One-Third of World’s Population Cannot See The Milky Way

  If you have ever seen the Milky Way galaxy, you know what a beautiful sight it is: a truly massive group of shining stars stretching across the night sky. But a new study finds that one-third of the world’s population no longer can see the Milky Way at night. The findings were reported in the journal Science Advances. The new report says that in the United States, it is even harder to see the Milky Way. For 80 percent of Americans, it is impossible or very difficult to see the galaxy at night.  The problem is light pollution. The sky is brightened at night by street lights and other artificial, or man-made, lighting. This is especially true in big cities. Light pollution not only blocks our viewing of the stars and planets; it can also affect natural events or activities here on Earth. What is the Milky Way? The Milky Way is a spiral structure. Earth is actually part of the galaxy, so we cannot take a picture of the entire formation. From where we are, the Milky Way has looked like a massive star formation stretching across the night sky. NASA, the American space agency, says the Milky Way is about 100,000 light years across, from one end to the other. Our galaxy has hundreds of billions of stars. And where does the Milky Way, our galaxy home, fit into the universe? It is just one of hundreds of billions of galaxies in the known universe, according to NASA. Since the beginning of time, humans have gathered to look at stars in the night sky. The Milky Way at first might look like a group of storm clouds. But actually, it is many stars in cloud-like groups. They shine so brightly they give off white light – the same color as milk. The ancient Greeks had a story that said the white band of stars was milk left in the sky by a goddess. Light Pollution Study The study in the journal Science Advances is the work of an international team of scientists. The team created a series of maps that show where the world’s light pollution is strongest and weakest. Their maps were based on from satellite data and sky brightness measurements. “I hope that this atlas will finally open the eyes of people to light pollution,” said the study’s lead author Fabio Falchi. He works for the Light Pollution Science and Technology Institute in Italy. The Institute says its goal is to limit light pollution and the negative effects on the night environment. The new guide is a follow up to the first World Atlas describing light pollution in 2001.   The new study found that Singapore, Italy and South Korea have the most widespread light pollution. There are only small areas in Western Europe with low levels of light pollution. Those places are mostly in Scotland, Sweden and Norway. The western United States has huge amounts of wide open space. But the study found that nearly half of the U.S. experiences light pollution. The researchers found that two other countries, Canada and Australia, have the most ‘dark sky’ – or night-time light levels low enough to see the stars. Dan Duriscoe of the U.S. National Park Service was the study’s co-author. He says that U.S. national parks are just about the last havens of darkness. He pointed out that places such as Yellowstone and the desert southwest have the darkest night skies. “We’re lucky to have a lot of public land that provides a buffer from large cities,” said Duriscoe. Researchers have looked into the increase of artificial light over the years. They say not only does it affect our view of the Milky Way, but it has been shown to have a big impact on human health and on wildlife, too. Scientists have found that artificial light can confuse insects, birds and sea turtles. It can also put them in situations that can kill them. I’m Anne Ball.   JoElllen McBride wrote this story for VOANews.com. Anne Ball adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow 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   galaxy – n. a big collection of stars viewing – n. the ability to see spiral – n.  a circular curving line that goes around a central point, and gets closer and farther away from it entire – adj. complete or full fit – v. how something goes into a space band – n. a thick line negative – adj. harmful or bad haven – n. a place where you are protected from trouble or danger buffer – n. something that give protection by separating things confuse – v. to make something difficult to understand

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Young US Muslims Want to Be Judged as Individuals

  Young Muslims in the United States are concerned about anti-Muslim feelings and calls to bar other Muslims from entering the country. Several young Muslims spoke to a group of people during a recent visit to Washington D.C. They said it is unfair to connect Muslims to terrorism. Oya Rose Aktas is a student at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. She said that is putting “labels on people” and thinks “that is the driving force behind their actions.” Aktas was a member of a VOA panel of four young Muslim Americans. They expressed their opinions about religion, anti-Muslim opinions and terrorism. One of their concerns: the media’s repeated reporting of Islam as the religion of Omar Mateen. Florida police say Mateen killed 49 people last month at a gay nightclub in Orlando. The panelists said most criminals are not identified by their religion. One person who watched the discussion on Facebook said: “Muslims are not terrorists, (terrorists) are terrorists.” Another panelist, Othman Altalib, was born in Iraq. He said U.S. Muslims are responsible for less crime than other groups. Those who become extremists, he said, spend most of their time alone looking at computers. “So I definitely think the message for us should be, let’s get our youth now, bring them to the mosques, bring them to Muslim events and organizations and let them interact with other people.” About 3.3 million Muslims live in the United States. That is about 1 percent of the total U.S. population. But the number is expected to double in the next 30 to 40 years. The Young Muslims on the VOA panel said Muslims do not all think the same, or share the same beliefs. Oya Rose Aktas had this to say. “Oftentimes people try to split it (the Muslim community) into moderate Muslims and conservative Muslims, but there is a lot of diversity past that.” Mohamed Hussein is a member of the Somali American Youth Foundation in Virginia. He says some young people have more than one identity that defines them. “It definitely is a struggle, not only being a Muslim American, being Somali, being black, being young, there’s a lot of identities that you have to reconcile,” he said. Hussein said he was lucky to be the son of immigrants to the United States. His parents, he said, had to “learn to change” from being part of a Muslim majority “to being a minority.” The panelists also spoke about the call by Donald Trump to bar Muslims from entering the United States. Trump is the likely presidential candidate of the Republican Party. He made the comment after a man and his wife shot and killed 14 people at a holiday party in San Bernardino, California. Federal investigators said the couple was under the influence of Islamic State militants. Since then, Trump has amended his proposal. He now says the United States should ban people coming from countries with a terrorism problem. Still, Altalib said: “It’s hard for me to believe that any sound-minded Muslim would vote for someone trying to put bans on them.” But Hussein said voting should be a personal decision. “It is a disservice to Muslims to say vote one way or another way. Teach them to think for themselves,” he said. I’m Dustin Reynolds.    Zlatica Hoke wrote this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   panel – n. a group of people who take part in a discussion label – n. a word or phrase that describes or identifies something or someone gay nightclub -- n. a place that offers entertainment and drinks and  serves lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people diversity – n. the quality or state of having many different forms, types, ideas definitely – adv. without doubt reconcile – v. to cause people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement mosque – n. an Islamic religious center    

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Review of Lessons 15 - 19

Congratulations! You are learning English well with VOA Learning English! Try the listening quiz and enjoy the video of our mistakes.   For Fun - 'Bloopers' Sometimes we do not remember what to say. Or we say the wrong words. Watch the video above to see a few of these mistakes, or 'bloopers' from our lesson videos. There are no subtitles in this video. So listen carefully for the funny parts.   Review Quiz In this quiz, you can test your listening skills. Watch a short video and answer the question. Lesson Review Lesson 15: I Love People-Watching! 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   Lesson 16: Where Are You From? Grammar focus: Nationality and language names used as nouns and adjectives Topics: Countries and Nationalities; Tourism activities Learning Strategy: Monitor (comprehension and production) Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Talking about countries, languages, and nationalities; Saying "a couple of" quickly   Lesson 17: Are You Free on Friday? Grammar focus: Simple Future tense with will and going to. Topics:  Talking about schedules and leisure time activities Learning Strategy: Evaluate Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Future verb forms; shortened forms of future verbs and invitations.   Lesson 18: She Always Does That Grammar focus: Describing frequency of actions; Object pronouns; ordinal numbers Topics: Reacting to information; Facts vs. Feelings Learning Strategy: Classify​ Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Object pronouns with /h/ sound deleted ['em; 'im]   Lesson 19: When Do I Start? Grammar focus: Which as an adjective alone and with pronouns; Adjectives next and every Topics: Saying the months of the year; Talking about seasons and activities​ Learning Strategy: Summarize Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Using which and which one to offer a choice; using every and next with time expressions; Pronunciation of February ______________________________________________________________ What do you think? How are you using "Let's Learn English?" Is it helping you to learn English? Please write to us in the Comments section or send us an email.  Thank you for coming to learn English with us!​ Special request to teachers and English learners: As you see in the Lesson 19 video, Anna is going to have a new children's program. What should she call the program? Let us know in the Comments section or by email. We'll send a special thank you to the person who suggests the best name.

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Deadly Suicide Bombings in Baghdad

  Bombings in Baghdad early Sunday killed at least 124 people and wounded at least 180 others. A suicide truck bombing happened shortly after midnight at a busy shopping area in the Karrada district. At least 119 people died and 170 were wounded. It was the deadliest attack in the Iraqi capital this year. The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack. It said it had targeted Shi’ite Muslims, which it considers heretics. The bombing happened after sundown, when many people were in the streets after a day of fasting. Many Muslims go to shopping areas before the holiday marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. A second attack took place in the northern Shaab area of Baghdad. At least five people were killed and 16 were wounded when a bomb exploded. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi visited the site of the bombing hours after the attack.  The attacks on Sunday took place about a week after Iraqi forces forced Islamic State militants out of Fallujah, which is 50 kilometers west of Baghdad. I’m Jonathan Evans.   VOA News reported this story. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. Christopher Jones-Cruise 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   heretic – n. someone who believes or teaches something that goes against accepted or official beliefs  

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American English vs. British English

  Now the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories! The fourth of July is Independence Day in the United States. On that day, we celebrate the decision by early American leaders to declare independence from Britain. While people in both England and the U.S. speak English, the two types of English can be very different. First, there are differences in spelling. The British like the letter “u” and have kept it in many words. Americans have dropped it. Somewhere in our language history, we decided that “labor,” “color” and “favorite” were just fine without the “u” next to the “o.” But our differences go beyond spelling. Sometimes, we use different words entirely. Here, we live in apartments with elevators. Over there, they live in flats with lifts. We put diapers on our babies and push them in strollers. The British love their babies just as much as we do, but they use nappies and prams instead. We power our cars with gas. They use petrol. And, if we need to look in our car’s dark trunk for something, we use a flashlight. They would use a torch to search their dark boot. Then there are idioms. Some British and American idioms have the same meaning, but use different words. For example, in the U.S. if you want to add your opinion to a conversation, you put in your two cents. In the U.K., they put in their tuppence (or two pence) worth. Makes sense. They have pence and we don’t. Another example is the idiom about discussing the same issue again and again, especially if it cannot be resolved. We say, “Don’t beat a dead horse!” The British, on the other hand, advise against flogging one. And, if you are keeping secrets in the United States, you have skeletons in the closet. In Great Britain, your skeletons would be hiding in a cupboard.    But the real fun begins when we start exploring idioms and expressions that are unique to each country. Let’s start with “Bob’s your uncle.” To an American ear, that is a weird expression. And it has nothing to do with any relative you may or may not have named Bob. It is just a way to finish a set of simple instructions. What is the equivalent -- the different but equal saying -- in the U.S.? Americans might say, “and there you have it!” Or sometimes, more dramatic people will say, “Ta-da!” For example, imagine you are explaining to someone how to use your new fancy, coffee maker. You explain: “First, you grind the beans. Then you put them in the side container and pour water in the main container. Push the button and ten minutes later -- ta-da! -- you have a pot of coffee! Sometimes over a fresh pot of coffee, you may want to have a long talk with a friend. You might even throw in a little gossip. We call that a chat, or if it’s a short conversation, chit-chat. The British would call it a “chin-wag.” If a British person says, “I’ve got the hump,” we might think they are sick and need to see a doctor. But in fact, when Brits say they have a hump, it means they are mildly annoyed or upset. In the U.S., some informal ways to say we are upset are “I’m ticked off” or “I’m miffed.” Now, when Americans are really surprised by something, we can say we “are at a loss for words.” Or more informally, we simply say we are “shocked” or “blown away.” Across the Atlantic in the U.K., they are “gobsmacked.” In the U.S., we don’t get smacked by gobs. Ever. Finally, a familiar word used by both countries but in different ways is “cheers.” We use the word over drinks when we are wishing someone good health or congratulating an accomplishment. The British use “cheers” to mean “thank you.” For that, we Americans say, “Thank you!” Now, we don’t expect you to pick sides. Both American and British English have their strong points. But thanks for listening to Words and Their Stories, a program that teaches American English. I’m Anna Matteo. Cheers! I mean, thanks.   Anna Matteo wrote this for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   apartment – n. a usually rented room or set of rooms that is part of a building and is used as a place to live (British = flat) elevator – n. a machine used for carrying people and things to different levels in a building (British = lift) diaper – n. a piece of cloth or other material that is placed between a baby's legs and fastened around the waist to hold body waste (British = nappies) stroller – n. a small carriage with four wheels that a baby or small child can ride in while someone pushes it (British = prams) trunk – n. the enclosed space in the rear of an automobile for carrying articles (British = boot) flashlight – n. a small electric light that can be carried in your hand and that runs on batteries (British = torch) flog – v. to beat or whip (someone) severely smack – v. to strike so as to produce a smack gob – n. lump : a large amount skeleton – n. the structure of bones that supports the body of a person or animal closet – n. a usually small room that is used for storing things (such as clothing, towels, or dishes) (British = cupboard) fancy – adj. pricey and fashionable grind – v. to crush or break (something) into very small pieces by rubbing it against a rough surface or using a special machine gossip  – n. information about the behavior and personal lives of other people  

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Michael Phelps Gets Last Chance at Olympics

  Michael Phelps has become the first American male swimmer to qualify for five Olympics. He won the 200-meter butterfly race at the U.S. Olympic trials on Wednesday. Phelps has won 18 gold medals, more than anybody in Olympic history. He won eight gold medals in a single Olympics in 2008 in Beijing, China.  But his golden image was tarnished after the 2012 London Olympics. He was arrested two times for drunk driving. He stepped away from swimming. He entered a rehabilitation program. He then returned to the pool to train for the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. The Games' opening ceremony is August 5. Phelps first appeared in the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, in 2000. He was 15 years old. Now 31, Phelps still holds three world records. He says he is happy to represent his country at the Olympic Games one more time. "Being able to make my fifth [Olympics] is something that means a lot to me,” Phelps said. “…I think 20 years from now, I’ll be able to look and be happy with that decision to come back.” Another goal for Phelps is setting one more personal best time during the next month. “It’s been a long time since I’ve got a best time,” he said. “I’d like to have maybe one before I retire. I hope we can get at least one in the next four weeks.” When the Rio Olympic Games begin in August, Phelps will be joined on the U.S. swim team by Allison Schmitt. Schmitt is another athlete who won gold medals in London in 2012. But she has struggled in her personal life since winning gold. For Schmitt, it was depression that included suicidal thoughts. It was not until her cousin committed suicide that she looked for help. She qualified for Rio on Wednesday after placing fourth in the 200-meter freestyle race. She won that event at the London Games in 2012. “I’m going to Rio,” Schmitt said. “It’s been a tough four years, but I’m so happy right now.” The star swimmer of the 2016 summer games may be 19-year-old Katie Ledecky. In 2012, she was a young swimmer from the suburbs of Washington, D.C. Ledecky won a surprise gold medal in the 800 meter freestyle in London. In less than four years, she broke three world records.  At last year’s world championships, Ledecky won five gold medals. She says she will not try to break German swimmer Kristin Otto’s record of six gold medals at a single Olympics. “I don't think about who I’m chasing or any of the historical implications,” Ledecky said. The U.S. team will also feature Missy Franklin. She is a four-time gold medalist at the 2012 Olympics. She will race in the 200-meter freestyle event in Rio. I’m Dan Friedell.   Chris Hannas wrote this story for VOA News. Jim Dresbach adapted it for Learning English. Adam Brock was the editor. How do you think your country’s swimmers will do at the Rio Summer Olympic Games? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   butterfly – n. a way of swimming in which the swimmer's face is in the water and the arms move together in a circular motion while the legs kick up and down medal – n. a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with designs and words in honor of a special event or an achievement tarnish – v. to damage or ruin the good quality of a person's reputation drunk driving – n. the act of driving a vehicle while drunk rehabilitation – n. the process of bringing someone back to a normal, healthy condition after an illness, injury or drug problem freestyle – n. a swimming race in which the competitors are allowed to use different styles or methods

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Girl Scouts About More Than Selling Cookies

  For almost 29 years, Martha Gach has been a Girl Scout. She has been both a Girl Scout and an adult volunteer. “One thing that has stayed the same – developing self- confidence for our girls and developing leadership skills,” Gach said. And Girl Scouts continue to raise money by selling cookies. It is something they have done for 99 years. What is different today, she said, is that Girl Scouts spend more time on teaching outdoor skills, such as climbing mountains. And they work on technology and engineering projects. Today, these kinds of activities are called, “STEM” -- short for developing skills in science, technology, engineering and math. Girl Scouts are 104 years old  The Girl Scouts have been an organization since 1912, when Juliette Gordon Low set up the first “troop,” or group, of girls. Today, there are 2.7 million Girl Scouts: 1.9 million girls and 800,000 adults who are mostly volunteers. That is enough to make the Girl Scouts the largest girls’ organization in the United States. But the numbers are down by more than one million since 2003. Girl Scout leaders say they have a harder time finding adult volunteers. That is because more women are not only working, but sometimes have more than one job, according to Girl Scouts. Gach volunteers in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. She said it also is harder to keep girls interested in Girl Scouts after middle school. “There are other demands on their time,” she said. Among those new demands is the growth in girls’ sports since a 1972 U.S. rule required equal sports programs for girls and boys. Wishes More Money Went for Girl Causes Anna Maria Chavez left the Girl Scouts on June 30 after five years as chief executive officer. She said she wishes more money went to help girls succeed. She said people give more money to “animal causes than girl causes.” “Now, don’t get me wrong,” Chavez said in a recent speech in Washington D.C. “I have a brand new puppy. His name is Cody. He’s a wonderful dog, but he will not be president of the United States one day. A Girl Scout will be.” She did not mention Hillary Clinton. She was a former Girl Scout who, later this month, is expected to be selected as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate. Some Girl Scouts in the Washington D.C. area say scouting has helped them learn skills and, more importantly, build confidence in their own abilities. Meeting Michelle Obama and Desmond Tutu Lalah Williams said Girl Scouts gave her wonderful experiences – from hiking in a national forest to learning to be a “locavore.” That is someone whose diet is mostly food that is locally grown or produced. She has met First Lady Michelle Obama and gotten to see South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu speak. “As my mother jokes, ‘all for only $15 a year,’” said Williams, about the yearly cost of Girl Scout membership. She recently won the Girl Scouts Gold Award for a project she completed. Williams set up a meal so 50 middle school students could meet and talk to women elected to public office. “The purpose of my project was to get girls to envision themselves in elected office,” Lalah said. Another Girl Scout 18-year-old Helena Doms also won the Gold Award for teaching girls Taekwondo, a Korean martial art. The idea, Doms said, was to help girls learn to protect themselves if they face a threat. “People think of Girl Scouts as little girls selling cookies,” Helena said. “I want to change that -- to show people that Girl Scouts is about harnessing your talents and using (them) to empower yourself and others to the benefit of all of us.” But Girl Scouts continue to raise money selling cookies, such as Thin Mints and Do-si-dos. In a recent change, they are not only selling cookies from tables in front of stores. Now, Girl Scouts cookies can be bought on line. Helena will begin study in international relations next year at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Taylor Swift the Girl Scout The Girl Scouts has a long list of famous former members.   They include well-known performers Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey, Abigail Breslin, Gwyneth Paltrow, Dakota Fanning and Carrie Fisher. Tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams were also members. And almost every female astronaut who has flown in space was once a Girl Scout. But the Girl Scouts have some serious problems, not the least of which is fewer members. In a 2014 column for the New York Times, Kristin O’Keefe wrote about one reason she stopped volunteering for the Girl Scouts: too much paper work. She said her Girl Scout chapter had 16 separate kinds of forms. “The Girl Scouts organization has a form and a requirement for everything. And in an area of crazy busy family life, parents do not have time for this,” O’Keefe wrote. Chavez said she feels good about the long-term future for Girl Scouts. The organization is helping girls deal with the world’s many problems. These include issues like mass shootings, the 2008 recession and continuing military conflicts in the Middle East, she said. “But what I’ve also been very surprised about, if you take a moment to sit down and talk to a girl about issues that she cares about, they are actually very positive about their future opportunities,” Chavez said. And, in a good sign, she said girls are very “empathetic.” That means they care about people facing problems, including other girls. I'm Jill Robbins. And I'm Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   self-confidence – n. a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something cookie – n. a sweet baked food that is usually small, flat, and round and is made from flour and sugar outdoor – adj. done, used, or located outside a building chief executive officer – n. The head of a company or organization puppy – n. a young dog harness – v. to use something for a particular purpose form – n. a document with blank spaces for filling in information opportunity – n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done

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English in a Minute: To Fall Down the Rabbit Hole

This expression comes from the classic story "Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland."

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NASA Successfully Tests New Rocket Engine

  The American space agency successfully tested a powerful new rocket engine this week in the desert of northern Utah. The rocket booster is meant to take astronauts to the planet Mars one day. This was the second and last qualification ground test for what NASA officials are calling the “most powerful rocket in the world.” NASA is short for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. An uncrewed test flight of NASA’s Orion spacecraft is planned for 2018. Manned flights could begin within years if that test is successful. Space agency officials were pleased with the results of the test. “This final qualification test of the booster system shows real progress in the development of the Space Launch System,” said William Gerstenmaier. He is the associate administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate at the space agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. Gerstenmaier said the new engine can produce 1.6 million kilograms of thrust, or force. The successful test shows the progress NASA is making in human exploration of space, he added. The American company Orbital ATK conducted the test for NASA. The 47-meter booster rocket engine was tested in a horizontal position, sending fire across the test area. The test itself lasted only two minutes, but that was enough for NASA to collect data about 82 different areas of the engine’s performance. It is part of the process to certify the booster for flight. The booster is part of the Space Launch System NASA officials are developing for space flight. They say two boosters and four main engines will be used after the system is fully developed. Those engines will produce more than four million kilograms of thrust, enough to lift a large rocket off of Earth and toward Mars. But sending humans on a flight to the Red Planet is still many years away. NASA says a manned trip to Mars might start sometime in the 2030s. I’m Mario Ritter. This story was published on VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   booster – n. part of a rocket that includes an engine uncrewed – adj. (technical) without a crew thrust – n. the force to pushes something forward or up conduct – v. to carry out a test data – n. basic information about an event or from some process certify – v. to officially say that something has met requirements for use in some field 

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A Beautiful planet in IMAX 3D

A new film recorded by astronauts on the International Space Station shows the beauty of our planet. It also shows how humanity has influenced Earth.

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America's Birthplace: Independence National Historical Park

  This week, our U.S. National Parks journey takes us to the eastern city of Philadelphia, an important place in American history. Philadelphia sits along the Delaware River in the northeastern state of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, often called “Philly,” served as the nation’s capital from 1790 to 1800. Earlier, it was the capital of the American colonies during the war for independence from Britain. Philadelphia became the central meeting place for the men who created the United States government. The buildings where the founders worked still stand in an area called the Old City. The National Park Service protects much of Philadelphia’s Old City. In honor of the America’s 240th Independence Day, we visit the birthplace of the United States: Independence National Historical Park. The national historical park is 22 hectares. It covers 20 city blocks of Philadelphia’s historic area. Within these city blocks are some of the most important places in American history. The main site in the park is Independence Hall. It is here that colonial leaders declared independence from Britain. Later, they debated the creation of a government for the new country, and signed the U.S. Constitution. The building that is now Independence Hall was completed in 1753. It was originally the site of Pennsylvania’s colonial government. But 22 years later, Independence Hall would become the site of something much bigger. The Pennsylvania legislature loaned its Assembly Room to those in the Second Continental Congress in May of 1775. The second Congress included delegates from the 13 colonies. The men gathered just weeks after gunshots fired in Massachusetts marked the start of the Revolutionary War. The Congress prepared for war. It also approved George Washington as the first Commander in Chief of the new army. And, the men worked to produce a statement of American independence from Britain. On July 2, 1776, they voted to approve the resolution for independence. On July 4, they approved a document written by five of the founders, including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. That document was the Declaration of Independence. It includes these famous words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” During the summer of 1787, the Assembly Room had another important use. Delegates held a federal convention there and wrote the U.S. Constitution. Guided tours National Park Service guides will take visitors through the Assembly Room, where the two historical documents were signed. It is a popular place among tourists. Visitors must order entrance tickets ahead of their visit.  The Assembly Room also held important relics of American history.  The Liberty Bell The Liberty Bell arrived from England in the middle 1700s. It was to hang in what was then the Pennsylvania statehouse. But the bell cracked soon after it arrived. So in 1753, it was melted and reformed. The new bell was rung many times for public announcements, including the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In the 1830s, a group that was trying to ban slavery in the United States began calling it the Liberty Bell. On it are words from the Christian holy book, the Bible. They read, "Proclaim Liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." In 1846, the Liberty Bell cracked again. No one knows why. The Liberty Bell has not been rung since. It remains cracked and still served as an important national symbol.  About 2 million people visit Independence National Historical Park each year. They come to view history, celebrate independence, and walk in the footsteps of the nation’s founders. Reminders of these men can be found all over the park, from the statue of George Washington in front of Independence Hall, to the Benjamin Franklin Museum. Visitors can also search for the sign that marks where Abraham Lincoln once stood outside Independence Hall. He arrived there in February of 1861, as a president-elect on his way to Washington. Soon after, he took office as the 16th President of the United States. Lincoln gave a speech inside Independence Hall. It centered on freedom and liberty. He said that day, "I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence." I'm Caty Weaver.  And I'm John Russell. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   loan - v. to give (something) to (someone) for a period of time evident - adj. clear to the sight or mind relic - n. something that is from a past time, place, culture, etc.  spring from - phrasal verb. to start from or be caused by (something) sentiment - n. an attitude or opinion

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