Knife Cuts on Mastodon Bone Reveal Earlier Humans

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

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Lack of Progress in Reducing Poverty

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

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Lesson 15: I Love People-Watching!

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

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Less Financial Aid Going to Students Who Need It

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

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How Can Golf Appeal to More People?

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

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Approval of TPP in US Congress Seen as Difficult

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

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Confronting the Enemy After Wartime Can Help, and Hurt

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

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Health Workers Advised on Care of FGM Victims

  The World Health Organization has released guidance to help health workers care for girls and women living with female genital mutilation. About 3 million girls are at risk for female genital mutilation, or FGM, every year, the WHO reports. Many are younger than 15. Worldwide, more than 200 million girls and women live with the effects of FGM, officials say. This is the first time WHO officials have produced guidelines on the violent, inhumane custom. Female genital mutilation is the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. FGM is performed in 30 African countries and a few countries in Asia and the Middle East. FGM cases have increased in Europe and North America as immigrants move to those countries. Lale Say is the head of WHO’s Department of Reproductive Health and Research. She says the practice can cause severe pain, bleeding and even death. Those who perform FGM are usually unskilled and use razor blades and other cutting tools that are not clean. “It has high risks during pregnancy and childbirth both for the woman who is delivering, but also for her baby. It can cause obstetric tears, difficult labor and even loss of a baby at the time of the delivery," she says. "Other health problems -- longer-term health problems -- include psychological risks, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.”  WHO notes that health workers often fail to understand the physical and emotional problems caused by FGM and do not know how to help its victims. The new guidelines tell health workers how to prevent and treat obstetric problems and how to help women with depression and anxiety disorders. The guidelines also warn against what is called the “medicalization” of FGM. Medicalization happens when doctors and nurses are convinced to perform FGM. WHO medical officer Doris Chou says doctors must refuse requests from family members to perform FGM. She says some adults want doctors to do the cutting because they say it is safer for the girls. “Medicalization is never acceptable because it violates medical ethics, as it is a harmful practice," she says. Medicalization allows FGM to continue, and the risks outweigh the benefits. "As health care providers, we actually need to recall that we need to uphold the Hippocratic Oath -- and that is to do no harm.”  WHO says it hopes its advice can help worldwide efforts to end FGM by educating health workers. I'm Marsha James.   Lisa Schlein reported this story from Geneva for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. George Grow and Kathleen Struck were the editors. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   external – adj. located, seen or used on the outside or surface of something inhumane – adj. not kind or gentle to people or animals; not humane practice – n. something that is done often or regularly obstetric – adj. related to the birth of children and the care of women before, during, and after they give birth to children tear – n. a hole or opening in something (such as a piece of paper or cloth) that is made by cutting it or tearing it labor – n. the process by which a woman gives birth to a baby delivery – n. the act or process of giving birth Hippocratic Oath – n. a promise by a doctor to follow ethical practices in medical care  

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For All Book Lovers: Chapter 1

Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. When you learn a foreign language, it can be very difficult to know the best word to use in a situation. This show can help you learn how and when to use American expressions. Today, we will explore a seemingly simple word: book.     Everyone knows what a book is. We read books to get information. We read books for stories. A book can be like a time machine that takes a reader on a trip into the past or future. People who love to read and love books are called bookworms. Like the actual insects that feed on the pages and paste of books, bookworms eat up every word on the printed page. Even with the invention of electronic books, or e-books, book lovers are still called bookworms. Parts of a book Besides pages and paste, a book is made up of several parts. Let’s begin with what we usually see first – the cover. In American English we like to say do not judge a book by its cover. This means you should not judge something or someone simply by how it looks on the outside. The cover of a book may look appealing. But that does not mean the inside is well written. This expression is usually used with people. Another part of a book is the page. If we say a book is a real page-turner it means it is very well written and very suspenseful. You cannot wait to turn the page to find out what happens next! However, to turn the page means something different. This means to stop thinking or dealing with something unpleasant. A chapter is also part of a book. It can also mean a part of history or a person’s life. Sometimes these two are used together as in this example, “It is time to turn the page on that dark chapter in history.” This can also be used in a personal example, “She needed to turn the page on the sad chapter in her life.” Instead of turning the page or starting a new chapter, you can be on the same page with someone. To be on the same page means you agree about something. It is as if the two of you are reading from the same book and have stopped at the same place. When you do stop reading in a book, especially a borrowed book, you may want to think twice before dog-earring the page to mark your spot. To dog ear the page of book means to bend the top corner slightly like a dog’s ear. And this upsets many book lovers. So, do not dog ear someone else’s book and definitely do not tear a page out it … except if you are using the idiom. Taking a page out of someone’s book means to do something they would do. This can be used for people and for organizations. For example, some people feel the government should take a page out of the private sector’s book and operate more efficiently. Besides reading books, did you know you can also read people? To read someone like a book means you are able to understand someone very clearly. It is easy to read someone like a book when they are an open book. A person who is an open book shares their thoughts and shows their feelings very easily. A closed book is the opposite. It describes something that is difficult to understand or a person who does not share personal details. This expression can also mean something that has completely ended. For example, if you have a friend who went through a difficult divorce you could say her marriage is a closed book. And one she does not want to read again. All this opening and closing of book, makes me think of studying. Students facing a tough exam must hit the books. This sounds violent. But, it simply means to study long and hard. No one has to physically attack the books, although after hours and hours of studying, a student may want to. Now, let’s listen to some of these expressions in a conversation. What are you doing this weekend? Richard and I are hitting the books. We need to study for the big exam. Richard, the new student? He’s always so cheery. He must have a really easy life. You should not judge a book by its cover. I’ve known Richard a long time. And, actually, he has had a really rough year. Really? I’m surprised to hear that. He is always smiling and is so pleasant with everyone. He has always been a bit of a closed book. He never talks about his personal life, especially the bad times. I should take a page out of Richard’s book and be happy even when times are tough. We’re on the same page there. I’m trying to keep a good attitude too. But he said that he’s finally turned the page on a difficult chapter in his life. Glad to hear it. He seems like a really nice guy. And now it’s time for us to turn the page and end this chapter of Words and Their Stories. But join us again next time as we talk about more words and expressions in American English. I’m Anna Matteo.   Let us know if you have similar expressions using “book” in your language in the Comments Section.  Anna Matteo wrote this for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   shabby – adj. in poor condition through long or hard use or lack of care. efficient – adj. capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy : efficiently is the adverb  

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English in a Minute: Baggage

When you travel, you take things with you in bags. This is called "baggage." But, Anna and Jonathan are not actually talking about travel. Find out another definition of "baggage" means in this episode of English in a Minute!

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Best US Beach? 'Dr. Beach' Says Hawaii's Got It

The best beach in the United States is Hawaii’s Hanauma Bay, says Dr. Beach’s "top 10" list of beaches for 2016. Dr. Beach is coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman of Florida International University. He has been reviewing beaches since 1991. He considers 50 conditions in preparing his list. They include including water and sand quality as well as "safety and management.” Hanauma Bay Beach Park is in the eastern end of Oahu, about 20 kilometers from Honolulu, Hawaii's capital. Dr. Beach says the bay has the best accessible snorkeling in the area. Dr. Beach says it has "thousands of beautifully colored tropical fish which span the rainbow.” Among others on his "top 10" list: Siesta Beach, in Sarasota, Florida; Ocracoke on North Carolina's Outer Banks; Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod in Massachusetts and San Diego's Coronado Beach in California.  Dr. Beach also gives “bonus points” for beaches that ban smoking, like Hanauma Bay. The website notes that, in recent years, “more emphasis is being placed on environmental management and beach safety.” The yearly list is released at the start of Memorial Day weekend in the United States. The holiday signals the unofficial start of summer recreational activities. Monday is Memorial Day. The federal holiday that honors the memory of all the nation's war dead. I'm Caty Weaver. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   beach - n. an area covered with sand or small rocks that is next to an ocean or lake​ management - n. the act or process of controlling and dealing with something​ accessible - adj. able to be reached or approached​ snorkeling - v. to swim underwater while using a snorkel​ bonus - n. something good that is more than what was expected or required emphasis - n.special importance or attention given to something​

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