1. Please name two positive things you have heard about Cuba.

2. Please name two negative things you have heard about Cuba.

3. Which is correct: Cuba, the U.S., both, or neither?
A. Its number one sport is baseball.
B. Is a leader in communications technology including use of social media. 
C. Is a leader in bio-technology including vaccines that are used worldwide.
D. Provides education up through the university level, free of charge. 
E. Provides universal healthcare, based on a model of preventive medicine.
F. The smallest bird in the world lives in this country.
G. The smallest frog in the world lives in this country.
H. Has a much lower level of per capita wealth & income than the other country.
I. Has sent more troops than any other nation to combat the outbreak of disease Ebola in Africa.
J. Has sent more doctors than any other nation to combat the outbreak of Ebola in Africa.
K. Spends only a small fraction of what the other country does on healthcare.
L. The World Wildlife Federation has rated this country as being unique for achieving a high level of human development with a low & sustainable use of natural resources.

4. Some Questions about travel: True or False?
T/F A. Today it is easier for a Cuban to visit the U.S. than for a U.S. citizen to visit Cuba.
T/F B. Today Cuban law generally allows for its citizens to travel outside of Cuba without obtaining permission from their government.
T/F C. Today U.S. law generally allows for our citizens to travel outside of the U.S. without obtaining permission from our government.
T/F D. Today U.S. law generally allows for our citizens to travel outside of the U.S. without obtaining permission from our government, except for visiting & spending money in Cuba.
T/F E. Under U.S. law, if Cubans manage to enter the U.S. illegally, they are allowed to stay, apply for permanent residency, and then citizenship.
T/F F. Under U.S. law, if Mexicans or Haitians manage to enter the U.S. illegally, they are allowed to stay, apply for permanent residency, and then citizenship.
T/F G. If you go to Cuba, you can expect to be followed by a Cuban “minder,” who is responsible for monitoring your activities there.
T/F H. If you go to Cuba, you can expect to be followed by a U.S. “minder,” who is responsible for monitoring your activities there.
T/F J. It is now legal for Americans to go to Cuba for tourism.
T/F K. It is now legal for American tourists to visit Cuba for educational and many other purposes.

5. Some Questions about trade:
A. The Cuban economy consists of three main sectors: A) government owned, B) private entrepreneurs, and C) cooperatives — both rural and urban. Question: U.S. companies are now allowed to supply equipment and supplies to which of these? 
T/F B. According to an official U.S. briefing in February 2015, it is now legal for a U.S. company to supply heating/air conditioning equipment to a privately owned Cuban entity, but not if that will be installed in a Cuban hospital.

Some Questions about terrorism:

6. How many Americans have been killed in the U.S. for terrorism paid for or organized from Cuba?

7. How many Cubans have been killed in Cuba for terrorism paid for or organized from the U.S.?

8A. Name three countries the U.S. lists and sanctions as being state supporters of terrorism.

8B. Name three countries the U.S. does not list or sanction as being state supporters of terrorism.

9. Between the U.S & Cuba, this country continues to harbor at least one person widely understood to have killed dozens of people of the other nation as an act of terrorism.
A. Cuba
B. The U.S.
C. Both of the above
D. Neither of the above

10. What is the legal status of the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, in Cuba, where over 100 prisoners are still being held after more than a decade without charges?

Answers!

1. There are many possible responses, but often mentioned are its rich culture and warm & friendly people; healthcare and education, both free of charge; and Cuba’s health (& other) internationalism.

2. There are many possible responses, but often mentioned are communism/lack of freedom, its low level of individual or societal wealth, poor internet access and social media.

3. a. Cuba for sure; is this still true for the U.S. as it used to be?
b. U.S.
c. Both
d. Cuba
e. Cuba
f. Cuba
g. Cuba
h. Cuba
i. U.S.
j. Cuba
k. Cuba
l. Cuba

4. a. On paper, true, but in reality false, because Cubans will need both a U.S. visa and sufficient hard currency (like U.S. Dollars), which are costly and not easy to get. In contrast, most U.S. visitors can get a Cuban tourist visa for $25-30 with no questions asked.
b. True
c. True
d. True
e. True
f. False
g. False
h. True, for those on people to people educational U.S. licenses, the most common & marketed category for U.S. travelers who do not have a special status or basis to visit Cuba.
j. False
k. True (except the U.S. government cannot view them as “tourists”).

5. a. The January 2015 U.S. regulations allow for the sale/supply of U.S. products only to privately owned entities, and it is unclear to what degree U.S. companies or co-ops will be able to send supplies to Cuban cooperatives. It does not seem that the U.S. Department of Commerce had been aware of this issue.

5. b. True, as stated in a U.S. Dept. Of Commerce briefing on February 18, 2015, although an exception might be considered on a case specific basis.

6. None

7. 3,478 according to official Cuban statements, plus 2,099 permanently disabled.

8A. There are only four: Syria, Iran, Cuba and the Sudan. (As of March 2015, but Cuba was removed, effective May 29, 2015, and no Congressional challenges were introduced)

8B. The rest of the world, including the nation where most of the 9/11 attackers were from (Saudi Arabia).

9. B – The U.S.; the most prominent being Luis Posada Carriles, who told the NY Times in a recorded interview that he hired those who fatally bombed tourist hotels in Havana in the 1990’s, but he is most famous for hiring the two men who planted bombs on a civilian Cuban airliner, killing all on board in October 1976.

10. Occupied by the U.S. based on a 1905 agreement that was imposed on Cuba as a condition for U.S. troops leaving the island; the agreement states that it may be used as a naval and “coaling” (re-fueling) station only, and “for no other purpose.”