State Fairs: A Deep-Fried Taste of the U.S.

  State fairs are one of the great U.S. summertime traditions. Just ask Don Greiman. He has been going to the Iowa State Fair since just after he was born – 89 years ago. Greiman said state fairs started in the mid-1800s because farmers wanted to have a gathering to show off their produce each year. For example, farmers that raised cows wanted to see how their cows compared to the cows of their neighbors. Over time, state fairs evolved into bigger events. Much bigger events. “The women thought, say, you know, our husbands are proud of their livestock. We’re sort of proud of our baking and cooking and maybe garment-making. So we ought to have a little fair, too. And that’s how fairs started. And then somebody could maybe play a fiddle or a little entertainment with it. And that’s how it sort of evolved. And they decided, ‘Well, hey, let’s make this an annual event.”  Today, some state fairs average over 100,000 visitors per day. The nation’s most popular fairs – including the one in St. Paul, Minnesota – attract almost 2 million visitors each year. Most state fairs run for a little more than a week between August and October. They have craft exhibits, lots of live music, games and rides like roller coasters and Ferris wheels. Some even have wine tastings, beer gardens, or competitions to see who can bake the tastiest cake or make the best sculpture out of butter. Above all, state fairs have a lot of interesting food. Consider a bucket of chocolate chip cookies at the state fair in Minnesota, fried butter at the Texas State Fair or a pork chop on a stick at the fair in Iowa. “We have 72 foods on a stick now, that seems to be the rage,” said Greiman of Iowa. “Corn dogs, butter on a stick, Oreos on a stick.”  “You name it, we’ve just about got it on a stick.” New York: The Deep-Fried Guy Eating is one of the most popular activities at state fairs around the country. It is where some of the most interesting cooking techniques and food creations are found. Jim Hasbrouck owns one of the popular food stands at the New York State Fair, which takes place from August 25-September 5 this year. His stand is called Fried Specialties. But he may be better known as the deep-fried guy. That is because he will put just about anything in batter and fry it in oil. He sells fried peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fried pickles, fried jellybeans, fried candy bars and even fried lasagna. He has 35 items on the menu. “Everything’s fry-able. Everything. I’ve done everything up to whiskey. Fruits. I’ve done everything. Everything’s fry-able. It’s all in the process, how you do it. If you want to take your time and come up with a process and you can toy with it, you can make it happen.” This year, he has a special fried creation. It is called The Harvester. The sandwich includes mashed potatoes, stuffing, fried turkey and other items that recall the U.S. holiday of Thanksgiving. Hasbrouck loves frying food so much that he sold his construction business and devoted himself to making fried items. “This is what we do full-time now,” he said. Hasbrouck attends multiple fairs and festivals each year. But he is from New York and loves being at the New York State Fair. “My blood gets flowing and I feel like a kid again. It’s just a great thing. And I don’t think you can go wrong with going to a state fair.” Texas: Fried Jesus If you want to visit the king of all fried items, it is a good idea to pack your bags for Texas. That is where you will find Abel Gonzales. Some people call him Fried Jesus. The State Fair of Texas runs for almost a month, from September 30 to October 23. It is located in the city of Dallas. Gonzalez impressed food critics from all over when he came up with fried butter in 2009. His creation was so good that the newspaper in Dallas wrote that he should be named “Texan of the Year.”  Fried butter is a sweet square of butter that is rolled in batter. It is then fried. The result is something like a bite-sized bread roll, with the butter already melted inside. Gonzales won the fair’s food competition for his fried butter. He went on to be featured on television shows and in food magazines. Can a sausage win an election? State fairs can also be a good place for politicians to meet the people they represent. The New York Times has a story of the New York State Fair in 2000. In that year, Hillary Clinton was campaigning to become a senator. Clinton and her husband, then-president Bill Clinton, stopped at a well-known food stand at the New York State Fair for a sausage sandwich. The first couple happily ate one sandwich each, according to the story. They posed for photos and joked with voters and reporters. But Clinton’s top rival for the senate position did not eat the sandwich when he was offered one. Clinton went on to win the election two months later. If you like music, you will love the fair Musical performers attract a lot of people to state fairs. The fair hires popular singers or bands to perform and draw more people to the fairgrounds. Here are some of the well-known performers coming to state fairs in the coming months. If you want to see singer and dancer Jason Derulo, you can go to the Iowa State Fair on August 14. Dolly Parton will sing at the Ohio State Fair on August 2. Bruce Hornsby will be at the New York State Fair on August 28. Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato are at the Minnesota State Fair on August 31. State fairs have many modern parts these days. But at its core, Don Greiman of Iowa says the event still aims to bring a variety of people together for a few days of fun. He says the state fair is a way for “our city cousins to look at the animals, because they don’t have the opportunity to see them every day like we do. To try different food than usual – not everybody has a corn dog or butter on a stick. And then of course the entertainment. There’s something at the fair you can’t see every day.” I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. Would you go to a state fair? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   produce – n. fresh fruits and vegetables; items grown by farmers raise – v. to keep and take care of (animals or crops) evolve – v. to keep and take care of (animals or crops) craft – n. an activity that involves making something in a skillful way by using your hands live music – n. music performed in front of an audience rides – n. a large machine at an amusement park, fair, etc., that people ride on for enjoyment beer garden – n. an outdoor restaurant or pub for drinking beer technique – n. a way of doing something by using special knowledge or skill corn dog – n. a hot dog dipped in a cornmeal batter, rolled and fried. Usually served on a stick Oreo – n. a chocolate cookie with a white cream filling batter – n. a mixture of flour and a liquid (such as egg, oil, or water) that is used to cover food before it is fried lasagna – n. a type of Italian food that has layers of flat noodles baked with a sauce usually of tomatoes, cheese, and meat pickle – n. a cucumber that is preserved in salt water or vinegar toy – v. to experiment with something cousin – n. a child of your uncle or aunt

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2ajRqXU
via IFTTT

Former Iraqi Kurd Fighter Turns to Wine Making

Nabaz carefully poured red wine into a glass, then another glass. He set the bottle down and looked at the small group of people he had never met. Then, he offered them his wine. This was the first time that Nabaz himself had offered his homemade alcohol to others. "I was a little anxious to see the reaction," he said later. "Obviously this to me is a work of art, and all art depends on how people see it and evaluate it." For Nabaz, the small gathering has special meaning. The wine tasting event was, in some ways, a triumph. "I felt this was extending a hand of friendship, of offering something unique from Kurdistan, and offering something for the very first time by Iraqi Kurdistan to the outside world," he said. Nabaz and modern Kurdish history The Iran-Iraq War lasted from 1980 to 1988. During that period, some Kurdish militants in Iraq sided with Iran. Then-Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein ordered his forces to take steps to punish the Kurds. In a seven-month offensive, between 50,000 to 100,000 Kurdish villagers died or disappeared. Nabaz had studied civil engineering while in school. Yet he decided to leave engineering behind and fight against Saddam Hussein’ forces. He joined the Kurdish fighters in the mountains for eight years. "It was the most meaningful period of my life," he said. It was during the time in the mountains that Nabaz noticed Kurdistan's grape crops. Most of the grapes were used to make juice or raisins. Nabaz loved wine, and decided to explore different ways to produce it. For the past six years, he has experimented with different grapes and different wine-making processes. Now he has his own wine, which he calls "21 Rays". The name comes from the rays of light on the Kurdish flag -- and the strong sunlight that shines on the area. Nabaz says wine lovers in London have praised his product. But in Kurdistan, "21 Rays" remains a secret. Stores do not sell his wine. The grape growers do not know that Nabaz uses their fruit for wine. Only Nabaz's close family know about his wine making. Wine is sold in Kurdistan, but usually only in Christian neighborhoods. Nabaz's family is Muslim. Observant Muslims do not make, sell, or drink wine. If members of Nabaz's extended family knew that he made wine, they would not approve. Respect for Islam keeps Nabaz from selling his wine, but fear also plays a role in his decision. "Daesh is only a few tens of kilometers away," Nabaz said. "One has to be discreet." Daesh is the local name for Islamic State fighters. Nabaz plans to produce a few hundred bottles of wine after the upcoming harvest. He does not use machines; instead, his close family members take the grapes and crush them. For now, "21 Rays" will remain a secret in Kurdistan, known only to a few. I’m John Russell.   "Nabaz" is not the real name of the Kurdish man in this report. His name has been changed at his request. Sharon Behn wrote this story for VOANews.com. John Russell adapted her story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   evaluate – v. to judge the value or condition of (someone or something) in a careful and thoughtful way unique – adj. used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else grape – n. a green, dark red, or purplish-black berry that is used to make wine or is eaten as a fruit role – n. a part that someone or something has in a particular activity or situation triumph – n. a victory or success

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2ajP23I
via IFTTT

Everyday Grammar: Past Unreal Conditionals

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2aH8cUH
via IFTTT

Large Windows Could Capture Solar Energy

Solar cells have been around since the 1950s. But now there is a race to develop transparent solar cell that can cover windows of buildings and still capture the sun’s light for electricity. Different kinds of light from the sun There are three kinds of light that reach our planet from the sun. They are ultraviolet light, or UV, visible light, and infrared light. Together they make up what is called the solar spectrum. Troy Townsend is a solar cell researcher at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.  He says working with the transparent solar technology for windows means you cut the efficiency in half. That is because you are letting visible light—light you can see—pass through the solar cells instead of capturing and using that light to make electricity. That leaves only light from the ultraviolet and infrared parts of the light spectrum to make electricity. He spoke to VOA via Skype. “One of the major challenges with transparent solar cells is developing a system that would allow you to absorb the maximum amount of UV and the maximum amount of infrared.” Because glass absorbs UV light, Townsend says the efficiency will drop even more, if the solar cell is on the inside of the window. But if the cell is put on the outside of the window, it could capture the light before it goes through the glass.  That would require the cell to be protected from the elements of heat, moisture, and cold. Townsend says the trick would be to find a clear material that would cover the cell—and still let the light come through. Developing Photovoltaic Cells for Windows Several colleges and private laboratories are working to develop photovoltaic compounds that could be applied to windows. They would be transparent, which means, you can see through them. So they would be able to collect the sun’s energy without blocking the view through the window. SolarWindows Technologies in Maryland says it has developed an efficient transparent solar cell. John Conklin is head of the company. “We have actually taken a technology, organic photovoltaics, and innovated it into transparent technology, applied it to window glass and turned a passive window into an active electricity generating window.” Conklin says a solar window can be totally transparent. Or it could be tinted, or colored, which makes it more efficient. "We can make the color darker or lighter, or blend the colors to go with the blue-green, a green-grey, a brown, depending on what the architect, the building owner or the building developers is looking at.” Conklin says his company is working with the U.S. Department of Energy to test and develop the technology. And he plans to have a commercial-ready product by the end of 2017. If he is successful, Conklin says his electricity-making window could pay for itself in one year. According to a 2012 survey, there are 5.6 million commercial buildings in the U.S. They have more than 8 billion square meters of windows. Even if only a part of that glass could collect power from the sun, it could greatly lower the need for polluting fossil fuels. I’m Anne Ball. George Putic reported on this story for VOANews.com. Anne Ball reported and adapted this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and find us on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   transparent – adj. something that you can see through efficient – adj. capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy photovoltaic – adj. generating electricity directly from sunlight by a an electronic process naturally occurring in semiconductors innovate – v. to introduce as if new architect – n. a designer of buildings potential – adj. capable of becoming real renewable energy – n. energy that is collected from resources which are naturally replenished, like sunlight, wind, rain, waves fossil fuels – n. energy sources from fossils that include oil, coal and natural gas that are non-renewable

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2ajPKhi
via IFTTT

At the US-Mexico Border, Many Depend on Trade

Immigration and border security are two major issues in the United States’ presidential election campaign. The candidates of the two main parties have voiced different ideas about border security. The Republican Party’s candidate, Donald Trump, has proposed to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party’s nominee, has taken aim at that proposal. On July 22, President Barack Obama hosted his Mexican counterpart, President Enrique Peña Nieto, at the White House. The idea was to publicize the good relations between the two countries. Americans living near the Mexican border have as many different views as those voiced at the recent U.S. political conventions. Some want to continue good relations with Mexico. They want to keep the boundary area secure. They also want to increase business with their neighbors on the other side of the border. For example, goods and people cross between Nogales, Mexico, and the U.S. city of Nogales, Arizona, at the new Mariposa inland port. Many Mexicans with visas pass through the crossing station to buy goods or work on the U.S. side. There is a long wait on both sides of the line, and a large barrier has been built along the border there. The Reverend Randy Mayer is a migrant rights activist. He says many Mexicans decide to stay in Mexico when they see the crossing. “What happens here along the border is that commerce and business is almost stopped, and what should be a multi-billion dollar industry is actually suffering.” Cross-border commerce continues to help Nogales and also the city of Tucson, Arizona, which is about 100 kilometers to the north. Mike Varney is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce. He supports a balance between border security and commerce. “We want to keep bad people and bad things out of our country, but at the same time, we don’t want to put the brakes on cross-border trade...” Varney points out that Mexicans seem to add a lot to the local economy. “Mexican citizens come to the Tucson area and spend about a billion dollars a year in our stores and our hotels, buying all kinds of services and products here.” However, Varney says companies that do business across the border are even more important. These include companies that open headquarters or special offices in Tucson to direct cross-border manufacturing projects. Import-export businesses also are important to the area’s economy. Varney is frustrated by the way the border issues is discussed in national news stories. “Economic expansion and job growth just doesn’t have the sizzle that a drug bust does, but obviously we cherish the international trade that we enjoy here in Arizona, and we want to do everything we can to expand that...” Many Arizonans blame illegal immigration for suppressing wages in the United States. And they say illegal immigrants increase education and health care costs, and violent crime. Voters in Arizona have supported proposals to limit immigration. But Varney notes that business leaders have lobbied for less restrictive measures. “It’s a mix of politics; it’s a mix of trade and economy; it’s a mix of international relations, so it is a complicated recipe and we need to pay attention to all the ingredients that go into that recipe.” He says there are even more possibilities for bilateral trade and commerce once other border crossing stations are completed and fully operational. Mexico is America’s third largest trade partner. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative says trade between the two countries is valued at more than $580 dollars. Mexico is currently the second largest export market for U.S. goods and services. I’m Mario Ritter.   VOA correspondent Greg Flakus reported this story from Tucson, Arizona. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   counterpart – n. one of two people with the same position or job, but who are from another government, group or business commerce – n. business, the exchange of goods and services frustrated – adj. blocked from reaching a goal, discouraged lobby – v. to make an effort to influence the government to make a decision to support an industry, company, or movement recipe – n. a set of directions to make something, often food

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2aH29zG
via IFTTT

Lesson 23: What Do You Want?

Summary Anna and her boss go on a trip around the world. That is, they eat foods from around the world. What will they find? Speaking In this video, you can practice saying the new words and learn about counting when you give someone change. Pronunciation In this video, you can learn about three informal English expressions: outta, yep, and whaddaya. Conversation   Anna: Washington, D.C. has great food from all over the world. Anna: Today I’m having lunch with my boss. Ms. Weaver says we’re going on a trip around the world. But she knows I only have an hour for lunch! Silly woman. Jonathan:  Hi, Anna! Anna: Hi Jonathan! Hey, we are meeting Ms. Weaver for lunch at noon, aren’t we? Jonathan:  Yes. Anna: What time is it now? Jonathan:  11:50. Anna: 11:50! We have to go!   Anna: So, where is this world food restaurant? Caty: We’re not eating at a restaurant. Anna: Where are we eating? Caty: We are eating at ... food trucks! Anna: Food trucks … awesome! What’s a food truck? Caty: These are food trucks! Anna: Wow!   Jonathan:  Whoa! Caty: Okay, Jonathan, you will buy the first dish. Here is $10. Surprise us! Jonathan:  Okay, I’ll be back in 15 minutes. Anna: What country do I want to visit? Caty: Anna, you pick the second country. Here is $10. Anna: I want chicken. Caty: The food truck, over there, has great chicken. Anna: Awesome! Caty: After you buy your food, meet me here. Jonathan:  Excuse me, I’ll have the shrimp. Jonathan:  Oh, you’re out of shrimp. Okay, I’ll have the beef then. Anna: Hello. I want the chicken dish. Truck worker: We're out of chicken. Anna: You're out of chicken. Worker: Yep. Anna: I’ll try another food truck. Thanks! Worker: You're welcome. Jonathan:  Okay, here is your change. The dish is $7. So, here is  1, 2, 3 dollars back from your 10. Caty: Great. Jonathan:  Where’s Anna? Is she dancing by that food truck? Caty: Yes. Yes, she is. Anna: Ms. Weaver, here is your change. The dish costs $5. So - $5   back. Caty: Thanks, Anna. But where is the food? Anna: I’m eating it. The Peruvian chicken is delicious! Try some! (Caty and Jonathan shake their heads “no”) Caty: Well, we still have $8! What do you want now? Anna: We can buy dessert!    Caty: I’ll buy dessert. Anna: In Washington, D.C., you can travel around the world … with food trucks! And it does not cost a lot. Anna: Until next time!   Writing Anna and her co-workers are going out for lunch together. What do you usually have for lunch on a weekday? Describe it and send us a photo if you can! Send us an email or write in the Comments section. Use the Activity Sheet to practice writing and talking about money and change. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Respond. In many everyday situations, we have to respond to what we hear. Speaking English as a second language might make it hard for you to respond quickly. The strategy respond is part of listening actively. After listening to what the other person says, you respond on the same topic.  In the video, Jonathan listens to the food truck worker. She says they are out of shrimp. Jonathan responds. First, he repeats the sentence, "Oh, you're out of shrimp." That shows he understands. Second, he asks for a different dish. "I'll have the beef, then." When you talk with someone in English, how do you usually respond? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.   Listening Quiz ​______________________________________________________________ New Words   after - adv. following in time or at a later time beef- n. meat from a cow or the meat of the chicken used as food cost - v. to have (an amount of money) as a price delicious - adj. very pleasant to taste dessert - n.sweet food eaten after the main part of a meal dish - n. food that is prepared in a particular way hour - n. one of the 24 equal parts of a day; 60 minutes minute - n. a unit of time equal to 60 seconds; one 60th of an hour noon - n. the middle of the day;12 o'clock in the daytime only - adv. no more than pick - v. to choose or select (someone or something) from a group shrimp - n. small shellfish that has a long body and legs and that is eaten as food trip -n. a journey to a place truck n. a very large, heavy vehicle that is used to move large or numerous objects ​_____________________________________________________________ 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 learn how to talk about America coins and money. 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: Using want to express desires Topics: Asking the time; Counting back change; Time and Punctuality Learning Strategy: Respond Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Counting change, Reduced form of "out of;" Reduced form, "whaddaya;" Informal agreement using "yep." ______________________________________________________________ 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.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2aB2jG5
via IFTTT

What’s Next in America’s Unpredictable Presidential Race?

No one seems to know what to expect in the 100 days before American voters elect a new president. “There’s never been an election like this,” said presidential historian Jeffrey Engel. He directs the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University in Texas. On one side, there is Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party’s candidate for president of the United States. She is the first woman nominated for the office by a major U.S. party. The former secretary of state has promised to unite Americans to overcome economic problems and the terrorism threat. On the other side is businessman Donald Trump, the candidate of the Republican Party. Trump competed for the Republican nomination earlier this year as an outsider. He promises “to make America great again.” He has promised strong action to fight terrorism, illegal immigration and crime. High Negatives for Both Both candidates face high negatives from likely voters in the November 8 elections. When asked, many Americans have questioned, disapproved of or rejected their positions. Only 31 percent of likely voters have a favorable, or good, opinion of Clinton, compared to 34 percent for Trump. Those numbers come from a CBS News poll taken after the Republican national convention, but before the recent Democratic convention. Joshua Scacco is a political scientist at Purdue University in Indiana. He says many American voters have expressed concern about the Republican nominee. He said they ’’don’t see him having the commander-in-chief qualities” to deal with complex world problems. If elected, Trump would be the first president without military or government experience, noted Jeffrey Engel, the presidential historian. Joshua Scacco said Trump’s Democratic opponent faces questions about trust. He noted that the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation said Clinton had been careless handing emails as secretary of state. Scacco said she must persuade voters she can improve employment and the fight against terrorism after being part of government for so long. Both candidates played up their opponent’s negatives at their party conventions. Trump called Clinton a “world class liar,” who cannot solve America’s problems. Trump said only he had the skills and toughness needed. Clinton questioned whether Trump has “the temperament to be Commander-in-Chief.” She said he used bankruptcy laws to avoid paying debts, leaving “working people holding the bag.” Different Views of America’s Status The two candidates have very different ideas of America. “Our convention occurs at a moment of crisis for our nation,” Trump said. “The attacks on our police, and the terrorism in our cities, threaten our very way of life. Any politician who does not grasp this danger is not fit to lead our country.” Clinton was more upbeat. “So don't let anyone tell you that our country is weak,” she said. “We're not. Don't let anyone tell you we don't have what it takes. We do. And most of all, don't believe anyone who says, ‘I alone can fix it.’” Over the next three months, the candidates will campaign almost daily -- mostly in swing states. These are states that can swing from (the) Democratic to the Republican side, or back the other way, from one election to the next. There are plans for three presidential debates during the election campaign this fall. There also will be a debate for the vice presidential candidates -- Indiana Governor Mike Pence for the Republicans and Virginia Senator Tim Kaine for the Democrats. The debates will be broadcast nationwide so voters can watch the candidates defend their positions and question their opponent. Supporters Confident Clinton and Trump supporters say they are hopeful about the November elections. Public opinion surveys show a close race. Bob Livingston, a Republican and former congressional leader, said voters like Trump’s strong opinions. They trust Trump to negotiate trade agreements that will produce jobs in America, he said. “Some people are bent out of shape about his comments,” Livingston said. “That includes a few Republicans. But Donald Trump is speaking to blue-collar people who haven’t voted Republican in the last 30 years. They feel he’ll fight for them.” Gary Mauro is leading the Clinton campaign in Texas. He said many speakers at the Democratic convention, notably President (Barack) Obama and his wife Michelle Obama, corrected the “false image that Hillary is cold and not trust worthy.” “As for Trump, I don’t think he can keep telling people that we need change and that only 'I can bring about that change' and not say how he’s going to do it,” Mauro said. “I don’t think that can work for the long term.” Past Predictions Were Wrong But predicting who will win is risky. Many political observers were wrong about the year-long nominating process Democrats and Republicans used to choose their candidates. Few saw Bernie Sanders, the senator from Vermont, fighting so hard and so long against Clinton for the Democratic nomination. And many experts predicted a Republican with more political experience than Trump would win the party’s nomination. Wayne Steger teaches political science at DePaul University in Illinois. He said the 2016 presidential campaign has been unusual. But this is not the first time two major party candidates faced mostly negative opinions from voters. Steger noted that, in 1992, Hillary Clinton’s husband Bill had to answer questions about his trustfulness. The future president was asked about having relationships with women other than his wife while he served as governor of Arkansas. His opponent, then President George H.W. Bush, also had a trust issue because he agreed to a tax increase after saying at the 1988 Republican convention, “Read my lips. No new taxes.” Clinton won the election, helped by Ross Perot, an independent candidate for the presidency. Perot won almost 19 percent of the votes, taking support mostly from Bush. Smaller parties are also nominating candidates for the presidency. Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson received 11 percent in the recent CBS poll, taking equal support from Democrats and Republicans. I’m Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported this story for VOA Learning English. His report was based on a VOA story by Chris Hannas and other reporting. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   poll -- n. an activity in which several or many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to get information about what most people think about something temperament -- n. the usual attitude, mood, or behavior of a person bankruptcy -- n. a condition of financial failure caused by not having the money that you need to pay your debts holding the bag -- a phrase that means stuck with the costs of a job or material grasp -- v. to understand swing state -- n. a state that has voted for candidates of different parties bent out of shape -- a phrase meaning angry or annoyed by something read my lips -- a phrase that means people should pay attention to what you are saying  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2aSyNKy
via IFTTT

Experts: Zika Could Infect 93 Million in Americas

  Health experts have a new warning about Zika virus. They say the virus will keep spreading before the Zika epidemic finally ends. The experts say a new model shows a very large number of people could become infected before then. The model is a project of researchers from England, Sweden and the United States. They estimate the Zika virus could infect over 93 million people in South America, North America and the Caribbean. The model projects 1.6 million young women could be infected. Experts say a woman who is infected during the early months of her pregnancy is at risk of giving birth to a baby with microcephaly. A baby born with microcephaly has a small head and brain. The condition causes mental and physical disability, seizures and sometimes death. But experts say not every pregnant woman infected with Zika will give birth to a child with severe birth defects.  The Associated Press says the Zika virus is spreading quickly in South America and the Caribbean. Infected mosquitoes can pass the infection to humans. Over 1,400 cases of the Zika virus have been reported in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control. The Zika study was published in the journal Nature Microbiology. It is the most detailed estimate to date about the spread of the virus. In developing their study, researchers used information from past epidemics of two other viruses: dengue and Chikungunya. Dengue is in the same virus family as Zika. Chikungunya is also spread by mosquitoes. The viruses can cause headaches, muscle pain and higher than normal body temperature. But 80 percent of people who contract Zika have no symptoms.  Researchers also examined data on blood tests from people who have been infected with Zika. That gave them information to predict the rate of transmission at the local level. Unique model The model took into consideration how an event called herd immunity can change the number of infections. Herd immunity happens when a disease or virus can no longer spread because so many people are infected. When that happens, others are protected against the disease. “So really there’s going to be a large proportion of the population that remains uninfected after the [Zika] epidemic," said Alex Perkins. Perkins is one of the researchers who took part in the study. He added the epidemic will die off before it can infect everyone. There is currently no vaccine to protect people against Zika virus. The World Health Organization declared the virus a public health emergency earlier this year. I’m Marsha James   Jessica Berman wrote this story for VOA News. Jim Dresbach 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   epidemic – n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people symptom – n. a change in the body or mind which indicates that a disease is present transmission – n. the act or process of spreading or passing something from one person or thing to another defect – n. a part that is missing or misshaped project – v. to plan or estimate something

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2a7ZtKp
via IFTTT

Open a Window, It's Smoky in Here!

Now, VOA Learning English program, Words and Their Stories. On this show, we are like word detectives. And like a good detective, we uncover the stories behind common phrases in American English. Today we will investigate phrases and expressions that use the word “smoke.” Police officers and detectives often share a problem while investigating a crime. They may catch someone they suspect is guilty. But they cannot send the person to prison unless they can prove guilt to a judge or jury. That is why police will often say they are searching for “a smoking gun.” The smoking gun is evidence that proves a person’s guilt. The expression gets its name from the smoke that rises from the gun after it is fired. The person holding the gun may try to deny they fired it. But anyone seeing the smoke knows the weapon was used. And if someone is lying dead across the room with a bullet wound, the smoking gun proves who did the shooting. The writer Arthur Conan Doyle knew about smoking guns. He used the expression in 1893 in one of his stories about the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. In the story, a group of sailors rebel against the captain of a ship. Sherlock Holmes and others find the captain lying over a map, dead. Standing across from him is a clergyman with a gun in his hand. And not just any gun: a smoking gun. The clergyman has just shot the captain! The smoking gun proves he is not a man of God, but a murderer. However, there does not have to be a murder for there to be a smoking gun. In recent years, the expression “smoking gun” has come to mean any strong piece of evidence. In the early 1970s, for example, many Americans suspected President Richard Nixon was covering up illegal activities by his aides. However, the president denied involvement in any crime. And there was no firm evidence tying him to criminal activity. In the end, the Nixon White House gave Congress tape recordings that proved he had tried to hide information about the illegal activities. The release of the tapes forced him to resign from office. Both politicians and the press called these Nixon’s smoking gun. They firmly tied him to a break-in at the Watergate building in Washington. Americans still call them Nixon’s smoking-gun tapes. A politician or anyone involved in illegal activities can use a smoke screen to hide behind. In the military, a “smoke screen” is a cloud of smoke created to hide military operations. In conversation, a “smoke screen” is something that you do or say to take attention from something else or to hide your real purpose or intention. If a smoke screen doesn’t work, you may want to use smoke and mirrors to hide your criminal behavior. Years ago, magicians would use smoke and mirrors to fool their audiences. These days in conversation "smoke and mirrors" is anything people do to try and fool someone else. However, if you are trying to hide a crime, your opponents or the police may try to smoke you out. To smoke someone out means to try to get them to come out of hiding. This comes from the practice of actually using smoke to make people leave an area. "Smoke out" can also mean to bring someone or something into public view. The media is usually quick to smoke out a scandal. In the Watergate scandal, two Washington Post reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, were the primary people responsible for smoking out Nixon’s role in the cover up. Even when Woodward and Bernstein did not have the tapes in their possession, they probably knew very early that something was wrong. As we say, “where there’s smoke, there fire.” This expression means that if unpleasant things are said about someone or something, there is probably good reason for it. You may also hear it said this way: “There isn’t smoke without fire.” After the public found out about the smoking-gun tapes, all the work Nixon tried to do during his presidency went up in smoke. If something goes up in smoke it is all wasted. When most people think of Nixon, they think of Watergate. And that brings us to the end of this Words and Their Stories. If you learned even one new expression on this program, your time with us did not go up in smoke. It was not wasted! Join again next time as we explore more American English on Words and Their Stories. I’m Anna Matteo.   Anna Matteo and David Jarmul wrote this Words and Their Stories. George Grow was the editor. At the end, The Platters presented the song, "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes." ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   detective – n. a police officer whose job is to find information about crimes that have occurred and to catch criminals : a person whose job is to find information about something or someone

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2aAli56
via IFTTT

Film Shows Effort to Stop Tribes from Killing Children

  Filmmaker John Rowe discovered a secret after many visits to the Omo River Valley in Ethiopia: people there thought some children were “cursed.” Villagers blamed the children for sickness, a lack of rainfall and other problems. So they killed them. The Omo Valley is a place of beauty. It is home to villagers with customs that date back many generations. Rowe says the villagers believe that if a child’s teeth first appear on the upper gum instead of the lower part of the mouth, the child is cursed and must be killed. He says children are also killed when they are born to a woman who is not married, or if they are disabled or are twins. Rowe heard about this belief from Lale Labuko, the man who helped him during his visits to the Omo Valley. Rowe made a documentary film about the practice. He called the film “Omo Child.” Labuko says that when he was 15 years old, he saw a two-year-old child being drowned in a river. His mother told him that he had two sisters who were killed before he was born. In the film, a woman says 15 of her children were considered cursed. She says when they were born, older members of her village took them and fed them to crocodiles. In the film, Labuko says “I want to stop these things.” Labuko was the first member of his village to be educated. He asked Rowe to help him end the killings. First, he persuaded some young villagers, then families and leaders of the village. Rowe’s son Tyler filmed the documentary over a five year period. He says it was not easy. He says some people admitted they had killed their children. But others said children were not killed. Tyler says some villagers told him, “It doesn’t happen here. We stopped it a long time ago. It only happens (in another village, not here.)” Labuko’s work caused people to begin speaking out about the practice. His tribe agreed to ban the killings in 2012. Rowe’s documentary shows Labuko’s efforts. A charity group created by Labuko and his wife has saved more than 40 children. They now live in a home in Jinka, Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government has banned the practice, but Rowe says “there are two other tribes that continue to” kill children. But because of the film, more people know about the killings and the efforts of one man to stop them. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOA Correspondent Mike O’Sullivan reported this story from Los Angeles. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   twin – n. either one of two babies that are born at the same time to the same mother charity group – n. an organization that helps people who are poor, sick, etc.  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2aSyijW
via IFTTT

English in a Minute: Suck the Air out of the Room

What does it mean if a person "sucks the air out of the room?" Find out in this week's English in a Minute!

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2ahVecq
via IFTTT

Convention Speeches of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton

The Republican and Democratic parties both recently held their national conventions. They officially nominated their candidates for the office of President of the United States. Listen as each candidate explains what is important to them and their political parties in this election.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2aDQIse
via IFTTT

New 'Star Trek' Movie Out as Series Celebrates 50 Years

Last week the latest movie in the “Star Trek” series was released. “Star Trek Beyond” made close to $60 million in ticket sales. Although it led movie openings in earning that weekend, it made less than the opening of the last film in the series, “Star Trek Into Darkness.” But critics and movie goers have praised the new movie. Movie business experts expect the film to do well overall. And it does not hurt that the release comes during the 50th anniversary year of the birth of “Star Trek.” It began as a television series in September 1966. The show was set in the future. Each week it told stories of the crew on the spaceship USS Enterprise. Actor William Shatner played Captain James T. Kirk, the Enterprise commander. The ship was on a five-year mission to explore space. Week after week, fans watched the Enterprise crew "boldly go where no man has gone before." In real life, at the time, space exploration was going strong.  Russia had launched Sputnik I in 1957. The American Space Agency, NASA, was preparing to send men to the moon. But “Star Trek” was as much about the real social issues of the time as it was about the fictional future. Huge societal changes were taking place in the U.S. in the 1960s. Series creator Gene Roddenberry was a progressive thinker. By placing his show in space, he was able to explore civil rights, women’s rights, population control and the ethics of war while American troops were fighting in Vietnam. The show’s presentation of the possible technology of the future also appealed to television viewers. Michael Caruso is the editor-in-chief of Smithsonian magazine. The magazine recently held “The Future is Here Festival,” in Washington, D.C. Caruso says the 1960s television show influenced real-life science. “‘Star Trek’ has inspired a tremendous number of new technologies," he said. "There are all kinds of inventions and discoveries that have come out of “Star Trek” and other science fiction.” “Star Trek” was not an immediate moneymaker. NBC studios canceled the show after three seasons. But it remained on television in the form of reruns around the world. It began to gain fans. They began to demand the continuation of the series. Shatner and other cast members were becoming famous. Move to the big screen In 1979, “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” was released to national and international markets. By then, Roddenberry’s creation had exploded in popularity worldwide. Shatner said the speed of success was not expected. “The concept of making more ‘Star Treks’ in terms of movies occurred. And each movie, they thought that was the last one. So nobody had any idea of the residual popularity that occurred.” Five more “Star Trek” films followed with the original crew. “Star Trek’s” popularity also led to a new TV series with a new cast. Still, throughout the years, millions of fans stayed loyal to the original show and cast. Many were excited when filmmaker and producer J.J. Abrams brought back the original characters in the 2009 special effects blockbuster, “Star Trek.”  Abrams kept close to Roddenberry’s ideas. Filmmaker Justin Lin, known for his work in “Fast and Furious,” directs the latest installment. He chose to move away from the original Roddenberry characterizations. Lin offers exciting special effects and battles in “Star Trek Beyond.” I’m Caty Weaver. Penelope Poulou wrote this story for VOA. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Do you have a favorite science fiction movie or series? Tell us in the Comment Section. Or post a message to our Facebook page. ​ _______________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story fictional – adj. not real: imaginary inspire – v. to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create tremendous – adj.  very large or great occur – v. to happen residual – adj. remaining after a process has been completed or something has been removed blockbuster – n. something that is very large, expensive, or successful    

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2axu16e
via IFTTT

July 29, 2016

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

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2aB9VcV
via IFTTT

Big Bend National Park: A Texas Treasure

  Today on our national parks journey, we head to the far western part of Texas. The landscape here is severe. The Chisos Mountains rise from the desert. The Rio Grande River cuts deep into ancient limestone rock. Cactus plants flower under the intense sun. Welcome to Big Bend National Park. At first sight, Big Bend seems empty of life. But, the park is home to many plants and animals. Over 450 kinds of birds can be found within the park, along with 75 mammal species and more than 50 kinds of reptiles.   The park’s diversity comes from its three different ecosystems. Within the park are mountain, desert and river environments. The Rio Grande sustains the park. The river starts high up in the Rocky Mountains. Melting mountain snow is its main source. It travels more than 3,000 kilometers on its way to the Gulf of Mexico. The river cuts through the dry Chihuahuan Desert. Big Bend National Park contains the northernmost part of this desert. It is the second-largest desert in North America. Much of the desert is south of the border in Mexico. The Rio Grande serves as an international border between the United States and Mexico for about 1,600 kilometers. The park itself shares a border with Mexico for 189 kilometers. The Chihuahuan Desert is the largest ecosystem in the park. Eighty percent of the park is desert. Animals like jackrabbits, roadrunner birds and mule deer live in the Chihuahuan. Many cactus and yucca species thrive. These are succulent plants. Most succulents have thick, heavy leaves that store water. Cacti store water in their stems. High up in the park’s Chisos Mountains, you will find fir and pine trees, aspens and maples. Temperatures here are much cooler than down on the desert floor. The entire Chisos Mountain range exists within Big Bend. It is the only mountain range in the United States that is fully within a national park. Its highest mountains, Emory Peak and Lost Mine Peak, each rise more than 2,000 meters above the hot desert floor.  The woodland environment in the mountains is home to black bears, mountain lions, and gray foxes. It is also home to many kinds of birds. Visitors are drawn to the park because of its rare and unique bird species. One of these is the Colima warbler. These small gray, yellow and red birds arrive at Big Bend in the springtime to mate and nest. Then, they return south to Mexico. In the late summer, mountain sage flowers appear. Hummingbirds -- blue-throated, ruby-throated, magnificent, and Lucifer, and others -- seek out these flowers. Along with its plant and animal life, the park is also rich in cultural history. Archaeological records of humans in the area go back about 10,000 years, beginning with the prehistoric Paleo-Indians.   Later on, the Chisos Indians lived here, as did the Comanche and Jumano people, and other native groups. Spanish explorers began to arrive in the area in the 1500s. They were searching for gold and fertile land. They described this land as “despoblado,” or “uninhabited.” Much of what is now Big Bend National Park was Mexican territory until 1848. Mexican settlers farmed and raised animals here. In the early 1900s, many Anglo-Americans began settling in the area. The creation of Big Bend National Park Big Bend became a national park on June 12, 1944. It covers more than 320,000 hectares. President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the park just one week after D-Day. That is the day American and British troops invaded Normandy, France. As America’s attention centered on World War II, Roosevelt established a new national park for future generations to enjoy. For several years before the park was created, hundreds of men worked to build roads and trails to prepare the area for visitors. They built the 11-kilometer road that leads to the Chisos Mountains Basin. A basin is a large area of the earth’s surface that is lower than the area surrounding it. Today, the basin is a popular place within the park. Visitors can stay in the Chisos Mountain Lodge there or at campgrounds. Many of the park’s hiking trails begin near the basin. One of the most popular is the Lost Mine Trail. It starts near the Chisos Mountain Lodge. The trail goes up sharply through forests of pine, juniper and oak trees. The 8-kilometer-long hike passes by lookout points for viewing Casa Grande Peak, one of Texas’s major mountains. Hikers can also enjoy a view into the park’s Juniper Canyon. More than 300,000 people visit Big Bend each year. Most come between November and April, when the weather is cooler. A favorite way to explore the park is by boat on the Rio Grande. Many tour operators organize rafting trips. Rafting trips take you through many kilometers of beautiful deep canyons. They may last half a day or several days. On longer trips, travelers sleep next to the river in tents. Another way to enjoy the Rio Grande is in its many hot springs. These are places where hot water flows up from underground. The water temperature is over 40 degrees Celsius. The river’s hot springs are said to have healing properties. They hold mineral salts from the earth. Big Bend National Park has offered beauty, excitement and recreational challenge to visitors for more than eighty years. It is a true treasure of Texas, and the larger United States. I’m Caty Weaver. And I’m Ashley Thompson. Ashley Thompson wrote this story for VOA Learning English with materials from the National Park Service. Caty Weaver was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   ecosystem - n. everything that exists in a particular environment sustain - v. to provide what is needed for (something or someone) to exist, continue, etc. thrive - v.​ to grow or develop successfully​ range - n. ​a series of mountains or hills in a line​ mate - v.​ to have sexual activity in order to produce young​ hummingbird - n. ​a very small, brightly colored American bird that has wings which beat very fast​ fertile - adj. able to support the growth of many plants uninhabited - adj. not lived in by people​ rafting  - v. the activity of traveling down a river on a flat boat (called a raft) tent  - n. ​a portable shelter that is used outdoors, is made of cloth and is held up with poles and ropes​

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2aQCFfb
via IFTTT

'The Furnished Room,' by O. Henry

We present the short story "The Furnished Room," by O. Henry. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State.   Restless, always moving, forever passing like time itself, are most of the people who live in these old red houses. This is on New York’s West Side. The people are homeless, yet they have a hundred homes. They go from furnished room to furnished room. They are transients, transients forever—transients in living place, transients in heart and mind. They sing the song, “Home, Sweet Home,” but they sing it without feeling what it means. They can carry everything they own in one small box. They know nothing of gardens. To them, flowers and leaves are something to put on a woman’s hat. The houses of this part of the city have had a thousand people living in them. Therefore each house should have a thousand stories to tell. Perhaps most of these stories would not be interesting. But it would be strange if you did not feel, in some of these houses, that you were among people you could not see. The spirits of some who had lived and suffered there must surely remain, though their bodies had gone. One evening a young man appeared, going from one to another of these big old houses, ringing the doorbell. At the twelfth house, he put down the bag he carried. He cleaned the dust from his face. Then he touched the bell. It sounded far, far away, as if it were ringing deep underground. The woman who owned the house came to the door. The young man looked at her. He thought that she was like some fat, colorless, legless thing that had come up from a hole in the ground, hungrily hoping for something, or someone, to eat. He asked if there was a room that he could have for the night. “Come in,” said the woman. Her voice was soft, but for some reason he did not like it. “I have the back room on the third floor. Do you wish to look at it?” The young man followed her up. There was little light in the halls. He could not see where that light came from. The covering on the floor was old and ragged. There were places in the walls made, perhaps, to hold flowering plants. If this were true, the plants had died long before this evening. The air was bad; no flowers could have lived in it for long. “This is the room,” said the woman in her soft, thick voice. “It’s a nice room. Someone is usually living in it. I had some very nice people in it last summer. I had no trouble with them. They paid on time. The water is at the end of the hall. Sprowls and Mooney had the room for three months. You know them? Theater people. The gas is here. You see there is plenty of space to hang your clothes. It’s a room everyone likes. If you don’t take it, someone else will take it soon.” “Do you have many theater people living here?” asked the young man. “They come and go. Many of my people work in the theater. Yes, sir, this is the part of the city where theater people live. They never stay long any place. They live in all the houses near here. They come and they go.” The young man paid for the room for a week. He was going to stay there, he said, and rest. He counted out the money. The room was all ready, she said. He would find everything that he needed. As she moved away he asked his question. He had asked it already a thousand times. It was always there, waiting to be asked again. “A young girl—Eloise Vashner—do you remember her? Has she ever been in this house? She would be singing in the theater, probably. A girl of middle height, thin, with red-gold hair and a small dark spot on her face near her left eye.” “No, I don’t remember the name. Theater people change names as often as they change their rooms. They come and they go. No, I don’t remember that one.” No. Always no. He had asked his question for five months, and the answer was always no. Every day he questioned men who knew theater people. Had she gone to them to ask for work? Every evening he went to the theaters. He went to good theaters and to bad ones. Some were so bad that he was afraid to find her there. Yet he went to them, hoping. He who had loved her best had tried to find her. She had suddenly gone from her home. He was sure that this great city, this island, held her. But everything in the city was moving, restless. What was on top today, was lost at the bottom tomorrow. The furnished room received the young man with a certain warmth. Or it seemed to receive him warmly. It seemed to promise that here he could rest. There was a bed and there were two chairs with ragged covers. Between the two windows there was a looking-glass about twelve inches wide. There were pictures on the walls. The young man sat down in a chair, while the room tried to tell him its history. The words it used were strange, not easy to understand, as if they were words of many distant foreign countries. There was a floor covering of many colors, like an island of flowers in the middle of the room. Dust lay all around it. There was bright wall-paper on the wall. There was a fireplace. On the wall above it, some bright pieces of cloth were hanging. Perhaps they had been put there to add beauty to the room. This they did not do. And the pictures on the walls were pictures the young man had seen a hundred times before in other furnished rooms. Here and there around the room were small objects forgotten by others who had used the room. There were pictures of theater people, something to hold flowers, but nothing valuable. One by one the little signs grew clear. They showed the young man the others who had lived there before him. In front of the looking-glass there was a thin spot in the floor covering. That told him that women had been in the room. Small finger marks on the wall told of children, trying to feel their way to sun and air. A larger spot on the wall made him think of someone, in anger, throwing something there. Across the looking-glass, some person had written the name, “Marie.” It seemed to him that those who had lived in the furnished room had been angry with it, and had done all they could to hurt it. Perhaps their anger had been caused by the room’s brightness and its coldness. For there was no true warmth in the room. There were cuts and holes in the chairs and in the walls. The bed was half broken. The floor cried out as if in pain when it was walked on. People for a time had called this room “home,” and yet they had hurt it. This was a fact not easy to believe. But perhaps it was, strangely, a deep love of home that was the cause. The people who had lived in the room perhaps never knew what a real home was. But they knew that this room was not a home. Therefore their deep anger rose up and made them strike out. The young man in the chair allowed these thoughts to move one by one, softly, through his mind. At the same time, sounds and smells from other furnished rooms came into his room. He heard someone laughing, laughing in a manner that was neither happy nor pleasant. From other rooms he heard a woman talking too loudly; and he heard people playing games for money; and he heard a woman singing to a baby, and he heard someone weeping. Above him there was music. Doors opened and closed. The trains outside rushed noisily past. Some animal cried out in the night outside. And the young man felt the breath of the house. It had a smell that was more than bad; it seemed cold and sick and old and dying. Then suddenly, as he rested there, the room was filled with the strong, sweet smell of a flower, small and white, named mignonette. The smell came so surely and so strongly that it almost seemed like a living person entering the room. And the man cried aloud: “What, dear?” as if he had been called. He jumped up and turned around. The rich smell was near, and all around him. He opened his arms for it. For a moment he did not know where he was or what he was doing. How could anyone be called by a smell? Surely it must have been a sound. But could a sound have touched him? “She has been in this room,” he cried, and he began to seek some sign of her. He knew that if he found any small thing that had belonged to her, he would know that it was hers. If she had only touched it, he would know it. This smell of flowers that was all around him—she had loved it and had made it her own. Where did it come from? The room had been carelessly cleaned. He found many small things that women had left. Something to hold their hair in place. Something to wear in the hair to make it more beautiful. A piece of cloth that smelled of another flower. A book. Nothing that had been hers. And he began to walk around the room like a dog hunting a wild animal. He looked in corners. He got down on his hands and knees to look at the floor. He wanted something that he could see. He could not realize that she was there beside, around, against, within, above him, near to him, calling him. Then once again he felt the call. Once again he answered loudly: “Yes, dear!” and turned, wild-eyed, to look at nothing. For he could not yet see the form and color and love and reaching arms that were there in the smell of white flowers. Oh, God! Where did the smell of flowers come from? Since when has a smell had a voice to call? So he wondered, and went on seeking. He found many small things, left by many who had used the room. But of her, who may have been there, whose spirit seemed to be there, he found no sign. And then he thought of the owner. He ran from the room, with its smell of flowers, going down and to a door where he could see a light. She came out. He tried to speak quietly. “Will you tell me,” he asked her, “who was in my room before I came here?” “Yes, sir. I can tell you again. It was Sprowls and Mooney, as I said. It was really Mr. and Mrs. Mooney, but she used her own name. Theater people do that.” “Tell me about Mrs. Mooney. What did she look like?” “Black-haired, short and fat. They left here a week ago.” “And before they were here?” “There was a gentleman. Not in the theater business. He didn’t pay. Before him was Mrs. Crowder and her two children. They stayed four months. And before them was old Mr. Doyle. His sons paid for him. He had the room six months. That is a year, and further I do not remember.” He thanked her and went slowly back to his room. The room was dead. The smell of flowers had made it alive, but the smell of flowers was gone. In its place was the smell of the house. His hope was gone. He sat looking at the yellow gaslight. Soon he walked to the bed and took the covers. He began to tear them into pieces. He pushed the pieces into every open space around windows and door. No air, now, would be able to enter the room. When all was as he wished it, he put out the burning gaslight. Then, in the dark, he started the gas again, and he lay down thankfully on the bed. It was Mrs. McCool’s night to go and get them something cold to drink. So she went and came back, and sat with Mrs. Purdy in one of those rooms underground where the women who own these old houses meet and talk. “I have a young man in my third floor back room this evening,” said Mrs. Purdy, taking a drink. “He went up to bed two hours ago.” “Is that true, Mrs. Purdy?” said Mrs. McCool. It was easy to see that she thought this was a fine and surprising thing. “You always find someone to take a room like that. I don’t know how you do it. Did you tell him about it?” “Rooms,” said Mrs. Purdy, in her soft thick voice, “are furnished to be used by those that need them. I did not tell him, Mrs. McCool.” “You are right, Mrs. Purdy. It’s the money we get for the rooms that keeps us alive. You have the real feeling for business. There are many people who wouldn’t take a room like that if they knew. If you told them that someone had died in the bed, and died by their own hand, they wouldn’t enter the room.” “As you say, we have our living to think of,” said Mrs. Purdy. “Yes, it is true. Only one week ago I helped you there in the third floor back room. She was a pretty little girl. And to kill herself with the gas! She had a sweet little face, Mrs. Purdy.” “She would have been called beautiful, as you say,” said Mrs. Purdy, “except for that dark spot she had growing by her left eye. Do fill up your glass again, Mrs. McCool.”   Download activities to help you understand this story here. Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. If a person you loved left you without saying goodbye or telling you where they were going, would you go looking for them? How hard would you try to find them? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   transient(s) – n. a person who does not have a permanent home and who stays in a place for only a short time before going somewhere else garden(s) – n. an area of ground where plants such as flowers or vegetables are grown doorbell – n. a hollow usually cup-shaped metal object that makes a ringing sound when it is hit inside a house or building that is rung usually by pushing a button beside an outside door ragged – adj.  in bad condition especially because of being torn chair(s) – n.  a seat for one person that has a back and usually four legs looking-glass – n. a piece of glass that reflects images wall-paper – n. thick decorative paper used to cover the walls of a room fireplace – n. a specially built place in a room where a fire can be built finger – n. one of the five long parts of the hand that are used for holding things weep(ing) – v. to cry because you are very sad or are feeling some other strong emotion corner(s) – n. the point or area where two lines, edges, or sides of something meet gaslight – n. a device that uses gas as fuel to produce light

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2ax9wXy
via IFTTT

Australian Team Moves Into Athlete’s Village

When the Australian athletes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, arrived last weekend for the Olympic Games, they got a surprise. The team’s housing in the athlete’s village was not ready. Some of the hallways were dark, electrical wiring had not been covered, the toilets did not work and sinks were blocked. But, after four days at a hotel, the Australian athletes finally moved in on Wednesday. Olympic organizers agreed that some buildings were not ready for occupancy after some disagreements between representatives of the Australian Olympic team and the mayor of Rio de Janeiro. Eduardo Paes is Rio’s mayor. Earlier this week, he said that the Australian athletes might feel more comfortable if he placed a kangaroo at the door. But by mid-week, the city and the Australian team were on better terms. Kitty Chiller is the head of the Australian Olympic delegation. She said the athletes’ village is one of the best she has seen. She also said that the athletes may face other issues with the housing in the village, but “it is just a matter of dealing with them as best we can, in good humor.” Chiller and members of the Australian team met with Mayor Paes on Wednesday. She brought him a small kangaroo toy. He presented the Australians with a ceremonial key to the city. Paes apologized for his comment about the kangaroo. He told a Brazilian television broadcaster it was “a bad joke.” He also said that he would be cheering for Australia at the Olympic Games, along with Brazil’s team. ABC, Australia’s public broadcaster, reported that the Australian athletes even took the mayor’s advice. They placed both a stuffed animal kangaroo and an emu by their front door. An emu is a large bird that cannot fly. It is only found in Australia. Argentina has also expressed concern about the housing for its athletes. But the Rio Olympic organizers said that 630 people are working all day and all night so the village will be ready for the athletes. The opening ceremony is August 5. But, some soccer games begin earlier, on August 3. Thomas Bach, the head of the International Olympic Committee, said there are always small problems that must be solved just before the games begin. “We always had confidence in Brazil, in the Brazilians, that it will be a fantastic Olympic Games,” he said. I’m Dan Friedell.   Aline Barros wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Do you think the problems with the athlete’s village are over? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   sink – n. a wide bowl that has a faucet for water and a drain at the bottom and is usually positioned in a counter or on a pedestal fantastic – adj. extremely good

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2aDhyAs
via IFTTT

English @ the Movies: 'Watch Their Back'

Our English @ the Movies phrase this week is from the movie "Captain America: Civil War." This movie is about the superheros known at The Avengers. The phrase is "watch their back." Does it mean someone is in danger? Listen and find out.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2ag1260
via IFTTT

1300 UTC Newscast from July 29

From Washington, this is VOA News. I’m Steve Karesh reporting. In Philadelphia, Hillary Clinton accepted the Democratic Party's nomination for president on Thursday night. “…And so my friends, it is with humility, determination and boundless confidence in America’s promise that I accept your nomination for president of the United States…" Clinton is the first woman ever nominated for president by a major U.S. political party. She won the nomination after defeating her principal rival, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, in a state-by-state process of primary and caucus votes.  Despite Sanders giving his endorsement in his own speech at the convention this week, one of her challenges is to appeal to the group of his supporters who say they won't vote for her.  Clinton's principal challenger in the general election is Republican nominee Donald Trump. She attacked and mocked him in her speech... “If you dare imagine, imagine him in the Oval Office facing a real crisis, a man you can bait with a Tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons…” Reaction to Clinton's speech has been predictably partisan. Michelle Obama said she was inspired by the address, while the Trump campaign called it detached from reality. While in Poland on Friday, Pope Francis silently walked beneath a notorious sign at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. More than a million people, most of them Jews, were killed at the camp by Nazis during World War II. Later, he met individually with elderly survivors of the camp. Afterwards, he placed a large white candle at the Death Wall where prisoners were executed. Francis is the third consecutive pope to visit Auschwitz in southern Poland. From Washington, this is VOA.   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2aiEsrn
via IFTTT

Clinton Calls for Unity to Face Challenges

Hillary Rodham Clinton accepted the presidential nomination at the Democratic Party National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She spoke to the cheering crowd about the need to unite to deal with the nation’s challenges. "It truly is up to us.  We have to decide whether we will all work together so we can all rise together." Clinton is the first woman to receive a major party nominee for president in the United States. The 68-year-old Clinton won the nomination after defeating her main opponent, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Sanders declared his support for Clinton in an earlier speech at the convention. Now she faces the challenge of gaining similar support from his supporters before the November election. In her acceptance speech, Clinton praised Sanders for his campaign, its appeal to young people and its call for economic and social justice. "I want you to know I've heard you," Clinton said. "Your cause is our cause." Clinton's main opponent in the general election is Republican Party nominee Donald Trump. Both candidates suffer from negative perceptions among voters, as many public opinion studies have shown during the past year. Those same studies show about 30 percent of voters view Clinton as untrustworthy. However, one Gallup poll found her to be the country's most admired woman. Clinton said Thursday that Trump wants Americans to fear the future and each other. She criticized Trump's proposals including one to build a wall along the Mexico-US border and another to ban Muslims from entering the country. "We will not build a wall. Instead, we will build an economy where everyone who wants a good job can get one. And we'll build a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants who are already contributing to our economy. We, we will not ban a religion, we will work with all Americans and our allies to fight and defeat terrorism." Clinton called on Americans to consider Donald Trump’s “temperament.” “He loses his cool at the slightest provocation. When he's gotten a tough question from a reporter. When he's challenged in a debate. When he sees a protestor at a rally. Imagine, if you dare, imagine, imagine him in the Oval Office facing a real crisis. A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons.” Chelsea Clinton introduced the Democratic Party nominee. She described her mother as “driven by compassion, by faith, by kindness, a fierce sense of justice and a heart full of love.” The crowd also heard from Khizr Khan, an American Muslim whose son was killed in U.S. military service. “Donald Trump, you are asking Americans to trust you with their future,” Khan said. “Let me ask you, have you even read the United States Constitution? I will gladly lend you my copy.” Trump and his campaign have described the Democratic Party convention speakers as painting too pretty a picture of the state of the nation. "I've been watching these speeches at night, and boy am I getting hit," Trump said at an event Thursday in Iowa. "I am getting hit and they don't mean it and there's a lot of lies being told," he said. Voters will make their choice on November 8. The new president will take office on January 20, 2017. I’m Caty Weaver. Caty Weaver wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page.​ ______________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story challenge – n. a difficult task or problem: something that is hard to do perception – n. the way you think about or understand someone or something poll – n. an activity in which several or many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to get information about what most people think about something admire – v. to feel respect or approval for (someone or something) temperament – n. the usual attitude, mood, or behavior of a person or animal provocation – n. an action or occurrence that causes someone to become angry or to begin to do something bait – v. to try to make (someone) angry by using criticism or insults  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2aBA0cG
via IFTTT

July 28, 2016

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

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2azYROB
via IFTTT

Clinton’s Long Path to the Democratic Nomination

  After losing the Democratic nomination to Barack Obama in 2008, Hillary Clinton said, "Although we were not able to shatter that highest and hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you it has 18 million cracks in it." Eight years later, Clinton received the Democratic Party’s nomination at their convention in Philadelphia. The former first lady, senator and secretary of state is now looking to shatter the ultimate glass ceiling to become president of the United States. Her main opposition is businessman Donald Trump, a first-time candidate for political office. Trump won over 16 other candidates to win the Republican nomination. The general election will be held on November 8 this year. Unexpected challenge on the way to the nomination Hillary Rodham Clinton was expected to win the Democratic nomination easily when she announced her candidacy on April 12, 2015. Many well-known Democrats, including Vice President Joe Biden, chose not to run against Clinton. Clinton, however, faced an unexpectedly strong challenge. The senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders, attracted many supporters during the Democratic primaries. Tens of thousands turned out to hear Sanders’ messages of income inequality, making college tuition free and regulating big businesses. At the same time, Clinton had to answer questions from Congress about her role as secretary of state during the attack in Benghazi. Four Americans, including a U.S. ambassador, were killed in the 2012 attack in Libya. The committee who examined the case said the U.S. government did not provide enough security to protect the diplomatic post. But it did not hold Clinton responsible for the failure. However, during the hearing about Benghazi, it was found that Clinton had used a private email server to conduct official business as secretary of state. Clinton, like many other government officials, was required to use a government server for work communication. Faced with a series of investigations, including one from the FBI, Clinton said using the private server was a mistake. The FBI found no evidence that Clinton intentionally used the private server to send or receive classified documents. But the FBI director criticized Clinton for being “extremely careless” in handling the information. Clinton’s background Clinton was born on October 26, 1947 in Chicago. Her father, Hugh Rodham, was a successful owner of a small business selling drapes. Her mother, Dorothy, was abandoned as a child and sent to live with relatives. Clinton frequently says her mother’s experience as a child inspired her to “fight for the needs of children everywhere.” After high school, Clinton attended Wellesley College, an all-women’s school in Massachusetts. Then she went to Yale Law School in Connecticut, where she met her future husband, Bill. The two classmates moved to the southern state of Arkansas and got married in 1975. Their child, a daughter named Chelsea, was born in 1980. Bill Clinton was elected attorney general and eventually became governor of Arkansas. As the state’s first lady, Hillary Clinton served on several committees on education, children and families. She also worked as a partner for the private Rose Law Firm. During Bill Clinton’s campaign for president in 1992, critics questioned his wife’s decision to continue working while serving as the first lady of Arkansas. Hillary Clinton replied, “I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was to fulfill my profession, which I entered before my husband was in public life." As first lady of the United States, Clinton remained active in politics. She is well known for leading a failed effort to establish universal health care. A similar program was later established under President Obama. In 1998, Bill Clinton faced impeachment for charges related to a sex scandal with a White House intern. But the U.S. Senate did not convict him. Bill Clinton remained in office. Hillary Clinton wrote in her autobiography, Living History, that she was “heartbroken” over her husband’s actions and considered leaving the marriage. She added, "The most difficult decisions I have made in my life were to stay married to Bill and to run for the Senate from New York....” In 2000, Clinton became the first woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate from the state of New York. Six years later, Clinton launched her own campaign for the presidency. That time she lost the Democratic nomination to Barack Obama, a junior senator. Clinton then joined the Obama administration as his secretary of state. In her career, Clinton has addressed many issues, including rebuilding New York after the September 11 terrorist attacks, negotiating with Iran, and providing better health care benefits to people who serve the public. But she is best known for improving the lives of children and women. 
In 1995, she declared at a U.N. World Conference of women, “human rights are women’s rights.” Earlier this year, after clinching the Democratic nomination in her second run for the presidency, Clinton reflected on her mother, Dorothy Rodham, during a victory speech in Brooklyn. “I wish she could see what a wonderful mother Chelsea has become and could meet our beautiful granddaughter, Charlotte, and, of course, I wish she could see her daughter become the Democratic Party’s nominee.”   Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   shatter – v. to break suddenly into many small pieces glass ceiling – n. an unfair system or set of attitudes that prevents some people (such as women or people of a certain race) from getting the most powerful jobs convention – n. a large meeting of people who come to a place for usually several days to talk about their shared work or other interests or to make decisions as a group intentionally – adv. done in a way that is planned or intended drapes – n. long heavy curtains intern – n. a student or recent graduate who works for a period of time at a job in order to get experience clinching – n. making certain the winning of (something)

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2aNCLUL
via IFTTT

Chinese Rocket Lights Up Night Sky in Western US

  This is what’s Trending Today… People in the western United States could not believe their eyes Wednesday night when, high in the sky, a bright streak of light appeared. Many people took photographs or made videos of the mysterious object in the sky. Within minutes, some posted their videos on social media. ​ The strange fireball streaks were seen in parts of Nevada, Utah and California.   Some people thought it was a meteor shower. After all, the Delta Aquarids meteor shower can be seen in many areas in the night sky this week. ​ But, as the U.S. Strategic Command confirmed, these bursts of light were not from small rocks traveling through outer space. They came from a Chinese rocket re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. A spokeswoman for the Strategic Command told the Associated Press that remains of the Chinese Chang-Zheng (C-Z) 7 rocket re-entered the atmosphere at around 9:36 p.m., California time. The CZ-7 was part of China’s new generation of rockets, experts say. The rocket was launched June 25. It was huge, weighing over 5 tons. One Twitter user commenting about the event Wednesday night was Harvard astronomer Jonathan McDowell. He said it was rare for such large objects to re-enter the atmosphere.     But the CZ-7 is not the biggest object to re-enter in 2016, he noted. Part of a Russian rocket that came down over Vietnam in January was even larger. Experts say the Chinese rocket does not present a danger to people on the ground. And that’s What’s Trending Today. Ashley Thompson adapted this report from the Associated Press, with additional reporting. George Grow was the editor.  _______________________________________________________ Words in This Story   streak - n. a long, thin mark that is a different color from its background​ meteor shower - n. a large number of rocks or metal pieces that burn and glow brightly in the sky as they falls from outer space into the Earth's atmosphere astronomer - n. a person who studies the stars, planets, and other objects in outer space

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2ahOPis
via IFTTT

UN: World Temperatures Rising Faster Than Predicted

  The United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization says the first half of this year has been the hottest in recorded history. Scientists say that shows temperatures are rising faster than they expected. The UN agency warned last week that if temperatures continue rising, 2016 will be hottest year ever recorded. The agency reported that June was the 14th consecutive month of record high heat for land and oceans. It was also the 378th consecutive month with temperatures above the 20th century average. David Carlson is with the World Meteorological Organization’s climate research program. “What we’ve seen so far for the first six months of 2016 is really quite alarming.” UN climate experts say the record heat this year suggests that the Earth can warm up faster than expected in a much shorter time. Carlson notes that the Earth’s Northern Hemisphere -- which includes Alaska, Canada and Russia -- has had unusually warm temperatures. “I think we're very uncomfortable at how much this surprised us, which might be just a little more cautious way of saying ‘fearful about what happens next.’ If we got this much surprise this year, how many more surprises are ahead of us?” Scientists say carbon dioxide emissions -- which they believe are responsible for rising temperatures -- have also reached new highs. Doug Parr is the chief scientist at the environmental group Greenpeace. “What the WMO (scientists) are showing is that temperature is going up along with the increases in carbon dioxide. There’s really no doubt that these global warming gases are causing the kind of changes that we're seeing in increased temperatures, threats to the Arctic and threats to the Greenland ice sheet and so on. So there's really no time to waste in getting on and doing something about it.” Representatives of 200 governments will meet in November in Morocco to start enforcing the Paris Agreement. The agreement limits climate change to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The goal will not be easy to reach. Segolene Royal is the French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. “We have this moral obligation between the Paris Agreement (reached in December), the 22nd of April signing, and now the November meeting to ensure that at least 55 countries, representing 55 percent of world emissions of greenhouse gases, ratify the Paris agreement.” Some scientists warn that even if that goal is reached in November, it may be too little too late. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOA’s Zlatica Hoke reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the 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   meteorology – n. a science that deals with the atmosphere and with weather consecutive – adj. following one after the other in a series : following each other without interruption alarming – adj. causing (someone) to feel a sense of danger; causing worry or fright uncomfortable – adj. causing a feeling of being embarrassed or uneasy cautious – adj. careful about avoiding danger or risk emission – n. the act of producing or sending out something (such as energy or gas) from a source doubt – n. a feeling of being uncertain or unsure about something ice sheet – n. a very large and thick area of ice that covers a region  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2a2Zy21
via IFTTT

Congo's Small Miners Fill Hole Left by Big Businesses

  As large mining companies in the Democratic Republic of Congo are eliminating jobs, government officials are expanding the role of small miners. Officials are permitting member-owned groups to mine 10 square kilometer plots of land that belong to the state-owned mining company.   The government usually does not permit this kind of small-scale mining. But it is trying to maintain the country’s economy as commodity prices drop. Government officials are also trying to put the country in a good position if the price of cobalt rises. Cobalt is used to make batteries for electric vehicles. Its value is expected to rise 45 percent in the next four years. About half the world’s supply of cobalt is in the DRC. Chinese buyers Yet poor local workers say that foreign buyers are the ones who are making most of the money. They accuse businessmen from China and Lebanon of dominating the market. The workers say the businessmen artificially reduce prices and adjust their instruments to make the ore appear less valuable. At one market, miners and traders said almost all of the 140 businesses that buy ore are Chinese. A man named Louis is one of the buyers there. He is Chinese. When he heard the miners’ complaints, he said, “Those who are happy with the price sell the product. Those who aren’t, leave.” Dangerous conditions Some workers in the DRC hope the member-owned groups will improve the situation for local diggers and traders. Alain Chinois, who is Congolese, leads a cooperative with 34 members. Under his plan, diggers will earn 60 percent of the income from the mine. Cooperative members share the rest. He expects this arrangement to result in better working conditions, equipment, and access to capital. For example, he says his group can request a loan from a bank. But, he acknowledges, foreign buyers with money to invest will continue to have a major influence. Stany, 42, is a miner in southeastern Congo. He is a father of five children. He left a job on a farm nearly 10 years ago to go to work in the copper mines of the Congo. The mine where Stany works includes member-owned cooperatives. But research by Amnesty in 2013 still documented deadly accidents and mistreatment of workers. “I do this because there is nothing else. If something else came along, I would do it,” Stany said. Others express the same idea. Despite the problems with small-scale mining, few people in the DRC see better alternatives to it in the near future. I’m John Russell.   This story was adapted from a report from Reuters. Jim Dresbach adapted this story for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   commodity – n. something that is bought and sold cobalt – n. a hard, shiny, silver-white metal that is often mixed with other metals copper – n. a reddish-brown metal that allows heat and electricity to pass through it easily battery – n. a device that is placed inside a machine to supply it with power ore – n. rocks, earth, etc., from which a valuable metal can be taken cooperative – n. a business or organization that is owned and operated by the people who work there or the people who use its services

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2a2Z4Ja
via IFTTT

Grab Onto Phrasal Verbs

Welcome back to Everyday Grammar from VOA Learning English. Today we look at a very common verb form in English – phrasal verbs. There are over 5,000 verbs that fall in this category. Do you know how to use them? In this episode, we will introduce this type of verb and help you understand how and why English speakers use them. In future episodes, we will give more information about the different kinds of phrasal verbs. Phrasal verbs in history Our story begins back when other languages - French and Old Norse - began to influence Middle English. That period started with the invasion of the British Isles in 1066 by William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy. There were small particles, or prefixes, placed before verbs in Middle English to change their meaning. One that we still use is for as in forlorn. The word lorn in Old English meant lost. Adding the prefix for created forlorn, meaning to be lonely or sad. As time went by, these prefixes started to disappear. Some reappeared as adverbs, separate words that came after the verb. William Shakespeare, who wrote many plays between 1589 and 1613, is a well-known writer of the time. His works, written in Early Middle English, include over 5,744 phrasal verbs. Formal language and phrasal verbs In Modern English, we use phrasal verbs more often in informal language. The reason for that practice goes back to the time when French influenced English. English speakers thought that French words, or words of Latin origin, were polite or cultured. When you want to speak more formally, you can use a single word of Latin or French origin instead of most phrasal verbs. For example, the phrasal verb look over can be replaced by review. As English learners know well, daily conversation in English is almost never formal. So feel free to use phrasal verbs when you speak English in everyday settings. Another general fact about phrasal verbs is that British English uses different ones from American English. At one time, British English speakers used phrasal verbs much less often than American English speakers. Now, the Oxford English Dictionary lists many phrasal verbs in common use in British English. The structure of phrasal verbs Let’s start with the basic structure of phrasal verbs. A phrasal verb is a phrase with two or more words: a verb and a preposition or adverb or both. An example is in this sentence:        “I looked up my cousin’s phone number.” The verb is look, and up is the adverb. The phrasal verb look up means “to research” or “search for”. Some phrasal verbs allow an object to separate the phrase.        “I didn’t know the number so I had to look it up.” Here, the pronoun it stands for the object, number. Other phrasal verbs have to stay together. You can say you care for someone with the phrasal verb look after as in:        “I looked after Andy’s dog while he was on vacation.” But you cannot say, “I looked his dog after while he was on vacation.” The first two kinds of phrasal verbs we looked at have two words. The next kind has three words. For example,        “I put up with the noise of my neighbor’s party because I knew it was his   birthday.” Here, the phrasal verb put up with means tolerate. The verb put is followed by the particle up and the prepositional phrase with + object (the noise). These phrasal verbs must have direct objects. We cannot say, “I put up because I knew it was his birthday.” Let’s look at some examples.        “Carrie asked me to help out with the cooking.” Here, we can substitute a single verb, assist, for the phrasal verb help out. However, we need to keep the preposition with when we paraphrase the sentence, as in:        “Carrie asked me to assist with the cooking.” Another three-part phrasal verb is look up to. It means admire. We can say,        “She looks up to her sister.” Here, sister is the direct object. We cannot move sister to any other place in the sentence, as in “She looks her sister up to.” How to identify a phrasal verb Learners may be confused because there are combinations of verbs and prepositions that look like phrasal verbs. How do you tell the difference? A regular verb + preposition combination has two meanings. Take the sentence,        “I looked up at the sky.” Here look means view and up means in a higher direction. On the other hand, a phrasal verb has a single meaning. We saw look up earlier, meaning “research.” Another test is whether you can move the object. You cannot say, “I looked the sky up,” with the meaning “I gazed upwards at the sky.” So if you want to test whether a combination of words is a phrasal verb, ask these questions:        Can I substitute a single word for a two-word phrase?               The answer should be “yes.”        Can I remove the direct object in a three-word phrase?               The answer should be “no.” In the next Everyday Grammar, we will take a closer look at phrasal verbs that can separate from the adverb. Listen for such a phrasal verb in this song by Beatles. Hint: it means to “solve” our problems. Try to see it my way Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong While you see it your way There's a chance that we may fall apart before too long We can work it out We can work it out For Learning English Everyday Grammar, I’m Jill Robbins.   Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   prefix - grammar. a letter or group of letters that is added at the beginning of a word to change its meaning adverb – grammar. a word that describes a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or a sentence and that is often used to show time, manner, place, or degree informal – adj. (of language) relaxed in tone; not suited for serious or official speech and writing preposition – grammar. a word or group of words that is used with a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show direction, location, or time, or to introduce an object object - grammar. a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun that receives the action of a verb or completes the meaning of a preposition tolerate – v. to allow (something that is bad, unpleasant, etc.) to exist, happen, or be done Now it’s your turn. Write a sentence that uses a phrasal verb in the Comments section. ​

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2akZrL8
via IFTTT