Mugabe’s Birthday Party

March 7, 2016

Zimbabwe, a country in the south of Africa, won its independence from Britain in
1980. Since then, Robert Mugabe has been the country’s leader.

Mugabe recently celebrated his 92nd birthday at a party, which costed nearly 1
million dollars. Some people criticized the party for being too luxurious and said that it
was an insult to the poor. There was even a 92-kilogram birthday cake.

Right now, there is a drought in Zimbabwe, and three million people don’t have
enough food because of bad conditions.

Tens of thousands of people came to the country’s capital to celebrate. In his

birthday speech, the president blamed Zimbabwe’s economic problems on Western
countries.

Questions:
1. What is the article about?
2. What are the difficult words? (Make a list and write definitions in Spanish)
3. Make a list of Past Tense verbs.
4. Why did people criticize the birthday party of Mugabe?
5. In your opinion, is it okay for a president to have an expensive birthday party? Why
or why not?

Virgin Galactic
February 26, 2016

Virgin Galactic is one of many companies that recently commercialized quick trips
to the outer space. The boss of Virgin Galactic recently unveiled its new spaceship. The
boss’s baby granddaughter christened the spaceship with her bottle of milk.

The spaceship is for six passengers and two pilots, and people designed it to reach
100 kilometers. From there, passengers can see Earth against the blackness of space. One
space ticket will cost $250,000 USD. Despite its expensive costs, 700 people are interested
with this service.

Questions:
1. What is the article about?
2. What are the difficult words? (Make a list and write definitions in Spanish)
3. Make a list of Past Tense verbs.
4. How many people can ride the spaceship? How much is the ticket?
5. The outer space is considered to be “public domain.” In your opinion, is it okay for
companies to commercialize trips to outer space?
1 Answer

1) The article talks about, Zimbabwe, a country in southern Africa, which Robert
Mugabe celebrated his 92nd birthday, was a very expensive holiday, why people
began to criticize because in that country had drought and poor people then in the
speech birthday , Robert Mugabe blamed Western countries for the economic
problems facing Zimbabwe

2) Recently-Recientemente
Criticized-Criticado
Enough-Suficiente
Blame-Culpa

3) Won
Celebrated
Costed
Criticized
Blamed

4) the party was criticized because the party was very expensive, and as if they had
money to party and not to help the poor, why was it criticized

5) would not be right, because that money spent at the party is not as important,
however if the money had been donated , there would be poor and would help with
the drought that lived that country.

2 Answer

1) The article talks about Virgin Galactic is a company that made travel to outer space,
the head of the company christening spaceship with a bottle of milk from her
granddaughter, the spacecraft is for six passengers and two pilots, people are very
interested in walking on the spacecraft.

2) Unveiled-Dio a conocer
Spaceship-Nave especial
Designed-Diseñ ado
Against-En contra

3) Commercialized
Unveiled
Christened
Designed
Interested
4) They can fit up to six people for the price of $ 250,000 USD

5) It would be nice to have companies carrying travel to outer space, as it would be

entertainment for people