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May 2024
- Blinken Visits Europe: Two Issues Dominated – Lesson
- Blinken Visits Europe: Two Issues Dominated – Quiz
- Can Ukraine Defeat Russia? – Lesson
- Can Ukraine Defeat Russia? – Quiz
- America’s Doomsday Plane Gets a Makeover – Lesson
- America’s Doomsday Plane Gets a Makeover – Quiz
- California Naturalizes About 155,000 New Citizens – Lesson
- California Naturalizes About 155,000 New Citizens – Quiz
- American Higher Education Struggles to Remain Competitive – Lesson
- American Higher Education Struggles to Remain Competitive – Quiz
- Police Forces Finally See a Post-Floyd Rebound – Lesson
- Police Forces Finally See a Post-Floyd Rebound – Quiz
- Esports – The Sport of Competitive Gaming – Lesson
- Esports – The Sport of Competitive Gaming – Quiz
- College Grads Leaving California for Greener – and Cheaper – Pastures – Lesson
- College Grads Leaving California for Greener – and Cheaper – Pastures – Quiz
- Mail Theft and Crimes Against Postal Workers Rising – Lesson
- Mail Theft and Crimes Against Postal Workers Rising – Quiz
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April 2024
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March 2024
- Biden Suspends Approvals for Natural Gas Exports – Lesson
- Biden Suspends Approvals for Natural Gas Exports – Quiz
- Super Tuesday: The Biggest Day in Primary Voting – Lesson
- Super Tuesday: The Biggest Day in Primary Voting – Quiz
- In Texas, Border Crisis Fuels Support for Independence – Lesson
- In Texas, Border Crisis Fuels Support for Independence – Quiz
- NATO Membership the Goal for Countries Fearing Putin’s Grasp – Lesson
- NATO Membership the Goal for Countries Fearing Putin’s Grasp – Quiz
- US Soldiers and the New War on Weight – Lesson
- US Soldiers and the New War on Weight – Quiz
- Trump Turmoil: Hits and Misses in the Legal Arena – Lesson
- Trump Turmoil: Hits and Misses in the Legal Arena – Quiz
- Cows on Trial in New York – Lesson
- Cows on Trial in New York – Quiz
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February 2024
- Republicans Rally Behind Texas Governor Greg Abbott at the Border – Lesson
- Republicans Rally Behind Texas Governor Greg Abbott at the Border – Quiz
- Texas Declares Border Invasion – Can They Do That? – Lesson
- Texas Declares Border Invasion – Can They Do That? – Quiz
- Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Was in Hospital – And No One Knew – Lesson
- Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Was in Hospital – And No One Knew – Quiz
- Leap Year – The Four-Year Phenomenon – Lesson
- Leap Year – The Four-Year Phenomenon – Quiz
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December 2023
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November 2023
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October 2023
- The Biden Impeachment Inquiry – Lesson
- The Biden Impeachment Inquiry – Quiz
- Israel vs Hamas: One Week in and Still at War – Lesson
- Israel vs Hamas: One Week in and Still at War – Quiz
- 2023 Nobel Prizes Announced – Lesson
- 2023 Nobel Prizes Announced – Quiz
- Trump Ordered Not to Mention Case Against Him – But Will It Last? – Lesson
- Trump Ordered Not to Mention Case Against Him – But Will It Last? – Quiz
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September 2023
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August 2023
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July 2023
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May 2023
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February 2023
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December 2022
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November 2021
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September 2022
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August 2022
- The US Visits Taiwan Again – What Impact Will It Make? – Lesson
- The US Visits Taiwan Again – What Impact Will It Make? – Quiz
- Cold Showers and Hot Days: Europe Limits People’s Energy Use – Lesson
- Cold Showers and Hot Days: Europe Limits People’s Energy Use – Quiz
- Hidden Art Is Being Discovered Around the World – Lesson
- Hidden Art Is Being Discovered Around the World – Quiz
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July 2022
- Last WWII Medal of Honor Recipient Will ‘Lie in State’ at US Capitol – Lesson
- Last WWII Medal of Honor Recipient Will ‘Lie in State’ at US Capitol – Quiz
- Canada and Denmark Make a Deal over Disputed Arctic Island – Lesson
- Canada and Denmark Make a Deal over Disputed Arctic Island – Quiz
- Texas Schools Spark Debate: What Should Kids Wear in Class? – Lesson
- Texas Schools Spark Debate: What Should Kids Wear in Class? – Quiz
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June 2022
- New York Court Says: An Elephant is Not a Human – Lesson
- New York Court Says: An Elephant is Not a Human – Quiz
- Finance Classes at School – A New Trend? – Lesson
- Finance Classes at School – A New Trend? – Quiz
- NASA Will Study UFOs for the First Time – Lesson
- NASA Will Study UFOs for the First Time – Quiz
- New York City Removes Last Payphone – Or Does It? – Lesson
- New York City Removes Last Payphone – Or Does It? – Quiz
- US Hosts ‘Summit of the Americas’ – Lesson
- US Hosts ‘Summit of the Americas’ – Quiz
- The National Spelling Bee – A Time-Honored Tradition – Lesson
- The National Spelling Bee – A Time-Honored Tradition – Quiz
- Queen Elizabeth Marks 70 Years on Throne with Platinum Jubilee – Lesson
- Queen Elizabeth Marks 70 Years on Throne with Platinum Jubilee – Quiz
- Lifeguard Shortage Could Limit Summer Swimming – Lesson
- Lifeguard Shortage Could Limit Summer Swimming – Quiz
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May 2022
- American Artist Warhol’s Painting Sells for Record Price – Lesson
- American Artist Warhol’s Painting Sells for Record Price – Quiz
- Western US Suffering From Harsh Drought – Lesson
- Western US Suffering From Harsh Drought – Quiz
- Time to Say Goodbye to Incandescent Lightbulbs? – Lesson
- Time to Say Goodbye to Incandescent Lightbulbs? – Quiz
- Tibetan Leader Visits Washington to Gain Support for His Culture – Lesson
- Tibetan Leader Visits Washington to Gain Support for His Culture – Quiz
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April 2022
- Masks on Public Transport – Needed or Not? – Lesson
- Masks on Public Transport – Needed or Not? – Quiz
- Shanghai Under Strict Lockdown in ‘Zero-COVID’ China – Lesson
- Shanghai Under Strict Lockdown in ‘Zero-COVID’ China – Quiz
- Are Roundabouts a Good or Bad Addition to US Cities? – Lesson
- Are Roundabouts a Good or Bad Addition to US Cities? – Quiz
- Is it Chicken Kiev or Kyiv? A Scrumptious Spelling Problem – Lesson
- Is it Chicken Kiev or Kyiv? A Scrumptious Spelling Problem – Quiz
- Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed as Next Judge to Join Supreme Court – Lesson
- Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed as Next Judge to Join Supreme Court – Quiz
- Gas Prices Rise Dramatically Across America – Lesson
- Gas Prices Rise Dramatically Across America – Quiz
- Washington, DC Celebrates 110 Years of Cherry Blossoms in the City – Lesson
- Washington, DC Celebrates 110 Years of Cherry Blossoms in the City – Quiz
- Billionaire Elon Musk Tries to Buy Twitter – Lesson
- Billionaire Elon Musk Tries to Buy Twitter – Quiz
- Meet Patron, Ukraine’s Mine-Sniffing ‘Hero’ Dog – Lesson
- Meet Patron, Ukraine’s Mine-Sniffing ‘Hero’ Dog – Quiz
- Top American Officials Visit Ukraine in Secret – Lesson
- Top American Officials Visit Ukraine in Secret – Quiz
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March 2022
- Supply Chain Crisis: Are Pop-Up Sites the Answer? – Lesson
- Supply Chain Crisis: Are Pop-Up Sites the Answer? – Quiz
- Fare Evaders Beware: New York Mayor to Tackle Subway Crime? – Lesson
- Fare Evaders Beware: New York Mayor to Tackle Subway Crime? – Quiz
- Time’s Up For Switching Clocks? Congress Considers Daylight Saving – Lesson
- Time’s Up For Switching Clocks? Congress Considers Daylight Saving – Quiz
- Ukraine’s President Addresses Congress as War Persists – Lesson
- Ukraine’s President Addresses Congress as War Persists – Quiz
- No More Meat? New York Mayor Decrees Vegan Fridays for Schools – Lesson
- No More Meat? New York Mayor Decrees Vegan Fridays for Schools – Quiz
- Big Business Shuns Russia Over Ukraine Invasion – Lesson
- Big Business Shuns Russia Over Ukraine Invasion – Quiz
- ‘People’s Convoy’ Loops Around US Capital in COVID Protest – Lesson
- ‘People’s Convoy’ Loops Around US Capital in COVID Protest – Quiz
- From Train Robberies to Stores – US Sees a Rise in Crime – Lesson
- From Train Robberies to Stores – US Sees a Rise in Crime – Quiz
- President Biden Gives His First State of the Union Speech – Lesson
- President Biden Gives His First State of the Union Speech – Quiz
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February 2022
- Ukraine War Continues as Peace Talks Begin – Lesson
- Ukraine War Continues as Peace Talks Begin – Quiz
- US States Say Farewell to COVID Rules – Lesson
- US States Say Farewell to COVID Rules – Quiz
- Russia Launches Invasion of Ukraine – Lesson
- Russia Launches Invasion of Ukraine – Quiz
- Feuds Erupt as States Redraw Voting Maps – Lesson
- Feuds Erupt as States Redraw Voting Maps – Quiz
- Monobob Makes Olympic Debut – Lesson
- Monobob Makes Olympic Debut – Quiz
- Canadian Truckers Stage Major Protest Against COVID Laws – Lesson
- Canadian Truckers Stage Major Protest Against COVID Laws – Quiz
- U.S. Sends Troops to Europe as Ukraine-Russia Tensions Rise – Lesson
- U.S. Sends Troops to Europe as Ukraine-Russia Tensions Rise – Quiz
- Winter Olympics Begin in Beijing Amid Calls for Boycott – Lesson
- Winter Olympics Begin in Beijing Amid Calls for Boycott – Quiz
- Afghanistan Faces a ‘Tsunami of Hunger’ Under the Taliban – Lesson
- Afghanistan Faces a ‘Tsunami of Hunger’ Under the Taliban – Quiz
- Dealing With Omicron: COVID Rules Around the World – Lesson
- Dealing With Omicron: COVID Rules Around the World – Quiz
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January 2022
- Teen Pilot Becomes Youngest Girl to Fly Solo Around the World – Lesson
- Teen Pilot Becomes Youngest Girl to Fly Solo Around the World – Quiz
- No More Meat and Potatoes? Supply Down and Prices Up – Lesson
- No More Meat and Potatoes? Supply Down and Prices Up – Quiz
- Flight Confusion as 5G Causes Safety Worries – Lesson
- Flight Confusion as 5G Causes Safety Worries – Quiz
- English Translations on French ID Cards? Some say ‘Non!’ – Lesson
- English Translations on French ID Cards? Some say ‘Non!’ – Quiz
- Omicron: Did COVID Catch the Common Cold? – Lesson
- Omicron: Did COVID Catch the Common Cold? – Quiz
- Five Countries Agree: Nuclear War Must Be Avoided – Lesson
- Five Countries Agree: Nuclear War Must Be Avoided – Quiz
- Enes Kanter’s American Dream Come True – Lesson
- Enes Kanter’s American Dream Come True – Quiz
- U.S. Bans Products Linked to Uighur Slavery – Lesson
- U.S. Bans Products Linked to Uighur Slavery – Quiz
- Time Capsules Found in Base of Robert E. Lee Statue – Lesson
- Time Capsules Found in Base of Robert E. Lee Statue – Quiz
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December 2021
- Russia and US Lock Horns Over Ukraine Border – Lesson
- Russia and US Lock Horns Over Ukraine Border – Quiz
- US Military Starts New UFO Research Group – Lesson
- US Military Starts New UFO Research Group – Quiz
- Omicron COVID Strain Comes Out of South Africa – Lesson
- Omicron COVID Strain Comes Out of South Africa – Quiz
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November 2021
- La Niña Weather Patterns May Affect the US This Winter – Lesson
- La Niña Weather Patterns May Affect the US This Winter – Quiz
- Dads on Duty Help Out at Louisiana High School – Lesson
- Dads on Duty Help Out at Louisiana High School – Quiz
- The Price of Thanksgiving Goes Up in 2021 – Lesson
- The Price of Thanksgiving Goes Up in 2021 – Quiz
- Airlines Struggle with Flights Ahead of the Holidays – Lesson
- Airlines Struggle with Flights Ahead of the Holidays – Quiz
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October 2021
- Crisis and Kidnappings in Haiti – Lesson
- Crisis and Kidnappings in Haiti – Quiz
- US Feels Effects of Computer Chip Shortage – Lesson
- US Feels Effects of Computer Chip Shortage – Quiz
- California Oil Spill Investigations – Lesson
- California Oil Spill Investigations – Quiz
- Michigan Governor Vows to Fix Lead-Infected Water Supply – Lesson
- Michigan Governor Vows to Fix Lead-Infected Water Supply – Quiz
- Nobel Prize Winners Announced – Lesson
- Nobel Prize Winners Announced – Quiz
- COVID and School – Rules Vary Across the Nation – Lesson
- COVID and School – Rules Vary Across the Nation – Quiz
- Toilet Paper Shortage 2.0? – Lesson
- Toilet Paper Shortage 2.0? – Quiz
- A Very Merry COVID Homecoming? – Lesson
- A Very Merry COVID Homecoming? – Quiz
- Merck COVID Pill – A New Way to Treat the Virus? – Lesson
- Merck COVID Pill – A New Way to Treat the Virus? – Quiz
- Eruptions at La Palma and Kilauea Volcanoes – Lesson
- Eruptions at La Palma and Kilauea Volcanoes – Quiz
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September 2021
- US Joins UK and Australia in ‘AUKUS’ Defense Deal – Lesson
- US Joins UK and Australia in ‘AUKUS’ Defense Deal – Quiz
- Rules Change for Travelers to the US – Lesson
- Rules Change for Travelers to the US – Quiz
- Is There a Crisis at the Southern Border? – Lesson
- Is There a Crisis at the Southern Border? – Quiz
- What’s Going On With COVID-19? – Lesson
- What’s Going On With COVID-19? – Quiz
- Biden Announces 6-Step COVID Plan – Lesson
- Biden Announces 6-Step COVID Plan – Quiz
- Private Rescue Missions in Afghanistan – Lesson
- Private Rescue Missions in Afghanistan – Quiz
- China’s Crackdown on Video Games – Lesson
- China’s Crackdown on Video Games – Quiz
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August 2021
- US Military Has Left Afghanistan – But What About Those Left Behind? – Lesson
- US Military Has Left Afghanistan – But What About Those Left Behind? – Quiz
- Hurricane Ida Tests New Orleans – Lesson
- Hurricane Ida Tests New Orleans – Quiz
- Records Set for Paralympic Games – Lesson
- Records Set for Paralympic Games – Quiz
- Storms in Tennessee and Northeast Cause Floods – Lesson
- Storms in Tennessee and Northeast Cause Floods – Quiz
Eruptions at La Palma and Kilauea Volcanoes – Lesson
From spectacle to disaster, two active volcanic regions demonstrate the drama of nature.
Volcanoes are some of nature’s most dramatic landmarks. Recently, volcanic eruptions have been gaining attention on islands around the world.
Kilauea
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is one of the most active in the world. Now, it’s erupting – but luckily the lava has stayed in just a small area, within the crater.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the eruption began near the volcano’s summit, in its Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Cracks at the base of the crater caused lava to flow out onto “the surface crust of the old lava lake that was active until May 2021.”
The Hawaiian Islands were formed by volcanoes, and the area is still known for its volcanic activity – Kilauea is in the Volcanoes National Park. In 2018, Kilauea had a huge eruption, with thousands of earthquakes. The lava covered over 30 square miles of Hawaii’s Big Island, and, in some places, it was 79 feet thick. Luckily, the current eruption is much smaller, with lava covering about six feet of just the crater floor. Also, lava fountains have appeared, rising to the “height of a 5-story building.”
Rather than running away, people are traveling to see the eruption. The area is not near hiking trails, roads, or homes, but the terrain can be dangerous, so visitors have been asked to be careful.
Cumbre Vieja
Meanwhile, the Canary Islands are experiencing a much bigger and more dangerous event. In late September, a volcano erupted on the island of La Palma – and it could go on for weeks. The eruption is located in the Cumbre Vieja natural park, a volcanic mountain area.
The island was recently hit with many small earthquakes, and the activity opened cracks (or vents) in the volcano, causing an eruption. Lava, smoke, and ash were thrown into the air before lava rivers began flowing out of the vents. Explosions were also detected on the side of the mountain.
Thousands of people in the local area have been evacuated due to the dangerous conditions, and others have been told to stay at home due to the poisonous gases. As well as the ash and toxic fumes, lava flow has destroyed over 800 buildings, as well as roads and banana plantations. The molten rock soon reached the ocean, where it will eventually cool and solidify, adding many acres of land to the island’s coastline.
Officials now say that two new lava flows have come out of a third vent. That means lava is flowing out of four places – three vents and the crater of the volcano. “We have the biggest tragedy ahead of us, more people we have to help,” said Mariano Hernández Zapata, the president of the island’s council. “We are worried about the course this new flow of lava could follow, although we hope that it will join the other.”
While volcanic eruptions like this cause devastation in the short-term, they can be a benefit for the future. As reported by The Guardian, experts say the molten rock could end up “bringing minerals from the Earth’s core to the surface and providing a habitat both underwater and on land” for wildlife.
Like Hawaii, the Canary Islands are volcanic, and the Cumbre Vieja area has erupted before, most recently in 1971. La Palma has been declared a natural disaster zone – but, luckily, no one has been killed or injured due to the event so far.