Will Eating Less Help You Live Longer?

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. If you want to slow aging, you want might to eat less. Researchers in the United States say eating less can slow the aging process of cells in the body. This finding is good news – if you are a mouse. The researchers studied mice, not people. John Price is a biochemistry professor at Brigham Young University in the U.S. state of Utah. He and other researchers studied two groups of mice. One group was able to eat as much as it wanted. The researchers restricted what the other animals in the other group ate. Their diet had 35 percent fewer calories than the first group of mice. Price says the mice with the diet restrictions were “more energetic and suffered fewer diseases.” They were not just living longer, they seemed to stay younger for a longer period of time. Price says that when you restrict calories (in mice), there is a direct increase in lifespan – the average age of the animal. He and his team found that calorie “restriction caused real biochemical changes that slowed down the rate of aging." But how? The researchers found that fewer calories slow down a natural mechanism in cells called ribosomes. Price explains that ribosomes are responsible for making important proteins in the cells. But with fewer calories, they slow down. This gives the cells more time to repair themselves. The University of Utah researchers say ribosomes use from 10 to 20 percent of the cell's energy to make those proteins. In a press release on the study, Price wrote that "because of this, it is impractical to destroy an entire ribosome” when it starts to break down. However, “repairing individual parts of the ribosome on a regular basis enables ribosomes to continue producing high quality proteins for longer than they would otherwise. This top quality production, in turn, keeps cells and the entire body functioning well." Price used automobiles to explain how ribosomes repair themselves. He said that a “ribosome is a very complex machine,” like a car. Ribosomes, likes cars, need “maintenance to replace the parts that wear out the fastest. When tires wear out,” he explained, “you don't throw the whole car away and buy” a new one. It costs less to replace the old tires. Earlier studies have suggested a link between calorie restrictions and slowed aging. However, this is first to show how the ribosomes can influence aging. Price noted calorie restriction as a way to slow aging has not been tested in humans. But he adds that the main finding for people is the "the importance of taking care of our bodies." "Food,” he said, “isn't just material to be burned -- it's a signal that tells our body and cells how to respond.” Price said the findings help to explain how exactly our bodies age. And this may “help us make more educated decisions about what we eat." I’m Anna Matteo.   This story first appeared on VOANews.com. Anna Matteo adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.   See how well you understand the story by taking this reading quiz.  __________________________________________________________ Words in This Story calorie – n. an amount of food having an energy-producing value of one large calorie biochemical – adj. represented by, produced by, or involving chemical reactions in living organisms mechanism – n. a process or system that is used to produce a result impractical – adj. not easy to do or use regular – adj. happening or done very often basis – n. a fixed method or system for doing something functioning – v. to work or operate maintenance – n. the act of keeping property or equipment in good condition by making repairs or correcting problems

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Trump Continues Tradition with Speech to Congress

President Donald Trump will give his first speech to the U.S. Congress on Tuesday. He is expected to discuss his plan to increase military spending by nearly 10 percent, or $54 billion, offset by equal cuts in non-defense spending. The cuts will likely include large reductions in foreign aid. He told governors on Monday that he would also propose more spending on public safety, including more efforts to stop illegal immigration. And he would call for more spending to rebuild old roadways and airports and reduce taxes. Trump is likely to repeat some of the comments he made last week in a speech before conservatives. He said at the Conservative Political Action Conference, “We will reduce taxes.  We will cut your regulations.  We will support our police.  We will defend our flag.  We will rebuild our military.  We will take care of our great, great veterans.” Some will watch what tone Trump uses in his speech. Will he reach out to Democrats and others who oppose his policies? Richard Vatz and Gerald Shuster are experts on presidential communication. Neither expects Trump to tone back the strong comments that have marked both his campaign for president and his first 40 days as president. “People have been predicting for a long time that he will change his tone, but it hasn’t happened and I see no reason to think it will now,” Vatz said. Vatz is a professor at Towson University in Maryland. He said the reason Trump is not likely to change is because his supporters like his strong criticism of the news media and Democrats. The downside, Vatz said, is that Trump faces the strongest opposition of any U.S. president since the 1960s. Shuster teaches at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. Shuster does not expect Trump to moderate his language unless he faces a major setback -- such as a failure to carry out his promise to repeal and replace the health plan known as Obamacare. Presidential speeches go back to George Washington Presidents have been giving speeches to Congress since the beginning of the Republic. George Washington, the first president, was also the first president to give a speech to Congress. The U.S. constitution says presidents “shall from time to time give to Congress information of the state of the Union.” But no president since John Kennedy in 1961 has given a State of the Union address during their first year in office. Recent presidents have instead given what is called a speech to a Joint Session of Congress. In his first speech to Congress in 2009, President Barack Obama said he was sure America would overcome its worst recession in over 70 years. “We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before,” Obama said. In 2001, President George W. Bush, a Republican, said America needed to be ready for the unexpected. A little over six months later, America faced its worst terrorist attack ever, killing 3,000 people on September 11, 2001. In 1981, new President Ronald Reagan, a Republican, discussed concerns his policies would hurt low-income Americans. He said, “All those with true need can rest assured that the social safety net of programs they depend on are exempt from any cuts."   Five days after the killing of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, President Lyndon Johnson made his first speech to a joint session of Congress. He said, "All I have I would have given gladly not to be standing here today. The greatest leader of our time has been struck down by the foulest deed of our time."   Who will watch Trump’s speech? Trump’s speech will be televised live across the United States and in some other nations. The audience watching in the U.S. Capitol will include more than just members of the Senate and House of Representatives. There will be members of his cabinet, Supreme Court justices and news reporters whom Trump calls the “enemy of the people” for stories critical of his administration. Members of Congress also invite “special guests” to watch the speech. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi plans to invite a young immigrant who could be hurt by Trump’s plans to take on illegal immigration. Pelosi also plans to bring a person she says has spoken out about the importance of a free press. Pelosi said Trump has failed to carry out his most important campaign promise. “Five weeks into his administration, President Trump has not introduced a single jobs bill,” she said. But Trump said he is speaking for Americans who have not been treated fairly. “The forgotten men and women of America will be forgotten no longer.”    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   regulation - n. an official rule or law that says how something should be done tone - n. a quality, feeling, or attitude expressed by the words that someone uses in speaking state - n. the current condition emerge - v. used to indicate the usually good state or condition of someone or something at the end of an event, process assured - v. be sure something will happen or not happen exempt - n. not affected by some decision, rule or proposal.

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College Board Plans to Increase Security on Admission Test

The group responsible for a widely used college admissions test cancelled scores for a number of students who took the test in January. Those students took the international SAT, formerly known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test. The College announced it is studying the scores of other students who took the January test. The non-profit College Board, which develops the SAT, said on Wednesday it is taking steps to try to reduce cheating on the admissions test. Results from the SAT and Advanced Placement, or AP, exams can help or hurt students interested in attending an American college or university. Reducing test dates to prevent cheating The College Board said there will only be four dates on which students can take the SAT during the 2017-2018 school year and the following school year. There are usually six test dates each year. The international SAT test date in June 2017 has been canceled. The coming year's test dates will be in October and December 2017, and in March and May of 2018. Fewer test dates mean SAT questions are less likely to be stolen. That is because the College Board often re-used questions from one test to another in the past.   Re-Using SAT questions increases cheating SAT exams with new questions are first given in the United States. After that, the exams are sent to test centers in other countries. Students in some areas can buy the questions from test-preparation companies before they take the test. It takes a long time for the College Board’s members to write and agree on questions for the test. So, it is not surprising that an SAT exam would include some questions from earlier exams. The College Board announced steps to prevent people who have cheated in the past from taking the test again. The group is also informing law enforcement about the groups and individuals it thinks are taking the test’s content illegally. It is asking test center administrators and test-takers themselves to report cases of cheating anonymously. Peter Schwartz is the College Board's chief administrative officer and general counsel. He said in a written statement that his organization is doing all it can to protect the exam questions. "We are unwavering in our commitment to SAT test security and we will continue to confront any efforts to undermine it." However, critics say the custom of repeating questions from one test to another makes it possible for students to share information after they take the test. Bob Schaeffer is the public education director for FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing. He says the College Board did not promise to stop re-using test questions. "The most important thing is what they did not say. They did not say they're going to stop recycling tests, which is the primary tool used in all these international cheating scandals." Schaeffer went on to say that communication through social media makes it impossible to stop people from sharing the test questions after they have taken a test. "The only way to stop unethical test-prep companies and individuals from gaining advance knowledge of upcoming test items is to stop reusing test questions." Zachary Goldberg works for the College Board. He noted, "We are reducing re-use, it's in the announcement. We recognize that's an issue." The announcement said that "the College Board has increased test form development to reduce reuse." Test writers working at the Educational Testing Service are responsible for the SAT, the Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL, and the Graduate Record Exam, or GRE. These tests have all been involved in cases of cheating that were reported in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Criminal cases of test cheating In January 2016, the College Board cancelled test dates at 45 test centers in China and Macau. The cancellation came after the College Board found that students may have received copies of the tests in advance. A group of 15 Chinese faced federal charges in 2015. Those charges were related to sending fake passports for people to take the SAT and other college entrance exams in Pennsylvania. They had been cheating since 2011. Chinese students had paid up to $6,000 to have someone else take college admission tests for them. Most of the 13 people who were found guilty of the cheating have been returned to China. Restoring trust in the tests The Reuters news service reported that the College Board knew that some parts of the tests they gave overseas last year were not secure. Steve Syverson is an administrator at the University of Washington, Bothell. He formerly served on the National Association for College Admission Counseling. He told Reuters that the College Board will need to find a way to return to the time when test scores could be trusted. “The College Board does a lot of good things, but it will clearly be a major challenge for them to restore trust in the integrity of the test.” I’m Jill Robbins.   Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English based on reports from the Associated Press and Reuters. George Grow was the editor. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   recycle - v. to use (something) again challenge - n. a difficult task or problem content – n. something contained; the issues treated in a written work anonymously – adj. of or related to an unnamed individual score – n. result; the number of points that someone gets for correct answers unwavering – adj. continuing in a strong way commitment – n. an agreement or promise to do something confront – v. to face something difficult fake – adj. a worthless copy of something scandal – n. damage to image; an apparent moral or ethical violation   Now it’s your turn. Do students in your country take high-stakes tests like the SAT? What do you think of the charges that many students cheat on SAT tests? Free practice materials for the SAT test are now available on the Khan Academy website

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Snapchat Prepares $20 Billion IPO, Launches Video Glasses

  The owner of messaging service Snapchat is preparing for the technology industry’s biggest initial public offering, or IPO, since 2014. Snap Inc. recently filed for the IPO, which will allow the company to offer stock shares to the public on the New York Stock Exchange. According to multiple media reports, the IPO will happen in early March. Based on its targeted share price, the IPO would put the Los Angeles-based company’s value at more than $20 billion. That predicted valuation is based on the stock being offered at $14-$16 per share.   Snap Inc. would be the biggest IPO in the technology industry since China’s Alibaba Group went public in 2014. The company’s 26-year-old Chief Executive Officer, Evan Spiegel, is currently meeting with investors in the U.S. and abroad to seek support for the IPO. Snap Inc. began as Snapchat in 2011. It became a popular messaging app for sharing photos. The app was unusual because it automatically deleted photos after they were sent. Messages became known as “Snaps.” Over the years, the company developed additional products related to photo and video messaging. For example, users can add entertaining features like text and animation to photos and videos. The company also added a “Discover” section containing short news videos. Another feature called “Stories” lets people create collections of messages, videos and photos from the past 24 hours. Some of Snap Inc.’s competitors – like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – have copied some of these features as a way to win new users.  Snapchap says it had 158 million active daily users at the end of 2016, with an average of 2.5 billion Snaps created every day. Most users of the service are between 18-34 years old. Those under 25 are most active and spend more than 30 minutes a day on the app, according to Snap. Snap Inc. has said its goal is to “reinvent the camera” to “improve the way people live and communicate.” It has signaled a desire to produce hardware to improve the Snapchat service. One of the new products is a pair of sunglasses that can record short video clips. The company just started selling the glasses online for just under $130 in the United States. Until now, the new glasses - called Spectacles – were only sold at limited places in the U.S. and sold out very quickly. Spectacles look a lot like many other regular sunglasses. But they have a built-in camera in front that can record up to 10 seconds of video. They come in bright colors and were designed to appeal to people seeking a new, fun experience on Snapchat. Spectacles connect to Snapchat through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, allowing users to immediately send the clips to others. Snap Inc. is also reportedly developing products for future release related to virtual reality, augmented reality and facial recognition.   I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press and other sources. 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 initial – adj. occurring at the beginning of something app – n. a computer program that performs a special function animation – n. a drawing, pictures, etc., shown quickly one after another  hardware – n. machines or equipment used inside computers or together with electronic devices augmented reality – n. a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world.  

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Hollywood Recognizes Iranian Film Director

Political statements are not new to the Academy Awards ceremony. A number of award-winning actors and movie directors have made such comments over the years. On Sunday, America’s movie industry recognized an Iranian film, “The Salesman,” as the best foreign language film of 2016. The film’s director, Asghar Farhadi, was not in Hollywood to get the award, called an Oscar. Farhadi said earlier he would not come to California as a protest of President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration. The order barred refugees and others from Iran and six other Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. This month, a federal court ruling has blocked enforcement of the measure. Trump has said his administration is preparing a new order to help protect the United States against a possible terrorist attack. At the awards ceremony, Anousheh Ansari, an Iranian-American astronaut, accepted the Oscar for Farhadi. She read a statement written by the director. “I'm sorry I'm not with you tonight," Ansari read. "My absence is out of respect for the people of my country and those of other six nations who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the U.S." Firouz Naderi stood by Ansari as she read the statement. Naderi once worked for NASA, America’s space agency, and like Ansari, is an Iranian-American. "Dividing the world into 'us' and 'enemies' categories creates fear," Ansari said, continuing Farhadi's statement. “Filmmakers can turn their cameras to capture shared human qualities and break sterotypes of various nationalities and religions.” The statement noted that filmmakers can create empathy – the ability to share feelings – between us and others … “An empathy that we need today more than ever.” Speaking later, Naderi said that Farhadi could have chosen from many important Iranians to speak for him at the Oscars. But, Naderi said, he chose two scientists who specialize in space because, "if you go away from the Earth and look back at the Earth you don't see the borders and the lines." This was the second Oscar win for Farhadi. In 2012, he won best foreign film for “A Separation.” His film “The Salesman” is the story about two people performing the American writer Arthur Miller’s famous play “Death of a Salesman.” Some people said the film produced support for immigrant rights after Trump’s executive order was announced. The directors of the six films nominated in the foreign language category put out a statement before the Oscars. They criticized what they called the climate of “fanaticism” in the United States. They said the award is meant for “unity and understanding,” no matter who won. In Iran, the Associated Press reported that many people seemed energized by the win. Vice President Ishaq Jahangiri praised Farhadi both for the award and for not going to the ceremony. He called it a “priceless action.” Relations between the two countries have been tested since Trump became president last month. His administration put Iran “on notice” after it test-fired a ballistic missile. In Britain, “The Salesman” movie was shown in London’s Trafalgar Square on Sunday. Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim mayor of London, England, posted a video statement by Asghar Farhadi on Facebook. Speaking from Tehran, Farhadi said in English that he is “extremely happy” about reactions against the U.S. order by “people and art communities around the world.” He said the reactions show the opposition to the travel ban “has developed into a powerful and unified movement.” I’m Anne Ball. And I'm Kevin Turner.   Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English with material from Reuters and the Associated Press. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   executive - adj. dealing with the President stereotype – n. an often unfair and untrue belief that many people have about all people or things with a particular characteristic category - n.  a type or kind fanaticism - n. being very enthusiastic about something

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'Moonlight' Wins Best Picture at Mixed-Up Oscars Ceremony

This is What’s Trending Today. “There’s a mistake. ‘Moonlight,’ you guys won best picture.” And with those words, producer Jordan Horowitz of “La La Land,” told the cast and crew of a competing film that it had won the Oscars’ biggest award. Presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway were given the wrong category’s envelope before they went on stage. They may have been given the back-up envelope for the “best actress” award, which earlier was given to Emma Stone of “La La Land.” Beatty was clearly confused about what he saw when he opened the envelope, but Dunaway read the name of the film listed below Stone’s name. The actors and producers from “La La Land” left their seats and filled the stage to accept their Oscar statues. They gave many speeches before Horowitz interrupted. “This is not a joke. Moonlight has won best picture,” he said. He took the card from Beatty and held it up for the cameras. “Moonlight. Best Picture,” he said as the camera moved closer. The show’s host, comedian and late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel, made the best of the situation. He went up to Beatty, and exclaimed “Warren. What did you do?” Kimmel also said, “personally, I blame Steve Harvey.” That was in reference to the mistake Harvey made in 2015 at the Miss Universe pageant. He announced the wrong winner, first saying it was the contestant from Colombia, and then realizing the correct winner was actually from the Philippines.  Once order had been restored, Beatty tried to explain what happened, saying he had been given the wrong envelope. Barry Jenkins is the writer and director of “Moonlight.” Once he reached the stage, he said “even in my dreams, this cannot be true.” Stone, happy to have won the best actress award, later said “is that the craziest Oscar moment of all time? Cool!” Many people are wondering how the mistake was made. The accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers has been handling Oscar votes for over 80 years without any problems. The firm apologized to all of the people who were made uncomfortable by the mistake. It promised to investigate what caused the error. Horowitz is being credited for staying calm and stopping the show to correct the error. People are calling him “gracious,” “a great producer,” and “classy.” Even Jenkins said “much respect to that dude.”  A story from USA Today detailed the backstage moments of the show. The newspaper said people could be heard shouting “Best show ever!” at the end of the night.  The other major award winners will always remember their victorious night because of the best picture mix-up. They included: Viola Davis and Mahershala Ali for their supporting roles in “Fences” and “Moonlight;” “Manchester by the Sea,” for best original screenplay and “Moonlight” for best adapted screenplay; Casey Affleck for best actor and Damien Chazelle for best director. “The Salesman,” a film from Iran, won the award for best foreign film. Director Asghar Farhadi did not attend the ceremony. He wrote a letter that said he chose not to attend in protest of President Donald Trump’s attempts to ban immigrants to the United States from a number of majority Muslim countries, including Iran. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English based on reporting by the Associated Press. Hai Do was the editor. What did you think of the Oscars? Let us know in the comments section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   back-up – n. a person or thing that can be used to replace or support another person or thing confused – adj. a person or thing that can be used to replace or support another person or thing pageant – n. a beauty contest, in which people judge a group of women or girls and decide which one is the most beautiful restore – v. to give back or return something cool – adj. often used to show approval in a general way firm – n. a business organization gracious – adj. very polite in a way that shows respect classy – adj. showing impressive character : very good, kind, etc. dude – n. a man — used especially by young people adapt – v. to change (a movie, book, play, etc.) so that it can be presented in another form

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February 27, 2017

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

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In Photos: 2017 Academy Awards Winners

Here are the winners of some of the major categories for the 2017 Academy Awards

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Oscars Red Carpet

Hollywood honors its best Sunday February 26 when Oscar statuettes are distributed for excellence in film.  One of the most watched moments of the evening is the red carpet arrivals. Here is a sample of what some of the top stars wore.

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Hollywood's Biggest Night - The 89th Annual Academy Awards

Each year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presents the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California. The awards are called Oscars. They are the top honors in the American film industry.  Tonight we are live blogging about the event! This year, the movie "La La Land" has received fourteen Oscar nominations. This matches the record of 1951's "All About Eve" and 1998's "Titanic." "Titanic" ended up winning 11 Oscars. Will "La La Land" be so lucky? Stay tuned. The ceremony is just a half-hour away...

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John Adams: He's Number Two

VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents. Today we are talking about John Adams. In 1796, he was elected as the country’s second president. Being second can be difficult. And being the second president of a new country, following a popular first president such as George Washington, turned out to be extremely difficult. For one thing, Adams did not always get along with other people. He was known to get angry easily, and often. Adams also was leader of a divided administration. His own vice president often disagreed with him – passionately. The situation was the result of a rule in the Constitution at the time. It said the person who received the majority of votes became president. The person with the second largest number of votes became vice president. The rule worked fine for the first two elections. Washington had won the presidency, and Adams won the vice presidency. The two men belonged to the same political party and shared many points of view.  But in 1796, Adams’ opponent in the election, Thomas Jefferson, became the vice president. The two men were personal friends, but political enemies. President Adams supported a strong federal government that protected the interests of business and the wealthy. Vice President Jefferson, on the other hand, wanted to limit the power of the federal government. As a result, Adams and Jefferson often clashed. Adams also made what many historians consider a mistake in choosing his cabinet. Adams simply kept Washington’s official advisers, mostly to satisfy political opponents. But later, Adams learned that many of his cabinet members opposed him, too. Historian John Ferling says Adams was “in over his head, and started swimming upstream” almost from the start of his presidency. Foreign policy crisis On top of all that, Adams faced a foreign policy crisis. After the French Revolution, Great Britain allied with other European nations against France. They wanted to keep the unrest from spreading to their countries.   Adams worked hard to make sure the U.S. did not get pulled into a war between France and Great Britain. But France did not trust the U.S. It tried to interrupt trade by seizing U.S. ships. Adams wanted to resolve the problem peacefully. He threatened military action, but he also sent diplomats to talk with French officials. Adams aimed for “an honorable peace” with France. It took some time but he got it. Historian John Ferling says although the crisis in Europe caused Adams “endless trouble,” he dealt with it well. Many years later, Adams wrote that “the greatest jewel in his crown” was reaching peace with France. The Adams family Even if Adams struggled as president, he was successful in other parts of his life. He grew up outside the city of Boston. His father was a farmer, as well as a church official and town leader. However, Adams chose to attend Harvard University and become a lawyer. Adams was a very good lawyer. In fact, he was one of the busiest lawyers in Boston. His success enabled him to buy a big, two-story house that still stands in Quincy, Massachusetts. Adams also had a happy marriage. The relationship between him and his wife, Abigail, is one of the best-known of that time. The two wrote many letters to each other during the years they were apart. More than 1,000 of their letters still survive today.John and Abigail Adams were both passionate patriots who supported the American Revolution. They also agreed about the issue of slavery. Unlike many founding families of the U.S., the couple did not own slaves and spoke out against the system of people owning other people. Election of 1800 In November of 1800, John and Abigail Adams moved to the Executive Mansion in Washington, D.C. Adams was the first president to live in what we now call the White House. They would not stay long, however.  Adams was facing a difficult re-election campaign. His vice president, Thomas Jefferson, was running against him. His party was divided – many Federalists supported other candidates. And some voters did not like his decisions – including creating a permanent army, raising taxes, and limiting the rights of immigrants. Those four laws – called the Alien and Sedition Acts – extended the time that immigrants had to wait before becoming U.S. citizens. They permitted the government to detain citizens from enemy nations without reason during wartime. The laws also permitted the president to expel foreign citizens he believed were dangerous. And they made criticizing the president or Congress a crime. Adams said the Acts aimed to control people in the U.S. who supported France. But many politicians at the time argued that the laws mostly affected people who supported the opposing political party. Historian John Ferling says they were right. And, he says, Adams may have been using the Alien and Sedition Acts to protect his political career. But they ended up damaging his public image. They also raised the question for the first time of whether states had the right to ignore a federal law if they disagreed with it. Adams and Jefferson Supporters of Vice President Thomas Jefferson used Adams’ approval of the Alien and Sedition Acts against him effectively. Jefferson’s campaign said Adams exercised so much power as president that he must want the U.S. to become a monarchy. Adams’ campaign said Jefferson was a radical who would bring revolution to the country. The U.S. had never experienced such an ugly election before. Some people wondered whether the country would be able to transfer power peacefully. When Jefferson won, however, Adams did not resist. He retired to his farm in Massachusetts. Adams spent most of his retirement writing. He even began exchanging long letters with his old friend – and old enemy – Thomas Jefferson. They two men discussed their families, their thoughts on politics and religion, and their nation’s history. The letters were both personally and historically meaningful: Adams and Jefferson were the last living members of the original patriots who started a new country. On July 4, 1826 – the nation’s 50th birthday – the two friends, patriots and former U.S. presidents died within hours of one another. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.   Anne Ball and Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story. Caty Weaver was the editor. See how well you understand the story by taking this listening quiz. Play each video, then choose the best answer. ​ _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   passionately - adv. having, showing, or expressing strong emotions or beliefs upstream - adj. in the direction opposite to the flow in a stream or river interrupt - v.  to cause something to stop happening for a time patriot – n. person who supported the American Revolutionary War for freedom from Britain ugly - adj. unpleasant transfer - v. to give rights to another person original - adj. existing first or at the beginning

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