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1. Wall Street closes to modest losses as investors¹ wait for a Senate vote on helping² out the financial market. The Dow was down more than 200 points early but recovered to a loss of 19 points.

2. In Washington, high hopes that revised financial rescue plan gets the Senate okay. The bill has been sweetened by more than double in the federal deposit³ insurance on banks to 250,000 dollars. Some lawmakers say this bill has more appeal to constituents⁵ back home.

3. China's gold medal gymnasts were old enough to compete in the Beijing Olympics. But the sport's governing body still has questions about the team from the 2000 Sydney Games. Some suggest the gymnasts could be as young as 14 rather than 16 as the rules allow.

4. In the middle of New York City, in this park, a dozen tree houses hanging from the branches but no tree dwellers⁶ here. This is for show only, a massed exhibit by a Japanese artist who wants to change the way people see objects in everyday life.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. help out: phr v.

to help someone because they are busy or have problems.

2. revise: v.

to change something because of new information or ideas.

3. get the okay: informal

to get permission to do something.

4. sweeten: v.

If you sweeten something such as an offer or a business deal, you try to make someone want it more by improving it or by increasing the amount you are willing to pay.

5. constituent⁴: n.

someone who votes in a particular area.