Thousands of people were in the American state of Nevada earlier this month for the Consumer Electronics Show. The CES is the world’s biggest show for electronic devices. It is held every January in the city of Las Vegas. The CES is said to be a guide to the path technology companies will follow in the coming year. The show offers visitors a chance to see high-tech products that may change our lives -- or may never be seen again. Some of the products are fun, while others are useful. From high-tech cameras to instruments for measuring physical fitness, these new gadgets and services are meant to make our day-to-day activities easier. These products are either being sold now or should be available later this year. 1. Polar Balance Smart Scale Activity trackers can help you keep records of your activity levels and physical exercise. But how many trackers will connect with a scale to measure your weight? The Polar Balance Smart Scale connects to an activity tracker and a software program to show whether the exercise affects your weight. The software application can be downloaded on your phone. Set a weight goal using the Flow app. Then get weighed on the Smart Scale. The Flow app also connects to a calorie counting app if you want to follow what you eat. Polar Coach, a free service, uses information from the Smart Scale, activity tracker and the Flow app to help you reach your goals. Find out more at the Polar website. 2. Withings Go A common problem with activity trackers is their seemingly endless need for electricity. Users report they often need to recharge their trackers. It can be aggravating to exercise only to discover that the device needs more power. Withings Go is a simple activity tracker. It uses a black and white screen, similar to an e-reader, to show your activity levels. The battery on the Go lasts up to eight months so you do not have to worry about adding power every day or week. The Go follows you both when you are awake and when you are asleep, and knows the difference between the two. You can see your information on an app on your phone to learn about your sleep patterns and physical activity levels. More information is available at the Withings website. 3. Presence Presence is a security camera that helps you see what is on the other side of your door. The camera sends a live video stream to the app on your phone and informs you when a car, person or animal comes close to the door. Video is also recorded by the camera. Presence should be available later this year. More information is available at the Presence website. 4. Nima Millions of people have stomach problems after eating food containing gluten. Gluten is a name for the proteins found in wheat and other grains. People who cannot eat these proteins often have trouble knowing when a food has gluten or not. Now, a device called Nima can identify gluten in food. Add a piece of food into Nima to see whether it has gluten levels of more than 20 parts per million. The device works with solids and liquids to identify gluten. More information about Nima can be found at the Nima website. 5. Misfit Ray Not all activity trackers look like activity trackers. One example is the Misfit Ray. It looks like a metal container and can be worn around one’s neck or as a bracelet on the arm or the leg. Slide the Ray over a cord to wear it on your wrist or add it to a chain and wear it as a necklace. The Ray will record your activity and sleep, showing you information on a phone app. The Ray shakes when you get a text or phone call. You can also use the Ray to take selfies and control the lights in your home. Find out more at the Misfit website. 6. Ween Thermostat The Ween thermostat is designed to help heat and cool homes when people are around and save energy when they are away. The thermostat connects to your phone to know when you are at home. Users can set their ideal temperatures for when they are at home and when they are away to save on energy costs. You can learn more about the Ween at the Ween website. 7. Code-a-pillar Coding is a necessary skill for computer programmers. When are children old enough to learn to code? At the Consumer Electronics Show, Fisher-Price showed a product that gives children the building blocks of coding. It is called “Code-a-pillar,” and is a toy designed for children from 3 to 8 years old. The Code-a-pillar looks like a caterpillar. This one has colorful lights and moves according to the order in which the pieces are placed. The Code-a-pillar is set for sale in June. You can find out more at the Fisher-Price website. 8. Pic Pic is a video camera that looks like it belongs in a cartoon. In fact, its manufacturer makes versions so this camera can become a cartoon character, such as Frank, Bob or Jack. The camera is made from plastic so you can bend it around a dog's collar, your wrist, a bicycle or other places from which you may want to take pictures. The Pic can store thousands of photos and can record up to one hour of video. 9. Prizm Prizm is a new music player. It offers songs from two music services: Deezer and Soundcloud. Instead of using a smartphone to stream music, users can connect Prizm to a sound system and log into their music service accounts. Songs will be played according to the time of day and who is in the room. Prizm has a button shaped like a heart. When you hear something you like, make sure to touch the button so the player knows the song is a favorite. Learn more about Prizm at the Prizm website. 10. Sensorwake Sensorwake is an alarm clock that wakes you up with smells, not sounds. At a set time, Sensorwake will release a fragrance to wake you from your sleep. Choose to wake up to the smell of food or to the smell of nature. Six different fragrances will be available. No worries about sleeping through an alarm if you have a cold. The clock will make noises if you don't turn it off within three minutes. Find out more at the Sensorwake website. I’m Kathleen Struck. Which of these gadgets are most interesting to you? Leave your thoughts in the Comments Section and on our Facebook page. Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this story for VOANews.com. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story consumer – n. a person who buys goods or services gadget – n. a small, useful device tracker – n. a device that follows and records the movements of someone or something calorie – n. a measure of heat used to show the amount of energy that foods will produce in the human body aggravate – v. to make (someone) angry ereader – n. a handheld device on which electronic versions of books, newspapers and magazines can be read battery – n. a device that is placed inside a machine (such as a clock, toy, or car) to supply it with electricity stream – v. send or receive electronic data over the Internet gluten – n. a substance in wheat and flour that holds dough together selfie – n. a photograph that one has taken of oneself, usually one taken with a smartphone or webcam and shared on social media thermostat – n. a device that sets the temperature in a room to a desired level code – v. to change information into letters, numbers, or images that can be read by a computer caterpillar – n. an insect with many legs that becomes a butterfly or moth cartoon – n. artwork or pictures as a humorous comment on something alarm – n. a device that makes a loud noise fragrance – n. a pleasant and usually sweet smell
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Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Deadly Shootout Between Police, Anti-Federal Group
Federal and state police officers have exchanged gunfire with members of an armed group in Oregon, killing one person. The armed group had taken control of a federal wildlife area in the eastern part of the state. A shootout happened when police stopped cars carrying members of the group. The protesters were reportedly driving to a meeting with people who live near the wildlife area. The Oregonian online newspaper reported that the man who was killed was Robert Finicum. He often served as the group’s spokesman. Reports say the leader of the group -- Ammon Bundy -- and six others have been arrested. It is not clear how many members of the group are still in control of the federal wildlife area. The group, which calls itself “Citizens for Constitutional Freedom,” illegally occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on January 2nd. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and local officers had watched the protest for weeks without intervening. People from states as far away as Arizona and Ohio had joined the protest. Some members of the group have for many years criticized the federal government’s management of public lands in the West. Many people who live near the wildlife area had been calling for the group to leave. Many of them agree with the group’s criticism of the federal government. But they opposed the occupation of the wildlife area because they feared it would end violently. The group wants control of federal lands to be given to local officials. The federal government controls about half of the land in the Western United States. Disputes about management of public lands have been taking place for many years. In the 1970s, Nevada and other states pressured the federal government to give state and local governments more control of the land. People want to use the land for cattle grazing, mining and timber harvesting. I’m Mario Ritter. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on the Associated Press report. 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 occupy – v. to take and keep control of (a town, foreign country, etc.) by using weapons or military power intervene – v. to become involved in something (such as a conflict) in order to have an influence on what happens wildlife – n. animals living in nature; wild animals (often used before another noun) graze – v. to eat grass or other plants that are growing in a field, pasture, etc.
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Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Muslim Women Tweet to British PM David Cameron
This is What’s Trending Today… Last week, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced a plan that would require women immigrants to learn English within 30 months of arriving in Great Britain. The plan targets Muslim women joining their husbands already in Britain. Cameron said his plan would help Muslim women immigrants who spend most of their time at home. He said the plan would help them feel less socially isolated. A government source told the media that “David knows that the traditional submissiveness of Muslim women is a sensitive issue.” Submissiveness is a willingness to obey, or submit to, someone else. Some British Muslim women were offended by the comment. They responded on social media with humor and sarcasm. Sarcasm is the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really want to say. Mashable.com reported that British author and activist Shelina Janmohamed created the hashtag #traditionallysubmissive. She tweeted sarcastic responses to Prime Minister Cameron. In one tweet, she wrote: “I bought a sportscar and published a book (in English and 8 other languages.) I must be doing this wrong. #traditionallysubmissive. Throughout the weekend, more than 30,000 tweets with the hashtag were sent to David Cameron’s Twitter account. Women tweeted #traditionallysubmissive along with a photo of them holding a sign that listed their accomplishments and life experiences. The hashtag highlighted examples of Muslim women’s independence and their lack of submissiveness. Many of the women listed their university degrees, professional goals, athletic interests, and a long list of languages they speak fluently -- including English. Twitter user Mamana Beelah wrote: @David Cameron, I speak 4 languages, how many do you speak? #traditionallysubmissive.” And Twitter user Asmaam wrote: “My mother was so #traditionallysubmissive she left home to go to med school in 1960s Pakistan. Thanks to her, I’m a journalist and a professor.” And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Ashley Thompson. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story isolated - adj. separate from others submissiveness - n. the willingness to obey someone else; the act of conforming to the authority of others sensitive - adj. likely to cause people to become upset sarcasm - n. the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really want to say especially in order to insult someone, to show irritation, or to be funny accomplishment - n. something successfully done or achieved
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Pakistan University Reopens After Deadly Attack
Bacha Khan University in Pakistan re-opened its doors Monday. The Pakistani university was the target of a militant attack last week. At least 21 people, including 18 students, were killed in the attack. This week, students returned to the university briefly for a prayer service to remember their fallen friends. "We're here to avenge our blood. How long will Pashtun kids continue to die?" One university employee noted that: "Pashtuns have always been labeled terrorists. But we want to show that we are not terrorists. We are victims of terrorism." The university is under tight security. It is currently only open to teachers and employees. Administration officials said there will be no classes until further notice. A university spokesman said it is considering several issues, including a prediction of thick fog for several days. Parents of some of the victims attended the prayer service on Monday. Shah Hussein is the father of one student. He demanded an independent investigation. "There should be a judicial inquiry so that we find out who was negligent in their responsibilities, and they should be duly punished. Once you have one judicial inquiry and responsible parties punished, such incidents will stop." Later, outside the doors, students held up signs. Some demanded action to answer the attack, while others sought peace. I’m Kathleen Struck. Ayesha Tanzeem reported on this story for VOANews.com. Marsha James adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Have you followed this story about the attack at Bacha Khan University in Pakistan and the death of students and teachers? Tell us what you think in the Comments and on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story avenge – v. to harm or punish someone who has harmed you or someone you care about negligent – adj. failing to take care of something or someone duly – adv. in the expected way
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Documents Show Islamic State Seeks Power, Control
Papers collected from the Islamic State terror group show the militants’ dark world. The documents show how IS militants act -- anxious, obsessed, harsh and horrible. And they show how important control of Internet access is to their cause. Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi of the Middle East Forum, a research group in Washington, D.C., gathered the documents. They are published on his website. Sharia law Many of the documents tell people how to pray, fast and pay attention to religious observances. Others tell about harsh punishments for crimes and violations of Sharia law. These include whippings, amputations, stoning and crucifixion. One document says a thief must have his right hand cut off. It says the hand must be hung around the thief’s neck and the person must show himself to others for three days. The militants worry that medical workers will leave towns the group controls in Syria and Iraq, the papers show. The group limits travel, fearing people will leave areas it controls. Women younger than 50 are not permitted to travel unless they are with their husband or a male family member. Only one person may travel with someone who is sick. All travelers must give the IS group ownership papers for their homes and cars. The group believes this will ensure that the travelers return. And it controls electronic information. Controlling access to the internet As the bombing campaign by the United States and its coalition partners strengthened, the group banned GPS devices and mobile phones. And it banned signs on cars that could identify them as Islamic State property. It has recently banned satellite TV. And it limits access to the Internet. It says members may not have email accounts or take pictures of battles. Some Internet cafes remain open in Raqqa city, the center of the group’s activity in Syria. But their owners must record the identity of everyone who uses the Internet “except soldiers of the Islamic State and their families.” Another order says anyone who has “an Internet connection inside his home, office or any private place” will be severely punished. Al-Tamimi says punishment became more severe as the group grew larger and captured more territory. He says “the degree and speed of implementation of Sharia was slower” when the group first began capturing territory. In recent months, the terrorists have killed media activists in Syria and southern Turkey who try to fight the group online. Al-Tamimi and the Middle East Forum have gathered the documents since the Islamic State terrorist group took control of large parts of Iraq and Syria. Al-Tamimi created the website with the documents in January 2015. It is updated often. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise. Jamie Dettmer in Rome prepared this report for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck 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 access – n. a way of getting near, at or to something or someone (often + to) account – n. an arrangement in which a person uses the Internet or e-mail services of a particular company whip – v. to hit (a person or animal) with a whip or with something that is like a whip amputate – v. to cut off (part of a person's body) crucify – v. to kill (someone) by nailing or tying his or her hands and feet to a cross degree – n. an amount or level that can be measured or compared to another amount or level implement – v. to begin to do or use (something, such as a plan); to make (something) active or effective Sharia – n. the religious laws based on the Koran that Muslims follow GPS (global positioning system) – n. a radio system that uses signals from satellites to tell you where you are and to give you directions to other places ensure – v. to make (something) sure, certain or safe
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Kerry Meets with Cambodian Leaders, Opposition
America’s top diplomat was in Cambodia Tuesday on the second stop of his trip to Asia. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Cambodian government leaders and opposition party members in Phnom Penh. Kerry said the country has improved its human rights record and made economic progress. But he said he told officials that he was concerned about continued human rights violations. Kerry met separately with Prime Minister Hun Sen and acting opposition party leader Kem Sokha. After the meetings, the U.S. official said that “democratic governments have a responsibility to ensure that all elected representatives are free to perform their responsibilities without fear of attack or arrest.” Seventeen opposition members and activists are jailed in Cambodia. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy is living in self-declared exile to avoid charges made against him. Many observers believe the charges are unfair. And rights groups say the United States should not improve relations with Cambodia until its leaders guarantee reforms. Secretary Kerry also praised Cambodia for its economic progress. He told the prime minister that “Cambodia has experienced remarkable growth. You have seen incredible changes -- not just here in Phnom Penh, which moved from a 350,000-person war-torn city to a much more modern city of 2.2 million people.” I’m Ashley Thompson. VOA State Department Correspondent Pam Dockins reported on this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story remarkable – adj. unusual or surprising; likely to be noticed incredible – adj. extremely good, great, or large
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Lao Communists Name New Leaders
The Lao Communist Party has announced a change in leadership. During a weeklong party meeting, Bounnhang Vorachit was named secretary-general. Bounnhang is 78-years-old. He has long-standing ties with Vietnam, dating back to military training and as a student. The Lao Communist Party also named Foreign Affairs Minister Thongloun Sisoulith to the position of prime minister. Observers say the retirement of two pro-China members of the party’s leadership may weaken Chinese influence on the country. China has been the largest foreign investor in Laos. Vietnam and Thailand are second and third on the list. State media said almost 700 delegates attended the communist party meeting in Vientiane. This was the tenth time the party has met since it took power in 1975. The group has more than 200,000 members. Thitinan Pongsudhirak is a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. He says the new party leaders will not make major policy changes. And he says the government will continue to fail to protect the rights of its citizens. “The new leadership is more of the same,” he said. “More of the same in terms of repression and constraints on civil society and basic freedoms. We have had some scandals in the recent past over disappearances of civil society activists and human rights violations, so that is expected to be maintained,” he said. I’m Jonathan Evans. Ron Corben in Bangkok reported on this story for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story constraint – n. something that limits or restricts someone or something (usually plural) scandal – n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong maintain – v. to cause (something) to exist or continue without changing
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US Communities Clean Up After Major Snow Storm
Clean-up efforts continue in the eastern United States after a major winter storm left recording-setting snowfall and coastal flooding. But more than 2 ½ days since the snow stopped falling, life for many people is still far from normal. New York City reopened schools and government buildings on Monday. The city’s public transportation system is nearly back to normal service. But farther south, the situation is different. In Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., schools remained closed on Tuesday and mass transit was running at reduced levels. In Washington, most federal government offices stayed closed. All three cities were hit by heavy snowfall -- two-thirds of a meter or more in many areas. The storm is officially called Winter Storm Jonas. But Washington Post readers chose another name -- “Snowzilla.” “Considering this was a tenth of an inch (0.254 centimeters) away from being the all-time largest snowfall in the history of New York City going back to 1869, this was outstanding effort,” said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. He made the comment Monday on a trip to the New York City borough of Queens. He went there to visit reopened stores. But he admitted not every side street had been cleared of snow. In Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., officials reported most major roads had been cleared. But the officials could not say when smaller streets would be cleared of snow. In Washington, people who did not get the day off because of government and school closings rode – or tried – to ride the city’s public transportation system. Compared to Monday, more Metro bus and rail lines were operating Tuesday. But people who showed up at some stations in nearby Virginia Tuesday morning learned the stations were still closed. The transit system provided buses to take passengers from the closed stations to the nearest open Metrorail stations. Officials warned that the recovery efforts would cost a lot. “When you have a storm of historic proportions, the budget will be historic as well,” said Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. In New York City, Broadway shows, the Metropolitan Opera and other fine arts centers cancelled shows on Saturday. The closure announcements came after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a ban on driving last Saturday. But by Sunday, when the roads reopened, most shows went on as planned. New York singer-songwriter Libbie Schrader went on Facebook to personally thank the New York City subway system for staying open. She said it enabled people to watch her show Sunday night at Rockwood Music Hall. I'm Anne Ball. Bruce Alpert wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or tell us about your bad weather experiences on our Facebook Page. _________________________________________________________________ Words in this Story transit – n. buses or trains used to take passengers from one location to another outstanding - adj. extremely good or well done proportion – adj. the relationship that exists between the size, number, or amount of two things
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VOA English Newscast: 2000 UTC January 26, 2016
From Washington, this is VOA news… I'm Dave DeForest reporting Official says no to asylum for Syrian leader: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday Russia has not asked Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down and has not offered him political asylum. His comments at a news conference came as the United Nations prepared for a new round of Syrian peace talks set to begin Friday in Geneva. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for the country to improve its anti-corruption measures, that coming just hours after a BBC documentary reported his estimated personal fortune at close to $40 billion. The Kremlin dismissed as a "total fabrication" comments from a U-S Treasury official who told the BBC that Mr. Putin was (in his words) "a picture of corruption." The highest court in the Central African Republic has annulled last month's legislative elections. The court also confirmed that two former prime ministers will face a run-off vote for the presidency. The nation's Constitutional Court ruled late Monday the first-round legislative vote on December 30 was marred by numerous irregularities, and said some candidates appeared to be involved in them. The European Commission said Tuesday it was not ruling out allowing member states to reintroduce border controls for up to two years. To cope with the migration crisis, the European Union interior ministers Monday asked the commission to consider the extension of border checks. The member states of the 26-country Schengen zone would be required to inform the commission about their security concerns. It would review the request before approving the reintroduction of controls. This is VOA news. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Newscast Fabrication –n. to create or make up something, such as a story, to trick people; to make or build something Annul –v. to officially declare something is not valid or is cancelled Mar –v. to ruin the perfection of something; to damage Cope –v. to deal with problems and difficult situations and try to come up with solutions
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Ten Afghan Policemen Killed in 'Insider Attack'
Officials in Afghanistan say an Afghan policeman believed to have links to the Taliban killed 10 police officers in the central province of Uruzgan on Tuesday. The attack took place early in the morning at a security area in the Chinarto district. A spokesman for the provincial governor said the killer drugged the officers before shooting them. The spokesman also said the suspected killer is missing from the security area along with a vehicle and weapons and other equipment that belonged to the officers. But a Taliban spokesman said the officers were killed by militants who attacked and captured the security area and killed all of the policemen there. VOA was not able to confirm if the report from the Taliban spokesman is true. The reported attack on Afghan police by a police officer was the second so-called “insider attack” in the past two weeks in Uruzgan. Provincial officials say four police officers believed to be working with the Taliban killed nine other officers on January 17th. The officials say the four officers then joined the Taliban, bringing their weapons and ammunition with them. Insider attacks were a major problem for US-led NATO forces between 2007 and 2013. These attacks took place when Afghan soldiers joined allied forces on combat missions. The Taliban has increased its attacks in Afghanistan over the past year. The attacks began soon after NATO combat troops left the country at the end of 2014. The Taliban attacks have killed or injured many Afghan security force members. I’m Mario Ritter. Correspondent Ayaz Gul reported this story from Islamabad. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the story for VOA 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 drug – v. to give a drug to (a person or animal) in order to make that person or animal very sleepy or unconscious; to add a drug to a food or drink in order to make someone sleepy or unconscious district –n. an area or section of a country or territory
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African Nations Seek Greater Power, Influence at UN
The leaders of Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea are calling for African nations to have more power and influence at the United Nations. President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and President Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea say the continent should have at least one permanent seat on the powerful U.N. Security Council. The two leaders spoke during a visit to Zimbabwe by Nguema as they prepare for the meeting of the African Union General Assembly later this month in Ethiopia. They also spoke about peace, security and terrorism in Africa. And Nguema said African nations must work to become economically independent, just as they have become politically independent. He said Africa should have two seats on the U.N. Security Council. But the continent should at least have one, he said, with the power to veto, or cancel, resolutions. “I think that is the revolution which Africa looks for,” he said. Mugabe has served as president of Zimbabwe since 1987; Nguema of Equatorial Guinea since 1979. The United States, Russia, Britain, China and France have permanent seats on the council, with veto powers. There are also 10 non-permanent members. These nations serve on the Council for two years. They cannot veto resolutions. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise. Sebastian Mhofu reported on this story from Harare. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck 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 assembly - n. a group that makes and changes laws for a government or organization council - n. a group of people (or nations) chosen to make rule or decisions about something
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As President of the United States, Donald Trump shakes a lot of hands. But look out. If you shake Trump’s hand, you might get pulled off y...
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