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wsj > Week of October 2 - October 8 > Flashcards

Week of October 2 - October 8 Flashcards

1
Q

Tax issues are going to be addressed in the coming weeks by legislators. The White House would like to address in particular broad budget cuts. These cuts are also known as what?

A

The sequester

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2
Q

Many studies are done each year relating to the human body. According to some, what is a “blind spot” in this research?

A

Directly pitting exercise against medication

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3
Q

Mr. Albert Wheelon was a rocket scientist who developed the CIA’s network of spy satellites. He also designed some of the first long-range missile systems. Name one of these rocket models.

A

Atlas, Titan, Thor

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4
Q

Mr. Silvio Berlusconi has been in the process of trying to bring down Italy’s Prime Minister. Allegations of what crime could jeopardize his chances of doing so.

A

Tax fraud

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5
Q

Which Mexican state is home to Mexico’s Gulf and Zetas drug cartels?

A

Tamaulipas

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6
Q

Brazil’s OGX just missed a crucial bond payment. This payment triggered a credit downgrade by Standard & Poor’s to which grade?

A

D

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7
Q

HIS Cera said in a report that cheaper natural gas would create more than 300,000 jobs and half a trillion dollars in production in the next twelve years for which sector?

A

Chemicals

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8
Q

Google and the EU are moving closer to an antitrust settlement. Google wants to do this in order to avoid fines, which were levied against which similar company in the past?

A

Microsoft

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9
Q

Mexico’s REIT, or real estate investment trust, industry is still struggling. What is the abbreviation for these trusts in Mexico?

A

Fibras

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10
Q

There is a good report on payrolls from the private sector that sometimes diverges significantly from official changes in nonfarm payrolls. However, over the long run, it is almost exactly in line with official data. Which company issues this data?

A

Automatic Data Processing Inc.

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11
Q

Mr. Toure wants a finding that he defrauded investors to be overturned. His alleged fraud is related to one mortgage-linked deal in particular, which was known as what?

A

Abaeus 2007-AC1

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12
Q

When you launch a new app called Spin, you have a huge tile representing yourself and multiple smaller tiles arranged in piles. What is another name for these piles?

A

Stacks

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13
Q

Calming drinks have grown in popularity. What is the name of the ingredient in Just Chill that “promotes a Chill mentality”?

A

L-theanine (amino acid found in green tea)

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14
Q

The Syrian government has cut off food supplies to a town that was gassed in a rebel-held section of Damascus. What was the aid organization that got turned away repeatedly at military checkpoints when trying to enter the town with food?

A

Syrian Arab Red Crescent

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15
Q

U.S. energy output has been surging in recent years. This is due to the use of technology and the extraction of which types of natural gas and oil?

A

Shale-rock formations

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16
Q

While the federal health care website is still sluggish, some state exchanges have seen large enrollments already. In particular, which state has already seen over 5,000 applications over 2 days?

A

KY

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17
Q

Political unrest has been a problem in this country as of late. Which country has the highest labor taxes in the EU?

A

Italy

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18
Q

Holi festivals have been spreading across the world, including to Europe and South Africa. These festivals make money by selling Holi powder, which is also known as what?

A

Gulal

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19
Q

Lately, the power in tech in business has shifted from the CIO to what group?

A

End users

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20
Q

Louis Vuitton is planning a revamp to appear more selective. One of the ways that they are doing this is by playing down their monogram-logo bags in favor of what other products?

A

Leather products

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21
Q

Tom Clancy’s first book, “The Hunt for Red October” was a surprise best seller. Which celebrity endorsement helped to increase demand?

A

President Ronald Reagan

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22
Q

The SEC is looking into exchanges. In particular, they are reviewing whether this once critical function is now even necessary.

A

SRO (self-regulatory organization)

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23
Q

One of the most forward looking data series out there is a survey of executives, which has an impressive record for signaling the starts and ends of economic expansions. Which index is this?

A

ISM (Institute for Supply Management) nonmanufacturing index

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24
Q

Banks in Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium have hired lawyers instead of immediately selling their share of Detroit’s debt. The main reason for this is believed to be what?

A

Banks were nationalized during the crisis so they are seeking a profit for taxpayers

25
Q

Airlines are very superstitious when it comes to the number 13. What is the irrational fear of this number called?

A

Triskaidekaphobia

26
Q

Paris’s fashion week saw a diverse show from Rick Owens, who flew in this group of mostly African American people from the U.S. to be his models.

A

Step dancers

27
Q

What is the dress code at Foursquare?

A

There is not one

28
Q

Twitter’s net loss has grown by 40% this past year to $69 million. What was the main cause for this?

A

Expanding expenses

29
Q

This year, the first day of Hanukkah and Thanksgiving fall on the same day. The last time this happened was in what year?

A

1888

30
Q

There is a pattern of brokers moving from one problem firm to another. What is this also known as?

A

“cock-roaching”

31
Q

New Delhi approved a new Indian State that will be taken out of the state of Andhra Pradesh, with which it will share the capital of Hyderabad for 10 years. What is the name of this new state?

A

Telangana

32
Q

There is a large gray market in Twitter, which has to do with what?

A

Buying and selling accounts that have a following

33
Q

The government shutdown has already affected Boeing. What is the name of the governmental entity that provides finance guarantees for some of Boeing’s customers, which could affect Boeing’s payment and orders?

A

Export-Import Bank of the U.S.

34
Q

In Bangladeshi factories, sometimes there are two sets of pay slips for workers. This is because of labor laws regarding what?

A

Overtime hours & pay

35
Q

William Ackman, head of Pershing Square Capital Management LLP, has taken a $2 million loss regarding bad bets on which two companies?

A

Herbalife Ltd., J.C. Penny Co.

36
Q

As stock values decrease, what specific asset do investors buy as a haven?

A

Longer-dated Treasury bills

37
Q

Low-volatility ETFs have gained a following due to their relative steadiness in the market. However, lately investors have been pulling their money out because the expect what to happen soon?

A

Rise in interest rates

38
Q

Real estate prices in Hong Kong have been dropping as local stores have been priced out and there is a large barrier to entry. What main thoroughfare in Hong Kong has fallen victim to this?

A

Queen’s Road Central

39
Q

Some software and hardware design flaws have been hindering registrations on the federal health care exchange. What is the location of the technical problems?

A

System to confirm identities of enrollees

40
Q

Skateboarders are hurrying to enjoy all of their favorite, normally off-limits, spots in Washington D.C. What spurred the banning of them from these areas in the first place?

A

9/11

41
Q

Pro-Morsi rallies have led to clashes in Cairo on the 40th anniversary of what event?

A

Egypt’s first successful offensive against Israel in the Arab-Israeli war

42
Q

The Chief of Pakistan’s Army will retire from the military in November. This move is seen as a sign of the country moving more towards democracy. Who is this official’s name?

A

Ashfaq Parvez Kayani

43
Q

Who recently committed to increasing purchases of U.S. made products by $50 billion?

A

Wal-Mart

44
Q

GM is launching an app, called Shop-Click-Drive, that will allow consumers to bypass the dealership experience altogether. Existing dealerships can opt out of being included to sell cars on the app. What pressures has GM lately put on dealerships that might cause them to opt out of the program?

A

Pressure to renovate stores

45
Q

Social media collects large amounts of data. Finding relevant trends and usefulness from the information collected can be difficult, especially given how much is collected in the first place. What is the name for the process of finding this important information from social media?

A

Social listening

46
Q

Star hedge fund manager Bruce Berkowitz opened up his hedge fund to institutional investors. What is his goal as a manager of the fund in order to make a profit?

A

Make long-term, concentrated bets

47
Q

Puerto Rico is having trouble financially. Its debt, sold in municipal bonds, is owned by about 75% of all municipal bond mutual funds. What makes municipal bonds issued by Puerto Rico so sought after and unique?

A

Exempt from local, state and U.S. income taxes

48
Q

Where are oil futures settled physically, where several major pipelines meet?

A

Cushing, Oklahoma

49
Q

Progressive lenses, with 3 viewing zones- close-up, mid-range, and distance- can cause “swim”, which is what?

A

Objects appearing to move

50
Q

According to research, what is a characteristic of a person that uses “I” more?

A

Humble

51
Q

Which countries are implementing projects that resemble mandates of the U.S. Federal Housing Administration or Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?

A

The Netherlands, U.K., Italy

52
Q

Why is the financial impact of opening a new restaurant for Yum Brands in China greater than opening one in the U.S.?

A

all Chinese restaurants are company-owned, only 10% of them are in the U.S.

53
Q

The OFC, an off-shoot of the postcrisis regulatory onslaught, released a 31-page study that runs through the potential risks posed to the economy by the giant firms that manage money, like BlackRock Inc. What does OFC stand for?

A

Office of Financial Research

54
Q

Another financial crisis could occur if the ability to turn the most liquid assets in the world into cash. What are these assets?

A

U.S. Treasurys

55
Q

What policy has helped Xiaomi grow so much in China, the world’s largest cell phone market?

A

Discount pricing

56
Q

Alcatel-Lucent SA is cutting 15,000 jobs, as part of Chief Executive Michel Combe’s restructuring plan. What is the name for this plan?

A

The Shift Plan

57
Q

GlaxoSmithKline PLC has conducted a study on its malaria vaccine, which showed the vaccine provided partial protection against malaria 18 months after inoculation. What is the name of the vaccine?

A

RTS,S

58
Q

10 meltdowns in the past 13 months have prevented the NSA from using computers at its new data storage center located where?

A

Bluffdale, Utah

59
Q

The largest funeral in Israel’s history took place recently, with over 700,000 in attendance. To whom did people come to pay their respects?

A

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef

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