Donald Wicker, age 15, of Laconia, N.H., for his question:

WHERE IS QATAR?

Qatar is a small Arab country in southwestern Asia. It occupies a desert peninsula that juts from eastern Arabia into the Persian Gulf.

People have lived in the area that is now Qatar for thousands of years. In 1916, the country became a protectorate of Great Britain but it gained full independence in 1971. In 1971 Qatar also became a member of the Arab League and the United Nations.

Exploration for oil in Qatar began in 1930. Oil was discovered in 1939 but World War II began that year and delayed additional exploration until 1949.

Since the 1950s, oil has made Qatar a rapidly developing country. Leaders encourage industrial development with the goal of creating a modern state.

Qatar is about the size of the state of Delaware. Hut with only about 100,000 people in the country, Delaware has a population that is about six times as large as Qatar's.

The government now requires children from the ages of 6 to 16 to go to school. The number of elementary schools in Qatar has increased from one in 1952 ato almost 100 now.

Summer temperatures in Qatar often rise above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The annual rainfall is about four inches. Drinking water must be distilled from water taken from the sea.