📚 English Lesson: World News Digest
May 24, 2026
Part 1: Reading
The United States has presented a one-page proposal to end the Iran war, but negotiators say the gulf between Tehran and Washington remains wide. Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is set to visit the White House, while reports indicate a Diet Coke can shortage in India linked to the conflict. Former President Donald Trump has announced plans to send an additional 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland amid rising tensions in Europe. An outbreak of Ebola has been declared a health emergency in the Democratic Republic of Congo. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to India, discussing energy cooperation to offset shortfalls caused by the Iran war. SpaceX successfully launched its massive Starship V3 rocket on a test flight. Latest polls show former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe as the only candidate who can defeat either Marine Le Pen or Jean-Luc Mélenchon in the upcoming French presidential election. Due to the Iran war disrupting supply chains, a Diet Coke shortage has led to spontaneous parties across India as consumers hoard the remaining stock.
Part 2: Vocabulary
| Word | Type | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| proposal | noun | /prəˈpoʊ.zəl/ | a plan or suggestion put forward for consideration |
| negotiators | noun | /nɪˈɡoʊ.ʃi.eɪ.tɚz/ | people who discuss something to reach an agreement |
| gulf | noun | /ɡʌlf/ | a big difference between people or things |
| shortage | noun | /ˈʃɔːr.tɪdʒ/ | a situation when there is not enough of something |
| troops | noun | /truːps/ | soldiers, especially in large numbers |
| tensions | noun | /ˈten.ʃənz/ | feelings of fear or anger between people or groups |
| outbreak | noun | /ˈaʊt.breɪk/ | a sudden start of something bad, like disease |
| emergency | noun | /ɪˈmɜːr.dʒən.si/ | a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation |
| discussing | verb | /ˈdɪs.ʌŋ/ | talking about something with someone |
| cooperation | noun | /koʊˌɒp.əˈreɪ.ʃən/ | the act of working together toward the same end |
| launched | verb | /lɔːnʧt/ | sent something (like a rocket) into the air or space |
| polls | noun | /poʊlz/ | surveys where people are asked their opinion |
| defeat | verb | /dɪˈfiːt/ | to win against someone in a fight or game |
| spontaneous | adjective | /spɒnˈteɪ.ni.əs/ | happening naturally, without planning |
| hoard | verb | /hɔːrd/ | to collect large amounts of something and keep it for yourself |
Part 3: Grammar
1. Present Perfect Tense
Usage: Used for actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or for past actions with present relevance.
Examples from text:
- "has presented" (The United States has presented a one-page proposal)
- "has been declared" (An outbreak of Ebola has been declared a health emergency)
- "has announced" (Former President Donald Trump has announced plans)
- "has led" (a Diet Coke shortage has led to spontaneous parties)
Form: has/have + past participle
<div style="background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 15px; border-left: 4px solid #0066cc; margin-top: 15px;">
<h3 style="color: #0066cc; margin-top: 0;">2. Modal Verbs for Possibility and Prediction</h3>
<p><strong>Usage:</strong> Used to express possibility, prediction, or speculation about future events.</p>
<p><strong>Examples from text:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>"is set to visit" (Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is set to visit the White House)</li>
<li>"can defeat" (the only candidate who can defeat either Marine Le Pen)</li>
<li>"has led to" (a Diet Coke shortage has led to spontaneous parties)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Common modals:</strong> will, would, can, could, may, might, shall, should, must, ought to</p>
</div>
<div style="background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 15px; border-left: 4px solid #0066cc; margin-top: 15px;">
<h3 style="color: #0066cc; margin-top: 0;">3. Passive Voice</h3>
<p><strong>Usage:</strong> Used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action, not the doer.</p>
<p><strong>Examples from text:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>"has been declared" (focus on the declaration, not who declared it)</li>
<li>"is set to visit" (focus on the arrangement, not who set it)</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Form:</strong> be + past participle</p>
</div>
Part 4: Exercises
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<h3 style="color: #0066cc;">Vocabulary Exercises (Choose the best answer)</h3>
<ol style="padding-left: 20px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px;">The government has ______ a new policy to reduce inflation.
<ol style="padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: a;">
<li>proposed</li>
<li>proposing</li>
<li>propose</li>
<li>proposes</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px;">There is a serious ______ of clean water in many African countries.
<ol style="padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: a;">
<li>shortage</li>
<li>shortages</li>
<li>short</li>
<li>shortening</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px;">The two sides are ______ to reach a peace agreement.
<ol style="padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: a;">
<li>negotiation</li>
<li>negotiate</li>
<li>negotiating</li>
<li>negotiated</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px;">After months of talks, they finally ______ an agreement.
<ol style="padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: a;">
<li>reached</li>
<li>reaching</li>
<li>reach</li>
<li>reaches</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px;">The doctor warned about a possible disease ______.
<ol style="padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: a;">
<li>outbreak</li>
<li>outbreaks</li>
<li>outbreaking</li>
<li>outbroke</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<h3 style="color: #0066cc;">Grammar Exercises (Choose the correct form)</h3>
<ol style="padding-left: 20px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px;">The United Nations ______ (declare) a health emergency in Congo.
<ol style="padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: a;">
<li>has declared</li>
<li>have declared</li>
<li>declared</li>
<li>declares</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Scientists believe the situation ______ (improve) soon.
<ol style="padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: a;">
<li>will improve</li>
<li>improves</li>
<li>improved</li>
<li>improving</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px;">The rocket ______ (launch) successfully yesterday.
<ol style="padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: a;">
<li>was launched</li>
<li>has been launched</li>
<li>launched</li>
<li>is launched</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px;">By next year, they ______ (complete) the new hospital.
<ol style="padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: a;">
<li>will have completed</li>
<li>will complete</li>
<li>complete</li>
<li>completed</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px;">If the peace talks succeed, more troops ______ (withdraw) from the region.
<ol style="padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: a;">
<li>will withdraw</li>
<li>would withdraw</li>
<li>withdraw</li>
<li>withdrew</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
<h3 style="color: #0066cc;">Reading Comprehension (Answer based on the text)</h3>
<ol style="padding-left: 20px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px;">What is the main reason for the Diet Coke shortage in India according to the text?
<ol style="padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: a;">
<li>Increased demand during summer</li>
<li>Disruption of supply chains due to the Iran war</li>
<li>Production factory closure</li>
<li>Government import restrictions</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Who is mentioned as visiting the White House to discuss the Iran situation?
<ol style="padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: a;">
<li>Donald Trump</li>
<li>Marco Rubio</li>
<li>Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva</li>
<li>Narendra Modi</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px;">What did SpaceX successfully launch according to the article?
<ol style="padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: a;">
<li>Falcon 9 rocket</li>
<li>Starship V3 rocket</li>
<li>Dragon spacecraft</li>
<li>Satellite constellation</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Who is described as the only candidate who can defeat either Marine Le Pen or Jean-Luc Mélenchon?
<ol style="padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: a;">
<li>Emmanuel Macron</li>
<li>Édouard Philippe</li>
<li>François Hollande</li>
<li>Nicolas Sarkozy</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 10px;">Where was the Ebola outbreak declared as a health emergency?
<ol style="padding-left: 20px; list-style-type: a;">
<li>South Africa</li>
<li>Nigeria</li>
<li>Democratic Republic of Congo</li>
<li>Uganda</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</div>
Part 5: Answer Key
<div style="margin-bottom: 15px;">
<h3 style="color: #0066cc;">Vocabulary Exercises</h3>
<ol style="padding-left: 20px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px;">a) proposed</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px;">a) shortage</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px;">c) negotiating</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px;">a) reached</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px;">a) outbreak</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15px;">
<h3 style="color: #0066cc;">Grammar Exercises</h3>
<ol style="padding-left: 20px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px;">a) has declared</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px;">a) will improve</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px;">c) launched</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px;">a) will have completed</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px;">a) will withdraw</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15px;">
<h3 style="color: #0066cc;">Reading Comprehension</h3>
<ol style="padding-left: 20px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px;">b) Disruption of supply chains due to the Iran war</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px;">c) Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px;">b) Starship V3 rocket</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px;">b) Édouard Philippe</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 5px;">c) Democratic Republic of Congo</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div style="border-top: 1px solid #ccc; padding-top: 10px; margin-top: 20px; font-size: 0.9em; color: #666;">
<p>Well done! Check your answers and review any mistakes to improve your English skills.</p>
</div>