The Wall Street Journal Weekly Quiz s5

The Wall Street Journal Education Program

Weekly Review & Quiz

Covering front-page articles from Nov 4-10, 2006

Answer Key Fall 2006

Developed by: Scott R. Homan Ph.D., Purdue University

1. The unemployment rate dropped to _____ -- the lowest level since May 2001 and well below economists' expectations.

a. 2.2%

b. 3.3%

c. 4.4% Correct

d. 5.5%

2. The number of jobs created in the US since the current expansion began in late 2001 is _____.

a. 1.8 million

b. 3.8 million

c. 5.8 million Correct

d. 7.8 million

3. Insurance rates have decreased because

a. safer cars and safer driving

b. improved technology

c. people are living longer

d. all of the above Correct

4. Insurance is a hedge against ______.

a. inflation

b. low interest rates

c. changing taste

d. risk Correct

5. The first cars to roll off the line at Geely Group's sprawling plant six years ago were crudely built hatchbacks, powered by Toyota designed engines. Initial annual production was less than.

a. 500

b. 5000 Correct

c. 50,000

d. 500,000

6. In many ways, cars are becoming a commodity. And the manufacturing of vehicles is starting to shift to _____, in much the same way that production of garments, televisions and computers did.

a. Iceland

b. Chad

c. Russia

d. China Correct

7. Chicago has developed an economy that more closely reflects the broad national economy than almost any other city in the country. This an example of an economic measure called ______.

a. industrial economy

b. industrial diversity Correct

c. industrial compatibility

d. industrial directionality

8. Young professionals are primarily attracted to Chicago because of

a. lakefront parks and an extensive public-transit system

b. lack of racial segregation

c. a thriving arts and culture community

d. Both a and b Correct

9. This democrat will be the new Speaker of the House

a. Jim Webb

b. Nancy Pelosi Correct

c. Harry Reid

d. Nancy Petroski

10. Democrats now have a majority of the seats in the House of Representatives for the first time in ______.

a. four years

b. eight years

c. ten years

d. twelve years Correct

11. Five years ago, China pledged to open its banking market to foreign competitors, and ______didn't hesitate to enter the market.

a. International Credit Union

b. Bank of America

c. Wells Fargo

d. Citigroup Correct

12. At the moment, neither Citigroup nor any other non-Chinese bank can take deposits from individuals or make them loans in China's currency, the _____.

a. Peso

b. Yuan Correct

c. Euro

d. new Duan

13. ______was an industrial engineer and so-called father of scientific management, who inspired America's efficiency craze in the early 20th century.

a. William F. Taylor

b. John S. Taylor

c. Frederick W. Taylor Correct

d. Theodore W. Taylor

14. News organizations use ______to give them an early sense of the electorate's mood to shape and guide coverage later that night when the real results come in.

a. live polls

b. interview polls

c. entrance polls

d. exit polls Correct

15. A defining business strategy of the bubble era was :

a. Easy Does It

b. Get Big Fast Correct

c. Get Rich Quick

d. Easy Come, Easy Go

16. The _____ is produced by Microsoft's Xbox group, which builds game consoles.

a. Zune Correct

b. Tune

c. Hune

d. Dune

17. The big broadcast networks are hoping one of TV's oldest and most unstable genres, ______, can help cure an array of new ailments in prime time.

a. game shows Correct

b. soap operas

c. police shows

d. medical dramas

18. Recent college grads would be better off ______than rushing to pay off their student loans

a. saving for a down payment on a house

b. paying off credit cards with higher interest rates

c. not missing out on matching contributions to a retirement account

d. all of the above Correct

19. Japanese have recently changed their spending habits to include credit cards because

a. an increase in on-line shopping Correct

b. decreases in crime rate has encouraged carrying large sums of cash

c. banks are not pushing credit cards as one of their main products

d. all of the above

20. Most Wall Street employees learn what their bonuses will be in

a. June through August

b. March through April

c. May through July

d. November through January Correct

21. Building-materials companies that sought bankruptcy-court protection under the weight of massive ______claims are emerging in trimmer, fighting form.

a. light concrete

b. light steel

c. rigid cotton

d. asbestos Correct

22. The value of U.S. imports is now roughly ____ times the value of U.S. exports.

a. 1.0

b. 1.5 Correct

c. 2.0

d. 2.5

23. Martha Stewart Living is considered a ______company.

a. media Correct

b. broadcasting

c. Internet

d. merchandising

24. When spammers use text messages to trick users into disclosing personal information it is known as ______

a. “PHishing”

b. “BSishing”

c. "SMishing" Correct

d. “TMishing”

25. Pulte Homes says Pulte Mortgage provides financing for _____ of its buyers who need a mortgage.

a. 20%

b. 30%

c. 80%

d. 90% Correct

26. Examples of increased marketing of automobiles towards children include

a. Hummer3 toys in McDonald’s Happy Meals

b. product placements into nontraditional spaces where kids go to play

c. buying more advertising during kids' shows

d. All of the above Correct