Speed Reading — Balloons and Aliens - Level 2 — 200 wpm

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Strange things are happening in the sky above North America. US fighter jets have shot down four UFOs in US and Canadian airspace. Officials said the UFOs were balloons that were a danger to airplanes. They were flying at an altitude of around 12,200 metres. The USA said there were no signs the balloons were linked to aliens. A White House spokesperson said: "I don't think the American people need to worry about aliens with respect to these crafts." Earlier in the week, a different official said aliens could not be counted out as a possible explanation for the balloons.

The USA and China exchanged tit-for-tat messages because of the balloons. The US believes the balloons are being used for spying. There is no proof of this. Experts are currently looking at the electronics they have found from the balloons. China said the balloons were for tracking weather and were not spy balloons. Beijing said US high-altitude balloons have flown in China's airspace without permission more than ten times in the past year. The White House said this was untrue. A balloon shooting in early February resulted in the US Secretary of State cancelling a visit to China.

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