Study: Fitness Trackers Accurate for Heart Rate, Not Calories

If you think your fitness tracker on your wrist is giving you a good excuse to eat that sweet treat, you may want to think again. A recent study from the Stanford University School of Medicine says fitness trackers are not accurate at tracking calories. The study says, however, that the trackers are accurate at measuring heart rate. The Stanford researchers examined measurements recorded when people were at rest and while they exercised. “People are basing life decisions on the data provided by these devices,” said Euan Ashley, one of the study investigators. The study looked at seven fitness trackers worn on the wrist: They were Apple Watch, Basis Peak (version 1), Fitbit Surge and Microsoft Band (version 1). The others three were Mio Alpha 2, PulseOn, and Samsung Gear S2. Sixty participants of both sexes wore up to four trackers on their wrists as they sat, and as they exercised on a treadmill and a stationary bike. The participants were a mix of sizes and fitness levels. The trackers measured the heart rates and energy used, or calorie burn, in activities from sitting to a slow walk to a run. They also tested people cycling at different speeds. Professional medical instruments measured participants’’ heart and breathing rates as well as temperature and blood pressure. The researchers compared the fitness tracker measurements to those of the “gold standard medical instruments. Energy expended (EE) The final report on the study was published last week. It found that none of the trackers met what researchers considered an acceptable error rate for energy use measurement. The acceptable error rate is five percent or less. The researchers wrote that the Fitbit Surge was the most accurate tracker of energy use. It had a 27.4 percent average error rate. The study found the PulseOn to be the least accurate tracker, with a 92.6 percent error rate. The error rate was higher for males than for females with all fitness trackers tested. The average error rate for all the trackers studied under all forms of exercise was four percent higher for males than for females. Heart rate (HR) The good news is the tested fitness trackers were accurate at measuring heart rate. All but one of the trackers met the acceptable error rate limit in heart rate measurement. Of the trackers studied, the Apple Watch was the most accurate at measuring heart rate, with an average error rate of two percent. The Samsung Gear S2 was the least accurate with an average error rate of close to seven percent.   Study findings For both the measurement of energy used and heart rate, the researchers said “the Apple Watch had the most favorable error profile while the Samsung Gear S2 had the least."   More information The Stanford researchers are continuing their investigation of fitness trackers. Next, they will test participants wearing fitness trackers during their daily lives and while exercising outside a laboratory. The full study is available online at The Journal of Personalized Medicine. I’m Caty Weaver.   The Journal of Personalized Medicine, Accuracy in Wrist-Worn, Sensor-Based Measurements of Heart Rate and Energy Expenditure in a Diverse Cohort. A summary of the study can be found at Stanford University News Center, Fitness trackers accurately measure heart rate but not calories burned. *Chart and graph images courtesy of Stanford University School of Medicine via Creative Commons   Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Catherine Kelly Weaver was the editor. Do you wear a fitness tracker on your wrist? Do you think fitness trackers accurately measure heart rate and energy expended? Do you make decisions based on your fitness tracker? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   fitness tracker - n. a wearable device or a computer application that records a person’s daily physical activity, together with other data relating to their fitness or health, such as the number of calories burned, heart rate, etc. accurate - adj. able to produce results that are correct calorie ​- n. a unit of heat used to indicate the amount of energy that foods will produce in the human body stationary ​- adj. not moving : staying in one place or position error ​- n. something that is not correct  profile ​- n. a brief written description that provides information about someone or something

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Deadly Bomb Attack in Afghan Capital

A bombing in Afghanistan’s capital killed at least 90 people and injured hundreds more Wednesday morning. The bomb was hidden in a truck designed to carry sewage. It exploded in the center of Kabul, near a number of foreign embassies.  The Reuters news agency said it was one of the worst bombings in a city where terrorism is an ongoing threat. Afghan government officials reported the number of casualties Wednesday night -- more than 12 hours after the explosion. Officials warned that the number of deaths might grow because of the large number of injuries. Alef Ahmadzai drives vehicles equipped for taking the injured to medical centers. He told the Associated Press “I have been to many attacks, taken wounded people out of many blast sites, but I can say I have never seen such a horrible attack as I saw this morning.” Most of the victims appeared to be civilians, Reuters reported. Victims included women and children, said a spokesman of the public health ministry. But the dead also included Afghan security guards, including nine guards working at the United States Embassy. The U.S. State Department said 11 American contract workers were wounded in the attack. ‘Felt like an earthquake’ Mohammed Hassan, 21, was attending training at a bank close to the area where the truck exploded. “It felt like an earthquake,” he told Reuters. Hassan had a bandage covering his head wound. But blood covered his white dress shirt. The bomb hit the diplomatic area of Kabul, damaging many embassy buildings and vehicles. There were no early claims of responsibility. The Afghan Taliban denied responsibility. The group criticized all attacks on civilians. Warnings of attacks Security agencies in Afghanistan had been warning that militants were planning attacks on major targets for the start of Ramadan. The Muslim holy month began last week. Horia Mosadiq is a researcher for the human rights group Amnesty International. She said, “The bombing in Kabul is a horrific act of violence and a heartbreaking reminder of the toll that Afghan civilians continue to pay in a conflict where armed groups deliberately target them and the government fails to protect them.” Mosadiq said the explosion shows that the long war in Afghanistan is far from over and appears to be widening. Some Afghans went on social media to question if foreigners care about the continued violence they face. “Bombings in Afghanistan and the world is silent like usual,” tweeted a woman known as Afghan Meezus. “People wonder why we're prideful people. Because we suffer in silence and alone.” A man in Iraq, where there have also been recent bombings, wrote back to her. “Iraq feels your pain & we stand…with Afghanistan till the end!” The bombing took place near the entrance to the German embassy in Kabul. It injured several embassy workers, according to German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel. Pictures showed the embassy building with its windows wrecked by the explosion. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called the explosion an “inhuman and cowardly attack” against innocent civilians during Ramadan. In Washington, a State Department official said the attacks "once again show the terrorists' complete disregard for human life." I’m Jonathan Evans.   Ayaz Gul reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted this story for Learning English, with additional reporting from the Associated Press and Reuters. 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   blast - n. an explosion bandage - n. a covering (such as a strip of cloth) that protects or supports part of the body that has been hurt reminder - n. something that causes you to remember or to think about something toll - n. the number of people who are killed or injured in an accident, disaster, or attack deliberately - adv. in a way that is meant, intended, or planned cowardly - adv. afraid in a way that makes you unable to do what is right or expected disregard - n. to ignore something or the causes of your action casualty – n. someone lost through death, wounds or injury sewage – n. refuse liquids or waste  

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UN: Yemen Has World’s Worst Food Crisis

  The United Nations humanitarian chief says Yemen has the largest food crisis in the world. Stephen O’Brien told the U.N. Security Council this week that more than 17 million people in Yemen struggle every day to find enough food to eat. He warned that 7 million of them are “one step away from famine.” Yemen’s civil war started more than two years ago. Government forces are fighting Houthi rebels. O’Brien noted that the food crisis is man-made. He blamed the conflict for famine, disease and death. The fighting has affected food production, especially agriculture and fishing. Food prices have increased. One in four Yemenis cannot pay for food from local markets. Gulf Arab supporters of the government have blocked Yemen’s main port. The blockade has slowed delivery of humanitarian aid and fuel. Yemenis are at risk of getting infected with diseases because of the famine. Currently, Yemen is trying to keep cholera from spreading. O’Brien said that cholera has affected an estimated 60,000 people and killed 500 people. He said it may cause another 150,000 cases over the next six months. O’Brien said the civil war is responsible for the latest outbreak of cholera. He praised the United Nations and its humanitarian partners because they are trying to contain the spread of the disease. In addition, less than 45 percent of Yemen’s medical centers are operational. And the end of the conflict is not in sight. U.N. Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed told Security Council members that the country is far from a comprehensive agreement. Ahmed said that the main parties are not willing to accept or discuss compromises that are needed for peace. He said their unwillingness is “extremely troubling.” Ahmed said that he failed to get an agreement to stop an attack on the Red Sea port of Hodeidah. The port is the main entry point for fuel and humanitarian aid. Also, over one million government workers have not received wages in months. That has forced families into poverty. It has added to Yemen’s economic crisis. The special envoy has not escaped the violence. His vehicle was attacked in Sana’a while traveling from the airport to the U.N.’s offices. U.N. officials have called for an investigation into the incident. I’m Dorothy Gundy.   Olivia Liu adapted this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   famine – n. an extreme lack of food; a great shortage of food delivery – n. the act of taking something to a person or place outbreak – n. a sudden start or increase of fighting or disease comprehensive – adj. covering completely party – n. a person or group taking part in an action   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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China Invests in a Small Illinois Town

Editor's Note: VOA reporters recently traveled to rural areas along the Mississippi River to speak with the "forgotten men and women" who are supporters of President Donald Trump. They spoke to farmers, factory workers, and retirees in largely white, Christian middle class communities. This is one of their stories.     Josh Kness works at the Mount Carroll Home Center in the American state of Illinois. The home center sells many products for home improvement, tools and farm supplies. Kness grew up in Mount Carroll, the capital of Carroll County, Illinois. He has helped farmers find what they need for the past 15 years. Kness understands the business of farming. He says the drop in grain prices over the past two years has hurt farmers and slowed sales at the store. “It’s pretty simple,” he said. “If they don’t got money, they don’t shop -- I mean, they are not fixing as many fences. They are not buying anything new. They are just not spending.” Businesses in small towns and rural areas depend on spending by farmers. If farmers reduce their spending, nearly everyone feels the effect. Any reduction affects the local feed and fertilizer store, soil testers, druggists, and the car and truck salesman. But Kness says farmers in Carroll County understand that there are good years and bad years in agriculture. “They are itching to get back in the fields again,” he said. Kness believes farmers cut back on spending last year because they were not sure about who would be elected president. He says Donald Trump’s victory “left a lot of people shook up.” But he said most people -- even many who did not vote for Trump -- seem willing to give him a chance to succeed. Kness said people in his community do not listen to the political debates in Washington very closely. He said even fewer people are interested in international events, although local farmers sell a lot of their corn to other countries. There are few immigrants living in Mount Carroll, but Kness said many foreigners pass through it in the summer. The Mississippi River forms the western edge of Carroll County, and there are many places along the river to visit. Kness said he has seen many Chinese tourists during the warmer months. He said some come to his store to buy bait for fishing. Kness said the Chinese have made investments in businesses in the area and purchased some buildings in Mount Carroll. “I wonder what they are really doing,” he said with a smile. China has invested heavily in American agriculture in recent years. The Chinese have bought farmland and agriculture-related industries. In 2012, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) accused seven Chinese nationals of stealing highly developed specialized seeds in Illinois and Iowa. The FBI accused them of attempting to smuggle the seeds out of the country. Economic development officials working with Chinese investors say such incidents are rare. They note that China has invested billions of dollars in the United States. They say those investments have added more than 80,000 jobs to the U.S. economy.   VOA Correspondent Greg Flakus reported this story from Mount Carroll, Illinois. 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   shop – n. to visit places where goods are sold in order to look at and buy things fence – n. a structure like a wall built outdoors usually of wood or metal that separates two areas or prevents people or animals from entering or leaving itch – n. a constant and strong desire for something or to do something shook up – adj. upset; surprised; angry bait – n. something (such as a piece of food) that is used to attract fish or animals so they can be caught smuggle – v. to move (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly  

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Social Media Rushes to Translate Trump’s 'Covfefe' Tweet

This is What’s Trending Today. Donald Trump sent out one of his most popular tweets as president just after midnight on Wednesday. It was not about jobs or “fake news.” It was about “constant negative press covfefe.” It was retweeted and liked hundreds of thousands of times before he deleted it around 6:00 in the morning. Suddenly, social media was filled with people wondering how to pronounce the word. And others tried to figure out what it meant. Some people thought President Trump was in the middle of writing a message and sent it by accident. Later on Wednesday morning, Trump wrote: “Who can figure out the true meaning of “covfefe”??? Enjoy!”  The dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster has been known to correct Trump’s misspellings and mis-use of words on Twitter. With this latest “covfefe,” someone who writes tweets for the dictionary publisher wrote: “Wakes up. Checks Twitter… Uh…Regrets checking Twitter. Goes back to bed.” Based on the context, many thought it should have been “coverage,” instead of “covfefe.” But that did not stop people from teasing Trump about the tweet. The New York Times opinion writer Charles M. Blow wrote: “And just before you serve it, you hit it with a dash of #Covfefe.” Blow included a video that appears to show Trump adding a dash of salt to food.  Other people thought “covfefe” might be a good replacement for product names. One person wrote “Don’t talk to me before my morning ‘covfefe.’” Late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel, a comedian who writes jokes for a living, was sad about “covfefe.” He wrote: “I’ll never write anything funnier than #covfefe.” Some people replaced words from famous songs with the new word “covfefe.” Others created new Twitter profiles with the word “covfefe,” including those of a fictional wizard and warrior. The two got into a Twitter battle with each other, each saying they were the ones “summoned” by Trump’s tweet. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. What do you think “covfefe” means? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   figure out – v. to understand or find (something, such as a reason or a solution) by thinking context – n. the words that are used with a certain word or phrase and that help to explain its meaning dash – n. a small amount of something that is added to something else — usually singular comedian – n. a person who performs in front of an audience and makes people laugh by telling jokes or funny stories or by acting in a way that is funny : an actor who plays roles that make people laugh summon – v. to order (someone) to come to a place

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US Successfully Test Anti-Missile System

  The United States Defense Department says it has successfully tested a defense system against an intercontinental ballistic missile. The test involved two separate missile launches. The military launched an intercontinental ballistic missile or ICBM from the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. It also launched a missile from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California to intercept the ICBM. Defense officials say the test was a success. They said the second missile struck and destroyed the ICBM over the Pacific Ocean. “The intercept of a complex threat-representative ICBM target is an incredible accomplishment,” said Vice Admiral Jim Syring, director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. Cedric Leighton is a crisis management expert and a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer. He told VOA that the test both sends a message and shows technological gains. “From a diplomatic standpoint, it’s a tremendous message, and from a technical standpoint it shows that there are possibilities of actually mounting a type of defense that will knock at least some inter-continental ballistic missiles out of the sky before they reach their intended targets.” He added that, historically, the tests have been about 50 to 55 percent effective. The system tested Wednesday was designed to stop ICBM’s at great distances long before they reach the U.S. The U.S. test took place after North Korea tested a short-range missile on Monday. North Korea said the test was a success. The test angered Japan which said the missile landed in its exclusive economic zone. U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Twitter about the North Korean action. “North Korea has shown great disrespect for their neighbor, China, by shooting off yet another ballistic missile,” he tweeted. However, China has called for North Korea to return to talks over its disputed nuclear weapons and missile programs. The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said the U.S. will continue to pressure China on the issue of North Korea. Haley said the Trump administration believes that China is using back-channel communications with North Korea to persuade it to stop nuclear weapons testing. She said that China and the U.S. are considering increasing restrictions against the country. I’m Mario Ritter.   Chris Hannas and Kenneth Schwartz reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Margaret Besheer reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   intercontinental ballistic missile –n. a large missile able to travel many thousands of kilometers to deliver a warhead intercept –v. to prevent something from reaching the place it is intended to go tremendous –adj. very great type –n. kind, sort intended –adj. something that is the purpose or goal short-range –adj. over a relatively short distance exclusive –adj. available only to one country or one person back-channel –adj. secret, unofficial, or informal   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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India Opens Its Longest Bridge in Northeast

  India has opened its longest bridge in the country’s northeast to strengthen its defenses close to a disputed border with China. The bridge is one of several projects whose construction has been sped up to make it easier for troops and artillery to travel to Arunachal Pradesh state, in the Himalayas. China claims the state as its territory. It calls the area South Tibet. The 9.15-kilometer-long Dhola Sadiya Bridge crosses over the Brahmaputra River. It has been designed to carry the weight of 60-ton battle tanks. The bridge connects Arunachal Pradesh with the northeastern state of Assam. Construction began in 2011. Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the bridge on the day marking his third year in office. He did not talk about possible military uses for the bridge. He said instead that the area will benefit from the bridge. He said it would speed up economic development in both Arunachal Pradesh and Assam states and would help tens of thousands of farmers sell their crops in new markets. Since he took office in 2014, Modi has worked to increase the country’s economic growth through infrastructure projects. They include several projects in border regions of northeastern states that the government says are needed to strengthen India’s defenses. For many years, India did not improve infrastructure in the region because it believed Chinese troops would use it in a war to gain access to areas of India. Indian and Chinese troops clashed briefly in 1962. Negotiations have taken place since then, but parts of their border are still disputed. Dipankar Banerjee is a security expert and former Indian major general. He says that, in the past, experts believed that if India built roads close to the border then the roads “could perhaps be used for (an) offensive purpose by either side. So there was some constraint on building roads.” India hopes to complete a two-lane road by next year to a border area in Arunachal Pradesh, where all military supplies must now be transported by helicopter. Building the road near steep Himalayan mountains has been a difficult engineering problem. Some road-building equipment had to be transported to the area by helicopters. India is also improving landing runways for large military aircraft. Indian experts say the projects will help India in its efforts to match the large transportation network China has built on its side of the border. Banerjee says “China has got much better infrastructure -- that is one of the major issues.” Recently, Home Minister Rajnath Singh called on troops guarding the border to guard against Chinese attacks. “We want peace, but peace with honor. We need to be capable of deterring anyone who may think we are weak,” Singh told members of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police force that guards parts of the border with China. Ties between the two countries have worsened in the past year. Last month, China strongly criticized a visit by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh. It warned that the visit would harm relations with India. I’m Mario Ritter.   Correspondent Anjana Pasricha reported this story from New Delhi. We also used reporting from the BBC. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter 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   infrastructure – n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region or organization to function properly region – n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way constraint – n. something that limits or restricts someone or something deter – v. to prevent (something) from happening  

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Many Internships Offer a Direct Path to Jobs

A survey recently found that Facebook pays its interns $8,000 a month, more than any other American company. The survey was carried out by the website Glassdoor, on which people can post information about job experiences and pay. In second place was Microsoft, which pays its interns $7,100 a month. Oil company ExxonMobil came in third at $6,500. It was one of only a few non-technology companies to make the top 25 list. Amazon and Apple interns earn $6,400 a month, while Google pays $6,000, according to the survey. These internships pay much more than the average American earns. The government estimated the average U.S. pay in 2015 was about $4,000 a month. Paid vs. unpaid internships One thing that has changed over the years is that many companies now use the same methods for recruiting interns as for full-time employees. Ed Koc is the Director of Research, Public Policy and Legislative Affairs for the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). He says companies now come directly to colleges hoping to find interns who will later become permanent employees. “They’re very selective in terms of who they choose to bring on board. Particularly because they want to be able to convert that student into a full-time hire once that internship is over.” This means that students should be preparing for internships in the same ways they would for a real career job. NACE connects U.S. college career service centers and conducts surveys on the job market for graduates. Koc said at companies the organization works with, about 52 percent of interns end up getting full-time jobs. He said research also suggests that interns working in paid internships get hired faster than those who are not paid. “The primary reason for that is that the employers that provided paid internships actually were the ones hiring the students. They were looking at them in a probationary fashion.”   According to a NACE survey, students who completed paid internships with private, for-profit companies received $53,521 in starting pay. Those who took unpaid internships received an average starting offer of $34,375. Another NACE study found that unpaid internships led to decreased levels of job satisfaction. They also resulted in less development of skills than paid internships. But unpaid interns gained a better understanding of their career field and some increased their academic performance, the research showed. William Goodloe is President and Chief Executive Officer of the not-for-profit Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO). He says many companies have found that an internship is a much more valuable recruiting tool than a job interview. “What they find is that interviews are not as reliable as they would like. But if you get to work with someone - observe them for 10 weeks - then you have a much better sense of if you want to ask them back full-time after they graduate from college.” The SEO Career program recruits and trains college students and places them in paid internships. The organization works with “underserved and/or underrepresented” students, including African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans. SEO reports that 80 percent of its interns end up getting full-time job offers. Goodloe noted that one problem with unpaid internships is that they limit the candidates to only those with enough money to support themselves. Co-op programs Besides internships, some schools offer students another kind of work experience, called co-operative (co-op) education. Co-op students balance classroom study with full-time employment throughout the school year. The students are paid by companies while working during extended breaks from academic studies.   The University of Cincinnati (UC), in the Midwestern state of Ohio, started the first American co-op program in 1906. Today, it has partnerships with more than 1,800 companies. Depending on the area of study, most co-op students at UC earn between $12 to $27 per hour. This would be equal to yearly pay of $25,000 to $56,000. Some UC programs, including engineering, design and architecture, require students to complete co-op programs. In others, students can choose between a co-op or internship. Kettil Cedercreutz is the head of UC’s Division of Experience-based Learning and Career Education. As with internships, he says companies now use co-ops as a major recruiting tool. “Right now we have an average of 98 percent placement rate in co-op jobs. Then what happens when they graduate, they have 20 months of practical experience in their major under their belt.” Cedercreutz said co-ops can also be good for students’ academic performance and help them reach their graduation goals.    “In a co-op program they actually do graduate on time. To a very large extent because they learn something in the classroom and then they go out in industry and get to apply it - and they get to sort of digest it.” UC also operates international co-op programs in which students study languages and then go to work at companies in Japan, Germany and Singapore. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Tell us about your own experiences with internships. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   intern – n. student or recent graduate who works at a company to get experience recruit – v. find suitable people to work for a company convert – v. change from one system or position to another hire - n. someone hired by a company for a job probationary – adj. period of time in which a person is tested to see if they are able to perform a job reliable – adj. able to be trusted to provide what is needed belt – n. long, thin piece of material worn around the waist digest – v. read and understand new information  

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Former Panama Dictator Manuel Noriega Dies at 83

  Former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega died in a Panama City hospital on Monday. He was 83 years old. Noriega had been in a coma since March. He had been recovering from several operations related to removing cancer from his brain earlier this year. Noriega ruled Panama from 1983 to 1989. His time in power is remembered as a time of corruption and violence in the Central American country.     Before and during his rule, Noriega received millions of dollars in payments from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In exchange, he provided intelligence to the U.S. government. He reported on events in Panama and the rest of Latin America. At the time, a number of rebel groups operated in the area. Noriega informed the CIA about guerilla and terrorist activities. The United States used his information to seize illegal drugs at sea and follow the secret movement of money in and out of Panama’s banks. But his relations with the U.S. government worsened after a political opponent was killed in 1985. In addition, Noriega appeared to begin working with the drug traffickers. Members of Panama’s military attempted to overthrow him but failed. The leaders of the attempted rebellion were arrested and executed without being tried. In 1989, President George H.W. Bush ordered 28,000 U.S. troops to invade Panama, oust Noriega from power and capture him.   During the operation, 23 American troops were killed. More than 300 others were wounded. The U.S. military estimates 200 Panamanian civilians died and 314 soldiers were killed. After Noriega’s capture, he was brought to the United States to face legal action. He was tried and jailed for 17 years after being found guilty on drug trafficking charges. In 2007, Noriega was sent to France, where he was jailed on money-laundering charges. He was returned to Panama in 2011 and imprisoned.   After Noriega was ousted, economic conditions in Panama seemed to improve. The United States gave the Panamanian government control of the Panama Canal in 1999. Panama expanded the waterway. The number of foreigners visiting the country has increased and property values have risen. But the country of 3.9 million people still suffers from the corruption that worsened during Noriega’s rule. And drug traffickers and money launderers still operate there. Panama’s President Juan Carlos Varela said on the social networking website Twitter that Noriega’s death “closes a chapter in our history.” Varela said Noreiga’s wife and three daughters have a right to bury him in peace. I’m Alice Bryant. VOA’s Chris Hannas wrote this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his report for Learning English. He also used information from the Associated Press and Reuters news agencies. 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   coma – n. a state in which a sick or injured person is unconscious for a long time traffic – v. to buy or sell something especially illegally  launder – v. to put (money that you got by doing something illegal) into a business or bank account in order to hide where it really came from  

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Experimental Super-Fast Spaceplane May Be Coming Soon

  A new airplane may soon be able to travel into space at more than five times the speed of sound. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, announced last Wednesday that a project by the aerospace company Boeing was making progress. DARPA said Boeing will “complete advanced design work” for an experimental space plane. DARPA is an agency in the United State Department of Defense. It creates new technology for the American military. The experimental spaceplane is called the XS-1, or the ‘Phantom Express.’ It would operate without a human pilot. The goal of the project is make it easier to reach low earth orbit, between 160 and 2,000 kilometers above the surface of the Earth. For example, the spaceplane could be used to launch a satellite very quickly. Currently, a lost military or commercial satellite might take months to replace. By 2020, the project could make it possible to launch one of the XS-1 vehicles 10 times within 10 days. Jess Sponable is the DARPA program manager. In a press release, she said DARPA was pleased with Boeing’s earlier work on the project. She added the Phantom Express spaceplane would reduce the cost of space launches to one tenth of their current levels and would make them possible “on demand.” “The XS-1 would be neither a traditional airplane nor a [normal] launch vehicle, but rather a combination of the two,” said Sponable. DARPA reports that the Phantom Express will be about the size and weight of a business jet. Instead of using rockets to launch, it will use self-contained, super cold fuel. Right before reaching outer space, the plane would launch a smaller rocket . This would be able to lift a satellite weighing up to 1,360 kilograms into low Earth orbit. The XS-1 would then return to Earth, landing like a normal plane. DARPA said the plane could then possibly be reused “within hours.” The Phantom Express could fly as a fast as Mach 10, or ten times the speed of sound, DARPA said. But the XS-1 is still years away from completion. DAPRA reported testing of the plane’s engines on the ground is not planned to start until 2019. I’m Pete Musto. This report first appeared on voanews.com Pete Musto adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. What sorts of other new technology do you think may be coming soon? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   aerospace – adj. related to the development of airplanes and spacecraft advanced – adj. not basic, well developed, using new methods commercial – adj. related to the buying or selling of goods jet – n. a fast airplane that has one or more jet engines

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Ariana Grande Announces Benefit Concert for Manchester

  This is What’s Trending Today. American singer Ariana Grande will return to Manchester, England, on June 4 to play a concert. She is raising money for the people killed and injured in the Manchester explosion on May 22. Grande had just finished her performance when a bomb went off at the Manchester Arena. At least 22 people were killed and more than 100 others were injured. The Manchester Evening News reports that 50 people are still in the hospital. British police identified the Manchester attacker as 22-year-old Salman Abedi.  Abedi was a British citizen whose parents came from Libya. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, but British and U.S. officials could not confirm the claim. Grande’s concert on Sunday is called “One Love Manchester.” It will take place at the Old Trafford cricket ground, which can hold about 50,000 people. Tickets go on sale on Thursday. The ticketing website says that people who were at Grande’s May 22 concert can attend this weekend’s concert for free. Other performers include Justin Bieber, Pharrell Williams, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Coldplay and Usher. Money raised from ticket sales will go to a fund set up by the city of Manchester and the British Red Cross. Grande said in a statement “we will not quit or operate in fear.” She said she wants people to be more helpful and loving and live more “kindly and generously than we did before.” And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for VOA Learning English based on a story by The Associated Press. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Did you see any of the music performances? What did you think? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.   __________________________________________________________   Words in This Story   concert – n. a public music performance ground – n. the land on which a game is played (mostly British) fund – n. an amount of money that is used for a special purpose quit – v. to leave or stop generously – adv. providing more than the amount that is needed or normal : abundant or ample

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Political Beliefs Divide Small Town in Wisconsin

Editor's Note: VOA reporters recently traveled to rural areas along the Mississippi River to speak with the "forgotten men and women" who are supporters of President Donald Trump. They spoke to farmers, factory workers, and retirees in largely white, Christian middle class communities. This is one of their stories.   Dick Becker is hopeful about his hometown of Lancaster, in Grant County, Wisconsin. He also feels hopeful about the United States under the leadership of Donald Trump. “They need to give him a chance!” he said. Becker says that most voters in Lancaster supported Trump in the 2016 elections because he promised to change the direction of the country. He adds that many people who had voted in earlier elections for President Barack Obama were dissatisfied with him. “People I talk to did not like the way things were going,” he said. “People were fed up with politics as usual and they wanted a change.” Becker says he hopes Americans get behind Trump, “because if he does well, everybody does well.” Becker says he and other Grant County voters supported candidate Trump at a time when the local economy was expanding. Becker sells clothing and shoes at a store in Lancaster. He sees people spending time and money in the store where he works. He also sees them at a local jewelry store, gift shops, the drug store, and restaurants. Many people in small, rural communities drive an hour or more to buy things in a larger city. But Becker says Lancaster -- with a population of 3,868 -- has changed that trend. He says people come from as far away as Madison -- Wisconsin’s capital -- to visit his store and to experience the friendliness of a small town.   Becker says, “You can’t get the customer service and the quality you have here.” But while Lancaster’s economy is good, many smaller towns in Wisconsin are suffering. Becker says Grant County has been helped by economic development that was begun with federal and state money. He says some small manufacturers and food-processing centers opened nearby, creating hundreds of jobs. But he says the area has the same political disputes as many parts of the country. Some people defend President Trump as a businessman who speaks plainly. Others dislike the words he uses and his budget plans, which they believe will harm social services. Becker said he also does not like some of the things the president has said. But he likes to think mainly about Trump’s hopes for the future.   “I agree with what he says -- I want to see businesses come back to this country,” Becker said. He also agrees with Trump’s energy policies. Energy is an important subject in rural areas, where farms need fuel and nitrogen for fertilizer. Becker notes that Trump “wants to tap into more of our energy reserves.” He says, “I like that because I don’t want to give our money to other countries. Why should we buy oil from Iran or Venezuela when we have our own?” But Becker, like most other people in the county, said he does not like to talk about politics too much with his neighbors and friends. He says he wants to avoid arguments and keep a feeling of unity in the community.   VOA Correspondent Greg Flakus reported this story from Lancaster, Wisconsin. 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   fed up – adj. very tired of something; angry about something that has continued for a long time get behind – phrasal verb to support (someone or something) shop – n. a building or room where goods and services are sold trend – n. a general direction of change; a way of behaving, proceeding, etc., that is developing and becoming more common plainly – adverb in a simple, honest and direct way tap into – expression to understand and express something such as people’s beliefs or attitudes      

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Lesson 14: How About This?

Summary Anna is going to the theater with her friends. She does not know what to wear. She looks in a magazine to get help and gets a surprise. Speaking In this video, learn to say the new words. Learn two ways to make a suggestion. You can also download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about clothes with a friend. Pronunciation ​In this video, you ​learn about describing clothing with color words. Conversation Anna: Hi, there! In Washington, D.C. people do many things in the evening. They go listen to music. They eat at a restaurant. They go to the theater. Anna: Tonight I am going to the theater with my friends. But I don’t know what clothes to wear. Maybe this magazine can help. Anna: Her clothes are beautiful! I really want a friend like her to help me. Anna: Who are you? Genie: I am Genie! You want help. I am here to help you find the right clothes! Anna: Awesome! How about jeans and a t-shirt? Genie: No! Jeans and a t-shirt are too casual. How about something more formal? Anna: Sure! Anna: Wow! Genie, this dress is beautiful. But it’s not the right size. It’s too small. Genie: Yes, it is too small. But green looks great on you. Anna: Thanks. Genie: Take off the green dress. Let’s try a green shirt and a skirt. Anna: Oh, Genie! This green shirt is too large and this orange skirt is too orange. Genie: Yes, the right size for you is medium. Let’s try again. Anna: Oh, I don’t like this outfit. Genie: No. That does not match. Anna: Nothing. Anna: These clothes are formal: a suit jacket, a dress shirt and a tie! They look great! Genie: Those clothes look great … for a man! Something is wrong. Anna: Let me see. Anna: There. Now try. Genie: Oh. Thanks! Now these clothes look great on you! Anna: They do! Um, Genie, can you put on a gold belt? Genie: Sure! Genie: That looks great. Anna: Can you put on a jacket? Genie: Why not? Anna: I love the jacket! How about a hat? Genie: Why not? Genie: Mm, take off the hat. That’s better. Anna: Genie, these clothes look and feel great! Let’s go to the theater! Genie: Sorry, Anna. I have to help other friends. Go to the magazine if you want me to help again. Anna: Thanks, Genie. Sure thing. Goodbye! Genie: Goodbye! Anna: There are many places in DC to go for a great evening out!  And it’s nice to have a friend to help me look my best. Until next time! Bye!      Writing What do you like to wear to go out in the evening?  What are you wearing today? Send us an email ​about your clothes and their colors and sizes or write in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice with a friend.     Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Personalize. Learning English is easier when you think about how what you learn relates to yourself. Here is an example. Meilin is learning about clothing words. She looks at her own clothes and says to herself, "My sweater is green. I am wearing blue jeans." Meilin looks at her English lesson. She sees a photo of a woman in black jeans. She says to her classmate, "I don't like black jeans. Do you?" Meilin is using the strategy "personalize" because she is speaking English to tell about herself and her own likes or dislikes. Tomorrow she will remember the words better, because she is thinking about herself when she says them.  How do you personalize in studying English? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.   Listening Quiz Test your understanding by taking this listening quiz. Play the video, then choose the best answer. ​______________________________________________________________ New Words casual - adj. designed for or permitting ordinary dress, behavior, etc clothes - n. the things that people wear to cover their bodies and that are usually made from cloth formal - adj. requiring or using serious and proper clothes and manners large -  adj. great in size or amount magazine - n. a type of thin book with a paper cover that contains stories, essays, pictures, etc. man - n. an adult male human being match – v.to be suited to (someone or something); to go well with (someone or something) medium - n. something that is sold in a medium size; something that is the middle size when compared with things that are larger and smaller music - n. sounds that are sung by voices or played on musical instruments nothing -pron. not anything; not a thing outfit - n. a set of clothes that are worn together put on -  phrasal verb to dress yourself in (clothing) restaurant - n. a place where you can buy and eat a meal size - n. one of a series of standard measurements in which clothing, shoes, etc., are made take off - phrasal verb to remove (something) theater - n. a building where plays, shows, etc., are performed on a stage too - adv. usually used at the end of a sentence or clause; in addition; also wear – v. to use or have (something) as clothing; to have (a shirt, pants, etc.) over part of your body ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice talking about clothing and colors with a friend.   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: Position of adjectives before nouns; use of two phrasal verbs: put on and take off Topics: Describing clothing colors and sizes; making a suggestion and giving compliments Learning Strategy: Personalize Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Making a suggestion; using color adjectives with nouns ______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

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Walking: The 'Wonder Drug'

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. If you want to get healthy or stay healthy, there is one easy activity to add to your day – walking. "Walking is the closest thing we have to a wonder drug,” says Thomas Friedman. Friedman is the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. And he is not alone in considering walking a great exercise. Health experts at the Mayo Clinic, the American Heart Association, the Arthritis Foundation, Harvard Medical School and many other health research groups agree. You may think that simply taking a walk is not enough to make a big difference. You might think that you need do something strenuous like running to stay healthy. Well, a new study says that is not true. It finds that walking may be as good for us as running. Running is a high-impact activity and can be hard on the body. So, many people cannot run. Walking, it seems, has all of the advantages and none of the disadvantages of running. The American Heart Association explains the findings on its website. Walking quickly, or briskly, can lower your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California did the study. Over a six-year period, they studied about 33,000 runners in the National Runners’ Health Study and just over 15,000 walkers in the National Walkers’ Health Study. The researchers found that the same energy used for brisk walking and vigorous running “resulted in similar reductions in risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and possibly coronary heart disease over the study’s six years.” The study also found that the more people walked or ran each week, the more their health benefits increased. Walking is easy, fun and accessible Dr. Russell Pate is a professor of exercise science at the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina. He is also a volunteer at the American Heart Association. He commented on the study on the association’s website. Pate says the health benefits of walking are not "all or nothing." If your goal is to walk for 30 minutes a day, you can split that into three 10 minute walks.  Walking, he adds, has the lowest dropout rate of any exercise. People who start walking regularly usually stick with it. Pate says what many other health experts say: Walking is one of the easiest and safest exercises a person can do. With walking, he says, there is no learning curve. That means you do not need to learn a lot to get results. Walking requires no special skills or equipment. You can do it anywhere. It fits easily into your daily schedule. You can walk at work. You can park farther away from a store entrance. You can take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walking is a great exercise for beginners. If you are out of shape or getting back into shape after an illness or accident, walking is perfect. You can do a little at a time, or as we like to say, take "baby steps." So, walking lowers your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. But many other studies have found that walking benefits the body and mind in other ways. For example, regular brisk walking can help you: Keep a healthy weight. Improve your mood. Walking releases natural pain­killing chemicals in the body. A study at California State University, Long Beach showed that the more steps people took during the day, the better their moods were. Sharpens your mind. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, studied 6,000 women ages 65 and older. They found that age-related memory loss was lower for those who walked more. Keep your joints healthy. The Arthritis Foundation (U.S.) explains on its website that most of the material that makes up our joints has no direct blood supply. Our joints get "nutrition from joint fluid that circulates as we move." When you walk, your joints get this "life-giving fluid," which means your joints stay stronger. Improve your creativity. A 2014 study by Stanford University found that walking, indoors or outdoors, improved the ability to think creatively and solve problems.   Best of all, you can easily change where, when and how you walk. You can walk with your friends, co-workers, family or your dog. Or you can walk alone. The faster, farther and more often you walk, the greater the benefits. And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo ... … and I’m Mario Ritter.   How much do you walk every day? Let us know in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   wonder drug - n. a very effective drug or cure strenuous - adj. requiring or showing great energy and effort impact - n.  the act or force of one thing hitting another advantage - n.  something (such as a good position or condition) that helps to make someone or something better or more likely to succeed than others disadvantage - n.  something that causes difficulty : something that makes someone or something worse or less likely to succeed than others brisk - adj. moving or speaking quickly : quick and efficient vigorous - adj. done with great force and energy coronary - adj. of or relating to the heart and especially to the vessels that supply blood to the heart learning curve - n. the rate at which someone learns something new : the course of progress made in learning something. < The job has a very steep learning curve. [=there is a large amount that has to be learned quickly in order to do the job] > mood - n. the way someone feels : a person's emotional state circulate - v. to move without stopping through a system, place, etc.

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Millions Displaced by Violence, Disasters

More than 30 million people were displaced within their own countries last year. That number comes from a new report by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre and the Norwegian Refugee Council. The two groups blame criminal violence and natural disasters for driving millions of people from their homes. The report also found that nearly 7 million people were newly displaced in 2016. Jan Egeland is the Director-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council. “When a family is pushed out of their home, sometimes for years, it is a sign something is wrong in a nation, the locality, but also in international relations,” Egeland said. The country with the most newly internally displaced persons in 2016 was the Democratic Republic of Congo, or DRC. More than 922,000 people were driven from their homes because of conflict. The report found that the DRC had more newly displaced people than Syria and Iraq. Syria was second with 824,000 while Iraq was third with 659,000 displaced persons. Egeland said three provinces in the DRC -- North and South Kivu and Kasai -- are where most of the displacements took place. Afghanistan, Nigeria and Yemen all had nearly half a million or more internally displaced persons. Internal displacement is a more common problem than refugees driven from their country, Egeland said. “Internally displaced people now outnumber refugees by two to one,” he said. Alexandra Bilak is the director of the International Displacement Monitoring Center. She says displacement can be only the start for some people. “We need to acknowledge that without the right kind of support and protection, a person internally displace today may become a refugee, an asylum seeker or an international migrant tomorrow,” she said. One major cause for displacement is criminal violence, the report said. That is the case in some places in Central America. In El Salvador, for example, drug-related violence caused 200,000 people to leave their homes in 2016. The other major cause is natural disasters, such as floods, storms, drought, and wildfires. In 2016, three times more people were displaced by such disasters than in 2015. Researchers worry that the number of people displaced by weather events will continue to rise because of extreme weather linked to climate change. The International Displacement Monitoring Center has called for more information about the internally displaced and more money to deal with the problem. The United Nations has called for cutting the number of the internally displaced in half by 2030. I’m Mario Ritter. Margaret Besheer reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story Displaced –adj. having been forced to leave one’s home Drought –n. a severe lack of rain for a long period of time We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.  

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US Congress Reviews Plan to Cut Education Budget

President Donald Trump’s first budget proposes a 13 percent cut in federal spending on education. But like most budget proposals, the United States Congress is sure to make changes. Tom Cole of Oklahoma is a member of the House of Representatives. He heads the House subcommittee that oversees federal spending on education. Cole belongs to the Republican Party, just like Trump. But at a hearing on Wednesday, he told Education Secretary Betsy DeVos that some of the proposed cuts are “short-sighted,” meaning not well thought out. Cole noted proposals to cut programs that provide part-time jobs for college students and help students from poor families attend college. “Frankly, I will advise you, I have a different point of view,” Cole told DeVos. Thinking of taxpayers Mick Mulvaney is director of the Office of Management and Budget. He said that Trump’s budget does what many earlier budget proposals did not -- consider the needs of Americans who pay for federal programs through taxes. “This is I think the first time in a long time that an administration has written a budget through the eyes of the people who are actually paying the taxes,” Mulvaney said. Some proposed cuts hit international programs The State Department oversees American education programs worldwide. The Trump budget proposes $148.6 million for international academic programs, down 52 percent from 2017. The largest one, the Fulbright Program, would be cut by 47 percent -- from $235.6 million in 2017 to $125.6 million. The Fulbright program offers federal money so Americans can study, teach and do research outside the United States. It also provides funding for international students and scholars at American colleges and research groups. The program was started in 1946, after World War II, and named for Senator, J. William Fulbright of Arkansas.  Among the federal programs proposed for elimination is the international food for education program. It provides food to students in poor countries. In its budget proposal, the Trump administration said the program has not been shown to be effective. English Language programs, which provide English teaching and teaching materials worldwide, would receive $10 million, down 75 percent from 2017. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the budget proposal for international education puts a priority on “proven successful programs, such as Fulbright and International Visitor Leadership.” The budget proposals are part of President Trump’s plan to put “America First,” in terms of spending decisions, he said. The visitor program brings current and future leaders from around the world to the U.S. to experience American culture, education and business first-hand. The Trump budget provides $49.3 million for the program, down about 45 percent from the current budget. The budget also calls for big cuts in scientific research at the Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institutes of Health. Much of the federally funded research is done by universities across the country. Mary Sue Coleman is president of the Association of American Universities. Coleman said that federally funded research by American colleges helped develop important medicines, created the internet, put a man on the moon and produced smart phones. She said cuts in research funding would badly damage the programs that produced “all those things.” Education Secretary DeVos said the cuts in education spending are designed, in part, to fund a program Trump proposed during the 2016 election campaign – “school choice.” It would give poor families the ability to choose the school their children attend -- whether public or private. DeVos said school choice would help low-income parents find a better school for their children when the local public school is not providing a good education. But opponents said school choice takes money away from public schools, which, unlike private schools, must accept all students, including those with learning problems. Derrell Bradford is the executive vice president of 50CAN, which supports school choice. He praises Trump for his school choice proposal, but opposes the proposed education spending cuts. “But people should know that this is a political document, the start of what will be a long process,” Bradford told VOA. “The majority of the cuts will not survive Congress.” I’m Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. 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   frankly - adv. speaking in an honest and direct way view - n. opinion actually - adv. used to refer to what is true or real scholar - n. a person who has studied a subject for a long time and knows a lot about it elimination - n. to remove something priority - n. something that is more important than other things and that needs to be done or dealt with first

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Trump, Other Officials React to Oregon Train Killings

  President Donald Trump has condemned the killing in Oregon of two men who tried to stop another man from using anti-Muslim speech against two teenaged girls. A third man was injured in the violence. Trump tweeted a statement saying: “The victims were standing up to hate and intolerance.  Our Prayers are w/ them.”   On Friday, a man in the American city of Portland, Oregon, apparently shouted anti-Muslim words at two teenaged girls on a train. He then stabbed two people who tried to defend them. Those killed were Ricky John Best, aged 53, and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche, aged 23. The two died from their wounds. A third person, Micah David-Cole Fletcher, was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Portland Police said one of the two young women on the train was wearing a hijab, head covering. The suspect, identified as 35 year-old Jeremy Joseph Christian, shouted at them using, in their words, “hateful speech.” One of the young women involved, 16-year-old Destinee Mangum, told Portland’s KPTV television station: "He told us to go back to Saudi Arabia and he told us we shouldn't be here, to get out of his country." Mangum thanked those who came to her and her friend’s defense. “Without them, we probably would be dead right now," she said. The community’s response Local and state officials, denounced the incident saying attacks of this kind have no place in their communities or the United States. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said, "Two men lost their lives standing up to somebody spewing hateful words directed at Muslim passengers on an afternoon commuter train." ​He continued saying, "Our current political climate allows far too much room for those who spread bigotry. Violent words can lead to violent acts. All elected leaders in America, all people of good conscience, must work deliberately to change our political dialogue." Oregon Governor Kate Brown said she was "heartbroken" by the attack. "Safety while traveling through our community is a basic human right that we need to be able to guarantee to everyone, regardless of where they're from, or what they believe," she said. Jeff Merkley, a U.S. Senator representing Oregon, denounced the incident on Twitter. “We all stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters who've had to face discrimination and fear. This hatred is unacceptable and un-American.” Police are investigating the suspect Christian. They said he appears to have posted extremist ideas on social media.  ​ Thousands of people have given money to an online fundraising effort for the victims and their families.  As of Monday, the amount donated reached about $800,000. Minnesota representative Keith Ellison is the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress. He praised those killed in a statement. "They saw injustice being committed, racism being practiced, and they intervened," said Ellison.  He said they showed, “the best qualities of American heroes. And they were killed for it." Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi said that the attack showed an increase in hate-crimes against religious and ethnic groups during the past year. I’m Phil Dierking   ­­­­­­­­­­­­This story was originally written for VOA News. Phil Dierking adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. What do you think is the best way to stand up to racism?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________ Words in This Story bigotry - n. act that are strongly and unfairly against other people, ideas, etc. ​ conscience - n.  the part of the mind that makes you aware of your actions as being either morally right or wrong​ dialogue - n.  discussion or series of discussions that two groups or countries have in order to end a disagreement​ extremism - n. belief in and support for ideas that are very far from what most people consider correct or reasonable​ hijab - n. head covering worn in public by some Muslim women. ideology - n. the set of ideas and beliefs of a group or political party​ spew - v. to flow out of something in a fast and forceful way​

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In Rural Illinois, Trump Supporters Distrust News Media

Editor's Note: VOA reporters recently traveled to rural areas along the Mississippi River to speak with the "forgotten men and women" who are supporters of President Donald Trump. They spoke to farmers, factory workers, and retirees in largely white, Christian middle class communities. This is one of their stories.     The sound of electric sewing machines fills a room in the Fulton, Illinois community center. Several women gather there each week to talk and work on sewing and crochet projects. The women do not share the same political beliefs, so they usually avoid talking about politics. But one of the women, Linda Ebersole, did agree to speak with VOA about the 2016 presidential election. Ebersole is a retired health care worker. She lives in Rock Falls, in the eastern part of Whiteside County, Illinois. Ebersole said she tried to look objectively at the two major candidates last year, but she did not like either of them. “We were voting for the lesser of the two evils when it came down to the end,” she said. The retired nurse said Donald Trump was unpredictable, so she had trouble believing much of what he said. And she thought Hillary Clinton had been untruthful numerous times and had shown a lack of respect for voters. In the end, Ebersole voted for Trump because he seemed to want to bring change. But now she is worried that the nation’s news media will block his efforts. She said that is unfair. And she says it makes her more supportive of the president. “If ever that man did three positive things one day and one negative thing, the thing that would be stressed by the news media is that negative thing,” she said. “I do think the news media is biased against Trump.” Ebersole says she watches television news broadcasts and reads her local newspaper. But she says since the election she has been watching Fox News, which usually supports conservative politicians. Ebersole is worried that many young people she knows do not follow the news. She says young people watch shows that she believes criticize conservatives but rarely target liberals. Although there are few immigrants in Whiteside County, many people there talk about immigration. Ebersole says immigrants who enter the United States legally -- and are willing to work to become part of the community -- should be welcomed. But Ebersole experienced a clash of cultures with Muslim immigrants. She said an old woman in a long dress and a headscarf that covered everything except her face stepped in front of her while she was waiting in line at a store. Ebersole said she spoke to the younger people with the woman about her actions, but they did not do anything. “She was the matriarch of the family and she did not think she needed to wait in line,” Ebersole said. “They came here and they need to fit in as much as possible. They need to assimilate to the country they are in.” Ebersole says the United States should not have to accept people who violate immigration laws by either staying after their visas end or coming across the border without government permission. “They need to do it legally,” she said. Ebersole said she agreed with President Trump’s attempts to temporarily ban immigrants from some Muslim-majority nations because of the threat of terrorism. She said refugees need to be investigated and the number the government accepts must be reasonable. “We cannot take in everyone from the whole world,” she said. Ebersole said these beliefs are held by people in rural Illinois who hold different political beliefs. “You have a lot of common core values that you agree about,” she said. “I think that is the strength of this area -- that you do have those values, like family, a lot of times faith. You do have those basic things that are more important in a way than what the politics are doing.”   VOA Correspondent Greg Flakus reported this story from Fulton, Illinois. 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   sewing machine – n. a machine that is used for sewing things crochet – n. a method of making cloth or clothing by using a needle with a hook at the end to form and weave loops in a thread stress – n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work, etc. biased – adj. having or showing a bias; having or showing an unfair tendency to believe that some people, ideas, etc., are better than others head scarf – n. a piece of cloth worn over a woman’s or girl’s head matriarch – n. a woman who controls a family, group or government fit in – v. to belong in a particular situation, place or group assimilate – v. to adopt the ways of another culture : to fully become part of a different society, country, etc. core values – n. strongly held beliefs about what is valuable, important or acceptable  

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US Scientists Leaving Labs to Run for Office

Last month, scientists and their supporters marched in the streets to protest President Donald Trump’s science policies. Scientists, known for working quietly in the labs, are protesting loudly because they say science is threatened under the Trump administration. More than 260 groups backed the event, called March for Science. Working to get scientists elected Shaughnessy Naughton is founder and president of 314 Action. She started the organization to work for pro-science issues in government. Her group helps STEM professionals run for political office. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and 314 Action wants to increase their numbers in politics. They might get their wish.       Naughton, a chemist, ran for office in 2014, and lost. She started the organization before Trump was elected. Since January, she says, the administration’s position on climate science “has been a catalyst” to get scientists “to step up and get involved.” “We’ve had over 5,000 scientists across the country reach out to us, put their hand up and say they’re willing to do this. Which is, far exceeds, what we expected.” So far, all the candidates are Democrats. They come from different science-related professions — researchers and doctors, for example. They are men and women of different ages across the U.S. Some are running for Congress, others for local offices and school boards. 314 Action helps them organize campaign teams and volunteers. Some Trump top advisers have STEM backgrounds While scientists may question his policies, President Trump has selected people with science and engineering backgrounds to be his top advisers. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson started as an engineer at Exxon Mobil. There are three medical doctors in Trump’s cabinet. They are Tom Price at Health and Human Services, Ben Carson, a former presidential candidate, at Housing and Urban Development, and David Shulkin at Veterans Affairs. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue received a doctor’s degree in veterinary medicine — an animal doctor. Patrick Madden opposes Trump’s science policies. He is a researcher and professor of computer science at Binghamton University in the state of New York. He develops mobile phone technology. Now he is running for Congress. He got into politics because, he says, science is under attack by the Trump administration. “There was a proposal that would have slashed funding for researchers in the United States, through the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), NIH (National Institutes of Health), many of the government agencies that support academic research. And I think, particularly the EPA with the environmental scientists, has seen their funding cut and a lot of political pressure is being put on, put on people doing this work.” Some say Trump disrespects science During the campaign, Trump called climate change a “hoax,” or not true. But since taking office, he has delayed making a decision on his campaign promise to back out of the 2015 Paris climate change agreement. While his first budget cut scientific research, Congress later put the money back in for the National Institutes of Health, and even added a little more. The new U.S. administration is “disrespecting” science and scientists, says Gretchen Goldman. She works for the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, D.C. “We’re not just talking about an administration that’s taking different policy stances, which of course they’re free to take different policy stances from their predecessor, but here what we’re seeing is that they’re undermining the very process by which we use science to inform decisions.”   Like many of the scientists running for office, this is Patrick Madden’s first try at politics. “I enjoy my teaching, I enjoy my research, but when I think about my students and the world that they go into, I feel an obligation to step up. And I’m hoping I can do something for them.” Madden adds he has always been patriotic, but now, he will “do it in a different way.” He says getting elected to the U.S. Congress will be an “uphill battle.” He will have to beat Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, a lawyer and businesswoman. I’m Anne Ball.   Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English with information from VOA News. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ See how well you understand the story by taking this listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer. ​ ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   STEM – adj. stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics catalyst – n. a person or event that quickly causes change or action cabinet – n. the presidents group of advisors that head administration departments slash – v. to reduce (something) by a large amount funding – n. the amount of money provided for something stance – n. a publicly stated opinion — usually singular predecessor – n. a person who had a job or position before someone else select – v. to choose  patriotic – adj. having or showing great love and support for your country : having or showing patriotism uphill battle – phrase. refers to something that will be very difficult to do

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James Buchanan: Passive

VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. Today we are talking about James Buchanan, the 15th president of the United States. He was the third in a series of unsuccessful presidents. Millard Fillmore and Franklin Pierce had failed to resolve the country’s increasing division over slavery. Democratic Party officials hoped Buchanan could do better. After all, he was a gifted lawyer and had been a member of the U.S. Congress, a secretary of state, and a diplomat. But Buchanan was not so sure he could resolve the country’s problems. He was right. He was the last president before the American Civil War. Early life James Buchanan was born in the northern state of Pennsylvania. His father was a businessman, and his family was financially successful. Buchanan – the oldest son in a family with 11 children – received a good education. He attended Dickinson College in Pennsylvania and soon began working as a lawyer. His abilities earned him a good deal of money and a place in the state’s legislature. But they were not able to win him a wife. As a young man, Buchanan fell in love with and proposed marriage to a young woman from a wealthy family. She accepted. But her father opposed the union. One day, his fiancée wrote Buchanan a letter saying she had reconsidered and decided not to marry him after all. Three days later, she unexpectedly died. Buchanan was heartbroken. He promised never to marry anyone else. And he did not. To date, James Buchanan is the only U.S. president who never married. When he entered the White House, his niece served as his first lady. Election of 1856 Even with problems in his personal life, Buchanan went on to have a strong career as a national politician. He hoped his party would nominate him as its candidate for president. But in the 1840s and early 1850s, the Democrats nominated other candidates. Finally, in 1856, the party chose Buchanan. But by then, he was no longer sure he wanted to be president. He believed the country would soon be at war. Violence had already broken out in the western territory of Kansas. White settlers there had clashed over whether Kansas would enter the Union as a slave or free state. In one dramatic event, an anti-slavery activist named John Brown had murdered several pro-slavery settlers. President Buchanan had clear ideas about slavery. He said in his inaugural speech that voters in the territories – a group made up of white men – should be able to decide the issue for themselves. In the same speech, Buchanan urged Americans to support an important Supreme Court ruling that became known as the Dred Scott decision. Two days later, the court’s justices announced the majority opinion in that case. The opinion said the federal government did not have the power to control slavery in the territories. In addition, the court declared that enslaved people were not U.S. citizens. They were property, it said. Enslaved people did not have any more rights than a horse or a chair. Buchanan hoped the decision would stop the country’s debate over slavery. Instead, it made the debate more intense. Presidency During his presidency, Buchanan took two other actions that increased tensions and damaged his public image. First, he tried to persuade Congress to accept a state constitution for Kansas. The constitution permitted slavery, although a majority of Kansas voters had not agreed to it. The U.S. House of Representatives decided not to follow President Buchanan’s wishes. They permitted Kansans to vote again on the constitution. This time, Kansas voters rejected it. A majority agreed instead to seek admission into the Union as a free state. Buchanan’s image also suffered because of an event known as the raid on Harper’s Ferry. The raid was led by John Brown, the anti-slavery activist who had murdered pro-slavery settlers in Kansas. This time, Brown hoped to create an armed rebellion of anti-slavery activists and freed slaves. To get weapons, Brown and his men attacked a federal arsenal about 110 kilometers northwest of Washington, D.C. The armory was in the town of Harper’s Ferry, in today’s state of West Virginia. President Buchanan answered the raid by permitting federal troops to use force. The U.S. Marines surrounded Brown and his forces. They killed some and captured others, including Brown. A few weeks later, Brown was brought to trial, found guilty, and hanged. The event further divided Americans. Anti-slavery Northerners believed Brown was a hero. Pro-slavery Southerners believed he was a traitor. In general, Buchanan agreed with the Southerners. He said in a speech that Northerners should not tell Southerners what they could do in their states. But his words did not satisfy either side. For one thing, a main issue was whether slavery should be permitted in any new states. Buchanan did not comment on that point. Election of 1860 At the end of his single term, Buchanan kept an earlier promise not to seek re-election. His party did not urge him to. Instead, Northern Democrats and Southern Democrats split. They nominated two different candidates. The Democrats’ lack of unity provided an opening for a candidate from a new party. The Republican Party was comprised of northerners who were against slavery. Their candidate was a lawyer without much experience in government. His name was Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln won the presidential election of 1860. In answer, the Southern state of South Carolina withdrew from the Union.   Buchanan – who was in the last weeks of his presidency – did not support the move. But he did not act to stop South Carolina, either. He said the Constitution did not give him the power to force a state to stay in the Union. Following Buchanan’s inaction, six other slave-holding Southern states also seceded. Legacy Today many historians agree James Buchanan was one of the worst American presidents. Buchanan had many good personal qualities, and he did not want to harm the country. Instead, a common belief is that he did not have the right skills to unite a divided nation. His behavior appeared to be guided by conflicting ideas. Buchanan said he opposed slavery and supported the Union. But he often took actions to protect slavery and help the South. Buchanan largely blamed anti-slavery activists and opposition politicians for the problems during his administration. But the public did not accept Buchanan’s position. He was not respected after he left office, and he did not appear in public very often. Instead, the former president withdrew to his home in Pennsylvania until his death in 1868. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.    Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Listening Quiz See how well you understand the story by taking a listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   dramatic - adj.  greatly affecting people's emotions inaugural - adj.  happening as part of an official ceremony or celebration when someone (such as a newly elected official) begins an important job secede - v.  to separate from a nation or state and become independent

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Whisky-Making Not Just for Men Anymore

  Jim Beam, Jack Daniel and Johnnie Walker, all men’s names, have long been on bottles of whisky. But slowly, women are changing what is inside of the bottles. It used to be, and still is for the most part, that those whiskies were made by men. They run the distilleries and sell the products. Andrew Faulkner is with Distiller Magazine, part of the American Distilling Institute. He believes that about 10 or 20 years ago, the number of women holding important positions in the distilling business was pretty close to zero. With the whisky boom, that has changed. Just in the Washington, D.C. area, women have key roles at three different distilleries. Two women founded Republic Restoratives. Another woman started Catoctin Creek Distilling Company with her husband. A third is an award-winning master blender at Joseph A. Magnus. Women in charge Nancy Fraley is the master blender at Joseph A. Magnus. As master blender, she samples aging whisky and tests out new blends. Joseph A. Magnus just received a “double gold medal” at a whisky-tasting event in San Francisco for its straight bourbon whisky. That means the judges decided it was one of the best whiskies they tasted at the event.   “I taste all the inventory, all the barrels. I know well in advance how we’re going to use the stock in order to blend it and I do in fact blend it. I create, formulate new blends, new products. So it’s keeping consistency, quality and I make really tasty whiskies.” Jos. A. Magnus also makes a “Cigar Blend” whisky. It has the taste of apricot, smoke and leather. Fraley had the idea while she was smoking a cigar one evening. Another well-known distillery with a woman in charge of making alcohol is Michter’s in the state of Kentucky. Michter’s whiskies are some of the most expensive in the world. A version of their bourbon called “Celebration” costs over $5,000 a bottle. Pamela Heilmann took over as master distiller in late 2016. Before coming to Michter’s, Heilmann worked at the Booker Noe Distillery to produce bourbon for Jim Beam. Heilmann said she has received positive comments from bourbon fans since she earned the promotion.   Women starting distilleries Becky Harris is in charge of the distilling process for Catoctin Creek. The distillery is in a small Virginia town outside of Washington, D.C. She and her husband, Scott, left their jobs to start their business in 2009. They make rye whisky and fruit brandy in an old automobile dealership on Purcellville’s main street. Unlike bourbon, which is made from a mixture of corn, rye and barley, rye whisky is made exclusively from rye grain. Harris worked as a chemical engineer before getting involved in whisky. In her past jobs, she made sure her company’s work was done efficiently and correctly. In her current job, she works to refine the whisky production process so the alcohol will taste good every time. At whisky-tasting events, sometimes she meets people who are surprised that a woman is in charge of distilling the whisky. “They usually don’t think I’m the chief distiller. It’s more typical that I would be the business side of the company, so people are usually surprised to find out I actually make the product.” One of the Harris’ whiskies recently won an award too. A version of their rye whisky, aged in barrels that previously held wine, won a “double gold medal” at the same competition in San Francisco. When Becky and Scott started the distillery, they were worried she might not have a good “nose.” But it turns out, she does. In distilling, someone with a good nose has a strong sense of taste and smell. “My palate is good, that’s great. I mean, that wasn’t a guarantee when we got into this, but we kind of, you know, found that as we go through that I was fairly sensitive. I don’t know that I could keep up with Nancy [Fraley], but I do pretty well.” Just last year, two other women, Rachel Gardner and Pia Carusone, opened Republic Restoratives to make vodka, bourbon and rye. They recently released Rodham Rye, named in honor of former secretary of state and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. Do women have better sense of taste and smell? Since distilling has long been a job done by men, many of the well-regarded whisky judges are men. If they give something a good review, customers will go to the store and buy it. Pamela Dalton is a researcher at the Monell Chemical Sciences Center in the city of Philadelphia. She studies the senses of taste and smell. She said some women and girls are better able to learn and classify smells and tastes than men. “It may be that little girls spend more time in the kitchen with their mother and they learn to smell things associated with, you know,  food ingredients, cleaning products, who knows. There does seem to be an experiential component to this.” One theory on why women have better “noses” than men, Dalton said, is that women need to protect their children. The senses of taste and smell can be important when either predators or spoiled food are nearby. The research also supports the idea that as more women work in whisky production, the final product will taste better. That is because women may focus on flavors that are pleasing to both genders. “Well, they could be different and they could be better for certain people. Maybe there are female-specific notes in whisky that are more pleasant or more petitive to women than to men.”   Becky Harris of Catoctin Creek says her company’s research shows both men and women enjoy her liquor. “I make something that tastes good to me. But I train my people, you know, to basically match the process that I’ve created… And at the end of the day, we're just trying to make whisky that tastes good to us, and we hope that resonates with everyone else.” Nancy Fraley says one reason more women are getting involved in producing whisky is that more women are drinking it. “When I was growing up in the 1970s and 80s, I remember it was impolite for women, women did not drink whisky, at least in the South. Maybe on the sly you did that but it was just not ‘ladylike.’ I think now the doors have opened to women in whisky.” Women also have more money available to spend on starting a business, and more opportunity in general, Fraley said. When the Harris’s started their business in 2009, Becky Harris does not remember meeting any other women distillers. “It really has gotten much more common since then, whether they be women founders, women owners, or women distillers, I think all of those things have become much more common.” I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Will you look to buy some whisky made by women now that you’ve read this story? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   distillery – n. a place where alcoholic drinks (such as whiskey) are produced blend – v. to mix (things) thoroughly and usually with good results medal – n. a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with designs and words in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement inventory – n. a supply of goods that are stored in a place stock – n. a supply of something that is available for use formulate – v. to create, invent, or produce (something) by careful thought and effort consistent – adj. of the same quality exclusive – adj. full and complete refine – v. to improve (something) by making small changes typical – adj. normal for a person, thing, or group : average or usual palate – n. the sense of taste review – n. a report that gives someone's opinion about the quality of a book, performance, product, etc. classify – v. to consider (someone or something) as belonging to a particular group ingredient – n. one of the things that are used to make a food, product, etc. theory – n. an idea or set of ideas that is intended to explain facts or events predator – n. an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals : an animal that preys on other animals petitive – adj. desirable, wanted by many people liquor – n. a strong alcoholic drink resonate – v. to have particular meaning or importance for someone : to affect or appeal to someone in a personal or emotional way on the sly – phrase. in a secret way founder – n. a person who creates or establishes something that is meant to last for a long time (such as a business or school)

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Memorial Day: A Former Prisoner of War Remembers Vietnam

People across the United States are observing Memorial Day on Monday. The holiday is a time for remembering the men and women who died while serving the U.S. armed forces. Those who fought in the Vietnam War often get special attention on Memorial Day. American soldiers fought with South Vietnamese forces against the Communist forces of North Vietnam. The Vietnam War claimed 58,000 American lives. Former U.S. Air Force Captain Guy Gruters says he volunteered for the war. He told VOA he wanted to prevent communism from spreading. In early 1967, Gruters was sent to Vietnam. During his time there, he flew 400 combat missions against the enemy. His airplane was shot down two times. Gruters said that American helicopters came and rescued him the first time. But the second time, he was captured by North Vietnamese forces. The North Vietnamese first took him to a village and then to a detention center in Hanoi. One week later, he was taken with about 12 other servicemen to a prisoner of war camp known as the “Hanoi Hilton.” Gruters described the notorious camp this way: “That’s where they had all the torture to get the interrogations for the military information.” The fighter pilot was moved to six different camps in five years. He was released in March 1973, after the U.S. and North Vietnamese officials signed a peace agreement. Gruters remembers intense bombing before the agreement was signed. “In December of 1972, the U.S. Air Force and Navy bombed heavily military targets in the Hanoi area. It was called the Christmas Bombing of 1972. In those 11 days, they dropped 40,000 tons of bombs,” he said. In the early 1970s, many Americans opposed U.S. involvement in the war. But Gruters says the justification for the conflict is clear today. “By the president of Indonesia, the president of Thailand and Malaysia, the president of the Philippines, that because of the U.S. fighting in Vietnam, they had the courage to fight the communist insurgents in their countries successfully,” Gruters said. He added that because of those efforts, communism did not spread. He estimates that there are 450 million people free today in Southeast Asia because of American involvement in Vietnam. Guy Gruters now works as a motivational speaker. He tells the people he meets “We should forget, forgive and love our enemies.” I’m Mario Ritter.   Nikoleta Ilic reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story combat mission – n. military raids against enemy forces notorious – adj. famous, especially for something bad interrogations – n. the process of getting information from a person often in a forceful way courage – adj. bravery insurgents – n. someone who rebels against those in power or an established government motivational – adj. a kind of speaking meant to give people reasons and energy to do something   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.  

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Everyday Grammar: Downtoners

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Lesson 13: Happy Birthday, William Shakespeare!

Summary It's a Sunday afternoon in Washington, D.C. Anna is bored. She finds something interesting to do when she hears music playing.    Speaking In this video, learn to say the new words. Learn to talk about cause and effect. You can also download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about your usual - and unusual - activities. Pronunciation ​In this video, you ​learn about what happens when two words with same sound come together.​ Conversation   Anna: Hello! In Washington D.C. there are many things to do on a Sunday afternoon. I like to exercise. I like to shop. I like to garden. But today I feel bored. When I feel bored I always look for something unusual to do! I hear music. Let’s go see! What is going on here? Rebecca: It’s a big birthday party for the writer William Shakespeare. Anna: This is a party for William Shakespeare? Rebecca: Yes! Anna: Awesome! Rebecca: Awesome! Anna: This is a drum band. I never listen to a drum band. But today I am listening to a drum band because it’s Shakespeare’s birthday! Anna: This is a puppet show.  I never watch puppet shows. But today I am watching a puppet show because it’s Shakespeare’s birthday! Anna: My clothes are usual. His clothes are unusual. Anna: In Washington, D.C. seeing a politician or even the President is usual. Seeing the Queen of England is very unusual! Your majesty! Anna: This is sword fighting. I never sword fight. But today I am sword fighting because it’s Shakespeare’s birthday! Anna: There are many things to do on a Sunday in Washington, D.C. -- some usual, some unusual. Anna: Today, I am not bored because … it is William Shakespeare’s birthday!   Writing What do you usually do on a Sunday afternoon? (Or on your day off.)​ Send us an email or write about how frequently you do different activities in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice with a friend. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Make an Inference. Learning English is easier when you can make an inference about meaning. Here is an example. Rory is traveling. At the airport, he is looking for his airline when he walks into a woman by mistake. She yells at him, "Hey, don't be so inconsiderate! Watch where you're going!" Rory does not know the word "inconsiderate." But the woman's angry face and loud voice help him to understand that she is angry. He makes the inference that "inconsiderate" means "rude," or "impolite," and he quickly apologizes. "Oh, I'm very sorry! I am looking for the airline desk."  The woman says, "Okay, but be more careful." How do you make inferences in studying English? Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.   Listening Quiz Test your understanding by taking this listening quiz. ______________________________________________________________ New Words   band – n. a usually small group of musicians who play popular music together because – conj. for the reason that birthday - n. the day when someone was born or the anniversary of that day bored – adj. tired and annoyed by too much of the same thing; not interested drum - n. a musical instrument that is made with a thin layer of skin or plastic stretched over the end of a round frame and that is played by hitting the skin or plastic with sticks or with your hands exercise – v. physical activity that is done in order to become stronger and healthier fight - v. to use weapons or physical force to try to hurt someone, to defeat an enemy, etc. or to struggle in battle or physical combat party - n. a social event in which entertainment, food, and drinks are provided politician - n. someone who is active in government usually as an elected official President - n. the head of the government in some countries puppet - n. a doll that is moved by putting your hand inside it or by pulling strings or wires that are attached to it Queen -  n. a woman who rules a country and who usually inherits her position and rules for life shop – v. to visit places where goods are sold in order to look at and buy things show - n. a performance in a theater that usually includes singing and dancing sword - n. a weapon with a long metal blade that has a sharp point and edge unusual - adj. different or strange in a way that attracts attention usual – adj. done, found, or used most of the time or in most cases, or normal or regular watch -  v. to look at (someone or something) for an amount of time and pay attention to what is happening   ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice using frequency adverbs to talk about      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: Frequency adverbs, cause and effect phrases Topics: Usual and unusual activities Learning Strategy: Make an Inference Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Using frequency adverbs to talk about cause and effect; blended sounds ______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

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