Americans Drove More in 2015

Americans drove more miles in 2015 than any year since the U.S. government started keeping records 45 years ago. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently reported that Americans drove a record 3.148 trillion miles last year. In case you are wondering, that is enough to take 337 round trips from Earth to Pluto. There are number of reasons Americans are driving more, according to experts. The first is the price of gas, which has dropped to 2004 levels in the past year. The American Automobile Association said the average price of unleaded regular gasoline is $1.71 a gallon, or 45.17 cents per liter. That is the lowest price since 2004. P.J. Sriraj, interim executive director of the Urban Transportation Center at the University of Chicago, said the lower cost to fill up a car or truck is just one reason Americans are driving more. Another reason is that more Americans are back to work after the 2008 recession, and driving to their jobs, he said. More Americans are also traveling longer distances to get to jobs, Sriraj said. There are increased numbers of Americans who must travel more than 45 miles per day for their jobs, he said. And for many, there are no, or not enough, public transit options. Sriraj said. There is a downside to increased driving. Roads are more crowded, Sriraj said. And while modern automobiles and trucks are more fuel efficient and less polluting, the improvements are not enough to offset more cars on the road, Sriraj said. “Because we’re driving more, it’s a wash in terms of pollution,” Sriraj told VOA Learning English. I'm Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook Page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   Pluto - n. the object in our solar system that in the past was thought to be the planet farthest from the sun but that is no longer considered to be a planet option – n. the ability to choose something or to choose between two or more things efficient - adj. - capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy a wash - adj. no difference

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Blood Cancer Therapy Is Last Chance for Some

An experimental therapy uses a person’s weak immune system to fight deadly blood cancers.   Stanley Riddell is a researcher at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in the U.S. state of Washington. He and his colleagues added molecules to immune cells that attack cancer cells. They put the modified cells back in the patient, where they multiply and fight cancer. “So, that’s the one interesting thing about this. It doesn’t require repeated treatments or repetitive cycles of chemotherapy,” said Riddell. “That’s what I think in the future may be most important for patients – that it’s a single treatment instead of many months of treatment.” It has shown great promise in small trials with patients. In one study of 35 patients with a type of leukemia, 94 percent experienced a complete remission. Fifty percent to 80 percent of patients with other blood cancers also saw a reduction in symptoms. Riddell said, “This is encouraging because these are all patients who have failed all conventional therapies, including many kinds of bone marrow and stem cell transplants.” Getting these very high rates of remission is “obviously very exciting for us,” he added. These patients do not have any other treatment options that are likely to work. Immune system cells usually fight invading viruses and bacteria. They can also combat cancer. But they are soon overwhelmed by the disease. The work by Hutchinson researchers increases this natural cancer-fighting ability. Using the immune system has also shown promise against skin cancer and some lung cancers. But for other cancers, immunotherapy is considered a last resort. Riddell said he thinks that may change. In some cases, it may be better than chemotherapy or even replace it, he said. I’m Mary Gotschall.   Jessica Berman reported on this story for VOANews.com. Mary Gotschall adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Do you have an opinion about this topic? Let us know what you think in the Comments section below, or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   therapy – n. the treatment of physical or mental disorders immune system – noun phrase  the body's natural defenses for fighting disease leukemia – n. a serious disease in which the body forms too many white blood cells remission – n. a period of time during a serious infection when the patient's health improves conventional – adj. of a kind that has been around for a long time and is considered to be usual marrow – n.  a soft substance that fills the bones of people and animals immunotherapy – n.  a treatment that uses your body’s own natural defenses to help fight cancer (source: www.cancer.org)  

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Violence Increases in Eastern Ukraine

The United States has noticed an increase in fighting in Eastern Ukraine, a Department of Defense official told VOA. Despite an agreement for a ceasefire in 2015, about 430 Ukrainian armed forces have died, said Michael Carpenter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. Ukrainian government soldiers are battling Russian-backed military forces. The pro-Russian forces have carried out hundreds of attacks in eastern Ukraine in the last week, according to one NATO military leader.  Carpenter told VOA that the fighting in Ukraine is fueled by Russia. He said the solution is diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia. NATO top commander U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove spoke to reporters at the Pentagon, and said that “disturbing trends” had formed in Ukraine. He told Congress on Tuesday that attacks have increased. He said there have been more than 470 attacks in the past week. Breedlove also said sections of Ukraine that saw no fighting in the past are now under attack. The surge in violence has officials calling for more resources to aid Ukraine and stop Russian aggression. But Breedlove told American lawmakers, “the personnel, equipment and resources necessary to carry out its ongoing mission” is not available.   Ukraine declared independence in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union. Pro-Russian separatists have fought in the region since March 2014.  I’m Jim Dresbach.   VOA Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb wrote this story. Jim Dresbach adapted her 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   NATO – n. short for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; a group of countries that have agreed to provide military support to each other. fueled - v. to give support or strength to something​ surge – n. a sudden, large increase personnel – n. the people who work for a particular organization mission – n. a task or job that someone is given to do

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Debris May Be From MH370

A piece of metal from missing Malaysia Airways Flight 370 may have been found in Mozambique. The metal is white and about one meter long. It is being sent to Australia for testing. The Australian agency supervising the search for the plane will examine the metal to determine where it came from. An American beachcomber found the piece of metal and brought it to authorities in Mozambique. The piece of metal, or debris, may be from an airplane part called a horizontal stabilizer. It is printed with the words “no step” and has a code on it that makes experts think it is from a Boeing 777. That is the same kind of plane that disappeared in 2014 with 239 people on board. Computer models predicted that debris could wash-up in Mozambique. If the metal turns out to be from Flight 370, it will be the second confirmed piece of debris from the plane. A piece of the wing, called a flaperon, was found on a French island in the Indian Ocean last summer. The man who found the debris is from the state of Washington. He travels around looking for pieces of the plane. He said he traveled to a number of countries looking for parts of Flight 370. The transport minister in Malaysia did not want to get too excited about the discovery. He asked people to wait for more information. He says there will be a search if the piece of metal turns out to be from the Malaysian plane. On March 8, the Malaysian authorities will release more information about the new debris and the search. March 8 is the two-year anniversary of the plane’s disappearance. The plane was going to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur before it went off course over the Indian Ocean. I’m Anna Mateo.   Steve Herman reported on this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Do you think the debris in Africa is part of the missing plane? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   debris – n. the pieces that are left after something has been destroyed stabilizer – n. the part of an airplane's tail that cannot be moved beachcomber – n. a person who walks along beaches looking for things (such as seashells or items that can be sold)

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Everyday Grammar: Introducing Articles

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Protecting Migrant Workers Helps Host Countries

A new U.N. report on labor and migration in the Asia Pacific area says economic gains from migration are often ignored. The report calls for greater cooperation to avoid inequalities and human rights abuses. The United Nations released the report February 29. It says that in 2013, there were 213 million migrants worldwide. Asia-Pacific countries hosted more than 59 million of those migrants. That number has grown since 1990 and is expected to expand. Hongjoo Hahm is deputy executive secretary of the U.N.’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). He says the main driver of migration in the region is economics. “Economic gains is why migrants are on the move and we see the migrants largely moving unlike in other regions of the world; In Asia, one of the biggest and unique characterization is migration occurring from South to South, except to say those going to the Gulf [oil] countries.” Each year, about 2 million Philippine citizens leave for work overseas. Also, more than a half-million workers leave Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Pakistan each year. The migrants go to countries that include Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Russia, Singapore and Thailand. But restrictions on migrant workers in some host countries limit their rights and social protections. The U.N. report says such restrictions are often unjustified and are harmful to human rights. Hongjoo of UNESCAP says migrants do not drive down wages. He says the report found migrants’ impact on local wages and inequality was small. “When you provide migrants with decent work, when you treat migrants as your own, when you assimilate them into your economy and treat them as national labor, it really benefits your national economy.” But Phil Robertson says some countries treat migrant workers poorly. He is Asia-Pacific deputy director for Human Rights Watch. Robertson says Asian governments, such as Malaysia, prefer “short term” irregular migration. This means allowing migrants into the country for a short time. That leaves many migrants in the irregular or underground economy with little protection legally. “You know, driving through all these issues is an exaggerated sense of national security that somehow these refugees and migrants constitute some sort of threat to the countries. You see this in Thailand, where there’s often reference to migrants or refugee mobs. You see this in Malaysia where there’s an effort to try to continue to keep refugees out of the formal economy, not giving them the right to work.” Robertson says Southeast Asia’s ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) needs to develop better policy around migrants. U.N. economists say migrant trends in the future will be influenced by changes in population, especially where there is aging. The Asia Pacific Migrant Report 2015 offers ideas on policies with respect to human rights, decent work and social protection for nationals and migrants. I’m Mario Ritter. Ron Corben reported this story from Bangkok. Mario Ritter adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What can migrants bring to a host country? What should host countries do for migrants who come to work? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story trend – n. the general direction of change, development or action unique – adj. one of a kind characterization – n. describing the character or qualities of something or someone unjustified – adj. not necessarily right, fair or correct assimilate – v. to become part of another culture or society underground – n. not official or out in the open, hidden, secret; not legal

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Lesson 5: Where Are You?

Summary Anna visits Marsha at a friend's house. Anna and Marsha see many rooms in the house. They talk about what people do in each room.   Conversation      Anna: Hello, everyone! Today my friend Marsha is at her friend's house. She says it is beautiful. I want to see this house! Here we are! Anna: Marsha, I am in the kitchen! It is a beautiful kitchen! Marsha: It is beautiful. We cook in the kitchen. Anna: I eat in the kitchen. Marsha:  We relax in the living room. Anna:  I relax in the living room. Marsha, let’s go upstairs! Marsha: Anna? Where are you? Anna: Marsha, I am in the bathroom! I wash in the bathroom. Marsha: I am in the bedroom. We sleep in the bedroom. Anna: I sleep in the bedroom!   Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. Plan to Learn is an important learning strategy because it helps you arrange your best learning conditions. You organize the resources and tools you need to study well. Here is an example of how to use this strategy.  Oluchi knows she needs to have a quiet place to study. She takes her English homework to a quiet corner of her home, and turns off her phone and radio. She brings a cup of coffee to help her stay awake. She makes sure her dictionary is near and that she has pencils and paper to write notes. When she begins studying, everything she needs is in easy reach. Her full attention can focus on what she wants to learn. How about you? What conditions help you to study better? Some people like a little background noise, like in a cafe. Others need a very quiet place. Do you have a favorite chair or place in your home where you study well? Do you work better when you study with a friend or in a small group?  Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email about your best learning conditions. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.   Listening Click below to do the listening quiz. Each question has a short video. Play the video and listen for information about people’s locations. Speaking Practice Watch the video and practice speaking. You can also download the worksheet and practice talking about the rooms in a house with a friend. Pronunciation Practice Learn two different ways to ask questions in this video.  Writing What are some of the rooms in your house? Write to us in the Comments section. Tell us what you do in the rooms.  You can also download the worksheet. Practice writing the names of rooms in a house.​   New Words bathroom - n. a room with a sink and toilet and usually a bathtub or shower beautiful - adj. very good or pleasing; having beauty bedroom - n. a room used for sleeping eat - v. to take food into your mouth and swallow it house - n. a building in which a family lives kitchen - n. a room in which food is cooked living room - n. a room in a house for general family use relax - v. to spend time resting or doing something enjoyable sleep - v. to rest your mind and body by closing your eyes upstairs - adv. on or to a higher floor of a building wash - v. to clean (something) with water and usually soap ______________________________________________________________ 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. Additional materials: Printable Activity worksheet & Lesson Plan Grammar focus to be + location Topics Asking about location Naming places and activities Please write to us in the Comments section or send us an email.

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Former First Lady Nancy Reagan Dies at 94

[Editor's Note: This is breaking news. Audio will follow shortly. Thank you for your patience.] Former first lady Nancy Reagan has died at the age of 94, her spokeswoman told NBC News. Nancy Reagan's representative Joanne Drake told NBC the former first lady died of congestive heart failure. Reagan "will be buried at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, next to her husband, Ronald Wilson Reagan, who died on June 5, 2004," Drake wrote Sunday. Nancy Reagan, who married Ronald Reagan in 1952, had been in failing health in recent years. Ronald Reagan was a two-term president from 1981 to 1989. Nancy Reagan's major initiative as first lady was the "Just Say No" drug awareness campaign. She also became an advocate for finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease, which her husband contracted after leaving office. VOA News reported this story. VOA Learning English adapted it.     

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Smart Bandages to Heal Wounds More Quickly

Scientists say new made-made materials equipped with sensors could turn bandages into a valuable tool for health care workers. Simple bandages are usually seen as the first line of attack in healing small to moderate wounds and burns. They are easy to use, covering up the damaged skin and giving it time to heal. Scientists are now developing bandages with technology currently used in popular wearable devices, such as smart watches and fitness trackers. They have begun adding small sensors of all kinds to bandages and making them more sensitive. Scientists are also making new materials called hydrogels. Hydrogels are similar to human skin. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found a way to combine these two technologies. They created a stretchy polymer with firmness similar to human soft tissue. The new, combination product has titanium wires that lie in a zig-zag, or “z”- shaped, design. The wires, connected to electronic sensors, stretch easily without breaking contact with the sensors. The MIT researchers also created strong links between the electronic sensors and the hydrogels. Xuanhe Zhao is an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering. He said the researchers put electronic devices, such as sensors, into the new material. They used a different device to put medicine in the damaged skin. The resulting product becomes a kind of “smart-wound dressing” – one that can react to changes in the skin around it. For example, Zhao said, if there is a sudden increase in temperature, the wound will send out a command. That is when “the controlled drug delivery system can deliver a specific drug to that specific location.” LED lights in the bandage could warn patients and doctors about changes in different areas. Medication quickly spreads across the bandage, through tiny passageways. Researchers say the new material can be used both on the skin, and inside the body. Zhao told VOA that he and his team are “working hard” and hope to get to clinical tests soon. But it will be some time before these “smart bandages” reach the hospital or drug stores. Zhao said he “hopes eventually it (the bandage) will have a broad application.”  In the future, such products might even contain a computer chip, which would give it more power to analyze what is needed. I’m Anne Ball.   George Putic reported on this story for VOANews.com. Anne Ball adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.   What do you think of the idea of “smart bandages?” We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   sensor – n. a device that detects or senses heat, light, sound or motion, and reacts to it polymer – n. a chemical product that is made of small molecules ordered in a simple repeating structure to form a larger molecule titanium – n. a very strong and light silvery metal analyze – v. to study something closely and carefully delivery - n. the act of taking something to a person or a place specific - adj. special; clearly and exactly presented  

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Don't Come to Europe, EC Chief Tells Migrants

Migrants should not travel to Europe, says European Council President Donald Tusk. ​“I want to appeal to all potential illegal, economic migrants wherever you are from,” Tusk said. “Do not come to Europe. Do not believe the smugglers. Do not risk your lives and your money; it is all for nothing.” The EU president said the number of migrants crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey remains too high. Migrant smuggling continues to be a major problem. Measures must be in place to stop the illegal movement. “Greece or any other European country will no longer be a transit country,” he said. Tusk praised Turkey for clamping down on illegal migration and the smugglers who transport them. Tusk is on tour of nations have trouble dealing with the migrant issue. I’m Jim Dresbach.   Jim Dresbach wrote this story for Learning English. Information for his report came from three news agencies: AP, AFP and Reuters. 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   migrant – n. a person who goes from one place to another, usually for economic reasons smuggler – n. a person who moves someone or something from one country into another illegally and secretly clamping down – v. to try harder to punish people who are doing something that is not legal or proper

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Refugee Crisis Could Explode Violently in Europe

Europe could soon explode into uncontrollable and widespread violence because of the refugee crisis. That warning comes from UNHCR, or the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The agency reports that 24,000 refugees and migrants in Greece need shelter. This includes about 8,500 people near the border with Macedonia. It says there are shortages of food, shelter and water. It says the areas are unclean. Vincent Cochetel is the top representative of UNHCR in Europe. He says migrants and refugees fleeing the Balkans are stopped at border crossings. He says they do not understand that they cannot flee to other countries. Cochtel says those countries must first permit refugees to enter. Not all of the refugees will get permission, he says. There is “a lot of frustration building up, which may lead to acts of violence,” he says. A peaceful protest Monday near the Macedonian border became violent when police used tear gas to force refugees and migrants to move away from a border fence. Almost 132,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean Sea this year. Half of them are women or children. That is more than the number who made the dangerous journey in the first six months of 2015. Almost all of them have landed in Greece. UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards says the European Union must move forward with the plan it agreed to last year to settle the refugees equally among its 28 members. “It should concern everyone that despite commitments to relocate 66,400 refugees from Greece, states have so far pledged only 1,539 spaces, and only 325 actual relocations have occurred,” he said. The UNHCR says Greece must quickly increase its ability to care for the large number of people that are entering the country. And it said the EU member states must work together more closely. Separately, the American general who commands the North Atlantic Treaty Organization said violent extremists, criminals and foreign fighters are among the refugees who are entering Europe every day. Air Force General Philip Breedlove spoke before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. He said terrorists are hiding among the refugees, increasing the possibility of attacks. He said the Islamic State terrorist group is, in his words, “spreading like a cancer,” threatening Europe and the United States. He said the Russian and Syrian governments are using migration to weaken Europe. He said Syrian attacks on its civilians are a way to force them to flee and become a problem for other countries. Breedlove said forcing people to flee to Europe helps Russia meet its goal of using nonmilitary efforts to weaken NATO and the European Union. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Lisa Schlein reported on this story from Geneva. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her report for VOA Learning English. He added information provided by the Associated Press. 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   frustration – n. a feeling of anger or annoyance caused by being unable to do something; the state of being frustrated tear gas – n. a gas that makes people unable to see by causing their eyes to be filled with tears and that is used especially by the police or military to move, control or separate large groups of people

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