In this task, a passage will be given and the goal is to identify an event from the passage. An event is defined as a single word representing something that happened, is happening, or may happen. An event can be factual or hypothetical, positive or negative, certain or uncertain. While most events are based on verbs, an event can also be based on a noun (ex. storm, snow, rainfall) or a copula verb (is, was, been, etc.). The event must not be a pronoun or an adjective. For noun events with multiple words, use the last word in the phrase as event.

Q: Passage: In the past 20 months alone, Paul E. Lego, president and chief operating officer, said the divestiture of $300 million of slow-growth, low-profit businesses has been more than offset by $600 million in profitable acquisitions. Westinghouse expects to meet its corporate goals despite a softening in the economy.

A: said
****
Q: Passage: Work on London's Olympic Park for the 2012 Games got underway on Thursday. The site in the east end of England's capital city is being cleared of empty buildings to allow construction of the Park to begin.

A: Work
****
Q: Passage: "It is only the beginning of aid to Albania," he said. Three Italian military helicopters landed the two officials and their entourage earlier for a 90-minute visit to the town, during which they held talks with town leaders, journalists contacted by telephone from Tirana said.

A:
beginning
****