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1. German-born Pope Benedict XVI made a solemn visit to Auschwitz --- a Nazi concentration camp where more than a million people, mostly Jews, died in World War II. He called it "a place of horror".
2. Doctors and medicine are arriving in Indonesia to help the thousands of people injured in a massive earthquake. More than 4,300 people are dead, tens of thousands are homeless. The U. S. promises millions of dollars in emergency aid.
3. Congressman John Murtha says the follow-up from Marines allegedly killing Iraqi civilians could be worse than the Abu Ghraib scandal. Investigators looking into the matter have said they have evidence that points to the Marines. Murtha says the killings were covered up.
4. Roaring engines marked a somber remembrance this Memorial Day weekend. Rolling Thunder passed through the nation's capital in honor of prisoners of war and military men and women missing in action.
WORDS IN THE NEWS
1. solemn : adj
Someone or something that is solemn is very serious rather than cheerful or humorous.
e.g. His solemn little face broke into smiles.
= serious
2. concentration camp : n-count
A concentration camp is a prison in which large numbers of ordinary people are kept in very bad conditions, usually during a war.
3. aid : n-uncount
Aid is money, equipment, or services that are provided for people, countries, or organizations who need them but cannot provide them for themselves.
e.g. They have already pledged billions of dollars in aid.
4. follow-up : n-var
A follow-up is something that is done to continue or add to something done previously.
e.g. One man was arrested during the raid and another during a follow-up operation.
5. look into : phrasal verb
If a person or organization is looking into a possible course of action, a problem, or a situation, they are finding out about it and examining the facts relating to it.
e.g. He had once looked into buying his own island off Nova Scotia...
= investigate
6. point to
suggest (the likelihood of) something; indicate something
e.g. all the evidence points to his guilty.
7. somber : adj
If someone is somber, they are serious or sad.
e.g. His expression became increasingly somber.
8. thunder : n-uncount
The thunder of something that is moving or making a sound is the loud deep noise it makes.
e.g. The thunder of the sea on the rocks seemed to blank out other thoughts.
= roar
Rolling Thunder
Rolling Thunder Inc., established in 1987, is a Vietnam Veterans organization that continues to work for the return of MIA and POW United States Service Members from Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.The President of the Organization is Artie Muller and his organization works to lobby the United States Government Officials to further investigate the issue of MIAs and POWs that are possibly held in captivity since the Vietnam War. Rolling Thunder is noted for its annual rally of Vietnam Veterans at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia every May since 1988. It always occurs on a weekend and takes place in the Pentagon parking lot.
9. in honor of : phrase
If something is arranged or happens in someone's honor or in honor of somebody, it is done specially to show appreciation of them.
e.g. a ceremony in honor of those killed in battle
10. action : n-uncount
The fighting which takes place in a war can be referred to as action.
e.g. 13 soldiers were killed and 10 wounded in action.
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