Lesson 31: Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Summary Anna wants to go to see a baseball game. The question is: what is the fastest way for her to get there? Her friends Jonathan and Ashley give her advice. Speaking In this video, learn to say the new words for this lesson. You can also learn about ​comparative adjectives like "faster," and superlative adjectives like "fastest." Pronunciation Use this video to learn about pronouncing "than" in sentences with comparative adjectives. Conversation   Anna: Hi, there, sports fans! Baseball is America’s sport. Today, I am going to Nationals Park. It is home to Washington, D.C.’s baseball team -- the Washington Nationals! Anna: Hi, Jonathan! Jonathan: Hi, Anna! Where are you going? Anna: I am taking a bus to a Nationals baseball game! Jonathan: Don’t take the bus. A taxi is faster than a bus. Anna: Oh, good idea. You know I love baseball. Jonathan: That’s great. Have fun. Anna: In fact, I wanted to be a baseball player. Jonathan: Is this one of your memories? I’m really busy. Anna: This won’t take long. I can see it now... I am at home plate. I wait for the pitch. The ball comes. I swing. It’s a hit! I run to first base, second base, third base, then home plate. It’s a home run! The crowd cheers! Woo hoo! Jonathan: You really love baseball. Have fun at the game, Anna. Anna: Thanks, Jonathan.Taxi! Ashley: Hi, Anna. Where are you going? Anna: Hi, Ashley. I am going to see a Nationals baseball game! Ashley: What time is the game? Anna: 7 o’clock. Ashley: Do you have a ticket? Anna: No, not yet. Ashley: Anna, you should go a lot earlier than 7 o’clock. Anna: That is why I’m taking a taxi. Taxi! Ashley: Anna, Anna, that’s not a good idea. A bicycle is faster than a taxi. Anna: Oh, Ashley. Ashley, Ashley, Ashley. A car is faster than your bicycle. Ashley: In D.C. traffic sometimes a bicycle is faster than a car. And right now, there is a lot of traffic. Anna: Good point. But I don’t have a bicycle. Ashley: Okay, Anna, you can use my bicycle. Anna: Thanks! I really want to learn how to ride one. Ashley: What do you mean, learn how to ride a bike? Oh, Anna! Anna, Anna! Ashley: You know, Anna, the Metro is faster than a taxi and a bicycle. You ought to take the Metro. It’s that way. Anna: Good idea. Ashley: OK. Anna: See you later! Ashley: Bye, Anna! Anna: Bye! Anna: The Metro was a lot faster than a bus, taxi or bike. And now I’m at Nationals Park! Look at all these fans! So many people like to watch baseball. There’s the ticket window. What? The tickets are sold out? Nooooooo!Nooooooo! But I really want to watch a baseball game. Does anyone have an extra ticket? Fan: Next time, you should buy your ticket online. Anna: Thanks. Thanks a lot. It is good advice. Being early is better than being late. Until next time … Writing Do you like to watch sports? Where do you watch them? Write to tell us about a game you saw. Try to use some of the words from this lesson, like ticket, crowd, fans, and cheer.  Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice using comparative and superlative adjectives 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 Visualize. Visualize means creating an image in your mind. When learning a new language, we can visualize to help us understand what we are learning. In this week's video, Anna visualizes playing a baseball game. You can also say she imagines playing the game. Jonathan listens and makes an image in his own mind. He understands that Anna loves baseball. He says, "You really love baseball. Have fun at the game, Anna." Do you ever visualize when listening to or reading English? Write to us about it in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan  for more details on teaching this strategy. Quiz Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz. ​______________________________________________________________ New Words base - n. any one of the four places a runner must touch in order to score in baseball baseball - n. a game played on a large field by two teams of nine players who try to score runs by hitting a small ball with a long rounded stick and then running to each of the four places a runner must touch in order to score without being put out better - adj. more attractive, appealing, effective or useful bicycle/bike - n. a 2-wheeled vehicle that a person rides by pushing on foot pedals cheer(s) - v. to shout with joy, approval, or enthusiasm crowd - n. a large group of people who are together in one place earlier -adv. before the usual or expected time extra - adj. more than is usual or necessary fan(s) - n. a person who likes and admires someone, such as a famous person, or something, such as a sport or a sports team, in a very enthusiastic way faster - adv. with great speed hit - v. to cause a ball to move by hitting it forcefully with a bat in baseball; hit - n. when a baseball player is able to successfully swing the bat and connect it with the ball home plate - n. the base that a runner must touch in order to score in baseball home run - n. a hit that allows the batter to go around all the bases and score a run in baseball Nationals Park - n. a baseball park located in Washington, D.C. that is the home ballpark for the Washington Nationals baseball team online - n. done over the Internet pitch - v. to throw a ball to the player who is trying to hit the ball in baseball swing - v. to move your arms while holding the long rounded stick that is used to hit the ball in baseball with a quick, curving motion team - n. a group of people who compete in a sport or game against another group than - conj. used to introduce the second or last of two or more things or people that are being compared — used with the comparative form of an adjective or adverb ticket - n. a piece of paper that allows you to see a show, participate in an event, travel on a vehicle window - n. an opening in a wall or door that usually contains a sheet of glass ______________________________________________________________ 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 using comparative adjectives and learn more about baseball. 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:   Comparatives: faster, earlier Topics:  Making comparisons; Asking for & giving advice Learning Strategy: Visualize Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Using comparative and superlative adjectives; Pronouncing reduced "than" in comparative sentences ______________________________________________________________ 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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Hats Off to You!

  Hello and welcome to Words and Their Stories from the Voice of America! This program helps you understand common expressions in the English language. You know, we tailor this show for people interested in learning English. Words and Their Stories is tailored to fit people like you! Now, let’s say you are a regular listener to the show and you want to learn the meaning of the saying to be cut from the same cloth. So, you write to us requesting more information. Then I write a show about that expression. You could say that program is tailor-made just for you. A tailor makes men’s clothing. When a tailor goes to work, he or she first takes measurements. The tailor then makes clothing for just that individual, not a group of people. We call that kind of clothing tailor-made. They are not mass-produced or sold in stores. The term tailor-made can also be used in other ways. If you are a student and find a class that seems perfect for you, you could say that class is tailor-made for you. But now, let’s get back to our earlier expression -- to be cut from the same cloth. When making a business suit, a tailor cuts the coat and pant legs from the same piece of cloth. This way, the color and quality of the material match. The same can be said about people. If two people are cut from the same cloth, they are very similar. Let’s say Felix and Catherine design video games. The two young designers both want to design good games that help children. They also have the same sense of humor. They have a lot in common. So, you could say they are cut from the same cloth. They are also good friends. So, if Catherine was in need, Felix would give her the shirt off his back. If someone is kind to others and helps those in need, we say that person would give you the shirt off their back. The saying to roll up one’s sleeves, however, is not the same as taking off your shirt. It means the person rolling up the shirt sleeves is preparing for some really hard work. Now, we praise people who roll up their sleeves and who give you the shirt off their back. We take our hats off to these people. This means you look up to them and approve of their behavior. Another way of saying this is to tip your hat.  In the past, a man would take off his hat to show respect. These days, some men have lost that simple act of civility or they just don’t wear hats. But the expression lives on. I, for example, take my hat off to anyone who helps children. But personally, I don’t tip my hat to anyone who rides someone’s coattails. To ride someone’s coattails is to use your ties to someone else to become successful. Long coattails are no longer common on modern-day clothing. Yet the expression is still used today. And saying "you are riding someone else's coattails" is never a good thing. But now, let’s go back to our video game designers, Catherine and Felix. What if Felix designed a game, and it became really successful. His career takes off and he becomes famous in the gaming industry. Yet Catherine’s career is far from a success. Her games aren’t selling. So, she uses her ties to Felix to get more work. People who know them both say she is riding Felix’s coattails. But Felix doesn’t care. He likes Catherine. And he knows she is using his success to further her career. Anyway, there is more to the story. Felix knows Catherine better than most people. He thinks they have sized her up all wrong. To size up someone, or size someone up, means to examine them carefully and then make a decision about them. Felix knows that Catherine is really good at creating video games. She has the interest and necessary skills. She just needs a break. But let’s say Catherine is still unhappy. She goes to a career counselor for advice on how to launch a successful career. He tells her there isn’t a one size fits all answer to that question. One size fits all clothing does just that: anyone can wear it. In real life, there is rarely a one size fits all solution to a problem. And that is how we usually use this expression. After talking to the counselor, Catherine decides to start looking for a different job -- one that uses her game designer experience. She wants to keep quiet about her decision. She only tells her good friend, Felix. He promises to keep her plans under his hat. When you keep something under your hat, you don’t share it with others. It’s a secret. This is different from keeping something up your sleeve. Keeping something up your sleeve means that you are trying to fool someone. This expression comes from the world of magic. Some magicians might hide a card up their shirt sleeves to trick the people watching. Catherine isn’t hiding anything in her clothing. She just wants to keep her plans private. But she is on pins and needles for months, hoping for a job offer. Tailors often use pins and needles when making clothes. Most pins and needles are made of metal -- and they are sharp! They would hurt if you sat on them. So, if you are on pins and needles, you are waiting for something to happen. Catherine’s wait pays off! She gets a job designing interactive websites for schools. This career fits her like a glove. A glove that fits well is comfortable. We use this expression when something seems agreeable or when two things are a good match. Catherine and Felix celebrate her good news. These two friends are a good match, too! And that brings us to the end of this Words and Their Stories. If you have a friend who would like to learn English, tell them to try us on for size! They may find we fit them like a glove. And don’t be on pins and needles waiting for the next episode. That will happen next week!  I’m Anna Matteo.   Anna Matteo wrote this for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.   The end song is Joe Cocker singing “You Can Leave Your Hat On.” ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   match – n. a person or thing equal or similar to another counselor – n. a person who gives advice takes off – informal phrasal verb : to spring into wide use or popularity secret – n. kept hidden from others : known to only a few people comfortable – adj. allowing you to be relaxed : causing no worries, difficulty, or uncertainty magic – n. tricks that seem to be impossible and that are done by a performer to entertain people magician – n. a performer who does tricks that seem to be impossible private – adj. not known publicly or carried on in public; especially :  intended only for the persons involved pay off – informal phrasal verb : (of a course of action) yield good results; succeed. interactive – adj. designed to respond to the actions, commands, etc., of a user    

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Ocean 'Blob' Caused Dangerous Algae Bloom

    Tiny water plants called phytoplankton serve as food for many sea creatures, including whales, shrimp, jellyfish and snails. Phytoplankton do well in cold water. But if water temperatures rise by only two degrees Celsius, the phytoplankton struggle. That is what happened in the last three or four years in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean. Researchers say an unusual area of warm water spread throughout the Northern Pacific. Scientists called the warm water “the blob,” as if it were a character in an old science fiction movie. At its largest, the blob stretched 1,600 square kilometers and reached depths of 91 meters. This large mass of warm water had a damaging effect on the ocean food chain. Many fish that depend on phytoplankton swam away from the area. As a result, sea birds and sea lions that eat those fish starved. Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Washington have found that the warm ocean “blob” caused a harmful algae bloom. That fast growth in algae hurt fishing grounds along the U.S. West Coast and Canada’s British Columbia. The researchers recently published their study in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. They looked at the algae, called P. australis. The researchers found that the algae can grow much faster than normal if it is exposed to warm water. The higher levels of algae also produced more of a poisonous chemical that can cause problems for everything from shellfish to dolphins to sea lions. It also causes problems for humans if too much of the chemical builds up in their blood. Researchers say algae blooms like this one will continue as ocean waters warm. The algae will hurt sea animals, birds, and fish. It may damage food resources for humans all over the world, the scientists say. I’m Dan Friedell. Kevin Enochs wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. What do you think of the algae threat? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   algae – n. simple plants that have no leaves or stems and that grow in or near water food chain - n. a series of types of living things in which each one uses the next lower member of the series as a source of food — usually used with the expose - v. to come in contact with something bloom – v. to change, grow, or develop fully

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Scientists Create Realistic Model of Dinosaur

      British scientists have created what they believe is the best three-dimensional model of a dinosaur ever built. They say the model is almost the exact the length, width and height of a real dinosaur called a Psittacosaurus. The Psittacosaurus was a plant-eating creature about the size of a large dog. The model has colors and markings that scientists think the creature had when it lived in what is now northern China about 100 million years ago. Hundreds of dinosaur fossils have been discovered in the area -- including complete remains of some creatures. The British scientists created their model with help from a fossilized remain that had preserved skin pigment.    Jakob Vinther is with the University of Bristol. “Getting exceptional preservation and being able to tell colors in a fossil is really unique. Usually you only get the hard parts preserved, such as bone or shell. But under exceptional circumstances we can be lucky and find soft tissues and also these pigments preserved.” The scientists believe the colored markings show that the Psittacosaurus lived in forests with plenty of trees and other plant life. They also believe the dinosaur's markings made it difficult to be seen by other animals who wanted to kill it. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.  VOA’s Deborah Block reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   three-dimensional – adj. having or seeming to have length, width, and depth 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 preserved – adj. kept in good condition over a long period of time skin – n. the natural outer layer of tissue that covers the body of a person or animal pigment – n. a natural substance that gives color to animals and plants circumstances – n. the way something happens; the specific details of an event pattern – n. a repeated form or design especially that is used to decorate something

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English in a Minute: Red Flag

This expression sounds easy enough, but it is actually a warning. Find out how to use this phrase, and learn about its origins, in this week's English in a Minute!

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A Public Referendum: Not Always the 'Last Word'

Many countries use a public referendum to decide major policy questions. But the results of several recent referenda have been anything but clear and simple. Governments usually call such votes to let the public have the final say on an issue or policy. But last Sunday, voters in Colombia rejected a peace deal with the country’s largest rebel group. The deal would have ended over 50 years of conflict between the government and Marxist rebels. Also last weekend, a referendum in Hungary on immigration left both sides claiming victory. Voters were asked if the European Union could require the country to accept asylum seekers. Earlier this year, Britain’s vote to leave the E.U. has seemingly increased, not reduced, divisions in the ruling party. Colombia peace deal voted down Colombian voters rejected a peace agreement between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC. Colombian officials and FARC representatives negotiated the agreement over four years, mainly in Havana, Cuba. But voters narrowly rejected the deal in a popular vote on October 2. Fifty-point-two percent of voters said “no” to the agreement. Earlier, public opinion studies predicted the measure would pass easily. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said he is not giving up on the deal with the rebels. Santos spoke on Colombian television after the vote. He accepted the defeat, but did not declare peace efforts dead. While the president did not win the referendum, he has received international recognition for his efforts. Santos won the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. The Nobel committee said it was honoring the president because of his “resolute efforts” toward peace. It also said the award should be seen “as a tribute to the Colombian people who, despite great hardships and abuses, have not given up hope of a just peace.” Colombian officials and FARC negotiators met in Havana this week in an effort to save the peace deal. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sent special representative Jean Arnault to Cuba to assist with the talks. On Wednesday, the Colombian president announced he was extending a ceasefire with the rebels until October 31. Santos and FARC’s leader, known as Timochenko, signed the agreement on September 26. The U.N. Secretary-General attended the signing ceremony. So did a number of Latin American leaders and United States Secretary of State John Kerry. The agreement would have brought to an end the longest conflict in the Americas which is blamed for more than 220,000 deaths. Rebels would have been permitted to form a political party in exchange for putting down their weapons. “Hard Brexit,” migrant question worries Britain’s businesses Last Sunday, British Prime Minister Teresa May said Britain will officially start the process of leaving the European Union next year. May has said the process could start by the end of March 2017. Britons voted to cut their country’s ties with the E.U. in a referendum on June 23. To cancel its membership, Britain must use Article 50 of the E.U.’s Lisbon Treaty. That process would take two years to complete. Britain would still have ties with Europe, but would need to negotiate new agreements with the E.U. on everything from trade to immigration. But even supporters of Britain’s exit from the E.U., or Brexit, do not agree on what the move should involve. Some supporters have called for a quick, sharp break with Europe, what is being called a “hard Brexit.” They want Article 50 to be invoked earlier. The terms of a possible Brexit agreement, however, have divided Prime Minister May’s Conservative Party. Immigration is one of the central issues. May and her ministers have said they will not compromise on immigration controls to get better free trade deals with the E.U. They want Britain to control its immigration policy without Europe’s influence. That position has concerned business leaders and investors. They worry about more restrictions on immigration and use of foreign workers. The measures might include a test for businesses employing foreigners and requiring British companies to provide information about such workers. Business leaders say Conservative ministers are trying to use economic populism by blaming companies for hiring foreign workers. They say the Conservatives are turning away from the legacy of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Her position was that businesses should be able to operate without political interference. Businesses also are concerned that a “hard Brexit” would leave Britain in a weaker position when trading with the single European market. European trading partners could place higher taxes on British exports to punish the country for its position on migration or other issues. Both sides claim victory in Hungary’s referendum Another referendum in Europe has raised more questions than it has solved. Hungarians voted on October 2 against the European Union’s power to set the number of immigrants E.U. members must accept. However, the referendum was not valid because not enough citizens took part in the vote. Hungarian law required 50 percent of voters to take part in a referendum for the results to be considered official. Last weekend, only 40 percent of voters participated. Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, however, still called the vote a victory for Hungary’s self-rule. “The result of this referendum will be a strong weapon in Brussels,” he said. Both supporters of the E.U. powers on immigration and opponents, including Orban, claimed victory in the Hungarian vote. I’m Dorothy Gundy. And I'm Mario Ritter. Mario Ritter wrote this story for VOA Learning English. His report was based on stories by Nike Ching, Celie Mendoza, Fern Robinson, Jamie Dettmer and Heather Murdock. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear your thoughts. Send us your comments in the section below. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   referendum – n. a direct vote in which people cast ballots to decide on a specific issue or policy exit - n. something used as a way to go out of a place; the act of leaving populism – n. related to policies that supposedly represent the opinions of ordinary people turn away from – v. to reject, to be less influenced by legacy – n. something passed down from older generations valid – adj. officially recognized

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Musicians Find New Places to Perform

The Local Strangers perform on a boat

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Wild Surroundings at Black Canyon of the Gunnison

  Our national parks journey this week takes us to the western state of Colorado. There, you will find a 77-kilometer-long canyon. Its exposed rocks are among the oldest you will find on Earth. The canyon is so narrow and so deep that sunlight shines only briefly at the bottom at midday. That frequent darkness is what has given this canyon its name. Welcome to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park! Black Canyon seems impossibly steep and narrow. The fast moving Gunnison River formed the canyon over millions of years. As the river flows through the canyon, it drops an average of 18 meters per kilometer. The Gunnison River loses more elevation in its 77 kilometer canyon stretch than the Mississippi River does in 2,400 kilometers from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. This loss in elevation causes the river to gain speed and force. Over time, that force has carved and cut the hard rock, and created the wild and jagged rock formations found at Black Canyon. That process is known as erosion. At its widest, Black Canyon is 14 kilometers. At its deepest point, it is 829 kilometers from the canyon edge to the floor. Black Canyon attracted little attention from early Western explorers. In fact, no early Spanish explorers to the southwestern United States reported seeing Black Canyon. The first written record about the canyon came in 1873. The Ute Indians certainly knew of Black Canyon. But only its rim, never the gorge, shows evidence of past human occupation. Even today, the depth and steepness of Black Canyon make it extremely difficult for humans to access. Birds, however, have no problem surviving in the canyon environment. Black Canyon is home to many kinds of birds. They live at the canyon rim, along its walls, and by the river. Mountain bluebirds and great horned owls live in the rim area. The owls eat seeds and berries from the pinyon, juniper and oak trees found there. Canyon wrens sing loudly within Black Canyon. Visitors are more likely to hear the birds than seen them. They build their nests on flat surfaces of the canyon walls. So do peregrine falcons. They prey on other birds. They dive at speeds up to 300 kilometers per hour to catch them. American dippers build their nests in the gorge, next to the Gunnison River. A gorge is a narrow valley between hills or mountains. These dippers feed on insects and small fish. Some people come to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park for world-class birdwatching. But, it is the canyon itself that appeals to most visitors. Walking along the rim, seeing the canyon’s towering cliffs, and hearing the powerful flow of the Gunnison River far below is an overwhelming experience.   At Black Canyon, visitors can view some of the planet’s oldest exposed rocks. They are Precambrian rocks. Precambrian accounts for the Earth’s history from its very beginning up until about 540 million years ago. Precambrian rocks are described as “basement rocks” because they are usually buried deep under the surface. The only become exposed when younger rocks have been cut away by erosion or other forces. At Black Canyon, the Gunnison has eroded the canyon walls so greatly that Precambrian rocks have become visible. Often, the canyon’s rock walls look like works of art. Different kinds of rocks fold together and form colorful patterns. The patterns change as the sun hits different parts of the walls.   One area of the canyon is known as Painted Wall. It is the highest cliff in Colorado. Long pink bands of rock cover this section of the canyon, as if a person took a paintbrush to the wall. This pattern formed as hot liquid from below the Earth’s surface forced its way into rock cracks. As it slowly cooled, large crystals formed. The bands get their pink color from a crystallized mineral called potassium feldspar. Protecting the canyon  Local people knew how just special Black Canyon was. They began urging Congress to protect the canyon in the 1930s. It became a national monument in 1933. And in 1999 it became a national park. The park protects more than 22 kilometers of the canyon. Most visitors spend their time exploring the canyon rim by foot or by car. Several kilometers of trails lead to many overlook points. A road also leads to several breathtaking views. The U.S. Congress named the lands below the canyon rim a Wilderness Preservation System. This is meant to “protect forever the land’s natural conditions.” Some adventurous travelers choose to explore this wilderness by hiking down to the inner canyon.  There are no marked trails to guide them. Hikers must first get a wilderness use permit. These permits are free, but only a limited number are available each day. Many of the paths are difficult to follow. Some are also dangerous. The Warner Point trail, for example, drops more than 820 meters. Walking down takes more than two hours. Walking back up can take up to four hours.   The park service warns that poison ivy grows wildly in the inner canyon. There is also the risk of falling rocks. But, to reach a place where no humans ever tried to live is the reward. In the words of a 1901 explorer to Black Canyon’s river area, “Our surroundings were of the wildest possible description. The roar of the water...was constantly in our ears...Occasionally a rock would fall from one side or the other, with a roar and crash, exploding like a ton of dynamite when it struck bottom, making us think our last day had come.” I’m Ashley Thompson. And I’m Caty Weaver.   Ashley Thompson reported and wrote this story with materials from the National Park Service. Caty Weaver was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   steep – adj. almost straight up and down : rising or falling very sharply elevation – n. the height of a place jagged – adj.  having a sharp, uneven edge or surface erosion – n. the process by which something is worn away rim – n. the outer edge of a usually round object access – n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone cliff – n. a high, steep surface of rock, earth, or ice overwhelming – adj. very great in effect basement – n. the part of a building that is entirely or partly below the ground adventurous – adj. not afraid to do new and dangerous or exciting things 

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'The Tell-Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe

Today we present the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe.  Here is Shep O'Neal with the story. True!  Nervous -- very, very nervous I had been and am!  But why will you say that I am mad?  The disease had sharpened my senses -- not destroyed them. Above all was the sense of hearing.  I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth.  I heard many things in the underworld.  How, then, am I mad?  Observe how healthily -- how calmly I can tell you the whole story. It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain.  I loved the old man.  He had never wronged me.  He had never given me insult.  For his gold I had no desire.  I think it was his eye!  Yes, it was this!  He had the eye of a bird, a vulture -- a pale blue eye, with a film over it.  Whenever it fell on me, my blood ran cold; and so -- very slowly -- I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and free myself of the eye forever. Now this is the point.  You think that I am mad.  Madmen know nothing.  But you should have seen me.  You should have seen how wisely and carefully I went to work! I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him.  And every night, late at night, I turned the lock of his door and opened it – oh, so gently!  And then, when I had made an opening big enough for my head, I put in a dark lantern, all closed that no light shone out, and then I stuck in my head.  I moved it slowly, very slowly, so that I might not interfere with the old man's sleep.  And then, when my head was well in the room, I undid the lantern just so much that a single thin ray of light fell upon the vulture eye. And this I did for seven long nights -- but I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who was a problem for me, but his Evil Eye. On the eighth night, I was more than usually careful in opening the door.  I had my head in and was about to open the lantern, when my finger slid on a piece of metal and made a noise.  The old man sat up in bed, crying out "Who's there?" I kept still and said nothing.  I did not move a muscle for a whole hour.  During that time, I did not hear him lie down.  He was still sitting up in the bed listening -- just as I have done, night after night. Then I heard a noise, and I knew it was the sound of human terror.  It was the low sound that arises from the bottom of the soul.  I knew the sound well.  Many a night, late at night, when all the world slept, it has welled up from deep within my own chest.  I say I knew it well. I knew what the old man felt, and felt sorry for him, although I laughed to myself.  I knew that he had been lying awake ever since the first noise, when he had turned in the bed.  His fears had been ever since growing upon him.  When I had waited a long time, without hearing him lie down, I decided to open a little -- a very, very little -- crack in the lantern.  So I opened it.  You cannot imagine how carefully, carefully.  Finally, a single ray of light shot from out and fell full upon the vulture eye. It was open -- wide, wide open -- and I grew angry as I looked at it.  I saw it clearly -- all a dull blue, with a horrible veil over it that chilled my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person.  For I had directed the light exactly upon the damned spot. And have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but a kind of over-sensitivity?  Now, there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when inside a piece of cotton.  I knew that sound well, too.  It was the beating of the old man's heart.  It increased my anger. But even yet I kept still.  I hardly breathed.  I held the lantern motionless.  I attempted to keep the ray of light upon the eye.  But the beating of the heart increased.  It grew quicker and quicker, and louder and louder every second.  The old man's terror must have been extreme!  The beating grew louder, I say, louder every moment! And now at the dead hour of the night, in the horrible silence of that old house, so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror.  Yet, for some minutes longer I stood still.  But the beating grew louder, louder!  I thought the heart must burst. And now a new fear seized me -- the sound would be heard by a neighbor!  The old man's hour had come!  With a loud shout, I threw open the lantern and burst into the room. He cried once -- once only.  Without delay, I forced him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him.  I then smiled, to find the action so far done. But, for many minutes, the heart beat on with a quiet sound.  This, however, did not concern me; it would not be heard through the wall.  At length, it stopped.  The old man was dead.  I removed the bed and examined the body.  I placed my hand over his heart and held it there many minutes.  There was no movement.  He was stone dead.  His eye would trouble me no more. If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise steps I took for hiding the body.  I worked quickly, but in silence.  First of all, I took apart the body.  I cut off the head and the arms and the legs. I then took up three pieces of wood from the flooring, and placed his body parts under the room.  I then replaced the wooden boards so well that no human eye -- not even his -- could have seen anything wrong.   There was nothing to wash out -- no mark of any kind -- no blood whatever.  I had been too smart for that.  A tub had caught all -- ha! ha! When I had made an end of these labors, it was four o'clock in the morning.  As a clock sounded the hour, there came a noise at the street door.  I went down to open it with a light heart -- for what had I now to fear?  There entered three men, who said they were officers of the police.  A cry had been heard by a neighbor during the night; suspicion of a crime had been aroused; information had been given at the police office, and the officers had been sent to search the building. I smiled -- for what had I to fear?  The cry, I said, was my own in a dream.  The old man, I said, was not in the country.  I took my visitors all over the house.  I told them to search -- search well.  I led them, at length, to his room.  I brought chairs there, and told them to rest.  I placed my own seat upon the very place under which lay the body of the victim. The officers were satisfied.  I was completely at ease.  They sat, and while I answered happily, they talked of common things.  But, after a while, I felt myself getting weak and wished them gone.  My head hurt, and I had a ringing in my ears; but still they sat and talked.   The ringing became more severe.  I talked more freely to do away with the feeling.  But it continued until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears. I talked more and with a heightened voice.  Yet the sound increased -- and what could I do?  It was a low, dull, quick sound like a watch makes when inside a piece of cotton.  I had trouble breathing -- and yet the officers heard it not.  I talked more quickly -- more loudly; but the noise increased.  I stood up and argued about silly things, in a high voice and with violent hand movements.  But the noise kept increasing. Why would they not be gone?  I walked across the floor with heavy steps, as if excited to anger by the observations of the men -- but the noise increased.  What could I do?  I swung my chair and moved it upon the floor, but the noise continually increased.  It grew louder -- louder -- louder!  And still the men talked pleasantly, and smiled.     Was it possible they heard not?  No, no!  They heard!  They suspected!  They knew!  They were making a joke of my horror!  This I thought, and this I think.  But anything was better than this pain!  I could bear those smiles no longer!  I felt that I must scream or die!  And now -- again!  Louder!  Louder!  Louder!   "Villains!" I cried, "Pretend no more!  I admit the deed!  Tear up the floor boards!  Here, here!  It is the beating of his hideous heart!" You have heard the story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe.  Your storyteller was Shep O'Neal. This story was adapted by Shelley Gollust.  It was produced by Lawan Davis. We want to hear from you. Do you enjoy horror stories like this one? Tell us about your favorite horror story in the comments section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   nervous - adj. often or easily becoming worried and afraid about what might happen underworld - n. the place where dead people go in Greek myths vulture - n.  any one of several large birds that eat dead animals and have a small and featherless head lantern - n. a light that has usually a glass covering and that can be carried by a handle  terror- n. a very strong feeling of fear well - v. to rise to a surface and flow out — usually + up horrible - adj. very bad or unpleasant

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Girl Completes Backyard “Ninja Warrior” Course

  This is What’s Trending Today. Millions of people are watching a video of a 5-year-old girl from the U.S. state of Colorado completing an obstacle course at her home. Gavin MacCall and his daughter Lylah are fans of the popular television show “American Ninja Warrior.” On the show, competitors try to complete obstacle courses as fast as possible.  They must climb ladders, use ropes to swing across pools of water and run to the top of steep, curved walls. In 2015, when Lylah was 4, her father designed her first obstacle course. Lylah started in one part of the house. She worked her way across pieces of furniture, walked on bridges of narrow boards, climbed kitchen counters and traveled over waste containers to make it to the finish. Gavin MacCall provided the narration and crowd noises, just like on television. At one point, the family’s cat became an obstacle! Earlier this year, MacCall posted new images on Facebook that suggested a new project. He was building another obstacle course, but this time, it was outside of the house. Late last week MacCall posted another video. In it, Lylah wears a t-shirt that reads “Girls are superstars.” She raises her fist over her head before starting the course. The course is tough. It even includes a zip line on which Lylah glides over of a line of her toys. The video lasts a little more than two minutes. Lyla is calm and confident throughout. Gavin MacCall provides commentary and a recording of crowd noise. The camera sometimes shows an audience of toys. Lylah runs up a steep, curved wall -- the final obstacle. She hits the buzzer to complete the event. Lylah is victorious! The crowd roars. Gavin MacCall’s video has had more than 60 million views. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. What do you think of Lylah MacCall’s obstacle course? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   obstacle – n. an object that you have to go around or over : something that blocks your path steep – adj. almost straight up and down : rising or falling very sharply buzzer – n. an electric device that makes a loud sound

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English @ the Movies: 'It's Not Cool'

Do you know what "it's not cool," means? It is our English @ the Movies saying today, from the movie "Central Intelligence." This is a funny movie about two old friends who get into trouble. Watch the story and you will know what "it's not cool" means.

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