Upfront quiz 1.

• Position: United States elections

FILL IN THE BLANK

DIRECTIONS: Write the correct answer on the line provided.

1. In the midterm elections, voters are choosing one third of the Senate, all 435 members of the House of Representatives, and 36 --.

2. Democrats are wary of challenging President Bush's foreign policy because they don't want to appear soft on the issue of national --.

3. If the midterm elections give control of Congress to the Republicans, President Bush could pursue his ongoing battle against--without worrying about congressional criticism.

4. Democrats in Congress have been able to hold up President Bush's ability to appoint 50 new --. The Democrats argue that the President's nominees are too conservative.

5. Currently, Democrats are also holding up President Bush's efforts to ease federal regulation of the environment and --.

6. A Republican victory on Nov. 5 would also give a boost to President Bush's plan for spending on the --.

7. If voters turn their backs on the President and give control of Congress to the Democrats, that would force the President to compromise on federal spending for prescription drugs for--citizens.

8. If Democrats take control of the Congress, they would also put a high priority on--benefits for those who have lost their jobs during the current economic downturn.

9. Voters' focus began to change after President Bush spoke at the United Nations. Many voters turned their eyes from the poor economy and corporate scandals to foreign affairs, specifically --.

10. Conflict between Democrats and Republicans rose sharply after President Bush accused Senate Democrats of holding up progress on the Department of--Security, a new agency charged with investigating terrorist threats. The President said these Democrats were more interested in work rules for the department's employees than in the security of the American people.

11. Democratic Party officials were buoyed by a public opinion poll about a month before the election which revealed that voters were more interested in -- issues than foreign affairs.

12. As evidence of corruption piled up against Sen. Robert Torricelli of --, Democratic Party leaders persuaded him to drop out of the Nov. 5 race and be replaced by a new candidate.

13. Voters' attention is drawn not only to national and international issues, but also to local concerns. In Texas, for example, voters are up in arms about rate hikes by the unregulated insurance industry. The reason? -- is rotting the walls of homes.

14. In the 2000 presidential...