Live · Oct 19, 2026

Vol. 12 · Nº292Monday Edition

Learn English with attitude

Current Affairs English

Nothing is normal — question everything

§ 01

Listen to the full report

Audio

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§ 02

Audio Word Matching

2 sets

Want a vocabulary drill from this episode? Finish the Audio Quiz to unlock the transcript — the gap-fill drill is underneath it.

§ 03

Audio Quiz

9 questions

§ 04

Audio Transcript

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Finish the Audio Quiz to read the transcript.

Answer all the audio questions to read the text of the audio.

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§ 05

Audio Grammar

4 forms

§ 06

Audio Discussion

5 questions

Discussion Questions

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01

Do you believe that China is really preparing for war, or could there be other economic or political reasons for selling U.S. bonds that the speaker isn't mentioning?

02

The audio focuses on Taiwan as the potential conflict. Could this financial strategy also be about a different kind of confrontation with the U.S.—perhaps over global economic power or influence in other regions? What would you say to someone who claims this is only about Taiwan?

03

Do you think Western media might present China's actions in a more threatening way than necessary? Why would they do this, and how can we know if we're getting the full picture?

04

The speaker says selling bonds now is "a guaranteed financial loss." If you were advising the Chinese government, would you agree with this strategy, or would you argue they should keep the bonds despite the risks? Defend your position.

05

What do you think about the metaphor of divorce used at the end? Does it accurately describe U.S.-China relations, or is it too dramatic? What metaphor would you use instead, and why?

§ 07

Personal Notes

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