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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
U.S. Sends Troops to Europe as Ukraine-Russia Tensions Rise – Lesson
President Biden prepares for action, but will there be any?
Russia has sent more than 120,000 soldiers to its shared border with Ukraine. Tensions have risen as the U.S., and European countries worry this could mean Russia will invade its neighbor. President Joe Biden recently announced he would send American soldiers to Europe to reinforce nearby countries.
The border between Russia and Ukraine has been in the news a lot recently, and there are a number of significant questions. Will Russia invade Ukraine? What will the U.S. do? How will it affect Europe and the rest of the world? Will there be a war?
Biden Sends Soldiers to Support NATO
President Biden is sending 2,000 American troops from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Of these, 1,700 are going to Poland and 300 to Germany. From U.S. forces already in Europe, 1,000 will move from Germany to Romania, which shares a border with Ukraine. Biden has also put another 8,500 troops on alert.
U.S. Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said deploying the soldiers would send a “strong signal” to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “These forces are not going to fight in Ukraine,” Kirby said. “We are making it clear that we’re going to be prepared to defend our NATO allies if it comes to that.”
President Biden reportedly added, “As long as he [Putin] is acting aggressively, we’re going to make sure we can reassure our NATO allies and Eastern Europe that we’re there … to defend our NATO allies.”
NATO is a military alliance between the U.S. and around 20 mostly countries, most of them in Europe. It was first set up after World War II. The alliance was meant to prevent another war in Europe, and members are committed to defending each other – if one member is attacked, it is treated as an attack on all the members.
This alliance is at the center of the dispute over Ukraine. Russia says it is just preparing to defend itself because several of its neighbors have become members of NATO, such as Poland and Estonia. It says NATO poses a danger by getting too close to Russia’s borders. Russian President Putin has said he wants a guarantee that Ukraine will never become a member of the NATO alliance.
On the other side, NATO is not willing to give that guarantee, as it fears this will only cause Russia to make more demands. However, that doesn’t mean Ukraine will become a member – while this has been discussed, it’s not clear that NATO even wants to let Ukraine join. NATO also says Russia is the one being aggressive here – after all, it’s the one moving troops to the area.
So, at the moment, it seems the soldiers sent by the U.S. are meant to intimidate Russia and give support to countries in Eastern Europe – but not to Ukraine directly.
Invasion Imminent or Unlikely?
Will an invasion happen? President Biden and his staff think it could happen, and soon. Biden made some statements that seemed to predict a Russian attack on Ukraine. “It would be the largest invasion since World War II,” he said. “It would change the world.” Biden has warned that an invasion could occur in February.
However, the president also said that if Russia did take over just a small part of Ukraine, the U.S. might not do anything about it. Of course, this didn’t make Ukraine happy.
Biden later changed his mind, saying, “If any — any — assembled Russian units move across the Ukrainian border, that is an invasion.”
But is this realistic?
Europe, Russia, and the U.S. spent some time negotiating, but nothing was settled. While President Biden seems to expect an invasion, Russia’s leader hasn’t said much. On February 1, President Putin accused NATO of trying to provoke it into launching an attack and complained that the alliance doesn’t take Russia’s security concerns seriously.
What Next?
If Russia does invade Ukraine, will it mean war for the U.S.? Probably not. The United States is sworn to defend members of NATO, but Ukraine isn’t in NATO.
America and Europe will instead apply financial punishments to prevent Russia from making money. The U.S. would limit how Russia can do business with other countries, blocking Russia’s international banking. It might also stop Russia from selling fuel, such as natural gas, to Europe. This could badly affect Russia’s economy as it relies on exporting fuel resources – but then again, Europe needs the gas it buys from Russia to keep people’s homes heated.
In the end, it’s still not clear whether Russia will invade Ukraine or just use this quarrel to bring attention to its complaints about the U.S. and Europe. For now, everyone is waiting to see if Putin makes a move.