A Newsletter
for Newcomers
to the
United States
April 2016
Inside This Issue
Supreme Court Nomination 1
Supreme Court Demographics 2
Passover 3
Birthday Biography: Ralph Wiley 3
Phishing and Tax Scams 4 Paying US Taxes 4
Vocabulary for Today’s Politics :( 4
Parent-Teacher Conferences 5
Tips for Hiring Someone to
Prepare your Tax Return 5
Rules of Baseball 6
Margarine or Butter? 6
Delegates and Other Higher Math 7 That Crazy English:
Baseball Idioms 8
Supreme Court Nomination
Just when I thought US politics couldn’t get any stranger, one of the nine US Supreme Court justices (Justice Antonin Scalia) died suddenly. President Obama has nominated Judge Merrick Garland but Republican Senate leaders have announced they will not partici-pate in appointing a replacement until after the November election. Here is what you need to know to
under-stand this story. The US Supreme Court is the high-est court in the nation. It consists of nine Justices (judges), each appointed to the court for life (that is, they can keep the job for the rest of their lives as long as they engage in
“good behavior”). This rule is meant to protect the Justices from political influence. Some Justices choose to retire, but many die while still on the Court, as did Justice Scalia. Article II of the Constitution says that the President “shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall ap-point” Supreme Court justices.
Ordinarily, the process is this: The President nominates someone (usually, but not neces-sarily, a judge from a lower court) and then the Senate Judiciary Committee reviews the credentials of the nominee. They interview the nominee and read papers he/she has written,
trying to understand his/her philosophy of law. These interviews are often shown on TV. The Judiciary Committee can then make a recom-mendation to the full Senate either for rejection or for approval, or it can forward the nomina-tion to the whole Senate without any recom-mendation. The Senate holds its own set of hearings, and then votes. The Senate must approve the nomi-nee by a simple majority (one more than 50%). On average, historically, the whole process takes about two and a half months. In history, about 19% of the nomi-nees for Supreme Court Justice have been rejected, with-drawn or not voted on. The most recent judge to be rejected was Judge Robert Bork, nominated by Republi-can President Ronald Reagan, in 1987, when Democrats held a majority in the Senate. This current nomination is politically extremely important, some say even more important than the presidential election because Justices tend to serve on the Court for so many years. The Court’s job is to ensure that all federal, state and local laws comply with the principles in the US Constitution. I will write more in upcoming months about the kinds of decisions the Court decides. For now, you just need to know that until Justice Scalia died, the Court was often
continued on page 2
1
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Supreme Court
Demographics
s Justice Antonin Scalia had been the longest-serving Justice, appointed in 1986 by President Reagan. Now, the longest-serving Justice is Anthony Kennedy, appointed in 1988. The newest Justices were appointed by President Obama: Sonia Sotomayor (2009) and Elena Kagan (2010).
s The oldest Justice is Ruth Ginsburg, age 83. The youngest is Elena Kagan, 55.
s There are currently 3 female Jus-tices. The first woman (Sandra Day O’Connor, now retired) was appointed in 1981.
s There is one African-American Justice (Clarence Thomas) and one Latina (Justice Sotomayor). The first non-Caucasian Justice (Thurgood Marshall) was appointed in 1967. Although historically, the great major-ity of Justices have been Protestant, today there are five Roman Catholic and three Jewish Justices.
s Four of the current Justices were appointed by a Republican president, and four by a Democrat.
s No Justice has been openly gay.
s The current Senate Judiciary Com-mittee has 11 Republicans and 9 Democrats. The current Senate has 54 Republicans, 44 Democrats and 2 Independents who usually vote with the Democrats.
2
continued from page 1
SUPREME COURT NOMINATION very evenly balanced between liberal and conservative points of view. Justice Scalia generally held quite conservative views, so the prospect of a nomination from a more liberal President is upsetting to the Republicans. Judge Garland, the new nominee, is described by most observers as a moderate.
The Senate Republican leaders have an-nounced that they do not think
a new Supreme Court Justice should be nominated in an elec-tion year, but rather should leave the nomination decision to who-ever is elected in November. They have said they will not meet with any nominee or hold any hearings. They point to similar discussions in other election years, with Demo-crats making the same argument when roles were reversed. The chart at the top of this page shows the outcome of all Su-preme Court vacancies that occurred in presidential election years since 1900. In two other cases, a Justice was not success-fully nominated in an election year, but the vacancy was filled in other ways: In 1956, the President made a recess appointment in October to fill a vacancy; that Justice was officially confirmed in 1957. In the fall of 1968, the President nomi-nated a Justice to fill a vacancy that he hoped would appear when he promoted an Associate Justice to Chief Justice. That promotion was not approved, so there was no vacancy.
In short, there has never been a vacancy on the Court held open until the election was over.
Date of President’s Senate # days to nomination Party Control confirmation
1912 March R R 5 1916 January D D 124 1916 July D D 10 1932 February R R 9 1940 January D D 12 1987 November R D 63
Note: This poll was taken before President Obama nominated Judge Garland.
Birthday Biography:
Ralph Wiley
Ralph Wiley invented something you may use every day - plastic wrap (also called cling film or Saran wrap, after its first brand name).
Wiley worked for Dow Chemical as a lab technician, washing dishes. One day, in a lab that was focused on making a dry cleaning product, he found he could not wash polyvinyli-dene chloride (PVdC) off his glass beakers,. He had the idea that this might be a useful property of the chemical.
At first, Dow developed it as a green spray to protect fighter airplanes from salty air near the sea. Later, it was used to protect the seats in cars. And in World War II, the chemical was used to make an inner sole for soldiers’ boots; it allowed dry outside air into the boot and helped prevent blisters.
In 1943, with his boss John Reilly, Ralph Wiley figured out how to re-formulate the chemicals into a thin film which was a barrier to moisture, oxygen, flavors and smells. They named the product after Reilly’s wife (Sarah) and daughter (Ann) - Saran. The product cellophane already existed - it, too, was a clear plastic film, but it did not cling tightly and did not protect food well. It was used mainly for packing non-food items.
Today, Saran is made of polyethylene instead of PVdC, for environmental reasons.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Wiley.
3
Passover
holiday meal. A seder includes many special symbolic foods (see below). The young-est person at the table asks a series of four questions about the meaning of Passover. The Passover story is told, along with prayers and songs of praise to God.
Passover begins on the 14th day of the month of Nisan in the Jewish calendar. This year it starts on April 23 (but note that in the Jewish calendar, days start at sunset on the previous day, so observation of Passover will begin at sunset on April 22).
If you are not Jewish, you will not be expected to do any thing special during the Passover week. If you live in a town with many Jew-ish families, public schools may be closed for the first day or two of Passover. But most businesses and government agencies are not closed. For the first one or two days of Passover, many Jews, even those who are not very religious, will follow tradition. They may not be at work or school. In some Jewish families, inviting non-Jews to a seder is part of the tradi-tion of telling the Passover story to those who do not know it. Go, if invited.
The Symbolic Foods of Passover
This food: symbolizes:
Matzah (unleavened bread)
Lamb bone and egg Mild bitter greens (parsley or lettuce) dipped in saltwater Bitter herbs (like horseradish) Charoset (nuts, fruit and wine)
The Israelites’ quick departure, leaving no time for bread to rise Festival sacrifice The Israelites’ tears, the sea and springtime The bitterness of slavery Brick/mortar used by slaves
Passover is one of the most important Jewish holidays in the year. At Passover, Jews remem-ber the story of their exodus from (going out of) slavery in Egypt 3000 years ago:
The Israelites were slaves in Egypt when God ordered Moses to lead them to freedom. God sent a series of plagues to the land — frogs, disease, locusts, and more. Each time, God stopped the plague when the Pharaoh (king, pronounced “FAY-roh”) promised to let the Is-raelites go free. But each time a plague ended, the Pharaoh broke his promise. Finally, Moses announced that the next plague would be the killing of all first-born children in Egypt. He told the Israelites to put some blood of a lamb on the door posts of their homes. This would be the signal to God to “pass over” their house and not kill their first-born children.
This time, the Pharaoh finally told the Israelites to go free. The people traveled toward the Red Sea. When they got there, the Pharaoh’s army (sent by the Pharaoh who had, again, changed his mind about freeing them) was close behind. The water parted so that the Is-raelites could cross through to safety. It closed again when Pharaoh’s army was crossing, drowning them all.
For several thousand years, the story of Passover has been told in this spring season. It is a story of the re-birth of life and of a people who find new political freedom and unity. At Passover, many Jews remember people of all religions around the world who still do not live in freedom.
Passover lasts seven or eight days (depending on the type of Jewish group). Throughout Passover, Jews eat no food that has leavening (like yeast) in it. They may go to religious services on the first evening of Pass-over, then return home for a seder. A seder is a dinner, and an important, ceremonial part of observing Passover. It is not simply a family
Paying US Taxes
The traditional deadline for paying federal (and state) income taxes is April 15. To get some tax help:
s Post offices and libraries all have basic tax forms and instructions. The forms and publications are free.
s Call the Internal Revenue Service at 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676) any time — they will mail you the forms, instructions, and publications you need, or tell you how to download them to your computer. Listen in English or Spanish.
s Go to www.irs.gov to: a) download forms, instructions,
and publications,
b) learn about electronic filing; refunds come faster if you do; specifically see www.irs.gov/ Filing
c) find out when you will get your refund (if any).
d) find the location of an IRS office near you, where you can ask questions in person (at www. irs.gov/localcontacts/index. html).
s Go to one of the many volunteer walk-in tax advice sites in shopping malls, community centers, libraries, and churches. You will see them a lot in early April. You may see services offered by IRS’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program (for people with incomes less than $54,000/year, or with disabilities or limited English) or IRS’ Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) (for people age 60+).
Phishing and Tax Scams
Around tax time, watch out for phishing, or internet-based tax scams (illegal attempts to get your money or personal financial informa-tion) (pronounced fishing — as in “fishing for information”). The thief uses your information to take money from your bank account, buy things with your credit card, or damage your credit rating.
For example, you might get an email that looks like it is from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - like “[email protected]” or “admin@ irs.gov”. The message says you are eligible for a refund or credit and asks for your bank account information. You are directed to a website that is almost identical to the real IRS one, but is really a fake. Here, you are asked for personal and financial information that the real IRS page does not require (like your credit card number, mother’s maiden name, and/or other personal information). These messages are scams. The IRS never sends unsolicited (unrequested) email to people about tax mat-ters. The only way to get a tax refund is by filing a tax return.
Other scams involve telephone calls in which the caller offers you something wonderful - for example, a big rebate (refund) for filing taxes early. He asks for your bank account
informa-tion “for direct deposit of the rebate.” Or he says that the IRS sent you a check but you never cashed it, and asks for your bank ac-count number. Don’t give it! The IRS does not give rebates for early filers, does not gather bank information by telephone, and does not follow up on un-cashed checks.
The IRS recommends:
s Be skeptical of email or letters you are not expecting. Verify before replying.
s Do not tell anyone your PIN or secret pass-words; legitimate organizations do not need or ask for this information.
s If you get an email that makes you suspi-cious, do not follow its links; instead, go independently to the IRS site — www.irs.gov s As is always the case, never open an
attach-ment to an email unless you are very sure what it is; it may contain a computer virus.
s Shred paper documents with your financial information on them before discarding.
s Don’t be fooled by a local area code. With Voice over Internet Protocol, the caller could be anywhere in the world.
If you think you have encountered one of these schemes, forward the email to [email protected]. Contact the IRS hotline set up for this pur-pose: 1-800-366-4484.
4
Vocabulary for Today’s Politics :(
I can’t believe I’m writing this. But here are some terms you may have been reading about in our political news. Honestly, I had to look them up myself at www.urbandictionary.com...
sucker punch: (A man sucker punched a protestor at a political rally.) Hitting someone hard with a closed fist, underneath the rib cage, up against the diaphragm, forcing air out the lungs and mouth, and putting the victim in a defenseless position.
:
choke artist (One politician called his rival a choke artist because he got so nervous he could not debate well.) Failing to perform often and in important situations because of being tense.
dog whistle (One party accused the other of having used a dog whistle strategy.) A literal dog whistle can be heard by dogs but not humans. As a metaphor, it means people silently or oblique-ly allowing something to happen while overtoblique-ly claiming to do the opposite.
Tips for Hiring
Someone to Prepare
Your Tax Return
s Be cautious of tax preparers who claim they can obtain larger refunds than other preparers.
s Avoid preparers who base their fee on a percentage of the amount of the refund.
s Use a reputable tax profes-sional who signs your tax return and provides you with a copy for your records.
s Consider whether the individual or firm will be around to answer questions about the preparation of your tax return after the return has been filed.
s No matter who prepares your tax return, you, are ultimately responsi-ble for all of the information on your tax return. Therefore, never sign a blank tax form.
s Find out the person’s credentials. Only attorneys, certified public accountants and enrolled agents can represent taxpayers before the IRS in all matters including audits, collection and appeals. Other return preparers may only represent taxpayers for audits of returns they actually prepared.
s Find out if the preparer is affili-ated with a professional organiza-tion that provides its members with continuing education and resources and holds them to a code of ethics.
s Ask questions and get references.
[adapted from www.irs.gov]
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Are you satisfied with your children’s education? Do you hope something will be differ-ent next year? In the spring, schools plan for fall. Many schools have parent-teacher conferences to discuss these plans. If your school does not, you may ask to meet with the teacher anyway.
If you think your child should have some extra services from the school (like more training in English, extra challenges in their strongest subjects, an assessment of special needs, extra help for their weakest subjects, or help in social areas) this is a good time to ask. You should be able to talk about your concerns at any time. But this is one of the times the school actually invites your input. Most schools welcome suggestions and involvement from parents. You should be respectful of the school’s professional judgment. Remember that they must be concerned with the well-being of all the children in the school. But it is perfectly acceptable to make your ideas known. Here are some practical tips:
s It is best for both parents to go to the parent-teacher meeting, if possible. Ask the parent-teacher to try to schedule some meeting times that allow for parents’ work schedules. You will both have a better sense of your child’s school experience, and the teacher will appreciate your support and interest.
s Be sure you understand all the teacher tells you. It is common for international and American parents to leave a school conference without really understanding the meaning of what the teacher has said. If the teacher talks about stan-dardized test scores, be sure you understand what the tests measure, what the scores mean, and what the school does with the scores. If she/ he talks about putting your child into a particu-lar group based on academic level (such as a reading group or track) be sure you understand
what this means. It is fine to ask the teacher to talk more slowly, and to repeat what she/ he has said. Some international parents ask a friend whose English is very good to come to the conference with them.
s If you have complaints about something the teacher does, think ahead about how to discuss it. Americans certainly talk about their concerns with teachers, and you can too. Have one or two specific examples in mind to discuss. Give the teacher time to explain his/her views. Remember that, in the American system, you and the teacher are considered partners in your child’s education. Explain what schools are like in your own country, if it seems important. Make it clear that you understand this is an American school, but that you think it would be helpful to explain your child’s school history (and future, if you will be going home soon). Make specific suggestions if you can. Then, wait a week or two to see if the situation improves. If it does not, it is fine to talk to someone else in the school about your concern. You might try the guidance counselor, the principal, or the headmaster. But start with the teacher.
s Say something positive about the teacher and/ or the school. Americans like an open expression of thanks. If you are pleased with how school is going, this will be easy. If you are unhappy with the school, saying something positive will help the teacher be more willing to listen to your criti-cism.
s Ask for test records, work samples, reading lists, or curriculum descriptions, if you think they will be helpful when you go back to your home country. Do this each year, even if you will not be returning home for some time. Your home school will appreciate having such clear informa-tion about what your child has studied.
Margarine or Butter?
Researchers have warned about the risks to the heart from eating too much saturated fat and trans fat. Now there is an overwhelm-ing number of choices in the dairy section. Here is some background to why different products have been developed, and some hints about how to make a choice:
Most margarine in the US today is made from plants (like corn, sunflower, or safflower plants). The most common reason people use margarine instead of butter is that it has less (or no) cholesterol and less saturated fat. However, hydrogena-tion (the process used to make liquid vegetable oil into solid margarine) causes the formation of trans fats, which cause an increase in LDL, or “bad cholesterol” (the kind that can lead to blocked blood arteries) and a decrease in HDL or “good choles-terol” (that protects your body). In addition, margarine usually has added chemicals to keep it fresh and coloring to make it yellow.
Recently, many new kinds of mar-garine, called spreads, have been developed. These are usually sold in plastic tubs or squeeze bottles. A higher proportion of the fat in these new spreads is unsaturated. They also have fewer calories than butter and plain margarine. Most manage this by using vegetable oil in a more liquid (less hydrogenated) form, and/or by adding air or water, both of which are still considered healthy! But be careful of what you are buying — some kinds add gelatin and other additives to keep the fat and calorie count low.
continued on page 7
Rules of Baseball
April brings the opening of the season for pro-fessional, or major league, baseball. Countless fans attend the games or listen to them on TV and radio throughout the summer. Most Ameri-cans, even unathletic ones, understand and have played baseball (or its cousin, softball). Here are enough rules to help you watch your first game. If you have more questions, ask any American!
s Two teams of nine players take turns being
up at bat and in the field. An inning is one cycle of turns (Team A is up at bat, then Team B is up at bat). A game has nine innings.
s A baseball field has a diamond and an outfield. The diamond is the runway connect-ing four corner bases: home plate, and first, second, and third bases. The outfield is the space outside of the diamond.
s The team that is in the field has one player in each position: pitcher (who throws the ball to the batter on the other team), catcher (who is behind the batter at home base), first, second,
and third basemen (one at each base), short stop (who stands between second and third base), and three outfielders (who stand far back, out in left, center, and right field).
s While the batter who is up at bat stands beside home plate, the pitcher must throw the ball directly over home plate at a height that falls between the batter’s knees and shoul-ders. If the ball is outside this target area, the batter should not swing at it; it’s called a ball. If the pitcher throws four such balls to one
bat-ter, the batter gets to walk to first base without interruption. If the ball is inside the target area, the batter should swing at it. If he swings and misses, it’s called a strike. If the batter does not swing at a ball that is in the target area, it’s also considered a strike. If he gets three strikes in one turn, he has struck out and his turn is over. If he hits the ball in such a way that it goes high in the air, it’s called a fly ball. If the other team catches a fly ball before it touches the ground, the batter is out and has to leave the field.
s If the batter hits the ball, he tries to run to each base before the other team can throw the ball there or touch the batter with the ball. He
tries to run to as many bases as he can. Most often, he will only get to first base before the other team gets the ball there. If it is a close race, the batter stops at first base, and the next batter takes a turn. If the ball gets to the base before the batter, the batter is out and he leaves the field.
s When the next batter starts to run to first base, the first player runs toward second base. The player on second base runs toward third. The player on third runs to home base. A batter scores a run (a point) when he gets back to home plate. Players in the outfield try to get the ball to a base before a batter gets there. If they succeed, the batter is out.
s Sometimes, of course, the batter can get continued on page 7
continued from page 6
To learn what is in each product, read the Ingredients on the label which, by law, must be listed in de-creasing order of amount. Look for a product with the lowest amount of saturated fats and no trans fats at all.
The differences between butter and the many kinds of margarine affect how each tastes, and how each acts when you cook with it. I leave the taste question to you. About how they act:
· For baked goods (like pie crusts) that require an exact amount of fat, do not use reduced-fat margarine or spread.
· Do not use margarine and spreads that are lower than 60% oil for baking and frying. They will work for spreading and putting on top of foods, but not for adding moisture or fat.
Bottom line, the Harvard Health Publication suggests that we use butter and the newer margarines (in tubs) “sparingly” and that we avoid stick margarine altogether. It also recommends substituting olive oil for either one.
So - to deal with the overwhelm-ing number of choices in the store, decide what is most important to you — taste, lack of added chemi-cals, lack of saturated fat, ease of use, usefulness for frying, etc. Study the different brands once. Then memorize the color and words on the label, buy that again next time, and do not think about it again!
continued from page 6 THE RULES OF BASEBALL
to second or third base, or even all the way around to home plate before the ball catches up with him. This is called a home run, or a homer. If a batter gets a home run when the bases are loaded
(there is a player from his team on first, second, and third base when he steps up to bat), it is called a grand slam. All four batters score runs in that turn.
s A player is allowed to run from one base to another in between batters’ turns up at bat. If he gets to the new base before the other team throws the ball there, he has stolen the base.
s When players on the team at bat have had three outs, the other team comes up to bat. The team with the most points at the end of nine innings wins.
s There are two Major Leagues in professional baseball — the National League and the Ameri-can League. During the Major League season (April through September), teams compete mostly against other teams in their league. Then, each League has a series of play-off games within Divisions, in what is called the “Pennant race.” The winners of each League’s Pennant race then
compete against each other in a seven-game “World Series.”
7
however they like, regardless of the ,outcome of the primary or caucus.
And finally, each Party has superdelegates, other people in the political system who get to vote at the national convention. The Demo-crats allow Democratic governors, current Congress members, and party officials to be superdelegates (15% of the total) to attend and vote for whomever they like; some of these superdelegates have already announced who they will vote for (although they could techni-cally change their minds). Republicans have fewer superdelegates (7%) - 3 members of each state party organization may attend, but they must vote for the candidate who got most votes in their state’s primary or caucus. If we get to summer and no one has the needed number of delegates, I’ll explain what happens at a “brokered” convention. Till then,
you don’t want to know...
To keep your eye on this exciting race, try www. realclearpolitics.com. After each primary or caucus, you’ll hear about
a “delegate count.” Each state can send a certain number of delegates to the nominat-ing conventions this summer, where the final two candidates will be officially chosen (2472 Republican delegates and 4765 Democratic ones). The final nominee needs a majority of these delegates to vote for her/him.
The number of delegates each state gets to send is a complicated matter having to do with its size and its voting patterns in prior elec-tions. And states differ in their rules about how delegates should vote at the summer con-vention. Some states have “winner takes all” elections; whoever gets the most votes during the primary or caucus gets all that state’s delegates - but this can be either state-wide or district by district. In other states, delegates are awarded “proportionally” - the more votes, the more delegates. Then,
because that’s not complicated enough, some states allow delegates - or some of their delegates - to vote
Newcomer’s Almanac is published monthly by The Interchange Institute, for people who have recently moved to the United States. Its goal is to promote international understanding by providing information about the American holidays, customs, values, social issues, and language that often confuse and surprise newcomers. It is written by Anne P. Copeland, PhD, who is a clinical psychologist and the Director of The Interchange Institute. She is an American and has lived and worked overseas with her family.
The Interchange Institute is a not-for-profit organization that studies the impact of intercultural transitions on individuals, their families, and the organizations for which they work. From the results of this research, the Institute offers seminars and workshops, pro-duces publications, and provides consultative services to the international newcomers, their organizations, and to host communities, recognizing that change and insight on both sides facilitates smooth transition. Subscriptions: Please contact The Interchange Institute for information about subscription fees, site licenses, and discount rates:
The Interchange Institute Tel. 617.566.2227 www.interchangeinstitute.org email: [email protected]
That Crazy English: Baseball Idioms
American English is rich in idioms from the game of baseball. Read the Rules of Baseball on page 6 to understand these better:
The first book he wrote was good but the next one was a grand slam. (The first book he wrote was good but the next one was a huge success in every way.)
We need a power hitter for this project. (We need our strongest person for this project.)
He was trying to sell her his old computer but he couldn’t get to first base. (He was trying to sell her his old computer but she was not at all interested.) (This idiom is also used to refer to a man who is unsuccessful in winning a woman’s affections.)
Hey! That question was really a curve ball. (Hey! That question was very tricky.) (In baseball, if a pitcher throws a ball in a special way, it will seem to curve away from home plate then back again into the strike zone, making it very difficult to hit.)
She is waiting to hear whether she has been accepted to all the schools she applied to. So far she is batting a thousand. (...So far, she has been accepted to all those she has heard from.) (In baseball, a player’s number of hits divided by number of times at bat is his “batting average.” “Batting a thousand” (an average of 1.000) means never missing.)
Copyright 2016. Anne P. Copeland. All rights reserved. No photocopying allowed except under terms of site license.
English Practice
Worksheet to
Accompany
Newcomer’s
Almanac
April 2016HOMEWORK
1
UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU READ
Read
The Rules of Baseball
on page 6. Mark each of the following sentences True or
False. Change all the sentences you mark False to make them correct.
1. After one team has gotten three strikes, one inning is over.
2. A player who makes a grand slam earns four points for his
team.
3. The final game of the season is the Pennant Race.
4. Batters usually have time to run past first base after they hit the
ball.
5. If a batter hits a fly ball and the other team catches it before it
hits the ground, it is considered a strike.
6. The only way to get a strike is to swing at a ball and miss.
7. If a player steals a base, he is out.
8. If the pitcher throws a ball outside the target area four times to
one batter, the batter may walk safely to first base.
9. A short stop stands between first and second base.
10. It is possible for a player to be on third base when no player is
on first or second base.
11. It is good to hit a homer when the bases are loaded.
True False
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
q
WITH A PEN
1. Read
The Rules of
Base-ball
on pages 6. Write the
rules to a popular sports
game in your home country.
How does the game begin
and end? Do the players
have different jobs?
2. Read
Passover
on page
3. Write a description of
the food (and its
sym-bolic meaning) served at an
important holiday in your
country.
3. Read
That Crazy English
on page 8. Write a list of
three idioms in your home
language that are based on
a sport. Translate them into
English and explain what
they mean.
4. Read
Delegates and Other
Higher Math
on page 7.
Write a description of how
political leaders are chosen
in your home country. If
there are elections, describe
any differences you have
observed between the US
and your home country.
5. Read
Vocabulary for
Today’s Politics :(
on page 4.
Write a letter to a friend at
home describing the
reac-tion to the US elecreac-tion you
have observed among your
American friends and
col-leagues.
6. Read
Margarine or Butter?
on pages 6 and 7. Write a
list of US dairy products you
do not have in your home
country, and a list of those
you have there but not here.
2
TAX VOCABULARY
Read
Paying US Taxes
and
Tips for Hiring Someone to Prepare Your Tax Return
on pages 4
and 5. Below is a simplified copy of the beginning of the US income tax form, followed by
some vocabulary words. Complete the form for yourself or an imaginary friend. Pick the
correct meaning of each word, in the context of a tax form.
BASEBALL IDIOMS
Read
That Crazy English
on page 8. Re-write these sentences using a baseball idiom:
1. The exam included too many obscure questions; it wasn’t fair.
________________________________________________________
2. So far I have guessed the winner of very election in my life; I’m doing well.
________________________________________________________
3. He’s too new at this job. For this client we need a real professional.
________________________________________________________
word
meaning (a)
meaning (b)
1. return
go back
form for paying taxes
2. postmarked
received by the IRS
received by the Post Office
3. refunds
taxes you overpaid
extra taxes you owe
4. filing
tax-paying
making smooth
5. cautious
trusting
careful
6. reputable
known for honesty
famous
7. ultimately
in the end
partially
8. audit
official check on accuracy trial for wrong-doing
9. affiliated
friendly with
connected to officially
OUT AND ABOUT
1. Read
The Rules of Baseball
on page 6. Watch at least 2 innings of a baseball game (on TV or in a playground). Observe
a strike, a fly ball, an out, and a ball. Identify the pitcher, catcher, and short stop.
2. Read
Tips for Hiring Someone to Prepare Your Tax Return
on page 5. Practice listening to recorded announcements on
the telephone by calling 1-800-829-1040 (it will be a free call), using a touch tone telephone.
3. Read
Margarine or Butter?
on pages 6 and 7. In a supermarket, count the number of different brands of margarine,
IF YOU USE THE
WEB
1. Read
The Rules of
Base-ball
on page 6. Go to
www.
mlb.com
to find a list of
teams and their schedules.
Click on Schedule. Pick
the team closest to where
you live in the US as “your
team.” Can you go??
2. Read
Tips for Hiring
Someone to Prepare Your
Tax Return
on page 5. Go to
www.irs.gov/
localcontacts/index.
html
and click on the state
where you live (on the map).
Where is the closest place
to get help with your taxes?
What services are provided
there? When is the office
open?
3. Read
Delegates and Other
Higher Math
on page 7. Go
to
www.realclearpolitics.
com
to see the latest
del-egate count for the
Republi-can (“GOP”) and Democratic
races.
4
© The Interchange Institute, 2016WITH A FRIEND
1. Read the articles about taxes on pages
4
and
5
. Describe to a partner how the
govern-ment in your home country gets the money it needs. How is this process different from
in the US? Discuss any things an individual has to pay for in the US that are provided free
in your home country.
2. Read
Parent-Teacher Conferences
on page 5. With a partner, take one of the following
roles of a parent or a teacher. Pretend you have just started a parent conference.
Parent
: Your daughter Anna is in fourth grade. When you see her teacher, the teacher
always smiles and says what a wonderful student Anna is. So you were surprised
when Anna did not get all A grades on her latest report. You have increased the
amount of time Anna must spend on her homework, but you plan to ask the teacher to
be more strict, and to give you more honest feedback about Anna’s work.
Teacher
: Your student Anna is a delightful child. She seems happy, has many friends,
works hard, and seems to be learning well, even though she has just been speaking
English for one year. But in the past few weeks you have noticed that Anna seems
tired and sad. You plan to ask her parents to relax a little and not be so strict with
Anna.
Talk together for 2-3 minutes then switch roles. Which role was easier for you? Why?
3. Read about
Phishing and Tax Scams
on page 4. Compare the issue of fraud and
cheat-ing, and how to protect against it, in the US and your home country.
4. Read
Supreme Court Nomination
on pages 1 and 2. The US Constitution designed the
Supreme Court to avoid the influence of politics. Talk with a friend or partner about how
judges are selected in your home country, and about the level of political influence there.
Compare with what you have observed in the US.
ANSWER CORNER
Understanding What you Read
2. T 3. F The final game ... is in the World Series.
4. F Batters usually do not have time...
5. F If a batter hits a fly ball ... the batter is out.
6. F One way to get a strike is to ....
7. F If a player steals a base, he is not out.
8. T 9. F A short stop stands between 2nd and 3rd base.
10. T 11. T
Tax Vocabulary
1b 2b 3a 4a 5b 6a 7b 8b 9a
Baseball Idioms
1. The exam included too many curve balls; it wasn’t fair.
2. So far I have guessed the winner of very election in my life; I’m
batting a thousand.
