Henry Reese: City of Aslyum Pittsburgh Giving Writers in Danger A Safe Place to Live

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African Leaders Prize Unity in Admitting Morocco to AU

  As of last week, Morocco was the only African country that was not a member of the African Union, or AU.   That situation has changed. On Monday, African leaders decided to admit Morocco to the union. The decision came as part of the leaders' meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  Thirty-nine of 54 AU countries voted to support Moroccan membership with the group.   The King of Morocco, Mohammad VI, praised the decision. "It is a beautiful day when one returns home after too long of an absence,” he said. “Africa is my continent and my home." Why was Morocco not a member of the AU?  In July, Morocco announced its desire to rejoin the AU. The country formerly belonged to the organization's predecessor, the Organization for African Unity, or OAU. But Morocco left the organization in 1984 because of its move to recognize the disputed territory of Western Sahara as independent. It also was protesting the OAU’s decision to admit the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic as a member. The Sahrawi Republic is a government in exile. It wants the Western Sahara to be independent. The United States does not recognize the Sahrawi Republic. It is considered the government arm of the group known as the Polisario Front. Morocco claims the Western Sahara and considers it an important part of its territory.  The dispute over the area has lasted over 30 years. It has created tense relationships, notably between Morocco and Algeria, according to a 2014 report from Congressional Research Services. The service investigates legal and policy issues for the U.S. Congress. Some people living in the Western Sahara -- and supporters of the Polisario Front -- dispute Morocco's claim to the territory. The Western Sahara's delegation accuses Morocco of "colonizing" the large seaside territory. Sidi Omar is the delegation’s ambassador-at-large. He says the leaders’ decision to admit Morocco without settling the Western Sahara question violates the AU's position against colonialism. He told VOA the Saharan Republic will not leave the AU. The delegation wants Morocco to stop claiming the territory. Omar thinks the AU decision has wider consequences. "It does not only concern Western Sahara or the Sahara Republic,” he said. “It does concern Africa as a whole. … If this principle of borders is not respected, Africa will be doomed to chaos." Common interests, common spirit Delegates and diplomats told reporters in Addis Ababa that the idea of Africa "sticking together" is important. Egypt's Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs, Mohammed Edrees, said that the general belief among AU leaders was that "at the end, we have to have the African house together." He explained that it was important "to find a way forward, not a divisive way forward, but to move toward our common African interest, common African spirit." Concerns about possible changes to U.S. Policy A number of delegates at the conference publicly and privately shared concerns about recent, sudden changes in U.S. policies. These include changes – or possible changes - to immigration, dealings with other countries and environmental policies. Judi Wakhungu is Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for the Environment. She told VOA that talks about the Paris Agreement on climate change were overshadowed by the arrival of the new U.S. administration. She said China is prepared to reduce its pollution by showing leadership in solar energy. In her view, the U.S. position is not as clear: "We are then seeing pronunciations that the new U.S. administration is going to actually roll back on the commitments that have been made. As I said, it's only January, and we hope that reason will prevail. Because we're all in the same boat." African unity was the goal of the African Union’s predecessor, the Organization for African Unity. It seems today’s AU is getting closer to it, but in a more complex world. 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. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   predecessor – n. something that comes before something else ambassador-at-large – n. an ambassador with special duties, not appointed to one country doom – v. to make (someone or something) sure to fail, suffer or die sticking together – phrasal verb to continue to support each other overshadow – v. to be more important that something else. absence – n. a period of time when someone is not present at a place, job, etc. according to – prepositional phrase as stated, reported, or recorded by (someone or something)

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Trump Names Neil Gorsuch to US Supreme Court

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Trump Names Conservative Judge to US Supreme Court

President Donald Trump named a conservative federal appeals court judge, Neil Gorsuch, to the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday. Gorsuch, 49, is the youngest nominee for the Supreme Court in 25 years. If confirmed by the Senate, he likely will be able to influence important legal issues for many years to come. But he faces strong opposition from Democrats who said the post should have gone to former President Barack Obama’s nominee. Trump said he made the right choice. “Judge Gorsuch has outstanding legal skills, a brilliant mind, tremendous discipline and has earned bipartisan support," Trump said. It was Trump’s first televised address from the White House. As a candidate for president, Trump released the names of 21 judges supported by a conservative judicial group, the Federalist Society. He promised to appoint judges ready to overturn a 1973 Supreme Court ruling that gave women the right to abortions. Supreme Court will likely rule on important issues The U.S. Supreme Court has the final say on many important legal cases. It has and likely will rule again on issues such as abortion rights, the right to own guns, environmental regulations and religious freedoms. The nomination of Gorsuch will not change the narrow Supreme Court majority that protect a women’s right to abortion. But if another vacancy occurs, the court could end up with a majority willing to reverse the decision. And another vacancy would not be unexpected, given that three current Supreme Court justices who have supported abortion rights are over 78-years old. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 83, Anthony Kennedy is 80 and Stephen Breyer is 78. Gorsuch is a judge on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, Colorado. He was approved by a voice vote in the Senate to the court in 2006. The voice vote signaled that his appointment by President George W. Bush was not considered controversial. In one high-profile case, Gorsuch ruled against the Obama administration by saying that employers cannot be required to provide birth control as part of health insurance policies. The case was brought by businesses that said they opposed birth control on religious grounds. Speaking at the White House, Gorsuch said that a judge should rule, not based on his or her opinions, but based on the law and the U.S. Constitution. Democrats to oppose the nomination The usual nine-member U.S. Supreme Court has been down one justice, since Justice Antonin Scalia died in February, 2016. Republicans refused to hold hearings for Obama’s choice to replace Scalia, Judge Merrick Garland, saying the court choice should go to the winner of the 2016 presidential election. Republicans have a 52-48 advantage over Democrats in the U.S. Senate. But under current rules, Republicans would need 60 votes to stop a Democratic filibuster. Some Democrats are promising strong opposition. Senator Jeff Merkley is a Democrat from Oregon. He said the nomination was stolen from President Obama. “Think about what is at stake: legal abortion, marriage equality, voting rights, the dark money corruption of our ‘We the People’ government, and so much more,” Merkley said. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will hold hearings on the nomination. He praised Gorsuch as “universally respected.” “By all accounts, he has a record of deciding cases based on the text of the Constitution and the law,” Grassley said. “That’s important because in our system of government, Congress, not judges, make the laws.” Trump said Tuesday his promise to appoint a conservative to the Supreme Court was the major reason millions of voters chose him over Democrat Hillary Clinton. Laurence Baum, an Ohio State political science professor, said that may well be the case. Baum said some conservative religious voters might have had concerns about Trump’s qualifications and his character. But they voted for him in large numbers because they believed he gave them their best chance in decades to, if not outlaw, to put big limits on abortions.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do 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   outstanding – adj. extremely good brilliant – adj. very smart tremendous – adj. very good discipline – n. a way of behaving that shows a willingness to obey rules or orders bipartisan – adj. supported by members of both political parties, Democrat and Republican abortion – n. a medical procedure used to end a pregnancy and cause the death of the fetus vacancy – n. an opening high profile – phrase meaning that it attracts a lot of attention filibuster – n. to delay a vote, often by speaking for a long time stake – n. an interest in how things turn out

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Driverless Electric Buses Tested in Paris, Las Vegas

More and more cities across the world are experimenting with driverless vehicles on public streets. Two of the latest to conduct testing are Paris, France and Las Vegas, Nevada. The cities have used self-driving electric buses to carry passengers on short rides to try out the technology and see how humans react to it. In Paris, two buses have been transporting passengers across a bridge between two of the city’s busiest rail stations. The vehicles, built by French company EasyMile, travel in a special safety lane created for the project. The fully electric buses can carry up to 10 people. The testing in Paris is expected to last three months. If things go well, officials plan to launch more driverless bus lines later this year. Jean-Louis Missika is the deputy mayor of Paris. He told reporters at a recent launch event that autonomous vehicles represent a “revolution” happening in many cities around the world. He said self-driving technology is set to “change our urban environment and public space in a spectacular fashion over the next 20 years.”  Transportation officials say they are planning to use the bus to connect neighborhoods to rail stations around Paris. They will also help ease traffic crowding and reduce severe pollution in the city. In Las Vegas, the city recently launched the first driverless shuttle bus in the United States. The 12-passenger bus from French company Navya has no steering wheel or brake pedals. It uses cameras and sensors to avoid other vehicles and people while making its way down city streets. The electric vehicles can reach a top speed of 40 kilometers per hour. The bus operated for a two-week period along one of the busiest entertainment areas in Las Vegas. Rides during the shuttle experiment were free. “The ride was smooth. It's clean and quiet and seats comfortably,” said Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman after taking a ride. Several autonomous shuttle buses are expected to be deployed in Las Vegas later this year to transport passengers through main areas of the city. The estimated cost of the program is about $10,000 per month. Officials say while this might seem high, the driverless shuttles could still save the city money. The current yearly cost for a single bus and driver is about $1 million.   I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press and Reuters. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Would you like to see driverless buses running where you live? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   autonomous – adj. existing separately from other things spectacular – adj. very good or exciting shuttle – n. vehicle that travels regularly between places sensor – n. device that detects or senses heat, light, sound, etc. comfortably – adj. physically well and relaxed  

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Disney Releases Final ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Trailer

This is What’s Trending Today… Walt Disney Pictures has released the final trailer for its remake of “Beauty and the Beast.” The movie will come out in March. Disney’s first “Beauty and the Beast” was an animated film. It came out in 1991. The story is based on a French fairy tale written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. In the 2017 version of the romantic fantasy film, real-life actress Emma Watson plays Belle and actor Dan Stevens plays the Beast. Other well-known actors include Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson and Stanley Tucci. The latest trailer shows Belle as she is imprisoned by the Beast in his large castle. It also shows her meeting some of the castle’s so-called staff members. They include household objects, like candles, teacups and teapots. The trailer also shows Belle and the Beast dancing together. Watson is seen wearing Belle’s iconic yellow dress. The final trailer also includes the film’s beloved song. Ariana Grande and John Legend sing the new version of the emotional ballad. Tuesday’s trailer quickly became the top trending video on YouTube. Fans of the earlier “Beauty and the Beast” are pleased that the live-action version looks very similar to the animated classic. One fan even created a video comparing scenes from the 1991 film to scenes from the newest trailer. ​ But, some say Disney should have tried to make the live-action version more original. Writer Michael Welsh wrote on Nerdist.com that if the movie is not a success, “a major criticism will be that it wasn’t allowed to be its own thing and to exist on its own terms.” “Beauty and the Beast” opens in U.S. theaters on March 17. It opens March 15 in the Philippines; March 16 in Chile, Argentina and Cambodia; March 30 in Brazil; and April 21 in Japan.   And that’s What’s Trending Today.   Ashley Thompson adapted this report from Reuters, with additional materials. Hai Do was the editor.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   trailer - n. a short video of a movie or program that is used to advertise it  animated - adj. produced by the creation of a series of drawings, pictures, etc., that are shown quickly one after another fairy tale - n. a simple children's story about magical creatures fantasy - n. a book, movie, etc., that tells a story about things that happen in an imaginary world iconic - adj. widely known; famous ballad - n. a slow popular song that is typically about love original - adj. not like others : new, different, and appealing  

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Argentine Mothers Grow Marijuana to Help Their Children

  Medical marijuana is legal in parts of the United States and several countries in South America. Argentina is not one of them. But that has not stopped a group of Argentine mothers from growing cannabis illegally at home. They want to help their children who suffer from diseases such as epilepsy and autism. Valeria Salech’s son, Emiliano, has epilepsy. Traditional drugs stopped the epileptic seizures, but left him unable to smile or socialize. Salech decided to give her 10-year-old son some cannabis oil in December 2015.   “All the mothers remember that first day when we gave the oil to our children,” she told VOA. She said that within a few hours, her son went from looking at nothing and having no reaction to looking at her and smiling. Salech said she had waited for that moment for 10 years. “And you just cannot believe it,” she said. She is now president of a group called Mamà Cultiva Argentina, or Mom Cultivates. The group shares knowledge of growing cannabis and pushes for the legalization of medical marijuana. She is so confident about its effectiveness that she describes her group as a “public health network.” “We did what the state cannot do for us – that is to cultivate a lot [of cannabis] to have enough for all of us all the time,” she said. But there is limited scientific research so far on the medical benefits of cannabis oil. There is also concern about potential psychedelic effects that marijuana may have on children. Carlos Magdalena is a neurologist for children. He said, as a natural therapy, a small amount of cannabis oil does not have bad side effects. And, Magdalena added, the side effects are less severe than those of legal prescription drugs. Countries like Uruguay and Chile have already legalized the use of medical marijuana. As the Argentine government is studying its use, Valeria Salech hopes her country will follow next year. Salech said the government would “find out everything that [she] already know[s]” and that she will continue to grow cannabis for her son. I’m Alice Bryant.    Faith Lapidus reported this story for VOAnews.com. Alice Bryant adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story cannabis - n. the hemp plant (which produces marijuana and cannabis oil) epilepsy - n. a disorder of the nervous system that can cause people to suddenly become unconscious and to have violent, uncontrolled movements of the body autism - n. a condition or disorder that begins in childhood and that causes problems in communicating with other people seizure - n. an abnormal state in which you become unconscious and your body moves in an uncontrolled and violent way network - n. a group of people or organizations that are closely connected and that work with each other psychedelic - adj. used to describe a drug (such as LSD) that affects your thinking and causes you to see things that are not real adverse - adj. bad or unfavorable; not good

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California Border Schools Celebrate Bilingualism

  Almost 30,000 students attend classes in the Chula Vista Elementary School District in California. The elementary school district is the largest in the state. It operates 45 schools between the city of San Diego and the United States border with Mexico.The majority of students are between five and 12 years old. The district is also one of California's most diverse. Sixty-eight percent of students are Hispanic and 35 percent are learning English. Some of the students come from the Mexican city of Tijuana and speak Spanish at home. The English language ability among these students differs widely. The Salt Creek Elementary School works with students in the town of Chula Vista, about 15 kilometers north of the Mexican border. The boys and girls there share their cultural traditions and learn from one another, including the languages spoken by other students. Francisco Escobedo heads the Chula Vista Elementary School District. "We see Spanish as an asset, not a liability. So we use that richness that they come with and build upon it." The public discussion of immigration issues during and after the 2016 elections led California to take action. Escobedo wrote to the parents across the school district. He told them that their elementary schools were safe areas for students of all citizenship situations. He said the letter helped ease worries. "I received an email … from a teacher, thanking me for that letter that helped her talk to her child and ease his fear, because he came to school crying," Escobedo said. "He came to school in fear that someone will come and remove him from the classroom." In Chula Vista, the classroom is more than a safe place, however. It is where boys and girls can celebrate bilingualism and the sharing of cultures. Emma Sanchez heads the Language Development and Instruction Services and Support office at Chula Vista elementary schools. "Our students come and go from both countries, so we want to empower and build our teachers' capacity to support the children in both languages." Sixth-grader Valeria came to the United States from Tijuana. She describes her life as ideal in her ability to speak two languages and often travels across across the border into Mexico. "It's mainly just going back and forth, visiting my dad and coming back to my mom, and then going to school." Others, like fourth grader Lucia, say bilingualism is important so they can communicate with students and extended family. "I feel happy because I'm with my grandparents and I'm really happy that I see them because sometime time flies, so I better stay with my grandparents until they're gone." Lucia hopes her language skills will help her get a good job, and meet people from many more cultures around the world. I’m Caty Weaver.   Ramon Taylor reported this story for VOANews.com. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Additional information came from Arturo Martinez. 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 district - n. an area or section of a country, city or town diverse - adj. different from each other asset - n. a valuable person or thing liability - n. someone or something that causes problems bilingualism - n. ability to speak and understand two languages capacity - n. the ability to do something ideal - adj. exactly right for a particular purpose time flies - idiom, used to say time seems to pass very quickly

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Trump Fires Official Who Refused to Defend Travel Ban

  U.S. President Donald Trump has removed Acting Attorney General Sally Yates for refusing to enforce or defend an executive order he signed last week limiting immigration. The president appointed Dana Boente to replace Yates as the acting head of the Justice Department. Boente immediately cancelled Yates’ order and vowed to “defend the lawful orders of our president.” The order stops all refugees from entering the United States for 120 days, and bans Syrian refugees indefinitely. It also blocks people from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia. The Associated Press noted that Yates’ removal was “a warning to other administration officials that Trump is prepared to terminate those who refuse to carry out his orders.” The news agency called the firing “an extraordinary public showdown.” Yates was named to the second-highest position in the Justice Department by then-President Barack Obama. On Monday, she ordered the department’s lawyers not to defend the immigration order. In a memo, she wrote, “At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful.” The career prosecutor added: “For as long as I am the Acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the Executive Order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so.” A few hours later, Yates was fired. The White House press secretary released a statement saying Yates “betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States.” It said the department’s Office of Legal Counsel approved the order. Mixed reaction to the firing Many Democrats criticized the decision to fire Yates. Steny Hoyer, a senior Democratic congressman, called the decision “alarming.” He said “the American people need to consider whether President Trump simply plans to dismiss anyone with whom he disagrees, and I hope my Republican colleagues stand up and express concern over this as well.” Chuck Schumer is the Senate minority leader. He wrote on Twitter that the attorney general “should pledge fidelity to the law and the Constitution, not the White House. The fact that this [administration] doesn’t understand that is chilling.”   ​But Republican Senator Ted Cruz strongly defended the decision to fire Yates. He said Yates’ refusal to support the executive order is a “fitting and sad” last act of Obama’s Department of Justice. “President Trump was exactly right to fire an acting attorney general who refused to carry out her constitutional duty to enforce and defend the law,” Cruz said. This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to approve the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions for attorney general. He is expected to defend and enforce Trump’s immigration order. Senator Sessions was a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2015 when Yates was confirmed to be the deputy attorney general. During a hearing on her confirmation, Sessions asked Yates: “If the views the president wants to execute are unlawful, should the attorney general or the deputy attorney general say no?” Yates said she believed that “the attorney general or the deputy attorney general has an obligation to follow the law and the Constitution, and to give their independent legal advice to the president.” I’m Anna Matteo.     VOA News Writer Chris Hannas wrote this story with additional reporting from Nike Ching, the Associated Press and Reuters. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the story for Learning English. Hai Do 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   executive order – n. an order that comes from the U.S. President or a government agency and must be obeyed like a law terminate – v. to take a job away from (someone) betray – v. to do something that does not agree with (your beliefs, principles, etc.) pledge – v. to formally promise to give or do (something) fidelity – n. the quality of being faithful or loyal to a country, organization, etc. (usually + to) chilling – adj. very disturbing or frightening act – n. something that is done

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US Supreme Court Justices

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to nominate a justice to the Supreme Court. How does this process work?

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US Has a Long History of Restricting Immigrants

Last Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. The countries are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Protesters across the U.S. immediately objected to the restrictions. Some argue that Trump’s order discriminates against Muslims and defies the American tradition of welcoming immigrants. Many of these protesters correctly point out that the U.S. is a country of immigrants. However, history shows that the U.S. is also a country of restrictions on immigrants. Trump’s government is not the first administration to restrict immigration, including on the basis of national origin. Restrictions on Asian immigrants The U.S. Constitution, which went into effect in 1789, gave Congress “absolute authority” over immigration law, says Linda Monk. The president executes those laws through regulations. Monk wrote a book about the Constitution called “The Words We Live By.” She explains that for about the first 100 years of American history, Congress did not place any federal limits on immigration. During those years, Irish and German immigrants came to the U.S. in large numbers. Many Chinese immigrants did, too. They hoped to find gold in California and then, when they did not, they stayed anyway. But some members of the American public disapproved of these groups. They did not like the Catholic religion that many Irish and Germans immigrants practiced. And they did not like Asian immigrants, whom they viewed as convicts, prostitutes, or competition for jobs. So, in the late 1800s, Congress moved for the first time to limit the number of immigrants. Lawmakers targeted Asians, especially Chinese. The Page Act and the Chinese Exclusion Act banned most Chinese women and workers.   Restrictions on other nationalities By the turn of the 20th century, the U.S. federal government had increased its role in immigration. It established Ellis Island in New York as the entry point for immigrants. And it oversaw a dramatic increase in the number of immigrants, especially from Italy and Eastern Europe. Many of the new arrivals were uneducated and had little money.  Once again, some people opposed the number and kind of immigrants entering the country. A group called the Immigration Restriction League was formed. They petitioned Congress to require immigrants to show that they could at least read. Both Presidents Grover Cleveland and Woodrow Wilson opposed the requirement. But in 1917, Congress approved the measure over Wilson’s objections. People who wished to settle in the U.S. now had to pass a literacy test. In the 1920s, restrictions on immigration increased. The Immigration Act of 1924 was the most severe: it limited the overall number of immigrants and established quotas based on nationality. Among other things, the act sharply reduced immigrants from Eastern Europe and Africa. And it completely restricted immigrants from Asia, except for Japan and the Philippines. At the same time, the historian’s page at the State Department notes that the act made more visas available to people from Britain and Western Europe. “In all of its parts, the most basic purpose of the 1924 Immigration Act was to preserve the ideal of U.S. homogeneity,” the State Department history page concludes. Major change in U.S. immigration policy During the 1940s and 50s, the U.S. made some policy changes that increased – however slightly – the number and nationalities of immigrants. Then, in 1965, a major change happened. Under pressure in part from the civil rights movement, Congress passed the Immigration and Nationality Act.  President Lyndon Johnson signed it.   The act eliminated the quota system based on nationality. Instead, it prioritized immigrants who already had family members in the U.S. It also sought to offer protection to refugees from areas with violence and conflict. Even though the act kept some limits in place, the origins of immigrants changed dramatically. Instead of being from Western Europe, most immigrants to the U.S. by the end of the 20th century were originally from Mexico, the Philippines, Korea, the Dominican Republic, India, Cuba and Vietnam. So, what about Trump’s order? A professor at the University of Miami School of Law says the 1965 law ended “overt discrimination” in U.S. immigration policy. Kunal Parker is also the author of a book called “Making Foreigners: Immigration and Citizenship Law in America.” Parker says that people who are protesting Trump’s executive order probably “perceive what is happening as contrary to U.S. tradition since 1965.” But Parker cautions against seeing Trump’s action as illegal. He points out that the Supreme Court has historically permitted the president and Congress a good deal of authority to regulate immigration. And, he notes, President Obama also signed an executive order related to immigration. That order aimed to protect the families of undocumented immigrants with U.S.-born children. However, Parker says, “Something that is legal might be very problematic.” Both Parker and legal scholar Linda Monk also note the Constitution requires both Congress and the president follow certain procedures when regulating immigration. Those procedures protect against discrimination. “The highest law says that these actions have to be carried out fairly,” says Monk. I’m Anne Ball.   Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   executive - adj. an order by the president origin - n. the point or place where something begins or is created petition - v. a written document that people sign to show that they want a person or organization to do or change something quota - n. an official limit on the number or amount of people or things that are allowed slightly - adv. n a very small amount or degree eliminate - v. to get rid of something overt - adj. obvious

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