Voyageurs National Park: A Land of Lakes

  The state of Minnesota is known as the land of 10,000 lakes. Our national park this week protects four major ones. The National Park Service says water is the foundation of this wild and remote place. Welcome to Voyageurs National Park!   You must have a strong desire to see Voyageurs to make the visit. It is not an easy place to get to. Much of the park is accessible only by boat. The voyageurs for whom the park was named understood this well. "Voyageur" is a French word meaning “traveler.” In the 1700s, French Canadian fur traders starting coming to the area seeking beaver fur and other animal coats. The product was in great demand in Europe. The fur traders traveled to and from the area for business. They took canoes to get around. The boat trips were often long and hard. The waters and wild animals created great dangers. Voyageur life became legendary. The men were seen as brave adventurers. But they were also romantics. They became known for singing songs as they navigated the waterways. Of course the voyageurs were not the first people in the area that is now Voyageurs National Park. People first arrived there about 10,000 years ago. They were mostly nomadic, and did not settle permanently. In the last 1,000 years, Native American tribes settled in the area, including the Cree, Monsoni and Assiniboin. The Ojibwe were the residents of more modern times. They served as guides to the fur traders. They also provided canoes and other important items. Creating a National Park Voyageurs National Park covers almost 88,500 hectares. About half of that surface is water.  Creating the park was a long and difficult process. Minnesotan state lawmakers first proposed the idea in 1891. But, it was 80 years before Congress established the park. President Richard Nixon signed the bill that finally established Voyageurs as a national park in 1971.   The park protects four major Minnesotan lakes: Rainy Lake, Kabetogama, Namakan and Sand Point. Rainy is the biggest. It covers about 930 square kilometers. It is a popular fishing lake. Fishers may catch walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass. In the winter, thick ice covers Rainy Lake. Visitors can walk and drive on it. Rainy Lake meets with Namakan and Kabetogama lakes at Kettle Falls. A dam was built on the falls in the early 20th century. Along with it came the Kettle Falls hotel. It housed traders, loggers and visitors searching for gold in the area. The hotel fell into disuse in more modern times. But in 1987, the National Park Service made repairs and improvements to the building. It is the only indoor place to stay in the area. Rock Gardens in the Park Nature and art meet at the Ellsworth Rock Gardens in Voyageurs National Park. NPS officials describe the gardens as “the showplace of Lake Kabetogama.” A carpenter and artist from Chicago named Jack Ellsworth built a summer home on the lake in the 1940s. He then designed, built and cared for the rock gardens over 20 years. The artist also created garden sculptures from native stone. There were once about 200 rock sculptures. Ellsworth stopped caring for the gardens in his older age. When the National Park Service took control of the land, the gardens needed repair and restoration. Today, it is an interesting place to visit within the park. Voyageurs at Night Voyageurs National Park may be best seen at night. Officials there like to say that “half of the park comes out after dark.” Certainly, much of its magic does. The most spectacular light display on Earth is sometimes visible at Voyageurs. The Aurora Borealis, or northern lights, appear periodically in the night sky as streaks or clouds of light. The lights are most often white or soft green. However, they sometimes deepen into colors like yellow, red, blue, and even purple. The northern lights are not always immediately recognizable. But keep watching. If the light you see comes and goes, or intensifies over time, you may be witnessing the Aurora Borealis. Along with the northern lights, Voyageurs is a great place to see meteors. These bursts of light cross the area’s black skies mostly in August, during the Perseids Meteor Shower. Meteors, often called shooting stars, form when pieces of ice and dust cross into Earth’s atmosphere and begin to burn brightly. The display of natural fireworks is a great way to finish the day at Voyageurs National Park. You can fall asleep under the stars and be sure that more extraordinary nature awaits you when day breaks in Voyageurs National Park. I'm Caty Weaver.  And I'm Ashley Thompson.   Caty Weaver wrote this story with materials from the National Park Service. Ashley Thompson was the editor.   Have you ever seen the northern lights? If so, describe them for us in the comments section! ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   remote - adj.  far away from other people, houses, cities, etc. accessible - adj. able to be reached or approached legendary - adj.  very famous or well-known romantic - n.  a person who thinks a lot about love and does and says things that show strong feelings of love for someone adventurer - n.  someone who likes dangerous or exciting experiences navigate - v.   to sail on, over, or through an area of water nomadic - adj.  moving from place to place instead of living in one place all the time spectacular - adj.  visible - adj. able to be seen streak - n.  a long, thin mark that is a different color from its background

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Obama: US Will Act Against Russia for Email Hacking

  President Barack Obama says the United States will take action against Russia for carrying out cyberattacks during the U.S. election. Obama said any time it is proven that a foreign government tried to influence the “integrity” of U.S. elections, officials “need to take action… and we will.” He made the comments during an interview with National Public Radio released Friday. Obama also spoke to reporters about the issue during a press conference Friday at the White House. He said U.S. intelligence agencies have investigated the issue and found that Russia was responsible for leaking emails of U.S. people and political institutions. Thousands of emails were leaked from the Democratic National Committee last July. The emails contained private information about committee activities. Private emails from a top campaign adviser to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton were also leaked. Some of the details were considered embarrassing for Clinton and the Democratic Party.   Obama said he even brought up the issue when he saw Russian President Vladimir Putin at a G-20 meeting in China in September. He said he told Putin to "cut it out." Obama said he wanted to speak directly to Putin to let him know there would be “serious consequences” if the leaks did not stop. “We did not see further tampering of the election process,” he said. But Obama noted that, at that time, the leaks were already public and could no longer be stopped. Obama said he thinks his administration handled the leaks correctly by making them public. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a statement on the leaks in October. The statement accused the Russian government of “directing” the leaks involving U.S. people and “political organizations.” It said the stolen information was intended to interfere with the U.S. election process. The statement added that top Russian officials must have authorized the activities. “And then we allowed you, and the American public, to make an assessment as to how to weigh that going into the election.” Obama said the United States had not yet decided how to answer the Russian actions. “Our goal continues to be to send a clear message to Russia, or others, not to do this to us. Because we can do stuff to you. But it is also important for us to do that in a thoughtful, methodical way.” He added that the U.S. response might be handled in a private way. Obama noted that U.S. relations with Russia had already declined in recent years over several issues. He said the U.S. currently has many sanctions in place against Moscow. “So how we approach an appropriate response that increases costs for them for behavior like this in the future - but does not create problems for us - is something that’s worth taking the time to think through and figure out.”  Russian officials have repeatedly denied any involvement in activities intended to influence the U.S. elections. They have also urged U.S. officials to make public any evidence they have.   Both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress have called for investigations into possible Russian influence in the election. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin have called for full investigations into the election. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has rejected suggestions by intelligence agencies that Russia carried out cyberattacks to help him win the election. On Thursday, Trump again raised questions about the accusations on Twitter. “If Russia, or some other entity, was hacking, why did the White House wait so long to act? Why did they only complain after Hillary lost?” he wrote.  I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOANews.com, and the Associated Press. Mario Ritter 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   cyberattacks – n. malicious attack on a computer system from an outside source embarrass - v. to make (someone) feel confused and foolish in front of other people cut it out - expression. used to ask someone to stop doing or saying something integrity – n. the quality of being fair and honest authorize – adj. give permission to do something assessment - n. a judgement made about something appropriate – adj. suitable or right for a person or situation consequences - n. actions that happen as a result of a set of conditions​ tamper  - v. to change something in a way that harms it   

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December 16, 2016

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

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Fishermen in Cambodia Hurt by New Dam in Laos

  Fishermen on the Mekong River in Cambodia say they are being hurt by dams being built in Laos. They say they are catching fewer, and smaller, fish. The fishermen blame illegal fishing with electric nets, overfishing, climate change and drought. Man Mat is the son of a fisherman. He says, “the fish are getting smaller and smaller. My father catches five to 15 kilograms a day when before it was 100 to 200 kilograms. In 10 years, there’ll be no more fish left.” In 2012, officials in Laos announced plans to build the $3.8 billion Xayaburi dam although scientists and environmental activists opposed the project. The officials then announced they would build a $300 million dam. Last month, the government of Laos decided to build a third dam in the country’s north. The $1.88 billion project would be part of a plan to sell electricity to neighboring countries -- especially China. China also has built dams across the Mekong River in its territory. The fisheries research and development newsletter “Catch and Culture” reports on fishing in the Mekong area. It says the total fish harvest from the Mekong River and its lower delta was valued at $11 billion in 2015. About 70 million people depend on those fish. Their food security is a major cause of tension between Cambodia and Vietnam. Over the last 20 years, the number of people who depend upon the Mekong River and its delta area has increased by at least 10 million people. This has increased the demand for fish and has led to something scientists call “fishing down.” That is when large fish are no longer being caught. They are being replaced by smaller fish that fishermen used to reject and return to the river. VOA spoke to two fishermen who said they used to catch up to 300 kilograms of fish a day, but now they catch about 20 kilograms if they are lucky. Laos, however, says it will not change its plans. The country wants to build 11 dams across the Mekong River and 123 across the country. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise. Correspondent Luke Hunt reported this story from Chhaing Chomras, Cambodia. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his report for Learning English. 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   nets – n. a device made of string or rope that is designed to catch things drought – n. an extreme lack of rain

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Long-Time NBA Reporter Dies of Cancer

  This is What’s Trending Today. In June, VOA Learning English wrote about Craig Sager, the sports television reporter who was fighting cancer. He was going to report on his first National Basketball Association Finals game although he had covered the NBA for over 30 years. It was news because the sports network ESPN produced the game broadcast and Sager worked for a rival television network. But the two broadcasting companies reached an agreement to let Sager announce the games because his health was not good. They thought he might not get another chance to work on an NBA Finals game.  Sager had a blood cancer known as leukemia. He missed a lot of work in 2014, but returned to work in 2015 when his cancer went into remission. When the cancer came back in 2016, Sager tried many different treatments. They included blood transfusions, chemotherapy, stem cell and bone marrow transplants. Sager went back into the hospital last month. He died on Thursday. His employer, Turner Sports, said, “There will never be another Craig Sager.” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said: “Craig was as vital to the NBA as the players and coaches.” Sager was known for the good questions he asked players and coaches during games. But in recent years, he gained attention for the colorful suits and jackets he wore on television. A writer for ESPN said he dressed like “a court jester” but “could gather information and tell stories with the best of them.”  He had good relationships with the players and coaches he reported on. Many of these people expressed their sadness after hearing of Sager’s death. Baseball star Hank Aaron wrote: “I thought the world of him and he will be sorely missed.”  Scottie Pippen wrote: “His fight to the end is what really impressed me.”  Retired football player Marcus Allen said, “Heaven just gained some colorful attire.”  Steve Kerr is a former NBA player and the current coach of the Golden State Warriors. Before his team’s game on Thursday night, he spoke to the fans. He said: “We considered a moment of silence but we thought it would be more appropriate to have a moment of joy, instead.” At that point everyone in the arena stood up and cheered for Sager. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. What do you think of Craig Sager’s story? Let us know in the comments section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   rival – n. a person or thing that tries to defeat or be more successful than another remission – n. a period of time during a serious illness when the patient's health improves commissioner – n. an official who is in charge of a major professional sport (such as baseball, football, or hockey) jester – n. a man who in the past was kept by a ruler to amuse people by acting silly and telling jokes sorely – adv. very much; badly attire – n. clothing appropriate – adj. right or suited for some purpose or situation joy – n. a feeling of great happiness    

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'To Build a Fire,' by Jack London

Our story today is called "To Build a Fire."  It was written by Jack London. Here is Harry Monroe with the story. The man walked down the trail on a cold, gray day. Pure white snow and ice covered the Earth for as far as he could see.  This was his first winter in Alaska.  He was wearing heavy clothes and fur boots.  But he still felt cold and uncomfortable. The man was on his way to a camp near Henderson Creek. His friends were already there. He expected to reach Henderson Creek by six o'clock that evening. It would be dark by then. His friends would have a fire and hot food ready for him. A dog walked behind the man.  It was a big gray animal, half dog and half wolf. The dog did not like the extreme cold.  It knew the weather was too cold to travel. The man continued to walk down the trail.  He came to a frozen stream called Indian Creek.  He began to walk on the snow-covered ice.  It was a trail that would lead him straight to Henderson Creek and his friends. As he walked, he looked carefully at the ice in front of him.  Once, he stopped suddenly, and then walked around a part of the frozen stream.  He saw that an underground spring flowed under the ice at that spot.  It made the ice thin.  If he stepped there, he might break through the ice into a pool of water.  To get his boots wet in such cold weather might kill him. His feet would turn to ice quickly. He could freeze to death. At about twelve o'clock, the man decided to stop to eat his lunch. He took off the glove on his right hand. He opened his jacket and shirt, and pulled out his bread and meat. This took less than twenty seconds. Yet, his fingers began to freeze. He hit his hand against his leg several times until he felt a sharp pain.  Then he quickly put his glove on his hand. He made a fire, beginning with small pieces of wood and adding larger ones. He sat on a snow-covered log and ate his lunch. He enjoyed the warm fire for a few minutes. Then he stood up and started walking on the frozen stream again. A half hour later, it happened. At a place where the snow seemed very solid, the ice broke. The man's feet sank into the water. It was not deep, but his legs got wet to the knees. The man was angry. The accident would delay his arrival at the camp. He would have to build a fire now to dry his clothes and boots. He walked over to some small trees. They were covered with snow. In their branches were pieces of dry grass and wood left by flood waters earlier in the year. He put several large pieces of wood on the snow, under one of the trees. On top of the wood, he put some grass and dry branches. He pulled off his gloves, took out his matches, and lighted the fire. He fed the young flame with more wood. As the fire grew stronger, he gave it larger pieces of wood. He worked slowly and carefully. At sixty degrees below zero, a man with wet feet must not fail in his first attempt to build a fire. While he was walking, his blood had kept all parts of his body warm. Now that he had stopped, cold was forcing his blood to withdraw deeper into his body. His wet feet had frozen. He could not feel his fingers. His nose was frozen, too. The skin all over his body felt cold. Now, however, his fire was beginning to burn more strongly. He was safe. He sat under the tree and thought of the old men in Fairbanks. The old men had told him that no man should travel alone in the Yukon when the temperature is sixty degrees below zero.  Yet here he was. He had had an accident. He was alone. And he had saved himself. He had built a fire. Those old men were weak, he thought. A real man could travel alone. If a man stayed calm, he would be all right. The man's boots were covered with ice. The strings on his boots were as hard as steel. He would have to cut them with his knife. He leaned back against the tree to take out his knife. Suddenly, without warning, a heavy mass of snow dropped down. His movement had shaken the young tree only a tiny bit. But it was enough to cause the branches of the tree to drop their heavy load. The man was shocked. He sat and looked at the place where the fire had been. The old men had been right, he thought. If he had another man with him, he would not be in any danger now. The other man could build the fire. Well, it was up to him to build the fire again. This time, he must not fail. The man collected more wood. He reached into his pocket for the matches. But his fingers were frozen. He could not hold them. He began to hit his hands with all his force against his legs. After a while, feeling came back to his fingers. The man reached again into his pocket for the matches. But the tremendous cold quickly drove the life out of his fingers. All the matches fell onto the snow. He tried to pick one up, but failed. The man pulled on his glove and again beat his hand against his leg. Then he took the gloves off both hands and picked up all the matches. He gathered them together. Holding them with both hands, he scratched the matches along his leg. They immediately caught fire. He held the blazing matches to a piece of wood. After a while, he became aware that he could smell his hands burning. Then he began to feel the pain. He opened his hands, and the blazing matches fell on to the snow. The flame went out in a puff of gray smoke. The man looked up. The dog was still watching him. The man got an idea. He would kill the dog and bury his hands inside its warm body. When the feeling came back to his fingers, he could build another fire. He called to the dog. The dog heard danger in the man's voice. It backed away. The man called again. This time the dog came closer. The man reached for his knife. But he had forgotten that he could not bend his fingers. He could not kill the dog, because he could not hold his knife. The fear of death came over the man. He jumped up and began to run. The running began to make him feel better. Maybe running would make his feet warm. If he ran far enough, he would reach his friends at Henderson Creek. They would take care of him. It felt strange to run and not feel his feet when they hit the ground. He fell several times.  He decided to rest a while. As he lay in the snow, he noticed that he was not shaking. He could not feel his nose or fingers or feet. Yet, he was feeling quite warm and comfortable.  He realized he was going to die. Well, he decided, he might as well take it like a man. There were worse ways to die. The man closed his eyes and floated into the most comfortable sleep he had ever known. The dog sat facing him, waiting. Finally, the dog moved closer to the man and caught the smell of death. The animal threw back its head. It let out a long, soft cry to the cold stars in the black sky. And then it tuned and ran toward Henderson Creek…where it knew there was food and a fire. You have just heard the AMERICAN STORY called "To Build a Fire."  It was written by Jack London and adapted by Dona de Sanctis. Your storyteller was Harry Monroe. Now it is your turn. Have you ever been in a dangerous situation in nature? How were you able to survive? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story creek - n. a place where a small amount of water flows glove - n. a covering for the hand that has separate parts for each finger withdraw - v. to take something back, away or out tremendous - adj. very large or great blazing - adj. very hot, fast, or powerful aware - adj. feeling, experiencing, or noticing something

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English @ the Movies: 'Brace For Impact'

Today on English @ the Movies we talk about the saying "brace for impact." It comes from the movie “Sully.” The film tells the true story of an airplane losing power and making an emergency landing on a river. Watch here to find out what "brace for impact" means!

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Twitter Users Appeal to US Electoral College

This is What’s Trending Today. The members of the Electoral College will cast their votes to uphold November’s presidential election on December 19. They are known as electors. Their part in presidential elections is described in the U.S. Constitution and in the 12th Amendment to the Constitution. Many people on Twitter are using the hashtag #EsteemedElectors in a last attempt to ask electors to vote for someone other than Donald Trump. Actor Josh Gad wrote: “Have courage. Protect our democracy. This is your right and your duty.”  Other actors, including Martin Sheen, who played the president on television, speak directly to Republican members of the Electoral College in a video. They say Donald Trump is not qualified to be president. They suggested that the electors choose a person who is qualified, and added that it does not have to be Hillary Clinton.   Many Trump supporters are saying the Electoral College members should follow the wishes of the people in their state. One person asked: “How do we know #EsteemedElectors isn’t a Russian operation to influence our election?” The recent news that Russian hackers may have influenced the U.S. presidential election has raised concerns among many people. Some are saying the electors need more information before casting their votes. One of those people is Virginia congressman Don Beyer. He said the Electoral College should delay its vote until its members can receive information from the Central Intelligence Agency about Russia’s effect on the election. Some electors sent an open letter to the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper asking for more details. They want to know if Russian interference is being investigated and whether the hackers were connected with the Trump campaign. In most election years, the Electoral College votes are a routine part of the process. The people who vote usually follow the popular vote in their state. This year, one elector has already said he will not follow his state’s vote. That is Christopher Suprun of Texas. He wrote an opinion article in the New York Times recently explaining that he would not vote for Trump. Suprun’s lone vote against Trump will not make a difference in the results. If the remaining electors follow the wishes of their state, Trump will receive more than the required 270 votes. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. What do you think of the last minute request of the electors? Let us know in the comments section. _____________________________________________________ Words in This Story uphold – v. to judge (a legal decision) to be correct : to decide not to change (a verdict) esteem – n. respect and affection courage – n. the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous hacker – n. a person who secretly gets access to a computer system in order to get information, cause damage, etc. : a person who hacks into a computer system routine – adj. done or happening as a normal part of a job, situation, or process  

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US Jury Finds Dylann Roof Guilty of Hate Crimes in Church Shooting

  A federal jury in the United States has Dylann Roof guilty of killing nine people at a South Carolina church in June 2015. The white supremacist was found guilty of 33 charges, including nine hate crimes resulting in death and three hate crimes in an attempt to kill. Government lawyers said the 22-year-old Roof targeted the black church members during a Bible study meeting. The prosecutors said Roof waited until the church members closed their eyes to pray before shooting them. They called the shooter hateful and cowardly. Three people survived the shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church. The trial lasted a week. Jurors announced their decision after discussing the case for just two hours. The same jurors will return to the court in early January to decide if Roof should be executed or sentenced to life in prison. I’m Caty Weaver. Christopher Jones-Cruise wrote this story from reports by the Associated Press, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. 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   supremacist - n. a person who believes that one group of people is better than all other groups and should have control over them​ prosecutor -​ n. a lawyer who represents the side in a court case that accuses a person of a crime and who tries to prove that the person is guilty​ cowardly -​ adv. afraid in a way that makes you unable to do what is right or expected; lacking courage    

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The Mystery of the Disappearing "That"

  From VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar.  Today, we are going to explore a mysterious word in English that seems to appear and disappear at will! If you are wondering what we mean, consider these examples. One is from a classic American film Casablanca. The second is from the popular music group Plan B. "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship"                                                   -- Casablanca "Now we don't talk and it's a shame, I guess I only have myself to blame, Cos girl you meant so much to me" -- Plan B Both of these clips have something in common: they leave out the word "that." Why did Humphrey Bogart, the main actor in Casablanca, not say, "I think that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship"? Why did Plan B not sing, "I guess that I only have myself to blame"? In today's Everyday Grammar, we will explore why and when English speakers leave out the word that from a sentence. That in a noun clause The word that can have several meanings in the English language. Sometimes, it can be used to indicate an object or a person, as in the sentence "That man is very nice!" Other times, the word that is used to introduce a second clause to a sentence. You might hear someone say, "I think that English grammar is difficult!"* It is this use of that that often confuses English language learners. Today, we are studying the word that in a noun clause. A clause is a group of words that has a subject and a predicate. In other words, it could stand on its own as a sentence. When a group of words could be a complete sentence, we call it an independent clause. "I love English grammar" or "I hate English grammar" are two examples of independent clauses that function as complete sentences. However, sometimes a clause depends on other clauses in a sentence. It cannot stand on its own as a sentence. When this is the case, we say that the clause is dependent. One type of dependent clause is the that-clause. It acts as a noun in the sentence. It often follows common verbs like think, say, or guess, and all of the verbs that are synonyms of these verbs, like believe, admit, remind, and so on. Here is an example: I think that learning English is fun. In the sentence, the main clause is "I think" and the that-clause gives more information about the main clause. It is in these types of clauses – clauses that give more information about the main clause - that English speakers often leave out the word that. One reason that they drop the word that from these sentences is because the word that adds little information.** So, in a conversation, you are more likely to hear "I think learning English is fun" than "I think that learning English is fun." What can you do? There is not really a rule about when to leave out the word that from a that-clause. It is a stylistic choice. Conrad and Biber are two English grammar experts. They say there are three general characteristics that usually go along with leaving out the word that from a sentence. Characteristic #1 The verb in the main clause is "say" or "think" The first characteristic is that the main clause has the verb say or think. So, when a speaker begins a sentence with ‘I think’ or ‘he thought’ or some other use of 'say,' you are less likely to hear the word that. This explanation tells you why Humphrey Bogart, in the famous film Casablanca, said, "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" instead of "I think that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Characteristic #2 Subject of that-clause is the same as the main clause The second characteristic of sentences that leave out that is: the subject of the that-clause is the same as the main clause. This explanation tells you why Plan B sang "I guess I only have myself to blame" instead of "I guess that I only have myself to blame." The subject of the main clause, I, is the same as the subject of the that-­clause, I. Characteristic #3 Subject of that-clause is a personal pronoun The third characteristic of sentences that leave out that is as follows: the subject of the that-clause is a personal pronoun. You might hear a teacher say, "I knew he didn't do his homework," for example. The subject of the main clause is I, and the subject of the that-clause is the personal pronoun, he. You Are More Likely to See "That" in Writing All of these characteristics are less common in writing. You are more likely to find a complete that-clause in fiction and newspapers, and most likely to find it in academic writing. You are least likely to hear it in conversation. These characteristics of language can be difficult to learn. However, with time and practice, you will begin to recognize how native speakers leave out parts of the language. Understanding that words – such as that – are sometimes left out of a sentence will also help you read and understand English better. I'm John Russell. And I'm Jill Robbins.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.   *We are not discussing relative clauses with "that" in this story. ** In these types of sentences, "that" is acting as an expletive. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   clause – n. a part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb predicate – n. grammar the part of a sentence that expresses what is said about the subject function – v. to have a specified function, role, or purpose dependent clause – n. grammar a clause that does not form a simple sentence by itself and that is connected to the main clause of a sentence drop – v. to not include (someone or something) characteristic – n. a special quality or trait that makes a person, thing, or group different from others

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India Celebrates 50th Anniversary for Rice That Prevented Famines

  Back in 1966, a farmer named Nekkanti Subha Rao planted a new variety of rice in the southeastern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The rice plant is called IR8. It was the creation of scientists at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines. Scientists created the IR8 variety by combining a tall rice plant from Indonesia and a shorter version from China. IR8 was the world’s first highly productive rice. It is credited with having prevented famines and providing food for millions of people. Agricultural experts say IR8 rice is partly responsible for the Green Revolution, which began in the 1940s and continued through the 1960s. During this period, farmers increased their use of man-made fertilizers and pesticides, and irrigation systems to water crops. Food production sharply increased and helped prevent widespread hunger. India and the International Rice Research Institute have been celebrating the 50th anniversary of IR8 rice, which became known as “miracle rice.” Farmer Rao, now 80 years old, remembers his surprise when he harvested a shocking 7.5 tons of rice on every hectare. “Never before,” he said. “Every farmer feeling very, very, very happy, happy. 100 percent success.” Many Asian countries struggled with food shortages in the 1960s and 1970s. IR8 and other varieties that followed helped increase rice production in Asia by 200 percent. The increase helped prevent widespread hunger. “It transformed agriculture,” said Dr. Nafees Meah, the institute’s representative for South Asia. He said the Green Revolution prevented the food crises that happened in those years. “It saved millions of lives.” After India, IR8 rice was planted in other Asian countries, such as the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia, where rice is the main food for most people. Agriculture experts say that the plant’s shorter length made IR8 rice stronger and less likely to fail before harvest time. And, it took less time to grow compared to local rice. So, farmers could plant more than one crop on the same land.​ Recalling the Green Revolution Even with the rise in food production, the Green Revolution also led to some long-term troubles. As The New York Times reported, crops such as IR8 rice required heavy use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. This method of agriculture left behind chemical pollution, noted U.S. News & World Report magazine. It also used up a lot of soil nutrients, and eventually led to soil depletion. So, farmers needed more and more fertilizer, according to National Public Radio (NPR). Crops like IR8 also needed more water than natural rainfall offered, so farmers had to irrigate the soil and build wells, NPR noted. In India, this caused the groundwater to sink as much as one meter each year. This “package of practices” was costly, especially for poor farmers. Many of the farmers used credit to buy the products and services, but could not pay back their loans. So, they went into debt, lost their land, and were forced to move to crowded cities to find work. After they left, richer farmers bought their land. There was very little work on the larger farms because farmers began turning to tractors and other modern equipment. So, human labor decreased, creating high rural unemployment in some areas. Widespread planting of only one or two varieties of rice also reduced biodiversity. In the long-term, this can lead to the spread of disease among plants. Feeding a growing world The methods used during the Green Revolution saved nearly one billion people from starvation, according to the New York Times. However, experts are divided on whether the lasting results are more good than bad. Today food security is still an issue, and not just for Asia. At the same time, malnourishment continues to affect millions of poor people on the continent. And everywhere, farmers are dealing with issues resulting from climate change. Rod Wing is an American scientist at the International Rice Research Institute. He says developing new kinds of rice with more nutrients but less of a harmful effect on the environment can reduce our dependence on gases linked to climate change. The problem, he says, is that the rice must require less water, fertilizer, and pesticides. In recent years, new kinds of rice that are more resistant to dry weather and floods are showing promising results in eastern India and Bangladesh, a country where floods used to cover or wash away crops. A genetically engineered variety of rice has been developed to improve Vitamin A levels. Lack of Vitamin A kills many children under the age of five. In addition, researchers are developing crops that keep blood sugar lower and release energy slowly. But the challenge of productivity that IR8 rice fueled remains, noted Wing. “The big question is…how are we going to feed three more billion people on the planet by 2050?” And while some farmers are experiencing larger harvests, they continue to battle other problems. The cost of growing the rice is “very, very high now. Labor cost is high,” said farmer Rao. I'm Bryan Lynn. And I’m Alice Bryant. Anjana Pasricha reported this story for VOANews.com. Alice Bryant adapted her 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   variety - n. a particular kind of person or thing pesticide - n. a chemical that is used to kill animals or insects that damage plants or crops transform - v. to change something completely - and usually in a good way depletion - n. to use most or all of something important; to greatly reduce the amount of something irrigate - v. to supply something (such as land) with water by using artificial means (such as pipes) tractor - n. a large vehicle used to pull farm equipment biodiversity - n. the existence of many different kinds of plants and animals in an environment malnourishment - n. lack of proper nutrition climate change - n. a change in global climate patterns caused by an increase in carbon dioxide resulting from the use of fossil fuels (coal and natural gas)

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