President Donald Trump officially withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal on Monday. The move was expected. Even before he announced his candidacy for president 18 months ago, Trump said the trade deal was bad for American workers. The president signed an anti-TPP executive order at the White House, as reporters watched. "We’ve been talking about this for a long time,” Trump said. “A great thing for the American worker, what we just did." During his campaign for the presidency, Trump said some trade deals with other countries cost America jobs. He said they lead employers to move operations outside the United States to save on labor costs. Obama administration negotiated TPP The United States negotiated the TPP during the administration of former President Barack Obama. But the U.S. Congress never approved the trade deal. The agreement would have lowered tariffs on trade involving the U.S. and 11 other countries, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile and Japan. The others are Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. The TPP would have been the biggest trade deal in history, covering nearly 40 percent of the world economy. China did not take part in the negotiations. But it appears ready to sign its own trade deals with Southeast Asian countries that would have been part of the TPP. Former President Obama said the trade agreement would be good for the United States. Without a deal, he said, China would write the rules for the global economy. Last Friday, Trump was sworn-in as president. He was elected last November after defeating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Both she and Obama are members of the Democratic Party. Trump was the Republican presidential candidate. After being sworn-in, Trump said his administration would work to put “America First,” signaling a move to more isolationist policies. TPP would have cut more than 18,000 tariffs, including taxes on all goods made in the U.S. and almost all American farm products. The deal sought to end child labor abuses and set better conditions for workers on pay, hours of work and safety and health. At the start of talks with business leaders on Monday, Trump said he would reduce government rules on businesses by 75 percent or more. And he said the U.S. government would be streamlined. By streamlined, he meant there would be fewer government workers. “The regulations are going to be cut massively and the taxes way down," he said. But he also warned the business leaders not to move operations to other countries. He said businesses would pay a heavy price if they make products in other countries, and then try to sell them in the United States. The new president said he also wants to change the terms of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada. On Sunday, Trump announced he will discuss NAFTA, immigration and border security when he meets with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto at the end of January. The Trump administration said he also plans to meet soon with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "I think we're going to have a very good result for Mexico, for the United States, and for everyone involved," Trump said. Japan approved TPP Friday Last week, Japan’s Parliament approved the TPP. But Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that without the United States, the trade deal would become “meaningless.” Japanese stock prices fell on Monday. Market watchers said it showed investors’ reaction to Trump’s “America First” speech and the U.S. rejection of the TPP. South Korea is not part of the TPP, but has a free trade agreement with the United States. Some American companies noted that South Korea tries to get around the agreement by putting strong non-tariff rules on U.S. imports. On Monday, South Korea’s Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn said the South Korean government has been in contact with the Trump administration. He said the government told Trump officials that it has lived up to the trade agreement. Also on Monday, Trump signed executive orders suspending the employment of new federal workers, except for the military. His spokesman said the only exception would be workers in national or public security positions. Another order banned U.S. non-governmental organizations that receive federal money from providing abortions outside the United States. The organizations had received government funding during the Obama presidency. Ken Bredemeier and Brian Padden reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted the reports for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story tariff - n. a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country isolationist - adj. a policy of not working so much with other countries massively - adv. very large complain - v. to express unhappiness with something abortion - n. a medical procedure used to end a pregnancy and cause the death of the fetus
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Monday, January 23, 2017
Disabled Rights Activist Honored by Google
Here is What's Trending Today. Google Doodle, the image on the opening page for Google searches, shows a man using a wheelchair and breathing machine at the front of a classroom. The man is Edward Verne Roberts, an early activist for disability rights in the United States. Birth of an activist When he was 14 years old, Roberts became ill with polio and was paralyzed from the neck down. He had to sleep in an iron lung at night and rested in it during the day. Breathing on his own was not easy: he had to gulp air using his mouth and throat muscles. Roberts went to high school by telephone until his fourth year, when his mother asked the school to let him come in person. Other students stared at him, but he decided it was because he was like a "star" – different from the other students. At first, the high school said he could not graduate because he did not take the classes in physical education or driving a car. Roberts’ career as an activist began when he fought for the right to graduate without those classes. College career Roberts was the first severely disabled student to attend the University of California at Berkeley. That was not easy, either. School administrators thought Roberts would never be able to get a job, so he had no reason to attend the university. He also had to fight for a living space where he could use his iron lung. Eventually, part of the university's hospital was opened to him. Soon other disabled students were able to move into the space and attend classes. Roberts earned a Bachelor's Degree from Berkeley in 1964 and a Master's Degree in Political Science in 1966. The MLK of the disability rights movement Roberts and the other disabled students at Berkeley formed a support group. They called it the Rolling Quads. “Quads” is a shortened word for “quadriplegic,” a person who has paralysis in both arms and both legs. The people around them were surprised that the Rolling Quads had a positive view of being disabled. The group’s positive message and successes led to more activism for the disability rights movement in the wider community. Roberts was an early leader of the Center for Independent Living in Berkeley and is seen as the father of the Independent Living movement. It is an international movement of people with disabilities. They are working for equal opportunities, self-determination, and self-respect. In 1976, California Governor Jerry Brown appointed Roberts as Director of the California Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. This agency had once said Roberts was too disabled to work. He worked there until 1983. Roberts died of a heart attack in 1995 at age 56. His wheelchair is in the Smithsonian Museum. It was donated by his friend Mike Boyd, who called Roberts "the Martin Luther King Jr. of the disability rights movement." I'm Jill Robbins. Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. You can hear Ed Roberts in this YouTube video. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story disability - n. a condition (such as an illness or an injury) that damages or limits a person's physical or mental abilities polio - n. a serious disease that affects the nerves of the spine and often makes a person permanently unable to move particular muscles paralyze - v. to make (a person or animal) unable to move or feel all or part of the body iron lung - n. a form of medical ventilator that enables a person to breathe when normal muscle control has been lost gulp - v. to eat or swallow (something) quickly or in large amounts stare - v. to look at someone or something for a long time often with your eyes wide open quadriplegic - n. a person who is permanently unable to move or feel both arms and both legs because of injury or illness self-determination - n. the freedom to make your own choices Now it’s your turn. Do disabled people have equal rights where you live? What are they doing to get equal opportunities to work and get an education? Write to us in the comments section or on our Facebook page.
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Bumblebee Added to US Endangered Species List
A small insect is getting a lot of attention in the United States. The rusty patched bumblebee is the first of its species to be declared endangered in the lower 48 states -- meaning every state except Alaska and Hawaii. The rusty patched bumblebee is named for a rust-colored line on its back. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service announced this month it was adding the bee to its endangered species list. The insects are “on the brink of extinction,” according to the service. It said the bees were once found in 28 states. But there now are only small populations remaining in 13 states. The government agency will make a plan to help the dying bees recover. The agency said that such a plan might help other insects, like butterflies. U.S. officials think land owners can take small steps to help the rusty patched bumble bee. They say land owners can be friendlier towards bees by using native plants in their gardens. The insects directly fertilize many kinds of fruit and vegetable crops. And they fertilize grain crops used to feed cattle and milk cows. It costs billions of dollars to duplicate the job the bees do for free. Land owners are also being urged to cut back on their use of pesticide products. The officials also suggest that gardeners leave their plants alone at the end of the summer instead of cutting them. That way, the bees will have a place to live over the winter. The Fish and Wildlife Service says the rusty patched bumblebee was added to the endangered species list partly because of habitat loss. Other reasons were disease, pesticides and climate change. Officials are worried that other bees will suffer, too. Another species of bees in Hawaii is also endangered. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a story by VOANews.com. George Grow was the editor. Do you think the bees will recover? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story patch – n. a small place that is different from the surrounding area species – n. animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants extinction – n. the state or situation that results when something has died out completely pesticide – n. a chemical that is used to kill creatures that damage plants or crops habitat – n. the place where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives or grows duplicate – v. to copy; to do something that is exactly the same as something else garden – n. a place where fruits, flowers and other plants are grown
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British Start-Up Uses Feathers to Make Building Materials
Bird feathers have long been used in clothing and in bedding. Manufacturers often use feathers because of their light weight and the warmth they provide in a cold room or climate. Now, two students in Britain are studying how to use them in other ways, like keeping homes warm, for example. A student project has success Chicken is a popular food in many countries, and the number of poultry killed for their meat is rising. Britain alone processes more than 945 million white-feathered chickens every year, creating tons of leftover feathers. Two students from Imperial College London want to turn these feathers into something useful. Elena Dieckman and Ryan Robinson are each working toward a Doctor of Philosophy degree, or PhD. They are the founders of a start-up company called Aeropowder. The two had an idea to create useful materials from waste. They developed a biodegradable product that could replace man-made insulation. Biodegradable materials are capable of being slowly broken down through natural processes. Builders usually add insulation to homes and offices. The insulation can reduce the energy demands of heating and cooling systems. Dieckman and Robinson won several awards for their prototype insulation, including the Mayor of London's Low Carbon Entrepreneur Challenge. The $23,000 they won in the competition helped them start their company, Aeropowder. Why are feathers useful? Elena Dieckman explains why feathers are a useful material: "Feathers are a real wonder material. They are designed by nature to protect birds from really harsh environments. So they are super lightweight, they're thermally insulating, they're water repellent, bio-degradable. So it's a really great material." Robinson adds that their goal is to develop ways to use the entire feather, not just parts of it. If successful, Aeropowder may help prevent the waste of this useful natural material. I’m John Russell. Zlatica Hoke reported on this story for VOA News. John Russell adapted it 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 insulator – n. a material that allows little or no heat, electricity, or sound to go into or out of something prototype – n. an original or first model of something from which other forms are copied or developed poultry – n. birds (such as chickens and ducks) that are raised on farms for their eggs or meat
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January 23, 2017
A look at the best news photos from around the world.
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Sunday, January 22, 2017
Will Trump’s Presidency Boost Global Populist Movements?
Populist movements are making major gains across the world with the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States. Most political observers believe Trump’s path to the presidency was fueled by populist policies. Populist movements attempt to appeal to common people by rejecting established political organizations often seen as elite. In his inauguration speech, Trump spoke of his strong desire to put the interests of Americans first, above all else. Trump said his administration will seek “friendship and goodwill” with other nations. But he added: “We do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first.” “We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs,” he said. “Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.” In the past, Trump has questioned the relevance of the 67-year-old NATO military alliance. During his speech, he said the United States will aim to “reinforce old alliances and form new ones.” Trump has repeatedly promised to build a wall along the southern U.S. border to keep illegal immigrants out. He also called for severe immigration enforcement measures for people already in the U.S. Thomas Greven is a political science professor at Germany’s Free University of Berlin. He says Trump won the presidency with a message of economic protectionism and tough immigration reforms. He said Trump could give a boost to other populist movements around the world, depending on how he handles his first months in office. “Now right-wing populists everywhere who feel validated by Trump's victory will have to account - to a certain extent - for everything he does and says.” But Greven said Trump could disappoint supporters both at home and abroad if his policies end up offending other nations. “An international movement of nationalists is frail because they end up offending each other,” he said. Similar policies have been used by political movements in other countries as a way to win votes. Brexit vote One of the biggest examples was last year’s Brexit referendum, in which British citizens voted to leave the European Union. The campaign for Britain leaving the E.U. also focused heavily on immigration issues. It said Britain was not able to effectively control the number of immigrants because of E.U. rules. The Brexit movement believed the E.U. imposed too many regulations in Britain. It also argued that its leaders were not accountable to the British government or its citizens. Trump has repeatedly praised Britain’s decision to leave the E.U. He recently said in an interview that Brexit would “end up being a great thing.” He predicted that more E.U. members would choose to leave, mainly because of immigration problems in Europe. “If refugees keep pouring into different parts of Europe, I think it's going to be very hard to keep it together, because people are angry about it,” Trump said. Immigration, an issue in Germany’s election Trump has also criticized German Chancellor Angela Merkel for that country’s decision to open its borders in 2015 to about one million refugees. Most of the refugees were Muslims fleeing war in the Middle East. Trump called the action “a catastrophic mistake.” Merkel is seeking a fourth term as chancellor in elections to be held in September. Her popularity has dropped since the refugee crisis. Last month, a man drove a truck through a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people. The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party (AfD) blamed Merkel’s immigration policies for allowing the attack to happen. Professor Greven said the AfD will win a presence in parliament and is likely to make bigger gains at the state level. Currently, Merkel’s CDU-led alliance is leading in polls against the AfD. But even if her party wins in September, she will likely have to form a coalition government with other parties. Rise of National Front in France In France, the leader of the far-right National Front (NF), Marine Le Pen, is a leading candidate for that country’s presidential election in April. She has said she believes Trump’s win and the Brexit vote have helped her campaign. The National Front has heavily used anti-immigration policies to win voter support. It has specifically spoken out against Muslim immigration after several major terrorist attacks hit France. During a recent interview, Le Pen outlined some of her priorities if she won the presidency. She said she would hold a referendum on leaving the E.U., close French borders and push for an alliance with Russia and the United States to fight Islamist terrorism. Greven said France’s National Front has moved on from being the party of the lower middle class to more of a working class party. It is now appealing to a larger number of voters, including former communists and socialists, he added. Other politicians in Europe have also faced strong opposition from populist or nationalist candidates. Populist Movement in other EU nations In a close race in Austria last month, far-right candidate Norbert Hofer won 47 percent of the vote against Green Party candidate Alexander Van der Bellen. Even though Hofer lost, the close election reflected increasing gains of populist movements. In Italy, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi resigned in December after losing to populist and national parties in a referendum over constitutional reforms. In the Netherlands, recent polls showed continued strong support for far-right politician Geert Wilders ahead of a general election in March. Wilders and his Freedom Party have repeatedly made statements against Islam and Muslim immigration. Wilders himself was found guilty of inciting discrimination and insulting a minority group. The charges came after he led a chant at a meeting calling for the Netherlands to accept fewer Moroccan immigrants. I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, with information coming from VOA News, the Associated Press and Reuters. Hai Do 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 elite – n. the richest and most powerful group in society ravages – n. damaging effects caused by bad things prosperity – n. being successful, usually by making a lot of money validate – v. make something official or legal manipulate – v. to control someone or something into doing what you want them to do frail – adj. weak in strength referendum – n. a direct vote in which people cast ballots to decide on a specific issue or policy accountable – adj. being responsible for something catastrophic – adj. resulting of a terrible disaster incite – v. to cause something to happen chant – n. the repeated saying of a word, phrase or slogan by a crowd
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Airbus to Test Self-Flying ‘Air Taxi’ in 2017
Airbus says it plans to test a prototype of a self-flying vehicle to transport people in the sky above busy city streets. Testing of the “air taxi” is expected to begin before the end of the year, according to Airbus chief executive Tom Enders. “One hundred years ago, urban transport went underground, now we have the technological wherewithal to go above ground,” Enders recently told a technology conference in Germany. His comments were reported by Reuters. Enders said that while Airbus is just starting to experiment with flying vehicles, it is taking the developments “very seriously.” France-based Airbus is one of the largest airplane manufacturers in the world. It makes commercial aircraft, helicopters and space equipment. The flying transporter project is being led by the company’s Urban Air Mobility division. The division was launched last year to explore the use of personal flying machines and helicopter-style vehicles in the future. The vehicles would be part of a taxi-style service allowing riders to book through an app, the same way as car-sharing companies. Enders said that in many ways, autonomous flying will be easier to manage than autonomous driving. But autonomous flying is still far behind self-driving technology, and therefore will take longer to become a reality, he added. He said his company is investing now in autonomous flying technology to prepare for the inevitable future of self-flying vehicles. “If we ignore these developments, we will be pushed out of important segments of the business,” Enders said. He added that flying vehicles can greatly reduce costs for city infrastructure projects like roads and bridges. Airbus is looking at using electric vehicles to avoid adding more pollution to crowded cities. Another Airbus official predicted that in as little as 10 years, flying vehicles will be on the worldwide market to “revolutionize urban travel for millions of people.” Last October, ride-sharing company Uber announced plans to use flying vehicles in the future to avoid ground traffic around cities. Uber’s plan would use small, fully electric aircraft that could take off and land like a helicopter, without the need for long runways. The company said its flying vehicles would also be much quieter and less polluting than helicopters. Uber has said its planned flying service – which would eventually use pilotless aircraft – could launch within 10 years. I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on a report from Reuters and information from Airbus and Uber. Hai Do was the editor. How do you feel about flying vehicles used to carry people? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story prototype – n. original or first model of something from which others are developed or made wherewithal – n. the means needed to do something autonomous – adj. existing separately from other things inevitable – adj. something that cannot be prevented segment – n. a separate part of something
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Low Coal Prices Mean Heavy Smog in China
Smog is a health concern in many areas, such as China’s capital. Beijing started the New Year with heavy smog hanging over the city. The skies seemed darker than usual, resulting from the thick clouds mixing with smoke and air pollution. Beijing residents were forced to wear protection from the heavy smog when traveling. Many people wore a mask to cover their nose and mouth. Masks help keep them from breathing the small pieces of unhealthy particulates floating in the air. But China’s capital is not alone. Bloomberg News reports that heavy smog has forced more than 60 cities, including Beijing, to declare health alerts so far this year. Last week, Chinese media announced the government is stopping local weather bureaus from making smog alert declarations. This raised suggestions that the government is trying to withhold information about air pollution. The smog has led to delays of airline flights, problems involving shipping and port operations, and school closings in the north and center of the country. In early January, more than 2,000 people were forced to stay on a cruise ship for two days because of smog. The thick clouds prevented the ship from reaching the port of Tianjin safely, the Beijing Evening News reported. The same week, three northern ports had to suspend loading of goods on ships for one day because air pollution made it difficult to see. The government and environmentalists say the smog is coming from coal-burning factories and power stations. Coal-burning power plants in both China and the United States are responsible for about 40 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. Studies have linked the emissions to rising temperatures in Earth’s atmosphere. The Paris Climate accords aim to slow the release of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the air. Nearly 200 governments signed the agreements in December 2015. In December 2016, the Chinese government released new, five-year targets for cutting its huge coal production.The plan is to reduce the coal production capacity by 800 million metric tons in 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission said. Chinese officials are trying to restrict the use of coal in the very cold, northern parts of the country. Across large areas of the countryside, people burn untreated coal in home stoves to stay warm. Between 1950 and 1980, coal was given to people for free. Today many Chinese still depend on it for heating. Yao Junhua lives in Qi’nan. Here Yao is heard through a translator as he sits by his home stove filled with coal. "I don't think burning coal for heating can cause terrible air pollution. I think it is unfair for them to blame us as the source of pollution. We burn very little coal in villages." Environmentalists say both the large industrial plants and small stoves are responsible for China’s air pollution. Ma Jun is director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs. His words are also translated here: "But for these surrounding areas, it is not necessarily the case that coal burning for household heating is the main source of pollution. The main source of pollution is steel factories and heavy industries, and our priority should be given to shutting down these major polluters." Recently, the government announced plans to establish a new police force. Its officers will deal with environmental crimes as part of efforts to clean up the air and punish repeat polluters. The government has invested billions in clean energy — to cut back on the need for imported oil and gas, as well as coal. Not including large-scale hydroelectric dams, China invested $103 billion last year in wind, solar and other renewable sources, according to the United Nations Environment Program. The United States spent $44 billion. At the same time, China has promised to build a number of new coal plants. Some Beijing residents are angry about living in a polluted cloud. Zhan Yan, who lives in Beijing, is heard through a translator: "I believe we will eventually resolve the air pollution problem, but the thing is how long does it take for them to fix this? If they need a few decades, my child will live under the smog all his life and I will end my life in smog as well. If so, where is the hope? " Some people in China might be trying to escape from the pollution, at least for a short period. Bloomberg says people there are looking to take “lung cleansing” trips to Antarctica and Iceland. It says traveler online searches for terms like “smog escape,” “lung cleansing” and “forests,” had tripled during the thick air pollution time. That information comes from a report titled “Smog Escape Travel Ranking” by the Ctrip.com website. Warm islands like the Seychelles and the Maldives also made the list. As long as coal remains the cheapest way to stay warm, China will have to continue to work for cleaner air. I’m Anne Ball. Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English with material from VOA News, Reuters, and Agence France Presse. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story smog – n. cloudy air caused by air pollution emission – n. the act of producing or sending out something from a source capacity – n. the ability to hold or contain people or things resident – n. someone who lives in a particular place alert – n. a public warning or notice translator – n. a person who changes words in one language to another hydroelectric – adj. of or relating to the production of electricity by using machines powered by moving water cheap – adj. least costly
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Microsoft Helps People Learn Computer Coding
Computer coding was once an activity for computer programmers and software engineers. Now, thanks to Microsoft Corporation, anyone around the world has the chance to learn coding skills. Microsoft has partnered with Code.org, a non-profit group, to offer free in-store classes and online training on coding. The programs are being offered in the United States and overseas. A universal language Every online website and mobile application program is coded with a programming “language,” such as Java or C++. The step-by-step directions for each language are not hard to understand. They can be taught to someone as young as 4 years old. Dona Sarkar serves as principal programs manager at Microsoft. “Coding is a universal language,” she notes. “Coding is the language of solving problems. It’s very rare that a new literacy comes along in our lifetime. It absolutely can be democratized.” World-wide learning On a recent day, a handful of students attended a class at a Microsoft store in New York City. They studied the “Minecraft” video game to learn about coding. They learned to put together virtual blocks of code for simple commands like “move forward” and “turn left.” These commands direct the movement of the images in the game. Microsoft is also expanding coding programs overseas. The company has given computer hardware to 25 entrepreneurs in Lagos, Nigeria to help get their business startup ideas up and running. It also provided technical and business training to them. “Many of our entrepreneurs are not technical, Sarkar said. “But that does not mean they don’t know what problems exist in Nigeria and they don’t have a solution to fix it.” One of the Nigerian startup businesses is called OneTrack. It is creating mobile-tracking technology to fight against child kidnapping. Building and learning for different environments. Yet coding students in different countries face different problems. “We were coding one night,” Sarkar remembered. “We were working on prototypes. The lights go out. No one notices. They (the coders) just keep typing. To them it’s a way of life.” The incident served as an example of the day-to-day problems that can affect some Microsoft users. It provided information for Microsoft officials on the ways in which they can improve their products. I’m Phil Dierking. Tina Trinh reported this story for VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. How do you think learning computer programming can help people around the world? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story application – n. an application, especially as downloaded by a user to a mobile device. code – n. a set of instructions for a computer entrepreneur – n. a person who starts a business feedback – n. helpful information or criticism that is given to someone hardware – n. collection of physical parts of a computer system literacy – n. the ability to read and write online – adj. connected to a computer, a computer network, or the Internet prototype – n. an original or first model of something from which other forms are copied or developed startup – n. a newly established business.
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