Английский язык. Тексты общественно-политической тематики «обзор английской прессы» = English language. Texts of socio-political topics «A glimpse of

Text 16

IRAN-ISRAEL CONFLICT:

ESCALATION HITS NEW PEAK AMID

BACK-AND-FORTH THREATS

Regional tensions are boiling over after last Saturday’s Israeli airstrikes on Iranian missile bases, arms factories and air defenses, which Tel Aviv and Washington claimed were a big success and Tehran said were largely neutralized. Amid the media noise surrounding the situation, Sputnik separates the informational wheat from the chaff: IRGC Deputy Chief Mohammad Reza Naqdi warned Wednesday that Israel would face “crushing blows” in “the coming days” in response to last week’s aggression. A New York Times report published Wednesday citing satellite images revealed that Israel’s October 26 strikes included an attack on the Shahroud Space Center in Semnan province, northern Iran. Before and after images show damage done to a building at the facility. The facility is thought to produce the sophisticated solid-fuel rocket engines Iran uses in its missiles. IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi warned Tuesday that if Iran made the “mistake” of responding to last week’s attack, Israel would “hit extremely hard both the capabilities and the places that we spared this time.” Israel “didn’t finish this event, we are right in the middle of it,” Halevi warned. Also on Tuesday, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that Iran can repeat ‘Operation True Promise’-style operations of massed missile and drone strikes on Israel like the ones in April and October “dozens” of times if provoked. “Iran’s defensive capability is high,” Nasirzadeh said, adding that up to 90% of the missiles launched in the October strikes reached their target, and that Israel attempted to cover up this fact. Iran has also maintained its attention focused on Gaza — the crisis at the root of the escalation across the region, throughout the week. In a meeting with ambassadors on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi urged the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel to force it to stop its military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon, and slammed Washington for its continued “support for the Zionist regime.” Separately on Tuesday, Iranian Ambassador to the UN Saeed Iravani blasted Israeli legislation targeting the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.

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Английский язык. Тексты общественно-политической тематики: «обзор английской прессы»

Task 1: Vocabulary Matching

Match the words on the left with their correct definitions on the right

Definitions

a.The ability or power to do something

b.Actions taken against a country to force compliance with international law

c.A situation that intensifies or increases

d.Hostile or violent behavior

e.To stimulate a reaction or response

Task 2: Fill in the blanks

Complete the sentences with the appropriate words from the article.

1.The Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian missile bases, arms factories, and __________.

2.Iranian officials have warned of “crushing blows” in response to last week’s

__________.

3.The IDF Chief of Staff stated that Israel is “right in the __________ of it.”

4.Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh mentioned that Iran could repeat operations of massed missile and drone __________.

5.The Iranian Foreign Minister urged the UN Security Council to impose

__________ on Israel.

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English language. Texts of socio-political topics: “A glimpse of English press”

Task 3: Synonyms and Antonyms

Provide a synonym and antonym for the following words from the article

2.Warning

•Synonym: __________

•Antonym: __________

Task 4: Word Formation

Transform the words provided into the correct form to fill in the blanks

1. Aggress (noun)

o The military __________ was condemned by many countries. 2. Defend (noun)

o Iran’s __________ capabilities have been highlighted in recent statements.

3. Escalate (adjective)

o The situation has become increasingly __________ in recent weeks.

Task : Answer the questions

1.What recent military actions did Israel take against Iran, and how did both sides characterize these actions?

2.Who warned that Israel would face “crushing blows” in response to last week’s aggression?

3.What facility in Iran was reportedly targeted in the Israeli airstrikes, and what does it produce?

4.What did IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi indicate about Israel’s ongoing military operations?

5.How did Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi respond to the situation in Gaza during his meeting with ambassadors?

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Английский язык. Тексты общественно-политической тематики: «обзор английской прессы»

Task 6: Translate into English

1.Иранская сторона заявила, что израильские атаки были в значительной степени нейтрализованы.

2.Военные действия Израиля вызвали угрозы со стороны Ирана.

3.Иранский министр обороны предупредил, что страна может повторить операции с массированными ракетными ударами.

4.Международное сообщество призвало к дипломатическому разрешению конфликта.

5.Иран продолжает сосредотачивать внимание на кризисе в Газе, который является корнем эскалации.

Task 7: Short Essay

Write a short essay (150–200 words) discussing the importance of diplomatic dialogue in conflict resolution, referencing the tensions highlighted in the article. Use at least five vocabulary words from the tasks above.

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Text 17

MAY DAY — THE REAL LABOR DAY

May 1st, International Workers’ Day, commemorates the historic struggle of working people throughout the world, and is recognized in every country except the United States, Canada, and South Africa. This despite the fact that the holiday began in the 1880s in the United States, with the fight for an eight-hour work day.

In 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions [passed a resolution stating that eight hours would constitute a legal day’s work from and after May 1, 1886. The resolution called for a general strike to achieve the goal, since legislative methods had already failed. With workers being forced to work ten, twelve, and fourteen hours a day, rank-and-file support for the eight-hour movement grew rapidly, despite the indifference and hostility of many union leaders. By April 1886, 250,000 workers were involved in the May Day movement.

The heart of the movement was in Chicago, organized primarily by the anarchist International Working People’s Association. Businesses and the state were terrified by the increasingly revolutionary character of the movement and prepared accordingly. The police and militia were increased in size and received new and powerful weapons financed by local business leaders. Chicago’s Commercial Club purchased a $2000 machine gun for the Illinois National Guard to be used against strikers. Nevertheless, by May 1st, the movement had already won gains for many Chicago clothing cutters, shoemakers, and packing-house workers. But on May 3, 1886, police fired into a crowd of strikers at the McCormick Reaper Works Factory, killing four and wounding many. Anarchists called for a mass meeting the next day in Haymarket Square to protest the brutality.

The meeting proceeded without incident, and by the time the last speaker was on the platform, the rainy gathering was already breaking up, with only a few hundred people remaining. It was then that 180 cops marched into the square and ordered the meeting to disperse. As the speakers climbed down from the platform, a bomb was thrown at the police, killing one and injuring seventy. Police responded by firing into the crowd, killing one worker and injuring many others.

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Английский язык. Тексты общественно-политической тематики: «обзор английской прессы»

Although it was never determined who threw the bomb, the incident was used as an excuse to attack the entire Left and labor movement. Police ransacked the homes and offices of suspected radicals, and hundreds were arrested without charge. Anarchists in particular were harassed, and eight of Chicago’s most active were charged with conspiracy to murder in connection with the Haymarket bombing. A kangaroo court found all eight guilty, despite a lack of evidence connecting any of them to the bomb-thrower (only one was even present at the meeting, and he was on the speakers’ platform), and they were sentenced to die. Albert Parsons, August Spies, Adolf Fischer, and George Engel were hanged on November 11, 1887. Louis Lingg committed suicide in prison, The remaining three were finally pardoned in 1893.

It is not surprising that the state, business leaders, mainstream union officials, and the media would want to hide the true history of May Day, portraying it as a holiday celebrated only in Moscow’s Red Square. In its attempt to erase the history and significance of May Day, the United States government declared May 1st to be «Law Day», and gave us instead Labor Day — a holiday devoid of any historical significance other than its importance as a day to swill beer and sit in traffic jams.

Nevertheless, rather than suppressing labor and radical movements, the events of 1886 and the execution of the Chicago anarchists actually mobilized many generations of radicals. Emma Goldman, a young immigrant at the time, later pointed to the Haymarket affair as her political birth. Lucy Parsons, widow of Albert Parsons, called upon the poor to direct their anger toward those responsible — the rich. Instead of disappearing, the anarchist movement only grew in the wake of Haymarket, spawning other radical movements and organizations, including the Industrial Workers of the World .By covering up the history of May Day, the state, business, mainstream unions and the media have covered up an entire legacy of dissent in this country. They are terrified of what a similarly militant and organized movement could accomplish today, and they suppress the seeds of such organization whenever and wherever they can. As workers, we must recognize and commemorate May Day not only for its historical significance, but also as a time to organize around issues of vital importance to working-class people today.

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English language. Texts of socio-political topics: “A glimpse of English press”

Task 1: Vocabulary Matching

Match the words on the left with their correct definitions on the right

Task 2: Fill in the blanks

Use words from the text to complete the sentences.

1.May 1st is recognized worldwide as __________ Workers’ Day.

2.The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions passed a __________

calling for an eight-hour workday.

3.The police and __________ were increased in size to control the strikers.

4.The __________ bombing led to the arrest of many anarchists.

5.The United States government replaced May Day with __________ Day.

Task 3: Synonyms and Antonyms

Find synonyms and antonyms for the following words from the text

3.Radical

•Synonym: __________

•Antonym: __________

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Английский язык. Тексты общественно-политической тематики: «обзор английской прессы»

Task 4: Word Formation

Form the correct word from the base word in parentheses to complete the sentence

1.The __________ (organize) of the workers was crucial to the success of the movement.

2.Police __________ (respond) to the bomb by firing into the crowd.

3.The __________ (signify) of May Day is often overlooked in the United States.

4.Many workers faced __________ (harass) during the crackdown on radicals.

5.The __________ (execute) of the anarchists mobilized future generations of activists.

Task 5: Answer the Questions

1.What is the historical significance of May 1st, International Workers’ Day?

2.Why was the eight-hour workday important to workers in the 1880s?

3.How did authorities respond to the May Day movement in Chicago?

4.What was the outcome of the Haymarket bombing trial?

5.How has the United States government treated May Day differently from other countries?

Task 6: Translate the following sentences into English

1.Первое мая отмечается как Международный день трудящихся во всем мире, кроме США, Канады и Южной Африки.

2.В 1884 году Федерация организованных профсоюзов приняла резолюцию о восьмичасовом рабочем дне.

3.Полиция и милиция были усилены и получили новое мощное оружие для подавления забастовок.

4.Власти использовали бомбардировку на Хеймаркет как предлог для ареста многих анархистов.

5.В США вместо Первомая был введен День труда, лишенный исторического значения.

Task 7: Short Essay Write a short essay (150–200 words) discussing the the historical significance of May 1st

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СПИСОК ИСПОЛЬЗУЕМОЙ ЛИТЕРАТУРЫ

ИИНТЕРНЕТ-РЕСУРСЫ

1.The Conversatrion Published: August 15, 2014 CEST 2.Published: November 28, 2024 CET

2.Telegram “SputnikInt” // https://bussinesblog.com/rising-tides/

3.Horizon Drew Donnelly, PhD PUBLISHED March 18, 2024

4.The Guardian Sat 25 Jan 2025 7. Post.parliament.uk 8. // http://wnnnn nww. theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/human_rights_basics

5.The Guardian Amelia Gentleman Wed 6 Dec 2023

6.Электронный on-line словарь Мультиран // http://www.multitran.ru/

7.Электронный on-line словарь Lingvo // http://www.abby.com /

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