Envelope Laced with Poison Mailed to White House 

Vocabulary 

Direction: Read each word and let the student repeat it.
lace
[leɪs] (verb)
– to add a small amount of a powerful substance (such as alcohol, a drug, or a poison) to (something, such as a drink)
ex.All of the cocktails were laced with vodka.

screening
[ˈskriːnɪŋ] (noun)
– the testing or examining of a large number of people or things for disease, faults, etc.
ex.All of the packages must go through screening.

presumptive
[prɪˈzʌmptɪv] (adjective)
– likely to be true, based on the facts that are available
ex.He has received a presumptive diagnosis if diabetes.

ongoing
[ˈɑːnɡoʊɪŋ] (adjective)
– continuing to exist or develop
ex.We have an ongoing project aimed at stopping pollution in this area.

Article 

Direction: Read each paragraph and let the student repeat it.

Envelope Laced with Poison Mailed to White House

The U.S. Secret Service says a letter addressed to the White House has tested positive for cyanide, a deadly poison.

The agency, which is charged with protecting the president and other high-ranking officials, issued a statement Tuesday saying the letter was received at a screening facility away from the White House campus the day before. The letter initially tested negative for biological agents, but the agency said further tests returned a “presumptive positive” for cyanide.

The letter has been sent to another facility for further testing. The Secret Service says it will have no further comment, due to the ongoing investigation.

According to a website called The Intercept, a return address on the cyanide-laced letter is a man who has sent multiple packages to the White House dating back to 1995. […]

In 2013, letters addressed to President Barack Obama and Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker were laced with the poison ricin. One person was arrested in the incident.

Questions 

Direction: Ask the students the questions, and give the answers.

1What substance was found inside the letter?

Cyanide.

2What is the U.S. Secret Service responsible for?

The agency “is charged with protecting the president and other high-ranking officials.”

3Who is suspected of sending the letter?

“A man who has sent multiple packages to the White House dating back to 1995.”

4Did Barack Obama receive any other dangerous letters?

“In 2013, letters addressed to President Barack Obama and Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker were laced with the poison ricin.”

Discussion

Direction: Discuss the topics.

1Do you think the world is getting more and more dangerous? Why or why not?

Follow-up question1: What do you think of the world today?
Follow-up question2: What is the best thing about your country? Please explain.
Follow-up question3: What is the worst thing about your country? Please explain.

2Do you trust politicians? Why or why not?

Follow-up question1: Did you ever consider becoming a politician? Why or why not?
Follow-up question2: If you were a high-ranking politician, what would you change about your country?
Follow-up question3: Do you feel that your country is truly a democracy? Why or why not?

3Why is voting important?

Follow-up question1: Do you always vote? Why or why not?
Follow-up question2: Do you feel that one vote can make a difference? Why or why not?
Follow-up question3: What are the most important rights of a citizen?

Quoted from

http://www.voanews.com/content/envelope-laced-with-poison-mailed-to-white-house/2684904.html