Vocabulary

Aid (n/v): 1- help or support. 2- help in the form of food, money, medical supplies, or weapons that is given by a richer country to a poorer country.
E.g.: He gets about with the aid of a walking stick.
E.g.: The Vatican has agreed to donate $80,000 in emergency aid to countries affected by the war.

Resolution (n): 1- the ability of a microscope, or a television or computer screen, to show things clearly and with a lot of detail.
E.g.: The new phone has a very high-resolution screen.

Lifelong (adj): 1- lasting for the whole of a person’s life.
E.g.: She was a lifelong member of the Labour party.

Definition (n): 1-  a statement that explains the meaning of a word or phrase.
E.g.: What is the definition of “mood”?

Preserve (v): 1- to keep something as it is, especially in order to prevent it from decaying or being damaged or destroyed.
E.g.: We want to preserve the character of the town while improving the facilities.

Shove (v): 1- to push someone or something forcefully.
E.g.: Reporters pushed and shoved as they tried to get close to the princess.

Subvert (v): 1- to try to destroy or damage something, especially an established political system.
E.g.: The rebel army is attempting to subvert the government.

Federation (n): 1- a group of organizations, countries, regions, etc. that have joined together to form a larger organization or government. 2- 联邦
E.g.: The Russian federation is the largest country on Earth.

Parliament (n): 1- in some countries, the group of (usually) elected politicians or other people who make the laws for their country. 2- 议会
E.g.: On Tuesday the country’s parliament voted to establish its own army.

Petition (n): 1- a document signed by a large number of people demanding or asking for some action from the government or another authority.
E.g.: I signed a petition against the proposed closure of the local hospital today.

Assault (n): 1- a violent attack.
E.g.: He was charged with sexual assault.

Press charges (v): 1- to complain officially about someone in a law court:
E.g.: The family have decided not to press charges against him.

1/2 = half
1/3 = one third
1/4 = a quarter / one fourth
1/5 = one fifth
1/6 = one sixth
1/7 = one seventh
1/8 = one eighth
1/9 = one ninth
1/10 = one tenth

Pronunciation

Loyalty: /ˈlɔɪ.əl.t̬i/

Loyal: /ˈlɔɪ.əlDwindle: /ˈdwɪn.dəl/

Pioneer: /ˌpaɪəˈnɪr/

Congress: /ˈkɑːŋ.ɡres/

Preserve: /prɪˈzɝːv/

Celebrating Women’s History

Every March, the country celebrates the accomplishments of women in American history. Even though these accomplishments go back a long way, most schools didn’t start focusing on women pioneers and their achievements until recently. Today, most colleges offer classes in women’s history and most schools teach kids about the many contributions women have made to our country. How did this shift come about?

International Women’s Day Is Born


On March 19, 1911, a German woman named Clara Zetkin organized the very first International Women’s Day. Inspired by American working women, the annual event took on the causes of peace (in an effort to end World War I) as well as women’s rights. Over the years, interest in International Women’s Day dwindled. It gained momentum again in the 1960s, when the women’s movement caused women to wonder why they weren’t included in the history books.

National Women’s History Week Is Celebrated


By the 1970s, more female historians began to look back at the contributions of women in history. In 1978, a California school district started Women’s History Week to promote the teaching of women’s history. School officials picked the week of March 8 to include International Women’s Day. It was so popular that, in 1981, Congress passed a resolution making the week a celebration for the entire country. The concept of studying women’s history continued to grow in popularity. In 1987, a group of women (supported by people working in museums, schools and libraries) asked Congress to expand the celebration. That same year, Congress declared the entire month of March National Women’s History Month.

National Women’s History Museum

Today, schools and communities across the country celebrate the month with special lessons and activities designed to teach the ways women have helped shape the U.S. The women who have worked hard to make Women’s History Month a reality would like to see women’s history studied all year, not just every March. In 1996, the National Women’s History Museum was founded. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating the various historic contributions of women. The organization is working with Congress to open a permanent museum site in Washington, D.C.

(www.timeforkids.com/news/celebrating-womens-history/9716)

Qantas chief Alan Joyce ‘to press charges’ over pie incident

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has said he intends to press charges against a man who hit him in the face with a pie. Mr Joyce was giving a speech in Perth on Tuesday when the man walked on stage and shoved the pie in his face.

A man identified by local media as the attacker later criticised the airline chief’s support for same-sex marriage, which is not legal in Australia. “I will have every intention of pressing charges,” Mr Joyce said. Police charged the 67-year-old man with giving false details after the incident, which happened in front of 500 people. He may yet face an assault charge, police told the BBC. “On the west coast, there is very limited opportunity to have connection with national figures,” the pie-wielder, identified as Tony Overheu, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

“From my reading, it would appear that Alan Joyce is very much part of a network trying to subvert the federal parliamentary process around the issue of marriage equality.” Mr Joyce was one of 20 company chief executives who signed a petition in March calling on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to legalize same-sex marriage.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, the government’s most prominent conservative, described the attack as “a disgrace”. “The person should be ashamed. The threats any of us receive is unacceptable,” Mr Dutton tweeted.

Mr Joyce had been discussing the airline’s recent decision to operate non-stop flights from London to Perth when the incident happened.
“I don’t know what that was about,” he said, before continuing his speech.

(www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-39866931)