20 questions: A trip down memory lane

1. In February, what entertainment labor union ended its 100-day strike?

A. Screen Actors Guild

B. Writers Guild of America

C. Directors Guild of America

D. International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees

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2. Which of these did NOT hit a record in 2008?

A. Price of oil

B. Home foreclosures

C. U.S. unemployment rate

D. Credit card debt

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3. When its last competitor dropped out early in the year, Blu-ray emerged as the winner in the competition for a new high-definition DVD format. Blu-ray was backed primarily by what company?

A. Panasonic

B. Toshiba

C. Mitsubishi

D. Sony

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4. Match the acquiring company with the company it announced it would buy in 2008:

Acquirer

A. JPMorgan Chase

B. Wells Fargo

C. Bank of America

D. Verizon

E. InBev

Acquiree

a. Alltel

b. Countrywide Financial

c. Washington Mutual

d. Anheuser-Busch

e. Wachovia

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5. Henry Samueli and Henry T. Nicholas III were charged in 2008 in an alleged scheme to manipulate stock options for employees of their Irvine microchip manufacturing company. (Samueli pleaded guilty to lying to investigators; Nicholas' case is pending.) What is the name of their company?

A. Worldcom

B. Broadcom

C. Viacom

D. Dotcom

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6. In February, Microsoft launched an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to acquire what high-technology company?

A. Google

B. Cisco Systems

C. Apple

D. Yahoo

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7. The Fed agreed in March to assume the management of nearly $30 billion in troubled assets from Bear Stearns Cos. so the failing brokerage could be purchased by what company?

A. Goldman Sachs

B. JPMorgan Chase

C. Merrill Lynch

D. Lehman Bros.

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8. In March, a judge ordered which company to pay more than $100 million to employees to cover tips that had been unlawfully given to supervisors?

A. Starbucks

B. Olive Garden

C. Red Lobster

D. Macaroni Grill

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9. A salmonella outbreak that sickened more than 1,300 people beginning in April was first blamed on tomatoes, but investigators later linked it to what?

A. carrots

B. lettuce

C. jalapeno peppers

D. cabbage

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10. Which airline canceled more than 3,300 flights in April because of missed aircraft inspections?