The Wall Street Journal • 2:33 • intermediate • News
Q1. How long was the USS Abraham Lincoln on its mission at sea?
6 words to learn — tap cards to flip and save favorites.
/dɪˈplɔɪmənt/
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Definition
The act of moving troops or equipment to a specific location for military operations.
Example
The deployment of the aircraft carrier was crucial for supporting operations in the region.
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/ˈɛkspæt/
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Definition
A person who lives outside their native country.
Example
Many expats in Thailand enjoy the vibrant culture and warm climate.
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/ˈsɛrəˌmoʊni/
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A formal event held on a special occasion.
Example
The welcoming ceremony for the sailors was attended by local officials and community members.
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/ˈspɪrɪts/
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The emotional state or mood of a person or group.
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The sailors' spirits were high as they arrived in port after a long mission.
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/ˈtʊrɪzəm/
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The business of providing services to travelers for pleasure or leisure.
Example
The tourism industry in Thailand has been affected by recent global events.
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/ˈsiːdiːnəs/
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The quality of being sordid, disreputable, or morally questionable.
Example
Despite its attractions, some areas of the city have a certain seediness that can be off-putting.
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[music] I'm in Paya, Thailand, where the USS Abraham Lincoln uh just docked yesterday morning after a 286-day mission at sea. There was a small group of Americans and local expats who were at the port waving American flags, uh
greeting the arriving sailors. Many of the sailors were loaded onto buses and they drove down to Pataya to the Hard Rock Hotel and uh there was a small ceremony between the captain of the ship and the mayor of
the city here welcoming them to the city. It is a welldeserved break for all of the crew and we really look forward to our time here to get a little rest. Last night we were able to see groups
of them wandering around. You know, they were participating in the nightife in the vibe of the community. So they did seem like they were in pretty high spirits. So during the deployment in the Middle East, this aircraft carrier
uh supported US operations against Iran. There was thousands of sorties flown from the deck of the ship and it became a little bit of a symbol of this conflict just due to the nature of its long deployment. There
were some concerns about the mental health challenges of the sailors on the ship. I mean the Navy did acknowledge some of these difficulties but they also said that the ship was able to continue its operations and that they've
taken steps to address some of these issues. They said there was always adequate food on board. Paya does have a reputation for being a sort of sex tourism type area but recently its appeal has sort of extended beyond
that. There's lots of uh resorts and brand name hotels that you can stay in now. So it sort of is a bit more of a general tourist destination at this point. Although there is some seediness to it still
in terms of the reception of the locals here. I mean people were pretty excited to have the sailors arrive. I mean the tourism industry has been a bit depressed recently because of the conflict in the Middle East. So
some of the business owners we talked to were quite excited for some US sailors to arrive and we're hoping for a boost in business especially now during the low season. The ship will be here through Sunday. That's the
current plan. That makes it a 5-day port visit. After that, the ship will be heading back to the US. Its home port is currently in San Diego. And speaking to some of the sailors, we know that many of
them, perhaps all of them, are really looking forward to getting home.
