<div style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; color: #333; max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 20px;">
English Lesson — World faces cancer workforce crisis with 100m staff shortfall and Other World News
Reading
A report warns that the world faces a cancer workforce crisis with a shortfall of 100 million staff. Additionally, a daily pill has been shown to double survival time for the world's deadliest cancer. Israeli forces have seized the 900-year-old Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, marking the deepest military incursion into the country in 26 years. The castle provides a strategic overview of southern Lebanon and northern Israel. On June 14, 2026, Switzerland will vote on a plan to cap its population at 10 million through a constitutional initiative. The vote aims to address sustainability and quality of life concerns. Hundreds were arrested and dozens of police injured after riots broke out following Champions League matches in France. The violence marred the football celebrations. A new daily pill has been shown to double survival time for patients with the world's deadliest cancer, offering hope in the fight against aggressive tumors.
Vocabulary (15 words)
| Word | Type | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| workforce | noun | /ˈwɜːrkfɔːrs/ | the people engaged in or available for work |
| shortfall | noun | /ˈʃɔːrtfɔːl/ | a deficit or shortage |
| survival | noun | /sərˈvaɪvəl/ | the state of continuing to live or exist |
| initiative | noun | /ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ | an act or strategy intended to resolve a difficulty or improve a situation |
| incursion | noun | /ɪnˈkɜːrʒən/ | an invasion or attack, especially a sudden or brief one |
| strategic | adjective | /strəˈtiːdʒɪk/ | relating to the identification of long-term or overall aims and interests |
| constitutional | adjective | /ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃənəl/ | relating to an established set of principles governing a state |
| sustainability | noun | /səˌsteɪnəˈbɪlɪti/ | the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level |
| riot | noun | /ˈraɪət/ | a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd |
| celebrations | noun | /ˌsɛlɪˈbreɪʃənz/ | the action of marking one's pleasure at an important event or occasion |
| aggressive | adjective | /əˈɡrɛsɪv/ | ready or likely to attack or confront; characterized by or resulting from aggression |
| pill | noun | /pɪl/ | a small round mass of solid medicine |
| deadliest | adjective | /ˈdɛdlɪst/ | causing the most deaths |
| hope | noun | /hoʊp/ | a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen |
Grammar Points
- Present Perfect vs Past Simple: Use present perfect for past actions with present relevance (e.g., 'has been shown'), past simple for completed past actions (e.g., 'voted').
- Relative Clauses: Use 'that' or 'which' to add essential information about a noun (e.g., 'a plan that caps population').
- Modal Verbs for Possibility: Use 'will' for future certainty, 'might' or 'could' for possibility (e.g., 'will vote', 'could double').
Exercises
Vocabulary (Fill in the blank)
- The ______ shortage has affected hospitals worldwide.
- The new medicine could ______ survival time for patients.
- Switzerland's vote is a major ______ for reform.
- The castle's location gives a ______ advantage.
- After the match, fans broke into a ______.
Grammar (Multiple Choice)
- Choose the correct form: She ___ (visit) the museum yesterday. Options: visits, visited, has visited
- Choose the correct form: They ___ (live) here since 2020. Options: live, lived, have lived
- Choose the correct form: The castle ___ (capture) by Israeli forces. Options: was captured, captured, has captured
- Choose the correct form: If it ___ (rain), we will stay inside. Options: rains, rained, will rain
- Choose the correct form: She ___ (already/finish) her homework. Options: has already finished, already finished, have already finished
Reading Comprehension
- What is the estimated shortfall in the cancer workforce?
- Which country will vote on a population cap in June 2026?
- What historical site did Israel capture in southern Lebanon?
- What event led to hundreds of arrests in France?
- What effect does the daily pill have on survival time?
Answer Key
Vocabulary
- workforce
- double
- initiative
- strategic
- riot
Grammar
- visited
- have lived
- was captured
- rains
- has already finished
Reading Comprehension
- 100 million staff
- Switzerland
- Beaufort Castle
- Champions League matches riots
- It doubles survival time.