Glacial bodies larger than 50,000 km2 (19,000 sq mi) are called ice sheets or continental glaciers. Several kilometers deep, they obscure the underlying topography. Only nunataks protrude from their surfaces. The only extant ice sheets are the two that cover most of Antarctica and Greenland. They contain vast quantities of fresh water, enough that if both melted, global sea levels would rise by over 70 m (230 ft). Portions of an ice sheet or cap that extend into water are called ice shelves; they tend to be thin with limited slopes and reduced velocities. Narrow, fast-moving sections of an ice sheet are called ice streams. In Antarctica, many ice streams drain into large ice shelves. Some drain directly into the sea, often with an ice tongue, like Mertz Glacier.

At what dimensions are glaciers called ice sheets or continental glaciers?

50,000 km2 (19,000 sq mi)

How many extant ice sheets exist?

two

How much would global sea levels rise if Greenland and Antartica's glaciers were to melt?

70 m (230 ft)

What is the term for ice that protrude's from a glacier's surface?

nunataks

Narrow, fast-moving pathways on an ice sheet are called what?

ice streams

What are glaciers smaller it in 50,000 km² called?

I'm not sure.

What can often be seen beneath the sheets?

I'm not sure.

Where a sheets now extinct?

I'm not sure.

What are ice sheets that cover the sea called?

I'm not sure.

What you shelves become is a melt?

I'm not sure.


Tidewater glaciers are glaciers that terminate in the sea, including most glaciers flowing from Greenland, Antarctica, Baffin and Ellesmere Islands in Canada, Southeast Alaska, and the Northern and Southern Patagonian Ice Fields. As the ice reaches the sea, pieces break off, or calve, forming icebergs. Most tidewater glaciers calve above sea level, which often results in a tremendous impact as the iceberg strikes the water. Tidewater glaciers undergo centuries-long cycles of advance and retreat that are much less affected by the climate change than those of other glaciers.

What are glaciers called that end in the sea?

Tidewater glaciers

Most glaciers from Greenland, Antarctica, and Southeast Alaska are of which type?

Tidewater glaciers

Are tidewater glaciers more or less affected by climate change than other glaciers?

much less

Do tidewater glaciers calve above or below sea level?

above

How are icebergs formed?

As the ice reaches the sea, pieces break off, or calve

What are tidal glaciers?

I'm not sure.

Hetero icebergs form glaciers?

I'm not sure.

What affects tidewater glaciers more than others?

I'm not sure.

What type of glaciers have been retreating for centuries?

I'm not sure.


Thermally, a temperate glacier is at melting point throughout the year, from its surface to its base. The ice of a polar glacier is always below freezing point from the surface to its base, although the surface snowpack may experience seasonal melting. A sub-polar glacier includes both temperate and polar ice, depending on depth beneath the surface and position along the length of the glacier. In a similar way, the thermal regime of a glacier is often described by the temperature at its base alone. A cold-based glacier is below freezing at the ice-ground interface, and is thus frozen to the underlying substrate. A warm-based glacier is above or at freezing at the interface, and is able to slide at this contact. This contrast is thought to a large extent to govern the ability of a glacier to effectively erode its bed, as sliding ice promotes plucking at rock from the surface below. Glaciers which are partly cold-based and partly warm-based are known as polythermal.

From where is the temperature of a glacier measured?

base alone

Which type of glacier is above or at freezing at it's interface and is able to slide?

warm-based glacier

What temperature makes a glacier polythermal?

partly cold-based and partly warm-based

What temperature determines a polar glacier?

always below freezing point from the surface to its base

What temperature characteristic determines a temperate glacier?

melting point throughout the year, from its surface to its base

What temperature is a polar glacier always above?

I'm not sure.

What temperature is a temperate glacier always above?

I'm not sure.

What two types of ice are contained in a polar glacier?

I'm not sure.

Why are warm based glaciers not able to slide?

I'm not sure.

Why is it cold basically sure able to slide?

I'm not sure.


Glaciers form where the accumulation of snow and ice exceeds ablation. The area in which a glacier forms is called a cirque (corrie or cwm) - a typically armchair-shaped geological feature (such as a depression between mountains enclosed by arêtes) - which collects and compresses through gravity the snow which falls into it. This snow collects and is compacted by the weight of the snow falling above it forming névé. Further crushing of the individual snowflakes and squeezing the air from the snow turns it into 'glacial ice'. This glacial ice will fill the cirque until it 'overflows' through a geological weakness or vacancy, such as the gap between two mountains. When the mass of snow and ice is sufficiently thick, it begins to move due to a combination of surface slope, gravity and pressure. On steeper slopes, this can occur with as little as 15 m (50 ft) of snow-ice.

Under what circumstances do glaciers form?

where the accumulation of snow and ice exceeds ablation

What is a cirque?

The area in which a glacier forms

What shape is a cirque, generally?

armchair-shaped

How much ice and snow is minimally necessary to begin to slide on steep glaciers?

15 m (50 ft)

What forms were snow and ice accumulation is equal to its melting

I'm not sure.

What geological features formed by glaciers?

I'm not sure.

What happens in a minimum of 15 feet of snow?

I'm not sure.

What causes a glaciers stop moving?

I'm not sure.


Glaciers are broken into zones based on surface snowpack and melt conditions. The ablation zone is the region where there is a net loss in glacier mass. The equilibrium line separates the ablation zone and the accumulation zone; it is the altitude where the amount of new snow gained by accumulation is equal to the amount of ice lost through ablation. The upper part of a glacier, where accumulation exceeds ablation, is called the accumulation zone. In general, the accumulation zone accounts for 60–70% of the glacier's surface area, more if the glacier calves icebergs. Ice in the accumulation zone is deep enough to exert a downward force that erodes underlying rock. After a glacier melts, it often leaves behind a bowl- or amphitheater-shaped depression that ranges in size from large basins like the Great Lakes to smaller mountain depressions known as cirques.

What characteristics determine glacial zones?

surface snowpack and melt conditions

Which glacial zone area reports a net-loss in glacial mass?

ablation zone

What is the name of the line seperating the ablation zone from the accumulation zone?

equilibrium line

How much glacial surface area is typically considered accumulation zone?

What is based on suface ice and melt conditions?

I'm not sure.

Wht line marks the center of the glacier?

I'm not sure.

What does the abilation zone cover 60-70% of?

I'm not sure.

What forces underlying rock upward?

I'm not sure.

What lakes where formed from a mountain depression

I'm not sure.


The top 50 m (160 ft) of a glacier are rigid because they are under low pressure. This upper section is known as the fracture zone and moves mostly as a single unit over the plastically flowing lower section. When a glacier moves through irregular terrain, cracks called crevasses develop in the fracture zone. Crevasses form due to differences in glacier velocity. If two rigid sections of a glacier move at different speeds and directions, shear forces cause them to break apart, opening a crevasse. Crevasses are seldom more than 46 m (150 ft) deep but in some cases can be 300 m (1,000 ft) or even deeper. Beneath this point, the plasticity of the ice is too great for cracks to form. Intersecting crevasses can create isolated peaks in the ice, called seracs.

Why are the tops of glaciers rigid?

they are under low pressure

Which zone is the top of the glaciers?

fracture zone

Why are glacial crevices formed?

differences in glacier velocity

What are seracs?

isolated peaks in the ice

Most crevices are no deeper than what measure?

46 m (150 ft)

Why is the lower 50m of a glacier rigid?

I'm not sure.

What is the free flowing upper section known as?

I'm not sure.

what forms where glaciers are unable to move?

I'm not sure.

What happens when two ridgid sections of a glacier collide?

I'm not sure.

What point do sercas form above?

I'm not sure.


Crevasses can form in several different ways. Transverse crevasses are transverse to flow and form where steeper slopes cause a glacier to accelerate. Longitudinal crevasses form semi-parallel to flow where a glacier expands laterally. Marginal crevasses form from the edge of the glacier, due to the reduction in speed caused by friction of the valley walls. Marginal crevasses are usually largely transverse to flow. Moving glacier ice can sometimes separate from stagnant ice above, forming a bergschrund. Bergschrunds resemble crevasses but are singular features at a glacier's margins.

Which crevasses form on the edge of the glacier?

Marginal crevasses

Why do marginal crevasses form on the edge of a glacier?

reduction in speed caused by friction of the valley walls

What do bergschrunds resemble?

crevasses

How are bergschrunds different than crevasses?

singular features at a glacier's margins

Where do transverse crevasses form?

where steeper slopes cause a glacier to accelerate

What kind of crevasses form where steep slopes cause glaciers to deccelerate?

I'm not sure.

What kind of crevasses form where glaciers contract laterally?

I'm not sure.

What kind of crevasses form at the edge of a glacier due to an increase in speed?

I'm not sure.

What is formed when moving ice seperates from sragnant ice below?

I'm not sure.

What margins to crevasses form at?

I'm not sure.


Mean speeds vary greatly, but is typically around 1 m (3 ft) per day. There may be no motion in stagnant areas; for example, in parts of Alaska, trees can establish themselves on surface sediment deposits. In other cases, glaciers can move as fast as 20–30 m (70–100 ft) per day, such as in Greenland's Jakobshavn Isbræ (Greenlandic: Sermeq Kujalleq). Velocity increases with increasing slope, increasing thickness, increasing snowfall, increasing longitudinal confinement, increasing basal temperature, increasing meltwater production and reduced bed hardness.

In what area of Greenland can glaciers move 20-30m per day?

Jakobshavn Isbræ

Increasing slope, thickness, snowfall, longitudinal confinement, basal temperature, and meltwater production result in increased what?

Velocity

How far do glaciers generally move per day?

1 m (3 ft)

Why are some glaciers stagnant in Alaska?

trees can establish themselves on surface sediment deposits

What typically moves at around 3 meters a day?

I'm not sure.

What grows on moving glaciers in Alaska?

I'm not sure.

What makes some glaciers stagnant?

I'm not sure.

What causes increased thickness?

I'm not sure.


A few glaciers have periods of very rapid advancement called surges. These glaciers exhibit normal movement until suddenly they accelerate, then return to their previous state. During these surges, the glacier may reach velocities far greater than normal speed. These surges may be caused by failure of the underlying bedrock, the pooling of meltwater at the base of the glacier — perhaps delivered from a supraglacial lake — or the simple accumulation of mass beyond a critical "tipping point". Temporary rates up to 90 m (300 ft) per day have occurred when increased temperature or overlying pressure caused bottom ice to melt and water to accumulate beneath a glacier.

What is a glacial surge?

periods of very rapid advancement

What failure causes surges?

failure of the underlying bedrock

At what rate have glaciers travelled during surges?

90 m (300 ft) per day

What is the term for a gradual increase in a glaciers speed?

I'm not sure.

What is caused by underground water?

I'm not sure.

What does accumulaion of rock under the glacier cause?

I'm not sure.


In glaciated areas where the glacier moves faster than one km per year, glacial earthquakes occur. These are large scale temblors that have seismic magnitudes as high as 6.1. The number of glacial earthquakes in Greenland peaks every year in July, August and September and is increasing over time. In a study using data from January 1993 through October 2005, more events were detected every year since 2002, and twice as many events were recorded in 2005 as there were in any other year. This increase in the numbers of glacial earthquakes in Greenland may be a response to global warming.

How far does a glacier have to move to cause glacial earthquakes?

one km per year

How high can the seismic magnitude be of a glacial earthquake?

Are Greenland's glacial earthquakes increasing or decreasing as time goes on?

increasing

During which months do glacial earthquakes peak in Greenland?

July, August and September

In what year were twice as many glacial earthquakes seen than in any other year in Greenland?

What occurs where glaciers are moving slower than 1 km per day?

I'm not sure.

What peaks Every July in Iceland?

I'm not sure.

What is causing a decrease in Greenlands glacial earthquakes?

I'm not sure.

What has been decreasing over time?

I'm not sure.


Ogives are alternating wave crests and valleys that appear as dark and light bands of ice on glacier surfaces. They are linked to seasonal motion of glaciers; the width of one dark and one light band generally equals the annual movement of the glacier. Ogives are formed when ice from an icefall is severely broken up, increasing ablation surface area during summer. This creates a swale and space for snow accumulation in the winter, which in turn creates a ridge. Sometimes ogives consist only of undulations or color bands and are described as wave ogives or band ogives.

What are ogives?

alternating wave crests and valleys that appear as dark and light bands of ice on glacier surfaces

What does the width of one dark and one light band measure?

annual movement of the glacier

How are ogives formed?

when ice from an icefall is severely broken up, increasing ablation surface area during summer

Under what conditions are ogives called wave or band ogives?

consist only of undulations or color bands

what is the term for crests of ice on the glaciers surface?

I'm not sure.

What is formed when an icefall is covered up?

I'm not sure.

What do ogives prevent from accumulating?

I'm not sure.

What is made of both undulations and color bands?

I'm not sure.


Glaciers are present on every continent and approximately fifty countries, excluding those (Australia, South Africa) that have glaciers only on distant subantarctic island territories. Extensive glaciers are found in Antarctica, Chile, Canada, Alaska, Greenland and Iceland. Mountain glaciers are widespread, especially in the Andes, the Himalayas, the Rocky Mountains, the Caucasus, and the Alps. Mainland Australia currently contains no glaciers, although a small glacier on Mount Kosciuszko was present in the last glacial period. In New Guinea, small, rapidly diminishing, glaciers are located on its highest summit massif of Puncak Jaya. Africa has glaciers on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, on Mount Kenya and in the Rwenzori Mountains. Oceanic islands with glaciers occur on Iceland, Svalbard, New Zealand, Jan Mayen and the subantarctic islands of Marion, Heard, Grande Terre (Kerguelen) and Bouvet. During glacial periods of the Quaternary, Taiwan, Hawaii on Mauna Kea and Tenerife also had large alpine glaciers, while the Faroe and Crozet Islands were completely glaciated.

How many countries contain glaciers?

fifty

Which continent contains glaciers?

every continent

Which mountain ranges contain glaciers?

Andes, the Himalayas, the Rocky Mountains, the Caucasus, and the Alps

Where are glaciers in Africa located?

Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, on Mount Kenya and in the Rwenzori Mountains

Which sub-antarctic islands have glaciers?

Marion, Heard, Grande Terre (Kerguelen) and Bouvet

What are found on every coninant including Australia?

I'm not sure.

What sub-arctic islands do not have glaciers?

I'm not sure.

What Australian mountain has a glacier?

I'm not sure.

What are spreading rapidly in New Guinea?

I'm not sure.


The permanent snow cover necessary for glacier formation is affected by factors such as the degree of slope on the land, amount of snowfall and the winds. Glaciers can be found in all latitudes except from 20° to 27° north and south of the equator where the presence of the descending limb of the Hadley circulation lowers precipitation so much that with high insolation snow lines reach above 6,500 m (21,330 ft). Between 19˚N and 19˚S, however, precipitation is higher and the mountains above 5,000 m (16,400 ft) usually have permanent snow.

Do glaciers require permanent snow or only temporary coverage?

permanent snow cover

Between which north latitudes are glaciers not found?

20° to 27° north

Between which latitudes to mountains tend to have permanent snow?

19˚N and 19˚S

Why do mountains between 19N and 19S tend to have snow?

precipitation is higher

What affects the perminant ice layer needed for glaciers to form?

I'm not sure.

What can be found in every country from 20 degrees to 27 degess north and south of the equator?

I'm not sure.

At what lattitudes does the Hadley circulation rais percipitation?

I'm not sure.

At what latitudes does low percipitation lead to permanent snow?

I'm not sure.


Even at high latitudes, glacier formation is not inevitable. Areas of the Arctic, such as Banks Island, and the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica are considered polar deserts where glaciers cannot form because they receive little snowfall despite the bitter cold. Cold air, unlike warm air, is unable to transport much water vapor. Even during glacial periods of the Quaternary, Manchuria, lowland Siberia, and central and northern Alaska, though extraordinarily cold, had such light snowfall that glaciers could not form.

Which areas in Antartica are considered polar deserts?

Banks Island, and the McMurdo Dry Valleys

Why can't glaciers form in polar deserts?

they receive little snowfall

Does cold or warm air facilitate the transport of water vapor?

warm air

What is inevitable at hight latitudes?

I'm not sure.

What kind of deserts do glaciers form in?

I'm not sure.

What does cold air transport?

I'm not sure.

What formed in central and north Alaska during the last ice age due to the extreme cold?

I'm not sure.


Glacial abrasion is commonly characterized by glacial striations. Glaciers produce these when they contain large boulders that carve long scratches in the bedrock. By mapping the direction of the striations, researchers can determine the direction of the glacier's movement. Similar to striations are chatter marks, lines of crescent-shape depressions in the rock underlying a glacier. They are formed by abrasion when boulders in the glacier are repeatedly caught and released as they are dragged along the bedrock.

What cause glacial stiations?

large boulders that carve long scratches in the bedrock

What can scientists deduct from the direction of the striations?

direction of the glacier's movement

What are chatter marks?

lines of crescent-shape depressions in the rock underlying a glacier

How are chatter marks formed?

abrasion when boulders in the glacier are repeatedly caught and released

What charactrerizes glacial striations?

I'm not sure.

What is formed when glaciers lack boulders?

I'm not sure.

What helps scientists determine the speed of a glacier?

I'm not sure.

What is formed when glaciers crush boulders?

I'm not sure.


Glacial moraines are formed by the deposition of material from a glacier and are exposed after the glacier has retreated. They usually appear as linear mounds of till, a non-sorted mixture of rock, gravel and boulders within a matrix of a fine powdery material. Terminal or end moraines are formed at the foot or terminal end of a glacier. Lateral moraines are formed on the sides of the glacier. Medial moraines are formed when two different glaciers merge and the lateral moraines of each coalesce to form a moraine in the middle of the combined glacier. Less apparent are ground moraines, also called glacial drift, which often blankets the surface underneath the glacier downslope from the equilibrium line.

When are glacial moraines visible?

after the glacier has retreated

How are glacial moraines formed?

deposition of material from a glacier

Where are lateral moraines found?

sides of the glacier

How are medial moraines formed?

when two different glaciers merge and the lateral moraines of each coalesce to form a moraine in the middle of the combined glacier

What are ground moraines also called?

glacial drift

What are no longer visable after a glacier retreats?

I'm not sure.

What type of moraines are formed at the begining of the glacier?

I'm not sure.

What mraines are formed when two ice sheets meet?

I'm not sure.

What blankets the surface of a glacier?

I'm not sure.

What are upslope from the equilibrium line?

I'm not sure.


Before glaciation, mountain valleys have a characteristic "V" shape, produced by eroding water. During glaciation, these valleys are widened, deepened, and smoothed, forming a "U"-shaped glacial valley. The erosion that creates glacial valleys eliminates the spurs of earth that extend across mountain valleys, creating triangular cliffs called truncated spurs. Within glacial valleys, depressions created by plucking and abrasion can be filled by lakes, called paternoster lakes. If a glacial valley runs into a large body of water, it forms a fjord.

What shape do mountain valleys have pre-glacation?

characteristic "V" shape

What gives mountain vallys their characteristic "V" shape before glacation?

eroding water

How is a fjord formed?

a glacial valley runs into a large body of water

What shape do glacial valleys have after being widened by glacation?

"U"-shaped

What has a V shape after a glacier recedes?

I'm not sure.

What are U shaped before glaciation?

I'm not sure.

What fills depressions to form fjord?

I'm not sure.

What do glacial valleys run into to form paternoster lakes?

I'm not sure.


At the start of a classic valley glacier is a bowl-shaped cirque, which has escarped walls on three sides but is open on the side that descends into the valley. Cirques are where ice begins to accumulate in a glacier. Two glacial cirques may form back to back and erode their backwalls until only a narrow ridge, called an arête is left. This structure may result in a mountain pass. If multiple cirques encircle a single mountain, they create pointed pyramidal peaks; particularly steep examples are called horns.

On which side is a cirque opened?

the side that descends into the valley

Where does ice start accululating in a glacier?

Cirques

What is a narrow ridge formed by two cirques eroding back to back called?

arête

What are extremely steep cirques called?

horns

How many sides are closed in a typical cirque?

three sides

What is on the side that ascends out of a valley?

I'm not sure.

What do cirques gorm in mountains?

I'm not sure.

What are shallow cirques called?

I'm not sure.


Some rock formations in the path of a glacier are sculpted into small hills called roche moutonnée, or "sheepback" rock. Roche moutonnée are elongated, rounded, and asymmetrical bedrock knobs that can be produced by glacier erosion. They range in length from less than a meter to several hundred meters long. Roche moutonnée have a gentle slope on their up-glacier sides and a steep to vertical face on their down-glacier sides. The glacier abrades the smooth slope on the upstream side as it flows along, but tears loose and carries away rock from the downstream side via plucking.

What is another name for roche moutonnee?

"sheepback" rock

What are roche moutonnee?

elongated, rounded, and asymmetrical bedrock knobs that can be produced by glacier erosion

How large are roche moutonnee?

less than a meter to several hundred meters long

What shape do roche moutonnee have on their "up" side?

gentle slope

What shape do roche moutonnee have on their "down" side?

steep to vertical face

what are ice formations made by glaciers called?

I'm not sure.

What are short round bedrock knobs?

I'm not sure.

What are steep on their upside and and gentle on their down side?

I'm not sure.

What is smooth on the downstream side?

I'm not sure.


Large masses, such as ice sheets or glaciers, can depress the crust of the Earth into the mantle. The depression usually totals a third of the ice sheet or glacier's thickness. After the ice sheet or glacier melts, the mantle begins to flow back to its original position, pushing the crust back up. This post-glacial rebound, which proceeds very slowly after the melting of the ice sheet or glacier, is currently occurring in measurable amounts in Scandinavia and the Great Lakes region of North America.

Where is post-glacial rebound occuring most?

Scandinavia and the Great Lakes region of North America.

What has the ability to depress the crust of the Earth into the mantle?

Large masses, such as ice sheets or glaciers

With what speed does post-glacial rebound occur?

very slowly

How much of a glacier's thickness is usually involved during crust depression into the mantle?

a third of the ice sheet or glacier's thickness

Where has post-glacial rebound stopped occuring?

I'm not sure.

What totals a thirs of the glaciers length?

I'm not sure.

What happens quickly after the ice sheet melts?

I'm not sure.

What pushes up the mantle of the Earth?

I'm not sure.


Comcast Corporation, formerly registered as Comcast Holdings,[note 1] is an American multinational mass media company and is the largest broadcasting and largest cable company in the world by revenue. It is the second largest pay-TV company after the AT&T-DirecTV acquisition, largest cable TV company and largest home Internet service provider in the United States, and the nation's third largest home telephone service provider. Comcast services U.S. residential and commercial customers in 40 states and the District of Columbia. The company's headquarters are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

What is the largest cable company in the world by revenue?

Comcast Corporation

What merged companies are the largest pay TV entity in the world?

AT&T-DirecTV

Comcast is also the largest media company in the United States in what broadband area?

Internet service provider

In what areas of the US does Comcast operate?

40 states and the District of Columbia

Where is Comcast company headquarters?

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

What did Comcast Corporation change its name to?

I'm not sure.

How many states does AT&T serve?

I'm not sure.

Where is the AT&T headquarters?

I'm not sure.

What company merged with Comcast, making it the largest TV company?

I'm not sure.

What is the largest home internet provider in the world?

I'm not sure.


Comcast operates multiple cable-only channels (including E! Entertainment Television, the Golf Channel, and NBCSN), over-the-air national broadcast network channels (NBC and Telemundo), the film production studio Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks & Resorts, with a global total of nearly 200 family entertainment locations and attractions in the U.S. and several other countries including U.A.E., South Korea, Russia and China, with several new locations reportedly planned and being developed for future operation. Comcast also has significant holding in digital distribution (thePlatform). In February 2014 the company agreed to merge with Time Warner Cable in an equity swap deal worth $45.2 billion. Under the terms of the agreement Comcast was to acquire 100% of Time Warner Cable. However, on April 24, 2015, Comcast terminated the agreement.

What are some of the cable TV networks owned by Comcast?

E! Entertainment Television, the Golf Channel, and NBCSN

What two national over-the-air broadcast entities are owned by Comcast?

NBC and Telemundo

Comcast owns what movie studio?

Universal Pictures

What company did Comcast propose a merger with?

Time Warner Cable

What date did Comcast drop their proposed merger agreement with Time Warner?

April 24, 2015

What countries is Comcast planning to open new attractions in?

I'm not sure.

When did the deal with Time Warner officially go through?

I'm not sure.

What are the names of the cable-only channels by Time Warner?

I'm not sure.

How many entertainment venues does Time Warner have?

I'm not sure.

How much is Comcast worth?

I'm not sure.


Comcast has been criticized for multiple reasons. The company's customer satisfaction often ranks among the lowest in the cable industry. Comcast has violated net neutrality practices in the past; and, despite Comcast's commitment to a narrow definition of net neutrality, critics advocate a definition of which precludes distinction between Comcast's private network services and the rest of the Internet. Critics also point out a lack of competition in the vast majority of Comcast's service area; there is limited competition among cable providers. Given Comcast's negotiating power as a large ISP, some suspect that Comcast could leverage paid peering agreements to unfairly influence end-user connection speeds. Its ownership of both content production (in NBCUniversal) and content distribution (as an ISP) has raised antitrust concerns. These issues, in addition to others, led to Comcast being dubbed "The Worst Company in America" by The Consumerist in 2014 and 2010.

What is the largest criticism leveled by consumers against Comcast

customer satisfaction

It has been alleged that Comcast's internet service has done what to customers?

has violated net neutrality practices

What monopolistic practice draws criticism of Comcast?

a lack of competition in the vast majority of Comcast's service area

What dubious distinction has Comcast earned twice from The Consumerist?

"The Worst Company in America"

How does Comcast's customer service stack up against its competition?

often ranks among the lowest in the cable industry

What year did Comcast first violate net neutrality?

I'm not sure.

What title was The Consumerist given in 2010 and 2014?

I'm not sure.

What company has the highest customer satisfaction in the US?

I'm not sure.

Antitrust concerns have been dismissed because COmcast does not own what company?

I'm not sure.

What type of definition does The Consumerist use?

I'm not sure.


Comcast is sometimes described as a family business. Brian L. Roberts, Chairman, President, and CEO of Comcast, is son of co-founder Ralph Roberts. Roberts owns or controls just over 1% of all Comcast shares but all of the Class B supervoting shares, which gives him an "undilutable 33% voting power over the company". Legal expert Susan P. Crawford has said this gives him "effective control over its [Comcast's] every step". In 2010, he was one of the highest-paid executives in the United States, with total compensation of about $31 million.

Who is the current head of Comcast?

Brian L. Roberts

Who co-founded Comcast?

Ralph Roberts

In what year was Roberts ranked as the country's highest-paid executive?

What was Roberts' yearly salary in that year?

about $31 million

What is Roberts power on the Comcast board?

"undilutable 33% voting power over the company"

Who is Brian L. Robert's son?

I'm not sure.

What percentage of voting power does Susan P. Crawford have?

I'm not sure.

What is Susan P. Crawford's salary?

I'm not sure.

When did Roberts become the CEO of Comcast?

I'm not sure.

What type of supervoting shares does Robert not have?

I'm not sure.


The company is often criticized by both the media and its own staff for its less upstanding policies regarding employee relations. A 2012 Reddit post written by an anonymous Comcast call center employee eager to share their negative experiences with the public received attention from publications including The Huffington Post. A 2014 investigative series published by The Verge involved interviews with 150 of Comcast's employees. It sought to examine why the company has become so widely criticized by its customers, the media and even members of its own staff. The series claimed part of the problem is internal and that Comcast's staff endures unreasonable corporate policies. According to the report: "customer service has been replaced by an obsession with sales; technicians are understaffed while tech support is poorly trained; and the company is hobbled by internal fragmentation." A widely read article penned by an anonymous call center employee working for Comcast appeared in November 2014 on Cracked. Titled "Five Nightmares You Live While Working For America's Worst Company," the article also claimed that Comcast is obsessed with sales, doesn't train its employees properly and concluded that "the system makes good customer service impossible."

Besides customer problems, what other area is Comcast often criticized over?

employee relations

What online media outlet ran an investigative series on Comcast in 2014?

The Verge

How many Comcast employees were interviewed for that investigative report?

What online publication ran a feature from a Comcast employee in 2014 that received attention?

Cracked

What was this 2014 article anonymously penned by a Comcast Employee called?

"Five Nightmares You Live While Working For America's Worst Company,"

What did the Huffington post in 2014?

I'm not sure.

What social media platform interviewed Comcast employees?

I'm not sure.

What was the name of The Verge's investigative series?

I'm not sure.

How many publications picked up the 2012 Reddit post?

I'm not sure.

What has Comcast replaced its obsession with sales with?

I'm not sure.


Comcast has also earned a reputation for being anti-union. According to one of the company's training manuals, "Comcast does not feel union representation is in the best interest of its employees, customers, or shareholders". A dispute in 2004 with CWA, a labor union that represented many employees at Comcast's offices in Beaverton, Oregon, led to allegations of management intimidating workers, requiring them to attend anti-union meetings and unwarranted disciplinary action for union members. In 2011, Comcast received criticism from Writers Guild of America for its policies in regards to unions.

What is Comcast's stance on organized labor?

anti-union

A 2004 labor dispute in what city highlighted Comcast's anti-labor stance?

Beaverton, Oregon

What was one anti-union thing that workers in Beaverton were required to do?

attend anti-union meetings

What creative union aired grievances against Comcast in 2011?

Writers Guild of America

In what internal publication was Comcast's union stance formally enumerated?

one of the company's training manuals

Where are the offices for the Writers Guild of America?

I'm not sure.

What does the initialism CWA stand for?

I'm not sure.

What does Comcast believe is best for its employees?

I'm not sure.

What type of meetings did the Writers Guild of America protest?

I'm not sure.

What company represented Comcast's policies in 2004?

I'm not sure.


Despite these criticisms, Comcast has appeared on multiple "top places to work" lists. In 2009, it was included on CableFAX magazine's "Top 10 Places to Work in Cable", which cited its "scale, savvy and vision". Similarly, the Philadelphia Business Journal awarded Comcast the silver medal among extra-large companies in Philadelphia, with the gold medal going to partner organization, Comcast-Spectacor. The Boston Globe found Comcast to be that city's top place to work in 2009. Employee diversity is also an attribute upon which Comcast receives strong marks. In 2008, Black Enterprise magazine rated Comcast among the top 15 companies for workforce diversity. Comcast was also named a "Top 2014 Workplace" by the Washington Post in their annual feature.

What magazine listed Comcast as one of its top places to work?

CableFAX

What is Comcast's affiliated entity in Philadelphia?

Comcast-Spectacor

What newspaper named Comcast it's top place to work?

The Boston Globe

In what year did this newspaper confer this honor on Comcast?

On what aspect did Black Enterprise Magazine name Comcast a top 15 employer?

workforce diversity

What magazine was determined as one of the best places to work in 2009?

I'm not sure.

What company lacks employee diversity?

I'm not sure.

What newspaper was deemed the best place to work?

I'm not sure.

What is CableFAX known for?

I'm not sure.

The Washington Post mentioned the Comcast organization in which city?

I'm not sure.


The book value of the company nearly doubled from $8.19 a share in 1999 to $15 a share in 2009. Revenues grew sixfold from 1999's $6 billion to almost $36 billion in 2009. Net profit margin rose from 4.2% in 1999 to 8.4% in 2009, with operating margins improving 31 percent and return on equity doubling to 6.7 percent in the same time span. Between 1999 and 2009, return on capital nearly tripled to 7 percent. Comcast reported first quarter 2012 profit increases of 30% due to increase in high-speed internet customers. In February 2014, Comcast generated 1.1 billion in revenue during the first quarter due to the Sochi Olympics,.

What was Comcast's share value in 1999?

What was Comcast's share value in 2009?

Comcast's revenues in 2009 were how much?

$36 billion

What was Comcast's profit margin in 2009?

What caused a 2012 spike in Comcast profits?

increase in high-speed internet customers

What were shares worth in 2012?

I'm not sure.

Where were the Olympics in 2012?

I'm not sure.

How much revenue (in billions) did Comcast generate due to high-speed internet customers?

I'm not sure.

What percentage of new customers did Comcast increase by in 2012?

I'm not sure.

What sports event caused revenues to double from 1999 to 2009?

I'm not sure.


With $18.8 million spent in 2013, Comcast has the seventh largest lobbying budget of any individual company or organization in the United States. Comcast employs multiple former US Congressmen as lobbyists. The National Cable & Telecommunications Association, which has multiple Comcast executives on its board, also represents Comcast and other cable companies as the fifth largest lobbying organization in the United States, spending $19.8 million in 2013. Comcast was among the top backers of Barack Obama's presidential runs, with Comcast vice president David Cohen raising over $2.2 million from 2007 to 2012. Cohen has been described by many sources as influential in the US government, though he is no longer a registered lobbyist, as the time he spends lobbying falls short of the 20% which requires official registration. Comcast's PAC, the Comcast Corporation and NBCUniversal Political Action Committee, is the among the largest PACs in the US, raising about $3.7 million from 2011-2012 for the campaigns of various candidates for office in the United States Federal Government. Comcast is also a major backer of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association Political Action Committee, which raised $2.6 million from 2011-2012. Comcast spent the most money of any organization in support of the Stop Online Piracy and PROTECT IP bills, spending roughly $5 million to lobby for their passage.

What was Comcast's lobbying budget in 2013?

$18.8 million

Where did this lobbying budget place the company among all entities in the country?

seventh largest

What is the name of the industry association that represents all cable companies in Washington?

The National Cable & Telecommunications Association

What is the name of Comcast's affiliated political action committee?

Comcast Corporation and NBCUniversal Political Action Committee

How much did this PAC raise for candidates in US elections from 2011 through 2012?

$3.7 million

What is the seventh largest lobbying company in the world?

I'm not sure.

Who is the vice president of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association?

I'm not sure.

How much did Comcast spend on lobbying efforts in 2012?

I'm not sure.

Why is Barack Obama no longer a registered lobbyist?

I'm not sure.

What bills has Comcast opposed?

I'm not sure.


In 1963, Ralph J. Roberts in conjunction with his two business partners, Daniel Aaron and Julian A. Brodsky, purchased American Cable Systems as a corporate spin-off from its parent, Jerrold Electronics, for US $500,000. At the time, American Cable was a small cable operator in Tupelo, Mississippi, with five channels and 12,000 customers. Storecast Corporation of America, a product placement supermarket specialist marketing firm, was purchased by American Cable in 1965. With Storecast being a Muzak client, American Cable purchased its first Muzak franchise of many in Orlando, Florida.

When did Ralph Roberts get into the cable TV business?

Who were Roberts' business partners in this purchase?

Daniel Aaron and Julian A. Brodsky

What company did this partnership purchase?

American Cable Systems

What city did American Cable Systems do business in?

Tupelo, Mississippi

How many customers did ACS have when Roberts and his partners purchased it?

How much was Jerrold Electronics?

I'm not sure.

Which two partners owned Jerrold Electronics?

I'm not sure.

How many customers did Storecast Corporation of America have in 1963?

I'm not sure.

What did Ralph J. Roberts sell in 1963?

I'm not sure.

American Cable Systems was the parent company of what spin-off?

I'm not sure.


In 1994, Comcast became the third largest cable operator in the United States with around 3.5 million subscribers following its purchase of Maclean-Hunter's American division for $1.27 billion. The company's UK branch, Comcast UK Cable Partners, goes public while constructing a cable telecommunications network. With five other media companies, the corporation becomes an original investor in The Golf Channel. Following a bid in 1994 for $2.1 billion, Comcast increased its ownership of QVC from 15.5% of stock to a majority, in a move to prevent QVC from merging with CBS. Comcast later sold its QVC shares in 2004 to Liberty Media for $7.9 billion.

How many paying customers did Comcast have in 1994?

3.5 million

Comcast's customer base in 1994 was good enough for what national ranking among its competition?

third largest

What sports network was Comcast a founding investor of?

The Golf Channel

In what year did Comcast take over a majority interest in QVC?

What company did Comcast sell its interest in QVC to in 2004?

Liberty Media

How many additional subscribers did Comcast receive by merging with Maclean-Hunter?

I'm not sure.

How much was the Comcast UK branch purchased for?

I'm not sure.

What percentage of CBS did Comcast own?

I'm not sure.

When did Comcast buy Liberty Media?

I'm not sure.

How much did Comcast sell the Golf Channel for in 2004?

I'm not sure.


Comcast sold Comcast Cellular to SBC Communications in 1999 for $400 million, releasing them from $1.27 billion in debt. Comcast acquired Greater Philadelphia Cablevision in 1999. In March 1999, Comcast offered to buy MediaOne for $60 billion. However, MediaOne decided to accept AT&T Corporation's offer of $62 billion instead. Comcast University started in 1999 as well as Comcast Interactive Capital Group to make technology and Internet related investments taking its first investment in VeriSign.

What was Comcast's telecommunication business prior to 1999?

Comcast Cellular

What company did Comcast sell their telecommunications company to?

SBC Communications

How much was ComCast Cellular sold for in 1999?

$400 million

What internet commerce company did Comcast invest in?

VeriSign

MediaOne merged with what telecommunications company?

AT&T Corporation

How much did Comcast pay to purchase Greater Philadelphia Cablvision?

I'm not sure.

What company turned down AT&T's offer?

I'm not sure.

What month did VeriSign start?

I'm not sure.

How much debt did SBC Communications have?

I'm not sure.

Who sold Comcast Cellular to Comcast?

I'm not sure.


In 2001, Comcast announced it would acquire the assets of the largest cable television operator at the time, AT&T Broadband, for US$44.5 billion. The proposed name for the merged company was "AT&T Comcast", but the companies ultimately decided to keep only the Comcast name. In 2002, Comcast acquired all assets of AT&T Broadband, thus making Comcast the largest cable television company in the United States with over 22 million subscribers. This also spurred the start of Comcast Advertising Sales (using AT&T's groundwork) which would later be renamed Comcast Spotlight. As part of this acquisition, Comcast also acquired the National Digital Television Center in Centennial, Colorado as a wholly owned subsidiary, which is today known as the Comcast Media Center.

When did Comcast acquire the cable assets of AT&T Broadband?

What did Comcast pay for this subsidiary?

$44.5 billion

What was the original name of AT&T Broadband and Comcast going to be?

AT&T Comcast

When Comcast purchased AT&T Broadband, how many customers did they service?

22 million

Comcast's advertising and commercial production branch was called what?

Comcast Spotlight

How many customers did AT&T Broadband bring to Comcast?

I'm not sure.

What was Comcast Spotlight renamed as?

I'm not sure.

What year was Comcast Advertising Sales renamed?

I'm not sure.

What city is Comcast Spotlight located in?

I'm not sure.

How much did AT&T purchase Comcast for?

I'm not sure.


On February 11, 2004, Comcast announced a $54 billion bid for The Walt Disney Company, as well as taking on $12 billion of Disney's debt. The deal would have made Comcast the largest media conglomerate in the world. However, after rejection by Disney and uncertain response from investors, the bid was abandoned in April. The main reason for the buyout attempt was so that Comcast could acquire Disney's 80 percent stake in ESPN, which a Comcast executive called "the most important and valuable asset" that Disney owned.

What media conglomerate did Comcast try to buy in 2004?

The Walt Disney Company

How much money did Comcast offer for this company?

$54 billion

What month in 2004 did Comcast drop it's bid for this company?

April

Comcast dropped their bid to focus on acquiring what sports network?

ESPN

Besides offering money, what else did Comcast include in their proposal to buy Disney?

taking on $12 billion of Disney's debt

How much debt did Comcast have in 2004?

I'm not sure.

What percent of ESPN does Comcast own?

I'm not sure.

What is the most important asset ESPN owns?

I'm not sure.

How much did Comcast bid for ESPN?

I'm not sure.

During what month did Disney accept Comcast's bid?

I'm not sure.


On April 8, 2005, a partnership led by Comcast and Sony Pictures Entertainment finalized a deal to acquire MGM and its affiliate studio, United Artists, and create an additional outlet to carry MGM/UA's material for cable and Internet distribution. On October 31, 2005, Comcast officially announced that it had acquired Susquehanna Communications a South Central Pennsylvania, -based cable television and broadband services provider and unit of the former Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff company, for $775 million cash. In this deal Comcast acquired approximately 230,000 basic cable customers, 71,000 digital cable customers, and 86,000 high-speed Internet customers. Comcast previously owned approximately 30 percent of Susquehanna Communications through affiliate company Lenfest. In December 2005, Comcast announced the creation of Comcast Interactive Media, a new division focused on online media.

Comcast joined with what media company to acquire a movie studio in 2005?

Sony Pictures Entertainment

What movie studios did Comcast and their partner buy?

MGM and its affiliate studio, United Artists

What Pennsylvania cable provider did Comcast buy controlling interest in during 2005?

Susquehanna Communications

When did Comcast formally announce its purchase of this cable provider?

October 31, 2005

How much did Comcast pay for this cable tv provider?

$775 million cash

What did Comcast and MGM buy in 2005?

I'm not sure.

Where is MGM located?

I'm not sure.

How much did Comcast purchase MGM for?

I'm not sure.

How much of Lenfest did Comcast own?

I'm not sure.

How many internet customers did the partnership with Sony Pictures garner Comcast?

I'm not sure.


Comcast announced in May 2007 and launched in September 2008 a dashboard called SmartZone. Hewlett-Packard led "design, creation and management". Collaboration and unified messaging technology came from open-source vendor Zimbra. "SmartZone users will be able to send and receive e-mail, listen to their voicemail messages online and forward that information via e-mail to others, send instant messages and video instant messages and merge their contacts into one address book". There is also Cloudmark spam and phishing protection and Trend Micro antivirus. The address book is Comcast Plaxo software.

What was the name of the interface front-end introduced by Comcast in 2007?

a dashboard called SmartZone

What company designed this interface?

Hewlett-Packard

Smartzone used what company's antivirus protection?

Trend Micro

The contacts and address book for Smartzone was called what?

Comcast Plaxo software

When was Smartzone rolled out to customers?

September 2008

When did Comcast team up with Hewlett-Packard?

I'm not sure.

When did Comcast launch Zimbra?

I'm not sure.

What did Zimbra allow users to do with their contacts?

I'm not sure.

What is SmartZone's email called?

I'm not sure.

What was the name of the Hewlett-Packard antivirus software?

I'm not sure.


In April 2005, Comcast and Time Warner Cable announced plans to buy the assets of bankrupted Adelphia Cable. The two companies paid a total of $17.6 billion in the deal that was finalized in the second quarter of 2006—after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) completed a seven-month investigation without raising an objection. Time Warner Cable became the second largest cable provider in the U.S., ranking behind Comcast. As part of the deal, Time Warner and Comcast traded existing subscribers in order to consolidate them into larger geographic clusters.

What bankrupt company did Comcast partner with another broadband provider to acquire in 2005?

Adelphia Cable

Who was Comcast's partner in the deal for Adelphia?

Time Warner Cable

What was the price to take over Adelphia?

$17.6 billion

What government organization investigated details of this acquisition?

the U.S. Federal Communications Commission

When was this deal finalized?

second quarter of 2006

How long did it take for Adelphia Cable to go bankrupt?

I'm not sure.

Who partnered with Comcast to buy out Time Warner?

I'm not sure.

How much did the FCC charge Comcast and Time Warner for the investigation?

I'm not sure.

When did the FCC object to the deal?

I'm not sure.

When did Comcast bankrupt?

I'm not sure.


Media outlets began reporting in late September 2009 that Comcast was in talks to buy NBCUniversal. Comcast denied the rumors at first, while NBC would not comment on them. However, CNBC itself reported on October 1 that General Electric was considering spinning NBCUniversal off into a separate company that would merge the NBC television network and its cable properties such as USA Network, Syfy and MSNBC with Comcast's content assets. GE would maintain 49% control of the new company, while Comcast owned 51%. Vivendi, which owns 20%, would have to sell its stake to GE. It was reported that under the current deal with GE that it would happen in November or December. It was also reported that Time Warner would be interested in placing a bid, until CEO Jeffrey L. Bewkes directly denied interest, leaving Comcast the sole bidder. On November 1, 2009, The New York Times reported Comcast had moved closer to a deal to purchase NBCUniversal and that a formal announcement could be made sometime the following week.

What media conglomerate did Comcast begin preliminary talks to buy in 2009?

NBCUniversal

What was NBC's parent company in 2009?

General Electric

What ownership stake did Ccomcast get in this deal?

What company was forced to sell its interest in NBCUniversal as part of the purchase deal?

Vivendi

What other cable company was reputed to have an interest in NBCUniversal?

Time Warner

When did CNBC announce Comcast had bought NBCUniversal?

I'm not sure.

How much of NBCUniversal did CNBC announce Time Warner would own?

I'm not sure.

How much stock was Vivendi forced to buy?

I'm not sure.

Who is the CEO of Comcast?

I'm not sure.

Who reported that Time Warner was placing a bid in November 2009?

I'm not sure.


Following a tentative agreement on by December 1, on December 3, 2009, the parties announced that Comcast would buy a controlling 51% stake in NBCUniversal for $6.5 billion in cash and $7.3 billion in programming. GE would take over the remaining 49% stake in NBCUniversal, using $5.8 billion to buy out Vivendi's 20% minority stake in NBCUniversal. On January 18, 2011, the FCC approved the deal by a vote of 4 to 1. The sale was completed on January 28, 2011. In late December 2012, Comcast added the NBC peacock symbol to their new logo. On February 12, 2013, Comcast announced an intention to acquire the remaining 49% of General Electric's interest in NBCUniversal, which Comcast completed on March 19, 2013.

On what date was Comcast's purchase of controlling interest in NBCUniversal reported?

December 3, 2009

What did Comcast pay for their stake in NBC?

$6.5 billion in cash and $7.3 billion in programming

How did the FCC vote approval of the Comcast-NBC deal?

4 to 1

On what date was the sale finally completed?

January 28, 2011

On what date did Comcast buy out the remaining stake of General Electric in NBC?

March 19, 2013

How much did Comcast pay to Vivendi?

I'm not sure.

The FCC denied the deal by what vote?

I'm not sure.

What did GE add to their logo in December?

I'm not sure.

When did GE announce it planned to buy out Comcast's interest?

I'm not sure.

How much did Comcast pay for the remaining 49%?

I'm not sure.


On February 12, 2014, the Los Angeles Times reported that Comcast sought to acquire Time Warner Cable in a deal valued at $45.2 billion. On February 13, it was reported that Time Warner Cable agreed to the acquisition. This was to add several metropolitan areas to the Comcast portfolio, such as New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Charlotte, San Diego, and San Antonio. Time Warner Cable and Comcast aimed to merge into one company by the end of 2014 and both have praised the deal, emphasizing the increased capabilities of a combined telecommunications network, and to "create operating efficiencies and economies of scale".

What publication originally reported a potential deal between Comcast and Time Warner?

the Los Angeles Times

What was the value of the deal reported to be at the time?

$45.2 billion

When did Comcast hope to complete its deal for Time Warner?

by the end of 2014

How much was Time Warner going to pay Comcast?

I'm not sure.

Who reported Time Warner had agreed to the deal?

I'm not sure.

What metropolitan areas did Comcast give Time Warner?

I'm not sure.

What was Time Warner Cable attempting to buy?

I'm not sure.

When do Time Warner and Comcast plan to begin the merger?

I'm not sure.


Critics noted in 2013 that Tom Wheeler, the head of the FCC, which has to approve the deal, is the former head of both the largest cable lobbying organization, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, and as largest wireless lobby, CTIA – The Wireless Association. According to Politico, Comcast "donated to almost every member of Congress who has a hand in regulating it." The US Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the deal on April 9, 2014. The House Judiciary Committee planned its own hearing. On March 6, 2014 the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division confirmed it was investigating the deal. In March 2014, the division's chairman, William Baer, recused himself because he was involved in a prior Comcast NBCUniversal acquisition. Several states' attorneys general have announced support for the federal investigation. On April 24, 2015, Jonathan Sallet, general counsel of the F.C.C., said that he was going to recommend a hearing before an administrative law judge, equivalent to a collapse of the deal.

Who was the head of the FCC at the time of Comcast's proposed purchase of Time Warner Cable?

Tom Wheeler

What two organizations had Wheeler headed prior to joining the FCC?

National Cable & Telecommunications Association, and as largest wireless lobby, CTIA – The Wireless Association

What Senate group held hearings on the purchase?

US Senate Judiciary Committee

What group sought to investigate the purchase on anti-trust grounds?

United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division

Who was the general counsel of the FCC in 2015?

Jonathan Sallet

Who is the current head of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association?

I'm not sure.

When was Tom Wheeler the head of the CTIA?

I'm not sure.

What day did the House Judiciary Committee have its hearing?

I'm not sure.

Who is the head of Politico?

I'm not sure.

Who is the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee?

I'm not sure.


Comcast delivers third-party television programming content to its own customers, and also produces its own first-party content both for subscribers and customers of other competing television services. Fully or partially owned Comcast programming includes Comcast Newsmakers, Comcast Network, Comcast SportsNet, SportsNet New York, MLB Network, Comcast Sports Southeast/Charter Sports Southeast, NBC Sports Network, The Golf Channel, AZN Television, and FEARnet. On May 19, 2009, Disney and ESPN announced an agreement to allow Comcast Corporation to carry the channels ESPNU and ESPN3. The U.S. Olympic Committee and Comcast intended to team up to create The U.S. Olympic Network, which was slated to launch after the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. These plans were then put on hold by the U.S. Olympic Committee. The U.S. Olympic Committee and Comcast have ended the plans to create The U.S. Olympic Network.

Disney and Comcast joined forces to allow Comcast to air what sports networks?

ESPNU and ESPN3

What network was proposed by Comcast and the US Olympic Committee?

The U.S. Olympic Network

What city hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics?

Vancouver

What happened to the U.S. Olympic Network?

The U.S. Olympic Committee and Comcast have ended the plans

Which ESPN channels are unavailable for Comcast?

I'm not sure.

When did the Olympic Committee and Comcast officially launch their combined network?

I'm not sure.

What city is the US Olympic Committee located?

I'm not sure.

What did Comcast put on hold?

I'm not sure.

When did Comcast and Disney reach an agreement?

I'm not sure.


Comcast also owns many local channels. Comcast also has a variety network known as Comcast Network, available exclusively to Comcast and Cablevision subscribers. The channel shows news, sports, and entertainment and places emphasis in Philadelphia and the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. areas, though the channel is also available in New York, Pittsburgh, and Richmond. In August 2004, Comcast started a channel called Comcast Entertainment Television, for Colorado Comcast subscribers, and focusing on life in Colorado. It also carries some National Hockey League and National Basketball Association games when Altitude Sports & Entertainment is carrying the NHL or NBA. In January 2006, CET became the primary channel for Colorado's Emergency Alert System in the Denver Metro Area. In 2006, Comcast helped found the channel SportsNet New York, acquiring a minority stake. The other partners in the project were New York Mets and Time Warner Cable.

What is the name of Comcast's channel available to subscribers in east coast markets?

Comcast Network

What is the name of Comcast's subscriber channel in Colorado?

Comcast Entertainment Television

In what year did Comcast Entertainment take over operation of Colorado's Emergency Alert System?

What New York area sports channel did Comcast help found in 2006

SportsNet New York

What baseball team was Comcast's partner in their New York sports network?

New York Mets

When did the channel become available in New York, Pittsburgh, and Richmond?

I'm not sure.

When did Comcast partner with Altitude Sports & Entertainment?

I'm not sure.

What is the name of the Emergency Alert System in Philadelphia?

I'm not sure.

What did Comcast and the Mets creat in 2004?

I'm not sure.

What is the name of Time Warner Cable's variety network?

I'm not sure.


In 1996, Comcast bought a controlling stake in Spectacor from the company's founder, Ed Snider. Comcast-Spectacor holdings now include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers National Basketball Association basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia. Over a number of years, Comcast became majority owner of Comcast SportsNet, as well as Golf Channel and NBCSN (formerly the Outdoor Life Network, then Versus). In 2002, Comcast paid the University of Maryland $25 million for naming rights to the new basketball arena built on the College Park campus, the XFINITY Center. Before it was renamed for Comcast's cable subsidiary, XFINITY Center was called Comcast Center from its opening in 2002 through July 2014.

Who was the founder of Philadelphia sports corporation Spectator?

Ed Snider

Comcast's purchase of Spectator gave them what sports teams in Philadelphia?

the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers National Basketball Association basketball team

What was the original name of NBCSN?

Outdoor Life Network

What was the second name NBCSN was known as?

Versus

Comcast bought naming rights for what college's basketball arena?

the University of Maryland

Who founded the Philadelphia Flyers?

I'm not sure.

What did Spectacor buy from Comcast?

I'm not sure.

What was the original name of the Golf Channel?

I'm not sure.

How much did Comcast pay Spectacor for the controlling stake?

I'm not sure.

What did Comcast rename the Philadelphia 76ers basketball arena in 2014?

I'm not sure.


In 2004 and 2007, the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey found that Comcast had the worst customer satisfaction rating of any company or government agency in the country, including the Internal Revenue Service. The ACSI indicates that almost half of all cable customers (regardless of company) have registered complaints, and that cable is the only industry to score below 60 in the ACSI. Comcast's Customer Service Rating by the ACSI surveys indicate that the company's customer service has not improved since the surveys began in 2001. Analysis of the surveys states that "Comcast is one of the lowest scoring companies in ACSI. As its customer satisfaction eroded by 7% over the past year, revenue increased by 12%." The ACSI analysis also addresses this contradiction, stating that "Such pricing power usually comes with some level of monopoly protection and most cable companies have little competition at the local level. This also means that a cable company can do well financially even though its customers are not particularly satisfied."

What organization rated Comcast's customer service the worst in the country in 2004 and 2007?

American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI)

Comcast's customer service was rated worse than what government organization?

the Internal Revenue Service

When did the ACSI begin doing customer satisfaction surveys?

When Comcast's customer service rating fell 7%, what happened to its revenues?

increased by 12%

What prime factor did the ACSI use to explain this anomaly?

most cable companies have little competition at the local level

Who listed the IRS as the company with the worst customer service rating?

I'm not sure.

What is the only industry to score above a 60?

I'm not sure.

How much did customer satisfaction increase by?

I'm not sure.

What company was given the worst customer satisfaction rating in 2001?

I'm not sure.

What has happened to the revenue of the Internal Revenue Service?

I'm not sure.


Comcast was given an "F" for its corporate governance practices in 2010, by Corporate Library, an independent shareholder-research organization. According to Corporate Library, Comcast's board of directors ability to oversee and control management was severely compromised (at least in 2010) by the fact that several of the directors either worked for the company or had business ties to it (making them susceptible to management pressure), and a third of the directors were over 70 years of age. According to the Wall Street Journal nearly two-thirds of the flights of Comcast's $40 million corporate jet purchased for business travel related to the NBCU acquisition, were to CEO Brian Roberts' private homes or to resorts.

What organization gave Comcast an "F" rating in 2010?

Corporate Library

In issuing the grade, the Corporate Library found that a third of Comcast's board was how old?

over 70 years of age

How much did Comcast pay for flights of its company jet in 2010?

$40 million

What conflict did Corporate Library note with Comcast's Board?

several of the directors either worked for the company or had business ties to it

Who is the CEO of the Wall Street Journal?

I'm not sure.

What rating was the Corporate Library given?

I'm not sure.

How much was the cost of the NBCU acquisition?

I'm not sure.

What is the average age of Comcast's board of directors?

I'm not sure.

What company did Comcast give an F to?

I'm not sure.


In January 2015, a customer named Ricardo Brown received a bill from Comcast with his name changed to "Asshole Brown". Brown's wife, Lisa, believed a Comcast employee changed the name in response to the Browns' request to cancel their cable service, an incident in which she was refused a cancellation unless she paid a $60 fee and instead was routed to a retention specialist. Comcast refused to correct the name on their bill after bringing it to the attention of numerous customer service outlets for the company by explaining that Ricardo is the legal name of the customer, so the Browns turned to consumer advocate Christopher Elliott. Elliott posted the facts of the incident, along with a copy of the bill, on his blog. Shortly thereafter, Elliott contacted Comcast and Comcast offered the Browns an apology, a $60 refund, and a promise to track down and fire the responsible employee. The Browns instead requested a full refund for their negative experience and Comcast agreed to refund the family the last two years of service and provide the next two years of service at no charge. Comcast released a statement explaining: "We have spoken with our customer and apologized for this completely unacceptable and inappropriate name change. We have zero tolerance for this type of disrespectful behavior and are conducting a thorough investigation to determine what happened. We are working with our customer to make this right and will take appropriate steps to prevent this from happening again."

What name was listed on Comcast customer Ricardo Brown's invoice in January, 2015?

"Asshole Brown"

What consumer advocate took over the Brown's case?

Christopher Elliott

What was the amount of disputed money that Comcast eventually returned to the Browns?

Comcast eventually refunded how much service time to the Browns?

two years

Comcast also told the Browns they would do what to correct the situation with the name change?

promise to track down and fire the responsible employee

What was the name of the Comcast employee that changed Ricardo's name?

I'm not sure.

When did Comcast rectify the situation?

I'm not sure.

How much did the Browns pay Elliott?

I'm not sure.

What did Lisa post on her blog?

I'm not sure.

How many years did it take Comcast to rectify the situation?

I'm not sure.


Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections do not have symptoms, known as latent tuberculosis. About 10% of latent infections progress to active disease which, if left untreated, kills about half of those infected. The classic symptoms of active TB are a chronic cough with blood-containing sputum, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. The historical term "consumption" came about due to the weight loss. Infection of other organs can cause a wide range of symptoms.

What bacterium causes tuberculosis infection?

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

What primary body part is affected by tuberculosis?

lungs

Roughly, what percentage of latent tuberculosis infections result in active tuberculosis?

What name has been used to refer to tuberculosis because of associated weight loss?

consumption

Along with cough, weight loss, and night sweats, what's the fourth classic symptom of the disease?

fever

What disease is caused by TB?

I'm not sure.

What percentage of infections do not have symptoms?

I'm not sure.

What was consumption originally called?

I'm not sure.

What is an infection with symptoms called?

I'm not sure.

What percentage of patients with latent TB die?

I'm not sure.


One-third of the world's population is thought to be infected with TB. New infections occur in about 1% of the population each year. In 2014, there were 9.6 million cases of active TB which resulted in 1.5 million deaths. More than 95% of deaths occurred in developing countries. The number of new cases each year has decreased since 2000. About 80% of people in many Asian and African countries test positive while 5–10% of people in the United States population tests positive by the tuberculin test. Tuberculosis has been present in humans since ancient times.

How much of the entire population of the planet is estimated to be carrying tuberculosis?

One-third

How many cases of tuberculosis were active over the course of 2014?

9.6 million

In 2014, how many people died from TB?

1.5 million

Does the majority of fatalities from TB occur in developing countries or industrialized nations?

developing countries

Has TB infection increased or decreased worldwide since the start of the 21st century?

decreased

What percentage of deaths worldwide died from TB in 2014?

I'm not sure.

How many people died from TB in 2000?

I'm not sure.

How many new cases of TB occurred in 2014?

I'm not sure.

When did deaths begin increasing?

I'm not sure.

Which Asian country has an 80% infection rate?

I'm not sure.


If a tuberculosis infection does become active, it most commonly involves the lungs (in about 90% of cases). Symptoms may include chest pain and a prolonged cough producing sputum. About 25% of people may not have any symptoms (i.e. they remain "asymptomatic"). Occasionally, people may cough up blood in small amounts, and in very rare cases, the infection may erode into the pulmonary artery or a Rasmussen's aneurysm, resulting in massive bleeding. Tuberculosis may become a chronic illness and cause extensive scarring in the upper lobes of the lungs. The upper lung lobes are more frequently affected by tuberculosis than the lower ones. The reason for this difference is not clear. It may be due either to better air flow, or to poor lymph drainage within the upper lungs.

Which lobes of the lungs are more often affected by TB?

upper lung lobes

What symptom will result if TB infection causes a Rasmussen's aneurysm?

massive bleeding

What percentage of tuberculosis infections don't ever manifest in symptoms of the disease?

If TB becomes chronic, what lasting effect might it have on the lung's upper lobes?

scarring

Approximately what percentage of active TB cases affect the lungs?

What percentage of cases include chest pain?

I'm not sure.

What is it called when people have symptoms?

I'm not sure.

What percentage of cases erode into the pulmonary artery?

I'm not sure.

What kind of aneurysm does chest pain in TB patients sometimes result in?

I'm not sure.

What are lower lobes in the lungs often more affected by?

I'm not sure.


In 15–20% of active cases, the infection spreads outside the lungs, causing other kinds of TB. These are collectively denoted as "extrapulmonary tuberculosis". Extrapulmonary TB occurs more commonly in immunosuppressed persons and young children. In those with HIV, this occurs in more than 50% of cases. Notable extrapulmonary infection sites include the pleura (in tuberculous pleurisy), the central nervous system (in tuberculous meningitis), the lymphatic system (in scrofula of the neck), the genitourinary system (in urogenital tuberculosis), and the bones and joints (in Pott disease of the spine), among others. When it spreads to the bones, it is also known as "osseous tuberculosis", a form of osteomyelitis. Sometimes, bursting of a tubercular abscess through skin results in tuberculous ulcer. An ulcer originating from nearby infected lymph nodes is painless, slowly enlarging and has an appearance of "wash leather". A potentially more serious, widespread form of TB is called "disseminated tuberculosis", also known as miliary tuberculosis. Miliary TB makes up about 10% of extrapulmonary cases.

What's the medical term for TB when it spreads from the lungs to other parts of the body?

extrapulmonary tuberculosis

At least what percentage of HIV-positive patients who contract TB will experience extrapulmonary infection?

Along with people with diminished immune function, like HIV patients, what group of people is more likely to develop extrapulmonary TB?

young children

If TB infection spreads to the central nervous system, what is it called?

tuberculous meningitis

What's the other name for "disseminated tuberculosis"?

miliary tuberculosis

What percentage of young children get Extrapulmonary TB?

I'm not sure.

What does a tuberculous ulcer result in?

I'm not sure.

What does disseminated tuberculosis look like?

I'm not sure.

What is another name for osseous tuberculosis?

I'm not sure.

What percentage of HIV positive cases also get Military TB?

I'm not sure.


The main cause of TB is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a small, aerobic, nonmotile bacillus. The high lipid content of this pathogen accounts for many of its unique clinical characteristics. It divides every 16 to 20 hours, which is an extremely slow rate compared with other bacteria, which usually divide in less than an hour. Mycobacteria have an outer membrane lipid bilayer. If a Gram stain is performed, MTB either stains very weakly "Gram-positive" or does not retain dye as a result of the high lipid and mycolic acid content of its cell wall. MTB can withstand weak disinfectants and survive in a dry state for weeks. In nature, the bacterium can grow only within the cells of a host organism, but M. tuberculosis can be cultured in the laboratory.

The uniqueness of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is due to its high level of what type of molecule?

lipid

Is the division rate of the TB bacterium fast or slow relative to other bacteria?

slow

In nature, what "helper" does the MTB bacterium require to grow?

a host organism

How long is the period between division of MTB cells?

16 to 20 hours

How much time does it take most bacteria to divide?

less than an hour

What is the main cause of Mycobacterium tuberculosis?

I'm not sure.

How long can a Gram stain last?

I'm not sure.

What grows outside of the cells of a host organism?

I'm not sure.

How often do lipids divide?

I'm not sure.

What divides faster than other bacteria?

I'm not sure.


Using histological stains on expectorated samples from phlegm (also called "sputum"), scientists can identify MTB under a microscope. Since MTB retains certain stains even after being treated with acidic solution, it is classified as an acid-fast bacillus. The most common acid-fast staining techniques are the Ziehl–Neelsen stain and the Kinyoun stain, which dye acid-fast bacilli a bright red that stands out against a blue background. Auramine-rhodamine staining and fluorescence microscopy are also used.

What's another word for "sputum"?

phlegm

One of the two standard acid-fast staining techniques is the Kinyoun stain; what's the other?

Ziehl–Neelsen stain

What color will acid-fast bacilli become when stained?

bright red

What's the term for bacillus that can be exposed to acidic solutions without losing their stains?

acid-fast

If a scientist didn't want to use an acid-fast staining technique, what type of microscopy could they use instead?

fluorescence

What is another name for an expectorated sample?

I'm not sure.

What removes all stains from MTB?

I'm not sure.

What is another name for the Kinyoun stain?

I'm not sure.

What become blue when stained?

I'm not sure.

What color is Auramine-rhodamine staining?

I'm not sure.


The M. tuberculosis complex (MTBC) includes four other TB-causing mycobacteria: M. bovis, M. africanum, M. canetti, and M. microti. M. africanum is not widespread, but it is a significant cause of tuberculosis in parts of Africa. M. bovis was once a common cause of tuberculosis, but the introduction of pasteurized milk has almost completely eliminated this as a public health problem in developed countries. M. canetti is rare and seems to be limited to the Horn of Africa, although a few cases have been seen in African emigrants. M. microti is also rare and is seen almost only in immunodeficient people, although its prevalence may be significantly underestimated.

Which mycobacterium that causes TB can often be found in unpasteurized milk?

M. bovis

Which one of the tuberculosis mycobacteria is associated with the Horn of Africa?

M. canetti

Which of the four TB-causing bacteria do scientists think might be more common than we know?

M. microti

What bacterium has the name of the country it affects most in its name?

M. africanum

How many M. tuberculosis complexes are there?

I'm not sure.

Which parts of Africa is M. africanum most common in?

I'm not sure.

African emigrants are not likely to get what disease in the Horn of Africa?

I'm not sure.

What form of tuberculosis has pasteurized milk caused?

I'm not sure.

Which bacterium has likely been overestimated?

I'm not sure.


People with prolonged, frequent, or close contact with people with TB are at particularly high risk of becoming infected, with an estimated 22% infection rate. A person with active but untreated tuberculosis may infect 10–15 (or more) other people per year. Transmission should occur from only people with active TB – those with latent infection are not thought to be contagious. The probability of transmission from one person to another depends upon several factors, including the number of infectious droplets expelled by the carrier, the effectiveness of ventilation, the duration of exposure, the virulence of the M. tuberculosis strain, the level of immunity in the uninfected person, and others. The cascade of person-to-person spread can be circumvented by segregating those with active ("overt") TB and putting them on anti-TB drug regimens. After about two weeks of effective treatment, subjects with nonresistant active infections generally do not remain contagious to others. If someone does become infected, it typically takes three to four weeks before the newly infected person becomes infectious enough to transmit the disease to others.

If you're around someone with active TB, what's the chance you'll contract it expressed as a percentage?

Left untreated, about how many people could contract tuberculosis from an active TB patient in a year?

About how long will a TB patient receiving effective treatment stay contagious?

two weeks

If you contracted tuberculosis today, what's the estimated gestation period before you could spread the infection to others?

three to four weeks

What term is interchangeable with "active" when talking about tuberculosis infection?

overt

What is the infection rate for people not in close contact with TB?

I'm not sure.

How many people does a person whose TB is being treated infect per year?

I'm not sure.

Which type of TB is more infectious than active TB?

I'm not sure.

Uninfected people are treated with what regimens?

I'm not sure.

How long is someone contagious if they are recently infected?

I'm not sure.


TB infection begins when the mycobacteria reach the pulmonary alveoli, where they invade and replicate within endosomes of alveolar macrophages. Macrophages identify the bacterium as foreign and attempt to eliminate it by phagocytosis. During this process, the bacterium is enveloped by the macrophage and stored temporarily in a membrane-bound vesicle called a phagosome. The phagosome then combines with a lysosome to create a phagolysosome. In the phagolysosome, the cell attempts to use reactive oxygen species and acid to kill the bacterium. However, M. tuberculosis has a thick, waxy mycolic acid capsule that protects it from these toxic substances. M. tuberculosis is able to reproduce inside the macrophage and will eventually kill the immune cell.

What specific part of the lungs marks the start of tuberculosis infection?

pulmonary alveoli

What's the process by which macrophages try to get rid of the TB bacterium?

phagocytosis

What do you get when you combine a lysosome and a phagosome?

a phagolysosome

What does the M. tuberculosis bacterium have that protects it from being affected by toxins?

mycolic acid capsule

What vesicle is the temporary holding room for the M. tuberculosis bacterium during phagocytosis?

phagosome

What replicates inside the pulmonary alveoli?

I'm not sure.

What begins when the endosomes reach the pulmonary alveoli?

I'm not sure.

What do the bacterium identify?

I'm not sure.

What envelopes the macrophage?

I'm not sure.

What does the combination of a lysosome and a phagolysosome create?

I'm not sure.


The primary site of infection in the lungs, known as the "Ghon focus", is generally located in either the upper part of the lower lobe, or the lower part of the upper lobe. Tuberculosis of the lungs may also occur via infection from the blood stream. This is known as a Simon focus and is typically found in the top of the lung. This hematogenous transmission can also spread infection to more distant sites, such as peripheral lymph nodes, the kidneys, the brain, and the bones. All parts of the body can be affected by the disease, though for unknown reasons it rarely affects the heart, skeletal muscles, pancreas, or thyroid.

What two-word phrase is used for the main part of the lungs infected by TB?

Ghon focus

If the lungs are infected by TB via bloodstream, what's the type of focus?

Simon focus

In what general area of the lungs is SImon focus usually located?

the top

What is the term that describes a blood-borne infection, like TB when it travels through the blood to the kidneys or brain?

hematogenous

Four areas of the body are usually safe from TB infection, including skeletal muscles, heart, and thyroid; what's the fourth?

pancreas

What is the section of lung not affected by TB called?

I'm not sure.

What is another name for Ghon focus?

I'm not sure.

What is type of transmission is found in the lungs?

I'm not sure.

Where are the peripheral lymph nodes?

I'm not sure.

What disease often affects the heart, skeletal muscles, pancreas, or thyroid?

I'm not sure.


Tuberculosis is classified as one of the granulomatous inflammatory diseases. Macrophages, T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and fibroblasts aggregate to form granulomas, with lymphocytes surrounding the infected macrophages. When other macrophages attack the infected macrophage, they fuse together to form a giant multinucleated cell in the alveolar lumen. The granuloma may prevent dissemination of the mycobacteria and provide a local environment for interaction of cells of the immune system. However, more recent evidence suggests that the bacteria use the granulomas to avoid destruction by the host's immune system. Macrophages and dendritic cells in the granulomas are unable to present antigen to lymphocytes; thus the immune response is suppressed. Bacteria inside the granuloma can become dormant, resulting in latent infection. Another feature of the granulomas is the development of abnormal cell death (necrosis) in the center of tubercles. To the naked eye, this has the texture of soft, white cheese and is termed caseous necrosis.

What specific type of disease is TB?

granulomatous inflammatory

What type of cells gather around infected macrophages in a person infected with TB?

lymphocytes

What type of cell forms when macrophages clump together trying to kill off the TB infection?

multinucleated

What's the technical term for abnormal cell death?

necrosis

What natural defensive response is hindered by cells in granulomas that can't send antigen to lymphocytes?

immune response

What surrounds the lymphocytes?

I'm not sure.

What do infected macrophages form?

I'm not sure.

What is used by bacteria to destroy the host's immune system?

I'm not sure.

Which cells serve as antigen to lymphocytes?

I'm not sure.

What is the texture of cheese called?

I'm not sure.


In many people, the infection waxes and wanes. Tissue destruction and necrosis are often balanced by healing and fibrosis. Affected tissue is replaced by scarring and cavities filled with caseous necrotic material. During active disease, some of these cavities are joined to the air passages bronchi and this material can be coughed up. It contains living bacteria, so can spread the infection. Treatment with appropriate antibiotics kills bacteria and allows healing to take place. Upon cure, affected areas are eventually replaced by scar tissue.

What process replaces tissue damaged by TB?

scarring

What material can sometimes be expelled by coughing if the cavities it's stored in connect to bronchi?

caseous necrotic material

What type of bacteria-attacking medicine will treat tuberculosis?

antibiotics

Are the bacteria in caseous necrotic material living or dead?

living

What replaces scarring?

I'm not sure.

What is affected tissue filled with?

I'm not sure.

What do cavities join with in the waning period?

I'm not sure.

What medicine treats scar tissue?

I'm not sure.

What joins with air passages to prevent material from being coughed up?

I'm not sure.


Diagnosing active tuberculosis based only on signs and symptoms is difficult, as is diagnosing the disease in those who are immunosuppressed. A diagnosis of TB should, however, be considered in those with signs of lung disease or constitutional symptoms lasting longer than two weeks. A chest X-ray and multiple sputum cultures for acid-fast bacilli are typically part of the initial evaluation. Interferon-γ release assays and tuberculin skin tests are of little use in the developing world. IGRA have similar limitations in those with HIV.

Is active TB difficult or easy to diagnose by patients' symptoms alone?

difficult

If a patient has some symptoms associated with TB, after what time period should tuberculosis be diagnostically considered?

two weeks

What part of the body would be X-rayed to check for TB?

chest

What sign of TB infection would a lab be looking for in a sputum culture?

acid-fast bacilli

Along with interferon-y release essays, what other tests aren't useful in TB diagnosis in developing countries?

tuberculin skin tests

What is usually diagnosed using just signs and symptoms?

I'm not sure.

How long do symptoms in someone who is immunosuppressed last?

I'm not sure.

What kind of cultures test for HIV?

I'm not sure.

What kind of tests are common in developing countries?

I'm not sure.

What type of bacilli do interferon-y release assays look for?

I'm not sure.


The Mantoux tuberculin skin test is often used to screen people at high risk for TB. Those who have been previously immunized may have a false-positive test result. The test may be falsely negative in those with sarcoidosis, Hodgkin's lymphoma, malnutrition, and most notably, active tuberculosis. Interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs), on a blood sample, are recommended in those who are positive to the Mantoux test. These are not affected by immunization or most environmental mycobacteria, so they generate fewer false-positive results. However, they are affected by M. szulgai, M. marinum, and M. kansasii. IGRAs may increase sensitivity when used in addition to the skin test, but may be less sensitive than the skin test when used alone.

What result might someone who has received a TB vaccination get from the Mantoux test?

false-positive

What does "IGRAs" stand for?

Interferon gamma release assays

In combination with skin tests, are IGRAs associated with an increase or decrease in sensitivity?

increase

Which test has fewer false positives: IGRAs or the Mantoux skin test?

IGRAs

What liquid would you need from a patient to perform IGRAs?

blood

What is used to test for sarcoidosis?

I'm not sure.

What incorrect result may someone who has not gotten the TB vaccination get?

I'm not sure.

What environmental substance are IGRAs affected by?

I'm not sure.

What has more false-positives than the Mantoux tuberculin test?

I'm not sure.


It is the most widely used vaccine worldwide, with more than 90% of all children being vaccinated. The immunity it induces decreases after about ten years. As tuberculosis is uncommon in most of Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, BCG is administered only to those people at high risk. Part of the reasoning against the use of the vaccine is that it makes the tuberculin skin test falsely positive, reducing the test's use in screening. A number of new vaccines are currently in development.

For about how long does full immunity from the TB vaccine last?

ten years

What percentage of kids in the whole world get the BCG vaccine?

Is TB common or uncommon in the United States?

uncommon

In addition to the U.S. and Canada, what European country sees very few tuberculosis infections?

the United Kingdom

What segment of the population gets the TB vaccine in countries like Canada with a very low incidence of infection?

high risk

What percentage of children have TB?

I'm not sure.

What disease is common in the UK?

I'm not sure.

How long do you have to wait to get the TB vaccine?

I'm not sure.

What is not given to high risk people?

I'm not sure.

Which three countries have a high risk of tuberculosis?

I'm not sure.


The World Health Organization declared TB a "global health emergency" in 1993, and in 2006, the Stop TB Partnership developed a Global Plan to Stop Tuberculosis that aims to save 14 million lives between its launch and 2015. A number of targets they have set are not likely to be achieved by 2015, mostly due to the increase in HIV-associated tuberculosis and the emergence of multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis. A tuberculosis classification system developed by the American Thoracic Society is used primarily in public health programs.

What group heads up the Global Plan to Stop Tuberculosis?

Stop TB Partnership

In what year did the WHO say tuberculosis was a "global health emergency"?

How many lives did the Stop TB Partnership vow to save in the nine years between its start and 2015?

14 million

Drug-resistant TB is one of the barriers to success of the Stop TB Partnership's initiative; what's the other other?

HIV-associated tuberculosis

What organization created a system to classify various types of TB?

American Thoracic Society

What did the World Health Organization create in 2006?

I'm not sure.

How many lives has Stop TB Partnership saved?

I'm not sure.

When was the World Health Organization founded?

I'm not sure.

Who developed the classification of HIV-associated TB?

I'm not sure.

When was the tuberculosis classification system created?

I'm not sure.


Treatment of TB uses antibiotics to kill the bacteria. Effective TB treatment is difficult, due to the unusual structure and chemical composition of the mycobacterial cell wall, which hinders the entry of drugs and makes many antibiotics ineffective. The two antibiotics most commonly used are isoniazid and rifampicin, and treatments can be prolonged, taking several months. Latent TB treatment usually employs a single antibiotic, while active TB disease is best treated with combinations of several antibiotics to reduce the risk of the bacteria developing antibiotic resistance. People with latent infections are also treated to prevent them from progressing to active TB disease later in life. Directly observed therapy, i.e., having a health care provider watch the person take their medications, is recommended by the WHO in an effort to reduce the number of people not appropriately taking antibiotics. The evidence to support this practice over people simply taking their medications independently is poor. Methods to remind people of the importance of treatment do, however, appear effective.

What part of the mycobacterial cell makes tuberculosis more difficult to treat?

wall

Isoniazid is one of the two most popular drugs for TB treatment; what's the other one?

rifampicin

What complication does the use of combinations of antibiotics for active TB prevent?

antibiotic resistance

What's the three-word name for the method where a health care worker watches their patient take their medication?

Directly observed therapy

What organization recommends directly observed therapy to make sure people take their antibiotics correctly?

WHO

What is used to kill antibiotics?

I'm not sure.

The chemical composition of what wall makes TB easy to treat?

I'm not sure.

Which two drugs are used simultaneously to treat latent TB?

I'm not sure.

How long are antibiotics ineffective?

I'm not sure.

What health care provider watches the person take their medications?

I'm not sure.


Primary resistance occurs when a person becomes infected with a resistant strain of TB. A person with fully susceptible MTB may develop secondary (acquired) resistance during therapy because of inadequate treatment, not taking the prescribed regimen appropriately (lack of compliance), or using low-quality medication. Drug-resistant TB is a serious public health issue in many developing countries, as its treatment is longer and requires more expensive drugs. MDR-TB is defined as resistance to the two most effective first-line TB drugs: rifampicin and isoniazid. Extensively drug-resistant TB is also resistant to three or more of the six classes of second-line drugs. Totally drug-resistant TB is resistant to all currently used drugs. It was first observed in 2003 in Italy, but not widely reported until 2012, and has also been found in Iran and India. Bedaquiline is tentatively supported for use in multiple drug-resistant TB.

If a person has TB that's resistant to rifampicin and isoniazid, which type of the disease do they have?

MDR-TB

What's the minimum number of second-line medication classes your TB would have to resist to make it count as "extensively drug-resistant"?

three

In what country was the first case of totally drug-resistant tuberculosis?

Italy

What's the only antibiotic that might be effective against totally drug-resistant TB?

Bedaquiline

Cases of totally drug-resistant TB have been found in what country in addition to Italy and India?

Iran

Someone who is not susceptible to MTP develops what?

I'm not sure.

What is low-quality medication an example of a lack of?

I'm not sure.

What was first reported in Iran?

I'm not sure.

When was MDR-TB first observed?

I'm not sure.

Where was bedaquiline created?

I'm not sure.


The risk of reactivation increases with immunosuppression, such as that caused by infection with HIV. In people coinfected with M. tuberculosis and HIV, the risk of reactivation increases to 10% per year. Studies using DNA fingerprinting of M. tuberculosis strains have shown reinfection contributes more substantially to recurrent TB than previously thought, with estimates that it might account for more than 50% of reactivated cases in areas where TB is common. The chance of death from a case of tuberculosis is about 4% as of 2008, down from 8% in 1995.

As immunosuppression goes up in tuberculosis cases, what risk rises with it?

reactivation

What disease has a similar relationship as TB does between reactivation and immunosuppression?

HIV

If you'd been diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1995, how great a chance would you have faced of dying from it?

In what year did the risk of dying from TB reach half what it was in 1995?

New studies have found that half of reactivation cases of tuberculosis might actually be due to what other "re-" word?

reinfection

Reactivation is caused by what disease?

I'm not sure.

What is the risk of reactivation in someone who only has M. tuberculosis?

I'm not sure.

What was the chance of death from HIV in 2008?

I'm not sure.

When did scientists begin to suspect reinfection was worse than previously thought?

I'm not sure.

What methods have recent studies used to examine HIV strains?

I'm not sure.


Roughly one-third of the world's population has been infected with M. tuberculosis, with new infections occurring in about 1% of the population each year. However, most infections with M. tuberculosis do not cause TB disease, and 90–95% of infections remain asymptomatic. In 2012, an estimated 8.6 million chronic cases were active. In 2010, 8.8 million new cases of TB were diagnosed, and 1.20–1.45 million deaths occurred, most of these occurring in developing countries. Of these 1.45 million deaths, about 0.35 million occur in those also infected with HIV.

At any given time, about how much of all the people in the world has M. tuberculosis?

one-third

Approximately how many active TB cases were there in 2012?

8.6 million

How many patients were diagnosed with tuberculosis in 2010?

8.8 million

About how many people died in 2010 carrying both HIV and TB?

0.35 million

What percentage of the world's total population gets infected with tuberculosis every year?

How many people died from TB in 2012?

I'm not sure.

What percentage of TB deaths result in death?

I'm not sure.

How many people died in developing countries from TB?

I'm not sure.

What percentage of the population is infected by HIV each year?

I'm not sure.

How many chronic cases of TB were there total in 2012?

I'm not sure.