Young Women Train to Wrestle in Conservative Indian State

  In northern India, an increasing number of young women are learning to compete in the sport of wrestling. Until recently, few girls and women trained for wrestling in the northern state of Haryana. The area has a strongly patriarchal culture. Men there appear to be in control of the government and much of society.  But after many female wrestlers were successful in international competitions, ideas about women in Haryana began to change. On a cold winter morning, a group of young girls and women are preparing for three hours of training at the Chottu Ram Stadium, a sports center in the town of Rohtak. Meenakshi, who uses just one name, is 12 years old. She starts her training at 6 in the morning, before school begins. She and other female wrestlers look up to Sakshi Malik, who trained at the stadium. Malik won a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Meenakshi notes that Malik’s short wrestling match made her famous throughout the country. “Only nine seconds she made her life wonderful, completely.” Many people in Haryana state did not, and still do not, support the idea of women competing in the sport. Men control many of the state’s village councils. And many local women who are pregnant with girls end their pregnancies because they want to have sons. But ideas about women began to change after two women wrestlers performed well at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Mandeep supervises training for women and men, girls and boys. Like Meenakshi, he uses just one name. He says that when he came to the stadium six years ago, only a few girls wanted to become wrestlers. Now, he says, many parents want their daughters to train in the sport. “Earlier, parents stopped the girls (from training in wrestling) and kept them at home because that was the social norm. Now, parents are supporting them in fulfilling their ambitions. It’s a huge social change." Many of the young women training to become wrestlers live in villages where women’s bodies are often completely covered and where girls cannot mix with boys. The young women include 17-year-old Tina Malik, who has won a national medal in wrestling. “Earlier, even for practice we could not wear clothes like this. Now we can wear this sports gear -- no one objects.” Pinki Malik won a gold medal at the 2016 Commonwealth Championship. She hopes to win a medal at the next Olympics. But she says awards are not the only reason she competes. “Women should get respect. That is the biggest issue -- respect. Wrestling will improve things for us.” As their success changes people’s opinions, wrestling has become one way for Haryana’s girls and women to create their own future. I’m Marsha James.   Anjana Pasricha reported this story from New Delhi for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   patriarch – n. a man who controls a family, group, or government stadium – n. a very large usually roofless building that has a large open area surrounded by many rows of seats and that is used for sports events, concerts, etc. inspire – v. to make (someone) want to do something; to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create norm – n. standards of proper or acceptable behavior fulfill – v. to succeed in achieving (something); to make (something, such as a dream) true or real ambition – n. a particular goal or aim; something that a person hopes to do or achieve medal – n. a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with designs and words in honor of a special event, a person or an achievement gear – n. supplies, tools or clothes needed for a special purpose object – v. to disagree with something or oppose something

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Artist Shows Effect of Doctors’ Strike in Kenya

  Health care workers in Kenya have been on strike for nearly two months. The strike has affected all 47 counties across the country. Only private hospitals are operating. The strike has paralyzed Kenya’s public health system. Tens of thousands of people are unable to see their doctor or receive reasonably priced medical care. Doctors are refusing to work until the government increases their wages -- as it agreed to do in 2013. The doctors also say the government must keep its promise to provide better equipment. The doctors want the pay raise promised to them in a June 2013 agreement. Under the plan, the monthly pay of the lowest-paid doctor would rise to $3,420. The highest-paid doctors would receive about $9,400 a month. Now, the highest-paid doctors receive $5,000 a month. The lowest-paid get $400. One Kenyan man is using his artwork to show the effect of the strike on the average person. Artist Joseph Mbatia is better known as “Bertiers.” “Let me say, I’m just creating awareness. I’m not favoring any side -- I’m just neutral. But I take my art -- you know, art is a very powerful tool -- I’m taking it as a tool to facilitate to the ongoing strike so that people can know their positions. And then they can be able to come together first and solve the issue.” Bertiers has started working on a new piece that represents his thinking about the strike. This is not the first time he has worked on such art. In 2014, the Ebola virus hit West Africa. The disease killed many people. Medical experts feared the virus might move east. So Bertiers imagined Kenyan doctors going on strike at a time when Ebola was infecting people across the country. The resulting artwork is just one of many pieces he has created at his art studio near Nairobi. Bertiers says there is a reason he creates his art. “With me, when I, when I draw it like that, it gives more impact to people out there, to see that the matter is becoming even more serious. When you go to the hospital and find that there are some dead people in the bed, and there are others who are coming to, to see their loved, their loved ones, whether they are being given drugs, it is, it is really not too good.” And as he continues to work, Bertiers says he hopes the doctors will go back to work soon. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise. VOA Correspondent Jill Craig reported this story from Nairobi. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story paralyze – v. to make (someone or something) unable to function, act or move awareness – n. the act of knowing and understanding a lot about what is happening in the world or around you facilitate – v. to help (something) run more smoothly and effectively; to make (something) easier; to help cause (something)  

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Everyday Grammar: Sentence Pattern

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Lesson 44: Making Healthy Choices

Summary Anna is hungry. She goes to the supermarket and looks for good foods to eat. But she has a problem. One part of her wants junk food. The other part wants healthy food. Which part will win? Speaking In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn the difference between "mustn't" and "don't have to." ​ Pronunciation Use this video to practice the pronunciation of "mustn't." Conversation Anna: Hi there, Ashley! Ashley: Anna! Hi! Where are you going? (Anna’s stomach growls loudly) Ashley: What was that? Anna: I’m hungry. When I’m hungry, I only want to eat junk food! But I know I should eat healthy food. So, I fight with myself. One side says, ‘You should eat healthy food.’ The other side says, ‘But I want to eat junk food!’ Ashley: Well, Anna, go to the Giant supermarket. You should be able to find all kinds of food there - for all of you. Anna: Good idea, Ashley. See you later! Ashley: 'Bye, Anna. Anna: Wow! This supermarket is huge! Look at all of these fruits and vegetables! I should eat more vegetables. Healthy: Good idea, Anna. You must eat more vegetables … like celery! Junky: Celery?! Do you know what the web says about celery? Anna: No, what? Junky: “Celery is 95 percent water - 100 percent NOT ice cream. I love the web!” Healthy*: Anna, you mustn’t eat junk food. Junk food will kill you. Junky*: You are being silly. Healthy: No, you are! Junky: No, you are. Anna: Will you two please be nice to each other? It is important to eat healthy foods. But, a little junk food will not kill me. Hmm, ice cream. Ice cream does sound good. Junky: Take this cart to the frozen food aisle! Healthy: No wait, go back! Go back! We forgot fruit. Go back!! Anna: Okay, we are in the frozen food aisle! Junky: Mmm, ice cream! Healthy: Mmm, frozen peas! Junky: Nobody says, ‘Mmm, frozen peas. They say, ‘Mmm, ice cream! Healthy: Mmm, frozen peas!! Junky: Mmm, ice cream!! Anna: I am not going to tell you two again! Stop fighting! Anna: I smell fresh bread! I love the smells of a bakery! Healthy: Oh, Anna, let’s buy a fresh loaf of whole wheat, organic bread! Junky: You don’t have to buy bread. Buy some donuts, Anna! Healthy: You mustn’t buy donuts. They are only fat and sugar. Junky: Exactly! You know, you are really no fun at all. Healthy: And you must think having high cholesterol is fun. Junky: Everyone likes donuts! That is why you don’t have friends! Healthy: And that is why your cholesterol is so high! Junky: My cholesterol is none of your business!! Healthy: And I have lots of friends!! Anna: Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! I am sick and tired of the both of you!! Anna: I know what you two need! Junky: Anna! What are you doing? Healthy: Put me down! Anna: You two need to cool off! Anna: I am going to go buy my healthy food and my junk food! Good bye! Anna: Until next time …   Note: "Healthy" and "Junky" are Anna's thoughts about what she should eat. Writing In this lesson, Anna goes shopping. She thinks about the foods that are good for her and the ones that are not so good. What do you think about when you shop for food? Do you sometimes fight with yourself as Anna does in this lesson? Write a short conversation about the thoughts you have while you are shopping. Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice  talking about different kinds of foods. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is  Classify. When we classify we sort things into categories, or looks for things that are different or the same. Classifying helps us to organize and remember new information. In this lesson, Anna classifies foods into two groups: healthy and junk food. She knows that she should eat more healthy foods. But she also like to have some junk foods, like ice cream. Do you ever classify the new things you are learning in English? Write to us about it in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan  for more details on teaching this strategy. Quiz Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz. ​ ______________________________________________________________ New Words   aisle - n. a passage where people walk through a store or market bakery - n. a place where bread, cakes, cookies, and other baked foods are made or sold cart - n. (shopping cart) a metal basket on wheels used to hold groceries while you are shopping cholesterol - n. a substance that is found in the bodies of people and animals, a high percentage raises the risk of coronary heart disease cool off - phrasal verb. to become calm after a period of anger or conflict fat - n. an oily solid or liquid substance in food freeze - v. to become a hard substance (such as ice) because of cold (past participle: frozen) healthy - adj. good for your health or healthful junk food - n. food that is not good for your health because it contains high amounts of fat or sugar kill - v.to cause the death of (a person, animal, or plant) must - modal verb. used to say that something is required or necessary organic - adj. food that is grown or made without the use of artificial chemicals smell - n. the quality of a thing that you can sense with your nose smell - v. to use your nose to sense smells sugar - n. a sweet substance usually in the form of white or brown crystals or white powder that comes from plants and is used to make foods sweeter whole wheat- adj. made from wheat from which no part (such as the bran) has been removed FOODS Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice classifying foods and giving advice using mustn't or don't have to. For Teachers ​ Grammar: Mustn’t vs. Don’t have to, Must vs. Should Topics: Expressing concern, Nutrition; Types of foods; Complimenting about food choices Learning Strategy: Classify Pronunciation: Pronouncing must & mustn’t See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. ____________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

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Chinese Company Withdraws from Effort to Fight False Records

  A Chinese company is withdrawing from an American education project designed to fight fraud among Chinese students. The company itself is accused of widespread application fraud. The Dipont Education Management Group is withdrawing from the Center for Enrollment Research, Policy and Practice. The University of Southern California, or USC, operates the center. The purpose of the center is to study college application information. It also fights fraud among Chinese students looking to attend American universities. Jerome Lucido is the executive director of the center at USC. He told Reuters that the Shanghai-based company had “withdrawn from the project.” Jeff Zhu is vice-president of Dipont. He said the withdrawal was based on a suggestion from the project’s advisory board. The board includes representatives of some of the top universities in the United States. Zhu said the group had urged Dipont to withdraw so as to remove “any possible question of who has control over the project.” Last year, Dipont’s chief executive officer told Reuters he was giving over $700,000 to support the center. Several universities and academic organizations also provide resources and financial support. The future of the project is now unclear. Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and Pomona College in California are the first schools to withdraw from the project. Lucido told Reuters at least four other schools are reconsidering their involvement in the project. They are Stanford University, Columbia University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, Los Angeles. Dipont programs in China Dipont operates international programs in high schools all over China. The programs offer college counseling services that can cost up to about $32,500 per student. In 2016, Reuters reported the company was paying officials from 20 American colleges to attend counseling events in China. It also included stories from 17 former Dipont employees who claimed the company is involved in application fraud. The employees said the company made them write essays for students and change teacher recommendation letters. Brian Perkins, an American, taught at a Dipont school in Hangzhou from 2012 to 2014. Perkins said his employers pressured him and other teachers to give good grades to students that missed class. He said he did so “under protest.” In a statement, Dipont disputed the claims of academic fraud. The company said it would quickly and “thoroughly investigate any credible evidence of any situation in which the company’s legal and/or ethical standards may not have been [followed].” Chinese students in the U.S. American colleges usually reduce tuition costs for students from needy families and those living in the same state as the school. They often depend on students from overseas to pay the full tuition. The 2016 Open Doors report notes that almost 330,000 Chinese students attended U.S. colleges and universities during the 2015-2016 school year. Chinese students make up more than 30 percent of all international students in the U.S. But a growing number of colleges have had reason to question academic records coming out of China in recent years. Hundreds of Chinese companies help students interested in attending an American college or university. Reuters reported that falsifying documents is among the services some companies offer. Many American colleges and universities require students to take the SAT. The schools consider the results when making admissions decisions. And last January, the College Board, a private company, briefly stopped offering its test, the SAT, in China and Macau following reports of cheating. I’m Pete Musto.   Steve Stecklow, Alexandra Harney, Renee Dudley and James Pomfret reported this story for the Reuters news service. Pete Musto adapted their story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. What kinds of help do educational companies offer students in your country that want to attend college in the U.S.? How often are these companies involved in controversy? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   application – n. a formal and usually written request for something, such as a job, admission to a school or a loan fraud – n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person academic – adj. of or relating to schools and education counseling – n. advice and support that is given to people to help them deal with problems or make important decisions essay(s) – n. a short piece of writing that tells a person's thoughts or opinions about a subject recommendation – n. the act of saying that someone or something is good and deserves to be chosen grade(s) – n. a number or letter that indicates how a student performed in a class or on a test thoroughly – adv. done in a way that includes every possible part or detail credible – adj. reasonable to trust or believe ethical – adj. involving questions of right and wrong behavior standard(s) – n. ideas about morally correct and acceptable behavior tuition – n. money that is paid to a school for the right to study there admissions – n. the act or process of accepting someone as a student at a school

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How Can a Smelly Fish Help You Avoid the Truth?

Syria Creates All-Female Force in Kurdish Area

  The Syrian government has created an all-female military unit in a mostly Kurdish city in the northeastern part of the country. It is the same city in which American-led Kurdish forces have been fighting Islamic State militants. Jazya Sheikh Ali is a leader of the ruling Baath Party. He told the pro-Syrian Lebanese al-Jadeed TV that the unit will be made up of volunteers. It will have no minimum age requirement. He said at least 150 women have been recruited for the unit. He said they will receive, in his words, “intensive training” on how to use small weapons and guard checkpoints. A Kurdish activist in the city posted a Facebook video of the military unit. The video shows women in Syrian military clothing training near Qamishli, the largest Kurdish city in Syria. Since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, the government has kept only a small number of troops in the Kurdish region. In 2012, Syrian troops withdrew from most of the cities and towns in the north and northeastern part of the country. That is because they were needed to fight rebels in other parts of the country. A small group of Syrian troops was based outside Qamishli. They let Kurds control the city. But last summer, the Kurds tried to increase the territory they controlled. The Syrian troops stopped the Kurds from doing so. The fighting between the two groups has ended, but the tension between them remains. The members of the new all-female military unit are ethnic Arabs. Local observers say they could worsen ethnic tensions. The women are being used to strengthen the Syrian Arab Army. Fighting the rebels and the Islamic State terrorist group in other parts of Syria has weakened the army. Dilovan Cheto is a political expert in Qamishli. He told VOA that the all-female unit was formed because, in his words, “the (Syrian) government wants to send a message to the local Kurdish administration that they are willing to come back to this area.” Cheto said the Syrian military is suffering from a severe shortage of male soldiers. He said the Syrian government believes women can help strengthen the army. Cheto said Syrian forces appear ready to try to reestablish control in the Kurdish region after driving rebels from Aleppo, about 400 kilometers to the west. Kurdish units headquartered in Qamishli are known as People Protection Units, or YPG. These units have helped the U.S.-led coalition fight Islamic State militants south of the city. They appear to be in control of Qamishli. Ekrem Salih reports on military activities in the area. He called the all-female unit “propaganda material.” “I don’t think this will change anything as far as local military dynamics,” he told VOA. “YPG doesn’t accept any military competitor on the ground. Therefore, this unit won’t achieve any goals for the regime.” YPG officials would not talk to VOA about the female unit. The YPG has its own all-female unit called the YPJ. It has joined in combat against IS fighters. I’m Caty Weaver. VOA News Writer Sirwan Kajjo wrote this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson 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   unit – n. a single thing, person, or group that is a part of something larger minimum – adj. the lowest number or amount that is possible or allowed - usually singular recruit – v. to find suitable people and get them to join a company, an organization, the armed forces, etc. checkpoint – n. a place where people, cars, etc., are searched by someone (such as a police officer) before being allowed to continue region – n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way dynamic – n. the way that two or more people behave with each other because of a particular situation regime – n. a form of government

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World’s Most Powerful Drug Trafficker Awaits Trial In New York

  United States officials are preparing to try a Mexican man who has been called the world’s most powerful drug trafficker. Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, better known as “El Chapo,” will be tried in New York City. Guzmán is the head of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel. Mexican officials have jailed him not once, but twice, at maximum security prisons. But he escaped both times. Last month, Mexico sent Guzmán to New York, one of several American states in which he faces criminal charges. Robert Capers is the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. He says Guzmán is responsible for much of the drug cocaine sold in the state. “The continuing criminal enterprise charges that I will describe for you by itself attributes to Mr. Guzmán cocaine shipments of over 200 tons, which were supplied by some of Colombia’s most powerful drug-trafficking organizations, and links Guzmán to over seven and a half tons of cocaine and heroin that were seized in the United States, including four tons that were seized right here in this district.” Paul Callan is a former prosecutor who represented the government in murder cases. He believes the Department of Justice chose to prosecute Guzmán in New York because it has a very strong case against him. “New York is also well-accustomed to trying high-notoriety defendants. We have very secure courtroom facilities. We have secure jail facilities, and New York is used to handling the press and the kind of coverage that takes place in these high-profile cases.” After he was told the charges against him in a U.S. federal court, Guzmán was sent to the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) near New York’s financial area. The MCC is a high-security jail. It has held a number of notable criminals, including people who claim to belong to al-Qaida. Selwyn Rabb worked as an investigative journalist at The New York Times newspaper. He has visited the MCC many times during his career as a reporter. “He’s going to be monitored 24 hours a day. He’s not going to be able to go to the bathroom or take a shower or do anything without some eyes poking at him.” Experts consider the MCC to be one of the most secure jails in the United States. Few people have escaped from the 12-floor tall building since it opened 42 years ago. New Yorkers have mixed feelings about having Guzman jailed there. Jean Young works in Lower Manhattan, near the MCC. “Thank God that the federal building has a lot of checkpoints. And I know the street goes up at one point, and they go under the cars with mirrors, but I mean it’s the cartel -- if they want to get here, they’ll get here.” Many people work or live near the prison, in New York’s TriBeCa neighborhood. Luke Valente says he likes the area. “I have a lot of faith in the professionals that are working here and in the U.S. in general. I think considering what he’s done in the past, in places outside the U.S. as far as being in custody, I feel that much more safe and confident that they’ll be able to see his sentence through.” I’m Bryan Lynn. Ramon Taylor and Asli Pelit reported this story for VOANews.com from New York. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted their report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cartel – n. a group of businesses that agree to fix prices so they all will make more money maximum – adj. the highest number or amount that is possible or allowed — usually singular enterprise – n. a project or activity that involves many people and that is often difficult attribute – v. to say that (something) is because of (someone or something) accustomed – adj. familiar with something so that it seems normal or usual (+ to) facility – n. something (such as a building or large piece of equipment) that is built for a specific purpose profile – adj. used to describe the amount of attention that someone or something is given monitor – n. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time poke – v. to look around or search through something checkpoint – n. a place where people, cars, etc., are searched by someone (such as a police officer) before being allowed to continue mirror – n. a piece of glass that reflects images

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A Case Famous for ‘Cold Money’ Back Before Court

  A court in the state of Virginia is reviewing a legal case against a congressman who had $90,000 in his freezer. Former U.S. Congressman William Jefferson has been in prison since 2012 after being found guilty of corruption. He is asking a federal court to overturn the guilty ruling against him. After a jury found him guilty, a judge sentenced Jefferson to 13 years in prison. It was the longest prison sentence ever given to a member of Congress. Jefferson is a Democrat who represented New Orleans, Louisiana in Congress. He was found guilty of trying to influence leaders in Nigeria and other African nations to help an American business that provided his family with money and stock.  The American business wanted to set up cable television, telephone and internet services in Africa.   “Cold cash’ in food boxes   The case received a lot of attention in Nigeria. One reason was that $90,000 in $100 bills was found in food boxes in a freezer in the congressman’s Washington D.C. apartment. The case became the subject of jokes on American and Nigerian television. Television hosts called the money, “cold cash," or “cold money.” During the trial, the government said Jefferson was recorded saying he needed money to persuade Nigeria’s vice president, Atiku Abubakar, to approve the American company’s business deals. Asked if he delivered the money during a secretly recorded discussion, Jefferson said he had given the “African art” to the Nigerian vice president. The government said those words were “code" for cash. But Jefferson and his wife, Andrea, later wrote that they never were asked and never gave money to any government official. During his trial, the government played a video of Jefferson accepting a briefcase that the government said was filled with $100,000 in $100 bills. It was that money -- missing $10,000 -- which was found in Jefferson’s freezer, the government argued. John Campbell is a former United States ambassador to Nigeria. Campbell said the case received “attention” in Nigeria because it had so many unusual details and Abubakar was a senior government official. Abubakar twice ran unsuccessfully for president and is reported to be a possible presidential candidate in the next Nigerian national elections. Why the case did not get more attention Campbell said the case might have gotten even more attention if corruption was not common in Nigeria. Now, Jefferson is appealing the guilty ruling, which he wants overturned. His lawyers argue that the U.S. Supreme Court last year redefined how corruption cases should be decided. In 2016, the Supreme Court overturned the guilty ruling against former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell. McDonnell and his wife were found guilty of corruption in 2014. The government charged that McDonnell received an expensive watch and his wife was given a shopping spree, among other gifts, from the owner of a Virginia business. But the U.S. Supreme Court said the jury in the McDonnell case was given a definition of official acts that went too far. The definition, it said, would make government leaders worry about scheduling needed meetings out of fear of facing criminal charges. The court said there was testimony that McDonnell set up meetings for the Virginia businessman, but none that he provided direct benefits in return for the gifts. ​ During his 2009 trial, Jefferson’s lawyer Robert Trout argued that Jefferson’s actions of trying to get African officials to grant business to an American company were not part of his official duties. A congressman’s job, Trout said, is to vote on bills, introduce bills, and attend committee meetings. Trout said the trial judge, T.S. Ellis III, gave the jury a definition of official acts that was too broad. Federal officials who brought the case said the guilty ruling against Jefferson should remain. Ellis will decide what to do with Jefferson’s appeal. Jefferson is serving his 13-year sentence in a prison in Louisiana. He is to be released on August 30, 2023, when he would be 76 years old. I’m Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter 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   stock - n. a share of the value of a company which can be bought, sold, or traded as an investment cable television - n. a system in which television signals are sent through cables rather than through the air host - n. a person who is entertaining guests socially or at a club or on television briefcase - n. a flat case that is usually used for carrying papers or books shopping spree - a phrase meaning to do a lot of shopping over a short period of time watch - n. a device that shows what time it is and that you wear on your wrist  testimony - n. statement made under oath in court broad - adj. wide in range or amount

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English in a Minute: One Tough Cookie

A cookie is a sweet baked treat. What makes a person "one tough cookie?" This week's English in a Minute is here to help!

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'The Masque of the Red Death,' by Edgar Allen Poe

  We present the short story "The Masque of the Red Death, by Edgar Allen Poe. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State. The Red Death had long been feeding on the country. No sickness had ever been so deadly — so great a killer — or so fearful to see. Blood was its mark — the redness and the horror of blood. There were sharp pains, and a sudden feeling that the mind was rushing in circles inside the head. Then there was bleeding through the skin, though it was not cut or broken — and then, death! The bright red spots upon the body and especially upon the face of the sick man made other men turn away from him, afraid to try to help. And the sickness lasted, from beginning to the end, no more than half an hour. But Prospero, the ruler of that land, was happy and strong and wise. When half the people of his land had died, he called to him a thousand healthy, happy friends, and with them went far away to live in one of his palaces. This was a large and beautiful stone building he had planned himself. A strong, high wall circled it. This wall had gates of iron. The gentlemen, after they had entered, brought fire to heat the iron of the gate to make them close so firmly that nobody could open them. Here they could forget the sickness, the Red Death. They would leave the outside world to care for itself. Prospero had supplied everything they needed for pleasure. There was music. There was dancing. There was beauty. There was food to eat and wine to drink. All these were within the wall, and within the wall they would be safe. Outside the wall walked the Red Death. It was near the end of their fifth month there that Prospero asked his friends to all to come together for a dancing party, a masquerade. Everyone was asked to come dressed in fine clothes and with his eyes, or perhaps his whole face, covered by a cloth mask. It was a scene of great richness, that masquerade. There were seven rooms in which Prospero’s friends danced. In many old palaces, the doors can be opened in such a way that rooms like these seven can be seen all at the same time. In this palace, it was different. Little more than one of them could be seen at one time. There was a turn every 20 or 30 yards. To the right and left, in the middle of each wall, was a tall pointed window. The windows were of colored glass, of the same color that was used in each room. The first room had blue cloth hangings on the wall — and blue were its windows. The second room had wall hangings of that blue-red known as purple, and here the windows were purple. The third was green, and so was the glass of the windows. The fourth had hangings and windows of yellow — the fifth of white — the sixth of violet. But the seventh room had hangings on the walls made of a rich, soft cloth which was black, black as night. And the floor, too, was covered with the same heavy black cloth. In this room the color of the windows was not the same. It was red — a deep blood color. All the rooms were lighted through the outside windows. The resulting light was strange indeed, as it colored the shapes of the dancers. But the light that fell on the black hangings through the blood-colored glass was the most fearful of them all. It produced so wild a look on the faces of those who entered that there were few of the dancers who dared to step within those dark walls. In this room stood a great clock of black wood. Gently it marked the seconds as they passed; and when it was time to mark the hour the clock spoke with a loud, clear voice: a deep tone as beautiful as music, but so strange that the music and the dancing stopped and the dancers stood still to listen. And then, after another 60 minutes, after another 3,600 seconds of Time, of flying Time, the clock struck again, and the dancers stopped as before. Nevertheless, it was a happy and beautiful masquerade. And you may be sure that the clothes the dancers chose to wear, their costumes, were strange and wonderful. The dancers looked like the forms we might see in troubled dreams. And these — the dreams — danced softly through the rooms, taking the color of the rooms as they moved. It did not seem that their steps followed the music, but that the music rose from their steps. But into the seventh room the dancers do not go, for the red light coming through the windows, and the blackness of the wall hangings, make them afraid — and he who enters hears more deeply the striking of the great black clock. But the other rooms are crowded, and in them beats hotly the heart of life. And the dance goes on until at last the clock begins to strike 12. Again the music stopped. Again the dancers stood without moving while the slow striking sound continued. Before the clock was quiet again, many in the crowd saw that in the first room, the blue room, there was a masquerader who had not been seen before. As they talked softly to each other about him, a feeling of surprise spread through all the dancers, then a feeling of fear and sickening horror. In such a group as this, only a very strange masquerader could have caused such a feeling. Even among those who laugh at both life and death, some matters cannot be laughed at. Everyone seemed now deeply to feel that the stranger should not have been allowed to come among them dressed in such clothes. He was tall and very thin, and covered from head to foot like a dead man prepared for the grave. The mask which covered his face — or was it really a mask? — the mask which covered his face was so much like the face of a dead man that the nearest eye could not see the difference. And yet all this might have been acceptable — but the masquerader whom no one knew had made himself look like the Red Death itself! His clothes were spotted with blood. And the mask over his face was covered with the terrible red spots…or perhaps it was indeed his face! When Prospero looked upon this fearful form, he was first filled with terror — and then with anger. “Who dares?” he cried. “Take him! Seize him! Pull off his mask so that we may know who we must hang at sunrise!” Prospero stood in the blue room when he spoke these words. They sounded through the 7 rooms, loud and clear. At first, as he spoke, some of the dancers started to rush toward the strange masquerader. But they stopped, afraid, and no one dared to put out a hand to touch him. The stranger started to walk toward the second room. He passed within a few feet of Prospero, who stood still, surprised. And while the dancers moved back from the center of the room, the stranger moved quietly, without being stopped, with a slow, measured step, through the blue room to the purple room — through the purple room to the green room — through the green to the yellow — through this to the white — and then to the violet room. As the stranger was entering the seventh room, Prospero suddenly and angrily rushed through the six rooms. No one dared to follow him. He held a sharp knife high over his head, ready to strike the stranger. When he was within three or four feet, the strange masquerader, the stranger, turned and stood silent, looking firmly into Prospero’s eyes. There was a cry — and the knife dropped shining upon the black floor, upon which a minute later Prospero himself fell, dead. The dancers then rushed into the black room. The strongest of the men tried to hold the masquerader, whose tall form stood beside the black clock. But when they put their hands on him they found inside the grave-clothes no human form, no body — nothing! Now they knew that it was the Red Death itself that had come in the night. One by one, the dancers fell, and each died as he fell. And the fires died. And the clock stopped. And darkness and decay and the Red Death ruled forever over all.   Download a lesson plan to use with this story here. Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. How should leaders deal with major problems like diseases in their countries? Who do you think was the bad guy in this story, Prospero or the Red Death?  Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   horror – n. the quality of something that causes feelings of fear, dread, and shock palace(s) – n. the official home of a king, queen, president or ruler wine – n. an alcoholic drink made from the liquid part that can be squeezed out of a small, round fruit that is green, dark red, or purplish-black in color masquerade – n. a party at which people wear masks and often costumes mask – n. a covering for your face or for part of your face nevertheless – adv. in spite of what has just been said decay – n. the process or result of being slowly destroyed by natural processes

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