SpeechGeek continues week two of our free preview of the upcoming Extemp HOTtopics service. HOTtopics debuts on Tuesday, January 1, 2008, and features 50 weekly practice questions. In addition, HOTTopics includes a weekly brief detailing an area of important interest for extempers. Look for a sample of that later today.
Topic Brief
20071211 — Venezuela
Foreign
Is Iran really pursuing nuclear weapons?
What will be the Impact of China’s recent crackdown on NGO’s?
Should dictators have been allowed to come to the Euro-African summit?
Is fundamentalist Islam a threat to Sri Lankan stability?
Will ‘the Elders’ be able to foster more international involvement in Sudan?
What can China do to help end North Korea’s nuclear program?
Can Ahmadinijahd maintain his popularity with the Iranian people?
Should more countries take steps to regulate plastic bags?
Is the return of refugees good for Iraq?
Will a Bhutto-Sharif alliance in Pakistan become a reality?
What will be the result of Kosovo’s independence talks?
What can be done to curb global food prices?
What can be done to increase freedom of the Press in Burma?’
Is Germany Posed to become a leader in the fight against climate change?
What role should Europe play in the future of Africa?
Will the Bali conference lead to a change of international policies concerning climate change?
Were Russian Elections free and fair?
Does a “Mediterranean Union” have a political future?
How will the failure of his constitutional amendments affect Chavez control of Venezuela?
How Can Fatah gain international legitimacy?
Does corruption threaten Lula’s control over Brazil?
Are strikes a threat to the stability of Egypt?
How can Indonesia cope with its unemployment problems?
Should Germany adopt a minimum wage?
Should the US take action to prevent a resurgence of violence between Ethiopia and Eretria?
Domestic
Can Congress salvage the Energy Bill?
What impact will the election season have on genuine health care reform?
Has Mitt Romney done enough to keep his religious beliefs from interfering with his presidential ambition?
How can the southwest deal with water shortages?
What Impact will the CIA’s destruction of tapes have on the Agency?
Why are the front runners falling behind in Iowa?
Will Bill Richardson’s foreign policy experience be able to earn him a vice presidential nomination?
Will the Supreme Court force Guantanamo to shut down?
Based on recommendations: should the military replace “Don’t ask, don’t tell?”
What additional actions should be taken to address racism in the judicial system?
How will Australia’s withdraw from Kyoto and Iraq effect US-Australian relations?
What can we be done about the oil industry’s influence in Alaska?
What impact will the change in crack cocaine minimum sentences have on the drug trade?
Should Congress half the alternative minimum tax?
Is the US doing enough to combat domestic hunger?
Will Oprah be the key to Obama’s success?
Is Giuliani week on immigration?
Should the Supreme Court ban water boarding?
Is the judicial systems leniency on celebrities problematic?
Should the US stop using Blackwater domestically?
Can republicans hang on in the special election in Ohio this Thursday?
Will the Dreamliner be a boon for Boeing?
Is GE doing enough to help America go green?
Should investors be worried about the projected decrease in hirings for the first quarter?
Is enough being done to clean up the student loan industry?
