Background information: In 2012, President Obama and Congress debated the issue of taxes and tax cuts. In this speech, President Obama is discussing the effects of a potential tax increase. A typical middle-class family of four would see its income taxes go up by $2,200. That's $2,200 out of people's pockets. That means less money for buying groceries, less money for filling prescriptions, less money for buying diapers. . . . . . . Businesses can't afford it either. . . . Economists predict that if taxes go up on the middle class next year, consumers will spend nearly $200 billion less on things like cars and clothes and furniture - and that obviously means fewer customers. That cuts into business profits. That makes businesses less likely to invest and hire, which means fewer jobs. And that can drag our entire economy down. —President Barack Obama, November 28, 2012 Which statements best communicate the main idea of this speech? Check all that apply. Increased taxation on the middle class will improve the economy. Lower taxes increase consumer spending. Increased consumer spending strengthens the economy. Higher taxes will have a severe impact on citizens. Spending on social needs is a low priority.

Middle schoolhistory 5+3 pts 1. the pacific islands formed by coral reefs are called (1 point) a. volcanic. b. reefs. c. atolls. d. plates. 2. what is a reason few people have settled in the interior of australia? (1 point) a. no mineral wealth is in the area. b. land is too expensive. c. the area is too dangerous. d. the area has little water and arable land. 3. what was one effect of plate movement on the pacific region? (1 point) a. australia and new zealand became b. connected to north america. c. plate movement isolated many species. few volcanoes formed. d. the regional climate grew much colder. 4. you live on a small island in the pacific ocean. though beautiful, your island has poor soil for farming and few natural resources. you most likely live (1 point) a. on a densely populated island. b. on the south island of new zealand. c. in new guinea on a volcanic island off the coast of australia. d. on a low island. 5. which change would most likely have to take place first to encourage more human settlement in the outback? (1 point) a. the climate would need to get warmer. b. the winters would need to be milder. c. the region would need more fertile land and water d. people would need to build more cities there. 6. what would be an example of how the maori are reclaiming their culture? (1 point) a. learning english b. playing rugby and other sports c. studying maori culture in schools d. learning how to cook asian cuisine 7. what conclusion can correctly be made about british colonization of this area? (1 point) a. the british policies embraced the cultures of the original inhabitants. b. the british disregarded the cultures of the original inhabitants. c. the british had a neutral policy toward native cultures. d. none of the above plz answer these