This country’s high-speed rail system was originally to be powered by gas turbines, but the 1973 oil crisis forced a switch to electric trains. For 10 points each:
[10e] Name this country whose TGV network connects its capital to cities like Strasbourg and Lyon.
ANSWER: France [accept French Republic or République française]
[10m] The TGV was constructed during this man’s presidency, which also saw the legalization of abortion. He lost an election to François Mitterrand in 1981 after it was revealed he accepted diamonds from Jean-Bédel Bokassa.
ANSWER: Valéry Giscard d’Estaing [accept VGE; prompt on d’Estaing]
[10h] Giscard also promoted the creation of this online network, which was connected using telephone lines. Although limited to France, this was the most popular online service before the advent of the World Wide Web.
ANSWER: Minitel [or Médium interactif par numérisation d’information téléphonique; accept TELETEL]
<History - European History>