New Military Plans and Changes to Government Names

May 12, 2026, 18:48
USPolitics

Introduction

The United States government wants to buy new ships and planes. They also want to put the president's name on many government things.

Main Body

The government wants a new ship called the USS Defiant. This ship costs about 17 billion dollars. It is very expensive and has new weapons. They also want a system to stop missiles. It is called the Golden Dome. The president says it costs 175 billion dollars, but other experts say it costs 1.2 trillion dollars. Finally, the government is changing names. They put the president's name on passports and medicine. They also put his name on the Peace Institute and the Kennedy Center. He is even putting his name on money.

Conclusion

The government is spending a lot of money on weapons. It is also making the government look like the president.

Learning

πŸ’Έ Talking about Money

In the text, we see different ways to describe cost. For A2 learners, the most important thing is knowing how to use 'costs' versus 'spending'.

1. The 'Cost' Pattern When we talk about the price of one specific thing, we use: Object β†’ costs β†’ Amount.

  • The ship β†’ costs β†’ 17 billion dollars.
  • The system β†’ costs β†’ 1.2 trillion dollars.

2. The 'Spending' Pattern When we talk about the action of using money in general, we use 'spending'.

  • The government is spending a lot of money.

🏷️ Ownership & Names

Notice how the text describes putting a name on something. To reach A2, you should practice the pattern: Put β†’ Name β†’ on β†’ Object.

  • Put the name β†’ on β†’ passports.
  • Put the name β†’ on β†’ money.

Quick Tip: Always use 'on' when you are attaching a name or a label to a physical object.

Vocabulary Learning

government
The group of people who run a country or city.
Example:The government announced a new policy to improve education.
buy
To pay money for something in exchange for it.
Example:I will buy a new book at the library.
ships
Large boats that travel on water.
Example:The navy has several ships that patrol the coast.
planes
Aircraft that fly in the sky.
Example:She loves to watch planes take off from the airport.
president
The highest official in a country or organization.
Example:The president will give a speech at the school.
name
A word or set of words by which a person or thing is known.
Example:Please write your name on the form.
costs
The amount of money needed to buy something.
Example:The costs of the new project are higher than expected.
billion
A number equal to one thousand million.
Example:The company earned a billion dollars last year.
dollars
The official money used in the United States.
Example:I saved ten dollars for my birthday gift.
expensive
Requiring a lot of money to buy.
Example:That watch is very expensive, but it looks nice.
weapons
Things used to hurt or kill other people or animals.
Example:The museum has a display of old weapons.
system
A group of parts that work together for a purpose.
Example:The school has a new system for grading students.
missiles
Long, narrow weapons that fly through the air to hit a target.
Example:The air force launched missiles from the base.
passports
Official documents that allow a person to travel between countries.
Example:Before leaving, she checked that her passport was valid.
money
Coins and bills used for buying and selling.
Example:He put his money in a savings account.