Schools in US Don’t Get Same Funding

Education spending in the United States differs from school to school. In the southern state of Mississippi, a school in Brookhaven spends $6,417 per student. Just 100 kilometers west, Natchez spends nearly $3,000 more. Shannon Eubanks is a school principal, or head of school, in Brookhaven, Mississippi. He told VOA “Our kids don’t have a chance.” Less money means students in Brookhaven don’t have a music or arts teacher, Eubanks said. Students must share computers and they ride old buses that should have been removed from service years ago. Eubanks worked hard on a proposal last year to increase money for every Mississippi public school. But Mississippi voters defeated it. “We just have to keep trying,” Eubanks said. Who is paying for the schools? For six months, National Public Radio (NPR) worked on a detailed report about what it calls education’s “money problem.” It reported that even school districts located near each other get very different amounts of money. The reason is that districts get money from a number of places, NPR explained. All states give money for schools, but some states give more than others. Some states give more money to poor school districts than rich districts. The idea is that poorer districts need more help than richer districts. But other states give out money equally to rich and poor districts. The federal government has programs to help poor districts, but the effect is limited. The federal government only pays for about 8 percent of Kindergarten-12th grade public school costs. The largest share comes from local taxes on property. Communities with lots of wealthy people collect more property taxes and, as a result, have more money to spend on schools. The opposite is the case for poor communities. Funding for education across the U.S. The U.S. Census Bureau reported last year on school spending for the largest U.S. school districts. In the largest school district, New York City, per student spending is $20,331, the Census Bureau said. That is nearly twice as much as in Los Angeles, California. In Chicago, Illinois, it is $12,284 per student, $8,725 in Miami, Florida, and $8,295 in Houston, Texas. Education Week also researched funding levels for all 50 U.S. states. The differences are large. On average, New York, Alaska, and Wyoming spent more than $17,000 per student in 2013, while California, Oklahoma and Nevada spent about half that amount, Education Week reported. The average for the U.S. as a whole is about $12,000 per student. Here is how the small state of Wyoming came to be on the high end of school spending: The state receives taxes from oil and coal production. In the past, the extra money helped communities with the most production. That changed in the 1990s, when courts ruled all school districts in Wyoming should share in the oil and coal taxes. It led to increased money for all Wyoming public schools, said Kari Eakins of Wyoming Department of Education. The biggest change was reducing class size in early grades. The state now requires no more than 16 students per teacher in grades kindergarten through 3rd grade. Recent cuts in education funding The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities looks at public spending on services such as education. It said the big U.S. recession in 2008 led states to lower spending on education. Falling house prices meant property taxes, which provide the majority of school funding, dropped, too. The recession is over, but funding for schools remains below 2008 levels in most states, the center said. The center said those cuts mean schools will produce fewer “qualified workers” to fill the growing demand for “well educated” workers. How much money a school gets matters, said Eubanks, the Mississippi principal. His school serves 840 students in a rural community -- from kindergarten through 12th grade. Eubanks said, “We have a lot of issues well beyond education problems trying to serve poor students in a poor state.” He added the school is not giving them services “available in districts with more money.” I'm Bruce Albert.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English with additional information from NPR and Education Week. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook Page. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   principal – n. the person in charge of a public school district – n. an area established by a government for official government business  

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One Minute of Exercise May Be All You Need

There is good news for people who think they do not have time to exercise. A group of researchers from a university in Canada recently published a study that says short bursts of high-intensity exercise are good for you. In fact, this kind of exercise is just as good as spending up to an hour riding a bike or running steadily. The research team followed 27 men who were not very active for 12 weeks. They divided the men into three groups. One group did short, intense workouts on a bicycle three times a week. Another group rode a bicycle for about 50 minutes, three times a week. A third group did nothing. The researchers found something they did not expect. The group that exercised for only 10 minutes each session was just as healthy after 12 weeks as the group that exercised for 50 minutes each session. That is because of the way the researchers organized the workouts. Each group started with a two-minute warm-up and finished with a three-minute cool-down. But in-between, the high-intensity group sprinted for 20 seconds, followed by a two-minute recovery period. They did three sprints for a total of 10 minutes of exercise. This kind of exercise is known as interval training. The lead author of the study says interval training is both time efficient and effective. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report from VOANews.com. Mario Ritter was the editor. Can you find 12 minutes in your busy schedule for exercise? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   burst – n. a short period of producing or doing something that begins suddenly session – n. a period of time that is used to do a particular activity interval – n. a period of time between events efficient – adj. capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy  

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Turkey Expands Media Crackdown

  Journalists attempting to work in Turkey are facing new pressures as the government enforces a ban on insulting the president. American reporter David Lepeska was denied entry to Turkey on Monday. He told followers on social media that he was stopped at Istanbul Ataturk Airport and immediately put on a flight to Chicago. Last Sunday, Turkish police detained Dutch journalist Ebru Umar at her home in the town of Kusadasi. Her detention resulted from a series of tweets on social media. In those messages, she repeated parts of her recent story about Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. She was later released, but told not to leave the country.  Erdogan has enforced the rarely-used law that makes it illegal to insult the president. Since his election in 2014, the government has brought charges against nearly 2,000 people. Many are reporters or work for media companies. Sevgi Akarcesme is a Turkish journalist. To avoid legal action, she said, most people simply say or write ‘the Palace’ -- meaning the offices of the president. She said she has been in court not only for her tweets, but for a comment left, without her knowledge, under one of the tweets. She received a suspended jail sentence. Akarcesme was the editor of the English language newspaper Today’s Zaman. The courts seized the paper last month on suspicion of supporting terrorism. Laws against terrorism have been used against two of the country’s most famous journalists. Can Dundar and Erdem Gul are with the Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet. They were charged with publishing a story critical of the Turkish state. The article accuses the Turkish government of secretly giving weapons to Syrian rebels. The collapse of the ceasefire between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is seen as one reason for the government’s campaign against journalists.  The government argues the country is facing an unprecedented threat from the PKK and the self-declared Islamic State militant group. On Thursday, a Turkish court sentenced two journalists to two years in prison for inciting “public hatred.” But the journalists were found not guilty of “insulting religious values.” The charges were announced after the two reproduced a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad. The picture first appeared in the French weekly Charlie Hebdo. Concern about media freedom continues to grow among Turkey’s allies, including the United States. The State Department, the European Parliament and Council of Europe voiced their concern about legal pressure against the media in Turkey. I’m John Russell.   Dorian Jones wrote this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   journalist – n. a person who collects, writes, and edits news stories for newspapers, magazines, television or radio tweet – n. a message sent using social media unprecedented – adj. never done or known before cartoon – n. a simple image showing its subjects in a humorous way

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Homeless Children in India Publish Newspaper

A group of homeless children in the Indian capital of New Delhi publish a  newspaper telling about their own lives. It is called Balaknama, which means “children’s voice.” It is written and edited by children up to 19 years old. About 10,000 people read it. The children write about poverty, child labor, underage marriages, sexual abuse and drugs. A homeless girl named Shanno helps edit the paper. “When reports arrive and the team sits down to select the story, lots of fights break out. They argue: ‘This story will have more impact than that story.’ So there’s a lot of debates before the final selection goes to print.” The newspaper has 70 reporters in several states and 14 in the capital. All of the reporters, editors and managers are homeless children. Jyoti Kumari is one of the reporters. “I used to beg, do drugs and sometimes go rag picking. Then I learned about Balaknama and began to work for it. First, I was a junior reporter, then a reporter and now I’m all set to become the editor.” Many of their parents are jobless and cannot read or write. The children now earn money, and many of them attend classes online that may help them find a job. The newspaper is published every month. It has eight pages. In 2002, when it began operations, the newspaper was published four times a year. It has changed the lives of many of the children who publish it, and hopes to improve the lives of thousands of others. Non-governmental organizations and charity groups support the newspaper. Sanjay Gupta leads a group that helps the children and gives money to the newspaper. “They feel very empowered and encouraged when people appreciate them, and when they talk to the authorities with the confidence, and also before the media. I think this is a really powerful tool to empower them.” The newspaper costs about three cents. That is less than the price of a small cup of tea in India. But the small cost gives the children hope that they will someday have a home and a job. I’m Jonathan Evans.   VOA Correspondent Zlatica Hoke reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   edit – v. to prepare (something written) to be published or used; to make changes, correct mistakes, etc. in (something written) break out – expression begin goes to print – expression is printed; is published beg – v. to ask people for money or food rag picking – v. picking up rags or other pieces of cloth, or waste material from the streets or garbage dumps to earn money

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Some Birds as Smart as Apes

Using the term “bird brain” is one way to insult another person’s intelligence. That is because a bird’s brain is small. So, anyone with such a bird-sized brain was thought to be not that intelligent. But calling someone a bird brain might not be as insulting as it once was. That finding comes from a study of the mental abilities of birds. Two European scientists reported that at least two kinds of birds -- crows and parrots -- can think logically. A crow or parrot can recognize itself when the bird sees its image in a mirror. The scientists say crows and parrots also can feel empathy. In other words, they are able to understand and share the experiences and emotions of other birds. According to researchers, these abilities are “as sophisticated and diverse as those of apes." However, the brains of birds and those of apes are different. The brain of a bird does not have a neocortex. The neocortex controls thinking and remembering -- one’s cognitive skills. A bird brain is also much smaller than the brain of a monkey or other ape. So how can birds perform as well as mammals in some activities? Researchers in Germany suggest that different methods of complex thinking developed independently in birds and mammals. The researchers found that the brains of birds and mammals do have different structures. But there are also similarities in the brain architecture. The brains of both creatures have what is called a pre-frontal structure that controls similar high-level functions. The researchers propose a separate path of development for the similarities. The reason: both species faced the same challenges for survival. The researchers noted that neither a multilayered cortex nor a big brain is required for complex mental skills. They reported their findings in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences. I’m Anna Matteo.   VOA’s Faith Lapidus reported on this story. Anna Matteo adapted her story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   logically – adv.  of or relating to the formal processes used in thinking and reasoning mirror – n. a piece of glass that reflects images empathy – n. the feeling that you understand and share another person's experiences and emotions : the ability to share someone else's feelings sophisticated – adj. highly developed and complex diverse – adj. made up of people or things that are different from each other neocortex – n. the large 6-layered dorsal region of the cerebral cortex that is unique to mammals; broadly :  the mammalian cerebral cortex cognitive – adj. of, relating to, or involving conscious mental activities (such as thinking, understanding, learning, and remembering) architecture – n. formation or construction resulting from or as if from a conscious act challenge – n. a difficult task or problem : something that is hard to do multilayered – adj. having or involving three or more layers or levels

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From Shakespeare’s Pen to Our Mouths

Now, time for Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. William Shakespeare is probably the most famous English-language writer ever. Historians think Shakespeare was born on April 23 in 1564. They believe he died exactly 52 years later, on the same day! But historians and the rest of us actually know very little about the personal life of Shakespeare. Some researchers even suggest that he did not write all the plays that are credited to him. But, let us put all the mystery aside. What we do know is this: the language of Shakespeare is alive and well in modern, everyday English. Even if an English-speaker knows nothing about Shakespeare, they will surely know some of his expressions. And I am not talking about sayings like “to be or not to be” or “wherefore art thou Romeo.” Most people know those lines come from Shakespeare. The playwright invented many more words and expressions that we continue to use every day. Perhaps this is best explained as a theatrical production. As Shakespeare wrote, “All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players.” Let's pretend two friends are in a crowded theater. They are waiting for a performance of Shakespeare to begin. One is a Shakespeare buff who knows a lot about the playwright. The other person thinks he knows very little about Shakespeare. But he may know more than he thinks. Before the curtain rises,  let's listen to their conversation. A: What took you so long? The play is starting soon. B: I wanted to buy something to eat, but that turned out to be a wild-goose chase. This theater does not have any food! A: I thought you went home. B: Why would I leave? A: Because you do not like Shakespeare. B: It’s not that I don’t like Shakespeare. I just don’t know Shakespeare. A: I suspect you know more than you think. B: What do you mean? A: Well, the term “wild goose chase” comes from Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet.” Years ago, it meant a kind of horse race. But now, it means a hopeless search for something you cannot find. B: Well, I wish you would have told me that this theater doesn’t serve food before my wild-goose chase. I’m so hungry! A friend has been staying with me for the past month and he’s eating me out of house and home! There's nothing left in my house to eat. A: That is another expression from Shakespeare! It comes from the play “Henry IV.” B: What expression, “I’m hungry!”? A: No! To eat someone out of house and home. It means that someone eats all the food in your house, like you’re friend. In Shakespeare’s play, Mistress Quickly says to the king, “He hath eaten me out of house and home; he hath put all my substance into that fat belly of his … !” B: That is exactly what is happening … just like in Henry IV! A: So, why has your friend been staying with you for so long? B: He says he got into a little trouble with the law and needs to lie low for a while. A: Staying out of sight until trouble passes is great advice! In fact, Shakespeare wrote that advice for Antonio in Much Ado About Nothing. The exact words were, “If he could right himself with quarreling, some of us would lie low.” B: When you start talking Shakespeare I really get lost. It’s all Greek to me. I just cannot understand any of it. A: Well, you must understand a little because you use his expressions all the time. “It’s Greek to me” is from the play Julius Caesar! And it’s a one way to tell someone you don’t have a clue what’s going on.  B: I have to say I am a little jealous that you know so much about Shakespeare. And I’m not one to fall victim to the green-eyed monster. A: Guess what? B: Don’t tell me? That expression is also from Shakespeare? I thought it came from the fact that feeling bitter kind of makes you feel sick. And sick people often look green. A: You are right. Before Shakespeare’s time, the color green was most commonly linked with bad health. In his play Othello, Shakespeare turned the idea of being sick with a disease into a condition -- being sick with jealousy. B: You know there are many other playwrights out there. Shakespeare is not the be-all and end-all of English writers. A: No one ever said he was the most important person in the English-speaking world. But now that you said it -- be-all and end-all is my favorite Shakespeare expression. And it comes from my favorite play, “Macbeth.” As Macbeth is preparing to kill the King, he says, “That but this blow / Might be the be-all and the end-all.” B: I really didn’t know that Shakespeare was such an influence on the way we speak today. I just thought he was for old college professors and people who do nothing but go to the theater. A: Hey! B: Seriously, it is fun to find out that so many of his words and expressions are still used today. A: Did you know, he even invented the knock-knock joke. B: Really?! A: Knock, knock! B: Who’s there? A: Orange. B: Orange who? A: Orange (Aren’t) glad I didn’t quote Shakespeare again? B: Yes. Yes, I am. Now be quiet. The play is about to start and I don’t want to miss a word. We hope you enjoyed this special Words and Their Stories celebrating the writer William Shakespeare. Have fun using the Shakespearean expressions that you heard today. I'm Anna Matteo.   Do have a favorite Shakespeare play? Have you ever heard of these Shakespearean expressions? Let us know in the Comments Section! Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   buff – n. a person who is very interested in something and who knows a lot about it wild-goose chase – n. a foolish and hopeless pursuit of something unattainable. eat out of house and home – idiomatic expression : to eat everything that someone has in the house lie low – phrase keep out of sight; avoid detection or attention It’s all Greek to me. – idiom : used to mean that you do not understand something jealousy – n. an unhappy or angry feeling of wanting to have what someone else has green-eyed monster – n. jealousy thought of as a monster that bites or attacks people be-all and end-all  – n. the most important part of something or the reason for something

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Market for Illegally-Made Goods Reaches $460 Billion

  A new report says as much as $461 billion was spent on counterfeit and pirated goods around the world in 2013, and that trade continues to grow. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development released the report on April 18. The OECD studies economic information to help governments develop economic policies. Counterfeit goods are illegally-made copies of products. They are made and sold without the permission of the owner. Intellectual property rights, such as copyrights and patents, are forms of ownership that can be difficult to enforce in international trade. Counterfeit goods can travel through many countries before they reach the place where they are sold. A study by the OECD found that international trade in counterfeit goods is rising. The group says the amount of money earned from this illegal activity may be larger than the illegal drug trade. It warns that the sales of pirated products may even finance terrorists and criminal groups. The study found that trade in fake and pirated goods has grown to about 2.5 percent of the world’s imported products — up from 1.9 percent in 2008. The Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD, Doug Frantz, says counterfeit goods are the biggest single provider of money to the world's underground economy. He said that sales of such products provided some of the financing for the terror attacks at the French magazine Charlie Hebdo.  Frantz also said that counterfeiting creates products that endanger lives. He said examples include "auto parts that fail, pharmaceuticals that make people sick, toys that harm children, baby formula that provides no nourishment and medical instruments that deliver false readings.” Products from the United States, Italy, France, Japan, and Germany are the ones most often copied. Twenty percent of the illegal goods seized are copies of American-made products. Among OECD member nations, the United States is most affected, the study found. China, it says, is by far the largest source of faked goods. However, Chinese-made products are increasingly being copied, too.  The report says that all countries that create new, innovative products depend on the protection of intellectual property rights. It adds that OECD countries are hit most by counterfeiting. Thirty-four nations in Asia, Europe, and North and South America are OECD members. I’m Mario Ritter. Jim Randle reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Stories   counterfeit – adj. to make an exact copy of a something, such as a product, to trick people into buying it or believing it is real copyright – n. the legal right to reproduce, publish or make things such as books or music recordings for a certain amount of time fund – v. to provide money for patents – n. a document that gives the holder the right to make or sell a product for a specific period of time underground – adj. in or into a place that is hidden or secret source – n. someone or something that provides what is wanted or needed

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English in a Minute: Moving Target

Are Jonathan and Anna talking about shooting a bow and arrow? Find out what "moving target" means in this week's English in a Minute!

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'Lemonade' Flavors Beyonce's Tour Opening

  Beyonce opened her Formation World Tour to a full house on April 27 in Miami, Florida. The pop superstar started the show with songs from her album "Lemonade,'' released just a few days earlier. The album release also came with a special television program starring Beyonce on the cable station HBO. Much of “Lemonade” appears to be tied to Beyonce's life. Lyrics like, "Are you cheating on me?'' raised questions of whether her famous husband, Jay Z, had been involved with another woman.   Beyonce came onto the stage wearing black leather and a big country-western hat. Her performance included huge red lights and fireworks. Images of an electrical storm played on a screen behind her during one emotional song.    During the concert, Beyonce did not talk about her husband except for a quick “thank you” at the end. She also said little about her new album, except that her favorite song from it is "All Night.'' It begins with the line, "I've found the truth beneath your lies.'' She also did a quick cover of the Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams.'' And she sang her song “Halo” in memory of the pop star Prince, who died last week. She thanked him for his “beautiful music” and told the crowd, “He's an artist that inspired all of us.''   Later, images of Jay Z holding the couple's newborn child played as she sang. Wednesday's show also included a video from Jay Z’s grandmother on her 90th birthday. In the video, she said she turned life's lemons into lemonade.   Beyonce’s album is expected to sell hundreds of thousands of copies in its first week. Billboard magazine says it is likely headed to the number-one place on its weekly Top 200 list of album sales. Both Beyonce and her husband have appeared in photographs this week in which they are not wearing their wedding rings. But it is not clear if that means anything. Beyonce’s messages have seemed somewhat mixed. She did thank Jay Z with a song at the concert, saying “I want to dedicate this song to my beautiful husband. I love you so much.” Of course, “Lemonade” can be both sweet and sour. I’m Caty Weaver. Caty Weaver adapted this story from an Associated Press article, with additional reporting. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   full house - expression a theater or concert hall that is filled with spectators lyrics - n. the words of a song stage - n. a raised platform in a theater, auditorium, etc., where the performers stand​ cover - n. a recording or performance of a song that was previously recorded by someone else​ inspire - v. to make (someone) want to do something : to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create​

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Report: Press Freedom Declines to Lowest Point in 12 Years

  A new report says freedom of the press declined worldwide last year to its lowest point in more than ten years. Freedom House, a group that supports freedom and democracy, said only one person in seven lives in a country where reporters’ safety is guaranteed, and where media are not restricted or pressured by the government. The report says media freedom worldwide has declined for the past 12 years. Jennifer Dunham of Freedom House described several reasons for the decline. “One is the, really the heightened level of violence against journalists around the world in, in various settings. And another primary reason is, kind of, the heightened level of polarization, or partisanship, in several different types of media environments.” Powerful media owners and armed militants pressure reporters to support political groups rather than to report objectively on all groups. And dictators and other anti-democratic political leaders are trying to stop independent reporting. The most dangerous subjects to write about include corruption, land development, religion, and crimes committed by organized groups. Reporting from areas of conflict and war Ms. Dunham says reporting from areas where conflict or wars are taking place has become so dangerous and deadly that reporters struggle to get information from those places. “In Syria and Iraq, we do see just reporters having to risk their lives to get any type of news whatsoever. And, you know, Syria was the place with the highest number [14] of journalists deaths in 2015.” Reporters’ lives are also endangered in nations with high crime rates. These nations include Mexico and some Central American countries, where local officials are paid bribes by powerful groups of criminals that grow, sell and transport illegal drugs. Freedom is also limited in cyberspace. Many countries limit access to websites that may report criticisms of their governments. And China has more reporters in prison than any other country. Officials there are also starting to examine more closely reporting on the economy and other subjects that were at one time considered safe to report on. Sarah Repucci also works at Freedom House. “There’s government bans on certain topics that journalists choose to override, and choose to report on anyway, or choose to try to do investigative reporting on certain taboo subjects, like corruption of influential people.” The Freedom House report says journalists throughout the world refuse to stop trying to get information and report about it even though they face intimidation, danger and even death. Russia Russia is one of the countries that make life difficult for reporters. Russia often stops foreign reporters from entering areas it controls. Russia and other countries want people to know only their position on events, not the complete truth. Media experts say press freedoms in Russia have been weakened by President Vladimir Putin. They say his government has increased state ownership of and influence on media. And it has restricted reporting that is critical of the government. Most Russians learn about news events from television reports. The government has targeted television reporters. Most television stations are now completely controlled by the government. However, one station in the Russian capital -- TV Rain -- remains independent. The privately-owned station is one of the few broadcasters in Russia that regularly reports criticisms of government policies. Natalia Shanetskaya reports the news on TV Rain. “We’re not a politically-motivated network. We don’t really see it as our goal to, you know, to challenge the political establishment or anything like that. You know, we just try to be as objective as we can and, and, and that’s really what we’re about.” Many of the employees of TV Rain decided to work there because it was independent of the government. Some of them left other television stations as the government increased its control. Shanetskaya is one of them. “Because I actually quit RT (Russia Today) about a month before the Crimea events. I just had a feeling that things there were tightening in a very uncomfortable way. And, as somebody who was there from the beginning, I found that disturbing.” But refusing to report only positive news about the government, like state media do, has hurt TV Rain. The station reported criticisms of Soviet military strategy during World War II. The government didn’t like the story, and pressured cable companies to drop the channel in 2014.   Many people believe the government was looking for any reason to take action against the station. They include Ilya Klishin, the chief of digital media at TV Rain. “I sincerely believe that if it was, wasn’t that story about, like, the siege of Leningrad they would find something else. Like, it was just a matter of days or weeks.” In an attempt to survive, TV Rain began putting its programs online for people who paid a fee. Seventy thousand people now pay to see the programs, and its website gets millions of page views every month. But Klishin says TV Rain, like all Russian media, is being restricted by the government in what it can report. “We cover everything that doesn’t violate Russian criminal laws.  But, at some point, Russian criminal laws now are contradicting the issues of, of freedom of speech.” I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOA Correspondent Zlatica Hoke reported on the Freedom House report from Washington. Correspondent Daniel Schearf reported on Russia Media Freedom from Moscow. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted their reports into Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   polarization – n. people and groups separated into opposing groups partisanship – n. strong support for a particular leader, group or cause objectively – adv. based on facts rather than feelings or opinions override – v. to ignore; to defy; to make (something) no longer valid taboo – adj. not acceptable to talk about or do contradict – v. to say the opposite of (something that someone else has said); to deny the truth of (something)

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Bison: America's New National Mammal?

  This is What’s Trending Today…. The bald eagle is the only “national” animal of the United States. But that could soon change. The U.S. government may soon recognize the bison as the national mammal. This week, both houses of Congress approved a bill called the “National Bison Legacy Act.” The bill would officially recognize the wild animal as the national mammal. The measure now goes to President Barack Obama. If he signs the bill, it becomes a law. Bison, also called buffalo, are the largest land animals in North America. They are hairy and have a big head and short horns. U.S. lawmakers called the bison a sign of American strength. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico spoke in support of the bill. He said that “recognition of our new national mammal will bring a new source of pride for Americans -- just like the bald eagle” and bring greater attention to protecting the species. Many years ago, bison were almost extinct in North America. On social people, many people expressed support for the move. They also praised Republican and Democratic lawmakers for being able to agree on something. ​But, one reporter joked on social media that choosing the bison as the national mammal was “bad news for humans.” Human beings, of course, are also mammals. ​Bison already appear on the state flags of Kansas and Wyoming. Bison are also on the official seal of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Tens of millions of bison once lived throughout an area stretching from central Canada south through the Great Plains and northern Mexico. After many years of hunting, the population fell to about one thousand or fewer by the late 1800s. Now, there are about 30,000 wild bison. The largest population lives in Yellowstone National Park. ​Efforts to give the bison special recognition began about five years ago. Native Americans on the InterTribal Buffalo Council joined with wildlife groups to create a “National Bison Day.” The observance recognizes the importance of the animal’s role in providing food, shelter, and clothing for many Native Americans before European settlement. National Bison Day is held on the first Saturday in November. And That’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Ashley Thompson adapted this report from an Associated Press story. George Grow was the editor.  _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   mammal - n. a type of animal that feeds milk to its young and that usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin​ species - n. a group of animals that are similar and can produce young animals  extinct - adj. no longer existing seal - n. an official mark that is stamped on paper or on a small piece of wax to show that something (such as a document) is genuine and has been officially approved role - n. the part that someone or something has in a family, society, or other group  

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Italy: NATO Force to Deploy in Mediterranean

  Italy says an international force aimed at limiting the number of people sailing from Libya to Europe could be ready by July. Some observers are worried that the number of people arriving in Europe could jump because travel by land through Greece and the Balkans remains blocked. Most of the new arrivals are migrants. They have fled their home country and chosen to go overseas, usually for economic reasons. Libyan security forces raided a home in the city of Tripoli last week. They detained more than 200 migrants from across Africa. They also captured a suspected smuggler. More than 16,000 people sailed from North Africa to Italy in the first three months of 2016. That is almost two times as many as the number who traveled across the Mediterranean during the same period in 2015. The United States has offered to support a proposed naval operation off the coast of Libya. The international force would be under the command of NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization). But it is not known what the ships would do if they find migrants in boats sailing for Europe. Riccardo Fabiani is a policy expert at the Eurasia Group. He said some observers say the migrants will be returned to their home countries in Africa. But he said it is clear that the African governments do not support that plan. And he said that returning them to Libya is not under consideration because the Libyan government does not have the ability to care for them. Western nations hope to increase Libya’s ability to feed and house the refugees by supporting a new unity government in the country. It is known as the Government of National Accord. Its goal is to persuade competing groups from the eastern and western parts of the country to work together. Fabiani said the unity government is “taking over ministries and taking over departments and taking over government buildings, and there is backing at most levels for it; however, the situation in the east is very different. And that is where I think we are facing a stalemate.” The new government welcomed British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond to Tripoli last week. Libyan officials showed him the country’s naval patrol boats. Hammond said British troops could be sent to train Libyan security forces. Recently, U.S. President Barack Obama said he would not send American troops to help train Libyan forces. “I do not think it would be welcomed by this new government. It would send the wrong signal. This is a matter that Libyans (must) come together on,” he said. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   Henry Ridgwell in London wrote this story for VOANews.com.  Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   smuggler – n. a criminal who moves (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly stalemate – n. a contest, dispute, competition, etc., in which neither side can gain an advantage or win ​

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The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allan Poe

  Our story today is called "The Purloined Letter."  It was written by Edgar Allan Poe.  Poe is generally known for his horror stories.  This is the third of three stories he wrote about Auguste Dupin and how he solves crimes.  The story is about a stolen letter.  It first appeared in 1844 in a yearly magazine.  It was reprinted in many publications, newspapers and books.  This is one of Poe's stories that influenced the development of the modern detective story.  One evening in Paris, during the autumn of eighteen forty-five, I went to visit a friend, Auguste Dupin.  We were smoking our pipes and talking when the door of his apartment opened.  Mr. Germont, the head of the Paris police force, came into the room. "I came to ask your advice," Germont said to my friend Dupin.  "I am trying to solve a very important case.  It is also a very simple case, so I really need your help.  But I thought you would like to hear about it, because it is so strange. "My men and I have worked on this case for three months," Germont said.  "It is a very simple case of robbery.  But we still cannot solve it." Dupin took the pipe out of his mouth.  "Perhaps the mystery is too simple," he said. Germont began to laugh.  "Too simple?" he said.  "Who ever heard of such a thing?" I looked at Germont.  "Why don't you tell us the problem?" I said. Germont stopped laughing and sat down. "All right," he said.  "But you must never tell anyone I told you this." "The wife of a very important person needs help.  I cannot tell you her name, because her husband is a powerful man in the French government.  Let us just call her Madame X.  Three months ago, someone stole a letter from Madame X.  She is offering a large amount of money to anyone who can return the letter to her. "We know that her husband's political enemy, Mr. D'Arcy, stole the letter.  We also know it is somewhere in his apartment.  D'Arcy plans to use the letter to embarrass Madame X's husband and destroy his political power. "As you know, I have keys which can open any lock in Paris.  For the last three months, my men and I have spent every evening looking for the letter in his apartment.  But we cannot find it." Dupin stopped smoking.  "Tell me how you looked for it," he said.  Germont moved forward in his chair. "We took our time," he said.  "First, we examined the furniture in every room.  We opened all the drawers.  We looked under the rugs.  We searched behind all the paintings on the walls. "We opened every book.  We removed the boards of the floor.  We even took the tops off the tables to see if he had hidden the letter in the table legs.  But we cannot find it.  What do you advise me to do?" Dupin puffed on his pipe.  "What does the letter look like?" he asked. "It is in a white envelope with a red stamp," Germont said.  "The address is written in large black letters." Dupin puffed on his pipe again.  "I advise you to go back and search the apartment again," he said. About one month later, Germont came back to see us. "I followed your advice," he said.  "But I still have not found the letter." Dupin smiled.  "I knew you would not find it," he said.  Germont became very red in the face.  "Then why did you make me search the apartment again?"  he shouted. "My dear Germont," Dupin said.  "Let me tell you a little story.  Do you remember the famous doctor, Louis Abernathy?" "No!"  Germont shouted.  "Get to the point, Dupin!" "Of course!  Of course," Dupin said.  "Once, a rich old man met Abernathy at a party.  The old man was not feeling very well.  He decided he would get a medical opinion from the doctor without paying for it.  So he described his problems to Abernathy.  'Now doctor,' the old man said, 'suppose you had a patient like that.  What would you tell him to take?'" "'Oh, that is quite simple,' said Abernathy.  'I would tell him to take my advice.'" Germont looked embarrassed.  "Look here, Dupin.  I am perfectly willing to pay for advice." Dupin smiled at Germont.  "How much money did you say the reward was?" he asked.  Germont sighed.  "I do not want to tell you the exact amount.  But I would give fifty thousand francs to the person who helps me find that letter." "In that case," Dupin said, "take out your checkbook and write me a check for fifty thousand francs.  When you have signed the check, I will give you the letter." Germont looked at Dupin with his mouth open.  His eyes seemed to jump out of his head.  Then he took out his checkbook and pen, and wrote a check for fifty thousand francs.  He gave it to Dupin. My friend examined the check carefully and put it in his pocket.  Then he unlocked a drawer of his desk, took out the letter, and gave it to Germont. The policeman's hands shook as he opened the letter.  He read it quickly.  Then he put it in his pocket and ran out of the room without saying a word. "Dupin!"  I said, as I turned to my friend.  "How did you solve the mystery?" "It was simple, my friend," he said.  "Germont and his policemen could not find the letter, because they did not try to understand the mind of the man who stole it.  Instead, they looked for the letter where they would have hidden it. "Mr. D'Arcy is not a policeman.  He is, however, very intelligent.  He knew the police would search his apartment.  He also knew how police think.  So, he did not hide the letter where he knew they would look for it. "Do you remember how Germont laughed when I said the mystery was difficult for him to solve because it was so simple?" Dupin filled his pipe with tobacco and lit it.  "Well, the more I thought about it, the more I realized the police could not find the letter because D'Arcy had not hidden it at all. "So I went to visit D'Arcy in his apartment.  I took a pair of dark green eyeglasses with me.  I explained to him that I was having trouble with my eyes and needed to wear the dark glasses at all times.  He believed me.  The glasses permitted me to look around the apartment while I seemed only to be talking to him. "I paid special attention to a large desk where there were a lot of papers and books.  However, I saw nothing suspicious there.  After a few minutes, however, I noticed a small shelf over the fireplace.  A few postcards and a letter were lying on the shelf.  The letter looked very old and dirty. "As soon as I saw this letter, I decided it must be the one I was looking for.  It must be, even though it was completely different from the one Germont had described. "This letter had a large green stamp on it.  The address was written in small letters in blue ink.  I memorized every detail of the letter while I talked to D'Arcy.  Then when he was not looking, I dropped one of my gloves on the floor under my chair. "The next morning, I stopped at his apartment to look for my glove.  While we were talking, we heard people shouting in the street.  D'Arcy went to the window and looked out.  Quickly, I stepped to the shelf and put the letter in my pocket.  Then I replaced it with a letter that looked exactly like it, which I had taken with me.  I had made it the night before. "The trouble in the street was caused by a man who had almost been run over by a horse and carriage.  He was not hurt.  And soon the crowd of people went away.  When it was over, D'Arcy came away from the window.  I said good-bye and left. "The man who almost had an accident was one of my servants.  I had paid him to create the incident." Dupin stopped talking to light his pipe.  I did not understand.  "But, Dupin," I said, "why did you go to the trouble of replacing the letter?  Why not just take it and leave?" Dupin smiled.  "D'Arcy is a dangerous man," he said.  "And he has many loyal servants.  If I had taken the letter, I might never have left his apartment alive."   The Purloined Letter was written by Edgar Allan Poe and adapted by Dona De Sanctis. The storyteller was Shep O'Neal. The producer was Lawan Davis. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   case - n. a situation that is being investigated or managed by someone (such as a police officer or social worker) in an official way robbery - n. the crime of stealing money or property​ embarrass - v. to make someone feel confused, foolish or ashamed in front of other people puff - v. to breathe smoke from a cigarette, pipe, etc., in and out of the lungs​ sigh - v. to take in and let out a long, loud breath in a way that shows you are bored, disappointed, relieved, etc.​ check - n. a piece of paper that is used to make a payment to someone using the money in a bank account checkbook - n. a book containing checks for use with a checking account franc - n. a basic unit of money that is used in some countries where French is spoken Now it's your turn. Do you like to read detective stories? Who is the best detective story writer in your language? Write to us in the comments section.

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English @ the Movies: 'Come To Your Senses'

"Rock Dog" is a movie about dogs. This funny movie is a cartoon about a Dad dog and his son who wants to be a rock musician. Our English @ the Movies phrase we are talking about is "come to your senses." Come watch it and tell us what you think.

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April 29, 2016

A look at the best news photos from around the world.

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National Park in New Orleans Celebrates Jazz

  Our National Parks journey this week takes us to New Orleans, Louisiana, the city many consider to be the birthplace of jazz. New Orleans is a port city at the mouth of the Mississippi River. It holds one of the most famous cultural celebrations in America: The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, called Jazz Fest for short. This year, the event opened April 22 and continues through May 1. It is the 47th festival. Famous performers this year include Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon. The first New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival took place in 1970. That year, about 350 people attended the five-day celebration. Five years later, about 80,000 people attended the festival. Today, attendance is measured in hundreds of thousands. ​The festival’s original organizers said the event “could only be held in New Orleans, because here and here alone is the richest music tradition in America.” And, only in New Orleans could you find a whole national park honoring jazz. Today, we are exploring the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. The park includes sites important to jazz history in New Orleans. Visitors can walk around the city to see these sites. They include places located in the oldest part of the city -- the French Quarter -- as well as in the Louis Armstrong Park. Louis Armstrong is one of the greatest American jazz musicians. His voice, trumpet-playing skill and creativity continue to influence jazz artists today. Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901. Jazz was just beginning to develop when Louis was a boy. It grew out of the blues songs and ragtime music that had been popular at the turn of the century. Louis Armstrong discovered music early in life.  He was surrounded by it. By the time he was 18, he joined the Kid Ory Band, one of the finest bands in New Orleans. In the 1920s, Armstrong moved on to Chicago, and then New York, which had become major centers of jazz music. The trumpeter soon became one of the most famous musicians of his time. In the 1930s, he had his own big band, called Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra. But, his biggest hits came later in his life. In 1964, his version of the song “Hello Dolly” was the top hit around the world. And the song “What a Wonderful World,” recorded in 1968, was his final big hit. Armstrong died in 1971. In 1980, the city of New Orleans opened the Louis Armstrong Park to honor one of the city’s most famous sons. Among other sites, the park includes a statue of Armstrong himself and a place called Congo Square. Throughout history, the square had many names. Congo Square was once used as an area where slaves were permitted to perform African and Caribbean dances and drumming. The sounds played a role in the development of jazz. Today, the city holds the annual Congo Square Rhythms Festival there. Another stop within the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park is the J&M Recording Studio. It lies just south of Louis Armstrong Park, on Rampart Street. The studio operated from 1945 to 1955. Cosimo Matassa, a recording engineer, was the owner of the studio. He recorded some of the greatest jazz and rhythm and blues artists of the time. Today, the spot is a laundromat. But a small sign on the building points out its important place in music history. Next, we visit the Mint. A mint is a place that produces coins. The Mint started out as a place where U.S. and Confederate currency was made. But today, the Mint is a famous performing arts center and a museum full of jazz history. That museum is the Louisiana State Museum. Here, visitors can see Louis Armstrong’s first cornet -- a brass instrument similar to a trumpet. He bought it in New Orleans when he was 15 years old.   The National Park Service holds live educational performances at the Mint most days of the week. Many of those performances are streamed live online for viewers around the world to enjoy. ​Another park site is Preservation Hall, in the French Quarter. The word “preservation” means keeping or protecting for the future. By the early 1960s, traditional New Orleans jazz music was in danger of disappearing. Young people wanted to hear the music of Elvis Presley and other rock and roll stars. Not many young people were interested in listening to jazz. In 1961, Allan and Sandra Jaffe began using a small, old building on St. Peter’s Street as a music hall. Musicians there played traditional New Orleans jazz, sometimes just for their own enjoyment. Allan Jaffe was a tuba player. He played with what became known as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The Jaffes created Preservation Hall to protect and preserve the city’s traditional jazz sounds. Today, different bands play at the hall each night. Musicians also still play in the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. They play in concert halls around the United States. They will even be playing on April 30 as part of this year’s New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. I’m Ashley Thompson. And I’m Caty Weaver. Ashley Thompson wrote this report, with material from the VOA Learning English archives and the National Park Service. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________

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North Korea Sentences Korean-American to Hard Labor

A North Korean court has sentenced a Korean-American man to 10 years of hard labor. Kim Dong Chul was given the sentence on Friday after the court found him guilty on subversion charges. Kim is a naturalized citizen of the United States. He admitted last month that he had attempted to steal North Korean military secrets. His confession took place in front of reporters in Pyongyang. He was arrested in October 2015. His confession came a week after a North Korean court sentenced Otto Warmbier, an American college student, to 15 years of hard labor. The court acted after Warmbier said he had attempted to steal a propaganda banner. Observers note that North Korean officials likely pressured the confessions of both men. Tensions between the United States and North Korea have risen in recent months because of the North’s nuclear weapons and long-range rocket tests. The U.S., South Korea and Japan have increased their defense readiness in response to the tests. U.S. and South Korean forces held their yearly joint military exercises in March. Those exercises were described as the largest ever. Also in March, the United Nations Security Council approved the strongest sanctions yet on North Korea for its nuclear and missile activities. I’m Mario Ritter.   Fern Robinson reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   confession – n. a written or spoken statement in which a person admits to something, usually something wrong sanctions – n. action is taken to force a country to obey international law

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April 28, 2016

A look at the best news photos from around the world.

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US Lawmaker: More Operations in South China Sea

  The United States has increasingly carried out what have been called freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea. This month, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter visited a warship in the South China Sea in an effort to show America’s commitment to security in the area. The exercises involve Navy ships and military aircraft. In a freedom of navigation operation, they are sent to areas where other countries have tried to restrict flights or shipping. The aim is to demonstrate that the international community does not accept such restrictions. The freedom of navigation operations have brought strong reactions from China. Now, some U.S. lawmakers have called on the Obama Administration to carry out more operations close to artificial islands China is developing in the disputed waterway. Bob Corker of Tennessee is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He expressed his ideas on Wednesday. He spoke before Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the committee. Corker said the freedom of navigation exercises have not slowed China’s land reclamation efforts in the South China Sea. “Neither the rhetoric nor the freedom of navigation operations have deterred or slowed down China’s land reclamation activities, including the stationing of military-related assets on these artificial islands.” He said that China could take further actions if an international court rules against it in its maritime territorial dispute with the Philippines. And he warned such a ruling could place American interests at risk. “But merely managing differences with China is not a successful formula, particularly when such management cedes U.S. influence and places American interests at risk in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.” In his comments, Blinken said the number of freedom of navigation operations carried out by the U.S. military has increased. He added that they will continue. Recent news reports, notably in The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, say China may be considering plans to develop other areas beyond the Spratly Islands.  The reports say the U.S. Pacific Command has sent warplanes close to Scarborough Shoal, west of the Philippines. China is believed to have carried out survey work in that area. Those U.S. flights brought a sharp response from China. China claims most of the South China Sea as its territory. However, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei have competing claims to different parts of the area. Nanjing University security expert Zhu Feng said he could not rule out Chinese construction of a lighthouse or a maritime monitoring post on Scarborough Shoal. However, he said a large land reclamation would there would be out of the question. The Wall Street Journal reported his comments. I’m Mario Ritter. Victor Beattie reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   artificial – adj. not natural, man-made maritime – adj. related to the sea or ocean formula – n. a plan or method for doing something monitor – v. to observe or watch navigation – adj. of or related to the watching and controlling the movement of a vehicle from one place to another commitment – n. a duty or responsibility deter – v. to prevent or stop ​

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Scientists: Monkeys Used Raft to Cross Ocean

  Scientists believe a species of monkeys used a raft to cross 160 kilometers of ocean from South to North America about 21 million years ago. The monkeys are similar to today’s capuchins, small monkeys that often perform with humans at the circus. Scientists found seven monkey teeth that became fossils in an area near the Panama Canal. The teeth were more than five million years old. Scientists think that is when the continents of North and South America came together. They said the teeth belonged to a species they call Panamacebus transitus. When the species lived, South America was not in contact with other continents. For that reason, South America has a strange variety of mammals. The animals grew and changed in interesting ways because they were separated from other animals. Jonathan Bloch works at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the University of Florida campus. He said that Panama was farther south than any other place in North America. He said the monkeys might have swum, but probably rode on some kind of a raft. Surprising discovery Bloch believes these monkeys were the only mammals that were able to cross the waterway from South America to reach present-day Panama. The strip of land, known as the Isthmus of Panama, was formed about 3.5 million years ago. That land bridge permitted large numbers of animals to begin walking between the continents in one of the biggest mixing of species on record. Bloch said learning that monkeys lived in North America that long ago was a surprising discovery. For a long time, scientists thought that monkeys simply did not exist there. It would be like learning that Australia's kangaroos and koalas live in the wilds of Asia today.   This story is from the Reuters news service. The news first appeared in Nature magazine. Jill Robbins adapted this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   monkey - n. type of animal that is closely related to apes and humans and that has a long tail and usually lives in trees  fossil - n.  something (such as a leaf, skeleton, or footprint) that is from a plant or animal which lived in ancient times and that you can see in some rocks mammal - n. a type of animal that feeds milk to its young and that usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin raft - n. a flat structure that is used for floating or sailing on water sloth - n. a type of animal that lives in trees in South and Central America and that moves very slowly kangaroo - n. an Australian animal that moves by hopping on its powerful rear legs koala- n. an Australian animal that has thick gray fur, large hairy ears, sharp claws for climbing, and no tail   Now it’s your turn. What do you think of this discovery? Write to us in the comments section.

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Reports: Prescription Drugs Found with Prince's Body

Media reports say police discovered prescription drugs with Prince when the entertainer was found dead at his home last week.   Several news organizations, including ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC, are citing law enforcement sources as the basis of the information. They do not further identify the sources, however. The reports say prescription painkillers were found on the 57-year-old artist and in his home. The Minneapolis Star Tribune also reported that it was not clear whether the drugs were prescribed to Prince.   Prince died April 21. Doctors have completed an examination of his body but results are not expected for several weeks.   Several news groups also reported that Minnesota investigators have asked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for help.   However, A Carver County police official Wednesday night said the DEA "is not part of the investigation at this time." DEA officials have not commented. I’m Caty Weaver.   The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. ­­­Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. You can also post a message on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   prescription – n. a medicine that a doctor officially tells someone to use cite – v. to write or say the words of (someone) painkiller – n. a drug that removes or reduces pain

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Maria Sharapova May Get a Second Chance

  Tennis star Maria Sharapova was almost in tears in early March when she told reporters in Los Angeles, California, that she tested positive for a banned drug. Sharapova said the drug meldonium came up on her test at the Australian Open in January. She said she made a “huge mistake.” Three of her major sponsors suspended their business relationships with her after the test results. The International Tennis Federation, or ITF, started an investigation in March and suspended Sharapova while it was gathering information. She was one of many athletes suspended earlier this year. Now, she and other athletes may get a chance to play again this summer in time for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil which start on August 5. The World Anti-Doping Association, known as WADA, monitors the drug-testing programs of 600 sports organizations around the world including the International Olympic Committee. Late last year, WADA announced it was adding meldonium to the list of banned drugs for 2016. The little-known drug was popular among athletes from Russia and countries in Eastern Europe. WADA says it detected the drug in 172 tests starting on January 1. ​The drug was so popular, the BBC reported almost 500 athletes at the 2015 European Games tested positive for it. The drug is supposed to help athletes work harder while training or during competitions by carrying more oxygen than usual to muscles. However, some athletes said, although they stopped taking the drug in 2015, it still showed up in their drug tests in 2016. That has created a dispute over the suspensions. WADA recently said it does not know how long it takes meldonium to leave the body, especially if athletes were taking it for a long time. WADA now says athletes who stopped taking the drug last year “could not reasonably have known or suspected” that it would still come up on a drug test this year. Some banned athletes now are permitted to compete in their sports while more research is being done on meldonium. Two of those athletes are a Russian gymnast and a triple-jumper from Bulgaria. Sharapova is still suspended. Her hearing is expected to take place soon, but the exact date has not been made public. The ITF is expected to rule sometime in the coming months. The Associated Press news agency reports that the ITF could take up to three months to announce its decision. That means Sharapova will likely not be able to play in the French Open when it opens on May 22. She won that competition twice. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reporting by VOANews.com. Mario Ritter was the editor. Do you think Sharapova and some other athletes should be able to go back to their sports? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   doping – n. the illegal use of a drug (such as a steroid) to improve an athlete's performance monitor – v. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time sponsor – n. a person or organization that pays the cost of an activity or event (such as a radio or television program, sports event, concert, etc.) in return for the right to advertise during the activity or event

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News Words: Birthright Citizenship

Birthright citizenship are a couple of long words. Find out what they mean and why they are important with your News Words hosts.

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Commonly Confused Words: Part Two

  From VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. This week, we continue explaining commonly confused words in the English language. Ashley: That reminds me…Adam, do you still have my grammar book that I let you borrow last week? Adam: No, I lied the book down on your desk yesterday. Ashley:  You mean, you laid the book on my desk yesterday. Adam: Lie, lay, laid, lied…what’s the difference?  Ashley: That’s a hard question to answer. Both words have several definitions. But an easy way to remember the difference is this: “Lay” is a transitive verb. That means it requires an object in the sentence. “Lie” is an intransitive verb. That means it does not require an object.  You said you put the book on my desk. “Book” is the object of the sentence, so you need the transitive verb “lay.” Adam: I think I get it now. That seems easy enough. Ashley: Well, the difference between these two words is a little more complex than that. Let’s keep going. Lay and lie Lay means “to put or set something down in a flat position.” The past tense of lay is laid. Sometimes, it is used with the word “down.” For example, “He laid the newspaper down on the table.” Or, “The mother laid the baby down for a nap.” Notice there is an object in each sentence: “newspaper” in the first, and “baby” in the second. The verb lie has several meanings. It can mean “to be in a flat position on a surface,” such as a bed. With this definition, it is also sometimes used with the word “down.” For example, “The doctor told him to lie down on the examination table.” Remember, lie is an intransitive verb. The subject is doing the action, not an object. To make these two words even more confusing, the past tense of lie is lay [L-A-Y]. For example, “Last night, she lay in bed unable to fall asleep.” In this example, even native English speakers might use the past tense of lay, which is laid. Listen to this famous song by Simon and Garfunkel. In this example, they are using the transitive verb lay followed by the direct object me. Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down    present  past  past participle  transitive  Lay The chicken lays eggs.  Laid The workers laid the foundation for new school.  Laid He has already laid his cards on the table.  intransitive  Lie Don’t lie on the grass.  Lay She lay on the bed.  Lain The food had lain on the counter for too long.    Affect and Effect These next commonly confused words sound - and look - almost the same: affect and effect. But the one-letter difference changes a lot. Let’s start with effect [E-F-F-E-C-T]. Effect can act as a noun or, in rare cases, a verb. As a noun, effect means “a change that results when something happens.” For example, “The Chinese economy has an effect on global markets.” Affect [A-F-F-E-C-T] is usually used as a verb. Affect means “to influence.” In other words, affect means “to have an effect” on something or someone. For instance, “The Chinese economy affects global markets.” Affect [A-F-F-E-C-T] can also be a noun -- but it is much less common. As a noun, affect is “an emotion or desire that influences behavior.” As mentioned before, effect can also be used as a verb. Used a verb, effect has a similar meaning to affect. It means “to cause something or make something happen.” For example, “President Obama has tried to effect a change in the country’s health care policy.” Again, effect is rarely used as a verb. If you are confused, just remember this: effect is usually a noun, and affect is usually a verb.    noun  verb    Effect   The law had no effect. a change   The president used his power to effect change. (rare) to cause    Affect   She took the bad news with little affect. (rare) an emotion or desire that influences behavior   The Chinese economy affects global markets. To influence   Than and Then Finally, we have than and then. Than [T-H-A-N] is both a preposition and conjunction. It is used when comparing things. For example, “I am taller than my sister.” Or, “Canada is larger than Mexico.” Then is most often used an adverb. It can mean “at that time.” It can also be used when describing what happens next. For example, “I fed my dog, and then I walked my dog.” You can also use then when describing something that must be true if something else is true. We call this an “if/then statement.” For example, “If it is raining, then the concert will be canceled.” And that’s Everyday Grammar for this week. Join us again next week as we take a look at more examples of commonly confused words! I’m Ashley Thompson. And I’m Adam Brock. Ashley Thompson wrote this article. Adam Brock and Hai Do were the editors.

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Highly Contagious Virus Sickens Million, Costs Billion

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. Everyone knows about the flu and the common cold. But what about norovirus? If you have never heard of norovirus, you are not alone. Most people haven’t. The fact that people do not know its name does not mean it is rare. The virus is actually very common. Norovirus infects 700 million people each year, mainly in the developed world. This video from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention further explains the norovirus. The virus is a very aggressive intestinal illness. It causes nausea, vomiting and the worst diarrhea most people have ever had. It is also a killer. More than 200,000 people a year die from this virus. Medical costs linked to norovirus can be as high as $60 billion dollars a year. These costs include lost productivity at work because of personal illness or caring for a sick child. Because of this high price tag, health experts say norovirus is worth researching. Bruce Lee is a professor of international health at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Lee and his colleagues estimated the cost of the illness in 233 countries, regions and territories around the world. He says norovirus is responsible for about 50 percent of all stomach and intestinal illnesses in those regions. Lee and other researchers report their estimates in the journal PLoS One. Their calculations are thought to be the first regarding the global impact of norovirus. Lee says that he and his team wanted to quantify -- or put into numbers -- and characterize the impact of the norovirus. "We were interested in quantifying or better characterizing the impact of norovirus because it's something that you've heard of but if you think about it, you're not really sure what the impact, how often does it occur, how widespread is it." In fact, Lee says, the actual number of people who get sick with norovirus may be much greater. Many people, he says, may just think they have a stomach bug when they actually have norovirus. A stomach bug is an informal way to describe something such as a germ that causes intestinal illness. Again, here is Bruce Lee. "So people may suffer with the symptoms and they think, 'well, I've got a stomach bug', quote-unquote, and 'I've got some food poisoning' and they never really report it or get diagnosed." Lee hopes greater awareness will lead to control measures. These measures include washing hands and disinfecting food preparation areas. He adds that there is another important factor to consider: sick workers who still go to work. When a worker is sick, he says, they often feel obligated to still go to work. This is especially true for people in food service jobs who may lose wages if they miss work. Sick people working around food can contaminate, or spread viruses to, many people. Sick workers instead, he says, should be encouraged to stay home. "Many times, people who work in restaurants or the food preparation industry feel obligated to show up to work even though they’re sick, because many folks are on wages and they can't afford to miss a day, even a day. And so, they'll come in sick and then they'll end up contaminating food and spread it to many other people." There is currently no vaccine for norovirus. However, Lee says there are experimental vaccines under development. He says he hopes will one day a vaccine will help contain the spread of the virus. I’m Anna Matteo.   In the Comments Section, practice using the words in this article relating to viruses.  Jessica Berman wrote this for VOA News in Washington, D.C. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   rare – adj. seldom occurring or found intestinal – adj. affecting, occurring, or living in the intestine : of, relating to, or being the intestine quantify – v. to find or calculate the quantity or amount of (something) characterize – v. to describe the character or special qualities of (someone or something) impact – n. to have a strong and often bad effect on (something or someone) widespread – adj. common over a wide area or among many people obligated – v. to make (a person or organization) do something because the law requires it or because it is the right thing to do contaminate – v. to make (something) dangerous, dirty, or impure by adding something harmful or undesirable to it

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US Holocaust Museum Show Inspires Hungarian Art Students

  At first look, the black-and-white photograph seems sweet and innocent. The image was taken in 1929 in Bremen, Germany. Nine neighborhood boys stand together. They are smiling as they look at the camera. But, the photograph is the start of a dark story that is part of a new exhibit. The show, called “Some Were Neighbors,” is at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. Many years after that photograph was taken, and after the end of World War II, one of the men in that old photo put it in the mail. He sent it and a letter to another man in the photo, seen standing with a bicycle. The man with a bicycle was Jewish. During World War II, Nazis murdered his mother. Later, he became a rabbi. In the letter, the other man explained that he had worked as a Nazi guard at Germany’s Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. But, he wrote, he “never touched a Jew.” The rabbi wrote back to the sender of the letter. He said, “What I wanted to hear...was how he felt about his job. Did he think that killing Jews was the proper thing to do?” He never got an answer. The questions the rabbi asked the guard are central to the “Some Were Neighbors” exhibit. Millions of ordinary people saw the crimes of the Holocaust. They saw the crimes take place in city squares, in stores and schools, in the countryside and other places. The Nazis found people all across Europe who willing to take part in their crimes. “Some Were Neighbors” explores what moves people to behave certain ways in difficult situations. The exhibit challenges viewers to understand a dark period of history. It also examines the importance of social responsibility. Zsuzsanna Kozák runs the Visual World Foundation in Budapest, Hungary. The non-profit organization works to support peace through video and media literacy. Last year, Kozák and other educators gathered at the U.S. museum for an international conference on Holocaust education. The museum organized the conference with UNESCO. The conference brought together teams from 10 countries that have limited educational material on the Holocaust and other genocides. Those countries were Hungary, India, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, South Korea, Rwanda and Turkey. Each country’s team left with a project plan. Kozák and the team from Hungary used the “Some Were Neighbors” exhibit to create a traveling student art project. The project centered on the Holocaust. But, it aims to create a discussion about current tensions in their country, including a large new border fence that blocked migrants from entering Hungary. The anti-discrimination project is called “Your Decision.” Kozák’s team worked with educators from six Hungarian schools. The students were from the very young to college age. The students explored ideas of tolerance – or accepting difference. Each group studied pieces of the “Some Were Neighbors” exhibit, such as a film clip of a Holocaust-era public shaming, or the Bremen neighborhood boys’ photo. Each group was asked to make art communicating the ideas they had studied. The students’ works were displayed at an exhibit last week in Budapest at the Canadian embassy. Teenagers from a Jewish school in Budapest made a three-dimensional copy of the Bremen neighborhood boys’ photograph. They separated the man who received the letter and another boy from the rest of the group. Zsuzsanna Kozák was born in 1974. She recalled not learning much about World War II history in school. “There is such a cultural silence,” she said. Peter Fredlake directs the Holocaust museum’s teacher education program. He said the “Some Were Neighbors” exhibit tries to change people’s understanding of what the Holocaust was. The Hungarian student art project, he said, “pushes back against the Holocaust narrative Hungarians hear today, one that ignores personal responsibility and claims victimhood.” Fredlake said that since the international conference, the other nine countries’ teams have also been exploring new ways for talking about genocide. The Hungarian students’ art project will be on display at the six participating schools starting in May. It will then move on to sites like the International Jewish Youth Camp in Hungary and to a gallery in Austria. Kozák said she hopes the art project will be seen in many places, for many years, because intolerance “is a universal challenge.” I'm Ashley Thompson. Carol Guensburg reported this story for VOA News. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story rabbi - n. a person who is trained to make decisions about what is lawful in Judaism​ proper - adj. correct according to social or moral rules ordinary - adj. not unusual, different, or special challenge - v. to test the ability, skill, or strength of (someone or something) literacy - n. knowledge that relates to a specified subject tolerance - n. willingness to accept feelings, habits, or beliefs that are different from your own narrative - n. a story that is told or written genocide - n. the deliberate killing of people who belong to a particular racial, political, or cultural group gallery - n. a room or building in which people look at paintings, sculptures, etc.

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April 27, 2016

A look at the best news photos from around the world.

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Baby Eagles in Washington, DC Get Their Names

  This is What’s Trending Today: Freedom and Liberty are not just important ideas in the United States. They are the names of two baby bald eagles in Washington, D.C. The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States. The birds are not actually bald, as the name suggests. They have white feathers covering their head. The D.C. Eagle Cam launched in February. Since then, people from 100 countries have watched the website’s live stream of the birds over 35-million times. The names, Freedom and Liberty, were chosen after 30,000 suggestions were posted on social media. One person said he voted for the names Stars and Stripes.   Bald Eagle Cam viewers have seen the babies break open their eggs and grow under the care and supervision of their parents. The adults are named Mr. President and The First Lady. The baby eagles are about six weeks old. They were named at a ceremony earlier this week in the U.S. National Arboretum. The babies are expected to leave their home, high on a Tulip Poplar tree, sometime in June, when they will be about 12 weeks old. The American Eagle Foundation helped to set up the webcam last winter. Students from two universities set up the cameras and connected electrical cables to batteries that are powered by the sun’s energy. The president of the foundation says he hopes the eaglets will grow up, find a partner and return to set up their own nest. He hopes they will raise their babies in Washington, D.C. On social media, people have been posting comments about the baby birds since they were born. One person said her father watches the eaglets every day. Another said, “So awesome to watch them close-up and live!” Many people said they were “obsessed” with watching the baby eagles. And That’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Bruce Alpert.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Have you seen the baby eagles yet? What do you think of them? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   awesome – adj. causing feelings of fear and wonder : causing feelings of awe obsess– v. to be the only person or thing that someone thinks or talks about arboretum – n. a place where trees and plants are grown in order to be studied or seen by the public bald – adj. having no hair or very little hair on the head  

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iPhone Sales Fall, Ending Apple's Record Growth

How long have you had your Apple iPhone or computer? If you have not replaced that product in the last two or three years, you may be part of the reason for Apple’s falling sales numbers. Apple is the world’s most valuable company. Its yearly growth trend started in the early 2000s, with exciting new computers and a portable music player known as the iPod. The company continued to grow, with the introduction of the iPhone smartphone. Then, it introduced the iPad tablet.  Sales of Apple products grew every year for 51 straight quarters. That all changed on Tuesday, when the company reported a drop in sales. Sales for the first quarter of 2016 dropped 13 percent. Sales dropped to $50.6 billion from $58 billion during the same quarter in 2015. The news caused Apple’s stock to drop, too. The company’s shares were down by about 8 percent in after-hours trading. Slow growth in China Some experts say the struggling Chinese economy may be to blame for Apple’s weaker sales. The company’s report shows sales were down in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong by a combined 26 percent. In the past, Apple was able to depend on sales growth in those markets. Apple’s Chief Executive, Tim Cook, says the smartphone market is not growing because of the slowing economies in some countries. But other experts say Apple is no longer regularly producing exciting products. People who bought new Apple laptops or smartphones in the last two or three years do not feel like they need to buy the latest products. Rob Pegoraro is a technology writer for USA Today and Yahoo. He says he still likes to use the Apple products he owns but, there is nothing “revolutionary” right now. “You got a lot of people upgrading to the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 plus. The 6s and the 6s Plus, they’re better, but as the names would suggest, they’re not exactly revolutionary. Normal people don’t buy new phones every year. “ Apple still makes a lot of money Pegoraro also says that Apple did not really have a bad quarter. The company still makes a lot of money from the products it sells. It is just not growing anymore. “Their gross margin was 39.4 percent compared to 40.8 percent. I struggle to think of how many other industries or companies could pull down those kind of profit margins for over a decade straight.” Pegoraro says there is not much more room for improvement in the products Apple makes. For example, the company could create an iPhone with a battery that lasts five days. “That would be amazing, but you’re running into the laws of physics there,” Pegoraro says. The Associated Press news agency reports that there are still parts of Apple’s business that are growing. For example, there are 500 million iPhones in use. Those phones need cloud storage, apps and music. That part of the company is worth $6 billion per quarter now, and that is an increase of 20 percent over the same period last year. There are also concerns that the Apple Watch, which came out a year ago, did not have better sales. But the watch actually sold more than twice as many units in its first year compared to the first iPhone in 2007. Right now people can only guess what is next for Apple. Some think the company will make an electric car. It is building a new headquarters that has been described as a spaceship or flying saucer by some observers. Pegoraro warns to not underestimate Apple just because of this small drop in sales. “This company, their problem is they made a lot of money, just not more money than they made the last quarter. You know, if that’s failure, then I should only hope to be just as much of a disaster!” I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Do you own an Apple product? Are you planning to replace it soon? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   units – n. an individual item of one of the products that a company makes and sells margin – n. an extra amount of something (such as time or space) that can be used if it is needed decade – n. a period of 10 years revolutionary – adj. causing or relating to a great or complete change content – adj. pleased and satisfied : not needing more regularly – adv. on a consistent basis, very often

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Nepal Quake: Slowly Rebuilding One Year Later

  One year after a deadly earthquake struck Nepal, the prime minister announced the country is rebuilding some of the damaged heritage sites. They include temples, monuments and a UNESCO heritage site. On April 25, 2015, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed 9,000 people and damaged hundreds of historic structures. Nepali officials have said fully rebuilding the country’s architectural heritage and the 600,000 homes destroyed by the quake will take years. But this week Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli announced the government will start.   Monday the prime minister offered prayers at an ancient Buddhist temple, one of the hundreds of structures damaged by the quake. Memorial services for those who died were held Sunday. Protesters also demonstrated against the slow speed of the recovery efforts in the South Asian country. In a White House statement, National Security Council spokesperson Ned Prince expressed condolences for the lives lost in the quake. He also acknowledged that "much of the hard work of rebuilding Nepal still lies ahead." "We are humbled by those who risked their lives to save others, including the six United States Marines who perished in Nepal while providing relief to Nepalis in need," he said. Other nations are also sending money to help the rebuilding efforts. Monday, the New York-based World Monuments Fund announced donations totaling $1 million for five historic sites. But, while international donors have promised $4.1 billion towards Nepal's recovery, only $1.3 billion has reached the country. Critics blame the government for taking months to set up the National Reconstruction Authority. The slow movement to rebuild has left many people living in sub-standard temporary shelters. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies estimates that four million people are still in these temporary homes. The homeless have been promised about $2,000 in aid. However, only several hundred people have received the first $500 installment. Mike Bruce is a spokesman for the non-governmental group Plan International. He spoke to VOA via Skype from Nepal’s capital of Kathmandu. Bruce said the Nepali government has not been slow to rebuild – it has simply faced challenges in the past year. Bruce added that homes and heritage sites were not the only things destroyed by the powerful quake. He said over 30,000 classrooms were damaged or destroyed. Plan International aims to rebuild 20 schools and repair 16,000 of those classrooms. Bruce said the classrooms will be both accessible to those injured in the quake, and better able to withstand any future quakes. According to reports by VOA's Tibetan Service, Tibetan villages along Nepal's border, which were also destroyed by that same quake, have yet to be rebuilt. Many of an estimated 100,000 displaced Tibetans remain without homes to return to. Last week, Tibet Radio, a Chinese official Tibetan language news service, said a senior official recently visited the displaced Tibetans. He told them that quake reconstruction is a top priority in 2016. It is not clear whether the construction will focus on rebuilding damaged homes or simply moving displaced Tibetans into new towns, as Beijing has done before. I’m Anne Ball.   Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English from several VOA News stories. Kelly J. Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on Facebook. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   heritage – n. traditions, achievements, buildings, beliefs that are part of a group or nation architectural – adj. to describe method or style of a building, how it is built condolences –n. expression of sympathy when someone dies sub-standard – adj. below what is considered good installment – n. one in a series of payments until something is paid for

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Apps to Help Students Do Their Best Work

  Application software for computers or mobile devices can do a lot of things for students of all ages. Apps can help students get better organized, study for tests and prepare research papers. In other words, they can help the user do his or her very best work. Apps can help any users, even those who are not students, get more organized and improve their work. Whether or not you are a student, here are some apps worth considering. Quizlet Quizlet is a study aid app. It is filled with flash cards on many subjects to study. Use the cards that come with the app or create your own. Quizlet has links to subjects like: Arts & Literature Languages & Vocabulary Math & Science History & Geography Standardized Tests Professional & Careers The app has a mix of text, images and audio recordings, including pronunciation of words in different languages. Quizlet has games to play and tests to take. Cards are available on the app even when you are not connected to the Internet. Quizlet is available as a free app from Apple’s iTunes store. Quizlet for iPhone and iPad Quizlet for Android devices You can learn more at the Quizlet website. EasyBib Sometimes the most difficult part of writing a research paper is creating the bibliography. A bibliography lists all of the publications and other sources used in your research. Getting just the right citations to appear in the correct format can be difficult and take a lot of time. The EasyBib app can make creating a bibliography easier. The app can help organize the information and find citations for books, websites and more. EasyBib users can simply scan the barcode on a book with a mobile phone camera to get the information they need. You can also search for documentation in the app if the book is unavailable at the time. The app offers over 7,000 different citation formats, including the commonly used Modern Language Association, or MLA, style. Users can change the way in which the information is organized and stored within the app. Users can email information from EasyBib to others or to send it to a home computer. You can sign up for an account at the EasyBib website. EasyBib is free, but users have to pay for its premium features. EasyBib for iPhone and iPad EasyBib for Android devices Free Graphing Calculator An app called the Free Graphing Calculator is useful for students of mathematics or other subjects that require serious graphing. This free app gives the student more power to create lines and design images than many other calculator apps. The Free Graphing Calculator lets the user create up to four graphs at once, and lets users resize the graphs for the best views. You can change measurements within the image easily using the app. The mathematics and science guide within the app can explain some important math or science ideas. The Free Graphing Calculator is free. Users can pay to remove the advertising. Free Graphing Calculator for iPhone and iPad Free Graphing Calculator for Android Todoist The Todoist app can help even the most organized person with day-to-day activities. With this app, individuals can create a list of everything they need to do, and set a target date or time for when each activity is to be completed. Users can use different colors to create groupings for school, home and work. The app can provide reminders, even when you are not connected to the Internet. The app can also send reminders to a smart watch. This video shows how Todoist can be used: The app and most programs on Todoist are free. But some features are available at a cost. You can find out more from the Todoist website. Todoist is available for: Todoist for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch Todoist for Android devices Evernote Evernote is an app designed to help organize notes. Users can add images, links and more within the notes. Notes can be created from websites and tags can be added to help search your notes later. Notes can be available using Evernote on both computers and mobile devices. The Evernote app is free. Users have to pay for addition features. You can learn more at the Evernote website. Evernote for iPhone and iPad Evernote for Android devices PomoDone Everyone wants to be more productive. The Pomodoro technique is one way to make the most out of your time. Pomodoro suggests that an individual works in time blocks, and plans for short breaks during the work day. The PomoDone app can help divide time into blocks for work and for breaks. The app on the computer helps keep track of time blocks for each activity. The app will say when it is time to take a break and when it is time to get back to work. PomoDone can work with other apps, such as Evernote and Todoist, and help the user keep track of one’s activities over long periods of time. The app is available for computers from the PomoDone website. The app is free. Paid premium features are available.   Google Drive Google Drive is a cloud storage service where users can store and back up their files, including documents and photographs. With Google Drive, users can open their files from a home computer or mobile device. Each user gets 15 GB of free space to store and back up files. With a recent update to Google Drive, users can choose which files to back up so they do not fill up their computers with all of their files on Google Drive. The service lets the user share files, both as an email attachment and as a link. The user can also access those files when not connected to the Internet. This video will get you started with Google Drive: You can sign up at the Google Drive website. Google Drive for Android devices Google Drive for iPhone and iPad Sunrise Calendar Sunrise Calendar from Microsoft can work as a stand-alone calendar and connect with other online calendars to organize day-to-day events. The Sunrise calendar can connect with Evernote, Facebook, Todoist, and other services. Sunrise app is available free for: Sunrise for Android devices Sunrise app for iPhone and iPad   Note that Microsoft has said that the Sunrise app will be discontinued in the future, but many of the features of the Sunrise calendar are being added to its Outlook apps. Infographic Look at this infographic for more about these educational apps:                                                                                 I’m ___________.   Carolyn Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Do you use apps to help you be a better student? Have you used any of these apps? Which apps are your favorite apps for students? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   app - n. a computer program that performs a particular task (such as word processing) flash card - n. a card that has words, numbers, or pictures on it and that is used to help students learn about a subject pronunciation - n. the way in which a word or name is pronounced bibliography - n. a list of the books, magazines, articles, etc., that are mentioned in a text citation - n. a line or short section taken from a piece of writing or a speech format - n. the form, design, or arrangement of something (such as a book, magazine, or television or radio program) reminder - n. something that causes you to remember or to think about something feature - n. an interesting or important part, quality, ability, etc. technique - n. a way of doing something by using special knowledge or skill calendar - n. a document, chart, etc., that shows the days, weeks, and months of a year​ * Infographic used with permission of Study Medicine Europe.

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