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Admiral Group vs TP ICAP: which stock should investors consider for a Stocks and Shares ISA?

Motley Fool
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Admiral Group vs TP ICAP: which stock should investors consider for a Stocks and Shares ISA?


Image source: Getty Images

Smart investors are always on the hunt for stocks that can plump up their Stocks and Shares ISA with juicy dividends.

While plenty of names in the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 offer steady income, I’ve been running the numbers on two that stand out. Both provide above-average yields, both look relatively cheap, and both could fit nicely into a long-term income portfolio.

The names in question? Insurance stalwart Admiral Group (LSE: ADM) and interdealer broker TP ICAP (LSE: TCAP). On the surface, they look equally tempting, but which one comes out on top?

Admiral Group

Admiral’s about as dependable as it gets in UK insurance. The company’s been selling cover since 1991 and is now firmly embedded in the FTSE 100. Its stock’s had a cracking 2025 so far. After posting upbeat interim results on 14 August, shares surged 3.3% to a record high of 3,470p and are now up 36% year to date.

Profits are equally strong. Pre-tax profit rose 67% year on year, powered by competitive pricing and an impressive performance in its UK motor business. Analysts are starting to take notice too. Last Thursday, RBC lifted its target price for Admiral from 3,800p to 4,100p.

As for dividends, they remain a major attraction. The current yield’s a juicy 5.66%, with a payout ratio of 87.4%. Payments have been uninterrupted for 20 years and have grown 86.4% year on year. That’s exactly the sort of consistency I like to see.

Valuation’s a little less appealing. The forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio sits at 15.6, which is higher than the market average, while the price-to-book (P/B) ratio looks downright frothy at 7.7. Debt coverage is also thin. Admiral’s still an attractive dividend machine, but an investor is clearly paying a premium.

TP ICAP

TP ICAP might not be a household name, but it’s a vital cog in global financial markets. The FTSE 250 firm specialises in interdealer brokerage, working with banks to facilitate trades across interest rates, credit, derivatives, foreign exchange, and swaps.

The share price has been steadier than Admiral’s, up 7.8% this year. Results have been mixed though. In early August, it reported weaker-than-expected first-half operating profit of £189m, sending shares down 8.1%.

Dividends however look rock-solid. TP ICAP currently yields 5.8%, with a payout ratio of 70.1%. It has 20 years of uninterrupted payments, and dividends grew 8.8% year on year. Coverage looks slightly stronger than Admiral’s.

Valuation is where things get interesting. With a forward P/E ratio of 8.7 and a P/B ratio of just under 1, the stock appears relatively inexpensive compared to its peers. Debt coverage is sufficient too, giving it a sturdier balance sheet than its rival.

My verdict

On paper, Admiral looks like the stronger performer right now. Earnings growth is impressive and analysts are still raising targets. However, the stock’s pricey, and that could limit future growth.

TP ICAP’s healthier on valuation so it’s still worth considering, but weaker results leave a question mark hanging over short-term performance.

I already own shares in TP ICAP but after crunching the numbers, I’m leaning towards Admiral as the better option for a Stocks and Shares ISA. In fact, I plan to pick up a few shares next month.



This story originally appeared on Motley Fool

Homicide victim found at Burning Man. Attendees told to ‘be vigilant’

LATimes
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Homicide victim found at Burning Man. Attendees told to ‘be vigilant’


As the giant effigy of the “Man” burned in the Nevada desert, a festival-goer approached a sheriff’s deputy.

A man was lying in a pool of blood, the individual reported about 9:14 p.m. Saturday.

When the deputy, along with rangers from the Bureau of Land Management, found the man at a campsite, he was dead.

Since then, investigators have been swarming the scene, collecting evidence and interviewing neighboring campers at the nine-day Burning Man festival, which draws tens of thousands each year to a desolate area about 120 miles north of Reno for a celebration of “community, art, self-expression and self-reliance.”

The death is believed to be a homicide, Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen said in a news release Sunday. The remains of the man, who has not been identified, are with the Washoe County regional medical examiner’s office.

“Although this act appears to be a singular crime,” Allen wrote, “all participants should always be vigilant of their surroundings and acquaintances.”

The Burning Man Project, the nonprofit that organizes the festival, said in a statement on its website that it was cooperating with law enforcement and that peer support counselors were available on the grounds.

Last year, Kendra Frazer, 39, died at Burning Man after emergency personnel were unable to revive her. It was found that Frazer had died in her sleep after an asthma attack.

In 2023, Leon Reece of Truckee died at the festival after he was found unresponsive, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported. Drug intoxication was suspected in his death, according to a preliminary investigation by the Washoe County regional medical examiner’s office.

Other fatalities at the festival over the years included a man who ran into the Burning Man fire in 2018, a woman struck by a car in 2014, another woman struck by a car in 2003 and the pilot of a plane that crashed while landing at the festival’s airstrip in 2003, according to the Gazette-Journal.

Before Saturday’s grim discovery, this year’s Burning Man was punctuated by unexpected joy when a 36-year-old woman gave birth to a baby girl.

The woman was unaware she was pregnant until she went into labor in her RV on Wednesday morning, she and her husband said.

Neighboring campers, who included an obstetrician and other medical professionals, scrambled to tend to baby Aurora, who entered the world at a little over 3½ pounds. They scrounged for clean blankets, saline and other emergency medical supplies in the dusty and mud-caked camp.



This story originally appeared on LA Times

Newsom Holds Californians Hostage, Refuses to Fully Fund Prop 36 – A Measure that Passed in a Landslide to Increase Penalties for Theft and Drug Trafficking | The Gateway Pundit

TheGatewayPundit
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Newsom Holds Californians Hostage, Refuses to Fully Fund Prop 36 – A Measure that Passed in a Landslide to Increase Penalties for Theft and Drug Trafficking | The Gateway Pundit


California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) is holding Californians hostage by refusing to fully fund Proposition 36 – a measure that passed in a landslide in November 2024 that increases penalties for theft.

Proposition 36 passed in California in a landslide 71% to 21%.

California voters overwhelmingly voted to increase penalties for theft and drug trafficking after a record number of brick-and-mortar retailers closed down due to smash-and-grab robberies.

Governor Gavin Newsom (D) opposed Prop 36 because he said it’s “too harsh.”

Per LA Public Press, Prop 47 “scaled back punishments for certain nonviolent offenses for drugs and theft, which were reclassified from felonies to misdemeanors.”

Under Prop. 36, penalties will be increased, and sentences will be lengthened for drug possession and for the theft of items valued at less than $950.

Prop. 36 rolls back some of the soft-on-crime policies that California voters passed in 2014 with Prop. 47.

Newsom has only approved $100 million for prop 36 – far below the $400 million needed to fully pay for the new law.

Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman blasted Newsom for not funding prop 36.

“We will call [Newsom],” Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. “We will send him social media. We will DM him. I’ll say it right to the camera, Governor Newsom if you’re watching, get us this funding. If you want to save lives, get us this funding.”

WATCH:




This story originally appeared on TheGateWayPundit

Brits urged to eat 1 fruit before bed – ‘helps you sleep’

Express.co.uk
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Brits urged to eat 1 fruit before bed – ‘helps you sleep’


An expert has revealed that one fruit can help you get to sleep. Getting to sleep can be a real struggle for some people. There are many reasons for this, including excessive heat or general anxiety about sleeping. If you are trying to improve your sleep, then there is actually a common fruit that you can eat before bedtime, says one nutritional expert. It is important to consider what you are eating before bedtime, as things like sugar, vitamins and caffeine can affect how well you sleep.

Nutritionist Brenda Madole from MyOrThrive has revealed which foods contain naturally occurring melatonin, a hormone that can help you sleep. Melatonin is a hormone used to help people with sleep disorders. It occurs naturally in your body and rises when you go to sleep at night, returning to normal in the daytime when you are awake. Synthetic versions of melatonin are used on a short-term basis when people struggle with conditions like insomnia. However, there is one fruit that has it naturally, so it can help you sleep.

Brenda revealed that grapes are great fruits to eat before bed. They are a direct source of the sleep hormone, which helps regulate your circadian rhythm.

She explained: “What you eat in the evening can have a huge impact on your sleep quality. Certain foods naturally contain compounds that support the production of melatonin and serotonin – the hormones responsible for regulating your body’s sleep–wake cycle. Choosing the right evening snack could help you drift off faster and sleep more soundly.”

Social media users have been discovering this sleep hack, and some are praising it for helping them fall asleep. One Reddit user revealed: “I love snacking on grapes and couldn’t figure out why I’d start to get tired after eating them. I met with my sleep specialist last week, and he was the one who told me they’re a great thing to snack on about 20 minutes before bed.”

Another shared: “My grandma told me grapes before bed helped her fall asleep.”

Grapes aren’t the only food that can help you fall asleep at night. Brenda also revealed that kiwis can boost serotonin levels, helping you get to sleep. Additionally, you can try bananas, which have magnesium, which relaxes the muscles.

She added: “The key is to keep evening snacks light. Overeating or having heavy, fatty foods before bed can actually disrupt your sleep. A handful of almonds, a small bowl of oats, or a kiwi are ideal choices if you’re looking for a natural sleep aid.”



This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk

Nine people killed and dozens injured in Afghanistan earthquake | World News

SkyNews
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Nine people killed and dozens injured in Afghanistan earthquake | World News

Nine people have been killed in a 6.1 magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan.

The earthquake struck the east of the country near the Pakistan border at 11.47pm local time (8.17pm UK time) on Sunday, the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said.

At least nine people were killed and 25 were injured in Nangarhar province, according to Ajmal Darwaish, spokesman for the regional health department.

The quake’s epicentre was near Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, at a depth of 14km (8.7 miles). Jalalabad is about 119km (74 miles) away from the capital city, Kabul.

There was a second earthquake in the same province about 20 minutes later, with a magnitude of 4.5 and a depth of 10km (6.2 miles). This was later followed by a 5.2 earthquake at the same depth.

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake and strong aftershocks struck Afghanistan on 7 October 2023.

The country’s Taliban government said at least 4,000 people had been killed, but the United Nations said the death toll was around 1,500.

The 2023 earthquake is considered the deadliest natural disaster to hit Afghanistan in recent memory.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.



This story originally appeared on Skynews

Rudy Giuliani hospitalized after car accident, spokesperson says : NPR

NPR
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Rudy Giuliani hospitalized after car accident, spokesperson says : NPR


Rudy Giuliani speaks to the media outside Manhattan federal court in New York, Jan. 3, 2025.

Ted Shaffrey/AP


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Ted Shaffrey/AP

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has been hospitalized with a broken vertebrae after a car accident, his spokesperson said on Sunday.

Giuliani, 81, was traveling on a highway in New Hampshire when his car was “struck from behind at high speed,” said Michael Ragusa, who is also his head of security.

“He was transported to a nearby trauma center, where he was diagnosed with a fractured thoracic vertebrae, multiple lacerations and contusions, as well as injuries to his left arm and lower leg,” Ragusa wrote on social media. “His business partner and medical provider were promptly contacted and arrived at the hospital to oversee his care.”

Although Giuliani was injured, he is “in good spirits and recovering tremendously,” he said. The incident was not a “targeted attack,” Ragusa added, and asked people to “refrain from spreading unfounded conspiracy theories.”

Before the accident, Giuliani had been “flagged down” by a woman who was involved in a domestic violence incident and he “immediately rendered assistance and contacted 911,” Ragusa also stated. The former mayor remained on scene until law enforcement arrived to ensure the woman’s safety.

The former mayor of New York became “America’s mayor” in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center towers in the country’s largest city. He continued to be a prominent face in Republican politics, becoming a key piece of President Trump’s legal team challenging the 2020 election results, making false claims about widespread voter fraud that have been roundly debunked.

In the wake of that, Guiliani has faced significant legal troubles of his own. He was indicted in both Georgia and Arizona related to his role in attempts to overturn the 2020 election. In a separate case, Guiliani was ordered by a federal jury to pay two former Georgia election workers $148 million for defamation after he claimed the pair engaged in a fake ballot processing scheme. He was found to be in contempt of court for failing to comply with that judgement in January.



This story originally appeared on NPR

He Started Delivering Pizza In 1991 and Now Owns 270 Shops

Entrepreneur
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He Started Delivering Pizza In 1991 and Now Owns 270 Shops


In a little over three decades, Nadeem Bajwa went from being a college student struggling to pay the bills to the owner of a fast food empire, owning 270 Papa John’s locations in North America.

The 58-year-old told CNBC that he immigrated to the U.S. in 1991 from Pakistan. He attended a college in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and worked side hustles to make ends meet. One of his side jobs was delivering pizza for a local Papa John’s chain, making $4.25 an hour. His first summer in the U.S., he would wash dishes during breakfast time, deliver pizzas for Papa John’s in the afternoon, and then work at Taco Bell at night.

“I just started delivering for Papa John’s when they came in town, and from there, just started loving it, and tips were good, so that helped,” Bajwa told CNBC.

Related: Want to Start a Business? This Franchise Will Give You Up to $100,000 to Do It.

When Bajwa graduated from college in 1996, he had already worked his way up the ranks at Papa John’s, going from delivery driver to area manager. He submitted applications to corporate roles at other companies, but found that he couldn’t get a job that would pay more than what he was making at Papa John’s. He decided to stick with the pizza shop for that reason.

Bajwa’s experience running a Papa John’s store helped when he eventually decided to become a franchisee and open his own location. In 2002, he opened his own Papa John’s restaurant in East Liverpool, Ohio, saving money on startup expenses by doing most of the labor himself.

The store took $150,000 to build out and was an instant success, with more customers showing up than expected. However, the crew was undertrained and overwhelmed, and half of them walked out that first day alone.

“[At first] it was chaos,” Bajwa told CNBC. “I learned how important it is to be ready before [opening].”

Related: This Entrepreneur Turned a Weekend Side Hustle Into a Business That Doubled Margins — And Is on Track for $7 Million

That one restaurant led to another, then another. Bajwa’s goal now is to open 500 Papa John’s locations in the coming years.

Papa John’s, which was founded in 1985, has over 3,000 locations in the U.S. It usually takes an initial investment of at least $272,915 to get a Papa John’s restaurant off the ground.

In a little over three decades, Nadeem Bajwa went from being a college student struggling to pay the bills to the owner of a fast food empire, owning 270 Papa John’s locations in North America.

The 58-year-old told CNBC that he immigrated to the U.S. in 1991 from Pakistan. He attended a college in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and worked side hustles to make ends meet. One of his side jobs was delivering pizza for a local Papa John’s chain, making $4.25 an hour. His first summer in the U.S., he would wash dishes during breakfast time, deliver pizzas for Papa John’s in the afternoon, and then work at Taco Bell at night.

“I just started delivering for Papa John’s when they came in town, and from there, just started loving it, and tips were good, so that helped,” Bajwa told CNBC.

The rest of this article is locked.

Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.



This story originally appeared on Entrepreneur

US still working on trade deals despite court ruling, USTR says

NYPost
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US still working on trade deals despite court ruling, USTR says

The Trump administration is continuing its talks with trading partners despite a US appeals court ruling that most of President Trump’s tariffs are illegal, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Sunday.

“Our trading partners, they continue to work very closely with us on negotiations,” he said in an interview on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.” “People are moving forward with their deals, regardless of what this court may say in the interim.”

Greer did not say which countries the US was still in talks with, but said he had spoken with one trade minister on Saturday morning.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer did not say which countries the US is still in trade talks with. AARON SCHWARTZ/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock

The ruling threatens what has become a pillar of Trump’s foreign policy since starting his second term in the White House in January. He has used the levies imposed on imported goods to exert political pressure and renegotiate trade deals even as the tariffs have increased volatility in financial markets.

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington’s 7-4 decision on Friday said while Congress gave the president significant authority to act in response to a national emergency, lawmakers did not “explicitly include the power to impose tariffs, duties, or the like, or the power to tax.”

The decision addressed the legality of Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs set in April as well as tariffs imposed against China, Canada and Mexico in February, but does not impact those issued under other legal authority.

Trump on Friday blasted the decision and vowed to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. The appeals court said his tariffs can remain in effect through Oct. 14 to allow for appeals.

Trade experts said the Trump administration had been bracing for the ruling and preparing alternative plans to be able to proceed with its tariffs.

“If other countries are looking at this and thinking they’re going to get tariff relief, they’re in for a unpleasant surprise. There are backup options upon backup options, even if the Supreme Court ends up agreeing with the appeals court,” said Josh Lipsky, chair of international economics at the Atlantic Council think tank.

President Trump said he would challenge the appellate court’s decision at the US Supreme Court. Ron Sachs/CNP / SplashNews.com

He said one option would be to turn to Section 338 of a 1930 trade law that allows the president to impose duties of up to 50% against imports from countries that are found to discriminate against US commerce.

Trump weighed in again on Saturday in a social media post, saying “A big year ahead for the USA, maybe the BEST EVER, if the Tariffs are finally approved by the Courts!!!”

The president headed to his Virginia golf club on Sunday, ahead of Monday’s Labor Day holiday celebrating US workers.

President Trump on social media on Saturday predicted, “A big year ahead for the USA, maybe the BEST EVER, if the Tariffs are finally approved by the Courts!!!” Christopher Sadowski

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo” that the administration was optimistic the 6-3 conservative Supreme Court would back Trump’s tariffs.

Republican US Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma said companies he has talked to want the issue settled.

“Every time there’s a new court hearing, every time there’s a new change, it’s destabilizing for every one of our businesses. So let’s get all these things resolved as quickly as we possibly can,” he told NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”



This story originally appeared on NYPost

Could you be an Oklahoma teacher? Take this 34-question test and find out

NYPost
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Could you be an Oklahoma teacher? Take this 34-question test and find out

If you want to apply to be a teacher in Oklahoma, prepare a resume, references — and to take a 34-question test about civics. Here, Marissa Streit, the CEO of PragerU, which developed the test, and Ryan Walters, the superintendent of education for Oklahoma, explain the reason behind the test and respond to the backlash.

Oklahoma and PragerU have introduced a Teacher Qualification Test: a straightforward assessment to ensure educators know American civics, constitutional values, parental rights, and the basics of history and literacy. 

Before the questions were even published, national media outlets launched a coordinated smear campaign. That isn’t fair-minded criticism. It’s sabotage.

When Oklahoma asked PragerU to assist, it was not to impose ideology, but to restore competence and ensure that new teachers understand what Oklahoma’s families expect in their classrooms. 

Parents expect teachers to be able to identify the three branches of government, understand Supreme Court precedents that affect education, protect children’s innocence, and recognize why freedom of religion matters. 

That is not “extremism” — it is the bare minimum.

Instead of waiting for facts, the press pounced. That tells you everything about their motives. As Ronald Reagan warned, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” 

If our teachers don’t understand the basics, how can they prepare the next generation to defend their rights?

Americans have awakened to the problem: students are falling behind, parents feel ignored, and classrooms too often replace fundamentals with politics. 

Families want teachers who teach — not activists.

So why the outrage? Because this test challenges the left’s monopoly on classrooms. They want to control all teacher training and credentialing — and they know the way to maintain that control is by keeping parents shut out and students uninformed. Calling Oklahoma “extreme” for requiring teachers to pass the most basic of tests says far more about them than it does about us.

And let’s clear up another smear: PragerU does not “whitewash” history. Critics often attack our content without watching the videos — or worse, by pulling clips out of context to intentionally mislead viewers. Take our episode on Frederick Douglass. We quote Douglass directly: “The Constitution is a glorious liberty document.” Douglass despised slavery but worked within the system to abolish it, a powerful and inspiring lesson for children. Or consider our Columbus episode: We make clear that slavery was evil, while also expressing his attitude toward it within its historical context for accuracy. These aren’t distortions — they’re age-appropriate ways to teach truth.

The same critics who distort children’s videos are now attacking a test they haven’t seen. Why? To create a false narrative ahead of its publication because they know people remember the alarming headlines and rarely see the corrective information. 

This isn’t just about Oklahoma. It’s about whether schools serve families or bureaucrats and activists. It’s about accountability over ideology, parents over politics, and truth over lies.

Here’s our challenge: Take the Teacher Qualification Test yourself and see firsthand how clear and straightforward it really is. Then ask: why are so many on the left so desperate to paint it as sinister before anybody had the chance to look at it?

THE TEST

1. According to the Supreme Court cases Meyer v. Nebraska (1923) and Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925), who has the ultimate right to direct a child’s education?

  • A. The Superintendent of Schools
  • B. The parents
  • C. The Board of Education
  • D. The federal Department of Education

2. What is the fundamental biological distinction between males and females?

  • A. Height and weight
  • B. Blood type
  • C. Personal preference
  • D. Chromosomes and reproductive anatomy

3. How is a child’s biological sex typically identified?

  • A. Parental affirmation of child’s preference
  • B. Personal feelings
  • C. Visual anatomical observation and chromosomes
  • D. Online registration

4. Which chromosome pair determines biological sex in humans?

  • A. AA/BB
  • B. XX/XY
  • C. RH/AB
  • D. XE/XQ

5. Why is the distinction between male and female considered important in areas like sports and privacy?

  • A. For equity in minority communities
  • B. To preserve fairness, safety and integrity for both sexes
  • C. To increase participation in sports
  • D. To enhance the self-esteem of transgender children

6. Should teachers be allowed to express their own political viewpoints in the classroom in order to persuade the students to adopt their point of view?

  • A. Yes, teachers have freedom of speech, too, which does not stop at the classroom door
  • B. No, once you become a teacher, your freedom of speech in and out of the classroom is restricted
  • C. Yes, sometimes — when the issue involves civil rights or social justice
  • D. No, the classroom is not an appropriate venue for political activism

7. What did the Supreme Court rule in the 2025 case Mahmoud v. Taylor?

  • A. Gender-affirming medical procedures are allowed in America
  • B. Students must recite the Pledge of Allegiance in schools
  • C. Religious schools must hire non-religious staff
  • D. Public schools cannot require participation in LGBTQ-themed instruction without parental opt-out

8. What are the first three words of the Constitution?

  • A. In God We Trust
  • B. We the People
  • C. Life, Liberty, Happiness
  • D. The United States

9. Why is freedom of religion important to America’s identity?

  • A. It protects religious choice from government control
  • IB. t makes Christianity the national religion
  • C. It bans all forms of public worship
  • D. It limits religious teaching in the public square

10. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

  • A. The House of Lords and the House of Commons
  • B. The Judiciary and the Senate
  • C. The Executive and the Legislative
  • D. The Senate and the House of Representatives

11. How many total U.S. senators are there?

  • A. 435
  • B. 535
  • C. 100
  • D. 50

12. Why do some states have more Representatives than others?

  • A. Representation is allocated by population
  • B. They cover a larger geographic area
  • C. They have held statehood for a longer period
  • D. The number is determined by Congress

13. What is the primary responsibility of the president’s Cabinet?

  • A. Approve Supreme Court justices
  • B. Pass legislation
  • C. Sign executive orders
  • D. Advise the president

14. Who signs bills into law?

  • A. The vice president
  • B. The chief justice
  • C. The president
  • D. The speaker of the House

15. What is the highest court in the United States?

  • A. The Federal Court
  • B. The Court of Appeals
  • C. The District Court
  • D. The Supreme Court

16. In the United States, which of the following is a responsibility reserved only for citizens?

  • A. Serve on a jury
  • B. Own a home
  • C. Pay taxes
  • D. Possess a driver’s license

17. Which of the following are explicitly listed in the Bill of Rights?

  • A. Freedom of speech and religion
  • B. Voting and public education
  • C. Reproductive rights and healthcare
  • D. Freedom from data collection and surveillance

18. What right does the Second Amendment protect?

  • A. The right to hunt and fish
  • B. The right to arm the military
  • C. The right to restrict certain kinds of speech
  • D. The right to keep and bear arms

19. What is the supreme law of the United States?

  • A. Presidential Executive Orders
  • B. Laws passed by Congress and signed by the president
  • C. Laws passed by state legislatures and signed by state governors
  • D. The Constitution

20. Who wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence?

  • A. John Adams
  • B. Thomas Jefferson
  • C. John Hancock
  • D. Thomas Paine

21. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

  • A. July 4, 1778
  • B. July 4, 1787
  • C. July 4, 1776
  • D. July 4, 1619

22. What was the primary reason the colonists fought the British?

  • A. To resist the expansion of the British Empire
  • B. To main slavery
  • C. To resist taxation without representation
  • D. To resist forced military service

23. Who were the first three U.S. presidents?

  • A. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton
  • B. George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson
  • C. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison
  • D. George Washington, John Adams, Abraham Lincoln

24. Who is called the “Father of Our Country”?

  • A. Benjamin Franklin
  • B. Abraham Lincoln
  • C. Martin Luther King Jr.
  • D. George Washington

25. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

  • A. Ended Prohibition
  • B.Freed Confederate Generals
  • C. Freed the slaves in the North 
  • D. Ended slavery in the rebelling Confederate states

26. What was Abraham Lincoln’s primary reason for waging the Civil War?

  • A. To preserve states’ right
  • B. To abolish slavery
  • C. To preserve the union
  • D. To end the union

27. What cause is Martin Luther King Jr. best known for?

  • A. Advocating for segregation
  • B. Advocating for the abolition of slavery
  • C. Advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion
  • D. Advocating for racial equality under the law

28. How did the Cold War end?

  • A. The US prevailed in the Cuban Missile Crisis
  • B. Russia invaded and occupied Ukraine
  • C. The Soviet Union collapsed
  • D. The US, the European Union and the Soviet Union signed a peace treaty

29. Who was President during the Great Depression and WWII?

  • A. Woodrow Wilson
  • B. Harry S. Truman
  • C. Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • D. Theodore Roosevelt

30. What is the name of the national anthem?

  • A. “The Star-Spangled Banner”
  • B. “America the Beautiful”
  • C. “This Land is Your Land”
  • D. “God Bless America”

31. Why are there thirteen stripes on the American flag?

  • A. One for each signer of the Declaration of Independence
  • B. To honor the Thirteenth Amendment
  • C. To commemorate America’s fallen soldiers
  • D. To symbolize the original colonies

32. Which national holiday honors those who died while serving in the U.S. military?

  • A. Armistice Day
  • B. Memorial Day
  • C. Veterans Day
  • D. Flag Day

33. Which of the following is a phrase from the Pledge of Allegiance?

  • A. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness 
  • B. Of, by, and for the people
  • C. One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all
  • D. One Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all

34. From whom does the United States government derive its power?

  • A. The Supreme Court 
  • B. The people
  • C. The president
  • D. The military

ANSWERS

1. B

2. D

3. C

4. B

5.  B

6. D

7. D

8. B

9. A

10. D

11. C

12. A

13. D

14. C

15. D

16. A

17. A

18. D

19. D

20. B

21. C

22. C

23. B

24. D

25. D

26. C

27. D

28. C

29. C

30. A

31. D

32. B

33. D

34. B



This story originally appeared on NYPost

Can Matthew Stafford stay healthy? Rams’ Super Bowl aims depend on it

LATimes
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Can Matthew Stafford stay healthy? Rams’ Super Bowl aims depend on it


Davante Adams did not make any bold declarations.

After the three-time All-Pro receiver signed with the Rams, he modestly described what he could provide a team that advanced to the NFC divisional round last season.

“I’m just here to be another piece to hopefully get over the hump,” he said.

Coach Sean McVay has grander designs for a team that will be led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, and an offense also featuring Adams, receiver Puka Nacua, running back Kyren Williams and as many as four tight ends.

After Stafford worked through a back issue and finally began practicing for the Sept. 7 opener against the Houston Texans, the 17th-year pro — like Adams many months before — kept it simple.

“I’m just happy I get to be back out there,” he said.

As are the Rams, a team regarded as a legitimate threat to make a third Super Bowl appearance under McVay.

“Having Matthew back is just like, ‘Yeah, all right, we’re ready to roll,” Williams said.

Stafford, 37, remains the key for an offense aiming to score much more than last season. Stafford passed for 20 touchdowns, with eight interceptions for a unit that averaged 21.6 points per game, which ranked 20th among 32 teams.

The Rams were 15th in offense (331.4 yards per game), 10th in passing (227.5) and 24th in rushing (103.8).

The Rams adjusted Stafford’s contract last spring — he will carry a $47.5-million salary-cap number this season, according to Overthecap.com — and now he will manage a back issue while seeking a second Super Bowl title.

“There’s unfinished business for him,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said.

Wide receivers Puka Nacua, left, and Davante Adams will be at the forefront of the Rams’ passing attack this season.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Adams, 32, and Nacua, 24, are seeking their first Super Bowl titles. And they could give the Rams their first pair of 1,000-yard receivers since Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp achieved the feat in 2019.

The remaking of the offense began after last season when the Rams decided to move on from Kupp, the 2021 NFL offensive player of the year and Super Bowl LVI most valuable player.

Adams played eight seasons for the Green Bay Packers, two-plus with the Las Vegas Raiders and a half-season with the New York Jets. He has eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving seven times, including the last six in a row.

“He can win inside, he can win outside, he’s so smart, and he and Matthew really see the game through a similar lens,” McVay said.

Nacua established rookie receiving records in 2023. Despite playing in only 11 games last season, he finished with 79 catches for 990 yards and three touchdowns.

Tutu Atwell, who signed a one-year, $10-million contract, second-year pro Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith and rookie Konata Mumpfield are other receivers.

All have raved about Adams’ talent, experience and willingness to share information.

Williams carried the ball 316 times last season. In August, the Rams rewarded the fourth-year pro with a $23-million extension. McVay and LaFleur plan to give Blake Corum and, perhaps, rookie Jarquez Hunter opportunities to take the load off Williams.

“I expect, and kind of know, that my reps are going to get cut down,” Williams said. “So for me, it’s making the most of the ones I do get, and being able to not only run the ball, but contribute in the pass game, the blocking game, all that stuff.”

Running back Kyren Williams carries the ball during Rams training camp.

Running back Kyren Williams, left, will be a central component of the Rams offense, even if he doesn’t see 316 carries like last season.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Stafford and the backs will operate behind a line that has welcomed the return of center Coleman Shelton, but includes proven veteran tackles facing questions about their durability.

On Monday, left tackle Alaric Jackson, who received a $35-million extension, will be a full participant in practice for the first time since he was diagnosed with blood clots in his legs in June. Right tackle Rob Havenstein, an 11th-year pro, is coming off surgery on both shoulders.

The rushing and passing attacks are expected to morph with four tight ends — Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and rookie Terrance Ferguson — on the roster.

McVay has typically deployed one tight end. Now it could be two, three or possibly four.

“Not saying it’s going to be exponentially much more,” Higbee said, “but… when you’ve got that talent in the room you want to get it on the field and use it.”



This story originally appeared on LA Times

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