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Study Guide - this copy is hard to read, download from above for the links.
Academic WorldQuest 2012 Study Guide
Taken from the World Affairs Council of America’s Study Guide for the
National Academic WorldQuest Competition
To view the original document, go to:
http://www.worldaffairscouncils.org/2011/images/insert/AWQ2013StudyGuide.pdf
This round will consist of questions on world news and world events from June
- November 2012.
In general, we recommend reading a variety of reputable national and
international news sources. Most news sources (Wall Street Journal, BBC, CNN,
Washington Post, etc.) can be obtained free online.
U.S. Education: Competing Globally
One of the Six Top National Security Issues for the President in 2013, as
voted on by leaders of World Affairs Councils across the country, this category
focuses on the future of American education. Recent international surveys
indicate that American students’ educational performance has declined relative
to their foreign counterparts. To remain competitive, the country must reassess
the way it is educating the next generation of Americans, particularly in STEM
subjects-Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
House Committee on Education and the Workforce
Read
the Opening Statement by John Kline and Arne Duncan’s Testimony for
Reviewing the President’s Fiscal Year 2013
Budget Proposal for the U.S. Department of Education:
http://edworkforce.house.gov/Calendar/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=285605
Senate
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Read
the testimonies of each witness for The Key to America’s Global
Competitiveness: A Quality Education
http://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/hearing/?id=a9d8260e-5056-9502-5d97-
bcbec7f63d0c
Joint
Economic Committee
Read
STEM Education: Preparing for the Jobs of the
Future
http://www.jec.senate.gov/public//index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=6aaa7e1f-9586-
47be-82e7-326f47658320
White
House
Read
Everything You Need to Know: Waivers,
Flexibility, and Reforming No Child Left
Behind:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/02/09/everything-you-need-know-waivers-
flexibility-and-reforming-no-child-left-behind
o
Read
through Educate to Innovate:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/educate-innovate
o
Read
Engage to Excel: Producing One Million
Additional College Graduates with Degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast-executive-
report-final_2-13-12.pdf
Organization
for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Programme for
International Student Assessment (PISA)
o
Read
Chapter 2 and Chapter 11 of Lessons from PISA for the United
States:
http://www.oecd.org/pisa/46623978.pdf
Partnership
for 21st Century Skills
o
Read
Framework for 21st Century
Learning:
http://www.p21.org/storage/documents/1.__p21_framework_2-pager.pdf
o
Read
P21 Framework Definitions:
http://www.p21.org/storage/documents/P21_Framework_Definitions.pdf
U.S. Energy Policy
One of the Six Top National Security Issues for the President in 2013, as
voted on by leaders of World Affairs Councils across the country, this category
will address the challenges and potential opportunities for US energy policy
into the near and long-term future.
Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future
o
Read
the Preamble, Executive Summary, and Introduction of the Report
to the Secretary of Energy:
http://www.brc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/brc_finalreport_jan2012.pdf
Energy
Information Agency
o
Review
all of the tabs listed on the left-hand side of Energy Explained:
http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm
The
Pew Charitable Trusts
o
Read
pages 1-21 and 51 in Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race?:
http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Clean_Energy/Clean%20Energy%20Race%20Report%202012.pdf
International
Energy Agency
o
Read
pages 9-52 in Golden Rules for a Golden Age of
Gas:
http://www.worldenergyoutlook.org/media/weowebsite/2012/goldenrules/WEO2012_
GoldenRulesReport.pdf
American
Energy Innovation Council
o
Read
the Prelude, Summary, and Chapter 1 of Catalyzing
Ingenuity:
http://americanenergyinnovation.org/catalyzing-ingenuity-2011/
White House
o
Read
The Obama Energy Agenda: Gas Prices
(watch all included speeches):
http://www.whitehouse.gov/energy/gasprices
Senate
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
o
Watch
or read each of the witness testimonies on the US and global energy outlook for
2012:
http://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2012/1/full-committee-hearing-to-
receive-testimony-on-the-us-and-global-energy-outlook-for-2012-overflow-ro
U.S. Economic Competitiveness
One of the Six Top National Security Issues for the President in 2013, as
voted on by leaders of
World Affairs Councils across the country, this category will discuss the
relative economic power
held by the United States in the wake of the recent economic crisis and what
the US needs to do to remain competitive.
World
Economic Forum
Read
pages 3-44 of the 2011-2012 Global Competitiveness
Report:
http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GCR_Report_2011-12.pdf
The
Federal Reserve
o
Read
Chairman Ben Bernanke’s Testimony before the Joint Economic Committee:
http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/testimony/bernanke20120607a.htm
National
Academy of Sciences
o
Read
Chapter 2 of Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing
and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11463
United
States Department of Commerce
o
Read
the executive summary, chapter one and the conclusion of The
Competitiveness and Innovative Capacity of the United States
http://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2012/january/competes_010511_0.pdf
Council
on Foreign Relations
o
Read
U.S. Corporate Tax Reform
http://www.cfr.org/united-states/us-corporate-tax-reform/p27860
o
Read
U.S. Entrepreneurship and Venture
Capital:
http://www.cfr.org/united-states/us-entrepreneurship-venture-capital/p28433
o
Read
The Dodd-Frank Act
http://www.cfr.org/united-states/dodd-frank-act/p28735#p7
United
Nations
o
Read
the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2012:
Update as of mid-2012 http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/wesp/wesp_archive/2012wespupdat
e.pdf
House
Committee on Education and the Workforce
o
Read
the Testimony of Hilda Solis, U.S. Secretary of Labor:
http://edworkforce.house.gov/UploadedFiles/03.21.12_solis.pdf
China
One of the Six Top National Security Issues for the President in 2013, as
voted on by leaders of World Affairs Councils across the country, this section
will provide an overview of this growing economic, political, and military
power.
US
Department of Defense
o
Read
Military and Security Developments Involving
the People’s Republic of China
2012:
http://www.defense.gov/pubs/pdfs/2012_CMPR_Final.pdf
Department
of State
o
Read
Background Notes on China:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/18902.htm
o
Watch
and read the transcript of Secretary Clinton’s speech:
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/05/189213.htm
o
Read
Joint Statement on the 4th Round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic
Dialogue:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/05/189286.htm
Congressional
Research Service
o
Read
Understanding China’s Political
System:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41007.pdf
World
Bank
o
Read
pages 1-24 of China 2030 – Building a Modern, Harmonious, and
Creative High- Income Society:
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2012/02/28/000356161_20120228001303/Rendered/PDF/671790WP0P127500China020300complete.pdf
Council
on Foreign Relations
o
Read
entire Timeline: U.S. Relations With China:
http://www.cfr.org/china/us-relations-china-1949---present/p17698
Atlantic
Council
o
Read
A New Framework for US-China Economic
Relations:
http://www.acus.org/publication/new-framework-us-china-economic-relations
UN Millennium Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability
Each year until 2015, AWQ will feature one United Nations Development Goal.
This year’s topic will address the United Nations Development Goal #7: Ensure
Environmental Sustainability. Understanding and promoting environmentally
sustainable practices will help preserve the planet and improve human
well-being.
United Nations
o
Read
each of the Targets listed for Goal 7
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/environ.shtml
o
Read
The Millennium Development Goals
Report, Pages 46-57:
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG%20Report%202012.pdf
o
Read
The Millennium Development Goals, 2011 Progress Chart for Goal 7:
http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Resources/Static/Products/Progress2012/Progress_E.p
df
o
Read
The Millennium Development Goals Fact Sheet for Goal 7:
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG_FS_7_EN.pdf
United
Nations Environmental Program
o
Read
the Preface and Summary of Dead Planet, Living Planet: A Rapid
Response
Assessment:
http://www.unep.org/pdf/RRAecosystems_screen.pdf
United
Nations Development Program
o
Read
2011: A Year in Review: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/Environment%20and%20Energy/UN-
REDD-Programme.pdf
Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation
o
Read
World Water Forum 6, Why Sanitation:
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/speeches-commentary/Pages/frank-rijsberman-
wwf.aspx
o
Read
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Strategy
Overview: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/watersanitationhygiene/Documents/wsh-strategy-
overview.pdf
o
Read
Reinvent the Toilet:
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/infographics/Pages/reinvent-the-toilet-info.aspx
United
Nations Environmental Program
o
Read
the Preface and Summary of Dead Planet, Living Planet: A Rapid
Response
Assessment:
http://www.unep.org/pdf/RRAecosystems_screen.pdf
World
Health Organization
o
Read
the Executive Summary of Global costs and benefits of
drinking-water supply andsanitation interventions to reach the MDG target and
universal coverage:
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/2012/globalcosts.pdf
Center
For Strategic & International Studies
o
Making
Progress on Global Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
Challenges:
http://csis.org/files/publication/110810_Bliss_ProgressOnWASH_Web.pdf
Taken from the World Affairs Council of America’s Study Guide for the
National Academic WorldQuest Competition
To view the original document, go to:
http://www.worldaffairscouncils.org/2011/images/insert/AWQ2013StudyGuide.pdf
This round will consist of questions on world news and world events from June
- November 2012.
In general, we recommend reading a variety of reputable national and
international news sources. Most news sources (Wall Street Journal, BBC, CNN,
Washington Post, etc.) can be obtained free online.
U.S. Education: Competing Globally
One of the Six Top National Security Issues for the President in 2013, as
voted on by leaders of World Affairs Councils across the country, this category
focuses on the future of American education. Recent international surveys
indicate that American students’ educational performance has declined relative
to their foreign counterparts. To remain competitive, the country must reassess
the way it is educating the next generation of Americans, particularly in STEM
subjects-Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
House Committee on Education and the Workforce
Read
the Opening Statement by John Kline and Arne Duncan’s Testimony for
Reviewing the President’s Fiscal Year 2013
Budget Proposal for the U.S. Department of Education:
http://edworkforce.house.gov/Calendar/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=285605
Senate
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Read
the testimonies of each witness for The Key to America’s Global
Competitiveness: A Quality Education
http://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/hearing/?id=a9d8260e-5056-9502-5d97-
bcbec7f63d0c
Joint
Economic Committee
Read
STEM Education: Preparing for the Jobs of the
Future
http://www.jec.senate.gov/public//index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=6aaa7e1f-9586-
47be-82e7-326f47658320
White
House
Read
Everything You Need to Know: Waivers,
Flexibility, and Reforming No Child Left
Behind:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/02/09/everything-you-need-know-waivers-
flexibility-and-reforming-no-child-left-behind
o
Read
through Educate to Innovate:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/educate-innovate
o
Read
Engage to Excel: Producing One Million
Additional College Graduates with Degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast-executive-
report-final_2-13-12.pdf
Organization
for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Programme for
International Student Assessment (PISA)
o
Read
Chapter 2 and Chapter 11 of Lessons from PISA for the United
States:
http://www.oecd.org/pisa/46623978.pdf
Partnership
for 21st Century Skills
o
Read
Framework for 21st Century
Learning:
http://www.p21.org/storage/documents/1.__p21_framework_2-pager.pdf
o
Read
P21 Framework Definitions:
http://www.p21.org/storage/documents/P21_Framework_Definitions.pdf
U.S. Energy Policy
One of the Six Top National Security Issues for the President in 2013, as
voted on by leaders of World Affairs Councils across the country, this category
will address the challenges and potential opportunities for US energy policy
into the near and long-term future.
Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future
o
Read
the Preamble, Executive Summary, and Introduction of the Report
to the Secretary of Energy:
http://www.brc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/brc_finalreport_jan2012.pdf
Energy
Information Agency
o
Review
all of the tabs listed on the left-hand side of Energy Explained:
http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm
The
Pew Charitable Trusts
o
Read
pages 1-21 and 51 in Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race?:
http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Clean_Energy/Clean%20Energy%20Race%20Report%202012.pdf
International
Energy Agency
o
Read
pages 9-52 in Golden Rules for a Golden Age of
Gas:
http://www.worldenergyoutlook.org/media/weowebsite/2012/goldenrules/WEO2012_
GoldenRulesReport.pdf
American
Energy Innovation Council
o
Read
the Prelude, Summary, and Chapter 1 of Catalyzing
Ingenuity:
http://americanenergyinnovation.org/catalyzing-ingenuity-2011/
White House
o
Read
The Obama Energy Agenda: Gas Prices
(watch all included speeches):
http://www.whitehouse.gov/energy/gasprices
Senate
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
o
Watch
or read each of the witness testimonies on the US and global energy outlook for
2012:
http://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2012/1/full-committee-hearing-to-
receive-testimony-on-the-us-and-global-energy-outlook-for-2012-overflow-ro
U.S. Economic Competitiveness
One of the Six Top National Security Issues for the President in 2013, as
voted on by leaders of
World Affairs Councils across the country, this category will discuss the
relative economic power
held by the United States in the wake of the recent economic crisis and what
the US needs to do to remain competitive.
World
Economic Forum
Read
pages 3-44 of the 2011-2012 Global Competitiveness
Report:
http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GCR_Report_2011-12.pdf
The
Federal Reserve
o
Read
Chairman Ben Bernanke’s Testimony before the Joint Economic Committee:
http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/testimony/bernanke20120607a.htm
National
Academy of Sciences
o
Read
Chapter 2 of Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing
and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11463
United
States Department of Commerce
o
Read
the executive summary, chapter one and the conclusion of The
Competitiveness and Innovative Capacity of the United States
http://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2012/january/competes_010511_0.pdf
Council
on Foreign Relations
o
Read
U.S. Corporate Tax Reform
http://www.cfr.org/united-states/us-corporate-tax-reform/p27860
o
Read
U.S. Entrepreneurship and Venture
Capital:
http://www.cfr.org/united-states/us-entrepreneurship-venture-capital/p28433
o
Read
The Dodd-Frank Act
http://www.cfr.org/united-states/dodd-frank-act/p28735#p7
United
Nations
o
Read
the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2012:
Update as of mid-2012 http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/wesp/wesp_archive/2012wespupdat
e.pdf
House
Committee on Education and the Workforce
o
Read
the Testimony of Hilda Solis, U.S. Secretary of Labor:
http://edworkforce.house.gov/UploadedFiles/03.21.12_solis.pdf
China
One of the Six Top National Security Issues for the President in 2013, as
voted on by leaders of World Affairs Councils across the country, this section
will provide an overview of this growing economic, political, and military
power.
US
Department of Defense
o
Read
Military and Security Developments Involving
the People’s Republic of China
2012:
http://www.defense.gov/pubs/pdfs/2012_CMPR_Final.pdf
Department
of State
o
Read
Background Notes on China:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/18902.htm
o
Watch
and read the transcript of Secretary Clinton’s speech:
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/05/189213.htm
o
Read
Joint Statement on the 4th Round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic
Dialogue:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/05/189286.htm
Congressional
Research Service
o
Read
Understanding China’s Political
System:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41007.pdf
World
Bank
o
Read
pages 1-24 of China 2030 – Building a Modern, Harmonious, and
Creative High- Income Society:
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2012/02/28/000356161_20120228001303/Rendered/PDF/671790WP0P127500China020300complete.pdf
Council
on Foreign Relations
o
Read
entire Timeline: U.S. Relations With China:
http://www.cfr.org/china/us-relations-china-1949---present/p17698
Atlantic
Council
o
Read
A New Framework for US-China Economic
Relations:
http://www.acus.org/publication/new-framework-us-china-economic-relations
UN Millennium Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability
Each year until 2015, AWQ will feature one United Nations Development Goal.
This year’s topic will address the United Nations Development Goal #7: Ensure
Environmental Sustainability. Understanding and promoting environmentally
sustainable practices will help preserve the planet and improve human
well-being.
United Nations
o
Read
each of the Targets listed for Goal 7
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/environ.shtml
o
Read
The Millennium Development Goals
Report, Pages 46-57:
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG%20Report%202012.pdf
o
Read
The Millennium Development Goals, 2011 Progress Chart for Goal 7:
http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Resources/Static/Products/Progress2012/Progress_E.p
df
o
Read
The Millennium Development Goals Fact Sheet for Goal 7:
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG_FS_7_EN.pdf
United
Nations Environmental Program
o
Read
the Preface and Summary of Dead Planet, Living Planet: A Rapid
Response
Assessment:
http://www.unep.org/pdf/RRAecosystems_screen.pdf
United
Nations Development Program
o
Read
2011: A Year in Review: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/Environment%20and%20Energy/UN-
REDD-Programme.pdf
Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation
o
Read
World Water Forum 6, Why Sanitation:
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/speeches-commentary/Pages/frank-rijsberman-
wwf.aspx
o
Read
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Strategy
Overview: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/watersanitationhygiene/Documents/wsh-strategy-
overview.pdf
o
Read
Reinvent the Toilet:
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/infographics/Pages/reinvent-the-toilet-info.aspx
United
Nations Environmental Program
o
Read
the Preface and Summary of Dead Planet, Living Planet: A Rapid
Response
Assessment:
http://www.unep.org/pdf/RRAecosystems_screen.pdf
World
Health Organization
o
Read
the Executive Summary of Global costs and benefits of
drinking-water supply andsanitation interventions to reach the MDG target and
universal coverage:
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/2012/globalcosts.pdf
Center
For Strategic & International Studies
o
Making
Progress on Global Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
Challenges:
http://csis.org/files/publication/110810_Bliss_ProgressOnWASH_Web.pdf