ENGLISHCLASS.TODAY

Category: English Class, This Week

  • English Class, This Week: 2 May 2025

    CONTENTS

    1. In The News This Week

    2. Country Spotlight: Argentina

    3. This Week in History

    4. Grammar Focus

    5. Quote of the Week

    6. Answer Keys

    1. IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK

    News item #1: Militants attack a group of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing 26 people.

    Vocabulary

    militant (n.): a person who is aggressive or willing to use violence to support a political or social cause

    Example: The militant group attacked the base to protest government policies.

    Indian-administered (adj.): controlled or governed by India, often used in the context of disputed regions

    Example: Indian-administered Kashmir has been the center of conflict for many years.

    News item #2: A power outage affects most of the Iberian Peninsula.

    Vocabulary:

    power outage (n.): a period when electricity stops working in a particular area

    Example: The power outage lasted two hours, so we had to use candles.

    Iberian Peninsula (place): a region in southwestern Europe that includes the countries of Spain and Portugal

    Example: Many ancient civilizations once lived on the Iberian Peninsula.

    News item #3: In Canada, the Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, wins the most seats in the federal election.

    Vocabulary

    Prime Minister (n.): the leader of the government in many countries, similar to a president

    Example: The Prime Minister gave a speech about the new healthcare plan.

    federal election (n.): a national vote to choose members of a country’s central government

    Example: Voters will go to the polls next week for the federal election.

    2. COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT: ARGENTINA

    Video

    Facts

    • Geographical location: Eastern coast of South America
    • Size: Eighth largest country globally and the second largest in South America
    • Bordering countries: Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, and Uruguay
    • Landscape: Andes Mountains, Pampas grasslands, and subtropical forests
    • Climate: Ranges from temperate and arid to tropical in the north and subpolar in the south
    • Population: over 44 million people
    • Capital city: Buenos Aires
    • Other important cities: Cordoba, Rosario, Mendoza, and Mar del Plata
    • Language: Spanish
    • Religion: Majority Catholic; minority Protestant and other religions
    • Currency: Argentine peso
    • Cuisine: Known for beef, wine, and influences from Italian and Spanish cuisine
    • Music: Popular genres include tango, folk, and rock
    • Famous tourist attractions: Iguazu Falls, the Andes Mountains, Perito Moreno glacier, and Buenos Aires
    • Interesting historical facts: Political and economic instability in the 20th century led to periods of military dictatorship and economic crisis.

    Vocabulary Exercise

    Read the definitions of words and phrases. Then complete each sentence with one of the bold words or phrases.

    1. resurgence: a revival or increase of something that had been weak or inactive
    2. subtropical: relating to the regions between the tropics and the temperate zones
    3. economic crisis: a situation where a country or region faces serious problems with its economy, such as high inflation, unemployment, or debt
    4. military dictatorship: a form of government where the political power is held by the armed forces and their leader
    5. political instability: a situation where the government or the political system is weak, uncertain, or unpredictable
    6. tango: a type of dance and music that originated in Argentina and Uruguay
    7. folk: relating to the traditional culture and customs of a group of people
    8. arid: very dry, having little or no rain
    9. immigrant: a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country
    10. subpolar: relating to the regions near the North or South Pole
    1. Florida has a ______________ climate, which means it has hot and humid summers and mild winters.
    2. She is an ____________ from China who moved to Canada when she was 10 years old.
    3. The festival celebrates the __________ music and art of the local community.
    4. Some parts of Australia have a very __________ climate, making it hard for plants and animals to survive.
    5. The ________________ in the region makes it difficult for foreign investors to trust its future prospects.
    6. The ___________ is a passionate and elegant dance that requires skill and coordination.
    7. There has been a ______________ of interest in classical music among young people in recent years.
    8. The people suffered under a _________________ for many years until they finally gained their democracy.
    9. The country faced an _______________ in 2008, which resulted in many people losing their jobs and homes.
    10. Antarctica is a _____________ continent that has very low temperatures and long periods of darkness.

    (Audio included with the answer key at the end of this lesson)

    Place Name Exercise

    Choose the correct words or names in parentheses to complete each sentence.

    1. The capital city of Argentina is [Cordoba / Buenos Aires / Mendoza].
    2. Other major cities in Argentina include [Cordoba and Mendoza / Rosario and Bolivia].
    3. Argentina is bordered by the [North Atlantic Ocean / South Atlantic Ocean].
    4. Argentina shares borders with [Bolivia and Paraguay / Brazil and Colombia].
    5. Argentina’s diverse landscape includes the [Andes / Alps] Mountains in the west, and the flat [Tundra / Pampas] grasslands in the center.
    6. The largest city in Argentina is [Mar del Plata / Buenos Aires].
    7. Argentina is located on the [western / eastern] coast of South America.
    8. Tourist attractions in Argentina include the [Rosario / Iguazu] Falls and the [Perito Moreno / Amazon] glacier.

    (Audio included with the answer key at the end of this lesson)

    Proverb from Argentina

    “Pueblo chico, infierno grande.” / “Small town, big hell.”

    What does this mean? In a small town, everybody knows you and your family. They know everything you have done – including all the embarrassing things you don’t want people to know, or you hope people will forget.

    3. THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

    28 April 1952: The Treaty of San Francisco comes into effect, restoring Japanese sovereignty and ending its state of war with most of the Allies of World War II.

    Vocabulary

    (to) come into effect (v. phr.): To begin to be used or enforced.

    Example: The new traffic rules will come into effect next month.

    sovereignty (n.): The power of a country to govern itself without outside control.

    Example: The people voted to protect their national sovereignty.

    state of war (n.): A condition in which two or more countries are officially at war.

    Example: After the attack, the country entered a state of war.

    29 April 1910: The Parliament of the United Kingdom passes the People’s Budget, the first budget in British history with the expressed intent of redistributing wealth among the British public.

    Vocabulary

    Parliament (n.): The group of people who make laws in some countries.

    Example: Parliament will vote on the new education policy tomorrow.

    intent (n.): The reason or purpose behind an action.

    Example: Her intent was to help, not to cause trouble.

    (to) redistribute wealth (v. + n.): To take money or resources from richer people and give them to poorer people, usually through government policy.

    Example: The new law aims to redistribute wealth through higher taxes on the rich.

    30 April 1975: Fall of Saigon: Communist forces gain control of Saigon. The Vietnam War ends with the unconditional surrender of the South Vietnamese government.

    Vocabulary

    Communist (adj.): Related to a political system where the government owns most property and controls the economy.

    Example: The Communist government introduced new rules for businesses.

    unconditional surrender (phr.): A type of surrender where the losing side agrees to all the terms without asking for anything in return.

    Example: The enemy agreed to an unconditional surrender at the end of the war.

    1 May 1886: Rallies are held throughout the United States demanding the eight-hour work day, culminating in the Haymarket affair in Chicago, in commemoration of which May 1 is celebrated as International Workers’ Day in many countries.

    Vocabulary

    rally (n.): A large public meeting, often to show support for a cause or protest something.

    Example: Thousands of people attended the rally to demand fair wages.

    (to) culminate (v.): To reach the highest point or final result of a process or activity.

    Example: The protest culminated in a peaceful march through the capital.

    commemoration (n.): A ceremony or activity to remember and honor a person or event.

    Example: The city held a commemoration for the victims of the earthquake.

    2 May 1808: Outbreak of the Peninsular War: The people of Madrid rise up in rebellion against French occupation. Francisco de Goya later memorializes this event in his painting The Second of May 1808.

    Vocabulary

    (to) rise up (v.): To fight or protest against a government or authority.

    Example: The people decided to rise up against the unfair policies of their government.

    rebellion (n.): A violent or strong resistance against the government or those in power.

    Example: The rebellion lasted for months before the army took control.

    occupation (n.): The control of a country or area by a foreign military force.

    Example: During the occupation, many people lost their homes and businesses.

    (to) memorialize (v.): To do something that helps people remember someone or something important.

    Example: The statue was built to memorialize the soldiers who died in the war.

    4. GRAMMAR FOCUS

    Simple Present Tense: The people of Madrid rise up in rebellion against French occupation.

    Present Continuous Tense: The people are rising up in rebellion against unfair government policies.

    Present Perfect Tense: The people have risen up in rebellion many times in that country’s history.

    Present Perfect Continuous Tense: The people have been rising up in rebellion for more than three months.

    Simple Past Tense: In 1808, the people of Madrid rose up in rebellion against French occupation.

    Past Continuous Tense: The people were rising up in rebellion against their government when the neighboring country invaded them.

    Past Perfect Tense: The people had already risen up in rebellion when the neighboring country invaded them.

    Past Perfect Continuous Tense: The people had been rising up in rebellion for three days when the neighboring country invaded them.

    Simple Future Tense: The people of Madrid will soon rise up in rebellion against French occupation.

    Future Continuous Tense: The people will be rising up in rebellion by the time the rainy season starts.

    Future Perfect Tense: By the time the French government sends fresh soldiers to Spain, the people will already have risen up in rebellion against the occupation.

    Future Perfect Continuous Tense: By the time people rise up in rebellion, they will have been suffering for more than two months under the French occupation.

    First conditional: In April 1975, many people thought: “If communist forces gain control of Saigon, the Vietnam War will end.”

    Second conditional: If war broke out in my country, I would fight to defend it.

    Third conditional: If the US had dropped nuclear bombs on North Vietnam, the Vietnam War might not have ended in 1975.

    5. QUOTE OF THE WEEK

    “To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.” – Chinese Proverb

    6. ANSWER KEYS

    Vocabulary Exercise

    Read the definitions of words and phrases. Then complete each sentence with one of the bold words or phrases.

    1. Florida has a subtropical climate, which means it has hot and humid summers and mild winters.
    2. She is an immigrant from China who moved to Canada when she was 10 years old.
    3. The festival celebrates the folk music and art of the local community.
    4. Some parts of Australia have a very arid climate, making it hard for plants and animals to survive.
    5. The political instability in the region makes it difficult for foreign investors to trust its future prospects.
    6. The tango is a passionate and elegant dance that requires skill and coordination.
    7. There has been a resurgence of interest in classical music among young people in recent years.
    8. The people suffered under a military dictatorship for many years until they finally gained their democracy.
    9. The country faced an economic crisis in 2008, which resulted in many people losing their jobs and homes.
    10. Antarctica is a subpolar continent that has very low temperatures and long periods of darkness.

    Place Name Exercise

    Choose the correct words or names in parentheses to complete each sentence.

    1. The capital city of Argentina is [Cordoba / Buenos Aires / Mendoza].
    2. Other major cities in Argentina include [Cordoba and Mendoza / Rosario and Bolivia].
    3. Argentina is bordered by the [North Atlantic Ocean / South Atlantic Ocean].
    4. Argentina shares borders with [Bolivia and Paraguay / Brazil and Colombia].
    5. Argentina’s diverse landscape includes the [Andes / Alps] Mountains in the west, and the flat [Tundra / Pampas] grasslands in the center.
    6. The largest city in Argentina is [Mar del Plata / Buenos Aires].
    7. Argentina is located on the [western / eastern] coast of South America.
    8. Tourist attractions in Argentina include the [Rosario / Iguazu] Falls and the [Perito Moreno / Amazon] glacier.

    That’s it for English class this week! See you next Friday!

    Brand Smit: Editor of English Class, This Week and English teacher in Kaohsiung, Taiwan

error: Content is protected !!