Crater Lake National Park: A Blue Jewel

  This week on our national parks journey, we travel to the northwestern state of Oregon. Here, you find will a huge, deep lake. It waters seem impossibly blue. It is the deepest lake in America and one of the deepest lakes in the world. Its water among the clearest and purest found on Earth. Around the lake runs the wall of an extinct volcano. In the middle of the lake a small island rises over 230 meters above the surface. Welcome to Crater Lake National Park. The lake’s beauty inspires artists, photographers and nature lovers. That beauty was born from the violent burst of Mount Mazama about 7,700 ago. Hot liquid -- called magma -- rose from deep under the mountain, causing it to collapse. The powerful burst destroyed the surrounding area. Huge amounts of ash fell on the land. The burst also left an enormous, circular hole in the mountain’s center. Scientists call this a caldera. Over the next hundreds of years, rain and snow filled the hole with water. Rainfall and snowfall are the lake’s only source of water. It has no connections to the rivers and streams around it. That is what keeps its waters so pure. As water collected, plants began to grow in the area again and animals returned. Scientists say it took about 250 years for the lake to rise to its current level.     Crater Lake is 592 meters deep. It is one of the 10 deepest on Earth. But, its depth is not the only remarkable quality. People are awed by its water color and clarity. Crater Lake is so clear that, on most days, you can see nearly 30 meters below the surface. The lake takes on its intense blue color because of the water’s clarity. Sunlight reaches deep into the water. Crater Lake gets its name from geology. A crater is a large bowl-shaped area on top of a volcano. The crater that formed the lake sits within the larger caldera. Human History Native Americans were in the area even before the lake’s formation. Researchers have found artifacts buried under layers of ash and dust from the Mount Mazama's huge eruption. Following the burst, Native Americans considered Crater Lake to be a holy place. Ancient Native American stories describe the eruption of Mount Mazama. European explorers and settlers did not arrive in the area until the middle 1800s. In 1865, a hunter became one of the first non-Native Americans to reach the shores of Crater Lake. In 1870, a boy in Kansas read a newspaper article about the strange lake in Oregon. The story about Crater Lake fascinated the young William Gladstone Steel. He promised himself he would one day see this lake. In 1872, Steel’s family moved to Portland, Oregon, about 375 kilometers north of the lake. Thirteen years later, Steel honored his promise and visited Crater Lake. Its beauty moved him greatly. He began a 17-year fight to preserve the area as a public park.    Steel was a writer. He described one of his first visits to Crater Lake in 1886 in the “West Shore” magazine. “Not a foot of the land about the lake has been touched or claimed. An overmastering conviction came to me that this wonderful spot must be saved, wild and beautiful, just as it was, for all future generations.” His proposal of creating a national park did not please nearby sheep herders and miners. But, his efforts succeeded anyway. On May 22, 1902 Crater Lake became the country’s fifth national park. It remains the only national park in Oregon. And William Gladstone Steel is called the “Father of Crater Lake.” Visiting the Park Crater Lake National Park covers 740 square kilometers. The lake itself makes up less than 10 percent of the park. It also includes surrounding mountains and thick forests. The trees shelter many kinds of animals, from black bears to elk to spotted owls. About 480,000 people visit Crater Lake National Park each year. They explore by car, bicycle, or on foot.   Roads that encircle Crater Lake usually are open from July through October, depending on weather. They provide breathtaking displays of the lake’s unusual blue color as well as the thick forests around it. Crater Lake National Park also has more than 140 kilometers of hiking trails. The Cleetwood Cove Trail drops more than 200 meters down to the edge of Crater Lake. It leads to a spot where swimming is permitted. The water is extremely cold. Most swimmers cannot stay in for more than a few minutes. Crater Lake’s average water temperature is just three degrees Celsius. In summer, the lake’s surface warms to about 10 degrees Celsius. Visitors can also ride a boat from the end of Cleetwood Cove Trail. Park rangers lead visitors on boat rides around the lake. Visitors can also take boats to Wizard Island. The piece of land sits in the western part of the lake. Volcanic eruptions formed Wizard Island. It rises over 760 meters above the lake floor. However, most of the island, about 500 meters, is underwater. At Wizard Island, visitors can hike, swim and fish. It is also a wonderful place to relax and enjoy nature. But, such extraordinary places can be found all over the park. Discovering one’s own is part of the magic to experience at Crater Lake National Park.  I'm Ashley Thompson.  And I'm Caty Weaver. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   extinct - adj. no longer active enormous - adj. very great in size or amount remarkable - adj. unusual or surprising : likely to be noticed awe - v. to have a strong feeling of wonder or surprise artifact - n. a simple object (such as a tool or weapon) that was made by people in the past fascinate - v. to cause (someone) to be very interested in something or someone.   

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August 12, 2016

A look at the best news photos from around the world.

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'The Boarded Window' by Ambrose Bierce

Our story today is called “The Boarded Window.”  It was written by Ambrose Bierce. Here is Shep O’Neal with the story. In 1830, only a few miles away from what is now the great city of Cincinnati, Ohio, lay a huge and almost endless forest. The area had a few settlements established by people of the frontier. Many of them had already left the area for settlements further to the west. But among those remaining was a man who had been one of the first people to arrive there. He lived alone in a house of logs surrounded on all sides by the great forest. He seemed a part of the darkness and silence of the forest, for no one had ever known him to smile or speak an unnecessary word. His simple needs were supplied by selling or trading the skins of wild animals in the town. His little log house had a single door. Directly opposite was a window. The window was boarded up. No one could remember a time when it was not. And no one knew why it had been closed. It surely was not because of the man’s dislike of light and air. Sometimes, he could be seen lying in the sun on his doorstep. I imagine there are few people living today who ever knew the secret of that window. But I am one, as you shall see. The man's name was said to be Murlock. He appeared to be seventy years old, but he was really fifty. Something other than years had been the cause of his aging. His hair and long, full beard were white. His gray, lifeless eyes were sunken. His face was wrinkled. He was tall and thin with drooping shoulders—like someone with many problems. I never saw him. These details I learned from my grandfather. He told me the man's story when I was a boy. He had known him when living nearby in that early day. One day Murlock was found in his cabin, dead. It was not a time and place for medical examiners and newspapers. I suppose it was agreed that he had died from natural causes or I should have been told, and should remember. I know only that the body was buried near the cabin, next to the burial place of his wife. She had died so many years before him that local tradition noted very little of her existence. That closes the final part of this true story, except for the incident that followed many years later. With a fearless spirit I went to the place and got close enough to the ruined cabin to throw a stone against it. I ran away to avoid the ghost which every well-informed boy in the area knew haunted the spot. But there is an earlier part to this story supplied by my grandfather. When Murlock built his cabin he was young, strong and full of hope. He began the hard work of creating a farm. He kept a gun--a rifle—for hunting to support himself. He had married a young woman, in all ways worthy of his honest love and loyalty. She shared the dangers of life with a willing spirit and a light heart. There is no known record of her name or details about her. They loved each other and were happy. One day Murlock returned from hunting in a deep part of the forest. He found his wife sick with fever and confusion. There was no doctor or neighbor within miles. She was in no condition to be left alone while he went to find help. So Murlock tried to take care of his wife and return her to good health. But at the end of the third day she fell into unconsciousness and died. From what we know about a man like Murlock, we may try to imagine some of the details of the story told by my grandfather. When he was sure she was dead, Murlock had sense enough to remember that the dead must be prepared for burial. He made a mistake now and again while performing this special duty. He did certain things wrong. And others which he did correctly were done over and over again. He was surprised that he did not cry — surprised and a little ashamed. Surely it is unkind not to cry for the dead. "Tomorrow," he said out loud, "I shall have to make the coffin and dig the grave; and then I shall miss her, when she is no longer in sight. But now -- she is dead, of course, but it is all right — it must be all right, somehow. Things cannot be as bad as they seem." He stood over the body of his wife in the disappearing light. He fixed the hair and made finishing touches to the rest. He did all of this without thinking but with care. And still through his mind ran a feeling that all was right -- that he should have her again as before, and everything would be explained. Murlock had no experience in deep sadness. His heart could not contain it all. His imagination could not understand it. He did not know he was so hard struck. That knowledge would come later and never leave. Deep sadness is an artist of powers that affects people in different ways. To one it comes like the stroke of an arrow, shocking all the emotions to a sharper life. To another, it comes as the blow of a crushing strike. We may believe Murlock to have been affected that way. Soon after he had finished his work he sank into a chair by the side of the table upon which the body lay. He noted how white his wife's face looked in the deepening darkness. He laid his arms upon the table's edge and dropped his face into them, tearless and very sleepy. At that moment a long, screaming sound came in through the open window. It was like the cry of a lost child in the far deep of the darkening forest! But the man did not move. He heard that unearthly cry upon his failing sense, again and nearer than before. Maybe it was a wild animal or maybe it was a dream. For Murlock was asleep. Some hours later, he awoke, lifted his head from his arms and listened closely. He knew not why. There in the black darkness by the side of the body, he remembered everything without a shock. He strained his eyes to see -- he knew not what. His senses were all alert. His breath was suspended. His blood was still as if to assist the silence. Who — what had awakened him and where was it! Suddenly the table shook under his arms. At the same time he heard, or imagined he heard, a light, soft step and then another. The sounds were as bare feet walking upon the floor! He was afraid beyond the power to cry out or move. He waited—waited there in the darkness through what seemed like centuries of such fear. Fear as one may know, but yet live to tell. He tried but failed to speak the dead woman's name. He tried but failed to stretch his hand across the table to learn if she was there. His throat was powerless. His arms and hands were like lead. Then something most frightful happened. It seemed as if a heavy body was thrown against the table with a force that pushed against his chest. At the same time he heard and felt the fall of something upon the floor. It was so violent a crash that the whole house shook. A fight followed and a confusion of sounds impossible to describe. Murlock had risen to his feet. Extreme fear had caused him to lose control of his senses. He threw his hands upon the table. Nothing was there! There is a point at which fear may turn to insanity; and insanity incites to action. With no definite plan and acting like a madman, Murlock ran quickly to the wall. He seized his loaded rifle and without aim fired it. The flash from the rifle lit the room with a clear brightness. He saw a huge fierce panther dragging the dead woman toward the window. The wild animal's teeth were fixed on her throat! Then there was darkness blacker than before, and silence. When he returned to consciousness the sun was high and the forest was filled with the sounds of singing birds. The body lay near the window, where the animal had left it when frightened away by the light and sound of the rifle. The clothing was ruined. The long hair was in disorder. The arms and legs lay in a careless way. And a pool of blood flowed from the horribly torn throat. The ribbon he had used to tie the wrists was broken. The hands were tightly closed. And between the teeth was a piece of the animal's ear. “The Boarded Window” was written by Ambrose Bierce.  It was adapted by Lawan Davis who was also the producer.  The storyteller was Shep O’Neal. Download activities to help you understand this story here. Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. What do you think it would be like to live all alone in the woods? What kinds of scary stories are famous in your country?Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   frontier – n. a border between two countries doorstep – n.  a step or series of steps leading up to one of the doors that is used to enter or leave a building lifeless – adj.  Having no life rifle – n. A gun that has a long barrel and that is held against your shoulder when you shoot it unconscious – adj. not awake especially because of an injury, drug, etc.

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Fiji Celebrates First Olympic Medal, and It Is Gold

This is What’s Trending Today. The tiny South Pacific island nation of Fiji won its first Olympic medal. And it is gold. Fiji has a population of about 900,000. The Fijian team won the gold medal in the new Olympic sport of rugby sevens in Rio de Janeiro. Fiji’s rugby team was the pre-Olympic favorite. The team won the last two world rugby sevens competitions. Fiji finished ahead of larger countries like South Africa, Australia and Argentina. The game was played at 10 a.m. Friday in Fiji and most businesses closed to allow their employees to watch the match. The national rugby stadium in Suva was filled with 15,000 people who watched the match on a large screen.  When the final second ticked off the clock in the 43-7 victory over Great Britain, people danced in the street.  Fiji’s prime minister announced a public holiday for August 22. That is when the team will return from Rio. One Fijian man posted a video to YouTube of himself and his young son singing the national anthem. They joined in with the rugby players on television. A journalist noted that Fiji is the fifth country with a population under 1 million to win a gold medal. The Fijian players like captain Osea Kolinisau and Leone Nakarawa proved too strong for Great Britain. Nakarawa is over 2 meters tall and weighs about 122 kilograms. Fiji was ahead 29-0 at halftime. The coach of the Fijian team is Ben Ryan. Ryan is English, but many people now want to make him an honorary Fijian citizen. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. What do you think of Fiji winning its first gold medal? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   captain – n. an athlete who is chosen to be the leader of a team medal – n. a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with designs and words in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement  

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Turkey, Russia Hold Talks, Ease Tensions Over Syria

Russia and Turkey are taking steps to improve ties and work together in Syria after talks between the Russian and Turkish leaders. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday. Putin announced that Russia would begin easing sanctions designed to punish Turkey. The move would include restarting work on energy projects, such as work on Turkey’s first nuclear power center and a pipeline from southern Russia to the Black Sea. Russian officials said trade with Turkey could return to normal by the end of the year. The Hurriyet Daily News reported that the two sides agreed to set up a direct telephone line between their militaries to prevent incidents in Syrian airspace. Relations strained by downing of Russian bomber In November, Turkey shot down a Russian jet bomber near its border with Syria. Turkish officials accused the airplane of violating Turkish airspace. Russia denied the plane had been over Turkey and called the act a planned provocation by supporters of terrorism. Russian officials answered the Turkish move by ordering economic and diplomatic sanctions on its neighbor. In June, the Turkish president apologized for the incident, and the two sides agreed to hold direct talks. Russia supports the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey has supported groups trying to force him from power. The two sides have been fighting in Syria for more than five years. The violence has caused more than 2.5 million refugees from Syria to enter Turkey. Russia increased its involvement in the fighting last year by carrying out bombing raids on Syrian rebel targets. Cooperation or compromise? Some observers, however, are questioning how much Turkey and Russia can cooperate. They say the two sides have little common ground in Syria’s civil war. Military expert Alexander Golts says, “I think until now they have no clear decision because it’s clear that their interests are colliding in Syria.” Golts currently works as a visiting researcher at Uppsula University in Sweden. However, the talks between the two presidents could be a sign that Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants compromise on the issue of Syria. The meeting also could show Western allies that the Turkish leader has several options available to him. Ishat Saetov directs the Modern Turkey Studies Center in Moscow. He said Erdogan was surprised by the effect Russian economic actions had on Turkey. The “loss of more than 4 million tourists made quite a blow on the economy,” he said. The coup attempt partly changed relations Although the two countries disagree about Syria, Russia supported Erdogan after members of Turkey’s military attempted to overthrow his government. The United States and European countries have criticized Turkey’s reaction to the failed overthrow attempt. The Turkish government has arrested thousands of people, including many reporters. Turkey accuses clergyman Fethullah Gulen of plotting the failed coup. Gulen lives in the American state of Pennsylvania. Turkish officials want him extradited to Turkey for trial. The U.S. government has refused to do this without evidence. Turkey is also in disagreement with Europe over payments for accepting Syrian refugees and other migrants. The government wants the European Union to permit visa-free travel for Turkish citizens. “Syria is one of the issues that Erdogan may trade upon,” said Saetov. He said Erdogan may be willing to negotiate on the issue. Yet Turkish officials say Assad must leave office eventually and that Russia will not take the place of its western allies. I’m Mario Ritter.   Daniel Schearf reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   sanctions – n. measures taken to punish a country for something it has done such as restrictions on trade or financial transactions collide – v. the act of two things crashing into each other options – n. two or more possibilities or opportunities to take action coup – n. an attempt by a small group to take control of a country or large organization extradite –v. to send someone to another country where they are charged with a crime for trial provocation – n. an act meant to cause anger or a harsh reaction

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Celebrating Strange Art at Washington's Fringe Festival

Every summer artists perform at Fringe Festivals around the world. Fringe Festivals are a celebration of strange art. They have all kinds of performers -- from dancers, musicians and actors to everything in between. The shows give artists, sometimes described as outside the norm, a chance to create unusual art. For festival goers, each show is a time to experience something different. The first Fringe Festival was held in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1947. That was also the year of the first Edinburgh International Festival. Artists from around the world traveled to Scotland for the Edinburgh International Festival. They performed at arts centers throughout the city. Eight local theater companies did not receive an invitation, however. In response, they performed at smaller spaces around Edinburgh. These artists performed wherever they could, including churches and even on the street. They started their own cultural event and named it the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. What started as an alternative to the mainstream has now become the world’s largest arts festival. Today, there are hundreds of Fringe Festivals taking place around the world. The one in Washington, D.C., called the Capitol Fringe Festival, is in its tenth year. It was held in the month of July. Julianne Brienza founded the Capital Fringe Festival. She went to a school for the performing arts, but now sees herself mainly as an organizer of the festival. Brienza believes that fringe performance art is special and can have a powerful effect. "We live here in D.C, the nation’s capital where there are a lot of large federally funded institutions," she says. "So to have a festival about people outside of that system is pretty awesome…it’s a good message to local people being important." The Capital Fringe Festival takes place in different locations throughout the D.C. area. Some performances happen in traditional theaters. Others happen in unusual settings like old, empty buildings or stores after business hours are over. ​Brienza says the purpose of Fringe festivals is to explore the limits of art in unique environments. Since 2006, the event has made more than $1.7 million. It is the second largest unjuried Fringe Festival in the U.S. and its popularity has grown every year. Rachel Turner is the founder of the Errant Movement dance group. Its show, called "Connectivity/Complexity," used dance and music to ask questions about human relationships in the age of social media. Turner believes that attending one Capital Fringe show motivates audience members to see other performances at the festival. "I think it really brings people together. For people who don’t necessarily see a lot of performances all the time…it motivates them to see artwork," she says. "I think it’s good for the artists but it’s really good for people in the city to get out and see more work." Leah Harris was a Fringe participant for the first time this year. She performed her one-woman show, called "Aliens, Nazis & Angels." In it, she tells the story of her life, her mother and other members of her family in a series of funny and sometimes sad anecdotes. Harris believes that the festival can help many artists take a risk. "The impact it has personally is that seeing some of these other one person shows, makes me think that, hey I can do that…I can do this in my own little way and there’s a space for me," she says. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe continues throughout the month of August. I’m Patrick Merentie.   Patrick Merentie reported on this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Are there any Fringe festivals in your country? How do people celebrate non-traditional art in your country? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   norm – n. standards of proper or acceptable behavior response – n. something that is done as a reaction to something else alternative – n. something that can be chosen instead of something else mainstream – n. the thoughts, beliefs, and choices that are accepted by the largest number of people awesome – adj. extremely good setting(s) – n. the place and conditions in which something happens or exists unique – adj. very special or unusual unjuried – adj. art exhibition or festival is one where all submissions are accepted motivate(s) – v. to give someone a reason for doing something participant – n. a person who is involved in an activity or event anecdote(s) – n. a short story about an interesting or funny event or occurrence

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English @ the Movies: 'Somebody Got The Better Of Us'

Our English @ the Movies expression is from the movie "Now You See Me 2." This is about people who do magic shows. But a tricky businessman makes them steal something important. The expression is "somebody got the better of us." Is that good, or bad? Listen and find out.

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Experts: New Thai Constitution Extends Military’s Control

The new constitution in Thailand will give the country’s military more time to control the government until planned elections next year. More than 61 percent of voters supported the constitution in a special referendum last Sunday After the vote, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former army chief, promised to hold general elections in November of 2017. Thai voters also approved a proposal to let a military-appointed Senate choose a new prime minister after the elections next year. The Senate would have 250 members. They will include six military leaders and top defense officials for at least five years. Thailand’s 500-member House of Representatives will join with the Senate in choosing the prime minister. ​ Legal experts say the voting last weekend gave Thailand’s military the right to keep overseeing the government for an extended period. Thitinan Pongsudhirak teaches political science at Chulalongkorn University. He said the referendum results should not be seen as an endorsement for the military government. “They (Thai citizens) are used to voting for individuals,” he said. “So the overall result suggests that people want to have their say at the polls.” Thailand’s last general election was held in 2011, when Pheu Thai Party leader Yingluck Shinawatra was elected prime minister. She and her government were ousted from power in 2014. Prayut led the military coup. The elected Senate was dismissed after the military overthrow, which followed massive anti-government protests. Leading up to the referendum, Yingluck and her party opposed the proposed constitution, as did Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. Human rights groups also opposed the measure. Henning Glaser, from Thammasat University, said Thailand’s main political parties will be weaker under the new constitution. “In terms of the election law, bigger parties will lose,” Glaser said. “We have a weak parliament consisting of weak politicians and political parties – which are highly fragmented – we will have a weak government too.” The latest constitution is the second to be written since the military took power in May 2014. The first one was voted down by the National Legislative Assembly last September. Laws under the current interim constitution give the government of Prime Minister Prayut absolute power. The laws gives soldiers the power to make arrests and prevents political gatherings of more than five people. They also include restrictions on Thailand’s media. The new constitution gives the military continued powers while setting up a new government, including over national security. Many observers believe the voters were willing to give the military this extended role to help achieve a peaceful transition to civilian rule. Late in the week, attackers using firebombs and homemade explosives struck several cities across southern Thailand. The explosions killed at least four people and wounded more than 30 others, including foreigners.           A police spokesman Friday said police believe the attacks were the result of local sabotage, not the work of Islamic terrorists. For years, militants in the south have been fighting for greater self-rule. Prime Minister Prayut called the bombings “an attempt to create chaos and confusion.” He said the attacks came at a time when the country “is heading towards stability, a better economy and tourism.” “Who (did it)? Who doesn’t want to see Thailand getting better? Which group? Go find out for me,” he said. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Ron Corben reported this story for VOAnews.com. Bryan Lynn adapted it for Learning English. George Grow 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   referendum – n. public vote on specific issues endorsement – n. public of official statement of support fragmented – adj. split, broken apart interim – n. period of time between events absolute – adj. complete, unrestricted transition – n. change from one state or condition to another sabotage – v. the act of intentionally destroying or damaging something insurgency – n. armed revolt or uprising attempting to take control of government  

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Clinton Blasts Trump Proposals in Economic Speech

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton blasted opponent Donald Trump’s tax and trade proposals as she laid out her own economic plan Thursday. Clinton spoke at an automotive and defense industry factory near the Midwestern city of Detroit, Michigan. Trump had outlined his economic policies earlier on Monday during a speech in Detroit. He also criticized Clinton’s economic plan. Trump said Clinton would raise taxes and continue heavy government regulation on businesses. In her speech, Clinton said Trump only spoke of “failure, poverty and crime” when he brought up economic conditions in the state. She also condemned his remarks that America is becoming a third world country. “But clearly he doesn’t know the people of Michigan. He doesn’t see the businesses and the labor unions, the local governments, the clergy - coming together every single day to make things better.” She said Trump has offered “no credible plans” to address the problems faced by American working families. “He wants America to work for him and his friends at the expense of everyone else.” She said Trump has ignored many issues that have been a focus of her campaign. These include proposals to help students refinance debt, reduce prescription drug costs, promote clean energy, and fight poverty and racism in communities of color.  Clinton blasts “outlandish Trumpian ideas” Clinton said Trump only offers “a more extreme version of the failed theory of trickle-down economics - with his own addition of outlandish Trumpian ideas that even Republicans reject.” The Democratic candidate addressed some of Trump’s main campaign issues, including his opposition to international trade agreements. Clinton said she agrees that past administrations sometimes portrayed trade deals as being better than they turned out to be. Some led to factory closures and job losses, she said. “It is also true that China and other countries have gamed the system for too long.” She said cutting the U.S. off from the rest of the world, which she said Trump proposed, would not solve the problems. Clinton added, “The answer is to finally make trade work for us, not against us.” She pledged to stop any trade deal that kills jobs or holds down wages, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Officials from 12 countries negotiated the TPP, which is favored by U.S. President Barack Obama. Those countries control 40 percent of the world economy. “I oppose it now. I’ll oppose it after the election, and I’ll oppose it as president.” Opposing tax cuts for the rich She said Trump’s tax plan for individuals and corporations would only help the wealthiest Americans, including his own family. “The tax cuts he doubled down on in his speech in Detroit on Monday offered trillions to the richest Americans and corporations.” She said under Trump’s proposed tax plan, the billionaire candidate would “pay a lower rate than millions of middle class families.” Clinton also said Trump’s plan to get rid of the estate tax could make his family $4 billion dollars richer. Just think about what we could do with those $4 billion dollars.” She suggested the money could buy 47,000 veterans a 4-year college degree. Or provide a year’s worth of health care to nearly 3 million children. She said it should no longer be the case that a four-year college degree should be the only career path for young Americans. She proposed stronger union training programs and new tax credits to provide paid apprenticeships to teach trade skills. The candidate repeated her pledge that if elected, she would work to complete the “biggest investment” in new, good paying jobs since World War II. Clinton campaign aides said Thursday’s speech was not intended to introduce new economic policies. It was given to counter Trump’s economic plan, which he had not yet discussed in detail. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, with additional information coming from the Associated Press and Reuters. Hai Do 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 blast – v. attack strongly with words regulation – n. an official rule or law that says how something should be done​ credible – adj. able to be conceived trickle-down – n. relating to something happening gradually outlandish – adj. very strange or unusual portray – v. describe in a particular way apprenticeship – n. a fixed period of time during which a person learns a job or skill by working for for someone who is very good at that job or skill 

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August 11, 2016

A look at the best news photos from around the world.

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Studying Sentence Patterns to Improve Your Writing: Part 2

In a previous Everyday Grammar story, we discussed two common sentence patterns using the word “be.” This week, we are going to give you more information about another common pattern in English: the linking verb pattern.  To get you started with linking verb patterns, consider this passage from a story called “The Diamond as Big as the Ritz,” by the American author F. Scott Fitzgerald:  "As he approached the end his sentences became broken, became short and uncertain, and his body seemed tense, seemed strained to catch the slightest pressure or whisper of life in the spaces around him."  By the end of this story, you will be able to recognize one major linking verb pattern that Fitzgerald uses many times in this sentence.   An important point about sentences and clauses  Remember: a sentence has a subject and a predicate. A clause has a subject and a predicate, too. The predicate is the verb phrase. It has a main verb, such as a linking verb, and other words, such as a subject complement, that give more information about it.   When you capitalize the first word of a clause and put a period at the end of it, a clause becomes a sentence. Keep this idea in mind, because it will help you understand sentences that use several clauses.   What is a linking verb?  In the book "Rhetorical Grammar," Martha Kolln says that the term “linking verbs” applies to verbs that are completed by a subject complement – the adjective or noun phrase that describes the subject.  Many grammar experts consider the verb BE to be a linking verb, but Kolln says BE verb patterns are sometimes different from other linking verb patterns. This is because adverbial information often follows BE verbs, such as in the following sentence:  My sister is at the store.   In this case, an adverbial structure, a prepositional phrase, tells about the location of the subject, “my sister.” This BE pattern is one we discussed in a previous Everyday Grammar story. In contrast, the usual linking verb structure is this: Examples of linking verbs 1: verbs of the senses Some of the most common linking verbs are verbs of the senses. They include “taste,” “smell,” “feel,” “look,” and “sound.”   These verbs often link an adjective to a subject.   For example, consider these memorable lines from “Dirty Harry,” a famous American film. Clint Eastwood, the actor who plays the character of Dirty Harry, says: “You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?” In the sentence "Do I feel lucky?", the adjective “lucky” acts as the subject complement. It describes the subject, “I.”  If you were to answer the question, you might say this:   Examples of linking verbs 2: “remain” and “become” Verbs of the senses are not the only linking verbs. Two other common examples of linking verbs are “remain” and “become.” These verbs often link a noun or noun phrase to a subject.  Consider the opening lines from “Casablanca,” another classic American film:  "With the coming of the Second World War, many eyes in imprisoned Europe turned hopefully or desperately toward the freedom of the Americas. Lisbon became the great embarkation point." In the second sentence — “Lisbon became the great embarkation point”— you can see the basic linking verb pattern, even though the subject complement has several words. “Lisbon” is the subject of the sentence. The predicate has the linking verb “became,” as well as the noun phrase “the great embarkation point.   Examples of linking verbs 3: “prove,” “seem” and “appear” Aside from the verbs of the senses and “become” and “remain,” there are three other common linking verbs. They are “prove,” “seem” and “appear.”   Like other linking verbs, these verbs link an adjective or noun phrase to the subject. All these verbs use the same basic pattern: Subject + Linking Verb + Subject Complement. What do linking verbs have to do with F. Scott Fitzgerald?  Think back to this passage from "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz":  "As he approached the end his sentences became broken, became short and uncertain, and his body seemed tense, seemed strained to catch the slightest pressure or whisper of life in the spaces around him. "  Fitzgerald uses some phrases that do not fit into the linking verb pattern. But, if you look closely, you will see that he uses the Subject + Linking Verb + Subject Complement pattern in the sentence.  Consider these clauses:    Fitzgerald then repeats the linking verb pattern, but does not say the subject. The repeated subject is understood:    This sentence contains other structures that are more complicated than the basic linking verb pattern. But you can still see that these basic patterns can serve as the starting point for very long, complicated sentences.   What can you do?  Learning how to use linking verb patterns will help you improve your writing. You can think about creative ways to use them, or you can learn to recognize when you use them too often. To start practicing this pattern, try finding the linking verb in the sentences at the end of this story. Identify the subject of the sentence, the linking verb, and the subject complement. Be careful, because one or more sentences may be tricky!   We will give you the answers next week in the comments section and on our Facebook page.   The lake became a clear pool, pale and quiet. – "Winter Dreams" by F. Scott Fitzgerald Her slight unsteadiness seemed part of an enchanted dream. – "The Jelly Bean" by F. Scott Fitzgerald John T. Unger was on the eve of departure. – "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" by F. Scott Fitzgerald I'm Jonathan Evans. I'm John Russell. And I'm Jill Robbins. John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. Kelly J Kelly was the editor. Do you like learning about sentence patterns? Is there a pattern you'd like us to explain here? ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story strained – adj. feeling or showing the effect of too much work, use, effort, etc. complement – n. a word or group of words added to a sentence to make it complete adverbial – adj. like or relating to an adverb. analyze – v. to learn the nature and relationship of the parts of (something) by a close and careful examination phrase – n. a group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not usually form a complete sentence adjective – n. a word that describes a noun or a pronoun prepositional phrase – n. a phrase that begins with a preposition and ends in a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase embarkation – n. a place where a journey begins tricky – adj. difficult to do or deal with

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