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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
Queen Elizabeth Marks 70 Years on Throne with Platinum Jubilee – Lesson
The British monarch is one of the longest reigning in the world.
The United States may have declared its independence from Britain in 1776, but royal fans around the world are now celebrating the 70th year of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
A big party – called a “jubilee” – is taking place in Britain and other regions ruled by the Royal Family to celebrate the anniversary. 2022 is the year of the Platinum Jubilee, which celebrates the queen’s 70 years on the throne.
The Platinum Jubilee year actually began in February, but Britain is holding a special four-day weekend from June 2 – June 5 to celebrate. Lots of events are scheduled, including street parties, performances, and parades.
A Long Reign
According to the Royal Collection Trust:
“A jubilee is a celebration of the life and reign of a monarch. Rather than happening every year, Jubilees only mark significant milestones, making them more special. Each Jubilee has a name, used to reflect a certain length of time:
Silver Jubilee: marks 25 years on the throne
Ruby Jubilee: 40 years
Golden Jubilee: 50 years
Diamond Jubilee: 60 years
Sapphire Jubilee: 65 years
Platinum Jubilee: 70 years”
Queen Victoria was the first British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee (in 1897), while Elizabeth II is the first to have a Platinum Jubilee, as she is the only British monarch who has stayed on the throne for seven decades. She is the longest-reigning British monarch, and the third-longest reigning monarch in world history.
Elizabeth began her time as queen of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth Realms on February 6, 1952. She was given the role upon the death of her father, King George IV. However, it wasn’t until June 2, 1953, that she had her coronation.
Jubilee Celebrations
Jubilee events actually began earlier this year, with such events as:
Platinum Pudding Competition: A contest to decide the official dessert of the celebrations. The winner was a lemon and Swiss roll amaretti trifle. A trifle is a typical British dish made by layering ingredients, normally including jelly, fruit, sponge cake, and custard.
A Gallop Through History: A show, including 500 horses and 1,000 performers, that depicted a history from the time of Queen Elizabeth I to the modern day.
The main celebrations are taking place over the June long weekend, however. Some of the key events include:
Trooping the Colour: Marking the start of the occasion was the “Trooping the Colour” parade, which is actually held for the queen’s birthday each year. This year, it took place June 2. It was a military procession, with more than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians taking part. The troops who participated belong to the Household Regiment, who make up the queen’s personal guards. The parade ended with an 85-gun salute and a flyover by Royal Air Force planes and helicopters.
Lighting the Beacons: A chain of beacons was lit across the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth, to symbolize unity across the realm.
Service of Thanksgiving: A service was given at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London to give thanks for the queen’s reign. Great Paul, the biggest church bell in England, was rung for the occasion.
Platinum Party at the Palace concert: A concert at Buckingham Palace, with star singers and other celebrities joining the show.
Big Jubilee Lunches and other street parties: Over ten million people across the UK are expected to participate in local street parties, lunches, royal-themed activities, and performances. As well, over 600 parties are planned in more than 80 countries.
Platinum Jubilee Pageant: For the final event of the weekend, 10,000 performers will parade down the streets of London to Buckingham Palace. Circus performers, gymnasts, puppeteers, and other artists will commemorate key events in the queen’s life. Singer Ed Sheeran will sing the national anthem, “God Save the Queen,” to close the celebration.
End of an Era?
Even though Britain, and the world, have changed a lot over the last 70 years, the queen has generally been popular among the British people. A 2020 survey by YouGov named her the third most admired woman in the world, while another poll showed her to be the most liked member of the Royal Family.
After seven decades on the throne, you can imagine that Queen Elizabeth is getting older. She is 96 years old and has been stepping back from official duties. Some suggest the Platinum Jubilee will be her last major celebration as queen, and that she may plan to soon hand the throne over to her son, Prince Charles. If so, there may be some big changes coming to the British monarchy.