Table of Contents
Two weeks ago, United States special forces took Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro from his country.
After this event, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado visited President Donald Trump at the White House. This was their first meeting in person.
During the visit, Machado gave her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump. Trump has wanted this award for a long time. The two leaders took a photo together with the gold medal. Later, a White House official said Trump decided to keep the prize. Trump praised Machado on social media and thanked her for the gift.
Machado is a leader who disagrees with Maduro. She wanted to run for president in 2024, but a court stopped her. After a disputed election, she secretly left Venezuela to collect her Nobel Prize in Norway. The Nobel Foundation gave her the award for her work supporting democracy and peace.
Trump often says he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. He claims he ended many wars in places like Israel and India. However, experts say many of these wars are not really over.
Although Trump now has the physical medal, the Nobel Foundation says the prize still belongs to Machado. Their rules say that a Nobel Prize cannot be transferred to another person.
The future of Venezuela is unclear. Trump said he does not support Machado to lead the country because she is not popular. Instead, Trump supports Delcy Rodriguez as the temporary leader.
Trump spoke with Rodriguez recently about oil and trade. He said the talk was very good.
Machado left the meeting with a gift bag from Trump, but it is not clear if the US will support her in the future.
Vocabulary
- Special forces – a group of very strong and highly trained soldiers; elite army team.
- Leader – the person in charge of a group or a country; boss; head; chief.
- Event – something that happens; a planned meeting or activity.
- Opposition – the group or person who works against the leader; the other side; a rival group.
- President – the top leader of a country or government.
- In person – meeting someone face-to-face; being there yourself; not on a phone or computer. 🤝
- Nobel Peace Prize – a very famous and important international award for people who work for peace. 🕊️
- Award – a prize given for doing something very good; a trophy; a medal. 🥇🏆
- Official – a person with a job in the government; someone with authority.
- Prize – a reward for winning a competition or doing great work. 🥇🏆
- Praise – to say very good things about someone; to admire.
- Social media – websites or apps where people share news and talk, like X or Facebook.
- Disagree – to have a different opinion; to say “no”; to not think the same way.
- Run for president – to try to win an election to become the leader of a country.
- Court – the place where a judge decides if something is legal or if someone is guilty. ⚖️
- Disputed – something people argue about; when people do not agree if something is true or fair.
- Election – a time when people vote to choose a new leader. 🗳️
- Secretly – doing something without letting other people see or know about it; in private. 🤫
- Foundation – an official group or organization that gives money or prizes for special work.
- Democracy – a way of ruling where people choose their leaders by voting; freedom for the people.
- Deserve – when you should have something because of your hard work or actions.
- Claim – to say that something is true, even if other people do not believe it.
- Expert – a person who knows a lot about a specific subject; a specialist.
- Physical – something you can touch or hold; real; not just an idea.
- Belong to – to be owned by someone; to be the property of a person.
- Rule – an official instruction about what you must or must not do.
- Instead – in place of something else; as another choice.
- Temporary – for a short time only; not permanent; not forever.
- Trade – buying and selling things between people or countries; business.
- Leave – to go away from a place; to depart.
- Gift bag – a small bag with presents inside given to someone. 🛍️
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- Do you think it is appropriate for a Nobel Peace Prize winner to give their medal to a political leader? Why or why not?
- Trump believes Machado is “not popular” enough to lead. In your opinion, what makes a person a good leader for a country in crisis?
- The Nobel Foundation says a title cannot be transferred. Do you think the physical medal or the official title is more important?
- How do you feel about the use of “special forces” to remove a leader from another country?
- Do you think a “gift bag” is a suitable way to end a high-level political meeting? What does it suggest about the relationship between the two people?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Two weeks _____, United States special forces took Venezuelan leader Nicholas Maduro _____ his country.
After this event, opposition _____ Maria Corina Machado visited President Donald Trump at the _____ House. This was their first meeting in _____.
During the visit, Machado gave _____ Nobel Peace Prize to Trump. Trump has wanted this _____ for a long time. The two leaders took a photo _____ with the gold medal. Later, a White House official _____ Trump decided to keep the prize. Trump _____ Machado on social media and thanked her for the _____.
Machado is a leader who _____ with Maduro. She wanted to run for president in _____, but a court stopped her. After a disputed election, she _____ left Venezuela to collect her Nobel Prize in Norway. The Nobel Foundation _____ her the award for her work supporting democracy and _____.
Trump often says he _____ the Nobel Peace Prize. He claims he ended _____ wars in places like Israel and India. _____, experts say many of these wars are not really _____.
Although Trump now has _____ physical medal, the Nobel Foundation says the prize _____ belongs to Machado. Their rules say _____ a Nobel Prize cannot be transferred to another _____.
The future of Venezuela is unclear. Trump said _____ does not support Machado to lead the country _____ she is not popular. Instead, Trump supports Delcy Rodriguez _____ the temporary leader.
Trump spoke with Rodriguez _____ about oil and trade. He said the talk was very _____.
Machado left the meeting _____ a gift bag from Trump, but it is not clear if the US _____ support her in the future.
