NewsTracker Answers for week of Mar. 08, 2010

Q: Voters in Switzerland have rejected a proposal to introduce a nationwide system of state-funded lawyers to represent animals in court. Where is Switzerland?

Circle the area on this map

Q: The lawyers-for-animals vote is the latest example of Switzerland's "direct democracy" in which 100,000 signatures from eligible voters can force a nationwide referendum on any issue. But, the ranks of Swiss voters did not include women until . . .

A. 1945

B. 1959

C. 1971

D. 1990

B. Women gained the right to vote in some local elections in 1959 and federal elections in 1971. One region, known as a canton, denied women the right to vote in its elections until 1990. Switzerland is a confederation of 26 cantons.

Q: Switzerland is surrounded by Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy and France? Which of the following IS NOT an official language of Switzerland?

A. German

B. French

C. Italian

D. English

D. Switzerland has four official languages - German (spoken by 63.7% of the Swiss), French (20.4%), Italian (6.5%) and Romansch (0.5%). Other languages include Serbo-Croatian (1.5%), Albanian (1.3%), Portuguese (1.2%), Spanish (1.1%) and English (1%).

Q: Which side did Switzerland join in World War II?

A. Germany and the Axis

B. France and the Allies

C. Neither

C. Although Germany had plans to invade the country, Switzerland was able to remain neutral and independent in World War II. The country has a long history of neutrality and has not been at war with any other nation since 1815.

Q: Switzerland occupies the center of which mountain range?

A. Alps

B. Balkans

C. Caucasus

D. Pyrenees

A. The Alps cover 65 percent of Switzerland's surface area. The mountain range stretches from Austria and Slovenia in the east; through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany; to France in the west.