FBI: US Hate Crimes Rose in 2015

A United States government report says hate crimes against Muslims in America rose 67 percent in 2015. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI, produced the report. It says there were 257 anti-Muslim hate crimes in 2015 compared to 154 in 2014. The number has not been that high since 2001, which saw 481 incidents against Muslims. Many of the incidents followed the September 11 terrorist attacks against the U.S. that year. The FBI report is based on hate crimes recorded by local law enforcement agencies across the United States. Crimes involving religion increased 23 percent to 1,244, the report said. Jews and Jewish organizations were targeted most in religious-based hate crimes. They represented more than half of all those reported. Hate crimes against Jews rose 9 percent.  ​​   Overall, the number of U.S. hate crimes rose from 5,479 in 2014 to 5,850 last year – an almost 7 percent increase. The FBI said 18 victims were murdered and 13 raped. About 41 percent of hate crimes involved threatening behavior, while 60 percent of victims were assaulted.  The largest group of victims – 59 percent – were targeted because of their race or ethnicity, the report says. About 52 percent of these hate crimes were done because of anti-Black bias. More than 18 percent were victims of anti-White bias, while 9 percent were anti-Hispanic or Latino crimes. About 3 percent resulted from either anti-Asian or anti-American Indian bias, while 1 percent involved anti-Arab crimes. The FBI report says 48 percent of the violators were white and 24 percent were black. Nearly 18 percent of reported hate crimes were based on the sexual orientation of victims. Of the 1,263 victims, 62 percent of incidents involved anti-gay bias against men. The report found that about 2 percent of hate crime victims were targeted because of gender identity bias. About 1 percent of victims faced disability bias, while 0.4 percent were targeted because of gender bias.   There have been reports of a rise in hate-related incidents following Donald Trump’s victory last week in the U.S. presidential election. The not-for-profit Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) said it received more than 400 reports of hate-motivated incidents over the past week. It said most of the incidents involved hateful intimidation of victims. The reports were gathered from news reports, social media and people contacting the SPLC directly. Most of the intimidation was directed at immigrants, according to the SPLC’s website. This was followed by threats against African Americans, members of the LGBT community and Muslims. The Washington-based Council on American Islamic Relations, or CAIR, also said it had received reports of hate-related incidents involving Muslims. In one incident in Columbus, Ohio, a man at a traffic stop made threats against a woman wearing a hijab. In Michigan, a man threatened to set a Muslim woman on fire unless she took off her hijab. Donald Trump appeared Sunday night on the CBS news program “60 Minutes.” The president-elect spoke about reports that some of his supporters had used hate speech against others. “I am so saddened to hear that," Trump said. "And I say, 'Stop it.' If it helps, I will say this, and I will say right to the cameras: 'Stop it.’” Some Muslim rights groups welcomed Trump’s statement. But they also have called for the president-elect to expand on this message. They have asked that he clearly show supporters he does not approve of hateful behavior.     I’m Bryan Lynn. And I’m ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Jill Robbins.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for Learning English, based on the FBI Hate Crime Statistics report and reports from VOA News. Caty Weaver was the editor. Have you or someone you know been a victim of hate-related incidents? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   hate crimes – n. crimes motivated completely or in part by a bias against race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, etc. assault – v. to cause physical harm in an attack bias – n. belief that a group of people, ideas, etc. are better than others orientation – n. a person’s feelings, interests, or beliefs gay – adj. sexually attracted to someone of the same sex gender – n. the state of being male or female intimidation – n. the act of making someone frightened or afraid LGBT – short cut phrase. stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender hijab – n. a head covering worn outside the home by Muslim women  

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Understanding Adverbs: Always

The film “Casablanca” is one of the most famous American movies of all time. At the end of the film, the actor Humphrey Bogart says a heartbreaking farewell to the woman he loves. Bergman: But what about us? Bogart: We'll always have Paris. Besides affecting one’s emotions, this movie scene can teach you a lot about English grammar. It can show you how English speakers use adverbs in a sentence. In our program today, we explore a single word: always. We will discover why Bogart said his famous line the way he did. Do not worry. Unlike the ending of “Casablanca,” we will not leave you in tears! Adverbs and Movability In other Everyday Grammar stories, we explored adverbs. Adverbs are words that change the meaning of a verb, adjective, or sentence. They are often used to show time, place, or a way of doing things. Adverbs are often movable. They can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. Consider these examples: Occasionally I eat seafood. I occasionally eat seafood. I eat seafood occasionally. In this example, the adverb occasionally appears in three different places in the sentence. The placement of the adverb does not change the meaning. All three sentences have the same meaning. Most English speakers would not think it strange if you used any one of these sentences. Always is not as movable What about the adverb always? In general, the adverb always is not as movable as other kinds of adverbs – like the word occasionally. You will not often hear an English speaker use always at the beginning or the end of a sentence. Most often, you will hear always in the middle of the sentence, before the verb it is modifying. In some cases, you might hear it at the beginning of a sentence – when giving an order or command, for example.* Or you might hear it at the end of a sentence, but usually only in an artistic setting: a poetry reading or a musical performance, for example. But the central point is this: in speaking and in writing, always does not move its position as often as other adverbs. So, if you were to take our example sentence, "I eat seafood," and use the adverb always, you could say, "I always eat seafood." Always generally is found after “BE” verbs and auxiliary verbs, but before other verbs. You will find this structure in many popular films. Consider this famous line from “A Streetcar Named Desire:” "Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951 In the example, always appears after the auxiliary verb, have, and just before the main verb, depended. This same idea is true of Bogart's famous line from “Casablanca,” "We'll always have Paris." "We'll" is a short way to say, "we will." Always appears after the auxiliary verb, will, and before the main verb, have. Emphasized always You might think that our story about the word always ends here, but it does not! English speakers can also change the meaning of always. When you hear or read the adverb always in its usual position, before the verb it is modifying. It generally has the meaning of habitually. However, sometimes you will hear English speakers emphasize the word always. In this case, the meaning of the sentence has changed. Think back to our example sentence: "I always eat seafood." This sentence means that you usually eat seafood – perhaps when you go to a restaurant. If the speaker says, "I ALWAYS eat seafood," with the emphasis on the word "always," then the speaker is expressing annoyance. Perhaps the speaker is angry that another person – a close friend, for example – did not remember they like to eat seafood when they go out to dinner. Here is another example: you hear a child say, "My father always works late on Thursdays." This sentence uses the adverb always to express a habitual or common action. However, if you hear the child say, "My dad ALWAYS works late on Thursdays," then you know that the child is unhappy with the father's work schedule. What can you do? So, now you know that if Bogart had used the emphasized always in the film Casablanca, the ending of the film would have been very different. The next time you are listening or speaking, try to pay attention to the placement of the word always. Then, try to identify if it is emphasized or not. This will help you understand the speaker's feelings. Remember: English does not always communicate meaning through grammar. Emphasis plays an important role in showing the meaning of a sentence. With practice, you, too, will be able to use always like a native speaker! I’m Pete Musto. And I'm John Russell.  John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. *Always can begin imperative sentences. Here is an example: Always wear your seatbelt.  _______________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   farewell – n. an act of leaving adverb – n. a word that describes a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or a sentence and that is often used to show time, manner, place, or degree occasionally – adv. sometimes but not often emphasize – v. to place emphasis on (something) auxiliary verb – n. a verb (such as have, be, may, do, shall, will, can, or must) that is used with another verb to show the verb's tense, to form a question, etc.​ modify – v. to limit or describe the meaning of (a word or group of words)​ scene – n. a part of a play, movie, story, etc., in which a particular action or activity occurs​

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Pakistan Orders Turkish Educators to Leave the Country

Pakistan's Interior Ministry has ordered Turkish educators reportedly linked to an opposition Turkish clergyman to leave the country by November 20th. The order came on Wednesday, shortly before Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan began an official visit to Islamabad. The teachers work for an education network known as the PakTurk International Schools and Colleges. It provides education to over 10,000 students across Pakistan. The group expressed concern about the "abrupt decision" of the Pakistani government. The Interior Ministry has asked over 400 Turkish citizens, including family members, to leave the country. A ministry official confirmed to VOA that the Turkish educators were told to leave because their visas were out of date and no longer legal. Erdogan and Gulen Before going to Islamabad, President Erdogan praised the Pakistani government's actions against what his government calls the Gulenist Terror Organization. "Just like Turkey, Pakistan is carrying out a relentless fight against terror. Turkey supports Pakistan’s battle until the end," Erdogan said. Fethullah Gulen is an Islamic clergyman from Turkey. He now lives in exile in the American state of Pennsylvania. Gulen is the leader of a movement that operates schools around the world. Erdogan accuses him of trying to take control of the Turkish state, an accusation the clergyman denies. The PakTurk schools deny any ties to Gulen or his "Hizmet" movement. Turkish officials accuse the group of plotting to overthrow the government last July. Since the failure of the overthrow attempt, Erdogan has launched a campaign against Gulen's supporters in Turkey. Turkish officials have also urged other countries to close schools that may have links to the cleric – from Nigeria to Indonesia and Cambodia. Future of the PakTurk Schools On Thursday, the Turkish leader praised the Pakistani government for supporting him against the suspected followers of Gulen. Erdogan spoke during a visit to the parliament building in Islamabad. “We will eliminate this terrorist organization before it harms Pakistan,” he said. The Associated Press reported that more than 150 PakTurk students demonstrated in the Pakistani capital as he arrived at parliament. Separately, hundreds of students reportedly blocked a main road in the eastern city of Lahore to protest the expulsion orders. “Don’t play with our future,” a student told Pakistani Capital News TV. I’m John Russell. Ayaz Gul wrote this story for VOANews.com. John Russell adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story abrupt – adj. very sudden; not expected; brief relentless – adj. continuing without becoming weaker

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Students Examine Racism After Watching Documentary

  Police shootings of African-Americans across the United States have directed many people’s attention on racial inequality in American society.  A new documentary film aimed mainly at young people attempts to open public debate on the issue. The documentary is called “I’m Not Racist…Am I?” It follows 12 New York City high school students over nine months. The young people take part in exercises and sometimes difficult discussions concerning the issue of racism. The film is not playing in theaters. It is being shown only to groups of young people and their parents. Catherine Wigginton Greene is the film’s director. She says the parents often find the documentary difficult to watch. She says what it shows is very different from what many adults think is happening in their children’s lives. Greene said the parents “are seeing that children are going to dances, or have friends of different races, and they think ‘Oh, well, they just have it all figured out.’” But she noted, “What we realized in making the film is that the children don’t, and they are not talking about it with their families.” “I’m Not Racist…Am I?” has been shown many times at Woodrow Wilson High school, a large, culturally-mixed public school in Washington, D.C.  The school’s principal, Kimberly Martins says her students needed it. “From the first day that I was in this school, I could not believe that there are classrooms that are all African American, or all Latino, and then there are classrooms that are all white.” Student James Sarokin agreed that a diverse school population does not necessarily mean students of different races mix. He added, “I think that, honestly, white kids hang out with white kids and black kids hang out with black kids, generally.” The film persuaded another student, Amilcar Hudson. He now thinks that talking about racial issues is the best way to deal with them. But he believes such discussion is not easy. “I think that’s the scariest part about it,” he said. “I know there’s a racial problem in this country, but the fact that people really don’t feel comfortable talking about it, means that we are almost self-consciously satisfied with it, we’re OK with this going on.” Student Isabel Suarez says the situation is more difficult for victims of prejudice. “I understand it’s so hard to hear that you are inherently racist because of something you can’t control. But isn’t it worse to hear you are ((considered to be)) less than people, inherently, because of the color of your skin?” Students at Wilson High have formed a group called Common Ground. It is designed to support interaction and communication among students of different cultural backgrounds. Jeff Custer reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   figure out – phrasal verb to understand or find (something, such as a reason) by thinking diverse – adj. made up of people or things that are different from each other inherently – adv. belonging to the basic nature of someone or something background – n.  the experiences, knowledge, education, etc., in a person's past kid – n. a child; a boy or girl hang out – phrasal verb to be somewhere scariest – adj. causing the most fear; most frightening comfortable – adj. not causing any unpleasant feelings

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Lawyers in Cameroon Are Fighting the Justice System

  There have been violent incidents in Cameroon this past week. Police have clashed with striking lawyers. More than 1,000 lawyers in English-speaking parts of the country are on strike. They are angry about the widespread use of the French language in the court system. The lawyers are refusing to work until the government acts to reduce the use of French in the courts. The English-speaking lawyers are angry that police used tear gas and force to stop them from peacefully marching in Bamenda, the capital of northwest Cameroon. Police have also taken action against protesting lawyers in several other towns. Harmony Bogda is a lawyer and was one of the organizers of the protest. He says the lawyers want all French-speaking judges who cannot speak, write or understand the English language removed from courts in English-speaking areas. Bogda says that people cannot receive justice when court officials are unable to communicate with one another. “We are gentlemen. We are peaceful and we have never meant any violence. It is now more than a month that we have been on strike after having notified the government about our dissatisfaction with the erosion of the common law.” But the government says it cannot discriminate based on language when filling positions in the court system. Most English-speaking lawyers can communicate in French, but many French-speaking lawyers have trouble communicating in English. Cameroon has two official languages -- English and French. About one in five Cameroonians speak English. The southwest and northwest parts of the country were once under British colonial rule. Cameroon also recognizes two legal systems. One is based on French civil law, while the other is based on English common law. But the striking lawyers say some laws are giving the French system more power. About 20 years ago Cameroon and 16 other African countries where French is spoken signed a treaty. The agreement is aimed at increasing investment in those nations by making their business laws similar. Cameroon’s government says a group is working on making an English language version of the treaty. State media reports that the government has asked the striking lawyers to be patient while the work is completed. But the lawyers want more than just an English version of the treaty. Ashu Nyenty researches international law. “They have called for the creation of a separate chamber for common law (at) the supreme court of the country. Since independence in 1960, that court has had only French-speaking chief justices even though the country is bilingual. They are also asking for the creation of a separate section for common law in the national institution that trains magistrates and judges in the country. The curricula of that school are essentially modeled in the French civil law system and so the lawyers see that as a problem.” The lawyers’ strike is part of what some observers see as a larger problem -- many people are worried that the French language is starting to make English disappear from public life in the country. Cameroon’s constitution says the two languages are equal, but many official documents are written only in French. This has caused English-speaking lawyers, lawmakers and teachers to protest and threaten to strike. I’m John Russell.   Moki Edwin Kindzeka reported this story from Cameroon. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his report 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   erosion – n. the gradual destruction of something civil law – n. laws that deal with the rights of people rather than with crimes common law – n. laws that developed from court decisions and customs and that form the basis of laws and legal systems chamber – n. part of a court or justice system bilingual – adj. able to speak and understand two languages magistrate – n. a local official who has some of the powers of a judge curricula – n. the courses that are taught by a school, college, etc.  

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Chinese Websites Block Insulting Names for North Korean Leader

This is What’s Trending Today: Chinese websites are blocking search results for an insulting term for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Searches for the Chinese version of “Kim Fatty the Third” returned no results on China’s largest search engine, Baidu. Results also did not appear on the social networking website Weibo. The nickname “Kim Fatty” has become popular in China, especially among young people, for making fun of Kim’s weight. “The Third” is used to describe him as the third member of his family to serve as North Korea’s leader.  One Twitter user asked: "How long until I'm kicked off Twitter for saying Fatty Kim the Third?" The lack of search results is a clear sign to Chinese internet users that the information has been censored. The nickname is such a widely used term in China that it has been suggested to users by Baidu’s auto-complete tool. China has a history of suppressing information the government considers harmful or unacceptable. A new report on internet freedom identified China as one of the countries with the most restrictions on online activity. A Foreign Ministry spokesman denied the government had banned the term from appearing in internet searches. But the official added: “The Chinese government stays committed to building a healthy and civilized environment of opinions. We disapprove of referring to the leader of any country with insulting and mocking remarks.” Hong Kong newspapers reported that North Korea had sent a request to China, asking the government to bar the term from appearing in the media. China has traditionally enjoyed friendly relations with North Korea. But ties have worsened under the leadership of Kim Jong Un. Chinese officials have condemned his moves to expand North Korea’s nuclear program. China continues to provide limited trade and diplomatic support to the North. The term “Fatty” is clearly meant to make fun of the North Korean leader’s appearance in a joking way. Another Twitter user reacted to the news of Kim's nickname, saying "some things just make you smile." But his weight has also been discussed by experts in news stories on health issues. One report on CNN showed a series of photographs of Kim appearing larger over time. The reporter asked a question: Is he sick or just out of shape? And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for Learning English, based on reports from Reuters and the Associated Press. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   nickname – n. an informal name people use in place of someone’s real name censor – v. to remove things from books, publications or the internet that are considered offensive or harmful committed - adj. willing to give time and effort to something refer - v. to mention something when speaking or writing mock - v. to laugh at or make fun of someone or something remark - n. an idea or opinion that is usually spoken  

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November 17, 2016

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

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News Words: Orphan

This week's news word can be the result of war. Learn what it means with Anne Ball and Jonathan Evans.

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Medical Marijuana Is Now Legal in Most US States

  On Election Day in the United States, Arkansas voted to permit the medical use of marijuana. Twenty-seven other states legalized medical marijuana earlier. Eight states now permit its use for non-medical reasons as well. State officials now will propose measures to govern the growth and sale of marijuana. However, production, sale and use of the drug remains a federal crime. Jake Bleed is an official at the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. He says many people are asking questions connected to the decision on marijuana. “Do people get preference? How do employers deal with these questions? How do state employees apply? There’s a lot of questions out there that we’re getting, that we’re going to have to work through the answers to.” Some people use marijuana to fight pain or discomfort caused by disease. The drug also helps some people deal with the sickness caused by some treatments of disease. It can also be used to ease some effects of brain disorders. Asa Hutchinson is the governor of Arkansas. He says that federal laws are more powerful than state laws. He says the Obama administration did not order action against states that made marijuana use legal. He said they did not have to fear federal enforcement powers, although the new laws violate federal measures. But he wonders about the president-elect. “Will the Trump administration have a different approach? We don’t have the new attorney general yet -- what will be their approach?” The economies of some states have improved where medical and recreational use of marijuana is permitted. Governments have collected hundreds of millions of dollars in new taxes. That, and public demands, means more states will likely consider legalizing marijuana use. I’m Anne Ball.    VOA Correspondent Kevin Enochs reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Caty Weaver 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   preference – n. an advantage that is given to some people or things and not to others approach ­– n. a way of dealing with something; a way of doing or thinking about something

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Freedom House: Internet Continues to Become Less Free

The Internet became less free around the world between June 2015 and May of this year. That is a finding from a new report called, “Freedom on the Net 2016.” It comes from Freedom House, a pro-democracy research group based in Washington, DC. Freedom House says its measure of internet freedom fell for the sixth time over the past six years.   The group reports that government surveillance of social media and messaging tools rose during the 12 months ending in June 2016. It says that in the past two years, governments have gone from secretly plotting to control the internet to openly doing so -- even arresting and beating some users. The group notes that some governments are taking steps to ban encryption technology and punish users for sharing information officials believe should be banned. The report says internet users in Estonia, Iceland, and Canada have the most freedom and protection of privacy. It says the most abuses of internet freedom took place in China, Syria, Iran, Ethiopia, Uzbekistan and Cuba. It estimates that more than two-thirds of all internet users live in countries that work to restrict online activity. About 40 percent of the world’s internet users live in just three countries: China, India and the United States. Adrian Shahbaz is the research manager for the report. “What the likes of China and Iran have in common is an attempt to gain control over the online sphere within their own countries, and I think we see Russia going towards that direction, which is very troubling...”  Recently, Russia announced its first maximum prison sentence under the country’s anti-extremism laws for a non-violent, political speech. Shahbaz says Russia now has many laws that limit privacy and free speech. “There was the passage of a data localization law in previous years, which was implemented in 2015, and that has a very negative effect both on businesses that have their operations in Russia, but also on user privacy in Russia, because all of (the) users’ data must be now stored within Russia...” The new report found that internet freedom in Ukraine is no better than in Russia. “In Ukraine, for example, we saw some of the first arrests and even prison sentences for users that are advocating for political causes in a very non-violent way and yet were sentenced based on extremism law.” The group says China is at the bottom of the internet freedom list because it has made “spreading rumors” or “endangering national security” online as crimes. Freedom House notes that China has worked hard to stop the use of virtual private networks or VPNs, which people use to reach websites blocked by the government. The report says the highest-rated countries have a free and open internet, very high levels of availability of the internet and strong protections for free speech and privacy. Freedom House put the United States in fourth place in terms of protecting privacy. The group said internet freedom has improved in only 14 countries since June of last year. It noted a worsening of conditions in more than half of the 65 countries studied. The biggest declines were in Uganda, Bangladesh and Cambodia. Almost 90 percent of all internet users live in the 65 countries named in the report. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOA’s Doug Bernard and Zlatica Hoke reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted their reports 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   surveillance – n. the act of carefully watching someone or something especially in order to prevent or detect a crime encrypt – v. to electronically change (information) from one form to another especially to hide its meaning online – adj. done over the Internet the likes of – expression a similar kind sphere – n. an area of influence or activity maximum – adj. the highest number or amount that is possible or allowed implement – v. to begin to do or use (something, such as a plan); to make (something) active or effective advocate – v. to support or argue for (a cause, policy, etc.) rumor – n. information or a story that is passed from person to person but has not been proven to be true virtual private network – n. a technology that permits internet users in some countries to gain access to websites that are blocked by their government

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Have You Seen the Mannequin Challenge?

This is What’s Trending Today. A mannequin is a plastic model used in clothing stores. A storeowner puts clothing on the mannequin to show shoppers how the clothing looks on the human body. Unlike a human being that moves, the mannequins stay in one place. Starting in late October, videos with the hashtag #MannequinChallenge started coming out on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. The videos show people freezing in place while the camera moves around them. In the background, you sometimes can hear a song called “Black Beatles” by the hip-hop group Rae Sremmurd. At first, high school students and college sports teams were doing the Mannequin Challenge. One story about the development of the video trend says a Twitter user posted the first Mannequin Challenge video on October 26. It showed some students at a high school in Florida.  Then it started to catch on. Hillary Clinton did a video on her airplane on November 8.  Just two days later, the NBA champion basketball team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, visited President Barack Obama at the White House. While the players were there, they made a Mannequin Challenge video with Michelle Obama. LeBron James was not perfect, however. He blinked his eyes when the camera passed by. He posed taking a selfie with Michelle Obama. Other sports teams have done videos, too. The Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League, or NFL, did a video that showed players talking to media members, along with other locker room scenes.  The challenge seems like fun for the participants and viewers. But not everyone is impressed by them. For example, the Spanish national soccer team posted a video after its game with England on Tuesday night. During the game, England scored a goal and did the Mannequin Challenge on the field as part of its celebration. Neither team succeeded in winning the game, which ended in a 2-2 tie. One sports newspaper from Spain said the video was better than the team’s performance on the field.  And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Jill Robbins. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. Have you seen some other good Mannequin Challenge videos? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story blink – v. to close and then open your eyes very quickly pose –v. to stand, sit or hold some position without moving, often as a model photograph or painting scene – n. a view or sight that looks like a picture participant – n. a person who is involved in an activity or event viewer – n. a person who sees or looks at something

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