14.2B – Read the Text #2: Building Comprehension
Read the module text again as a class.
Students take turns reading a paragraph (or a few sentences).
After each paragraph, STOP to go over vocabulary and questions about the reading as a class.
READING TEXT
Module 14: International Relations
PARAGRAPH 1
By the year 1900, the United States was a strong country, both economically and politically. It had also acquired territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam. Internationally, other countries started to recognize the U.S. as a world power. As the early 20th century (1900-1999) progressed, the world became more interconnected. Therefore, the U.S. had to rethink and determine its role in the world.
- Learn the word TO ACQUIRE: (verb) to get something
- What is the word in your home language?
- Examples:
- She worked hard to acquire new digital skills.
- A country can acquire a territory after a war.
- Which territories had the U.S. acquired by 1900?
- Let’s review: what does international mean?
- Let’s review: what does determine mean?
- Who started to recognize the U.S. as a world power? Why?
- In your opinion, what are the current roles of the United States in the world?
PARAGRAPH 2
In the 19th century (1800-1899), in Europe, while some empires declined, new powers, such as Germany, emerged. European countries were all trying to have global influence. There was also a rise in nationalism. Different ethnic groups wanted to become independent. Many countries formed alliances, so when one country had a conflict, their allies could help. In 1914, a European leader was assassinated. Many countries used that as an excuse to take over more land and power. This started World War I. This global conflict lasted until 1918. In the beginning, the United States did not join the fighting. The U.S. leaders believed that the war was a European problem, so they did not want to get involved. However, the U.S. joined the war in 1917 to help its allies (Great Britain, France, Italy, and Russia) defeat Germany and the Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empires.
- Learn the word TO EMERGE: (verb) to come into view or appear.
- What is the word in your home language?
- Examples:
- The whale emerged from the ocean.
- New information emerged in the police investigation of the crime.
- Which new power emerged in Europe?
- Let’s review: what does global mean?
- Let’s review: what does an alliance mean?
- What do you think “nationalism” means? What did those ethnic groups want?
- What do alliances do if one of their members gets into a conflict?
- Do you remember what the word “assassination” means? Hint: remember President Lincoln.
- How long did World War I last?
- Why didn’t the U.S. want to get involved in the fighting?
- When the U.S. got involved, what countries were their allies? Which country were they fighting against?
During World War I, people dug trenches for soldiers, brought sandbags, and set up poles to hang barbed wire. [Credit]
PARAGRAPH 3
In 1939, many countries around the world went to war again. There were many causes of the Second World War. Most of the world had serious economic difficulties. This led to the rise of dictators. For example, the German dictator Adolf Hitler wanted total control over his country. He also wanted to expand Germany’s influence over other countries. Nazi forces under Hitler killed millions of innocent people, especially Jews, Roma, and Sinti people, and queer or homosexual people. By 1941, Germany, Italy, and Japan became allies. Their armies invaded many countries. The U.S. had not yet entered the war. However, this changed after the Japanese attacked a U.S. military base (Pearl Harbor) in 1941. Then the U.S. joined the side of Great Britain and Russia. After years of fighting, 70-80 million lives were lost. The war ended in Europe in May 1945. Japan surrendered later that year after the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The U.S. and its allies won the war.
- What was one cause of World War II?
- What did Adolf Hitler want to do?
- What do you think “to invade” means? Who invaded other countries?
- When and why did the U.S. enter World War II?
- What countries were allies during World War II? Who did the U.S. fight against?
- What do you think “innocent” means?
- What do you think “to surrender” means? What caused Japan to surrender?
- How many lives were lost in World War II around the globe?
This collage of images from World War II shows fighting on land, air, and sea, and an atomic bomb exploding. [Credit]
PARAGRAPH 4
After two devastating world wars in the 20th century, many countries agreed to create an organization to help resolve conflicts before they turned into war. So, they created the United Nations (U.N.). The goal of the U.N. is to maintain international peace and security. Another goal is to promote economic, educational, and human rights throughout the world. World War I and World War II showed the human cost of war and the importance of solving conflicts with diplomacy instead of fighting.
- Let’s review: what does to create mean?
- Learn the word TO RESOLVE: (verb) to find a solution or end a disagreement
- What is the word in your home language?
- Examples:
- The two countries resolved their problems through diplomacy.
- What did countries do to help resolve conflicts?
- Let’s review: what does diplomacy mean?
- What do you think “devastating” means? Why were the two wars devastating?
- What do you think “to promote” means? What are two goals of the United Nations?
The logo of the United Nations has olive branches around the globe which symbolizes peace, hope, and cooperation among nations. [Credit]
PARAGRAPH 5
At the end of World War II, both the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as very strong nations, but both countries had different political, economic, and social systems. The United States followed the economic and political idea of capitalism (or a free market economy), while the Soviet Union followed communism (a government-controlled economy). Both countries thought that their system was the best and tried to influence other places around the globe, sometimes by force. The struggle between the U.S. and the Soviet Union was called the Cold War. Both the United States and the Soviet Union had atomic nuclear weapons, but they did not want to use them against each other, so they avoided direct fighting. The Cold War ended in the late 20th century when the communist government of the Soviet Union collapsed.
- What two nations became very strong after World War II and how are their economic systems different?
- What do you think “a struggle” means? What was the struggle called?
- What do you think “nuclear weapons” means?
- What do you think “to collapse” means? What happened to the Soviet Union?
- Do you know some countries that were allied with the Soviet Union? Do you know some countries which were allied with the United States during the Cold War?
- What is the current economic system of the U.S.?
PARAGRAPH 6
In the 21st century (2000-present), the role of the U.S. in the world is always evolving in international relations. One major series of events that affected recent international relations were the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S. In response to these attacks, the U.S. spent much of the early 21st century in military conflicts in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. As the century continues, changes occur quickly in technology, communications, climate, medicine, and commerce. These changes give Americans many challenges and opportunities in developing international relationships.
- Learn the word TO EVOLVE: (verb) to continuously change, usually improving
- What is the word in your home language?
- Examples:
- With new knowledge, the field of medicine is evolving.
- Because of new technologies, smartphones keep evolving.
- What do you think “commerce” means?
- What happened on September 11, 2001, and what was the response of the U.S.?
- How is the world quickly changing?
- What are some challenges and opportunities in this century, for the U.S. and for the world?
