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An emergency meeting of G8 and Outreach 5 leaders has been convened. Heads of thirteen of the world's leading economies have gathered in the Oval Office in the White House, Washington D.C, at short notice. The world's media is in attendance, awaiting news. Rumours of the purpose of the meeting abound. Inside the Oval Office, seated around the table there are many nervous faces and the atmosphere is electric as the meeting is commenced by the US president, 'Ladies and gentlemen. If I may have your attention, please. We are here to discuss, with all urgency, a pivotal decision in the history of mankind. I ask you all to put aside your political differences and national interests and work together to resolve this great dilemma. Should we release the news to the world?'
'Never! Impossible!' comes an angry response from the Russian
president. 'There will be chaos,
anarchy.
We are all only
just starting to recover from the financial
meltdown of the credit
crisis. If we release this news, there will be a total collapse of many
industries; millions will lose their jobs.'
'I agree,' says the Chinese president. 'My country has much to
lose and little to gain from the announcement. At least for a few
years.' He looks around the table for support, shaking his head and
folding his
arms in a defiant
gesture.
The French president stands up from her seat. 'Gentlemen, I fully understand your reservations. Of course it is unacceptable to put the global economy at risk. However, I believe we have a duty to the people. This news cannot stay hidden forever. The press will find out, and probably sooner than we think. If they hear it from us then we retain some semblance of control over the situation.'
The president of Brazil and prime minister of Japan have been
talking quietly and seem to be in agreement. The Japanese prime
minister rises to his feet. 'Ladies and gentlemen, this is a historic
moment, so why not let our honoured guest tell us what she believes to
be the best course
of action.'
Ther are nods and words of agreement around the room. All eyes turned
to the figure
sitting next to the American president at the head of the table.
When she stands up, she is over two metres tall. Her metallic protective suit shines with a golden-pink light. Her large black eyes are visible behind a complicated veil. When she speaks, her helmet translates her words into each of the human's languages. Each hear her words directly in their mind, feeling she can also read their thoughts: a strange and uncomfortable feeling. 'We are offering you the technology to save your planet from destruction. This will cause disruption of your economies, societies, scientific and relgious beliefs. If you choose to accept our offer, your world will undergo significant changes. I cannot guarantee the result as your species is aggressive and territorial by nature. But it is our belief that without our help, your world will be destroyed within twenty years. If you choose to decline our offer, then we will leave peacefully and you can determine your own destiny.'
Ten minutes later, in the White House press
center, the US
president addresses
the people of the world. Behind him stand the other
twelve leaders. 'Friends,' he begins, 'today is the greatest day in the
history of all mankind. We have made contact with a friendly alien
civilization. They come in peace and offer us hope for the future. With
their
assistance and advanced technology, we will conquer poverty and
disease, and begin a time of
new
prosperity.
This is indeed a wonderful day.'
From a side door, steps the alien. She stoops
low to enter the room
and stands next to the president, television stations broadcasting her
image around the world. She holds out her long arms and looks directly
into the cameras. In a thousand different languages she says. 'You are
all about to die'.
Adjectives
abound:
Exist in large numbers. Very many.
pivotal:
Very important because something will change greatly.
defiant:
Showing that you refuse to do what another person wants.
metallic:
With the appearance of metal.
significant:
Important and having influence.
territorial:
Here meaning 'willing to guard an area of land that is considered to
belong to you'.
Verbs
be convened:
(formal) People to be brought together for a meeting.
be in attendance:
(formal) To be present at a special event.
be commenced:
(formal) To be started.
put aside:
To stop thinking about a problem or difficulty.
resolve:
To find the answer to a problem.
retain:
To keep or continue.
be commenced:
(formal) To be started.
put aside:
To stop thinking about a problem or difficulty.
resolve:
To find the answer to a problem.
undergo:
To have something happen or be done.
determine:
Here meaning 'To have a strong effect or influence on what happens'.
address:
Here meaning 'To make a speech to a large group of people'.
stoop:
To bend your body forwards and down.
Nouns
G8:
USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Japan.
Outreach 5:
China, India, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa.
a dilemma:
A situation where it is difficult to make an important choice.
chaos:
A situation where nothing is organized and everything is confused.
anarchy:
When there is no effective government.
a financial meltdown:
A situation in which the world's money markets and credit stop working.
a semblance:
Here meaning 'a small amount of something'.
a course of action:
A series of steps that are taken to deal with a problem.
a figure:
Here meaning 'the shape of a person'.
a veil:
A piece of material that covers the face.
destruction:
The act of destroying something.
disruption:
The situation in which normal events cannot happen because of a
problem.
a press center:
A place where a member of an organization meets the mass media to give
information to them.
prosperity:
A situation of having a lot of money and a good quality of life.
Expressions
"at short notice":
Suddenly, and allowing no time for preparation.
"by nature":
Part of someone's character.