The Wall Street Journal Education Program
Weekly Review & Quiz
Covering front-page articles from Oct 27- Nov 2, 2007
Quiz Fall 2007
Developed by: Scott R. Homan Ph.D., Purdue University
1. Ways to protect yourself and your electronics from lightning strikes include
a. buying expensive surge protectors
b. staying inside and reading a book
c. unplugging all electronic devices
d. all of the above
2. In the first nine months of this year, ___people were killed by lightning strikes in the US, and all
were outside doing things such as playing golf, fishing or standing under a tree, according to the
National Weather Service.
a. 21
b. 31
c. 41
d. 51
3. Possible replacements for Merrill Lynch & Co Chief Executive Stan O'Neal include
a. Laurence Fink
b. Kennedy Thompson
c. Greg Fleming
d. Both a and c
4. “Mother Merrill” is a company culture known for
a. it’s draconian nature
b. being willing to accept lower profit margins in order to keep longtime loyal employees on the
payroll
c. it’s constant re-structuring
d. both a and b
5. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is a tiny federal agency charged with regulating at
least ______ types of consumer products, from toys to all-terrain vehicles to mattresses.
a. 5,000
b. 15,000
c. 50,000
d. 150,000
6. A bill that would substantially boost fines, add staffers and increase transparency at the
embattled Consumer Product Safety Commission is moving through the Senate. The bill's
provisions, include the increase of fines to a maximum of ____ from $1.85 million.
a. $5 million
b. $10 million
c. $100 million
d. $500 million
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WSJ Quiz: Page 1 of 4
7. The _______ is the Fed's key decision-making body, comprising the Fed's five current governors
in Washington and presidents of the 12 regional Fed banks.
a. Federal Open Banking Committee
b. Federal Closed Banking Committee
c. Federal Open Market Committee
d. Federal Closed Market Committee
8. In rising numbers homeowners with _____, those made to the least credit worthy home buyers,
have been delinquent on payments.
a. adjustable rate mortgages
b. 30 year balloon mortgages
c. subprime mortgages
d. prime mortgages
9. The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by _______, but with an eye on surging energy prices and
other inflationary threats, it strongly discouraged expectations of further cuts.
a. a quarter point
b. a half point
c. two points
d. a full point
10. Mr. Bernanke has been ____ his predecessor Alan Greenspan to try to steer market
expectations.
a. more inclined than
b. less inclined than
c. equally inclined as
d. greatly more inclined than
11. One of the biggest scandals in Japan's foreign community in years affecting more than 4,000
foreign language teachers involved which company:
a. Killion
b. Qantas
c. Pink Bunny
d. Nova
12. The Japanese language company with a wildly popular marketing campaign featuring a cheeky
pink bunny mascot, required students to buy _____ lessons to get the cheapest price.
a. 60
b. 100
c. 600
d. 1000
13. Blackstone Group LP announced today that it has lured ______, the chief executive of a
lodging industry rival, to lead recently acquired Hilton Hotels Corp as it pursues an ambitious
growth strategy and plans to boost the hotelier's standing in the luxury market.
a. John Schreiber
b. Christopher Nassetta
c. Jonathan Gray
d. Will Marks
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WSJ Quiz: Page 2 of 4
14. During a job interview it is recommended that you
a. blabber endlessly about irrelevant information
b. supply elaborate details
c. define yourself concisely
d. give only one word replies to any and all questions
15. Both the Enclave and Acadia are selling almost as fast as dealers get them. At the end of
September, GM had a 21-day supply of Enclaves, and a 49-day supply of Acadias. The Outlook
hasn't sold as well and its stock is higher -- 73 days' supply. A supply of ____ days or less is
considered healthy.
a. 25
b. 45
c. 65
d. 85
16. ______ , known as “Biotown, USA”, with a population of 521, seems an ideal location for an
experiment in biofuels. It is at the intersection of two highways and two rail lines, near research
facilities at Purdue University and close to an abundance of corn, hogs and cattle.
a. Akron, Iowa
b. Reynolds, Indiana
c. Grafton, North Dakota
d. Albion, Nebraska
17. From a little-known federal program known as EB-5, or the immigrant-investor visa, for a
_______ investment in a distressed area, a foreigner and his immediate family become eligible for
conditional green cards. They become permanent a few years later upon evidence that the
investment has created at least 10 jobs for US workers.
a. $50,000
b. $500,000
c. $5,000,000
d. $50,000,000
18. As ______ multiply and pursue a fast-changing set of investment strategies, it's a challenge for
investors to separate winners from the flops. Several new online tools can help.
a. bonds and stocks
b. mutual funds and bonds
c. mutual funds and ETFs
d. stocks and ETFs
19. The confluence of a slowing US economy and rising ____ is something new.
a. labor costs
b. oil costs
c. energy costs
d. commodity costs
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WSJ Quiz: Page 3 of 4
20. Crude futures for December delivery rose $1.67, or 1.8%, to _____ a barrel. It was the seventh
record close this month, leaving oil up 53% so far this year at the New York Mercantile Exchange.
a. $63.53
b. $73.53
c. $83.53
d. $93.53
21. Economists polled by Dow Jones Newswires estimate gross domestic product grew at an
annual rate of 3.2%, down from the second quarter's 3.8%. The last time the economy grew at a
better-than-3% rate for two quarters in a row was in ______, when the Fed started raising rates.
a. 1999
b. 2000
c. 2002
d. 2004
22. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is charged with keeping the local currency pegged to the
_____ in a trading band of HK$ 7.75 to 7.85 Hong Kong dollars.
a. Yuan
b. Euro dollar
c. US dollar
d. Mexican Peso
23. Year over year declines in manufacturing payrolls exceeded ____ in August and September, the
biggest drops since early 2004.
a. 10,000
b. 20,000
c. 100,000
d. 200,000
24. The new Virgin airlines has lowered the price to under $300 for this market
a. Los Angeles to Las Vegas
b. Los Angeles to Honolulu
c. Los Angeles to New York
d. Los Angeles to San Francisco
25. Some helpful advice for modern doctor appointments include
a. checking that a doctor has your lab results before going to an appointment
b. bringing family members or a trusted friend, not only for moral support, but to act as another set
of eyes and ears to listen to what the doctor is saying and to help organize questions
c. patients should prepare a full report of any symptoms or concerns prior to the doctor's visit
d. all of the above
26. The current trend in dating for high school and college students includes
a. an increase in casual “hook-up” relationships
b. lack of interest in formal events like dances
c. boys have to call girls on Wednesday for a Saturday date
d. both a and b
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WSJ Quiz: Page 4 of 4