You Really Should Learn Modals!

For VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. This week we are going to show you how to give advice using modal verbs. Modal verbs (called modals for short) are auxiliary verbs that express a speaker's attitude and the strength of that attitude. For example, "He should visit Prague." In this sentence, should is the modal verb, and visit is the main verb. The simple form of a verb goes after a modal. Do not add the third person "s" to a verb after a modal. It would sound strange to say, "He should visits Prague" or, "He should to visit Prague." The correct way is, "He should visit Prague." There are about 17 modals in English — grammar experts do not agree on an exact number. Today we will focus on three common modals used for giving advice: should, ought to, and had better. Using should Let's start with should. Should has multiple meanings. It can be used to express certainty, such as, "He should be here by 5 o'clock." Should can be a substitute for the conditional word if. You might hear someone say, "Should you need help, just ask me." But more often, we use should to give suggestions and friendly advice, such as, "You should apply for that job," or "You should try that new restaurant." The past form of the modal should is should have + the past participle. For example, "I should have brought my wallet." Notice that the main verb brought is in the past participle form. Use should have to express regret, or a negative feeling about the past. Imagine you trusted someone and that person later cheated on you. You could say, "I should have known better than to trust him." The Beatles used the expression in a popular song. I should have known better with a girl like you That I would love everything that you do And I do Hey hey hey Using ought to The next modal we will talk about is ought to. Ought to is another modal for giving advice. Sometimes ought to sounds more like "otta" as in this romantic song by Al Green. Sit back down and talk to me About how you want to be You ought to be with me Yeah you ought to be with me Ought to is similar in meaning to should, but it is not used as often. In modern American English, ought to is seldom used with the past tense or in the question form. Using had better Let's move on to had better. Had better is stronger than should and ought to. Had better carries an indirect threat. For example, if you said, "You had better finish the report," you are not making a polite suggestion. You are making an indirect threat. In other words, if you don't finish the report, you are in trouble. Authority figures sometimes use had better when speaking to people below them. Parents also use this form often. Listen to cartoon character Malory Archer. Malory is the head of a spy agency. People think she is arrogant and heartless. Listen to her tone when she uses had better. Oh for — I'll send up some help. And Missy, you had better watch it! As you can hear, Malory is not making a polite suggestion. She is threatening someone in a lower position. Had better is not always impolite, it could express a sense of urgency as in, "Your plane is leaving! You had better run!"  In other words, "If you don't run, you will miss your flight." Had better has no past tense or question form.   ​Modals in rapid speech Should, ought to, and had better can be difficult for English learners to hear. Native speakers often shorten these words in casual conversation. In rapid speech, modals seem to disappear because they are shortened and often fall on unstressed syllables. We will read some examples for you. The first sentence will be in slow, careful speech. Then we will read it again in rapid, informal speech. I should have been listening to what she had to say. I shoulda been listenin' ta what she had t' say.   You ought to be ashamed of yourself. You otta be ashamed of yourself. You had better decide what you want to do. You'd better decide whatcha wanna do. That's all the advice we have for you today. There is much more to learn about modals. We will cover them in more detail in future episodes. Until then, you should practice modals with British punk band, The Clash. Darling you've got to let me know Should I stay or should I go? If you say that you are mine I'll be here till the end of time So you've got to let me know Should I stay or should I go? I'm Pete Musto. And I'm Jill Robbins.   Adam Brock wrote this story for Learning English. Dr. Jill Robbins was the editor. Now it's your turn. Think of a friend whom you would like to give advice. Write to us in the Comments section. Write two sentences - using should, ought to, or had better - giving advice. We'll give you feedback. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   modal verb - a verb (such as can, could, shall, should, ought to, will, or would) that is usually used with another verb to express ideas such as possibility, necessity, and permission auxiliary verb - a verb (such as have, be, may, do, shall, will, can, or must) that is used with another verb to show the verb's tense, to form a question, etc. attitude – n. the way you think and feel about someone or something certainty – n. the state of being or feeling about how likely it is that something will happen conditional – adj. showing or used to show that something is true or happens only if something else is true or happens past participle - the form of the verb that is used with "have" in perfect tenses and with "be" in passive constructions arrogant – adj. having or showing the insulting attitude of people who believe that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people unstressed – adj. not having an accent syllable – n. any one of the parts into which a word is naturally divided when it is pronounced   ​ ​

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1TM2mfi
via IFTTT

News Words: Revolutionary

This week’s news word is about something that recently happened.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1XloBPG
via IFTTT

Baby Born in NJ to Zika-Infected Mom Has Microcephaly

A baby girl born in New Jersey to a mother infected with the Zika virus has severe microcephaly, say health officials. A 31-year-old woman visiting the U.S. from Honduras was infected during pregnancy, said a doctor from the Hackensack University Medical Center. The mother was bitten by the Aedes mosquito and came to the United States for treatment after Zika symptoms were discovered. Microcephaly is a birth defect that causes small head size and developmental problems. The premature newborn in New Jersey also suffers from intestinal and visual issues, reported NorthJersey.com. The baby girl was delivered though a Cesarean section, or surgically, and is “completely Zika-affected,” said a hospital spokesperson. Confirmation of the virus in the newborn is still pending tests, he said.  The Zika virus is mainly transmitted via the Aedes mosquito. The connection between Zika and microcephaly was first discovered last year in Brazil, where more than 1,300 cases have been confirmed. All cases are considered related to Zika infections in the mothers. The outbreak is affecting parts of Latin American and the Caribbean.  I'm Kathleen Struck.   VOA News reported this story. Kathleen Struck adapted this for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.  Are you worried about the Zika virus or other viruses where you live? Please tell us about it in the Comments, and post on our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   microcephaly -- n. condition where the head size is smaller than normal Aedes mosquito -- n. a mosquito that spreads diseases like dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika, yellow fever and other viruses intestinal -- adj. relating to the intestines or the part of the body where food is digested Cesarean section -- n. a procedure in which a baby is delivered through a cut in the mother's abdomen surgically -- adv. procedures done by cutting or making an incision  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1sqIhEw
via IFTTT

Dead Cubs Found at Thailand’s ‘Tiger Temple’

Officials in Thailand found 40 dead tiger cubs at a Buddhist temple accused of animal abuse. The dead cubs were discovered Wednesday in a freezer at the temple, west of Bangkok. Authorities found them while removing dozens of mostly full-grown live tigers from the temple grounds. Officials said the cubs appeared to be about a week old. It was not known why they were in the freezer, where temple staff kept food. Monks have been operating an unsanctioned zoo, called Tiger Temple. Tourists paid money to view and take pictures with the tigers and other exotic animals.    Wildlife groups say the animals were illegally bred and poorly treated. They also accuse the monks of making money by selling tiger parts used in traditional Chinese medicine. Thai authorities plan to file charges against the temple for illegally possessing endangered species. On its website, Tiger Temple said some tigers have to be tied up to protect visitors and other tigers because they sometimes wake in a “restless state.” “People’s safety has to be our main concern,” it said. The monks recently sought permission from the government to operate a zoo, according to the Associated Press. But the request was denied because the temple did not have proper resources to deal with the animals.   The monks resisted previous attempts to remove the tigers. But this time officials got a court order and the temple complied. All of the temple’s 137 tigers are being transferred to various shelters in Thailand. I’m Bryan Lynn.   VOANews.com reported this story. Additional material came from the Associated Press. Bryan Lynn adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   unsanctioned – adj. not officially approved breed – v.  cause an animal to produce offspring endangered species – n. – a species of animal or plant that is at risk of extinction comply – v. to do what you have been asked or ordered to do  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1ROcKkx
via IFTTT

Search On For Boy Abandoned by Parents in Japan

A Japanese boy remains missing four days after his parents abandoned him as a punishment, police said. Japan’s military joined the search Wednesday for a 7-year-old boy missing in a forest in northern Japan. But on Wednesday night, Yamato Tanooka still had not been found. About 275 soldiers, police and volunteers searched for him Wednesday. The boy has been missing since Saturday, when his parents made him get out of their car to punish him for throwing rocks at cars and people, according to police. Kyodo News Service said police are looking into whether the parents should be charged with child abandonment. Child psychiatrists said even a threat of leaving a child behind is child abuse because of the stress it creates. Police said the boy’s father, Takayuki Tanooka, returned to the area to look for his son a few minutes later, but could not find him. The child was left on a road by woods that are home to bears. He had no food or water, and there has been heavy rain. Temperatures at night have been in the mid-40s, according to news reports from Japan. Tanooka first told police his son disappeared while the family was picking vegetables. He later said that he and his wife had punished their son for bad behavior. Father is Embarrassed Tanooka told news media he was embarrassed for leaving his child on the road – for what he said was supposed to be for a few minutes. “I regret what I did to my child,” he said. The search for the 7-year-old boy was a major news story in Japan, with TV networks doing many live updates. Many people went on Twitter to criticize the parents. “What kind of parents would abandon a child in bear country?” wrote Helene Hamilton. “They should be charged -- especially if he is hurt or killed.” Judith Cohen is a doctor and professor of psychiatry at Drexel University College of Medicine in Pennsylvania. She said parents are expected to give children a “basic sense of security and safety.” “When parents make that conditional on a child’s good behavior, children lose their sense of safety and security, which is really a core need for children to grow up,” Cohen said. Janet Rosenzweig, vice president for research at Prevent Child Abuse America, understands parents get uneasy when children do not behave. “But I can’t think of anything worse than abandoning a child in a strange and unknown place,” Rosenzweig said. She said children suffer emotionally when they are abandoned, or even warned that their parents might leave them behind. But the damage is more than emotional, she said. “With modern science, we know that traumatic stress washes a kid’s brain and blocks intellectual growth,” Rosenzweig said. Cohen said the best way to discipline a child is to set limits and warn in advance about punishment for pushing limits. Let children know that TV or computer use will be removed if they do not behave. If parents want a child to leave a fun activity, such as swimming, they might warn that time in that activity is running out. “For young children, it might be as simple as saying, ‘We have to leave in the time it takes to sing ‘Happy Birthday,’ ” Cohen said. 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.  Let us know what you do when your children don’t behave. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   abandon -- v. to leave someone behind stress – n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life core – adj. the central part of something embarrass – v. to make (someone) feel confused and foolish in front of other people traumatic – adj. causing someone to become very upset in a way that can lead to serious mental and emotional problems intellectual – adj. relating to the ability to think in a logical way discipline – n. control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed and punishing bad behavior

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1WZby5x
via IFTTT

Switzerland Opens World’s Longest, Deepest Rail Tunnel

Switzerland has opened the world’s longest and deepest railway tunnel, 17 years after starting work on the project. The Gotthard Railway Tunnel is 57 kilometers long. Trains passing through it will be about 2.3 kilometers underground at the deepest point. The tunnel cost $12 billion to build under the Alps of central Switzerland. The tunnel will reduce the time it takes trains to travel between northern and southern Europe. It is also expected to lower the number of vehicles on roads, and move cargo between north and south. Many large trucks now carry goods through Europe. The trucks pollute the air. The two-way tunnel opens for commercial service in December. When that happens, up to 260 freight trains and 65 passenger trains will be able to pass through it every day. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi were at the opening ceremony on Wednesday. There were also musical bands and dancers. To celebrate the event, a special song was even written for the tunnel. The new tunnel will have an effect on Switzerland and the rest of Europe for years to come. Switzerland is not a member of the European Union. But some EU member countries have helped pay for, design and build the tunnel. The tunnel is expected to help the EU railway network -- especially traffic between Germany and Italy. The tunnel stretches from the German-speaking town of Erstfeld in the north to the Italian-speaking town of Bodio in the south. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   The Associated Press reported this story from Geneva. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for VOA 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   tunnel – n. a passage that goes under the ground, through a hill, etc. cargo – n. something that is carried from one place to another by boat, airplane, etc. commercial – adj. related to or used in the buying and selling of goods and services; concerned with earning money freight – adj. goods that are carried by ships, trains, trucks or airplanes  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1XhFt9T
via IFTTT

Play Looks Into Workers' Lives When Car Industry Failed

Detroit, Michigan has been the center of America’s automobile industry since the early 20th century. Detroit, the “Motor City” as it is known, is home to the “Big Three” U.S. automakers: General Motors, Chrysler and Ford. This year, U.S. automakers are expected to sell a record number of vehicles. And Michigan produces more cars and trucks than any other state. But it is hard to forget 2008. That year, the U.S. government rescued GM and Chrysler from failure. Ford also received help, a government line of credit. During that period, hundreds of thousands of workers lost their jobs as auto factories and their supply companies shrank or closed. Now, a new play in New York looks at four auto workers struggling in hard economic times. “Skeleton Crew” is the latest play by Detroit native Dominique Morisseau. It is her third play about her hometown. “Skeleton Crew” received a special honor at this year's Obie awards. The Obies recognize plays performed at New York area theaters with fewer than 500 seats. The play takes place at a factory that makes car parts for the Big Three auto makers. But times are difficult. The factory has dismissed a lot of workers. Those who remain are the skeleton crew, the fewest workers required to keep the factory operating. Morriseau spoke about the play earlier this year to radio station WNYC. “It’s exploring a group of workers, a family of workers, who sort of have to deal with the different impacts that this potential closing will have on them." A hometown tale The story is all very personal for Morriseau, who was born and raised in Detroit. She said she wanted to learn more about the people that lived through some of the city’s crises. So she went home to talk to people about what it felt like to be in Detroit in 2008, when the auto industry was on the edge of collapse. For the workers in "Skeleton Crew," it was an earth-shaking moment. Ruben Santiago-Hudson is the play’s director. He says Morisseau is able to create her characters with empathy. "This play is really important, in the sense that you come into the world of blue-collar life. So, to go and see the integrity of these people and also how they feed off each other – they’re so, all different and they all need each other." Nikiya Mathis plays the part of Shanita in “Skeleton Crew.” At one point, Shanita is talking to co-worker Faye Davis, played by Lynda Gravatt. "You gotta make yourself irreplaceable. That’s what I’m doing." "How you figure you irreplaceable? I been from stampin’ doors to installing shocks to them seven years I spent sewing interiors. Ain’t nobody in this plant more irreplaceable than Faye Davis is!" Everyone's replaceable But, as "Skeleton Crew" goes on, all the workers learn just how replaceable they are. The supervisor could lose his house in the economic downturn. The worker might have to take a lower-paying job, as she prepares to have her first baby. And, shop leader Faye has been making cars her entire life, but now, she lives in one. Lynda Gravatt says Faye is both strong and defenseless. "And life has beaten her, and she hasn’t quite figured out how to negotiate or how life has beaten her or why it has beaten her. So, she, you know, spends her money going to casinos … which many people do." In a way, "Skeleton Crew" examines how the financial crisis in Detroit, and in the country, creates personal crises. Santiago-Hudson says those crises feel and sound real. "Dominique hears the language of her life, of her community. And she not only hears it, she relays it just the way she heard it." “She’s just trying to let you experience them,” he says. I’m Jill Robbins.    Jeff Lunden wrote this report for VOA News. Caty Weaver adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.  The character of Faye is said to be “beaten” by her life. What do you think that means? Leave your answer in our Comment section, and post on our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story    skeleton crew – n. the fewest number of workers needed to continue operation at a workplace  impact – n. a powerful or major influence or effect  potential – adj. capable of becoming real; possible  empathy – n. the ability to share someone else's feelings  blue-collar – adj. requiring physical work  integrity – n. the quality of being honest and fair irreplaceable – adj.  too valuable or rare to be replaced; not replaceable  casino – n. a building or room that has games of chance (such as roulette or blackjack) for gambling

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1Ze1u6X
via IFTTT

Almost 46 Million People Live in ‘Modern Slavery’

Almost 46 million people live in some form of forced labor or modern-day slavery, says an Australian research group. The term modern slavery may include debt bondage, forced marriage and sexual exploitation. The researchers say India, China and Pakistan have the largest number of people living in such conditions. The Walk Free Foundation released its latest Global Slavery Index earlier this week in London. The foundation wants governments and businesses to do more to stop systems of forced labor. The group studied forced labor in 167 countries. It found that the number of people living as modern slaves is 28 percent higher than previously believed. The new report said India also has more than 18 million modern-day slaves. That is much more than any other country. Kevin Bales is the lead author of the Global Slavery Index. He said India is working to end forced labor, but that is historically difficult. "They have hereditary forms of slavery in India. They've had a long, long history of rural forms of agricultural slavery so, you know, it's something the Indians are working on very hard, but they've inherited a big problem from the past." Andrew Forrest is the chairman of the Walk Free foundation. He says forced labor means workers cannot leave their place of employment. He says their passports might be taken from them, or there might be a threat against them or their family members. Forrest says such workers cannot leave their situation and are treated, in his words, like “a farm animal.” The report says 58 percent of people living in modern slavery are in five Asian countries. In addition to India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan have large numbers of people in forced labor conditions. In southern Pakistan, for example, men, women and children work in brick factories. But they do not see wages for their hard work. One brick maker described how he had to get a loan to feed his family. He said he believes he will never be able to repay his debt. In the brick factories, the employer keeps all the workers’ earnings to secure their debt. The employer only provides the workers with food. The report says people across the world are trapped in similar situations. Wolfgang Buetner is with the group Human Rights Watch in Germany. He said, “Forced labor is a big problem worldwide. We have again and again documented migrant workers, in particular domestic workers, but also workers on construction sites, (who) were being subjected to forced labor.” And it is not only businesses. “There are states that systematically impose forced labor, for example, North Korea and Uzbekistan on its cotton fields," he said. The report said North Korea, Iran, Eritrea, Central African Republic Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan have taken little action to end slavery. It adds that North Korea has the highest percentage of modern slavery at over 4 percent of the population. Forced labor conditions are found not only in developing nations, but also in wealthy nations. However, the wealthy ones have lower percentages of modern slavery among workers. Activists are urging companies doing business in countries were forced labor is a problem to make sure their partners obey labor laws. However, the group said only a government campaign can make major improvements in working conditions. I’m Mario Ritter.   Zlatica Hoke reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Do you have something to say about slavery? Please leave your ideas in the Comments section below, and post on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   bondage -- n. the state of being a slave exploitation – n. the act of using someone in a way that is unfair or illegal foundation -- n. an organization to support with money to do something that helps society​ hereditary -- adj. passed or able to be passed from parent to child before birth inherited -- v.  to receive (money, property, character) from someone when that person dies brick -- n.  blocks of baked clay used as building material migrant – adj. relating to someone who travels from one place to another usually to work domestic – adj. related to things in the home impose – v. to force someone to do something, or to accept something

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1O66Lg6
via IFTTT

Adele Tells Fan to Stop Filming Her Concert

This is What’s Trending Today… The British superstar Adele wants people to enjoy her live performances, and not videotape them. During a show last Sunday in Italy, Adele condemned someone in the crowd for videotaping the whole concert. The singer asked the woman to stop filming her and enjoy the live show instead. Adele criticized the fan for setting up a tripod to support the camera, asking her to take it down. The artist explained that her show was not a DVD, saying, “I’m really here in real life.” Adele’s outburst caused a lot of people to leave comments on social media. Some people supported Adele’s reaction. One Facebook user wrote that she also does not like it when people block her view at a concert because they are taping it. Another Adele fan believes that people should respect the artist and his or her wishes. Others felt that Adele should not have said anything at all to the woman. This Twitter user felt like Adele embarrassed her fan. Another Facebook user thinks that the fan should be able to “watch the show any way they want” once they have paid for their ticket. Adele is halfway through her planned around-the-world concert tour. Those shows are to continue until the end of November. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Mehrnoush Karimian-Ainsworth.   Mehrnoush Karimian-Ainsworth wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and post on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   concert – n. a public performance of music fan – n. a person who likes and admires someone (such as a famous person) or something (such as a sport or a sports team) in a very enthusiastic way outburst – n. a sudden expression of strong feeling controversy – n. strong disagreement about something among a large group of people embarrassed – v. to make (someone) feel confused and foolish in front of other people

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1VxjnP4
via IFTTT

Travel Apps Offer Direction, Fun

When life takes you away from home, take technology to help guide and entertain you. Apps can help make your trip easier and more fun. Travel Guidance Travel apps are very helpful to guide you on your trip. Some apps help you plan your trip and others help you travel. TripIt TripIt is a helpful app to organize travel plans. Sign up for a free account at the TripIt website and download the app to have all of your travel plans handy in one place. After signing up for an account, forward any email confirmations for your travels to plans@tripit.com. Send TripIt all confirmations for hotel, flight, train, theater and other reservations. TripIt will create a travel itinerary that will be shown in the TripIt app on your phone. No need to hunt down emails when it is time to travel. Everything will be in one place, on the TripIt app. There’s a video that shows how TripIt works.     TripIt is free but a paid version is available that keeps track of loyalty programs, gives flight alerts, fare refund notifications and more. TripIt for Android TripIt for iPhone/iPad Google Translate When traveling outside your home country, you may need some language assistance. Google Translate is an app that can help you understand a language other than your native tongue. The Google Translate app translates between 103 different languages. Copy and paste text into the app to see a translation. You can also handwrite text onto the screen. Use your phone’s camera to see a translation of signs. Point the lens at words to see the translation on the phone’s screen. The app works even without an Internet connection. Google Translate is available for free. Google Translate for Android Google Translate for iPhone and iPad OpenTable OpenTable is a restaurant reservation app to help users discover and make reservations at restaurants. Search by location, cuisine, reviews and prices. OpenTable includes 31,000 restaurants around the world. Check the app to see availability and make reservations within the app. Earn Dining Rewards by making your reservations through OpenTable and get a free meal. OpenTable is available free for Android and iPhone and iPad. Photo Editing on the Go Part of the fun of traveling with a smart phone is taking and sharing photos. Fotor The Fotor app lets you edit your photos and add filters for special effects. The app has been updated recently with new editing features so users can edit their photos more easily. Fotor has added a slider to give users greater control of the edits. Editing effects can be saved as favorites to use them easily later. See, Photo Editing App Improves Your Shots to learn more about Fotor. Fotor Photo Editor for Android Fotor for iPhone/iPad     Waterlogue Waterlogue is an app that edits photos to look like watercolor paintings. The app is best used on photos of places instead of people. It can make your photos look like works of art. Choose from 14 different filters to get different colors and effects. Waterlogue is available for iPhone/iPad for under $4. Offline Apps Traveling often means you are offline and away from the Internet. When camping in the wild, flying on a plane, sailing on a boat or riding in the car, you may not have an Internet connection. If you are traveling outside your home country and away from Wi-Fi, you should use apps offline to avoid large bills for using international data. Google Maps Google Maps can be used even when no Internet connection is available. Maps can be downloaded for times when you are away from the Internet. Create your own Google Maps that you can use offline. Customize maps by including directions and points of interest. After creating a custom map, you can share it with others so they can see where you are going or join you on your trip. If you discover favorite restaurants, hotels or museums, you can save them to your maps to revisit them later. How to Download Google Maps for Offline Use To download Google Maps for offline use, open the app when you are connected to the Internet. Search for the place you want Google Maps for, such as Washington, D.C. When the map appears in the app, touch the bottom bar with the name of the place. A page will appear with the option to download the map. Google Maps for Android Google Maps for iPhone/iPad EBooks Load your phone or tablet with Ebooks before you leave home. Download Ebooks over WiFi so you can read them anywhere, even when you are not connected to the Internet. Plenty of Ebooks are available free so you can fill your device before you leave home. Check out ereader apps including Kindle for Android; Kindle for iPhone and iPad; Google Play Books for Android; Google Play Books for iPhone and iPad; and iBooks for iPhone and iPad. I’m Caty Weaver.   Carolyn Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Do you use travel apps? Have you tried any of these? Do you have travel apps to suggest? Please share your thoughts in the Comments section, and post on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   alert - n. something (such as a message or loud sound) that tells people there is important information fare refund - n. receiving money back when the price of a ticket drops translate - v. to change words from one language into another language cuisine - n. a style of cooking slider - n. a control that is moved horizontally or vertically to control a variable, such as the volume of a radio offline - adj. not connected to the Internet data - n. information that is produced or stored by a computer download - v. to move or copy (a file, program, etc.) from a usually larger computer system to another computer or device customize - v. to change (something) in order to fit the needs or requirements of a person, business, etc. option - n. something that can be chosen : a choice or possibility

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1Uv6NNI
via IFTTT

Adele Tells Fan to Stop Filming Her Concert

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/25yDFKR
via IFTTT