B211 Self-Test Week 10

Current Affairs Self-Test - Week 10

The following are excerpts from newpaper articles. Read the excerpts and answer the question below each excerpt.

Excerpt:
Telstra has played down the extent of the problems on its network, which The Australian reported was under threat due to disastrous attempts to weatherproof the cables over the past five years.
A sealant gel meant to protect the cables ... has instead promoted corrosion of copper wire connectors that are housed under manhole covers in nearly every suburban and regional street in Australia.
A Telstra spokesman said a maximum of $75million was needed to correct the problems with the network.
What weather condition causes the above problems with the network cables?

Excerpts:

With telephone lines congested and travellers uncontactable, the bulletin boards have become invaluable for friends and relatives back in Australia, and around the world.
Australian internet users posted updates on events to a number of websites popular with tourists. One user offered to post photographs of missing people on his site, while others offered help to those stranded on the island.
TELSTRA has begun recalling non-essential staff from Indonesia following the latest travel warning from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

What event are the above responding to?

Excerpt:

THE Australian court system upheld the right of internet activists to campaign against junk email in a landmark decision today.
The District Court of Western Australia dismissed the lawsuit by Perth-based direct marketing firm T3 Direct against anti-spam activist Joey McNicol, describing it as "speculative and based on propositions (the plaintiff) knew to be incorrect".
The Which Company, trading as T3 Direct, had sued Mr McNicol for allegedly getting the company black-listed on anti-spam website SPEWS.org
What does the anti-spam website SPEWS.org do to "black-list" companies?

Excerpt:

BROADBAND download limits are coming under scrutiny as the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman questions the capping policies of major telcos.
With many broadband customers facing larger than expected bills, deputy ombudsman Vic Marles has confirmed 26 cases relating to data downloads are under investigation.
"We have had a number of complaints about bills for excess usage,..."

What are the excess usage apparently caused by?

Link to sample answers.

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