Small, Flying Dinosaur Was Size of a Cat

  Researchers are excited about the discovery of what they think is a new species of flying dinosaur that was about the size of a cat. The partial remains of the small dinosaur were discovered in 2009 in British Columbia, Canada. The creature was a kind of pterosaur. Pterosaurs were vertebrates, meaning they had backbones, and likely covered with fur or hair. The remains included evidence of wings, so this pterosaur could fly. Researchers believe it lived about 77 million years ago. Elizabeth Martin-Silverstone is the lead writer of a research paper about the flying dinosaur. She attends the University of Southampton in Britain. Martin-Silverstone said the discovery is an exciting moment in the study of dinosaurs. “The hollow bones of pterosaurs are … poorly preserved,” she said. “This suggests that a small pterosaur could very rarely be preserved, but not necessarily that they didn’t exist.” The flying dinosaur described in the paper had a wingspan of over one meter. Pterosaurs of that time were much larger with wingspans from four to 11 meters, researchers said. The largest known pterosaur was as big as a modern giraffe. It had a wingspan the size of a small airplane. The remains of this dinosaur were found in small pieces. Researchers are not yet able to decide if they represent an unknown species. Yet the researchers were able to say the small pterosaur belonged to a group of short-winged, toothless pterosaurs called azhdarchoids. “The specimen is far from the prettiest or most complete pterosaur fossil you’ll ever see, but it’s still an exciting and significant find,” said Mark Witton of the University of Portsmouth. Witton is a pterosaur expert. He noted, “It’s rare to find pterosaur fossils at all because their skeletons were lightweight and easily damaged once they died. The small ones are the rarest of all. But luck was on our side and several bones of this animal survived the preservation process.” He added that the creature discovered was full grown. The paper was published in the Royal Society journal Open Science. I’m Anne Ball.   This story was first reported on VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What do you think about this discovery? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   species – n.  a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants dinosaur – n. one of many animals that lived on Earth millions of years ago wingspan – n. the distance from the tip of one wing of a bird to the tip of the other wing giraffe – n. a very tall African animal that has an extremely long neck and legs specimen – n. something (such as an animal or plant) collected as an example of a particular kind of thing fossil – n. something (such as a leaf, skeleton, or footprint) that is from a plant or animal which lived in ancient times and that you can see in some rocks

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Apple CEO Tim Cook Upset about EU Tax Bill

  After a two-year investigation, the European Union (EU) says the American company Apple must pay over $14 billion in back taxes to Ireland. The EU’s competition commissioner said the company did not pay enough in taxes between 2003 and 2014. She questioned how anyone might think that Apple’s 2014 Irish tax rate of five thousandths of one percent was fair. The European Commission is responsible for making official decisions for the European Union. The Commission follows rules designed to make sure businesses in Europe compete fairly. In late August, the Commission announced that it would attempt to recover the back taxes from Apple. It said the company reported earnings for all of the computers, computer tablets and mobile phones it sold in Europe through its office in Ireland. Because of a tax deal with the Irish government, Apple never had to pay much tax on its earnings. The Competition Commission is not only investigating Apple. It is looking at deals between European countries and major international businesses including Starbucks, Fiat, Amazon and McDonald’s. Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook denies the EU allegations. He said Apple paid $400 million in taxes in 2014, and his company paid more in taxes than any other business in Ireland. The tax bill is not only causing concerns in Ireland and Europe. Government officials in the United States are also worried. Josh Earnest is the spokesman for President Barack Obama. He said Americans could be hurt by the EU’s ruling if Apple is required to make the payment. He said the company then could legally reduce the billions of dollars it pays Ireland from the U.S. taxes it owes. Earnest said the Obama administration is concerned EU officials decided to rule against Apple without first talking to the U.S. government. The U.S Treasury Department called the EU’s decision unfair. It claimed the EU was targeting American companies for punishment recently. The commission denied that allegation. On September 1, Tim Cook told an Irish newspaper that Apple would work with Irish officials to overturn Europe’s decision. He also said the tax ruling was politically motivated. The European Commission said Ireland offered Apple the low tax rates in order to save thousands of Apple jobs within the country. It called the deal, “illegal.” Ireland’s Minister of Finance, Michael Noonan, said his country will appeal the commission’s ruling. But if the tax is paid, it would be the largest ever in Europe. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reports by VOANews.com and Reuters. George Grow was the editor. What do you think about the large tax bill sent to Apple? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   commissioner – n. a person who is responsible for a government office, agency or part of a government department commission – n. a group of people who have been given the official job of finding information about something or controlling something allegation – n. a statement saying that someone has done something wrong or illegal motivate– v. to give someone a reason for doing something

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Sometimes You Have to ‘Bite the Bullet’

English in a Minute: Comfort Zone

Do you ever get out of your "comfort zone?" Find out how to use this expression in this week's episode of English in a Minute!

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Roman Catholic Church to Recognize Mother Teresa as a Saint

On Sunday, the Roman Catholic Church will officially recognize Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Kolkata) as a saint. She will join a group of over 10,000 people recognized by the church as being holy because of the way they lived. Even before the events of this weekend, Mother Teresa has become one of the most loved and well-known Catholics of modern times, according to Father John Trigilio. He serves as spiritual director at Mount St. Mary Seminary in Maryland. For years, she worked with the poor and sick in Kolkata, India. It was previously known as Calcutta. Mother Teresa started the Missionaries of Charity, which spread beyond Kolkata to other areas around the world. “She was physically small,” Trigilio said. “She was an old lady, wrinkled, with no wealth, and yet her love for God and the poor and all her goodness enabled her to achieve so much.” What people so like about her, he said, is that she showed, “You don’t need to be a wealthy person to achieve much goodness.” On Sunday, Pope Francis will officially recognize Mother Teresa as a saint at a ceremony in the Vatican. That recognition means church officials consider her a holy person. They believe she joined Jesus Christ in heaven immediately after her death in 1997. She was born 106 years ago in Skopje in what is now the Republic of Macedonia. Karen Bussey is director of the Mother Teresa House in Lansing, Michigan. She is very happy that Pope Francis will recognize the former religious worker. Mother Teresa died 19 years ago in the same week Bussey received approval to turn a Michigan home into a place for very sick patients. She wanted the house to provide care to the very ill in their final days of life. “So we knew we should name the home for her (Mother Teresa),” Bussey said. Bussey said this about her: “She is an endless inspiration for our work and service here. She would speak about great love is what really matters most. So our days are filled with doing the simple things to help make people more comfortable and feel loved.” Mother Teresa once said there are two kinds of poverty: “the poverty of material, for example, in some places like India, Ethiopia or some other places, where people are hungry for bread, real hunger. But there is much deeper hunger and that is hunger for love.” Mother Teresa felt that hunger, writing about her own doubts about faith and God’s love. "Such deep longing for God -- and ... repulsed -- empty -- no faith -- no love,” she wrote in 1956 Julia Upton is the Distinguished Professor of Theology at St. John's University in New York. She said Mother Teresa’s continuous work to help the poor, despite her own spiritual questions, is something to “admire.” Mother Teresa became well known, in part, because much of her work took place “during the time of mass media.” As a result, Upton said, images of her good work were broadcast across the world. It has become popular for people to say when they want to let someone know they might not be quite as special as they think, “Well, you’re no Mother Teresa.” Still, Mother Teresa has her critics. Some in India criticized her for trying to lead people from their own religion to Catholicism. The journalist Christopher Hitchens wrote in Slate in 2003 that the hospice in Calcutta she operated “was as run down when she died as it always had been.”  He also wrote that she accepted money from wealthy people with a questionable past. Michael Witczak is a religion professor at Catholic University of America. “The criticisms are there and they have been taken seriously, but they were not considered by the church to override the conviction that what she did was primarily for the good and…provided a good example for other people to follow,” he said. I’m Bruce Alpert. Mariama Diallo reported this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted her story and did additional reporting 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 wrinkled - adj. having a small line or fold on your skin as you grow older enable - v. to make someone or something able to do or to be something achieve - v. to get or reach (something) by working hard heaven - n. the place where God lives and where good people go after they die according to some religions inspiration - n. something that makes someone want to do something or that gives someone an idea about what to do or create comfortable - n. producing physical comfort hospice - n. a place where people who are sick and near death are taken care of conviction - n. a strong belief doubt – n. a question or concern  

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September 2, 2016

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

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Denali: The Alaskan Wild

This week on our national parks journey, we travel to the largest state in terms of land area: Alaska. Alaska is home to more national parks than any other state. It is also home to North America’s tallest mountain -- the 6,190-meter high Denali peak. The peak gives the surrounding protected area its name. Welcome to Denali National Park in central Alaska. Denali’s grounds covers more than 2.4 million hectares. Within the park are glaciers, clear rivers, peaceful forests, and wildlife such as wolves, moose, bears, and sheep. Denali National Park seems huge; yet only one road goes through the park. Hundreds of thousands of visitors travel down that road each year to experience the Alaskan wild. From Mount McKinley to Denali Denali National Park was first established almost 100 years ago. At the time, the park and North America’s tallest mountain were known by another name. Many Americans knew the famous peak as Mount McKinley. In the late 1800s, gold miners unofficially named the peak after William McKinley, the 25th U.S. president. At the time, McKinley was still a presidential candidate. McKinley himself never traveled anywhere near the mountain. But the name stuck. In Alaska, however, locals continued to call the mountain “Denali.” The word Denali means “the high one” for the Athabascan people, many of whom lived north of the mountain. The area became a national park on February 26, 1917. Its name was Mount McKinley National Park. Some naturalists disagreed with the naming decision. A debate continued for more than half a century, a sign of the area’s long and complex history. In 1975, Alaskan state officials asked the federal government to change the name to Denali to honor the native Alaskans. But congressional members from the state of Ohio - where McKinley was from - opposed and blocked the renaming efforts. In late 1980, weeks before his presidency ended, Jimmy Carter increased the size of the park from 800,000 hectares to 2.4 million hectares. The expanded park also took on a new name. It became the Denali National Park and Preserve. The naming debate, however, was not over. Although the park took the name of Denali, the mountain itself still remained Mount McKinley for another 35 years. In August 2015, President Barack Obama officially changed mountain’s name from Mount McKinley to Denali. The announcement was made shortly before Obama traveled to Alaska. His visit was aimed at publicizing the effects of climate change in the state. Obama became the first active president to travel north of the Arctic Circle. U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said of the name change: "With our own sense of reverence for this place, we are officially renaming the mountain Denali in recognition of the traditions of Alaska Natives and the strong support of the people of Alaska.” Protecting a unique ecosystem - past and present The animals living within Denali National Park are just as famous as its tallest peak. In fact, Denali was the first national park created in order to protect wildlife. The park is home to 39 kinds of mammals and over 160 kinds of birds. Many people come to Denali to see the park’s largest mammals. Some moose here weigh well over 500 kilograms. More than 1,700 caribou live within the grounds. Dall sheep flock together on hillsides. Wolves are everywhere in the park. Denali is known as one of the best places to observe wolves in the wild. Giant grizzly bears also can be seen. They enjoy catching salmon and eating wild berries in the summer. Denali also protects the remains of a prehistoric ecosystem. In 2005, geologists discovered fossilized evidence of dinosaur tracks within Denali. Tests showed the fossil to be about 70 million years. It was the first sign of dinosaurs in central Alaska. Since then, scientists have discovered more than 300 fossil sites. The fossils preserve evidence of other ancient creatures and many kinds of plants. With each discovery, a more complete picture of Denali’s past comes to life.  A long history of mountaineering Adventure-seeking travelers visit Denali to climb North America’s tallest peak. The first successful climb to the very top happened on June 7, 1913, when four men reached the summit. Every year, more than 1,000 people try to reach Denali’s summit. Only about half of them succeed. Climbing Denali is extremely difficult. Climbers face harsh conditions and extreme weather. Winds can blow at speeds of more than 160 kilometers an hour. They must use special equipment to travel along glacier ice and difficult terrain. The Kahiltna Glacier is the longest glacier here. Climbers know it as the starting point for 'summiting' Denali. It sees some of the most extreme temperatures of any place on Earth. Most successful climbs take about three weeks. Several local businesses offer group climbs. Enjoying Denali Visitors can enjoy Denali in more restful ways, too. Many people travel by bus along the park’s single road. Travel companies offer half-day bus tours. Others choose to ride bicycles along the long road. This gives them a chance to get up close to Denali’s wildlife and peaceful environment. The park operates six campsites and offers several kilometers of trails. Denali is also home to a group of sled dogs. These Alaskan huskies are an important part of the park experience. Visitors can watch sled dog demonstrations in the summer to learn about this traditional Alaskan way of travel. Celebrating 100 years As the National Park Service celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, Denali National Park is preparing to mark its 100th anniversary next February. The park’s past, present and future connect many different cultures and people across time. I’m Ashley Thompson. And I'm Dorothy Gundy.    Ashley Thompson adapted this report with materials from the National Park Service. George Grow was the editor.  ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   journey - n. an act of traveling from one place to another​ peak - n. the pointed top of a mountain​ glacier - n.a very large area of ice that moves slowly down a slope or valley or over a wide area of land​ reverence - n. honor or respect that is felt for or shown to (someone or something) ecosystem - n. everything that exists in a particular environment​ flock - v. to gather or move in a crowd mammal - n. a type of animal that feeds milk to its young and that usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin​ fossil - n. something (such as a leaf, skeleton, or footprint) that is from a plant or animal which lived in ancient times and that you can see in some rocks​ summit - n. the highest point of a mountain​ harsh - adj. unpleasant and difficult to accept or experience terrain - n. land of a particular kind tour - n. an activity in which you go through a place (such as a building or city) in order to see and learn about the different parts of it​ trail - n.  a path through a forest, field, etc.​  

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SpaceX Rocket Explodes With Facebook Satellite on Board

  This is What’s Trending Today. No one was injured when a Falcon 9 rocket exploded at Cape Canaveral in Florida on September 1. But the rocket and a communications satellite on it were destroyed. The Falcon 9 belonged to the American company SpaceX. It designs, manufactures and launches rockets and spacecraft. The hashtag #SpaceX continues to trend on Twitter as people see videos of the explosion.  Space X was hoping to launch the rocket on Saturday, September 3. The satellite was supposed to provide high-speed internet service to parts of Africa. It was made by an Israeli company for Facebook, the world’s largest online social media network. Reports say a replacement satellite could be ready in three years. The accident involves two of the world’s most famous entrepreneurs. Mark Zuckerberg is the founder of Facebook. He used a Facebook post to say he was “deeply disappointed” to hear about the explosion.  ​ SpaceX is owned by Elon Musk, a businessman and investor. He also operates Tesla Motors, the electric car company. SpaceX called the explosion “an anomaly.” ​ SpaceX rockets are unique because some of their parts are reusable. After a rocket launch, the first part of the rocket returns to Earth and can be used again. The company had planned six more launches this year. But those plans may change after the accident. People living near Cape Canaveral said their homes shook and sliding doors fell to the ground. One Instagram user posted video of the smoke cloud from the explosion. A simple, written message placed next to the video read: “Wow, not good.”  ​ One Twitter user wrote: “This video of the #SpaceXExplosion is crazy!” The American space agency NASA is working with SpaceX on several projects, including transporting supplies to the International Space Station. But the space agency was not involved in this project. NASA did post a message on Twitter. It read: “…spaceflight is challenging. Our partners learn from each success & setback.”  ​ A Twitter user sympathized with Facebook’s chairman, writing: “Mark Zuckerberg is like ‘Man, I should have gone with NASA.’”  ​ And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m John Russell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What do you think of the SpaceX explosion? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   entrepreneur – n. a person who starts a business and is willing to risk loss in order to make money anomaly – n. something that is unusual or unexpected unique – adj. used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else setback – n. a problem that makes progress more difficult or success less likely

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'The Diamond Lens' by Fitz-James O'Brien, Part One

Our story today is called "The Diamond Lens. " It was written by Fitz-James O'Brien. We will tell the story in two parts.  Now, here is Maurice Joyce with part one of "The Diamond Lens." When I was ten years old, one of my older cousins gave me a microscope. The first time I looked through its magic lens, the clouds that surrounded my daily life rolled away. I saw a universe of tiny living creatures in a drop of water. Day after day, night after night, I studied life under my microscope. The fungus that spoiled my mother’s jam was, for me, a land of magic gardens. I would put one of those spots of green mold under my microscope and see beautiful forests, where strange silver and golden fruit hung from the branches of tiny trees. I felt as if I had discovered another Garden of Eden. Although I didn’t tell anyone about my secret world, I decided to spend my life studying the microscope. My parents had other plans for me. When I was nearly twenty years old, they insisted that I learn a profession even though we were a rich family, and I really didn’t have to work at all. I decided to study medicine in New York. This city was far away from my family, so I could spend my time as I pleased. As long as I paid my medical school fees every year, my family would never know I wasn’t attending any classes. In New York, I would be able to buy excellent microscopes and meet scientists from all over the world. I would have plenty of money and plenty of time to spend on my dream. I left home with high hopes. Two days after I arrived in New York, I found a place to live.  It was large enough for me to use one of the rooms as my laboratory. I filled this room with expensive scientific equipment that I did not know how to use. But by the end of my first year in the city, I had become an expert with the microscope. I also had become more and more unhappy. The lens in my expensive microscope was still not strong enough to answer my questions about life. I imagined there were still secrets in Nature that the limited power of my equipment prevented me from knowing. I lay awake nights, wishing to find the perfect lens – an instrument of great magnifying power. Such a lens would permit me to see life in the smallest parts of its development. I was sure that a powerful lens like that could be built. And I spent my second year in New York trying to create it. I experimented with every kind of material. I tried simple glass, crystal and even precious stones. But I always found myself back where I started. My parents were angry at the lack of progress in my medical studies. I had not gone to one class since arriving in New York. Also, I had spent a lot of money on my experiments. One day, while I was working in my laboratory, Jules Simon knocked at my door. He lived in the apartment just above mine. I knew he loved jewelry, expensive clothing and good living. There was something mysterious about him, too. He always had something to sell: a painting, a rare stature, an expensive pair of lamps. I never understood why Simon did this. He didn’t seem to need the money.  He had many friends among the best families of New York. Simon was very excited as he came into my laboratory. “O my dear fellow!” he gasped.  “I have just seen the most amazing thing in the world!” He told me he had gone to visit a woman who had strange, magical powers. She could speak to the dead and read the minds of the living. To test her, Simon had written some questions about himself on a piece of paper. The woman, Madame Vulpes, had answered all of the questions correctly. Hearing about the woman gave me an idea. Perhaps she would be able to help me discover the secret of the perfect lens. Two days later, I went to her house. Madame Vulpes was an ugly woman with sharp, cruel eyes. She didn’t say a word to me when she opened the door, but took me right into her living room. We sat down at a large round table, and she spoke. “What do you want from me?” “I want to speak to a person who died many years before I was born.” “Put your hands on the table.” We sat there for several minutes. The room grew darker and darker. But Madame Vulpes did not turn on any lights. I began to feel a little silly. Then I felt a series of violent knocks. They shook the table, the back of my chair, the floor under my feet and even the windows. Madam Vulpes smiled. “They are very strong tonight. You are lucky. They want you to write down the name of the spirit you wish to talk to.” I tore a piece of paper out of my notebook and wrote down a name. I didn’t show it to Madame Vulpes. After a moment, Madame Vulpes’ hand began to shake so hard the table move. She said the spirit was now holding her hand and would write me a message. I gave her paper and a pencil. She wrote something and gave the paper to me. The message read: “I am here. Question me.” It was signed “Leeuwenhoek.” I couldn’t believe my eyes. The name was the same one I had written on my piece of paper. I was sure that an ignorant woman like Madame Vulpes would not know who Leeuwenhoek was. Why would she know the name of the man who invented the microscope? Quickly, I wrote a question on another piece of paper. “How can I create the perfect lens?” Leeuwenhoek wrote back: “Find a diamond of one hundred and forty carats. Give it a strong electrical charge. The electricity will change the diamond’s atoms. From that stone you can form the perfect lens.” I left Madame Vulpes’ house in a state of painful excitement. Where would I find a diamond that large? All my family’s money could not buy a diamond like that. And even if I had enough money, I knew that such diamonds are very difficult to find. When I came home, I saw a light in Simon’s window. I climbed the stairs to his apartment and went in without knocking. Simon’s back was toward me as he bent over a lamp.  He looked as if he were carefully studying a small object in his hands. As soon as he heard me enter, he put the object in his pocket. His face became red, and he seemed very nervous. “What are you looking at?” I asked. Simon didn’t answer me. Instead, he laughed nervously and told me to sit down. I couldn’t wait to tell him my news. “Simon, I have just come from Madame Vulpes. She gave me some important information that will help me find the perfect lens. If only I could find a diamond that weighs one hundred forty carats!” My words seemed to change Simon into a wild animal. He rushed to a small table and grabbed a long, thin knife. “No!” he shouted. “You won’t get my treasure! I’ll die before I give it to you!” “My dear Simon,” I said, “I don’t know what you are talking about. I went to Madame Vulpes to ask her for help with a scientific problem. She told me I needed an enormous diamond. You could not possible own a diamond that large. If you did, you would be very rich. And you wouldn’t be living here.” He stared at me for a second.  Then he laughed and apologized. “Simon,” I suggested, “let us drink some wine and forget all this. I have two bottles downstairs in my apartment. What do you think?” “I like your idea,” he said. I brought the wine to his apartment, and we began to drink. By the time we had finished the first bottle, Simon was very sleepy and very drunk. I felt as calm as ever…for I believed that I knew Simon’s secret. Download activities to help you understand this story here. Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. Have you ever discovered something you thought was more unusual than anything else in the world? What are some interesting scientific discoveries you like to read about? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   microscope – n. a device used to make very small things look larger so they can be studied lens - n. a clear curved piece of glass or plastic that is used to make things look clearer, smaller, or bigger magnify - v. to make (something) appear larger ignorant -  adj. lacking knowledge or information carat – n. a unit for measuring the weight of jewels (such as diamonds) that is equal to 200 milligrams​ enormous - adj. very great in size or amount

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English @ the Movies: 'What These Newcomers' Intentions Are'

This week's English @ the Movies phrase is from the movie "The Wild Life." This cartoon comedy about a man whose ship crashes on an island-- ruled by animals. The phrase is "what these newcomers' intentions are." What is an intention? Watch, and you will find out!

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Documentary Shows Importance of Asian Food in US

  Korean-American filmmaker Grace Lee grew up in Columbia, Missouri. There were not many other Asian families in the university town in the Midwestern part of the U.S. When she was a girl, her family tried to fit in with American culture. That culture included food. “We sort of kept our kimchi to ourselves in our basement refrigerator,” Lee says. Kimchi is a well-known Korean condiment made from fermented cabbage, radish, scallion or cucumber. But in the 1970s and 1980s when Lee was young, people in places like Columbia, Missouri would never have known what kimchi was. “We never exposed it to anybody,” Lee says. Over 30 years later, food culture in the U.S. has changed a lot. Kimchi is now found as a condiment on American foods like hamburgers. Lee wanted to examine the evolution of Asian food in America in her documentary Off the Menu. It came out in 2015. Lee’s work is now available on DVD and as part of the American Film Showcase. The program brings documentaries and independent films to audiences around the world. The showcase is part of a program supported by the U.S Department of State and produced by the University of Southern California. Audiences in countries like Armenia, Nepal and Vietnam see American films. Experts lead discussions about the films as a way to help people around the world better understand American culture. Lee traveled around the U.S. to make her movie about Asian food. She did not think tofu would be a very popular food in a state like Texas. She spoke with Texan Gary Chiu, the son of immigrants from Taiwan. He runs the oldest tofu factory in Texas. Chiu said he makes both tofu eggrolls, a traditional Asian food, and tofu tamales. Tamales are a traditional food from Mexico. Lee says Chiu’s business is an example of fusion: mixing the food culture of China, Mexico and Texas. Some people say food helps the healing process. Lee wanted to find out if that was true. In 2012, six members of a Sikh temple in the Midwest state of Wisconsin were killed. A man with a gun entered the temple and started shooting as people in the temple were getting ready for a meal called langar. Lee talked with people from that temple.  They told her they continued the tradition of langar even after the shooting. They said it helped heal the community. “You can’t pray, you can’t be in tune in with God, unless your belly is full,” one temple member said in the film. Off the Menu ends its 60-minute tour of the U.S. in Hawaii. One family still tries to practice the traditional Hawaiian large meal called a luau. Although much of the food consumed by Hawaiians is imported, Hi’ilei Kawelo says she and her family try to catch seafood just like their ancestors did. In the film, she tells Lee “when you eat it, you’re eating the essence of all the skills passed down from generation to generation.” The Center for Asian American Media, which helped pay for the film, also talked with Lee about her film. She said she hoped the documentary would help people learn more about what it means to be Asian-American. She wants viewers to learn about the people behind the food that has become a big part of life in the U.S. “To really do the topic justice, we’d probably need an ongoing series,” Lee said. I’m Dan Friedell. Heidi Chang wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. What do you think about Asian food in the U.S.? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________   Words in This Story basement – n. the part of a building that is entirely or partly below the ground condiment – n. something (such as salt, mustard, or ketchup) that is added to food to give it more flavor ferment – v. to preserve and change the flavor of a food through a chemical process sometimes used to convert sugar into alcohol evolution - n.  a process of slow change and development tofu – n. a soft, white food made from soybeans and often used in vegetarian cooking instead of meat essence – n. the basic nature of a thing : the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is tour –n. a trip to several different places, a journey through different parts of a country or area

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