt Administration?

A. Garner B. McCormick C. TrumanD. Wallace

3. FDR was a Democratic vice-presidential nominee in the election of 1920. Who was the Democratic presidential nominee?

A. Henry Wallace B. Woodrow Wilson C. Grover Cleveland D. James M. Cox

4. Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented four terms. The 22nd

Amendment now limits the President to two, four year terms. What year did that

Amendment become part of the Constitution?

A. April 1945B. November 1947C. February 1951D. November 1953