Taiwan Gets New Tanks from the USA

Introduction

Taiwan now has 108 new Abrams tanks from the United States. The last group of tanks arrived on Sunday.

Main Body

The tanks arrived at a port in Taipei. Then they went to a training center. Taiwan paid about 1.3 billion dollars for these tanks and other big trucks. These tanks are new and strong. They replace very old tanks. The army will train with them. The tanks will be ready by the end of the year. Taiwan wants to buy more weapons in the next ten years. This will cost 39 billion dollars. Some leaders in Taiwan do not agree with this plan.

Conclusion

Taiwan has all its new tanks now. But leaders are still talking about money for more weapons.

Learning

The 'Now' vs. 'Later' Switch

In this text, we see a clear jump between things happening right now and things that will happen soon. To reach A2, you need to master this shift.

1. The Current State (Present)

  • Taiwan has 108 new tanks.
  • The tanks are new and strong.
  • Pattern: [Subject] + [has/are] + [Description].

2. The Future Plan (Will)

  • The army will train with them.
  • The tanks will be ready.
  • Pattern: [Subject] + will + [Action].

Vocabulary Shift →

NowLater
Arrived (Past)Will buy (Future)
Has (Present)Will cost (Future)

Quick Rule: Use will when you are talking about a plan or a promise for the future. It is the simplest way to move from A1 to A2 speaking.

Vocabulary Learning

tanks
armored vehicles / vehicles used by the army坦克
Example:The tanks moved slowly through the city.
port
place where ships dock / a location for loading cargo港口
Example:The cargo was unloaded at the port.
train
to practice a skill or activity / to prepare for a task訓練
Example:The soldiers will train with the new tanks.
army
large group of soldiers / the military force軍隊
Example:The army will use the tanks for defense.
money
currency used for buying goods / the medium of exchange
Example:They need money to buy more weapons.