Trump Making Immigration His Top Issue

  Donald Trump is making America’s immigration policy the top issue of his presidential campaign. At a speech on Wednesday, Trump said illegal immigrants are responsible for many violent crimes. And he said they represent a terrorism threat to the United States. Trump told a crowd in Arizona that illegal immigration is also an economic threat. He said it can cost Americans jobs or force them to work for lower wages. Trump, a New York businessman, is the Republican Party’s candidate for the presidency. The candidate of the Democratic Party is Hillary Clinton, a former secretary of state, senator and the wife of former President Bill Clinton. The U.S. presidential election is November 8. Some observers expected Trump to moderate some of the positions on immigration during the Arizona speech. But that did not happen. Trump called for a tripling of immigration agents to enforce immigration laws and remove illegal immigrants with criminal records. And he repeated his call for building a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. ‘They Don’t Know It Yet’ “We will build a great wall along the southern border,” Trump said. “And Mexico will pay for the wall. One hundred percent. They don’t know it yet, but they’re going to pay for it.” Hillary Clinton opposes a border wall. Clinton has said she will push a bill in Congress to give immigrants without legal documentation a path toward citizenship. Stephen Brooks is with the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron in Ohio. He said Trump continues to appeal to voters who worry that a long-time goal of many Americans is no longer possible for them and their families. That goal is to hand down a better life for their children. “Many believe that is out of reach and they blame -- whether fairly or not -- immigration and trade,” Brooks said. Many of these voters are white men, Brooks said. Many live in areas where factories that produced clothing, steel and other products are gone. So are the high-paying jobs those businesses provided. White, working-class voters helped Trump surprise the experts and defeat 16 other candidates for the Republican presidential nomination. Trump’s problem is that these voters may not be enough to win a general election, with an increasingly diverse group of voters, Brooks said. More Hispanic Voters In 2012, 71 percent of Hispanic voters chose President Barack Obama over his Republican opponent, Mitt Romney. A public opinion survey in July found that 82 percent of Hispanic voters have an unfavorable view of Trump. Jacob Monty is an immigration lawyer from Texas. He served on the National Hispanic Advisory Committee for Donald Trump. Monty resigned from the committee after the Arizona speech. He said the candidate’s immigration positions did not match what Trump told him and other committee members. “It’s a sad day because I am no fan of Hillary Clinton,” Monty told television broadcaster MSNBC. A record 27.3 million Hispanics have the legal right to vote, according to the Pew Research Center. Brooks said Trump is also having trouble with many white college graduates, especially women, who consider Trump’s message too divisive. Just hours before his speech, Trump traveled to Mexico City to meet with Mexican President (Enrique) Peña Nieto. The candidate used diplomatic language, saying a Trump administration would work together with Mexican leaders to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. When he first announced his candidacy in June 2015, Trump said Mexico was sending people “bringing drugs,” “bringing crime” and “rapists.” 'Spectacular, Spectacular Hard-Working Poeple' In Mexico City, Trump said Mexican-Americans are “spectacular, spectacular hard-working people.” David Damore teaches political science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He said it almost seemed as if there were “two Donald Trumps” speaking on Wednesday. For the Mexico trip, Damore said, it was Trump being civil and reaching out to an important U.S. ally. But in the Arizona speech, Trump sent a strong message to his supporters that he is not backing down from strong immigration policies and tough language, Damore said. Writer and political commentator Ann Coulter had expressed concern that Trump was no longer calling for tough policies against illegal immigration. But she praised him after the Arizona speech. “I hear (former British Prime Minister Winston) Churchill had a nice turn of phrase, but Trump's immigration speech is the most magnificent speech ever given,” she wrote on Twitter. But Damore and Brooks said the language Trump used in his Phoenix speech turns off many wealthy and well-educated white voters. I’m Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported this story for VOA 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   diverse -- adj. different from each other unfavorable -- adj. having a bad opinion of someone match -- v. to do the same thing spectacular -- adj. very great phrase -- n. a group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not usually form a complete sentence magnificent -- adv. very great

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Child Soldiers to Fight on Both Sides in Mosul Battle?

  Islamic State forces have often used images of child soldiers as a propaganda tool. One of the latest examples was a video released last week. It showed five children appearing to execute a group of Kurdish prisoners in Syria. The SITE Intelligence Group studies the official statements and online activities of extremists. The group identified the young boys as being British, Egyptian, Kurdish, Tunisian and Uzbek. The SITE website said the video was filmed in the city of Raqqa. IS propaganda machine Islamic State (IS) has produced many other propaganda videos. Some show children as young as four years old carrying out executions. The videos also showed students attending IS schools and boys receiving military training and shooting weapons. The exact number of children who have received training at Islamic State camps is not known. But the United States-based Combating Terrorism Center has estimated there are at least 1,500 active child soldiers fighting for IS. While the abuse of children by IS forces is well known, there are new concerns about other groups recruiting young soldiers. Militias also recruiting children Human Rights Watch said it recently found evidence that two Iraqi government-supported militias recruited children from a camp for displaced civilians. The group said the militias, in Iraq’s northern Kurdistan area, are made up of Sunni fighters. They're expected to play an important part in the upcoming fight to recapture the IS-held city of Mosul. The Iraqi leadership has predicted that government forces will retake Mosul by the end of the year. Bill Van Esveld is a children’s rights researcher for Human Rights Watch. He said witnesses and relatives told the group that the militias took at least seven children from a camp to an area near Mosul to prepare for the offensive. “We think that what we documented is a real warning sign, and that it needs to be addressed publicly and firmly. And there should be a zero tolerance policy for child recruitment by any militias.” Van Esveld said the concern is that child soldiers will be fighting against each other in the battle for Mosul. He added that unlike Islamic State, the militias did not force the children to join. But although they joined as volunteers, he said, all sides need to take steps not to accept fighters under age 18. Human Rights Watch was told by a member of the militias they were being paid directly by the Iraqi government, according to Van Esveld. He said Iraq and its allies have a responsibility to take steps to stop the recruitment and use of child soldiers.  Call for Iraqi government action  “There are simple steps that could be put in place to check people’s ages, make sure that they present identification documents that are genuine. So that, that really needs to happen, otherwise we're gonna have children fighting each other on the front lines.” Van Esveld said that some of the young volunteer recruits want to fight against IS forces because they were forced out of their homes by the militant group. He added that there has been a big push by militias in recent weeks to increase their numbers before the battle for Mosul. John Horgan is a professor at Georgia State University and an expert on terrorism and political violence. He said the number of child fighters has reached crisis levels. “We are looking at a level of [child] mobilization that is unprecedented and increasing,” he said. Horgan said that for years, Islamic State has aggressively recruited children to be soldiers and suicide bombers. He said those who escaped have described the horrors they had been though. “Some children were sexually assaulted as part of their training. Some were beaten by sticks. They slept on flea-ridden mattresses and were beaten and bullied if they faltered even for a second,” Horgan said. These young fighters and other children displaced or held captive by Islamic State will suffer from many physical and psychological problems for years, he added. Child crisis predicted after Mosul battle  Human Rights Watch’s Bill Van Esveld agrees. He said this will create “serious problems affecting a large number of children” once the battle for Mosul is over. “We can expect to see other kids with real psychological issues, mental health issues, coming out of prolonged periods of abuse and, and deprivation and military training and participation in battles.” Van Esveld said another problem will be that many surviving children will have no parents. Some were born as a result of rape. Others were taken away from families or their parents were killed. These children will be in great need of all kinds of physical and psychological support, as well as education.  “There’s a lot of serious heavy lifting to be done on this issue, and it hasn’t really started yet,” he said. I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn reported this story for VOA Learning English, with additional reporting from VOA correspondent Sharon Behn. Material also came from the Associated Press and Reuters. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. What are your thoughts on children being used as soldiers by governments and militant groups? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   recruit – v. to convince someone to join a cause or force zero tolerance – n. not to accept any level of a certain behavior genuine – adj. real, authentic, not fake unprecedented – adj. never having happened before falter – v. to make mistakes, be weak or not succeed deprivation – n. be denied access to something people need

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Islamic State Fighters Leaving Iraqi Communities in Ruins

  Islamic State (IS) fighters are being forced from cities and towns across Iraq and Syria. But as IS forces withdraw, they increasingly leave behind death and destruction. They have caused major damage to local economies and harmed the people they already terrorized. Recently, a VOA reporter visited the oil-rich town of Qayyarah, 60 kilometers south of the city of Mosul. IS forces controlled the town for more than two years -- until last week, when Iraqi forces captured it. The militants damaged the town's roads and other infrastructure before they left. They also damaged or destroyed many homes. Oil wells were set on fire. This caused major damage to the economy and the environment. Local reports said at least 10 oil fields were destroyed. Hussein Jasim lives in Qayyarah. He said Islamic State fighters destroyed the oil fields because they knew how important they were to the town’s economy. Iraqi military officials said the town’s military base was also destroyed. Colonel Karim Radwan is an Iraqi military officer who led the attack against the IS forces. He said “the base is not usable now. IS bombed the infrastructure of the base.” The airbase at Qayyarah was important for the Iraqi air force before it was captured by IS in June, 2014. The United States military used the base for several years after U.S. and allied troops entered Iraq in 2003. Radwan said it will take a lot of time and money before the airfield can be used again. People in the town said they paid IS fighters a lot of money, and suffered mentally from the town’s occupation. Jasim said, “We either had to pay them or get slaughtered.” Because of the destruction, many people say they will not return to the town for a long time. Many people who lived there fled to the Kurdish area of Iraq or other nearby areas that were still under government control. Wahid Khalaf said he fled with his family “as the [Iraqi] forces were liberating [Qayyarah].” He told VOA he and his children walked for seven hours to reach safe areas, “taking many dangerous routes.” Another resident -- who did not want to be named -- said thousands of families were affected by the terrorists when they controlled the town. “These families have no homes or anything. They have nowhere to go,” he said, watching people crowded in a truck, fleeing the town. Experts say IS seeks to cause damage and suffering that lasts long after they have left a town. “This is exactly what IS wants,” said Hamid Majeed, a political observer. “They want to show people that their lives would be even more miserable after [IS] no longer controls their territories.” I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   Kawa Omar reported this story from Iraq for VOANews.com. VOA’s Sirwan Kajjo provided additional information from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   destruction – n. the act or process of damaging something so badly that it no longer exists or cannot be repaired; the act or process of destroying something infrastructure – n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region or organization to function properly route – n. a way that someone or something regularly travels along resident – n. someone who lives in a particular place slaughter - v. to kill an animal for food; to kill many people in a violent way miserable - adj. very unhappy; very severe or unpleasant

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Unkind Words Hurt the Brain

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. There is a popular saying in the English language: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” Well, that is not true. Unkind words, name-calling or even the so-called “the silent treatment” can hurt children as much as being physically hit, sometimes even more so. A recent study of middle school children showed that verbal abuse by other children can harm development in the brain. The study was a project of researchers at Harvard Medical School in Massachusetts. Researcher Martin Teicher and his team studied young adults, ages 18 to 25. These young men and women had no experience with domestic violence, sexual abuse or physical abuse by their parents. The researchers asked the young people to rate their childhood exposure to verbal abuse from both parents and other children. Then the researchers performed imaging tests on the brains of the subjects. The images showed that the individuals who reported suffering verbal abuse from their peers in middle school had underdeveloped connections between the left and right side of the brain. The two sides of the brain are connected by a large bundle of connecting fibers called the corpus callosum. This was the area that was underdeveloped. The middle school years are a time when these brain connections are developing. So, unkind, hurtful comments from children or adults during this period had the greatest effect. The researchers tested the mental and emotional condition of all the young people in the study. The tests showed that this same group of individuals had higher levels of fear, depression, anger and drug abuse than others in the study. The researchers published their findings online on the American Journal of Psychiatry’s website. We cannot control what other people say to our children. But we can prepare them. A website called CreativeWithKids.com suggests 64 things that all children need to hear. Here, are our top 20. I am curious what you think. You are creative. I believe in you. You can ask for help. You make me smile I have faith in you. You are imperfect. So am I. You are a good friend. I will do my best to keep you safe. Trust your instincts. My world is better with you in it. I love you. It’s fun to do things with you. You are valuable. Your choices matter. You can change your mind. You make a difference. I’m ready to listen. You can learn from your mistakes. I’m proud of you. Share one or more of these statements with a child in your life. Actually, maybe we all need to hear some of these statements. Choose another and say it to an adult you care about. I’m Anna Matteo. Anna Matteo wrote this for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   peer – n. a person who belongs to the same age group or social group as someone else curious – adj. having a desire to learn or know more about something or someone creative – adj. having or showing an ability to make new things or think of new ideas faith – n. strong belief or trust in someone or something instinct – n.  something you know without learning it or thinking about it : a natural ability valuable – adj. very useful or helpful proud – adj. having a feeling of pleasure or satisfaction especially with a person's own achievements or with someone else's achievements

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Water Pollution Puts Over 300 Million at Risk

More than 300 million people in Africa, Asia and Latin America are at risk of life-threatening diseases such as cholera and typhoid. The reason: Pollution of water in rivers and lakes. These are findings in a report from the United Nations Environment Program, also known as UNEP. Viruses, bacteria and other microscopic organisms increased pollution in more than half of rivers across the three areas between 1990 and 2010, the report said. UNEP officials said long-lasting toxic pollutants like fertilizer or petrol increased during that period. Levels of salt rose in nearly one-third of the waterways. The report listed population growth and expanding agriculture as two of the main reasons for the increase of surface water pollution. Another reason was an increased amount of untreated water containing waste products. In all, UNEP said, 323 million people were at risk of infection. Dietrich Borchardt, the lead writer of the report, spoke to the Thomas Reuters Foundation. "The water quality problem at a global scale and the number of people affected by bad water quality are much more severe than we expected," he said. But a large number of the rivers in the affected areas are still in good condition and need to be protected, Borchardt noted. Disease-causing pollution was a problem in almost 25 percent of rivers in Latin America, the UNEP report said. Between 10 and 25 percent of the rivers in Africa were affected, as were up to 50 percent in Asia. Untreated sewage was the main cause of this, it said. The report added that nearly 3.4 million people die each year from diseases or conditions like cholera, typhoid, polio and diarrhea. These are related to water quality. UN officials believe as many as 164 million people in Africa are at risk of infection from the diseases. They said that 134 million people in Asia and 25 million in Latin America also are at risk. The report said building more sewage systems was not enough to solve the problems of infection and deaths. It said the solution was for countries to treat their wastewater. Organic pollution, such as sewage, can cause water to lose all oxygen. One of every seven kilometers of river in Latin America, Asia and Africa has no oxygen. This threatens freshwater fisheries, the report said. Mines, homes and irrigation systems often release salty water in rivers and lakes, creating high salt levels there. Moderate to high salt levels affect one in three rivers across three continents, the report said. Dietrich Borchardt called the increasing levels of water pollution over time “critical.” "It [costs] much more [money] to clean up surface water from severe pollution than to [start effective] management, which includes prevention of pollution," he said. "Tools are available but the [problem] is [getting people to use] them." I’m Pete Musto.   Magdalena Mis reported on this story for the Reuters news service. Pete Musto adapted her story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. How does your country deal with water pollution? Are there risks from other types of pollution in your country? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story toxic – adj. containing substances sickness or death by entering or touching the body petrol – n. a liquid made from petroleum and used especially as a fuel for engines sewage – n. waste material that is carried away from homes and other buildings in a system of pipes irrigation – n. the supply of water used on something, such as land, by using pipes or other man-made equipment

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Drug Treats Memory Problems in Mice

  A surprising discovery has been made in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, the brain disease that causes memory loss and other problems. A drug used to treat women’s menstrual pain made memory problems disappear in laboratory animals with Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers gave the medicine -- mefenamic acid -- to mice with Alzheimer’s disease. The scientists say treatment reversed the animals’ memory-loss problems. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease. It worsens over time. It affects many parts of people’s lives, including the ability to remember, think and make decisions. The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications. David Brough of Britain’s University of Manchester led the research. This is how the experiment worked: The scientists did experiments with mice that were engineered to develop Alzheimer’s symptoms. Like humans who get the disease, the laboratory mice developed memory problems over time. Ten of the Alzheimer’s mice were treated with mefenamic acid for one month. The drug was contained in very small pump devices placed under their skin. Ten other mice, also with memory problems, had devices placed under their skin too, but theirs did not contain medicine. Then the animals were placed in a maze -- a complex group of connected paths. They had to learn how to move around the maze without problems. Mike Daniels was a researcher on the study. In a Skype interview he said the mice who received the drug learned the maze easily. That was not true for the mice who did not get the medicine. “We tried to train the mice once they had Alzheimer’s Disease, and the Alzheimer’s mice are un-trainable. They cannot learn that maze.” Amazing results The researchers were excited by the results with the drug-treated mice. “What was just amazing is, is that this drug seemed to, seemed to render the mice completely normal. It is something we have not really seen before, but there needs to be a lot more work done to really confirm whether this is, whether this is real.” How does this drug work? Daniels says brain imaging shows a lot of harmful inflammation in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Inflammation is a condition in which parts of your body swells, warms and often hurts. Researchers believe mefenamic acid reduces that brain inflammation. But other drugs -- like ibuprofen -- which are also used to stop inflammation, did not help. Jack Rivers-Auty is the study’s co-author. He says it is difficult to say whether mefenamic acid would work at all stages, or levels, of Alzheimer’s. The stages change from mild thinking and memory problems to the inability to communicate in any way. He says if researchers move forward with human testing “we would definitely want to put it into people at the early stages of the disease.” That way, researchers could try to slow the progress, or even stop the progress, of the disease. The researchers say the drug is already approved by the U.S. government and is known to be safe. So, after more testing, mefenamic acid may be available quickly to treat Alzheimer’s patients. Different drug shows promise in humans In another recent study, researchers testing a drug on humans found it slowed the progress of Alzheimer's Disease. People were given aducanumab, a drug that fights substances that build up in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients. The substances are called amyloids. They are sticky proteins that group together in the brain. Together, they form what are called amyloid plaques, and are thought to be a cause of Alzheimer’s. The researchers reported that in the brains of those given the treatment, there was an “almost complete clearance” of the amyloid plaques, according to the AFP news agency. But researchers said that while the results are exciting, it is too early to know if this is an effective treatment for the disease. More tests are planned. The study results were published in the journal Nature. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of a group of brain diseases causing memory loss that are collectively called "dementia."  The World Health Organization says more than 47 million people worldwide are affected by dementia. Nearly eight million new cases are diagnosed each year. I’m Anne Ball.   Jessica Berman reported this story for VOANews.com. Anne Ball adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. And find us on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   menstrual – adj. of or relating to menstruation or relating to the flow of blood that comes from a woman's body each month reverse – adj. opposite of what is usual amazing – adj. causing great surprise or wonder render – v. to cause someone to be in a specific condition inflammation – n. a condition in which a part of your body becomes red, swollen, and painful stage – n. a particular point or period in the growth or development of something amyloid plaques – n. sticky substance that builds up outside nerve cells in the brain and damage it

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Lesson 27: I Can't Come In

Summary Anna does not feel well. She calls her boss and her doctor. What do they tell her to do? And will she follow their advice? Speaking Learn to pronounce the new words for this lesson. You also learn about irregular past tense verbs.​ ​ Pronunciation Use this video to learn about how to ask two kinds of questions: WH-questions and Yes/No questions. Conversation   Anna: Hello! I am sure that today, in Washington, D.C,. there are a lot of great things to do.  But I am not doing any of them. I am sick. Right now, I'm going to call my boss and tell her I cannot come in to work. Caty: Hello? Anna: Ms. Weaver, Hi. I can’t come to work today. Caty: Why not? What is wrong? Anna: Well, yesterday I felt fine. Anna: In the morning, I painted for hours. In the afternoon, I cut wood. Then, I built a fire. Caty: Anna, what do you mean? Why can’t you come to work today? Anna: I do not feel well. I think I’m sick. Caty: I’m sorry to hear that. I was sick last week, too. I had the flu. Anna: (sneezes) What did you do? Caty: I slept a lot and I drank a lot of water. Do you have a doctor? Anna: Yes, I do. Caty: You should call your doctor. And get lots of rest! Anna: Thanks, Ms. Weaver. I’ll call right now. I'm calling my doctor. Dr. Bennett: (to herself) Now, where does this thing go? Dr. Bennett: Hello. This is Dr. Bennett. How can I help you? Anna: Hello, Dr. Bennett. This is Anna. Dr. Bennett: Oh, Hi, Anna. How can I help you? Anna: I think I’m sick. Dr. Bennett: Let me ask you a couple of questions. Do you have a sore throat? Anna: Yes. I have a sore throat. Dr. Bennett: Do you have a cough? Anna: Yes. I have a cough. Dr. Bennett: When did you start feeling sick? Anna: This morning. Yesterday I felt great. In the morning I painted, for hours - in the afternoon I cut wood - Dr. Bennett: Excuse me, Anna. But I don’t need to know all that. Do you have a fever? Anna: Oh. My thermometer says 125 degrees?! What?? Dr. Bennett: Yeah, that’s not right. Anna: Oh. Wait. The thermometer was in my hot cup of coffee. Dr. Bennett: Please take it again, Anna. Anna: Okay, the thermometer says 100.5 degrees. Dr. Bennett: 100.5 degrees is not too high. I want you to drink lots of water. Rest in bed and get lots of sleep. Anna: That is what my boss said to do. Um, Dr. Bennett, when can I go to work? Dr. Bennett: Don’t go to work for a couple of days. Anna: Yes! I mean, I don’t want to make my co-workers sick. Dr. Bennett: That’s right. Call me back in a couple of days. Anna: I will, Dr. Bennett. And thanks. Anna: Well, you heard the doctor – no work for a couple of days. I need water, sleep and um … lots of movies! Well, the doctor didn’t say anything about movies. But it can’t hurt! Until next time! Writing What happens when you get the flu? Does your family have a special way to get well again?  Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about health problems with a friend. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Analyze Information. When we are learning a second language, we can think carefully about the new information we learn, and make a decision. That is what analyzing information means. In the video, Dr. Bennett asks Anna many questions. Then she analyzes the information she learned. She tells Anna to stay home, drink water and sleep.  Can you find another time in the video when someone analyzes information? Write to tell us about it in an email or in the Comments section. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more on how to teach this strategy. Quiz ​Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz.  ______________________________________________________________ New Words cough - n. the act of forcing air through your throat with a short, loud noise often because you are sick doctor - n. a person who is skilled in the science of medicine fever - n. a body temperature that is higher than normal fire - n. the light and heat and especially the flame produced by burning flu - n. a common disease that is caused by a virus and that causes fever, weakness, body aches, and breathing problems; also called influenza rest -v. to stop doing work or an activity sick - adj. affected with a disease or illness; ill sneeze - v. to suddenly force air out through your nose and mouth with a usually loud noise because your body is reacting to dust or a sickness sore - feeling or affected by pain thermometer - n. an instrument used for measuring temperature throat - n. the tube inside the neck that leads to the stomach and lungs wood - n. the hard substance that makes up the stems and branches of trees and shrubs Past Tense Verbs cut / cut - v. to use a sharp tool (such as a knife) to open or divide (something, such as paper or wood) do / did - v. to perform an action or activity drink / drank - v. to take a liquid into your mouth and swallow it feel / felt - v. used to describe someone's physical or mental state hear / heard - v. to be aware of (sound) through the ear hurt / hurt - v. to be a source or cause of pain paint / painted - v. to cover (something) with paint or to put paint on (something) say / said - v. to use your voice to express (something) with words sleep / slept- v. to rest your mind and body by closing your eyes and becoming unconscious ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice talking about health problems.   For Teachers ​ See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: Irregular past tense verbs Topics: Asking about health problems; giving advice for health problems Learning Strategy: Analyze Information Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Wh-questions and Yes/No question intonation; Groups of verbs with irregular past tense forms ______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

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Humans Increasingly Losing Jobs to Robots

  Driverless vehicles could threaten the jobs of millions of Americans who drive trucks and taxis. Some experts believe driverless trucks will be deployed throughout the United States soon. Others believe it will not happen for years. In Australia and other countries, driverless trucks move large loads of dirt and ore in mines. The trucks can operate in the mines because there are few other vehicles there. But it will be more difficult for vehicles to operate on roads where there are many other vehicles. Ted Scott is the head of engineering at the American Trucking Association. He says it will be years before rules are written, testing is completed and other drivers accept driverless vehicles. The carmaker Volvo and the ride-sharing company Uber have announced a plan to test self-driving cars in the eastern city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Ford Motor Company recently announced it would work with a Chinese company to research self-driving vehicle technology. Carmaker Audi and other companies are testing robot drivers in more complex environments. These include mountain roads in the United States and in large American cities. Chan Leiu is a former official at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. He says these tests may help speed up the deployment of driverless vehicles. Leiu says self-driving vehicles may help save lives. He says 94 percent of vehicle crashes are caused by human mistakes. These include driving while tired, writing on a digital device or after drinking too much alcohol. Tim Carone is a professor at Notre Dame University. He says tens of thousands of lives could be saved if self-driving vehicles are deployed. Rogelio Rada has been driving a truck for 16 years. He believes it will be a long time before robots take his job. Barry Waters is also a truck driver. He believes robots will not be driving trucks for 20 or 30 years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says more than 1.7 million people worked in the trucking industry in 2014.  Many people are concerned about the effect of driverless cars on employment because manufacturing in the United States has been decreasing for years. The car manufacturing industry is no exception. American carmakers sold a record number of vehicles in 2015, but had far fewer workers than ever. Carmakers now use robots to weld, paint and perform other tasks, often better than humans. That is bad news for millions of workers like Holly Stover. She worked in steel mills for many years. “Well I hope to end up working a good, a decent job, making a decent living.” Stover is working with an employment counselor to explore new kinds of work. She is also considering going back to school to learn new skills. Anthony Carnavale is a workforce expert at Georgetown University. He says an increase in industrial robots means fewer humans will have high-paying manufacturing jobs. “Probably 75 percent of the job loss is technology-based, which is to say robots -- machines in general -- are substituting for people.”   Does the new technology offer new opportunities? Chris Lu is the Deputy Secretary at the United States Department of Labor. He says the changing economy is creating new opportunities for workers if they have the skills. Some employers in the United States complain that they cannot find enough workers who have the ability to operate advanced machines or program computers. “We’ve also in this country had a remarkable transition to a service economy and really wonderful high-paying jobs in IT, for instance. Those are industries that didn’t exist 20 or 30 years ago.” Greg Pitoniak is the head of the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance. He says his organization closely records the skills employers need and helps displaced workers meet those demands. “Many job seekers look at it as ‘I can’t afford to go to school for a couple of years and not have an income,’” he says. He explains that employers are seeking workers they can train for high-paying jobs like electrician, plumber, carpenter, millwright and pipefitter.   Pitoniak says the American education system does not do enough to prepare some students for technical jobs. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise. VOA News reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Are robots displacing workers in your country? ​We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   weld – v. to join pieces of metal together by heating the edges until they begin to melt and then pressing them together counselor – n. a person who provides advice as a job; a person who counsels people transition – n. a change from one state or condition to another

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Everyday Grammar: May, Might, and Must

This video is based on an article in the Everyday Grammar series: http://ift.tt/1WPhQoH

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Visiting Sacred Grounds in National Park Monuments

  The year 2016 is the 100th anniversary of the U.S. National Park Service. Adventurer and traveler Mikah Meyer is celebrating in a big way. He is traveling all across America. He plans to visit each of the more than 400 National Park Service sites. Meyer is 30 years old. If he reaches his goal, he will become the youngest person to visit all of the sites within the National Park Service. He will also be the only person to ever do so in one trip. He started his journey in Washington, DC, in June. Since then, he has visited more than 30 sites. The Voice of America has been following Meyer on the road. His photos and blog provide audiences with a virtual view of some of the most beautiful places within the park system. Meyer recently traveled around the northern U.S. states. During his travels, he visited two park service sites that Native Americans considered sacred. Pipestone National Monument The Pipestone National Monument is in southwestern Minnesota. It was created in recognition of the red pipestone found in the area. The special stone is the main reason the place has been sacred to Native Americans for several hundred years. They used the stone to make pipes for prayer services. During his visit, Meyer said he watched a park staff member making pipes at the park’s gift shop. The staff let Meyer use some tools to work with the stone himself. “It was fun to be able to use it with your own hands,” Meyer said.   Effigy Mounds National Monument​ Another place that holds special meaning for Native Americans is a national monument in the state of Iowa. It is connected with the culture known today as the Effigy Moundbuilders. Here in Iowa, there are more than 200 small hills, or mounds, of earth. They are in the shapes of birds, bears, deer, bison, turtles, and panthers. They sit in one of the most scenic parts of the Upper Mississippi River Valley. They are part of the Effigy Mounds National Monument. The exact purpose of the mounds remains unclear. But Native Americans say ancestral stories describe the mounds as ceremonial and sacred sites. Archaeologists believe the effigy mounds may have marked hunting and gathering territories. Meyer said he was happy to spend the week of the National Park Service’s official 100th birthday in places “that don't always get as much attention as other places within the park system.” I’m Ashley Thompson. Julie Taboh reported this story from Washington, DC. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. To follow Mikah Meyer and learn more about the places he visits go to his website or Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   journey - n. an act of traveling from one place to another virtual - adj. existing or occurring on computers or on the Internet mounds - n. a small hill or pile of dirt or stones​ archaeologist - n. a scientist who deals with past human life and activities by studying the bones, tools, etc., of ancient people​

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Most Victims of Terrorist Attacks Are Muslim

  Muslim militants tried to create areas governed by Islamic law long before the Islamic State group began its campaign in the Middle East. Some groups supported attacks on governments that they did not believe were enforcing Islamic law. Others believed they should work to weaken Western countries -- especially the United States. In the 1990s the terrorist group al-Qaida won the debate. It supported attacks on the United States, including those that took place on September 11, 2001.  But al-Qaida’s power has lessened in recent years. Terror groups have formed that are working to weaken government in the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa. These groups include the Islamic State, which has supported attacks on neighboring countries -- including those led by Muslims. The result is that most of the victims of terrorist attacks by Muslims over the past 15 years have been other Muslims. Recently, a 14-year-old Islamic State suicide bomber attacked a Kurdish wedding in southeastern Turkey. More than 50 people were killed. Richard Bulliet is a retired professor of history at Columbia University. He says most non-Muslims should not be worried about terrorism. “I understand why the media cover terrorism in the West so closely, and I understand why people who follow these events become so frightened, but, objectively speaking, the threat of terrorism is not very great.” Between 2001 and 2015, there were 167,221 victims of terrorism. About 98 percent of them took place outside the United States and Western Europe, according to the University of Maryland Global Terrorism Database. The database is supported by the United States government. It is the largest public collection of information about terrorist attacks in the world. The database does not record the religious belief of victims. However, it has gathered information about attacks in 25 Muslim-majority countries from Iraq to Malaysia. The information shows that 75 percent of all deaths from terrorist attacks from 2001 to 2015 took place in those countries. During that time, there were 3,689 deaths in the United States and Western Europe from terrorist attacks. This includes 2,977 from the September 11, 2001 attacks. That is 2.2 percent of all terrorism-related deaths during that time.   Not all victims of terrorism in Muslim-majority countries are Muslims. Victims have included Christians, Yazidis and other minorities. There also have been many non-Christians among the victims of terrorist attacks in the United States and Western Europe.  Michael Jensen is the data collection manager for the Global Terrorism Database. He says it is safe to assume that the majority of victims of terrorist attacks in Muslim countries are Muslims. Driven by more than religion Information in the database shows some countries have many victims while others have very few. More than 50,000 have been killed in Iraq. But only six people have been killed in Malaysia in terrorist attacks in the past 15 years.   The reason for many of the attacks is not clear. Jensen says the large number of victims in Muslim countries compared to those in non-Muslim countries suggests that the reason is not limited to religion. “It has to be something else,” he says. Researchers at the Institute for Economics and Peace have looked for patterns in the Global Terrorism Database. They have found two things common to countries where there is terrorism. Their research shows that 92 percent of all terrorist attacks in the past 25 years have taken place in countries with state-sponsored political violence. And 88 percent of attacks have taken place in places where violent conflicts are happening.  In most Muslim-majority countries with a high level of terrorist activity, one or both of these problems are present. Iraq may be the strongest example of a country with a long history of state-sponsored violence and political conflict. Since the 1990s terrorists have sought to oust governments in the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa. Jensen said that in Muslim-majority countries, militants often attack citizens and property, security forces and government and diplomatic officials and institutions. “I think in a majority of cases where Muslims are victims of terrorism, they’re largely targeted not because they’re Muslim but because they’re police officers or soldiers or happen to be in a public place,” Jensen said. He said disputes between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims is a major source of conflict. About 10 percent of the 1.7 billion Muslims in the world are Shia. Professor Bulliet says Shia are being attacked by Sunni extremists from Iraq to Pakistan because they are considered a heretical minority. Bulliet says the conflict is part of a struggle for power in majority-Sunni societies. He says those societies have still not decided what power will be held by political and religious officials. He adds that it is still not clear in those societies what the relationship is between religion and the modern world. He says these questions have been unanswered for many years.   Correspondent Masood Farivar reported this story from Washington. It was adapted for Learning English by Christopher Jones-Cruise. Mario Ritter 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   assume - v. to think that something is true or probably true without knowing that it is true pattern - n. a repeated form or design especially that is used to decorate something state-sponsored - adj. paid for by the government institution - n. an established organization heretical - adj. someone who believes or teaches something that goes against accepted or official beliefs

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