CONTENTS
2. Person from the Past: Socrates
6. Answer Keys
1. IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK
News item #1: In Istanbul, Turkey, Russia and Ukraine hold further negotiations, leading to a deal to exchange prisoners of war. Officials confirm that all sick and severely wounded prisoners of war, as well as those under 25 years old, will be part of the exchange. Additionally, both nations presented ceasefire proposals during the discussions.
Vocabulary
negotiations (n.): talks between two or more groups to reach an agreement
Example: The two countries began negotiations to end the conflict.
prisoners of war (n.): soldiers captured by the enemy during a war
Example: The army promised to treat all prisoners of war with respect.
severely wounded (adv. + adj.): badly injured, usually in a military or combat situation
Example: Several soldiers were severely wounded in the explosion.
exchange (n.): the act of giving one thing and receiving another
Example: The two sides agreed to an exchange of prisoners.
ceasefire proposal (n.): a suggestion to stop fighting temporarily or permanently
Example: The ceasefire proposal was discussed at the peace talks.
News item #2: The United States used its veto power to block a United Nations Security Council resolution that demanded an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The other fourteen members of the Council voted in favor of the resolution.
Vocabulary:
veto power (n.): the right to reject a decision or proposal
Example: One member used its veto power to block the resolution.
United Nations Security Council (n.): a group within the UN responsible for maintaining international peace and security
Example: The United Nations Security Council met to discuss the war.
resolution (n.): a formal decision or statement made by a group, especially in politics
Example: The council passed a resolution calling for peace.
ceasefire (n.): an agreement to stop fighting
Example: Both sides agreed to a temporary ceasefire.
Gaza Strip (place): a small area of land near Israel and Egypt, often affected by conflict
Example: Many families fled the Gaza Strip during the fighting.
in favor (phr.): supporting something or someone
Example: Most countries voted in favor of the resolution.
News item #3: The Freedom Flotilla, a group of boats transporting humanitarian aid to Gaza with activists, a European Parliament member, and a journalist on board, rescued four refugees from the Sudanese civil war. The refugees were found on a small inflatable boat near Libya.
Vocabulary
flotilla (n.): a group of small ships
Example: A flotilla of boats delivered supplies to the island.
humanitarian aid (adj. + n.): help given to people in need, especially during war or disasters
Example: The country sent humanitarian aid to the war zone.
activist (n.): a person who works to bring about social or political change
Example: The activist spoke at the rally for peace.
refugee (n.): a person who leaves their country to escape war or danger
Example: The refugees crossed the border to find safety.
civil war (adj. + n.): a war between people in the same country
Example: The American Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865.
inflatable boat (adj. + n.): a boat made of soft material that is filled with air
Example: They crossed the river in an inflatable boat.
2. Person from the Past: Socrates
Video
Facts
- Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher born in Athens in 469 BCE.
- He is known mainly through the accounts of his students, particularly Plato and Xenophon.
- Socrates emphasized questioning everything and encouraged the use of reason.
- He was particularly interested in ethics and believed in living a virtuous life.
- Socrates engaged in dialogues with others to challenge their assumptions and encourage critical thinking.
- Despite his influence, he was not popular with the ruling class of Athens.
- In 399 BCE, Socrates was put on trial and sentenced to death for impiety and corrupting the youth.
- He accepted his sentence and drank poison, becoming a martyr for his beliefs.
- Socrates did not leave any written works of his own.
- His philosophy had a profound impact on later thinkers.
Vocabulary Exercises
Choose the correct word in parentheses to complete each sentence.
- Socrates was a pioneer in the field of philosophy, particularly in [ethics/manners] and morality.
- Socrates encouraged his students to [accept/question] conventional wisdom and societal norms.
- He particularly emphasized the importance of [virtue/wealth] and moral excellence in life.
- Socrates believed in [immoral/moral] behavior and striving to be [violent/virtuous].
- In ancient Athens, the [working class/ruling class] held considerable power and influence.
- He was ultimately [sentenced to death/acquitted] by drinking a cup of poison.
Complete these sentences with words from the text. (Change the forms of the words if needed.)
- Socrates was an __________ philosopher known for his contributions to Western ________________.
- He engaged in ___________ with his students to challenge their _______________ and beliefs.
- Socrates encouraged ____________ ____________ among his followers to foster intellectual growth.
- Socrates was put on trial for ____________ and corrupting the___________ of Athens.
- Socrates is often regarded as a _____________ for his commitment to truth and virtue.
- Socrates did not leave any ____________ __________, but his philosophy was preserved by his students, particularly Plato.
(Audio included with the answer key at the end of this lesson)
3. THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
June 2, 1924: The Indian Citizenship Act is signed, granting U.S. citizenship to Native Americans while preserving tribal rights, a key step in their recognition.
President Coolidge with four Osage Indians at the White House
Vocabulary
citizenship (n.): the legal status of being a citizen of a particular country
Example: She applied for U.S. citizenship after living there for five years.
Native American (n./adj.): a member of the original peoples living in North America before Europeans arrived
Example: The museum has a special exhibit on Native American history and culture.
(to) preserve (v.): to protect something so it stays in good condition
Example: We must preserve old buildings to remember our history.
recognition (n.): being accepted or praised for something
Example: She received recognition for her work with homeless families.
June 3, 1965: Astronaut Ed White performs the first U.S. spacewalk during NASA’s Gemini 4 mission, a milestone in space exploration.
Ed White during his spacewalk
Vocabulary
astronaut (n.): a person trained to travel and work in space
Example: The astronaut spent six months on the space station.
spacewalk (n.): when an astronaut goes outside their spacecraft in space
Example: The crew completed a spacewalk to repair the satellite.
milestone (n.): an important event or achievement
Example: Graduating from college was a big milestone in his life.
space exploration (n.): the study and discovery of space using spacecraft and other technology
Example: Space exploration has helped us learn more about the moon and Mars.
June 4, 1989: Poland holds partially free elections: Poland’s Solidarity movement wins historic elections, marking a turning point in the collapse of communist rule in Eastern Europe.
A how-to-vote card distributed by Solidarity
Vocabulary
partially (adv.): not completely; only in part
Example: The building was partially damaged by the storm.
movement (n.): a group of people working together to reach a goal
Example: The civil rights movement fought for equal rights in the 1960s.
historic (adj.): very important in history
Example: The fall of the Berlin Wall was a historic event.
turning point (n.): a time when a big change happens
Example: The invention of the internet was a turning point in communication.
collapse (n.): a sudden failure or breakdown
Example: The collapse of the bridge caused traffic problems for days.
communist rule (adj. + n.): government control by a political system where property is shared and the state has power
Example: Many Eastern European countries ended communist rule in the early 1990s.
June 5, 1981: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control report the first cases of AIDS, launching global awareness of the HIV epidemic.
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, July 1981
Vocabulary
disease (n.): an illness that affects people, animals, or plants
Example: Scientists are working to find a cure for the disease.
(to) launch (v.): to send something into the air or space; to start something
Example: They will launch a new satellite next month.
awareness (n.): knowing or understanding something
Example: The campaign increased public awareness about drug addiction.
epidemic (n.): a sudden outbreak of disease that spreads quickly
Example: The flu epidemic caused many schools to close.
June 6, 1982: Israel launches an invasion of Lebanon to combat Palestinian militants, sparking a controversial conflict with lasting regional impact.
Syrian anti-tank teams in Lebanon, 1982
Vocabulary
invasion (n.): when an army enters a place to take control of it
Example: The invasion of the country started early in the morning.
(to) combat (v.): to fight against something
Example: The government is taking steps to combat pollution.
militant (n.): a person who uses force or violence for a political or religious cause
Example: The military arrested several militants near the border.
(to) spark (v.): to cause something to begin or happen
Example: The speech sparked protests across the city.
controversial (adj.): causing strong disagreement or discussion
Example: The new law is very controversial and has led to many debates.
conflict (n.): a fight or serious disagreement
Example: The conflict between the two countries lasted for years.
impact (n.): the effect or influence something has
Example: The new policy had a big impact on education.
4. GRAMMAR FOCUS
Simple Present Tense: NASA conducts spacewalks to test how astronauts operate in zero gravity.
Present Continuous Tense: An astronaut is floating outside the spacecraft, attached by a safety tether.
Present Perfect Tense: Astronauts have completed hundreds of spacewalks since Ed White’s first mission.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense: NASA has been training astronauts for extravehicular activities for decades.
Simple Past Tense: In 1965, Ed White performed the first spacewalk by an American astronaut.
Past Continuous Tense: While the spacecraft was orbiting Earth, Ed White moved freely in space.
Past Perfect Tense: Before the Gemini 4 mission, no American had ever left a spacecraft in space.
Past Perfect Continuous Tense: He had been preparing for months before stepping outside the capsule.
Simple Future Tense: Astronauts will continue to conduct spacewalks on future missions to the Moon and Mars.
Future Continuous Tense: In a few years, astronauts will be working on the surface of the Moon for extended periods.
Future Perfect Tense: By the end of this decade, NASA will have launched several more missions involving spacewalks.
Future Perfect Continuous Tense: By 2030, scientists will have been developing new space suits for over 15 years.
First conditional: If a spacewalk goes wrong, mission control will intervene immediately. (Real future possibility)
Second conditional: If the astronaut weren’t tethered to the spacecraft, he would drift into space. (Imaginary/unlikely present situation)
Third conditional: If Ed White had panicked during the spacewalk, the mission could have ended in failure. (Unreal past situation)
5. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things.” – Flora Lewis
6. ANSWER KEYS
Vocabulary Exercises
Choose the correct word in parentheses to complete each sentence.
- Socrates was a pioneer in the field of philosophy, particularly in [ethics/manners] and morality.
- Socrates encouraged his students to [accept/question] conventional wisdom and societal norms.
- He particularly emphasized the importance of [virtue/wealth] and moral excellence in life.
- Socrates believed in [immoral/moral] behavior and striving to be [violent/virtuous].
- In ancient Athens, the [working class/ruling class] held considerable power and influence.
- He was ultimately [sentenced to death/acquitted] by drinking a cup of poison.
Complete these sentences with words from the text. (Change the forms of the words if needed.)
- Socrates was an ancient philosopher known for his contributions to Western philosophy.
- He engaged in dialogue with his students to challenge their assumptions and beliefs.
- Socrates encouraged critical thinking among his followers to foster intellectual growth.
- Socrates was put on trial for impiety and corrupting the youth of Athens.
- Socrates is often regarded as a martyr for his commitment to truth and virtue.
- Socrates did not leave any written works, but his philosophy was preserved by his students, particularly Plato.
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