Killing of Gorilla at US Zoo Causes Uproar

Critics were outraged after zoo officials shot and killed a gorilla that held a 4-year-old boy at an American zoo this weekend. Harambe, a male western lowland gorilla, was shot and killed Saturday by Cincinnati Zoo officials. The boy had fallen into the gorilla’s exhibit. Officials feared the animal would hurt the four-year-old. The boy climbed over a 3-foot-tall railing, walked through bushes and fell 15 feet into the moat of the gorilla exhibit. Zookeepers called to the gorillas to come out of the exhibit. Two female gorillas complied, but Harambe did not. Instead, he was attracted to the child. At times, he seemed protective. At others, he dragged the boy through the water of the moat violently. Zoo officials say Harambe was visibly agitated by the screams and panic of the crowd around the exhibit. They decided to shoot the gorilla. Zoo Director Thane Maynard said there was no doubt that the boy's life was in danger. He said the gorilla could crush a coconut in one hand.​ Tranquilizing Harambe was not an option, Maynard said. “The impact from the dart could agitate the animal and cause the situation to get much worse,” Maynard said. If they had to make the same decision over again, they would do the same thing, he said. Critics are furious about the killing of Harambe. Many on social media are blaming Michelle Gregg, the mother of the boy. They say she did not watch her son closely enough where there were many dangerous animals. An online petition has been created, called Justice for Harambe, that says “the situation was caused by parental negligence” and that Gregg should be held accountable. The petition already has more than 350,000 signatures.                 People have been active on Twitter and Facebook, too. The hashtags #RIPHarambe and #JusticeForHarambe express their anger.         Others have defended Gregg and the zoo.   ​ ​ Jack Hanna, host of “Jack Hanna's Into the Wild,'' said the zoo was correct by shooting the gorilla. Hanna said he saw video of the gorilla jerking the boy through the water. “I'll bet my life on this, that child would not be here today,'' Hanna told television station WBNS in Columbus, Ohio. I’m Mehrnoush Karimian-Ainsworth.   Mehrnoush Karimian-Ainsworth wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Did you see the video and hear of the gorilla story? Which side did you take? Please leave us a comment below this story, and post to our Facebook page, thank you. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   moat – n. a deep, wide ditch that is usually filled with water and that goes around the walls of a place (such as a castle) to protect it from being attacked​ exhibit – n. an object or a collection of objects that have been put out in a public space for people to look at : something shown in an exhibition​ agitated – v. to disturb, excite, or anger (someone)​ tranquilizing – v. to use a drug to cause (a person or animal) to become very relaxed and calm​ furious – adj. very angry​ negligence – n. failure to take the care that a responsible person usually takes: lack of normal care or attention jerking – v. to push, pull, or twist (something) with a quick movement

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Brazil Corruption Minister Quits Under Suspicion

Brazil Corruption Minister Quits Under Suspicion

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Civilian Deaths Rise in Battle for Fallujah

Civilian deaths are rising as the battle for Fallujah intensifies. The Islamic State terror group has held the Iraqi city for more than two years. Iraqi forces have launched an offensive to retake Fallujah.  Civilians have been killed in heavy shelling or buried alive under the wreckage of their homes, according to reports received by the United Nations refugee agency, or UNHCR. "There are also reports of several hundred families being used as human shields" by Islamic State militants, said agency spokesman William Spindler. Militants are putting those families in or around military targets in hopes of preventing an attack, he said. About 625 families have escaped the fighting since last week. Iraqi forces are separating men they capture from their families to ensure who is IS and who is not. "Approximately 500 men and boys over 12 years old are held for security screening which can take five to seven days," Spindler said. VOA spoke about the process with a refugee named Ayad . IS militants “questioned me, the Hashd al-Shaabi and the Iraqi army,” he said. Hashd al-Shaabi is the name of the group of Shi'ite militias that work with the Iraqi military. Ayad said Islamic State warned that “if we find your name … we will kill you. If you are in the clear, you can live with us in peace.” Hashd al-Shaabi has been a leader in fighting IS. Some observers see the pro-Iran militias as better trained than the Iraqi army. But others worry that a strong Shi'ite presence in the fighting will worsen religious divisions in the country. Many Sunnis in Baghdad say they live in fear of the Shi'ite militias. Human rights organizations have noted abuses by the militias in the past. Iraqi Lawmaker and former National Security Advisor Mowaffaq al-Rubaie defended the Hashd's role in the fight against Islamic State. “I believe the Hashd al-Shaabi should have, and is having, a pivotal role” in the freedom of our occupied territories, Rubaie told VOA. "The Hashd al-Shaabi fight the IS in a guerrilla-war style, not a traditional style, not like the Iraqi army," he said. "But the Iraqi army, the federal police and even the anti-terrorism (forces), they fight in a traditional way. That is why the destruction is huge," he said. The presence of the pro-Iranian Shi'ite militias also feeds into concerns over Iran's growing power in the Middle East. Iranian General Qassim Suleimani visited the Fallujah area over the weekend, raising the concerns of Sunni leaders in Baghdad. Fallujah is traditionally under Sunni control. Kareem Nouri, a spokesman for the Hashd al-Shaabi, defended the presence of Iranian advisors. “We have American security advisors sitting in the Green Zone and we have Iranian security advisors on the front line helping us, but only with advice. Nothing else. The Iranian advisors are more helpful than the Americans," he told VOA. I’m Caty Weaver.   Sharon Behn reported on this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Write to us in the Comments section, and post on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   shield – n. something that defends or protects someone or something; a protective device screening – n. the act of examining people or things as a test to decide if they can serve a purpose role – n. a part that someone or something has in an activity or situation pivotal – adj. very important     

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Over 100 Tigers Removed from Buddhist Temple

Officials in Thailand are removing tigers from the grounds of a Buddhist temple. The tigers were popular with travelers, who could pay to walk among them and take photographs. But wildlife groups said the animals suffered from poor treatment. Thai officials said they were reacting to reports that the tigers were kept in small spaces – sometimes in chains. Animal rights groups said some tigers were in bad health. By late Tuesday, the Reuter news service reported that 40 tigers had been taken from the temple, west of Bangkok. Thailand’s Department of National Parks said efforts to remove the remaining 97 tigers would continue in coming days. CNN reported that temple officials tried to slow the process by setting some tigers free. Thai officials said the captured tigers will be taken to three animal sanctuaries in Thailand, according to the Associated Press. The group that operates Tiger Temple said the animals were treated well. “There is nothing illegal and dangerous at all,” the group told CNN. It said removing the tigers will hurt the local economy. According to Reuters, people visiting the temple often used mobile telephones to take pictures of themselves petting tigers. Wildlife groups praised the Thai government’s decision to remove the tigers. “Tourists suckered into Tiger Temple unwittingly supported the torture of tigers,” said People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. It said the animals were drugged and beaten with sticks. Katie Moore of the International Fund for Animal Welfare said tigers do not belong in small spaces. They suffer in such spaces, she said. Adam Roberts is the leader of Born Free USA. He told VOA that he hopes the rescue of the tigers in Thailand will lead to similar actions in China and the United States. He said tigers are held and traded as pets in some parts of the U.S. In China, tigers are held in “tiger farms” for bones and other body parts, Roberts said. On its website, Tiger Temple said some tigers have to be tied down to protect visitors and other tigers because they sometimes wake in a “restless state.” “People’s safety has to be our main concern,” it said. Thai officials said they received reports about visitors to the temple being attacked by tigers. The Thailand temple’s collection of tigers is not unusual, according to Moore of the International Fund for Animal Welfare. “There are many instances around the world of tigers, and other wildlife, being held in poor conditions,” she said. I’m Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOANews.com. George Grow 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   tourist – n. a person who travels to a place for pleasure chain – n. Metal that is attached to an animal to keep him/her from moving sanctuary – n. a place where animal is protected in a natural setting pet – v. to touch an animal sucker – v. tricked unwittingly – adv. without knowledge pet – n. an animal kept for pleasure, not its usefulness

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700 Migrants Feared Dead in Mediterranean

Up to 700 migrants are believed to have died in the past week crossing the Mediterranean Sea, the United Nations said Tuesday. At least three boats sank in the biggest death toll for migrants in more than a year, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said. The boats left Libya and were trying to reach Italy. Most of the migrants came from Africa. About 14,000 people were rescued in calmer seas since Monday, Reuters news agency reported. Survivors who arrived in Italy said one of the boats was carrying many women and children. The migrants pay smugglers to take them on small rubber boats or old fishing vessels. Many do not know how to swim and do not have life jackets.  Giovanna Benedetto is with the humanitarian group, Save the Children. She said the survivors spoke about horrible conditions on the boats. “They lived [in] terrible situations. They told us terrible stories. They saw killing people – only because those people want to have some food. Their stories are really, really terrifying.” The U.N. announced Tuesday that more than 2,500 migrants have died trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe so far this year. That is a big increase from 1,855 people who died in the first five months of 2015. The trip from North Africa to Italy is the deadliest way to cross, according to UNHCR spokesman William Spindler. “2,119 of the deaths reported so far this year have been among people making this journey, making the odds of dying as high as one in 23,” he said.   Most migrants traveling this way are from Nigeria and Gambia. Spindler said the migrants are risking everything to make the trips because they face very desperate conditions at home. “The reason why so many people are taking to sea at the moment, and risking their lives, is because they have no option. We have to give them the possibility to travel legally and safely.” I’m Bryan Lynn. VOANews.com reported this story. Additional material came from Reuters and Associated Press. Bryan Lynn adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   calm – n. a quiet and peaceful state smuggler – n. a person who illegally moves people or things from one country to another   vessel – n. – a large boat of ship journey – n. the act of traveling from one place to another  

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Sharp Rise in Number of Afghans Fleeing Conflict

  The number of Afghans displaced within their country has increased sharply over the past three years, says Amnesty International. The rights group reported on Tuesday that Afghanistan has 1.2 million internally displaced people. That is almost double the number in 2013. The report comes at a time of concerns over increasing violence by the Taliban this year. Champa Patel is Amnesty International’s South Asia Director. She said that growing numbers of displaced Afghans are living in very bad conditions. Afghans are one of the world’s largest refugee populations. The United Nations refugee agency estimates that 2.6 million Afghans are living in neighboring Pakistan and Iran. Champa Patel said, “While the world’s attention seems to have moved on from Afghanistan, we risk forgetting the plight of those left behind by the conflict.” In recent years, Afghanistan’s central government has promised to help internally displaced people. But these Afghans still lack food, water, health care, and chances to seek education and employment, Amnesty said. The report said the situation facing internally displaced Afghans has worsened in recent years. It said less aid and essential things, such as food, are available. Amnesty blamed reported corruption, a lack of ability in the government and decreasing international interest in Afghanistan’s national IDP Policy. The latest policy was launched two years ago. Instead, the report said, forced evictions by both the government and private groups are a daily threat to internally displaced people. Amnesty said the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has the job of coordinating the IDP policy. But the ministry lacks financial resources and has been accused of corruption, the group said. Most of the internally displaced population is in need of basic health care. Also, schooling for children has been suspended since their families were forced to leave their homes. Champa Patel said, “They have lost the traditional sources of their livelihoods, and only have few opportunities for informal work, creating circumstances where women are excluded, and children are being exploited and not educated.” Amnesty International has called on Afghan officials and the international community to act quickly. It said these groups must work to meet the most urgent needs of displaced Afghans. The Afghan government has yet to comment on the Amnesty International report. I’m Mario Ritter.   Ayaz Gul reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Send us your thoughts in the comment section below. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   plight – n. a bad or difficult situation essential – adj. absolutely necessary, something that cannot be done without implementation – n. the process of carrying out a plan evictions – n. to force someone to leave a place exploited – adj. used, used in an unfair or improper way

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Study Finds Most Americans Get News from Social Media

  A new study suggests a majority of U.S. citizens now get their news from social media websites. The Pew Research Center is an organization that researches issues and trends affecting America and the world. It surveyed 4,654 people in January and February. Pew researchers found 62 percent of the group got their news from social media websites like Facebook, Twitter and Reddit. The new study shows Facebook to be the most popular social media website for news. More registered users of Reddit get their news from Reddit than registered users of Facebook do from Facebook. But the Pew research shows that 44 percent of all U.S. adults get news from Facebook. Only 2 percent of all U.S. adults get news from Reddit, the study suggests. Twitter, Tumblr and Youtube also had high numbers of registered users getting news from these websites. But the number of people using more than one web site to get news was fairly low. Just 26 percent said they use two sites to get news and only 10 percent said they use three or more. A total of 64 percent of people said they only use one web site to get news. Most commonly that site is Facebook. Researchers also found news on each of the five most popular social media websites appeals to different types of people. People looking for news on Instagram are most likely to be young. Female social media users are most likely to seek news on Facebook. More people with some type of college degree look for news on LinkedIn. Information from a total of nine social media websites was part of the study. This includes Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Reddit, LinkedIn, YouTube, Snapchat and Vine. The number of visitors to all nine websites grew from a similar study conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2013. Jeffrey Gottfried and Elisa Shearer wrote the report for Pew. They say people who use social media for news still use traditional media like television and newspapers.   Doug Bernard reported and wrote this story for VOA news. Pete Musto adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Now it’s your turn. Where do you go to get most of your news? Which social media website is most appealing to you? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   social media – n. websites and applications that let users create and share content or to participate in social networking survey(ed) – v. to ask many people a question or a series of questions in order to gather information about what most people do or think about something user(s) – n. a person or thing that uses something

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1800 UTC Hourly Newscast in English

  From Washington, this is VOA News.      I’m Sarah Williams reporting. Civilian casualties are beginning to mount as the battle for the Islamic State-held city of Fallujah intensifies. Iraqi forces have launched an offensive aimed at retaking the city. The UN refugee agency has received reports of civilians being killed in heavy shelling or buried alive under the rubble of their homes. Some 625 families have managed to escape the fighting since last week. Iraqi forces are separating out and screening the men, out of concern about the loyalties of those who are leaving the city after living under IS rule for more than two years. A report released by the Global Slavery Index on Tuesday says more than 45-million people are subject to some form of modern slavery. India and Uzbekistan are among the countries with both the highest absolute number of slaves and the highest proportion of slaves to their population. Citizens of Uzbekistan are subject to state-sanctioned forced labor picking cotton. North Korea also makes the list for highest proportion of slaves among the population for forced labor in prisons as well as commercial sexual exploitation and forced marriage of women in neighboring states. Andrew Forrest is chairman of the Walk Free Foundation: "It's where a person cannot leave their place of existence. Either their passport is taken or there's a threat of violence against them or a member of their family so they're stuck there and probably worse, they're treated akin to a farm animal." The study found that Qatar, Singapore, Kuwait, Brunei, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Japan, and South Korea are among the nations whose governments have taken relatively little action against modern slavery. This is VOA News.   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Improve Your English By Using Common Objects

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Education Report. Pronouncing English can be difficult. One reason is because English has some difficult sounds that are – unfortunately for English learners – very common. But English learners can improve their pronunciation by using simple, everyday objects. These objects include candy, a pencil, and a mirror.   What are some of these common difficult sounds? Well, you have already heard or read them several times in this story. The "th" sounds  In English, two different sounds are spelled with the same pair of letters: "th."  You hear (/ð/) in the word "this," and (/θ/) in the word "thing." When you say "this," your voice box moves. When you say "thing," air moves freely through your throat. Marla Yoshida teaches English as a foreign language at the University of California, Irvine. She notes how strange these sounds are: "Those [sounds] are hard for speakers of a lot of languages, because they are very unusual sounds... Very rare. I don't want to hurt those sounds' feelings by saying that they're strange... but, they're [strange]..." Sometimes, “th” sounds are difficult for English learners to make because saying them seems impolite, or rude.  All cultures have rules about polite ways to speak to each other. When speaking English, learners may need to break some of the rules of politeness they use in their native language.   Tamara Jones, a program coordinator at the English Language Center at Howard Community College, explains. She tells why English learners might feel uncomfortable making the "th" (/ð/)  and "th" (/θ/) sounds:  "This can be really tricky for lots of different speakers because in many languages, it's not polite to stick your tongue out of your mouth when you are speaking. But in English, to make the "th" (/θ/) or "th" (/ð/) sound, you have to put your tongue between your teeth."   So how can English learners teach their tongues to pronounce "th" (/ð/) and "th" (/θ/) correctly? Tamara Jones recommends a tasty, fun way to get in the habit of sticking your tongue between your teeth: using a lollipop.  "I like to give my students lollipops, and they hold the candy right in front of their mouth and they can practice saying words like "thanks" or "there" or "this," and they can practice sticking their tongue out between their teeth far enough so that they can taste the candy. So, this is another fun way to practice saying that tricky sound."   The "-er" sound   Other sounds in English may not be as strange as "th" (/ð/) or "th" (/θ/), but they can still be difficult to pronounce. One example is the "er" (ɚ) sound. English speakers often use “–er” (ɚ) when they make comparisons. Here is an example of an  “–er” (ɚ) sound in a popular song by Britney Spears:  Stronger than yesterday  Now it’s nothing but my way  My loneliness ain’t killing me no more  I’m stronger  Tamara Jones at Howard Community College says many English learners have problems clearly pronouncing the "-er" (ɚ) sound.  Part of the difficulty is finding the right tongue placement. To practice using the tongue correctly, Jones recommends that English learners use a pencil.  "But one little trick that students might find useful is to put a pencil in their mouth lengthwise. So they're biting down on the pencil, and the pencil is sticking out of both sides of their mouth.  "And then saying the sound "-er" (ɚ)​. When they say the "er" (ɚ) sound, their tongue should not touch the pencil. It should be down, under, or around the pencil, but it shouldn't touch the pencil. "So this is a nice way, kind of a fun way, to make sure that they are pronouncing that sound correctly."  Common problems with vowel sounds   Consonant sounds are not the only common difficult sounds for English learners. Vowel sounds are often difficult, too. Marla Yoshida, the teacher at the University of California, Irvine, points out that English has many vowel sounds. She says that English dialects can include between 13 and 15 vowel sounds. By comparison, some languages, such as Japanese and Spanish, have only five vowel sounds.   Two of the hardest challenges for English learners are pronouncing the "i" (ɪ) and "ee" (iː) vowel sounds.   Listen for the difference between the "i" (ɪ) and "ee"  (iː) sounds in popular music, such as in Tom Waits' song "All the World Is Green."  Pretend that you owe me nothing  And all the world is green  We can bring back the old days again  When all the world is green    Tamara Jones at Howard Community College says one way English learners can start improving their pronunciation of the "i" (ɪ) and "ee" (iː) sounds is to use another common object. Look in a mirror, she says, while you say the words “pin” and “green.” "Because to say "i" (ɪ), your face is very relaxed, but to say “ee" (iː), you are pulling the sides of your mouth, almost like you're smiling – it's a bigger mouth movement; it's a tenser sound "ee," “ee” versus "i" (ɪ) that is more relaxed. So, looking in a mirror can help students verify that they are saying the sound correctly because their mouth is moving in the correct position." Using these tips Clearly pronouncing common but difficult sounds can help you communicate better in English. Improving your pronunciation will take time and hard work, but a few basic objects will help.  Touch a lollipop with the tip of your tongue to practice "th" (/ð/) and "th" (/θ/) sounds    Bite a pencil but do not touch it with your tongue when saying the “er” (ɚ) sound    Use a mirror to make sure your face is relaxed when you say "i" (ɪ), and that your face is tense when you say "ee" (iː)  As you learned in the previous Education Tips story, pronouncing individual sounds correctly is only part of the pronunciation puzzle.   Future Education Tips stories will give you more suggestions for how to improve your pronunciation.   I'm John Russell.    John Russell wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly J Kelly was the editor.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   pronunciation – n. the way in which a word or name is pronounced candy – n. a sweet food made with sugar or chocolate mirror – n. a piece of glass that reflects images tricky – adj. difficult to do or deal with stick – v. to put something or someone in a specified place lollipop – n. a round piece of hard candy on the end of a stick tongue – n. the soft, movable part in the mouth that is used for tasting and eating food and in human beings for speaking relaxed – adj. not strict or carefully controlled tense – adj. not relaxed but hard and tight

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Is Internet Important to Economic Development?

  The World Bank says 9 billion electronic devices are connected to the Internet today. But the bank says more than half of the world’s population is still not connected.  Technologists and government officials say getting connected to the Internet is critical to improving the lives of millions of people.  Joe Mucheru is Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology. He says technology is good for business. “We have got huge fights in terms of corruption, transparency, openness - and technology is really the vehicle we’re using to ensure that whatever transactions are taking place, you can see them. They’re digital.” But there are still many areas without Internet connections. That is what Hilton Romanski says. He is the Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for the technology company Cisco. “Obviously we look at Africa, we look at Southeast Asia; there are large swaths obviously of the population that are not connected.” Denis O’Brien is chairman of Digicel, a mobile telephone service. He says once people start using smartphones, they talk less and use more computer data, for text messages, pictures and video. This makes for high-speed service or broadband a requirement for nearly all users. O’Brien said building the telecommunications infrastructure in developing areas is difficult but needed for economic growth. “Everybody’s built the easy bit, in other words they’ve done the towns and the cities, but going into rural communities they haven’t done it because the business case is very thin.”  Technology experts say businesses and governments need to come together to bring the Internet to developing areas to drive economic growth. O’Brien says broadband is not a secondary need. “Any country that wants to create investment and be a location for investment to create employment, the first thing you need is broadband.” Is technology the answer? But others do not think technology is a cure-all for economic growth. Kentaro Toyama is Associate Professor of Community Information at the University of Michigan. He has a warning for developing nations that see modern technology as the solution for economic growth. Toyama says the world has changed over the past 45 years because of developments in technology. But all this digital innovation did not reduce differences between rich and poor people in the United States. ”During that same span of time, this country has experienced rising inequality. The median income has declined.” He adds that, in developing nations, a smartphone alone will not help people who are uneducated and lack technological skills. ”If they do have a mobile phone, people, for example, who are physical laborers on farms where it doesn’t make too much of a difference if you can have access to the latest agronomic research paper as a way to improve your farming.” Denis O’Brien disagrees. “Once you get broadband, you can educate people. You can create jobs for people, and people from an agricultural point of view become much more efficient.” He also pointed to cultural differences in each country.  Joe Mucheru sees the issue as many Kenyans do. “The fact that maybe some of the people in the West haven’t come out of poverty because they have not used their devices well is not the same for Africa.”   Cisco’s Hilton Romanski says it takes cooperation between private, government and non-profit groups to make technology effective. “It’s going to take all the parties coming together to drive the right cultural shift and the right education into these countries so that the developing market can over the long term enjoy the benefits of economic growth.” The experts do agreed that good things can happen if education about technology is combined with the right policies. I’m Mario Ritter.   Elizabeth Lee reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Do you think Internet access is necessary for development? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   critical – adj. very important or necessary strategy – n. a long term plan infrastructure – n. important physical structures like roads, bridges, and power plants that are needed for a society to operate broadband – n. a wireless communications network that provides Internet access innovation – n. a new idea, device or method savvy – adj. practical understanding or knowledge of something agronomic – adj. having to do with the science of producing plants

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Activists Predict Immigrant Crisis if Britain Stays in EU

Some activists are warning that at least a million Turkish immigrants will enter the UK if Britain remains in the European Union (EU). They claim Turkey is on a course to join the EU; therefore, its citizens will be able to move freely to Britain. Activists say the immigrants could include “murderers, terrorists and kidnappers.” The activists are part of the “Vote Leave” movement. They want Britain to withdraw from the EU when citizens vote on the issue next month. However, the “Vote Leave” movement is narrowly behind in current polls. Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, is trying to rally support for Britain to leave the EU. “We want our borders back, we want our passports back, we want our country back," he said. "And if everyone that agrees with us goes out to vote on June 23, we will make it UK Independence Day.” Prime Minister David Cameron has criticized the position of the activists. He has called leaving the EU the “self-destruct option.” He said withdrawing could cause recession and could eliminate half a million jobs. Cameron also addressed the issue of Turkish immigrants. He said the process of Turkey joining the EU will take many years. He added that Britain would be able to veto Turkey’s membership. Turkey began negotiations to get EU membership in 2005, but has not been approved. EU expert Damian Chalmers, from the London School of Economics, said negotiations between Turkey and the EU are progressing very slowly. A deal would require agreement on 53 different policy areas. The debate comes as the EU and Turkey try to finalize a deal to stop the flow of migrants from Turkey to Greece. Turkey agreed in March to take refugees back from Europe, partly in return for moving forward its bid to join the EU. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Henry Ridgwell reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bryan Lynn adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Do you think Britain should remain in the European Union? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   course – n. the way something progresses or develops rally – v. to bring people together for a common purpose self-destruct – v. to destroy itself eliminate – adj. to completely remove or get rid of something bid – n. an attempt or effort to achieve something  

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WHO: 80% of Urban Residents Breathe Unsafe Air

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. A new study finds that more than 80 percent of people living in cities are breathing unsafe air. The World Health Organization study on urban air quality says those most affected live in the world's poorest cities. The study finds urban air pollution has nearly doubled in 3,000 cities over the past two years. The cities are in 103 countries. The study also shows that almost all cities with populations over 100,000, and in developing countries, have air pollution levels that do not meet WHO guidelines. The WHO warns that as air quality worsens the risk increases for many diseases. These include stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and breathing diseases such as asthma. Poor air quality is also responsible for an estimated seven million premature deaths every year. Flavia Bustreo is WHO Assistant-Director General of Family, Women and Children's Health. In the report, she says that dirty air in cities most affects the youngest, oldest, and poorest people. However, her colleague, Maria Neira, says there are effective measures to deal with the problem. Neira leads the WHO’s Public Health and Environmental Policy. "You will see that in those cities where measures have been put in place, you can see a decrease on the levels of air pollution and, therefore, on the health risks caused by air pollution." Neira agrees in the report that "urban air pollution continues to rise at an alarming rate” and severely affects human health. But she says the study shows improvements too. In her words, "awareness is rising and more cities are monitoring their air quality." This includes increased monitoring of particulate matter in the air. "Particulate matter," also known as particle pollution, is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets. Particulate matter is made up of a number of parts, including acids, organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust. The WHO study finds a reduction in air pollutants could lessen deaths from particulate matter by 15 percent. Carlos Dora is Coordinator of WHO's Department of Public Health and Environmental Policy. He says there are low-cost ways to improve air quality for even the poorest cities. These methods include using renewable power sources, such as solar and wind, and sustainable public transportation. "If you have clean transportation means, like cycling, walking or rapid transit systems -- where you have a lot of people being carried with a few vehicles -- then you have less air pollution. Or, if you have cities like New York, which have cleaned the fuel to heat and cool the buildings in a major way … then you have important improvements in air pollution." The report says the areas with the poorest air quality are in the Eastern Mediterranean and South East Asia. I’m Anna Matteo. Lisa Schlein reported this story from WHO headquarters in Geneva for VOA News. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   urban – adj. of or relating to cities and the people who live in them stroke – n. a serious illness caused when a blood vessel in your brain suddenly breaks or is blocked premature – adj. happening too soon or earlier than usual colleague – n. a person who works with you : a fellow worker monitor – v. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time renewable – adj. able to be extended for another time period : able to be renewed  : restored or replaced by natural processes : able to be replaced by nature sustainable – adj. able to be used without being completely used up or destroyed : involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources : able to last or continue for a long time rapid – adj. moving quickly

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Sanctions on North Korea Affect a Private University

Pyongyang University of Science and Technology is North Korea’s first privately funded university. It opened in 2010. But, the head of the school says the university is facing financial difficulties because of international sanctions against North Korea. Chan-Mo Park is the university’s chancellor. He is a former computer science professor at the University of Maryland and a U.S. citizen who was born in South Korea. He told VOA on Wednesday, “We want to recruit South Korean professors, but the May 24 measure blocks it.” He was referring to trade and exchange sanctions South Korea made against North Korea on May 24, 2010. The sanctions came after South Korea accused the North of sinking one of its naval boats and claiming the lives of 46 sailors. North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests earlier this year have further isolated the country. In March, a United Nations Security Council resolution placed further restrictions on North Korea’s financial activity. The school chancellor says that despite international tensions, the university is growing. It is largely supported by Western-based Evangelical Christians. It currently hosts about 500 enrolled students and 100 professors. Some are U.S. citizens. Park says the school offers North Korean students rare opportunities to engage with Western-trained scientists. “We were doing a virtual reality class and some students turned in materials about American hip hop music for their homework,” said Park. He described students as eager to learn about the outside world. Critics argue the institution could help the North Korean government further develop nuclear technology. Park said this is not the case. He said the school’s curriculum meets U.S. regulations. I’m Mario Ritter.   Ham Jiha reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted the report for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story recruit – v. to find the right person to fill a position, job or place in a class Isolated – adj. apart from others, alone virtual reality – n. meaning images, sounds and experiences created by a computer that are meant to appear as an artificial world hip hop – n. rap music curriculum – n. the classes taught by a school, college or university

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India’s Taj Mahal Has Insect Problem

India’s world-famous Taj Mahal is facing a new threat: insect poop. The Yamuna River flows around the Taj Mahal, and the river is heavily polluted. Large numbers of insects are breeding in the polluted waterway. Officials say the insects land on the Taj Mahal and leave poop behind on its white stone walls. The insects’ droppings are beginning to turn the walls green. Bhuvan Vikram is the top official at the Archeological Survey of India in the city of Agra, home of the famous building. He told VOA that, “During the evening time, [the insects] get attracted towards the white [surfaces] and during the night they stay over there and leave those green deposits.” Workers try to remove the insects’ waste. But experts fear heavy cleaning could damage the artwork in the Taj Mahal. Vikram said workers first discovered the problem last year. But they identified the cause of the problem only recently. A fly known as the genus Geoldichironomus is the insect responsible for all the droppings. Those insects survive best in the hot weather and in the algae along the sides of the river. The city of Agra is home to many people and lots of industry.  Environmentalists have struggled for years to protect the Taj Mahal’s white stone from turning yellow because of air pollution. Air pollution levels dropped after coal-based power centers and some polluting industries were closed. But the waters of the Yamuna River have yet to improve. Environmental campaigners like D.K. Joshi say the way to stop this new threat is to save the dying river. He has presented his argument to the National Green Tribunal, an environmental court. Joshi says waste from 52 open drains in the city is poisoning the river. “Industrial waste, solid waste, all this empties into the river. Millions of dollars have been spent to clean the river, but nothing has happened,” he added. Experts say ash particles from burnt human remains are part of the problem. For 200 years, people have set fire to dead bodies near the Taj Mahal. The fires are part of funeral ceremonies for the dead. Ash from the burnt remains is the main source of food for the insects. Six months ago, the Supreme Court asked city officials to move the funeral area. There was concern that smoke from the fires was affecting the color of the white stone surfaces. But the move has still not happened. Now city officials are asking people to try more environmentally-friendly funeral customs because of protests from a Hindu group. Joshi believes cleaning the Yamuna River is possible with a short-term program. “Stop the [waste] from going into the river, improve its flow. It is not difficult, but the will power is not there,” he said. Vikram hopes this latest threat to the Taj Mahal from insects will get the attention of city officials. He hopes it will get them to clean the river. But he also worries about the large amount of pressure the rise of tourism puts on the Taj Mahal. Six million people visited the world-famous structure in 2014. “So much is the amount of dirt that it creates, these are the [problems] of tourism. The tourists, they like to touch the surfaces. For that we are trying to provide some kind of separators,” Vikram said. I’m Pete Musto.   Anjana Pasricha wrote this story for VOANews.com. Pete Musto adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Now it’s your turn. How do does the government protect famous places tourists like to visit in your country? How does the changing environment affect those places? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   poop – n. solid waste passed out of the body breed(ing) – v. to produce offspring by sexual reproduction attracted – adj. caused to go to or move to or toward a place deposit(s) – n. an amount of something such as sand, snow, or mud that has formed or been left on a surface or area over a period of time fly – n. a small insect that has two wings genus – n. a group of related animals or plants that includes several or many different species algae – n. simple plants that have no leaves or stems and that grow in or near water environmentalist(s) – n. a person who works to protect the natural world from pollution and other threats drain(s) – n. something such as a pipe that is used for removing a liquid from a place or container tourism – n. the activity of traveling to a place for pleasure

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Women Pilots Allowed Back Into Arlington for Burial

Women World War II pilots are again guaranteed full burial honors at Arlington National Cemetery. That is because the two main U.S. political parties put their differences aside to change the policy that had blocked the women’s burial at Arlington. Both houses of Congress approved a bill to permit inurnment of the remains at the cemetery, just outside Washington, D.C. President Barack Obama signed it into law on May 20. The government once had a policy that gave the former Women Airforce Service Pilots, known as WASP, rights to be buried at Arlington. But that policy was canceled in 2015.  The new law gives women who flew during World War II the right to be inurned in the nation’s highest honor military cemetery. Inurnment means their ashes can be laid to rest there. "The Women Airforce Service Pilots courageously answered their country's call in a time of need,” President Obama said, when signing the bill into law. “[They blazed] a trail for the brave women who have given and continue to give so much in service to this nation since." The issue was personal for Tiffany Miller and her sisters. Their grandmother, Lieutenant Elaine Danforth Harmon, had been a WASP pilot. They said she wanted to be buried at Arlington Cemetery. So they started an online campaign to give her the burial she wanted. “It was her last wish to be in Arlington," Miller told CNN. "We haven't been able to hold a funeral for her because we wanted to honor that wish." Harmon died in April at age 95. The issue also was personal for Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski. She knew Harmon, who had lived in Maryland. Mikulski, a member of the Democratic Party, worked with Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican, to quickly move the bill through Congress. Mikulski said she proposed the legislation “to honor the service and sacrifice of WASP in defending our freedom.” She said, “if they were good enough to fly for our country … they should be good enough for Arlington.” Back in 2009, Mikulski proposed a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the WASP. Congress presents the gold medal for exceptional acts of service to the United States or for lifetime achievement. The women pilots received the award in March 2010. But since the beginning of the WASP program, those women struggled to be considered military veterans. The program lasted two years -- from 1942-1944 – and just over 1,000 women served in it. Of those, 38 died in service -- 11 in training and 27 during military operations. Noncombat missions The women pilots did not fly in actual battles, but took part in non- combat duties across the country. They trained male pilots on how to operate aircraft. They also towed targets for live-ammunition air-to-air gunnery training. But the female pilots also faced bias against women serving in nontraditional positions. They were considered civilians throughout their wartime service. "If a girl got killed, her parents didn't get anything, not even a flag -- nothing," WASP Barbara Erickson London told CBS News in 2014. "Not even any acknowledgement that their daughter had been in the military."    The women pilots were finally given veteran status in 1977. In 2002, Arlington Cemetery said the women could have their ashes buried there with military honors. But that policy changed in 2015 when then-Army Secretary John McHugh wrote that the cemetery did not have the ability to permit such inurnments. The Army also noted space restrictions at the cemetery. Arlington cemetery Arlington National Cemetery, founded in 1866, is a military cemetery located across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. More than 300,000 veterans of every American conflict, from the Revolutionary War to Iraq and Afghanistan are buried there. But with less space, the cemetery now has strict rules for ground burials. Most active duty members of the Armed Forces, and any veteran retired from active service, can be buried in Arlington. And now, Mikulski said in a statement, the WASP “can once and for all be laid to rest alongside our nation’s patriots at Arlington National Cemetery.” I’m Anne Ball.   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section and visit us on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   inurnment – n. the placement of ashes, cremated remains, in an urn for burial blaze –  v.  to move very quickly online – adj. relating to the internet achievement – n. a result gained by effort combat – adj. engaging in battle tow - v. to carry something behind a vehicle bias – n. prejudice, a personal and unreasoned judgment against someone strict – adj. careful obeying of the rules  

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Memorial Day: Arlington National Cemetery

Memorial Day is a national holiday observed in the United States on the last Monday in May. It is the day when Americans honor the women and men who have served in the military. The Memorial Day holiday was first observed in 1868. The holiday was called Decoration Day. The observance was at what was then known as the National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It is now known as Arlington National Cemetery. More than four million people visit the cemetery every year. It is the most famous national burial place in the United States. It includes about 250 hectares of rolling hills, and trees that were planted hundreds of years ago. There are more than 8,000 trees of 300 species in the cemetery. Up and down the hills are lines of simple white headstones marking the graves. About 400 of the markers have gold letters on them. These are the burial places of those who have been awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor. Among those buried at the cemetery are military and political leaders, cabinet officers and Supreme Court justices. Astronauts, explorers and athletes are also buried there. So are chaplains, nurses, slaves and even war correspondents. Arlington is on the land that once belonged to George Washington Parke Custis, a step-grandson of George Washington. The cemetery holds the graves of soldiers who died in every war in American history. Some who fought and died in the Revolutionary War in the 1700s were moved there from a nearby cemetery. The first military burial was on May 13, 1864 for Private William Christman, who died in the Civil War. On May 15, 1864, two unknown Union Soldiers were buried at Arlington. They were the first of almost 5,000 unknowns who are now buried at the cemetery. On March 4, 1921, Congress approved the burial of an unidentified American soldier from World War I. It is now the site of the famed Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Nearly 4,000 former slaves are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. One of them is James Parks. He dug the first graves in the cemetery. And he is the only person buried there who was also born on the property. Two American presidents are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. William Howard Taft was president in the early 1900s. John F. Kennedy was president in the 1960s. More people have visited his grave than any other in the United States. Other famous people buried at the cemetery include Joe Louis. He was an Army sergeant in World War II. He was a world champion boxer. Robert E. Peary discovered the North Pole. Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee founded the Army Nurse Corps. And the remains of the seven astronauts who died when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded are buried in Section 46. Sixty-five foreigners are also buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Britain has the most, with 26. South Vietnam has 10, including nine unknown soldiers. Not everyone who gave military service to the United States may be buried at the cemetery. Those who can be buried there include anyone who died while serving on active duty or who retired from military. Also eligible are those who received high military awards, including the Medal of Honor, those who were injured in combat and former prisoners of war. Some federal government officials and the spouse and children of those buried at Arlington may also be eligible. There is no cost for the burial or funeral service. Cemetery officials are worried that they will soon run out of space. So they have added an area where the ashes of people who chose to be cremated rather than buried can be placed. There are tens of thousands of spaces in the building, which is called a columbarium. The cemetery is also expanding by almost 11 hectares. This will add almost 30,000 burial places. Since 1948, on the Thursday before Memorial Day, soldiers from the 3rd US Infantry, The Old Guard, have placed small American flags in front of every headstone in the cemetery. This year, more than a thousand Old Guard soldiers placed more than 220,000 flags in front of each grave marker “to honor every individual buried at Arlington National Cemetery.” Some of the Old Guard soldiers placed flags in front of the graves of soldiers they knew, in Section 60. Some have called it “the saddest place in America.” It is where some of the soldiers who died in America’s latest wars -- in Iraq and Afghanistan -- are buried. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   Shelley Gollust and Christopher Jones-Cruise wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants eligible – adj. able to be chosen for something; able to do or receive something columbarium – n. a building or area where urns holding a deceased’s cremated remains are placed How does your country honor those who died in war? We want to hear about it. Write to us in the comments section.

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Supreme Court Justice Designs Video Game About Civics

The race to win the White House is not just taking place on the political stage, but also in schools across the country. Like Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, students are competing to become president. But their efforts are playing out in a video game called “Win the White House.” The game is part of a website-based project called iCivics. Civics is the study of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. This project is designed to increase civics teaching in U.S. schools. Teaching civics through video games was the idea of Sandra Day O’Connor, a former member of the U.S. Supreme Court. She launched the iCivics project in 2010. “iCivics has been an effective way to reach young people and to give them an enhanced capacity to have critical thinking of their own.”  In the game “Win the White House,” students act like presidential candidates. They learn how to compete civilly on many difficult issues, including gun control and immigration. iCivics has online educational games, teaching materials and products.  The games deal with the U.S. Constitution and all three branches of government: the Judicial, Legislative and Executive. The website also provides digital tools and lesson plans for teachers and students across the U.S. Sixth-grader Jaylah Williams likes the games. “It teaches students how to prepare for the real world and how to prepare, such as if they want to run for president or any debates in school.” Ariel Bosworth teaches social studies at Future Leaders Institute Charter School in New York City. He also likes the program. “I really have the opportunity to show them how their voice matters and why it matters.  And, I think this, not only the game, but the program, the lessons that go along with it, really do a great job in providing supplementary material for showing them why their voice is important, and why they need to take an active part in civic engagement.” As students play each game, they learn about different parts of government and politics.They also learn about economics at the national, state and local level. But when it comes to video games in the classroom, it is the teacher who makes the difference. That is what Dani McPartlin says. She heads the Future Leaders Institute Charter School. She says that putting a student on a computer alone in front of a program might not have the desired effect. “An online software program is only as good as the teacher teaches into it and is able to make that connection with the students. And when it’s guided by the teacher, they’re more engaged, and they question.” The iCivics project says middle-school social studies teachers and high-school government and history teachers use its software program. It says the program helps students improve their writing ability and knowledge of civics. The organization says the games provide equal benefits for students across gender and race, no matter whether they are rich or poor. That, says Justice O’Connor, is her most important legacy. I’m Anne Ball.   Bernard Shusman wrote this story for VOA News. Anne Ball wrote it for VOA Learning English.  Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit us on our  Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   civil – adj. to act with respect for others supplementary – adj. completing or enhancing something engagement – n. the act of being involved in something gender – n. the state of being male or female legacy – n. something that comes from someone in the past  

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WHO Advises Faster, Cheaper Treatment for Tuberculosis

The World Health Organization is proposing a new way to fight the disease multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. WHO officials say the new treatment costs less and is easier to use than other treatments. They also say it could save the lives of tens of thousands of people.  Tuberculosis (TB) mainly affects the lungs. The bacteria that cause the disease can develop resistance to the two most powerful anti-TB drugs. This has led to the development and spread of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. Multi-drug resistant TB infects nearly 500,00 men, women and children every year. Each year, about 190,000 of those who develop this kind of the disease die. WHO officials say the death rate is high because fewer than 20 percent of the patients are getting the right form of treatment. Mario Raviglione is the director of the WHO's global tuberculosis program. He said the new test and treatment program will help people who have multi-drug resistant TB. "These two new recommendations from WHO enable MDR-TB patients one, to benefit from a test that will quickly identify who is eligible for the shorter MDR-TB treatment regimen; and two, complete treatment in half the time at nearly half the cost of today." The new test can show in just 24 to 48 hours whether someone has the disease. The test that is used now may not give results for three months or longer. The shorter treatment program costs less than $1,000 per patient and can be completed in nine to 12 months. Current treatment programs for people with multi-drug resistant TB cost $1,500 to $3,000 and take between 18 and 24 months to complete. Reviglione said that worldwide about 50 percent of those receiving the longer and more-costly treatment are cured. He said those who are not cured either die or can live with the disease for years. He says about one-fourth of patients stop the treatment before it is completed. "They abandon treatment because the treatment lasts, as you probably know, up to two years, with drugs that we all know are fairly toxic in a way. They have side effects and they are not really liked by patients who have to take them." WHO officials said there are about 400 laboratories in developing countries that can use the new test and treatment program. So, officials believe, most people suffering from MDR-TB will be able to be treated using the faster, less-costly method. I’m Marsha James.   Lisa Schlein reported this story from Geneva for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her 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   tuberculosis – n. a serious disease that mainly affects the lungs resistant – adj. not affected or harmed by something (usually used in combination with another word) recommendation – n. the act of saying that someone or something is good and deserves to be chosen enable – v. to make (someone or something) able to do or to be something eligible – adj. able to be chosen for something; able to do or receive something (often + for) regimen – n. a plan or set of rules about food, exercise, etc., to make someone become or stay healthy (often + of) abandon – v. to stop doing or having (something); to give up (doing something) completely fairly – adv.  to some degree or extent but not very or extremely; to a reasonable or moderate extent toxic – adj. containing poisonous substances side effect – n. an often harmful and unwanted effect of a drug or chemical that occurs along with the desired effect

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Everyday Grammar: Should & Shall

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Knife Cuts on Mastodon Bone Reveal Earlier Humans

Scientists diving in a Florida river found bones and tools that could change the history of humans in the Americas. These new items -- called artifacts -- could mean humans lived in the Americas more than a thousand years earlier than was known before. Researchers from several universities worked together and published their findings in the journal Science Advances. The items were found in the underwater archeological site called Page-Ladsen. Long ago it was a watering hole where people and long-extinct animals lived. Today it is part of the Aucilla River in Florida. It has provided scientists with human and animal artifacts for more than 50 years. Researchers used carbon dating -- a scientific method -- to find out the age of the objects. Previous carbon-dated items brought up from the waters were between 11,000 and 13,000 years old. But a newer find?  It is more than 14,000 years old. Jessi Halligan teaches anthropology at Florida State University. She says the older artifacts change the way researchers will study human history in the Americas. She says these buried items were found in an untouched part of the river. That means there is no question about their age. “So we’ve got to reexamine everything we thought we knew, so it’s kind of opened up this whole new world of first Americans studies.” Halligan says they found a cutting tool — a stone knife — buried underwater. The stone was formed into a tool that only a human could make. This made the researchers take a second look at a mastodon bone brought up from the same water hole in the river. It had been cut. Mastodons were large ancient animals that once lived on Earth, but died off thousands of years ago. Halligan says there was “no way that the marks on it were made by a natural process.” In other words, those marks on the mastodon bone? “They were made by people,” she says, people who used tools to kill and cut up the animal. “When we went back, what we found was a stone tool that could not have been made by nature, that was definitely cultural, that dated to 14,550 years ago.” But who were these people who made the tool and killed and ate the mastodon? Until this discovery, researchers thought the first Americans were a group they call “Clovis” hunters.  They were a prehistoric Indian culture thought to be the most ancient people in North America. They came to North America from Asia when glaciers melted, and they could walk across land that formed a bridge between the continents. Now, science puts this newly found Florida tool at more than a thousand years before the Clovis hunters. Halligan says it is significant, or important, that the tool is made by human hands. “Now that’s significant, A) because the site shows people were definitely here before Clovis, more, about 1,500 years before Clovis, but B) because it shows that people had to have come to the Americas by a different route than we had accepted. Because, the ice-free corridor that supposedly people came from by land through Canada, was not open 'til 14,000 years ago.” There had been some evidence that humans were in the area earlier than the Clovis hunters. But until now, nothing had been proven because so few older remains had been found. Scientists said it is possible changing sea levels could be the reason more evidence had not been found about these ancient Americans before now. Halligan told reporters that 14,000 years ago, sea levels were 100 meters lower than today -- because of glaciers. Over time those large areas of ice melted. And the evidence of the ancient humans in the Americas was lost. Evidence ended up buried and underwater -- making it much harder to find. The evidence also shows a much different world than the one today. There were camels and mastodons and giant armadillo-like animals living there. But they all died, or went extinct, 10,000 or 11,000 years ago. One other interesting discovery — the researchers think they found bones from dogs. Even back then, they were likely to have been trained to help humans. Now it will be the job of researchers to try to find new artifacts. I’m Anne Ball.   Kevin Enochs reported on this story for VOANews.com. Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit us on our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   artifact – n. a simple object made by people in the past archeological – adj. having to do with the science of past human life and activities by studying the bones, tools, etc. of ancient people extinct – adj. no longer existing prehistoric – adj. relating to the time before people could write glacier – n. a very large area of ice that moves slowly down a slope or valley or over a wide area of land armadillo - n. an animal with a hard shell covering its body

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Lack of Progress in Reducing Poverty

A new report says years of progress made in reducing poverty worldwide are under attack. The International Labor Organization says the progress is being threatened by weakening economic conditions and a lack of quality jobs. The ILO recently released the report. It is called “World Employment and Social Outlook 2016 -- Transforming Jobs to End Poverty.” The ILO says great progress in reducing poverty has been made over the past 20 years. The report explores the issue of extreme poverty in 107 emerging and developing countries. Extreme poverty was defined as earning less than $2 a day. The report found that in those countries, the number of people with such an income fell by almost half since 1990 to about 15 percent in 2012. But not every country has experienced falling rates of poverty. Guy Ryder is the ILO’s Director-General. He says there have been great improvements in China and in Latin American countries. But poverty remains high in Africa and parts of Asia. “For example, more than 40 percent of the African population continues to live in extreme poverty and some 64 percent in extreme or moderate poverty. Another element -- which I think we have to pay attention to -- is the fact that in the developed world, there has been an increase, an absolute increase in poverty, notably in this continent of Europe.”   Ryder says the recent worsening of economic conditions in Asia and Latin America suggests a cloudy future for poverty reduction efforts there. He noted that economic growth does not mean a reduction in poverty. He says income inequality is beginning to increase after dropping for many years. He says that hurts the ability of people to get out of poverty. “In addition, the ability of growth to reduce poverty is compromised by the inequitable income distribution, showing that the rich are taking a disproportionately high share of the benefits of growth and, in a way, could be considered partly responsible for this perpetuation of poverty.”   The ILO says United Nations’ efforts to end poverty everywhere are at risk of failing. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Lisa Schlein reported 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   emerge – v. to become known or regarded as something element – n. a particular part of something (such as a situation or activity) absolute – v. not depending on or compared with anything else inequitable – adj. not fair or equal distribution – n. the way that something is divided or spread out disproportionate – adj. having or showing a difference that is not fair, reasonable or expected; too large or too small in relation to something benefit – n. a good or helpful result or effect perpetuate – v. to cause (something that should be stopped, such as a mistaken idea or a bad situation) to continue

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Lesson 15: I Love People-Watching!

Summary Anna and her friends are eating lunch outside on a beautiful day in Washington, DC. They are people-watching. They like seeing the many different people walking by. Speaking In this video, you can learn to say the new words. Learn about the sounds English speakers make to show they are happy. You can also download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about how people look with a friend.​ Pronunciation ​In this video, you ​learn about how to make tag questions. These are the short questions at the end of a sentences, as you hear in the video, "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" Conversation Anna: Hello! People from all over the world come to Washington, D.C. When I’m at work, I love eating lunch outside. I like to watch people walking by. They all look very different. Today, my friend Ashley is eating lunch with me. Anna: Ashley, today the weather is beautiful, isn’t it? Ashley: Yes, it is. Ahh. (looks at her watch) Ooh, we have to return to work! Anna: No, we have time! Let’s people-watch a little more. Ashley: Okay. Anna: Oh, I know her. She works in my office! Keyana, hi! Come and join us! Keyana: Hi Anna, how are you? Anna: I’m doing great! Keyana, this is my friend Ashley. Keyana: Hi, Ashley! Anna: We need to return. But the weather is beautiful and people-watching is fun! Keyana: I love people-watching too! Anna: Well, have a seat! It is fun to see how people are different or the same. Keyana: It is. For example, Anna, you are tall. But Ashley and I are short. Anna: And Keyana, you and Ashley have brown eyes; I have blue eyes. Keyana: You two have light skin and I have dark skin. Anna: Ashley, you have straight hair. Keyana and I have curly hair. Ashley: You have very curly hair, Anna. Keyana: I need to return to work. See you, Anna! Nice to meet you Ashley! Ashley: Bye, Keyana! Ashley: Anna, I have to go, too. Are you returning to work? Anna: I still have time. And this sun feels so good! Ashley: Um, Anna, what does your boss look like? Anna: She is short. She has straight, light hair. Ashley: Does she wear glasses? Anna: Yes. Yes, she does. Ashley: Is she wearing a blue sweater today? Anna: How do you know that? Ashley: She’s coming this way. Anna: Oh no! Hide me! Ashley: Um, bye Anna. Call me later. Anna: Bye, Ashley! Talk to you later! Caty: Anna? Is that you? Anna: Ms. Weaver! Hi! Caty: What are you doing behind that bench? Anna: I am looking for my, my … stick. Here it is. Anna: (sheepishly) I am people-watching. (looks at watch) Oh! But it’s time to return to work! Caty: No need to hurry. I love people-watching too! Let’s sit! Anna: Sure! Ahh. Caty: It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it? Anna: Yes. Yes, it is, Ms. Weaver. Anna: People-watching in D.C. is fun. It makes me forget the time! Anna: Until next time! Ahh.   Writing What do you look like? What  does your friend look like? Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice with a friend.   Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Access Information Sources. In our digital world there are many free sources of information to help you learn English. And remember that other people can also help.  Here is an example. João is visiting Miami. He wants to take a tour of the National Park in the Everglades (or marismas in Portuguese). He finds the word "Everglades" in his pocket paperback Portuguese - English dictionary, but doesn't know how to pronounce it. He opens a translation web page on his phone, writes "Everglades" and pushes the button to translate. Soon a symbol appears under the word. João clicks on the symbol to hear the sound of the word, "Everglades." He goes to the hotel tour desk and asks, "Do you have a tour of the Everglades?" The clerk understands him and begins to show him the tour information. João asks the clerk, "Will you please say the word slowly for me? I want to check my pronunciation." The clerk smiles and pronounces the word and João says it again. Now João is sure he can say it correctly. How do you access information sources when learning English? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.   Quiz ​______________________________________________________________ New Words   bench - n. a long and usually hard seat for two or more people blue - adj. having the color of the clear sky brown - adj. having a color like coffee or chocolate curly - adj. formed into a round shape dark - adj. of a person's hair, eyes, skin, etc.: black or brown in color eyes - n. the part of the body that you see with forget - n. to be unable to think of or remember (something) glasses - n. a pair of glass or plastic lenses set into a frame and worn over the eyes to help a person see hair - n. a thin threadlike growth from the skin of a person or animal hide - v. to put (something) in a place where it cannot be seen or found join - v. to come together with (something or someone) light - adj. not dark or deep in color; pale like - prep. similar to look like - to have an appearance that is very similar to (someone or something) people-watch - v. to spend time idly observing people in a public place. seat - n. something (such as a chair) that you sit on : a place for sitting have a seat - a polite invitation to sit down. short - adj. having little height; not tall skin - n. the natural outer layer of tissue that covers the body of a person or animal stick - n. a cut or broken branch or twig straight - adj. not having curves, bends, or angles tall - adj. greater in height than the average person ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice describing people.   For Teachers See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: Descriptive adjectives; Tag questions Topics: Describing Differences and Similarities; Watching People Learning Strategy: Access Information Sources Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Non-Verbal Expressions of Happiness; Rising and Falling Intonation in Tag Questions ______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

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Less Financial Aid Going to Students Who Need It

Financial aid is an important resource for students who want to attend college in the U.S. but don’t have enough money. Financial aid is offered by banks, the government, and the school a student plans to attend. But research shows the amount of financial aid colleges and universities provide low-income students has decreased. The National Center for Education Statistics, or NCES, collects information about education across the country. Last year the NCES, a part of the Department of Education, reported that more than 41 percent of all full-time students attending college for the first time in 2014 received financial aid from their school. But the NCES report also shows the average amount of institutional aid for low-income students has decreased steadily from 1996 to 2012. The average amount of institutional aid given to the lowest-income students was $2,540 in 1996. The average amount given to the highest-income students was $3,327 in the same year. That indicates that students with the greatest need received less financial aid than higher-income students. In 2012, low-income students received an average of $5,300 while high-income students received an average of $7,800. Again, the students with the greatest need received less financial aid than higher-income students. Ben Miller is the Senior Director for Post-Secondary Education at the Center for American Progress, an organization that studies and reports on American society. Miller says the problem goes back earlier than 1996. He says the problem is colleges want to look better in rankings like the U.S. News and World Report, a media company that creates a list of what it calls “America’s Best Colleges.”   The company bases the list on information like the average standardized test results of a school’s students. A college with higher average test results has a better chance of being higher on U.S. News and World Report’s list. Miller says higher-income students usually have higher test results and grade averages. Schools have begun to use their institutional aid to try to appeal to those types of students. When schools take students with better academic records and are able to turn other students away, they look more prestigious, he says. "The problem is, we haven’t come up with a good way to evaluate colleges on meaningful things. You can’t go out there and find out ‘What’s the college where I’m going to learn the most?’ or ‘What’s the college where I’m going to get the most skills for my money, that’s going to be my best value?’ And so instead we use a lot of things that we think might represent quality and value but really don’t necessarily." The College Board lists the average cost of universities in the U.S. They looked at the average cost for residents to attend a public four-year institution in their state. They found the cost was $9,410 for the 2015-2016 academic year. The average cost for a private four-year institution was $32,405 for the same year. The U.S. government spent about $31.5 billion on Pell grants in the 2013-2014 academic year. The Pell Grant program is the main source of federal financial aid. The government has offered Pell grants since 1972. But Andrew Nichols says that federal financial aid alone is not enough to help low-income students. Nichols is the Director for Higher Education Research and Data Analytics at the Education Trust, an organization that fights for equal access to education for all people. Nichols helped write a report in 2015 on some of the problems low-income students face. This report said half the students using Pell grants received a bachelor’s degree within six years. About 65 percent of students who did not use Pell grants received a degree in the same amount of time. This does not mean that students with more money are smarter, Nichols says. Working more than 15 hours a week can cause students to perform poorly in the classroom. “So you don’t have enough aid so you need to work. And then when you start working it takes away from your ability to focus on your studies. And then when that happens you could possibly lose your scholarship, which could mean that you have less money. And so it’s kind of a very ugly cycle that some students can get in.” Nichols adds that a lot of African-American, Latino and first-generation students are often low income as well. These communities are often underserved. “Oftentimes the best predictor of success is who you’re born to and where you live. And these aren’t things that people earn, these are things that you’re given. And so what we know is in this country, low-income students don’t receive the same quality of education that students from more affluent backgrounds ...” But there is more to the problem than colleges trying to make themselves look good. State governments have decreased funding to their public universities for over 20 years, says Michael Mitchell. “The vast majority of students go to public universities … which means that states play a huge role in making sure that college is affordable across the country. And over the past few years, as states have cut funding, it makes it much more difficult for the vast majority of students to go and afford college.” Mitchell is a senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The center is an organization that studies how the government could use its money to reduce poverty. He wrote a report in May about state funding to public universities. The report shows only four states -- Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming – are spending more money per student than before the economic recession in 2008. On average, spending in other states is down 17 percent per student from what is was in 2008. I’m Pete Musto.   Pete Musto reported and wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. How should schools choose who gets financial aid? What kind of support exists for low-income students in your country? Let us know in the Comments, and post on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   income – n. money that is earned from work, investments or business institutional aid – n. money that a college or university gives to a student to help them pay the cost of attending that school standardized test – n. a test where all test-takers take the same test under the same or reasonably equal conditions grade – n. a number or letter that indicates how a student performed in a class or on a test prestigious – adj. respected and admired for being successful or important evaluate – v. to judge the value or condition of someone or something in a careful and thoughtful way resident(s) – n. someone who lives in a particular place grant(s) – n. an amount of money that is given to someone by a government or company to be used for a particular purpose  bachelor’s degree – n. a degree that is given to a student by a college or university usually after four years of study focus – n. a main purpose or interest scholarship – n. an amount of money that is given by a school or organization to a student to help pay for the student's education cycle – n. a set of events or actions that happen again and again in the same order affluent – adj. having a large amount of money and owning many expensive things funding – n. an amount of money that is used for a special purpose affordable – adj. easily paid for

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How Can Golf Appeal to More People?

Golf is big business in America, with a total economy estimated at nearly 70 billion dollars. The U.S. is also the world’s biggest market for golf equipment, according to a report from Golf Datatech. The other top countries are Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom, Canada and China. But the industry is working on ways to make golf more appealing, especially to young Americans. The CEO of the U.S.-based World Golf Foundation, Steve Mona, told VOA he believes the current state of golf is healthy and stable. His group says about 20 million Americans regularly play the game. But Mona also sees the need for change, to get more people to discover and play golf. He said the industry has focused on ways to make the game faster, more playable and fun.​ Modern Changes on the Course Some golf courses have expanded fairways so golfers have less chance of losing balls in water or trees. Others move up the starting point for young or new players, so they are closer to the hole. Some new courses also have fewer obstacles than in the past, such as water ponds or sand traps. And the area near the hole is sometimes designed flatter, to keep the ball from rolling too much. These changes could also attract adult golfers who want to play a faster, less difficult game. But with young people, Mona said it is important to get them interested at an early age. One program to do this is the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship, for girls and boys ages 7-15. The name of the competition refers to golf’s three main skills. Driving is when a golfer hits the ball far at the start of the game. A chip is a much shorter shot, usually taken close to the hole. Putting refers to hitting the ball softly in the area near the hole, called the green. Junior Golf Champions Girls and boys from all 50 U.S. states compete in the championship. Organizers say the program has been one of the best ways to bring young people to golf. But Mona said it is not enough just to get people interested. “The challenge for us in the golf industry is we have to convert interest into trial,” he said. “And then convert trial into actual participation in the game.” Sam Schmitz is studying professional golf management at Eastern Kentucky University. He also believes speeding up the game will get more people to try golf. “For the younger generation, the biggest complaint about golf is how long it takes,” he said. A full game can last four hours.   ​ Old Traditions Changing? Golf is a very traditional game and has not changed much over the years. But Schmitz said many young people may become golfers for life if they see how fun and challenging it is. His favorite parts of golf are being with others and enjoying the nature and beauty of different courses.  “It’s something different every time,” he said. “You have that one course you play a lot, but you can always go somewhere else and find a new challenge and new people.” When it comes to course design, Schmitz said there are no big changes happening across the industry. But one design trend is to combine golf courses with other business and housing developments. Mona sees this trend getting bigger as golf expands into new areas. He also said some old courses are also being repurposed for commercial use or as part of large economic projects. Golf Course to Green Space One way to convert old courses in the United States is to turn them into parks or recreation areas for the whole community to enjoy. One of these projects is in Grafton, Ohio, where the former Royal Oaks Golf Club was turned into a nature area. About 39 hectares of the old golf course were converted into walking trails, hiking areas and fish ponds. The area will also protect the habitat of certain plants and animals threatened in Ohio. Jerry Jewell lives in the area but is not a golfer. He said he likes that he can now use the green space. “I lived there before when it was a golf course but I never came back and played golf on it. So I never got a chance to see what it looked like, as far as the landscape and stuff.” The non-profit Western Reserve Land Conservancy partnered with local park officials to buy the land. Joe Leslie of Western Reserve said the project is a great addition because everybody can now use it for recreation. “There’s a select number of people that would use a golf course. Where in the case of a passive or active recreation area, it gives the opportunity for many more people to use it.” About 10 of these projects exist in Ohio. And officials in other states are also looking at ways to repurpose former golf courses to create community green space. I'm Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn reported on this story for Learning English. Additional material came from a report by Erika Celeste for VOANews.com. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Have you ever played golf? If not, would you like to try it? Write to us in the Comments section and visit us on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story stable – adj. not likely to change or fail fairway – n. the part of a golf course between the starting point and the green obstacle – n. thing that happens to stop something from happening challenge – n. participation – n. the action of taking part in something complaint – n. a statement that a person is not happy or satisfied with something repurpose – v. adapt for use in a different purpose convert – v. to change something from one form to another recreation – n. an activity done or enjoyment when not working habitat – n. the natural environment for a plant, animal or other organism landscape – n. an area of land that has a particular quality or appearance  

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Approval of TPP in US Congress Seen as Difficult

In Vietnam this week, President Barack Obama spoke in support of the free-trade agreement called the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The free-trade deal is among the United States and 11 other nations around the Pacific Ocean. On Monday, he said he was “confident” that the deal, known as the TPP, will pass in the U.S. Congress. Vietnam is one of the countries included in the TPP. But members of the U.S. Senate, which approves trade agreements, are not so sure. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said the president was “overly optimistic” about passage of the deal. “There’s been a sourness on trade” in Congress, he added. Democrats in the Senate also have voiced concerns. Chuck Schumer of New York called passing the TPP a “tough lift,” or a difficult effort. Dick Durbin of Illinois pointed to the lack of support for the agreement among the candidates for president. “When you have the three leading presidential candidates of both parties opposing TPP, it’s an indication that political sentiment is not in favor of the agreement,” said Durbin. Democratic Party candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, and Republican Party candidate Donald Trump, have said they oppose the TPP trade deal. Some labor unions, environment groups and human-rights groups also strongly oppose the deal. Details Still an Issue for Some Supporters The TPP was created to reduce import taxes, such as tariffs, which are considered barriers to trade. It also puts in place rules for trade and enforcement. Partners include Japan, Canada, Australia, Mexico and Vietnam. The 12 countries that signed the agreement make up about 40 percent of the world’s economy. American business groups support the agreement. Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia supports the TPP. “There are winners and losers in every trade deal,” he said. Many problems linked to trade with China, such as job losses, have already taken place, he said. The TPP, he noted, does not deal with China trade. Supporters of the TPP want Congress to vote on the agreement after the November elections. That is a possibility, according to Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah. But Hatch is unsure about the TPP. He said, “I think Republicans do want to support it, but there need to be some changes.” Hatch is not happy about the length of time U.S. companies would keep exclusive rights to their drug and biological products. These include drugs and genetically engineered products. “The most problematic area is the data exclusivity provision of only five years,” the Senator said. “We need to solve some of these problems, but I think they are solvable,” he added. Partner nations signed the TPP in February in New Zealand after seven years of negotiations. I’m Mario Ritter.   Michael Bowman reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Do you have an opinion about the TPP? Please leave us a comment, and post on our Facebook page, thank you. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   indication – n. a sign or signal that shows something sentiment – n. an opinion, attitude or feeling of emotion unions -- n. group of workers who band together to get better benefits tariffs -- n. taxes or fees charged in the import of goods exclusive – adj. something that applies only to one group and no others

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Confronting the Enemy After Wartime Can Help, and Hurt

A new study finds public discussion of a violent civil conflict can harm some victims who have tried to forget the pain they experienced. In a civil war, a man may sometimes fight against his brother. Civilians might find themselves living in a building next to the enemy. Some countries have set up truth and reconciliation commissions as a way to heal society after violent civil conflicts. More than 20 truth and reconciliation programs have been created in countries where civil wars were fought. The first took place in Latin America. Perhaps the most famous program was held in South Africa after the end of apartheid -- the system that forced black and white citizens to live separately. Truth and reconciliation commissions give victims of violence the chance to tell their stories. In addition, the attackers have a chance to ask their victims to forgive them. A truth and reconciliation process is now taking place in Sierra Leone. The West African nation experienced a violent civil war from 1991 to 2002. During the Revolutionary United Front campaign against the government, more than 50,000 people were killed. Thousands more were raped or had arms or legs cut off. The violence displaced about 2.6 million people -- more than half of the population. In 2007, a group called Fambul Tok -- which means “Family Talk” in the Krio language -- launched a program to give civilians a chance to tell what happened to them. Some civilians told their stories in great detail. People who had hurt others were given the chance to ask for forgiveness in exchange for not being charged with crimes and imprisoned.    Oeindrila Dube teaches at New York University. She says the process has helped people who have taken part in it and their communities. “They contributed more to public good. They spent more time doing things like building roads and health clinics and donating to, you know, more to families in need. So, in essence, it became much more community-oriented in their behavior.” But Dube suspected that not everyone had been helped. Perhaps some civilians found the process of coming face-to-face with former attackers brought back memories of the war. She wondered if this might fuel feelings of anxiety and depression. The World Bank, Georgetown University and the NGO Innovations for Poverty Action group supported Dube’s research. She and her team studied 200 Sierra Leonean villages. Half of the villages were chosen to take part in the truth and reconciliation process. The researchers made an interesting discovery.   “While there was all this positive force and societal healing, it was actually quite psychologically difficult for people who had gone through this process, and they exhibited greater anxiety, greater depression and greater trauma as a result of having gone through the program.” Compared to villages where civilians did not talk to their torturers, there was a 36 percent higher rate of post-traumatic stress.  The findings were published in the journal Science. Dube says war crimes should not be forgotten. But she suggests there may be a way to ease the pain that can result after truth and reconciliation meetings. “They could be combined with ongoing counseling so people have a little bit more preparation for facing some of these negative memories that they're going to face and, possibly, have ongoing counseling afterward to help them work through some of the negative emotions and negative memories that they've been confronted with as a result of going through the process.” The researchers say the process should be changed to better-protect civilians who are hurt when they remember their war experiences.    I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOA’s Jessica Berman reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her 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   reconciliation – n. the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement anxiety – n. fear or nervousness about what might happen exhibit – v. to show or reveal (something) post-traumatic stress – n. a medical condition that follows a traumatic event that a person has experienced work through – phrasal verb to deal with (something that is difficult or unpleasant) successfully  

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