University Student Drops Out of Ivy League

A Columbia University student said she ran away in May because life at the highly ranked school was too stressful. Nayla Kidd of Kentucky was an engineering student at Columbia, in New York City, when she disappeared. Her friends, family and police looked for her for two weeks. She was found living across the East River in another part of the city. Kidd explained that she moved from Manhattan to Brooklyn after turning away from university life. “I skipped my final exams, changed bank accounts, got a second phone number and deleted my Facebook page,” she wrote in the New York Post newspaper. “I needed to break from my old life of high pressure and unreasonable expectations.” School success Kidd said she received excellent grades at her preparatory school before Columbia. She said she was called “The Science Girl” because of her skills in the sciences. “I enjoyed the praise and self-worth I felt when I excelled in school, and I wanted to keep aiming higher,” Kidd said, in telling her story in the New York Post. She was excited when she got into Columbia “because it’s such a prestigious school.” Columbia is part of a group of eight schools known as the Ivy League, a group that includes Harvard and Yale. “It made me feel like I had proven to myself, and everyone around me, that I made it,” Kidd wrote. The Washington Post newspaper noted that Kidd’s mother has academic degrees from two other prestigious U.S. schools -- Johns Hopkins University and MIT. Kidd said of her mother: “It was just her and I; she raised me as a single mom.” Leaving school Even though she was eager to attend Columbia, Kidd did not feel welcome there. The school felt too big, too unfriendly and too impersonal, she said. “School just wasn’t interesting to me anymore because I didn’t have any close connections with my teachers,” she said. At the end of her second year there, Kidd left the apartment she shared near the campus with two former Columbia students. She missed final exams. She did not return texts or phone calls. Friends and family created the hashtag #FindingNayla. Finally, the police found her and reunited her with her mother. School stress Just one month before Kidd went missing, the Columbia University’s student newspaper wrote that many Columbia students have problems with stress. The newspaper is called the Columbia Spectator. “Students have singled out stress as an issue at Columbia with increasing frequency,” The Spectator wrote. It said the repeated complaint has led many students to ask whether Columbia is a more stressful place than other top universities. Noelle Leonard is the senior research scientist at New York University’s College of Nursing. She said colleges like Columbia offer lots of resources for students, but they expect students to seek the help themselves. “It seems as if Nayla did not have an advisor or counselor that she could turn to,” Leonard said. Some colleges ask teachers and advisers to tell administrators if a student might be having problems. For example, at Georgia State University in Atlanta, professors are told to report when a student misses a few classes, fails to turn in assignments, or fails tests. The idea, said Vice Provost Timothy Renick, is to offer help before problems grow and force students to leave school. Leonard and fellow researcher Marya Gwatz wrote a paper together, offering some advice for students: Seek relationships with faculty, family and fellow students. If you feel you need mental-health care, seek it out. “Fight back against the stigma of mental-health care,” they wrote. Seek balance in your life between study, work and play. “Balance will get you farther in life than a really good test score,” they wrote. Leonard said she thinks that African-American students are under more pressure to excel at mostly white, Ivy league universities, such as Columbia. Forbes.com reported that African-Americans make up 7.5 percent of Columbia students. Reaction Kidd’s story drew lots of comments on Twitter. Some supported her, some were critical and others offered mixed opinions. “So glad to hear Nayla Kidd has been found and is safe. I can totally identify with wanting to just up and leave and be unreachable,” wrote one person on Twitter. Another person wrote: “I understand #NaylaKidd wanting a new life, but it was selfish not to consider how her disappearance would affect her friends and family.” Columbia University put out a statement saying officials are “deeply relieved and gratified that Columbia Engineering student Nayla Kidd has been found and is safe.” Kidd herself said she is glad to be back in touch with her friends and family, but she does not plan to return to school. Instead of focusing on succeeding academically, she said, she wants to pursue her interest in the arts. I'm Kathleen Struck.   Kathleen Struck and Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you in the Comments section and on our Facebook page. Students, please share what works for you to reduce stress. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   stressful – adj. making someone feel worried or anxious account – n. a record of money that has been paid and money that has been received delete – v. to remove preparatory school -- n. the level of school before college or university prestigious – adj. a place known for success and high standards academic -- adj. relating to education or study gratification – n. providing satisfaction, pride and/or happiness frequency – adv. happening often stigma – n. a set of negative and often unfair beliefs about something

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The World Mourns Muhammad Ali

Almost immediately, people around the world reacted to the death of Muhammad Ali . U.S. President Barack Obama said Saturday that Ali “shook up the world, and the world is better for it.” The president keeps a pair of boxing gloves once worn by Ali in his private office at the White House. Obama compared Ali to other civil rights leaders of his era. He said Ali stood with Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela in fighting for what was right. On his Twitter account, Obama posted a picture of himself beneath a photo of Ali standing over Sonny Liston in 1964. “Rest in peace, Champ,” Obama tweeted.   Former President Bill Clinton paid tribute in another tweet: “Goodbye my friend. You were Great in so many ways.” Clinton also issued a statement from himself and his wife, presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, saying: “From the day he claimed the Olympic gold medal in 1960, boxing fans across the world knew they were seeing a blend of beauty and grace, speed and strength that may never be matched again.” Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wrote, “A truly great champion and a wonderful guy. He will be missed by all!" ​ At the U.N., Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, "The United Nations is grateful to have benefited from the life and work of one of the past century's great humanitarians and advocates for understanding and peace." British Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted, "Muhammad Ali was not just a champion in the ring - he was a champion of civil rights, and a role model for so many people." ​ Paul McCartney wrote on his website, "The world has lost a truly great man. Love Paul." Brazil’s Pele, posted on Twitter and Instagram: “The sporting universe has just suffered a big loss. ... The sadness is overwhelming.” Another famous football player, Argentina’s Diego Maradona, wrote on Facebook: “The best of all time has left... How can I not feel this loss... Surely he left because he could no longer give us more happiness. My condolences to his family.” ​

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Sanctuary Movement Helps Immigrants at Risk

For more than 30 years, religious groups in many parts of the U.S. have provided refuge to immigrants who face possible expulsion from the country. Today, religious groups are treating non-criminal immigration law violators and their families differently. The effort to provide refuge for immigrants is called the Sanctuary Movement. It started more than 30 years ago at a time of civil and economic unrest in Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. By the end of the 1980s, nearly 1 million refugees had fled north to the United States to seek asylum. Religious congregations sheltered refugees who would have been denied asylum. They opposed the efforts by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service to deport those people. In 2014, something similar happened. Violence from the illegal drug trade and gangs, plus weak economic conditions in Central America, led to an increase of refugees and migrants, including children. Also, an estimated 4.5 million children born in the U.S. have parents who are undocumented. They lack the paperwork required to live as legal residents. The result has been a policy that has led to more than 350,000 “removals" each year. The term removal means being expelled from the country or denied entry at the border. In many of these cases, family members are separated. New sanctuary movement considers current policy unfair A leader of the sanctuary movement 30 years ago was Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Arizona. Recently, the church has restarted its efforts to provide shelter and legal assistance to immigrants facing deportation. The Reverend Alison Harrington told VOA that a growing number of religious groups feel “outraged and heartbroken” over current U.S. policies. She said these congregations are opening their doors in hopes of keeping families and communities together. Harrington said individuals and politicians are fueling a growing anti-immigrant nativist movement. “You kind of have this rising of people, who are people of faith, who will be conscious to say, ‘This is not who we believe we are as a people, as an American people,’” Harrington said. She added that she feels a moral imperative to help. Southside Presbyterian Church is near the Sonora desert and the U.S. border with Mexico. Harrington said she often meets immigrants seeking assistance. The 1980s was a period Harrington calls a “nightmare.” She said 80 people slept on the church floor at times, with about 14,000 receiving shelter over a period of 10 years. However, the church now shelters one family at a time, rarely for more than a month. Harrington said she remembers the case of one family in 2014. A woman named Rosa, her husband and two sons remained at Southside Presbyterian for a record 461 days before Rosa's case was resolved. “We had to get into high-level negotiations on that one,” Harrington said. Groups work together to provide services for immigrants Judson Memorial Church in New York City provides sanctuary in more ways than one. “It could be physical, it could be spiritual, it could be financial, it could be legal,” the Reverend Donna Schaper said. But the most important term, she said, is “accompaniment.” “We accompany about 200 people a month, and we train volunteers to go to ICE so they know their rights,” she said. ICE is short for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency that deals with immigration issues. Schaper said that ICE employees are not the enemy. But she said what they do “terrifies people,” and she does not morally respect it. Miguel Ángel Animas and his two U.S.-born daughters came to the Judson Memorial Church for help. His wife, the girls’ mother, was recently deported to Mexico. Schaper says immigration, like other difficult issues, lacks a human face to inspire quick action or major reform. “I can’t let myself say that [Americans] don’t know or that if they knew, they would do something,” she said. “They take care of dogs and cats. These people are not dogs and cats.” However, Schaper still describes New York City as a “very friendly city” to immigrants. And, during her time at the church, she has seen results, especially at the local level. The New Sanctuary Coalition of NYC is an alliance of congregations around New York City. In 2009, the coalition started an effort to support immigrants who were found guilty of minor offenses, or whose cases were dismissed. The group sought to prevent ICE agents from questioning and detaining these immigrants at city jails. The church says that in 2011, the coalition’s efforts resulted in then-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg signing a bill that changed some of those practices. I’m Mario Ritter. Ramon Taylor reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story congregation –n. people who regularly attend religious services at a church deport –v. to send out of a country nativist –adj. related to people whose ancestors lived for a long period in a country and who oppose newcomers or immigrants to it moral imperative –n. a strongly believed idea or principle that causes a person to act accompaniment –n. the act of accompanying someone, going with someone to a place inspire –v. to cause someone to do, believe or feel something

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'The Greatest' Muhammad Ali Dies at 74

Muhammad Ali, “The Greatest” boxer in history, died on Friday at the age of 74.

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Boxing Legend Muhammad Ali Dies at 74

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali passed away late Friday after a more than 30-year battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 74.

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'The Greatest' Muhammad Ali Dies at 74

Muhammad Ali, “The Greatest” boxer in history, died on Friday at the age of 74. The former world heavyweight boxing champion died at a hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, according to his family. He had trouble with breathing and was admitted to the hospital earlier in the week. For over 30 years, Ali was ill with Parkinson’s disease. Doctors said it was likely caused by the punches Ali took during his career as a boxer. Ali was born in Louisville, Kentucky on January 17, 1942. He was given the name Cassius Clay. He learned to box at 12 after someone stole his new bicycle. Six years later, Clay won the light heavyweight Olympic gold medal in 1960. Fists and words In 1964, Clay said that he could “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” to fight world heavyweight champion Sonny Liston. Before the fight, Clay told reporters that “I am the greatest.” He then shocked the world by beating Sonny Liston to win the first of his three world heavyweight titles. Washington Post newspaper sports columnist Mike Wise said "He was probably the first guy, the first athlete in America, to brag about something and back it up. Nobody boasted in those days.” After the fight, Clay, who had joined the Nation of Islam, said he rejected his “slave name” and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. Three years later, he was criticized for refusing the the draft to join the U.S. military during the height of the Vietnam War. Ali said the draft was against his religious beliefs and his opposition to war. Ali said, “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Vietcong.” Ali was convicted of draft evasion and stripped of his title. The conviction kept him from boxing for three years until the Supreme Court overturned his conviction in 1970. Just months after returning to boxing, Ali lost to the new heavyweight champ Smokin' Joe Frazier. But Ali later won his second fight against Frazier.   Classic boxing matches Ali fought a classic boxing match against George Foreman in 1974. The fight was in a remote part of central Africa then known as Zaire. The match was called the "Rumble in the Jungle." Ali again started the fight with his words, "I have wrestled with an alligator. I have tussled with a whale, handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail.” Against the younger and bigger George Foreman, Ali acted like he was tired as Foreman kept throwing punches. The Post's Wise said that “was one of the most amazing [boxing] strategies -- act like you're tired, let the big guy punch himself out -- and then all of a sudden galvanize yourself and find a way to knock him out in the eighth round. That was still probably the most triumphant moment in boxing history." In 1975, Ali fought against Frazier in their third and final match in the Philippines. It was called "The Thrilla in Manila." Ali won after surviving 14 rounds. The athlete retired from boxing in 1981 with a 56-5 record, including 37 knockouts. Ali held the world’s attention again at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. The boxer who once floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee was now trembling to light the torch. The boxer has kept a low profile recently, and has not spoken in public for years. Don King is a promoter of many of Ali’s fights. With the news of Ali’s death, King said to the Associated Press, “Ali will never die …Like Martin Luther King, his spirit will live on, he stood for the world.”    

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'Jimmy Vestvood' Rejects Hollywood Iranians

  Iranian-American funnyman Maz Jobrani has made a movie about an Iranian who moves to the United States and becomes a hero.  The movie is called "Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero." In the film, people from the Middle East are good. This is just the opposite of many Hollywood movies, where Middle-Easterners are bad or evil. “We wanted to do a movie where the guy who saves the day in the end of the movie is of Middle-Eastern descent, because, as you know, nine times out of 10 when you see a Middle-Easterner in an American movie, he's saying ‘I will kill you in the name of Allah.’ You know, it’s usually a terrorist or some bad guy.” ​Jobrani says the script for the movie was written over 10 years. But the movie was filmed in Los Angeles in 18 days. He says no major production companies would make the film, so he and his partners made it themselves. “Hollywood does not know that there's an audience for this type of film yet, but I know through my standup comedy that there is an audience that wants to see Middle Easterners in a positive light and in a fun light. Not just Middle-Easterners, but also Americans who come to my shows who want to see a different side of Middle-Easterners.” Jobrani believes Americans will understand and like some of the jokes in the movie. “I think that Americans are very smart, and I think that we underestimate a lot of Americans. There’s a lot of Americans who are more internationally-minded -- they are curious about other parts of the world. And I know that because of my shows. "When I do live shows, I look out in the audience -- it’s, like, 50 percent just white Americans, black Americans, Asian-Americans, other Americans than Middle Easterners." I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   Sama Dizayee 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   Hollywood – n. where the American movie industry is based descent – n. the people in your family who lived before you were born; your ancestors script – n. the written form of a play, movie, television show, etc. audience – n. the people who watch, read or listen to something standup comedy – n. a performance in which a comedian stands in front of people and says and does things to try to make them laugh​

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Everglades National Park: 'The Liquid Heart of Florida'

Today on our national parks journey, we explore the Everglades in South Florida. When many people think of Florida, images of sandy coasts, theme parks and rocket launches come to mind. But it is also home to a natural wilderness different from any other in the United States. Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S. Several rare and endangered species live in the park. It is a huge place, covering more than 600,000 hectares of wetlands. It is also a popular park. More than 1 million visitors pass through the official entrances every year. But, others enter the park on water and go uncounted. Irreplaceable nature In 1947, President Harry Truman spoke at the official opening of Everglades National Park. He said the goal of creating the park was to protect forever a wild area that could never be replaced. The Everglades is considered one of the biological wonders of the world. It is a place where plants and animals from the Caribbean Sea share an ecosystem with native North American species. Nine different environments exist within the Everglades. They include mangrove and cypress swamps, estuaries and coastal marshes. ​ River of grass In the 1940s, reporter and environmentalist Marjory Stoneman Douglas wrote a book called, “The Everglades: River of Grass.” She described the area as, “the liquid heart of Florida.” Everglades National Park was created to protect an ecosystem from damage. The Everglades is home to about 30 species that federal officials say are threatened or endangered. They include the Florida panther, the American crocodile and the West Indian manatee. More than 350 bird species and 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish live within the park. The Everglades is also home to 40 species of mammals and 50 reptile species. Unique flora Visitors to the Everglades will see many exotic plants. They include what is said to be the largest growth of mangrove trees in the Western world. Gumbo-limbo trees, known for their peeling red skin, strangler figs and royal palms are also among the area’s plant life. The country’s largest living mahogany tree also lives in the Everglades. Sawgrass grows in some areas of the park. Be careful – sawgrass is very sharp, with teeth just like a saw. It can grow up to 4 meters tall. With about one and one-half meters of rainfall each year, plants and trees never stop growing in the Everglades. The dry, winter season is the favorite of most visitors, when insects like mosquitoes are less of a problem. The rainy season lasts from June to November. Hiking, biking and boating There are many ways to explore the Everglades. Visitors can see alligators while hiking the Anhinga Trail. The park is one of the only places in the world where freshwater alligators and saltwater crocodiles live in the same area. Visitors using canoes are likely to observe large groups of wading birds like the wood stork or the great blue heron. Bright pink flamingos also thrive in the Everglades. Some visitors might enjoy riding bicycles through Shark Valley. Others might want to take it more slowly. The boardwalk walking trail goes right over the slow-moving water. Visitors can take a close look at insects and other wildlife. The park also offers tram rides for guided tours. Dark history The National Park Service says that early Colonial settlers and land developers believed the Everglades had little value. The settlers had plans to remove water from the area. In the 1880s, developers began digging canals to reduce water levels. At the time, they did not understand the complexity of the Everglades’ ecosystem. As a result, they were not prepared for all the work. They caused environmental problems. Larger efforts to drain the wetlands continued between 1905 and 1910. Farms were built on large pieces of land. More people began to move to the Everglades. More changes came midcentury. The federal government built roads, canals and water-control systems throughout South Florida. The project was aimed at providing water and flood protection for people and farms. Workers built a huge system of waterways and pumping stations to control the overflow of Lake Okeechobee, north of the Everglades. The Everglades today and tomorrow In more recent years, environmental experts learned about the damage to the Everglades. Some experts say the balance of nature in the area has been destroyed. Today, some of South Florida’s early wetland areas no longer exist. Populations of wading birds have been reduced by 90 percent. Whole populations of animals are in danger of disappearing. In 2000, Congress approved a plan to restore and improve the Everglades. Federal, state and other organizations are partners in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. The future is not clear for the wild and beautiful Everglades. But, efforts are under way to protect this biological treasure. The hope is that people may continue to visit the extraordinary Everglades National Park long into the future. I’m Caty Weaver. And I’m Anne Ball. Jerilyn Watson wrote this report for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Have you been to the Everglades? Would you like to? Please leave a Comment, and post on our Facebook page, thanks! ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   subtropical - adj. an area close to tropical parts of the world​ ecosystem -​ n. everything that exists in a particular environment​ swamp -​ n. land that is always wet and often partly covered with water​ estuary -​ n. where a river flows into the sea​ marsh -​ n. soft, wet land that has many grasses and other plants​ exotic -​ adj.  very different, strange, or unusual​ comprehensive -​ n. including many, most, or all things​ restoration -​ n. bringing back something that existed before​

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'Hearts and Crosses,' by O. Henry, Part Two

We present Part Two of the short story "Hearts and Crosses," by O. Henry. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State.   One day, a man named Bartholomew, not an important man, stopped at the Nopalito ranch house. It was noon and he was hungry. He sat down at the dinner table. While he was eating, he talked. “Mrs. Yeager,” he said, “I saw a man on the Seco Ranch with your name. Webb Yeager. He was foreman there. He was a tall yellow-haired man. Not a talker. Someone of your family?” “A husband,” said Santa. “That is fine for the Seco Ranch. Mr. Yeager is the best foreman in the West.” Everything at the Nopalito Ranch had been going well. For several years they had been working at the Nopalito with a different kind of cattle. These cattle had been brought from England, and they were better than the usual Texas cattle. They had been successful at the Nopalito Ranch, and men on the other ranches were interested in them. As a result, one day a cowboy arrived at the Nopalito Ranch and gave the queen this letter: “Mrs. Yeager — The Nopalito Ranch: "I have been told by the owners of the Seco Ranch to buy 100 of your English cattle. If you can sell these to the Seco, send them to us in the care of the man who brings this letter. We will then send you the money. "Webb Yeager, Foreman, Seco Ranch.” Business is business to a queen as it is to others. That night the 100 cattle were moved near the ranch house, ready for an early start the next morning. When night came and the house was quiet, did Santa Yeager cry alone? Did she hold that letter near to her heart? Did she speak the name that she had been too proud to speak for many weeks? Or did she place the letter with other business letters, in her office? Ask if you will, but there is no answer. What a queen does is something we cannot always know. But this you shall be told: In the middle of the night, Santa went quietly out of the ranch house. She was dressed in something dark. She stopped for a moment under a tree. There was moonlight, and a bird was singing, and there was a smell of flowers. Santa turned her face toward the southeast and threw three kisses in that direction, for there was no one to see her. Then she hurried quietly to a small building. What she did there, we can only guess. But there was the red light of a fire, and noise as if Cupid might be making his arrows. Later she came out with some strange iron tool in one hand. In the other hand she carried something that held a small fire. She hurried in the moonlight to the place where the English cattle had been gathered. Most of the English cattle were a dark red. But among those 100 there was one as white as milk. And now Santa caught that white animal as cowboys catch cattle. She tried once and failed. Then she tried again, and the animal fell heavily. Santa ran to it, but the animal jumped up. Again she tried and this time she was successful. The animal fell to earth again. Before it could rise, Santa had tied its feet together. Then she ran to the fire she had carried here. From it she took that strange iron tool. It was white hot. There was a loud cry from the animal as the white-hot iron burned its skin. But no one seemed to hear. All the ranch were quiet. And in the deep night quiet, Santa ran back to the ranch house and there fell onto a bed. She let the tears from her eyes, as if queens had hearts like the hearts of ranchmen’s wives; and as if a queen’s husband might become a king, if he would ride back again. In the morning, the young man who had brought the letter started toward the Seco Ranch. He had cowboys with him to help with the English cattle. It was 90 miles, six days’ journey. The animals arrived at Seco Ranch one evening as the daylight was ending. They were received and counted by the foreman of the ranch. The next morning at eight, a horseman came riding to the Nopalito ranch house. He got down painfully from the horse and walked to the house. His horse took a great breath and let his head hang and closed his eyes. But do not feel sorry for Belshazzar, the horse. Today he lives happily at Nopalito, where he is given the best care and the best food. No other horse there has ever carried a man for such a ride. The horseman entered the house. Two arms fell around his neck, and someone cried out in the voice of a woman and queen together: “Webb, oh, Webb!” “I was wrong,” said Webb Yeager. “I was a — ” and he named a small animal with a bad smell, an animal no one likes. “Quiet,” said Santa. “Did you see it?” “I saw it,” said Webb. What were they speaking of? Perhaps you can guess, if you have read the story carefully. “Be the cattle queen,” said Webb. “Forget what I did, if you can. "I was as wrong as — ” “Quiet!” said Santa again, putting her fingers upon his mouth. “There’s no queen here. Do you know who I am? I am Santa Yeager, First Lady of the Bedroom. Come here.” She led him into a room. There stood a low baby’s bed. And in the bed was a baby, a beautiful, laughing baby, talking in words that no one could understand. “There is no queen on this ranch,” said Santa again. “Look at the king. He has eyes like yours, Webb. Get down on your knees and look at the king.” There was a sound of steps outside and Bud Turner was there at the door. He was asking the same question he had asked almost a year ago. “Good morning. Shall I drive those cattle to Barber’s or — ” He saw Webb and stopped, with his mouth open. “Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba!” cried the king, waving his arms. “You hear what he says, Bud,” said Webb Yeager. “We do what the king commands.” And that is all, except for one thing. When old man Quinn, owner of the Seco Ranch, went to look at his new English cattle, he asked his new foreman, “What is the Nopalito Ranch’s mark?” “X over Y,” said Wilson. “I thought so,” said Quinn. “But look at that white animal there. She has another mark — a heart with a cross inside. Whose mark is that?” Download activities to help you understand this story here. Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. How do you solve problems with someone you love? How do you feel when someone tells you they are sorry for something they did? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   ranch – n. a large farm especially in the U.S. where animals such as cattle, horses, and sheep are raised foreman – n. a person who is in charge of a group of workers cattle – n. cows, bulls, or steers that are kept on a farm or ranch for meat or milk cowboy – n. a man who rides a horse and whose job is to take care of cows or horses especially in the western U.S. queen – n. a girl or woman who is highly respected and very successful or popular proud – n. very happy and pleased because of something you have done, something you own, someone you know or are related to Cupid – n. the god of attraction, affection and love in ancient Rome king – n. a boy or man who is highly respected and very successful or popular

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Girl Shrieks With Joy Over Doll With One Leg

Here’s What’s Trending Today… Ten-year-old Emma Bennett got a surprise gift that made her very happy. She was given an American Girl doll that looks very much like her. The doll also had a prosthetic leg, just like hers! Emma’s mother and father bought the toy from an American Girl store. They then asked a company called A Step Ahead Prosthetics to make changes to the doll. The company replaced the leg with what looks like a man-made leg, like Emma’s. On social media, a video shows when the doll was given to Emma. In the video, Emma’s younger sister gives her the present, along with a special letter from A Step Ahead Prosthetics. The letter said that the doll was now ready to “live her life without limitations” with Emma. When Emma opens her gift and sees the American Girl doll, she begins to cry. Emma is amazed that the doll has a leg like hers. People on social media were touched by the video. Some admitted how emotional the video made them. In his Facebook post, Chuck wrote that, “as a dad of daughters, this brought tears to my eyes.” Another Facebook user, Jessica, does not mind admitting that the video made her cry. Some felt that the pictures showed how important it was for people to feel like they are represented in society. In her Facebook post, Tess said that a story like this proves that “we all need to see ourselves shown as part of the cultural identity.” Another Facebook user, Kyle, also felt that “representation matters.” He wrote that although “children should learn life won’t always be easy,” they should never be made to feel alone or unimportant. At the end of the video, Emma thanks A Step Ahead Prosthetics by saying, “Thank you for making a doll like me.” 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. Did the video make you cry? (We shed a few tears!) Please leave a Comment, and post on our Facebook page! ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   prosthetic – n. an artificial device that replaces a missing or injured part of the body toy – n. something a child plays with amazed – v. feeling or showing great surprise

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English @ the Movies: 'Make Them Pay'

Our phrase is "make them pay." It is from the science fiction movie "Independence Day." What is it about? Aliens--beings from space-- invade our planet Earth. What do you think "make them pay" means? Listen and you will know.

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