Weekly Review Quiz As of 2008-08-14

Weekly Review Quiz as of 2008-10-30 Economics: Micro

Microsoft Battles Low-Cost Rival for Africa by Steve Stecklow 10/28/2008 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122332198757908625.html

1. Microsoft Corp.’s biggest threat to entering the sub-Saharan African computer market is

* a) the Linux operating system. b) the $100 laptop. c) the iMac. d) intermittent electricity outages. e) the unwillingness of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to fund computers for African schools.

Bargain Hunters Help Shrink Housing Glut by James R. Hagerty 10/28/2008 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122514834086373809.html

2. A quarterly Wall Street Journal survey of housing data in 28 major metro areas shows that a) housing markets in these metro areas are largely dysfunctional. b) mortgage rates are too low. c) the glut of unsold homes listed for sale is growing in most of them. * d) the glut of unsold homes listed for sale is shrinking in most of them. e) the glut of unsold homes listed for sale is largely unchanged in most of them.

In Drug Case, Justices to Weigh Right to Sue by Alicia Mundy and Shirley S. Wang 10/27/2008 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122506300017470355.html

3. The Supreme Court will hear a case next week important to the pharmaceutical industry about a) lengthening patent terms from 14 to 20 years. b) reducing patent terms from 14 to 12 years. * c) a consumer safety case which could result in a decision that would greatly reduce the right of consumers to sue drug companies for deaths or injuries caused by medications. d) a consumer safety case which could result in a decision that would greatly increase the right of consumers to sue drug companies for deaths or injuries caused by medications. e) banning the re-importation of pharmaceuticals. Hospitals Seek to Limit Use of Transfusions by Laura Landro 10/29/2008 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122523396064077821.html

4. Hospitals are adopting stricter measures to manage their blood supplies due to a) rising blood costs. b) mounting safety concerns. c) a shrinking pool of potential donors. d) rising blood costs and mounting safety concerns. * e) all of the above.

Voters' New Choice: Dueling Tax Breaks by Tom Herman 10/29/2008 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122523730123678091.html

5. In the current presidential election, either John McCain or Barrack Obama propose the following: a) Sen. McCain proposes a maximum tax rate of 10% on money that older people withdraw from accounts such as IRAs and 401(k) plans in 2008 and 2009. b) Sen. Obama wants to eliminate capital-gains taxes on investments made in small and start-up businesses c) Sen. McCain proposes cutting the top capital-gains rate on long-term securities, now 15%, to 7.5% in 2009 and 2010. d) Sen. Obama wants to temporarily suspend taxes on unemployment-insurance benefits. * e) All of the above.