Mourning the Pope.

The world is mourning the death of Pope John Paul II, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Despite his failing health over the past several years, the Pope had continued to travel around the world, spreading a message of peace and human dignity. His body had become increasingly frail as a result of Parkinson's disease, a progressive disorder that destroys nerves controlling movement.

An official at the Vatican, the church's headquarters in Rome, said that the Pope sought to convey the idea that "life is worth living until its natural end."

John Paul II was born Karol Wojtyla (voy-TEE-wah) in 1920, in a small town in Poland. He knew great tragedy in childhood. His mother died before his ninth birthday, and a sister and brother also died young. After his mother's death, Lolek, as the young boy was called, was raised in a one-room apartment by his father, a retired army officer.

Despite his strict upbringing, the boy enjoyed listening to his father's colorful stories and playing with friends in his neighborhood. He was an excellent athlete who loved to kayak, ski, hike, and play soccer.

"Unmatched by Anyone"

Wojtyla studied for the priesthood in secret, while Nazi Germans terrorized Poland. He was ordained a priest in 1946 and elected Pope in 1978, becoming the first non-Italian since the 1500s, and the first Pole, to hold that title.

As the leader of a church with more than 1 billion followers worldwide, the Pope traveled to 129 countries, attracting huge crowds wherever he went. In naming him Man of the Year in 1994, Time magazine wrote that the Pope generated an electricity "unmatched by anyone else on earth." Time also named John Paul II one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. His "passion for both faith and freedom" said Time, helped bring about the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe.

On many social issues, such as allowing women to become priests, the Pope took a conservative stand. This disappointed Catholics who wanted the church to adapt to changing times. The College of Cardinals will now elect a new leader.

* Write the letter of the correct answer on the line before each question.

--1. John Paul II was the first-ever Roman Catholic Pope to be what?

A. Italian

B. non-Italian

C. Polish

--2. Pope John Paul II suffered from which of the following ailments?

A. cerebral palsy 

B. diabetes

C. Parkinson's disease

--3. Oil companies and environmentalists are at odds over whether to open which area for oil drilling?

A. Antarctica

B. the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 

C. the Everglades

--4. The case of Jackson v. Birmingham concerned a high school coach who had been fired for complaining about how his girls' basketball team was treated. The Supreme Court ruled that his firing was a form of what?

A. intentional sex discrimination

B. unintentional sex discrimination

C. racial prejudice

--5. Last month, explorers Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen had to call off their attempt to accomplish which feat?

A. flying a hot-air balloon across the Arctic Ocean

B. swimming across the Atlantic Ocean 

C. trekking across the Arctic Ocean

1. C

2. C

3. B

4. A

5. C