Places in the News Quiz, Spring 2002

Film director Ram Gopal Varma recently denied that organized crime dominates the "Bollywood" film industry. To what city does "Bollywood" refer?: Mumbai, India, formerly known as Bombay, is one of the world's film capitals, producing 800 movies per year, about eight times as many as Hollywood.

The early part of 2002 was one of the quietest years on record for tornadoes in the U.S. But when they do occur, most tornadoes hit "tornado alley." Where is this?: More tornadoes occur in the lowland areas between the Rocky and Appalachian mountains (especially from Central Texas to Nebraska) than anywhere else in the world, earning the region the nickname "tornado alley."

Which U.S. state celebrated its status as the third-largest gold producer in the world in April 2002?: The Nevada Mining Association says that since 1962 the state has produced 50 million troy ounces of gold, worth $15 billion, making it the third-largest gold producer in the world, behind South Africa and Australia.

The al-Jazeera satellite TV station has received a lot of attention for its coverage of the war in Afghanistan and other international events. The station is based in what country?: One of the leading Arabic-language news outlets in the world, al-Jazeera broadcasts from the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar.

Idaho elementary school teacher Barbara Morgan has made headlines about her future trip to what destination?: Barbara Morgan, an elementary school teacher from Idaho, is scheduled to visit the International Space Station in 2004 as part of the Teacher in Space program.

The president of what nation was deposed in a coup in April 2002, and placed under house arrest for two days before returning to power?: President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela resigned under military pressure at 1 A.M. April 12, only to return to power April 14, after the government that was intended to replace him collapsed.

Chinese officials recently announced that cracks have been discovered in Three Gorges Dam, now under construction. The dam is being built across what river?: The 605-foot-high dam is being built across the Yangtze River in Central China, at an expected cost of at least $24 billion.

In April 2002, Tiger Woods won the Masters golf tournament, which is held in: Held at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, the Masters began in 1934 as the Augusta National Invitational Tournament. The event was renamed the Masters five years later.

Environmentalists are protesting an oil pipeline now under construction in the Mindo Nambillo cloud forest, which is located where?: Environmentalists hope to keep an oil pipeline from crossing the Mindo Nambillo cloud forest in Ecuador. The forest is home to 3,000 species of orchids, and other rare plants and animals.

In early 2002 peace talks between the warring factions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were held where?: The talks were held in the South African resort, Sun City.