The Wall Street Journal Weekly Quiz

The Wall Street Journal Weekly Quiz

Answer Key

Covering front-page articles from March 28 – April 1, 2005

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

Questions 1 – 12 from The First Section, Section A

1. How many times a year does Bill Gates retreat to a place of solitude?

a. once

b. twice Correct

c. quarterly

d. annually

2. Where does Bill Gates go for his “Think Week” activities?

a. The Fortress of Solitude in the North Pole

b. A Luxury Hotel in Seattle

c. A secluded waterfront cottage in the Pacific Northwest Correct

d. A hidden bunker at Microsoft Headquarters

3. In the late 1990s when Ethiopia went to war with a neighboring country the United States withdrew from the country. Identify which country did the opposite and used it as an opportunity to build a presence in Ethiopia.

a. France

b. England

c. Japan

d. China Correct

4. A key strategic business reason to invest in Africa is _____?

a. access to natural resources such as oil

b. access to large numbers of consumers

c. access to a lower paid workforce

d. all of the above Correct

5. The chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is ___?

a. Warren Buffett Correct

b. Tom Smith

c. General Re

d. Maurice "Hank" Greenberg

6. The American International Group Inc lawyers told regulators that 50 company transactions could have resulted in improper accounting on its financial statements totaling _____ dollars?

a. 10,000.00

b. 100,000.00

c. 1 million

d. 1.5 billion Correct

7. Sirius and XM are the two major players in what new industry?

a. satellite-radio Correct

b. cable-radio

c. internet-phones

d. satellite-phones

8. XM recently invested in distribution rights to what professional sport?

a. National Basketball Association

b. World Soccer League

c. National Football League

d. Major League Baseball Correct

9. Kenneth Bandler has multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease of the central nervous system that affects about _________ people in the U.S between the ages of 20 and 50.

a. 400

b. 4000

c. 400,000 Correct

d. 4

10. The reason Mr. Bandler gives for not disclosing his medical condition to his boss and co-workers is ____________.

a. he worried "I would be fired”

b. he worried "I would be reassigned to low value work”

c. he worried "people would perceive me differently at work” Correct

d. he worried "I would be harassed”

11. The National Bolsheviks are pulling in disaffected Russian young people with ____?

a. free beer nights before meetings

b. a humor-tinged rebellion strategy Correct

c. free movie nights before meetings

d. a underground armed rebellion strategy

12. Today the National Bolsheviks boast more members ________ than any other major political party in Russia.

a. from rural farms

b. over 65 years old

c. behind prison bars Correct

d. starting local Pub bars

Questions 13 – 17 from Marketplace, Section B

13. The next version of Windows, code-named Longhorn, will introduce a software technology known as ____________?

a. Phishing

b. Hailstorm

c. Passports

d. Info-cards Correct

14. Vinod Dham is among a growing number of technology executives warning that the U.S. faces a shortage of ____________?

a. telephone operators

b. production workers

c. engineers Correct

d. computer repair technicians

15. Mr. Zand, who works at a unit of Santa Clara, Calif.-based Silicon Valley Bank, enjoys a growing reputation as a go-to guy for start-up companies trying to get a foothold in _______________.

a. Tiepins, China

b. Bangalore, China

c. Bengal, Norway

d. Bangalore, India Correct

16. The CD called "Outlaws of the Wild West" priced at $49.95, contains the source code for 14,000 types of _________.

a. online games

b. brain puzzles

c. computer viruses Correct

d. flower pictures

17. Airbus and Boeing are looking to what industry to improve efficiency?

a. Automobile Correct

b. Professional Baseball

c. Textiles

d. Higher Education

Questions 18 – 22 from Money & Investing, Section C

18. According to ING Investment Management quantitative analyst Krista Kennedy estimate-revision strategies are ____________?

a. a waste of time

b. working again Correct

c. too risky

d. foolish gambles

19. A group of eight former Morgan Stanley officials, sent a letter to the company urging the directors to ___________ .

a. give them back their jobs

b. make a change in the firm's leadership and governance Correct

c. increase retirement benefits

d. change insurance carriers

20. Credit-rating providers lowered their views on GM’s creditworthiness and many investors believe the ratings might fall to _______ status.

a. A++

b. white wash

c. Z--

d. speculative, or junk Correct

21. Fed economists believe the ______________, which excludes food and energy prices, more accurately reflects what's happening with inflation.

a. core PCE Correct

b. core CPI

c. core PPP

d. core CAZ

22. The problem for the stock market this year is more classic, involving _____.

a. global markets and transportation

b. consumers and jobs

c. politics and elections

d. interest rates and inflation Correct

Questions 23 – 25 from Personal Journal, Section D

23. The U.S. is running into a shortage of ______ that could slow travel in the next few years.

a. pilots

b. train drivers

c. air-traffic controllers Correct

d. bus drivers

24. The Diners Club card charge card is partnering with___?

a. MasterCard Correct

b. Visa

c. Discover

d. American Express Gold

25. A flood of new research from NICHD set for release in the next two weeks promises to shed some light on the benefits and risks of ________.

a. child care Correct

b. bottled water

c. artificial sweeteners

d. electric cars