February 28, 2017

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

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East Asia Again Leads PISA Survey

From VOA Learning English, this is the Education Report. East Asian countries again lead all others in the latest Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) education survey. Singapore placed number one overall, according to the most recent results from 2015. The other top ten countries and territories included: Japan, Estonia, Taipei, Finland, Macao, Canada, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Beijing-Shanghai-Jiangsu-Guangdong China, or B-S-J-G China. The PISA is run by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCED), based in Paris, France.  Every three years, it measures science, math, reading, and collaboration problem-solving among students. Around 540,000 15-year-old students from 72 countries and regions took the test. Western countries performed much weaker on average. The United States, in particular, placed only 38th overall. It was 30th in math and 19th in science.  Singapore leads in Science Singapore outperformed all other participating countries in science. Japan, Estonia, Finland and Canada were the next four highest-performing countries. According to the data, 1 in 4 students in Singapore perform at the highest level in science. At this level, the students have the skills and knowledge about science to creatively apply them to a wide variety of situations, including unfamiliar ones. The study said the majority of countries scores in science changed very little since 2006. However, in some countries, including Portugal, and Qatar, not only did their percentage of top-performing students increase, their share of low-performing students also decreased. Mathematics and reading More than 1 in 4 students from B-S-J-G China, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, and Singapore were top performers in mathematics. In reading performance, the difference between male and female student’s performance decreased. However, the study found that while the scores of higher-achieving males were improving, those of lower-achieving female students were not. The study did find that about 20% of students surveyed did not attain the baseline level of proficiency in reading. This percentage has remained the same since the 2009 survey.  Education culture The strong showing by East Asian countries reflects the overall culture surrounding education in the region. Minh Tran is Senior Director of Research for the education training organization Education First. He said that countries like Singapore and Hong Kong succeed due to the standards and effort placed on students and teachers. “…They want their students to be very competitive in the region and in the world.  So they do invest in education quite a bit… But I think another really important factor is how hard the students are working every single day, and how much they understand the value of that hard work, because students are told by their parents and teachers day in and day out how important it is that they do well.  And they are trained to take exams.”  Europe leading in equity The PISA also assessed countries by how equal the education opportunities were for students. This was one category where Western countries scored higher. Canada, Denmark, and Estonia scored highest in this category. Hong Kong and Macao were also in the top 5. The study found that students living in poverty are more likely to not reach a baseline level of proficiency in science. However, some students living in poverty still performed at high levels. The study found the most disadvantaged students from Macao and Vietnam still outperform the advantaged students in about 20 of the countries in the survey. Tran said this is the trend in some Asian countries. In places like China, he said the best students often come from rural areas because they have to fight that much harder to get into good schools. This reflects, Tran said, the overall culture of grit with Asian students, meaning their desire and perseverance to work hard through difficult situations. Educational equity was one area where the U.S. did show improvement since the last study. Some question PISA results Not everyone agrees with the PISA results. Some have criticized the PISA assessment for how it selects its population sample from each country.  Each country or education system is responsible for recruiting the schools. In some countries, including China, only the best schools and students were chosen to participate in the study. This potentially does not reflect the true level of education across the country. I’m Phil Dierking And I'm Lucija Millonig   This story was written by Phil Dierking for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. How did your country perform on the PISA?  Do you think the results are accurate of your country’s education system? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   collaboration – n. to work with another person or group in order to achieve or do something grit – n. mental toughness and courage perseverance – n. the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult sample – n. a small amount of something that gives you information about the thing it was taken from

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These Paper Drones Can Make Deliveries, then Disappear

An American company has built a new drone that could improve the efficiency of deliveries. The drone is very different from other unmanned aircraft. It is made almost completely out of cardboard and has no motor. It can be packed with materials and sealed up with tape. Because the drones do not have a motor, they are designed to be dropped from airplanes. Hundreds of drones could be launched at once. Then they could be automatically guided to where they are supposed to go. The company says these drones could then complete deliveries to different places over an area covering hundreds of kilometers.  The drones look like bigger versions of the paper airplanes we used to make as kids. But this light flyer is not a toy. It is aerodynamically designed and equipped with a small computer, a battery and sensors to guide it to the ground. The drones are being developed by Otherlab – a technology research company in San Francisco, California. It calls the drone a “Sky Machine.” The company says it can travel about 150 kilometers at speeds up to 88 kilometers an hour. Currently, it can carry materials weighing up to one kilogram, but future models are expected to carry larger loads. One of the drone’s main advantages is that it does not have a heavy motor or large battery. This allows more room for materials and makes the drone cost less to build and operate. The Otherlab development team has called its invention the “Ikea of drones.” This is because it is packaged similarly to products from the Swedish furniture maker Ikea. The drone arrives as flat pieces of pre-cut cardboard that can be quickly and easily put together. The technology that guides the drone can make it land within 10 meters of its target, according to Otherlab. Unlike other drones, even a crash landing is acceptable since the aircraft is disposable. The company says the drones can also be reused. Once the drone completes its delivery, it can be thrown away and the cardboard material will likely decompose within a few months. The company has received money from the U.S. Department of Defense to carry out research on the drones. The money came from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The agency is attempting to find the best delivery vehicles that can disappear after their missions are complete. The U.S. military has a need for delivery drones. But it wants to simplify and lower the cost of using them. Otherlab’s Sky Machines are an attempt to fill that need. Military drones can also be stolen and studied by others if found after use. Before they can truly vanish, the electronic materials inside must also somehow disappear. Researchers are still working on ways to get the technology itself to self-destruct. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. What do you think about these paper drones? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   drone – n. a small flying machine flown remotely by a pilot delivery – n. act of taking something from one place to another tape – n. material that is sticky on one side to hold things together battery – n. a device that chemically stores electricity aerodynamically – adv. relating to the study of how objects move through the air disposable – adj. intended to be used once, then thrown away decompose – v. cause something to be slowly broken down by natural processes vanish – v. suddenly disappear completely self-destruct – v. destroy itself  

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Indian Students Reconsider Plans for US Education

  Rahul Kolli was happy when he gained admission to Michigan Technological University in the United States. Kolli, a 23-year-old from southern India, studied engineering before graduating from college. He wanted to continue his education by studying data analytics at Michigan Tech. He had the same goal as tens of thousands of Indian students: study in an American university, work in the United States for a few years and perhaps stay there. But in November, Kolli decided not to go to the U.S. school. He chose instead to study at a university in Ireland. His main concern was U.S. President Donald Trump’s promise to protect jobs for Americans. Kolli thought that after spending a huge amount in the United States, he might have difficulty finding a job here. Kolli says many of his Indian friends at American universities urged him not to come to the U.S. They said some companies had told them U.S. citizens would be preferred for new jobs. “Before Trump, yes -- they were asking me to come,” he said. “But after Trump (was) elected, they were like: ‘Think over your decision. I don’t suggest you come to the U.S. Why don’t you try some other country?’” The number of Indians studying in the United States has grown in recent years. More than 200,000 Indians attended an American college or university last year. That is the second-highest number of foreign students from one country. The lack of high-quality universities in India forces many students to consider foreign countries for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. For many years, the Preston Education Consultancy in Chennai sent almost all students who used its services to the United States. Ilaya Bharathi heads the company. He says about 40 percent of students it works with chose such countries as Ireland, Canada, Germany and Australia even after gaining admission to an American university. “It’s basically what is called in the market the ‘Trump effect.’ They are reluctant to take the U.S. as an option now,” says Bharathi. He notes growing nervousness among both Indian students and their parents. They are worried about a possible change in American immigration policy. They fear such a change could make it difficult for foreign students to stay and work in the United States. Bharathi says most Indians studying in other countries are computer software engineers. He says many have decided to study in Ireland, which is a growing information technology center in Europe. Ireland now permits students to work for two years after they have completed their education, instead of one. In addition to worries about jobs, some Indians wonder whether the United States will continue to be a safe and welcoming place for foreign students and workers. Many of them have heard anti-immigrant statements from President Trump and his supporters. Such worries have grown after two Indian engineers were shot last month in the state of Kansas. The death of one of the two was reported throughout India. The suspected gunman is a U.S. Navy veteran who shouted “get out of my country” at the men. Police are investigating the shooting as a possible hate crime. Kavita Singh operates FutureWorks Consulting in New Delhi. The company helps Indian students gain admission to colleges. She says she is hearing questions about the United States that she has not heard before. The questions have included, “What is the environment going to be like on campus?” and “Is it going to change and is it going to be different?” Singh says this concern is greater among those students hoping to receive an undergraduate education in the U.S. Students from richer families often do not want to work and live in the U.S. And they fear the environment may turn more hostile. “Some even say we only want to look maybe now at colleges on the East and West Coast which voted blue (Democrat) and we are not really sure we want to look at the middle of the country,” said Singh. She earned a Masters of Business Administration degree in the United States.   Education experts say many postgraduate students are watching how policies on students staying to work in the country develop under the Trump administration. But not everyone is disheartened. Shraddha Gulati, a student in a Delhi University college, says she wants to study in the United States.    “There are so many good colleges there -- the top 50 and 100 -- and not in India,” she said. I’m Alice Bryant.   Anjana Pasricha reported this story from New Delhi. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her report for VOA 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   graduate - v. to earn a degree or diploma from a school, college or university prefer - v. to like someone or something better than someone or something else undergraduate - adj. relating the first years of study at a college or university - usually in reference to a bachelor's education  postgraduate - adj. relating to the years following a bachelor's degree option - n. the opportunity or ability to choose something or to choose between two or more things campus - n. the area and buildings around a university, college, or school  degree - n. an official document and title that is given to someone who has successfully completed a series of classes at a college or university

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Paczki, Sweet Treats for Fat Tuesday

This is What’s Trending Today. For Christians around the world, Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. It is the first day of a six-week religious observance before the Easter holiday. Lent is a time of sacrifice. Many Christians stop eating meat and give up sugar and alcoholic drinks. But before Lent begins, people get one last chance to enjoy themselves. Some attend celebrations on the Tuesday before Lent, also known as Fat Tuesday. In some cultures, people celebrate Fat Tuesday by eating a sweet bread treat called paczki. Paczki are from Poland and similar to doughnuts. In parts of the United States with large Polish communities, Fat Tuesday is also known as Paczki Day. On Tuesday, the hashtag #PaczkiDay was trending on social media. Many people shared photographs of the sugary, round treats. Paczki are popular in northern U.S. cities like Detroit and Chicago, where many people have Polish roots. Traditionally, paczki are filled with sweet fruity jams made from plums and the fruits of the rose plant. But these days, people will put just about anything inside paczki. One Detroit newspaper reported that a hot dog stand will serve a “Coney Paczki.” That is a piece of meat inside of sweet paczki instead of a traditional bun. One can add mustard, chili and even onions. One Twitter user wrote: “Those look yummy.” But another more traditional Twitter user thought it was just not the right way to celebrate Fat Tuesday. He wrote: “An actual Cajun would never eat this.”  Many people with Cajun roots celebrate Fat Tuesday in Louisiana. Other people celebrated Paczki Day by bringing large boxes of the treats to their office. A Twitter user named Rebecca posted a photo of at least 20 paczki and asked “is there such a thing as too many #paczki?”  Abdul El-Sayed was born in Michigan. But his family is from Egypt. He works as a doctor and politician in the Detroit area. He and his wife Sarah went looking for halal paczki. They found them at a food stand in one Detroit neighborhood. They made a video showing their paczki-eating experience. Others made videos showing how to make paczki and how to say their name correctly, too.     And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Have you ever eaten paczki? How did they taste? Let us know in the comments section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   doughnut – n. a piece of sweet fried dough that is often shaped like a ring jam – n. a sweet food made of fruit and sugar thickened by boiling bun – n. a small, round or long bread for one person to eat yummy – adj. very pleasing to the taste halal – adj. accepted by Muslim law as fit for eating

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Cambodian Leader Praises Trump, Criticizes ‘Anarchy’ Media

  Cambodian officials have praised President Donald Trump’s criticism of American media and used this as an example of how they can also deal with local reporters. During an event in the capital Phnom Penh, Prime Minister Hun Sen warned reporters not to do stories that could pose a threat to “peace and stability.” “Donald Trump understands that they are an anarchic group,” said Hun Sen, referring to journalists, according to Reuters news agency. Reuters said the comments also appeared on Hun Sen’s official Facebook page. According to Cambodian independent newspaper Phnom Penh Post, Hun Sen’s comments came during a speech to celebrate the country’s National Clean City Day. “We respect rights, not the rights of anarchy, [but rather] the rights of the rule of law,” the Cambodian leader was quoted as saying. “Now, in the United Sates itself, CNN and some others could not get into the White House because Donald Trump sees them as causing anarchy,” he added. Last week, White House officials barred some news organizations from attending an informal press gathering with Trump’s press secretary, Sean Spicer. Among those not allowed in were the New York Times and CNN – both frequent targets of Trump’s criticism. Trump has repeatedly called press coverage he does not agree with "fake news." He has also described journalists as "the enemy of the people." White House officials argued they were not trying to shut out certain media from the gathering, but were just trying to include more reporters. However, the action was condemned by many media outlets, which called it an insult to democratic ideals. Hun Sen’s statements followed strong criticism of the media last weekend by Cambodian government cabinet spokesman Phay Siphan. In a Facebook post Saturday, he also referred to the White House decision to exclude some media. He said it sent a "clear message" that some reporting "does not reflect reality." “President Donald Trump thinks that the news reported by these organizations did not reflect the truth, which is the responsibility of the professional reporters," the spokesman said. “This means that freedom of expression must respect the law and the authority of the state.” Phay Siphan said the government may decide to "take action" against some media outlets if they are found to be threats to the country's peace and stability. While Cambodia's constitution provides for a free press, most media are indirectly controlled by the state and closely monitored. In his Facebook post, Phay Siphan specifically took aim at Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA), as well as the local Voice of Democracy, an independent, not-for-profit radio station. He accused the broadcasters of being "foreign agents." He said they must "reconsider" their use of airtime before the government takes unspecified actions. In a statement, Jing Zhang, the acting director of VOA's East Asia Pacific division, rejected those descriptions. “VOA is a media organization that reports news in an objective, fair and balanced manner," he said. "Millions of VOA listeners and Facebook fans in Cambodia can attest to our journalistic integrity." The Phnom Penh Post contacted Phay Siphan to get clarification of his comments. He responded by saying that any media outlet that doesn't follow the government's orders would be expelled. "Shut it down. Very simple. Expel them," he said. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.   Mony Say, Narin Sun and William Gallo reported this story for VOA. Bryan Lynn adapted it for VOA Learning English, with additional information coming from Reuters 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   fake – adj. not true or real exclude – v. keep something or someone out objective – adj. based on facts rather than feelings or opinions integrity – n. honesty, knowing what is morally right or wrong expel – v. officially force something or someone to leave a place or organization  

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American Mining Company Suspends Work in Dispute with Indonesia

  An American mining company has suspended work at the world’s largest gold mine in West Papua, New Guinea in a dispute with the Indonesian government. Indonesia wants changes to the mining company Freeport-McMoRan’s business. It also wants a majority ownership share to go to Indonesians. The company chief says Indonesia is breaking its contract in seeking the changes. And the company may seek arbitration in the case and bring a legal case against the government. Freeport-MacMoRan is based in Phoenix, Arizona. Besides operating the world’s largest gold mine, it also mines copper and other minerals in the Indonesian territory. The company employs about 32,000 people in Indonesia. It has laid off 10 percent of its foreign workforce. Observers in Indonesia are concerned that the dispute will severely harm the local economy, which is dependent on mining. Concerns about the local situation are rising West Papua has long been a troubled territory in Indonesia. It has an independence movement that has been forcibly suppressed by military action. Mining is the main economic activity of the area. One local newspaper editor notes that Freeport-McMoRan also provides social services to the area. Octovianus Danunan of the Radar Timika says, “Freeport runs two hospitals here, gives hundreds of scholarships to local students, and of course, provides jobs to thousands of Papuans.” John Gobai is a member of the Papua parliament. He said, “These layoffs have eliminated the livelihoods of a lot of people.” He says people native to the area are suffering. Reports from the company say 36 percent of the full-time employees in the area are native Papuans. Andreas Harsono is a researcher with the activist group Human Rights Watch. He says Timika, where the mining facility is, is a wild area. He says violence is a possibility. Contract of work disputed The Indonesian government wants changes to a 30-year contract signed in 1991. The contract was signed when Suharto, a military ruler, was the president. However, relations between the government and Freeport-McMoRan have cooled under democratically elected presidents. In 2009, the government passed a mining law requiring the company to build a $2.9 billion smelter. The facility would melt down metal ore to increase the value of exported materials. The country also wants a majority of the shares in the company to go to Indonesian ownership within 10 years. Indonesian officials have increased pressure on the company to change its contract to a “Special Business License” under the 2009 law. Mines and Energy Minister Ignasius Jonan has led the effort. The contract is set to end in 2021. However, the government has passed rules in January and February increasing pressure on the company, according to a company press release. The Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources could not be reached for comment on the issue. The chief executive officer of the company, Richard Adkerson, has told Reuters news service that Freeport-McMoRan is committed to remaining in Indonesia. He notes that one third of West Papua’s economy comes from the Grasberg mine. Both sides face large financial losses because of the dispute. Indonesia appears committed to the changes it is seeking. During the dispute, Papua parliament member John Gobai says the government must do something for the local people. “What the government really needs to think about is what compensation they can give the layoff victims in the present. These people are employees, but they are also citizens,” Gobai said. I’m Mario Ritter.   Krithika Varagur reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   arbitration –n. the process of seeking judgement from a third party in a dispute between two sides smelter –n. a facility used to melt down and remove impurities from metal ores ore –n. rock that contains high concentrations of metal license –n. a document that gives official permission to do some activity compensation –n. something provided to make up for damage or trouble We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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A Brief History of Presidential Addresses to Congress

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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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