Iranian Americans Use Tech to Show Success Stories

  Pirooz Parvarandeh has been an executive in the technology industry for many years. He is also an Iranian American. But Paravarandeh believes Iranian Americans are subject to many negative stereotypes. A stereotype is a widely held but often wrong or oversimplified idea about a group of people. One reason is that even Iranian Americans themselves do not know about the many success stories of their group, he said. So Parvarandeh helped set up what he calls the “Iranian Americans’ Contribution Project.” It collected 200,000 Iranian last names and 70,000 first names. It uses the internet to search jobs held by people with these Iranian names. So far, the project has found more than 9,000 doctors and 3,000 dentists. It also found that Iranian Americans have received at least 40,000 patents. Patents are given to people who invent new products or processes. Parvarandeh hopes the information will cause people to reject negative images of Iranian Americans. “What images come up with “Iranian?” A terrorist? A hostage-taker? Or a contributing member of society,” he asked during a recent talk at the University of California, Berkeley. “If we don’t know the contributions of Iranian Americans, how can we expect the American public to know? If the public is not with us, why would policymakers want to stick up for us?” About one million Iranians now live in the United States, mostly in California. The Iranian Americans’ Contributions Project started last year. But it grew more interest this year after Iran was listed among countries included in the first and second travel bans called for by the Trump administration. Both orders have been blocked temporarily by federal judges. Parvarandeh hopes his new project will show Americans the many contributions being made by Iranian Americans.  Immigrant groups in America have long considered how best to both “assimilate,” or fit in,” and remain proud of their culture. For Iranian Americans, this has been made more difficult by continuing tensions between the United States and Iran. Those tensions date back to the seizing and holding of 52 American hostages at the U.S. embassy in Tehran from November 1979 to January 1981. The internet effort to identify important jobs done by Iranian Americans is not always successful. The second generation of Iranian Americans and people marrying non-Iranian Americans means more have taken on American sounding names. But Parvarandeh hopes that Iranian Americans will reach out to his project. It uses both information collected on the internet, and interviews with Iranian Americans. Abe Kasbo is founder and chief executive officer of Verasoni Worldwide. It is a marketing and public relations company with offices in New Jersey and Texas. Kasbo decided too many Americans do not know about the contributions of Arab Americans. That led him to produce the 2016 film, “A Thousand and One Journeys.” It includes interviews with successful Arab Americans. He hopes the movie will show people the important contributions made by Arab-Americans. Among those interviewed for the movie were former Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell, actor Jamie Farr, political activist Ralph Nader and the late journalist, Helen Thomas. Kasbo said people who watch the movie will learn about just some of the noteworthy contributions” by Arab Americans. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Michelle Quinn reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted this story for 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   negative - adj. thinking about the bad qualities of someone or something contributing - adj. to help to cause something to happen society - n. people living together in organized communities with shared laws, traditions, and values interview - n. to ask someone questions noteworthy - adj. significant or important  

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It’s a Boy! April the Giraffe’s Baby Is Born

  This is What’s Trending Today. Millions of people have been eagerly waiting for April, a giraffe living at a zoo in New York State, to have her baby. Viewers were rewarded on Saturday: at about 10 a.m. April gave birth to a male calf. The birth was filmed and shown live on YouTube. About 1 million people watched it. (Note: advance video to 3:18:46 to see birth.) The zoo first posted live video of pregnant April in her pen on YouTube in late February. People who object to zoos complained to YouTube, which took down the video. But stopping the video attracted even more interest.   After investigating, YouTube returned the video and allowed it to remain online. The New York Times called April “an internet star.” Millions of people have checked on April at some point in the last two months. At its peak, April’s live camera on YouTube had almost 5 million viewers per day. But after a while, many people wondered if the baby giraffe would ever be born. Some even proposed April was not really pregnant. One fan said he followed April’s story for 10 weeks. David Chase used Facebook to write: “I’ve been watching 10 weeks, who says guys can’t commit?” After the birth, many people just simply wrote: “Finally!” The zoo said the baby and April are doing fine. The calf weighs 58.5 kilograms and is just under 1.8 meters tall. The calf stood up about 45 minutes after he was born. The zoo, called Animal Adventure Park, is located about 200 kilometers northwest of New York City. It is currently closed but fans of April and her new baby will be able to visit when the park re-opens in mid-May. The zoo has not yet announced the calf’s name. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a story from the Associated Press. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. Did you think the baby giraffe would ever be born? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   eager – adj. very excited and interested calf – n. the young of various other large animals (such as the elephant or whale) complain – v. to say or write that you are unhappy, sick, uncomfortable, etc., or that you do not like something commit – v. to decide to give your love, support, or effort to someone or something in a serious or permanent way peak – adj. at the highest point or level  

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April 17, 2017

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

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English in a Minute: Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

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Trump Hosts a Major Event … for Children

President Donald Trump returned to Washington, DC on Monday for a very important event. It was not for a meeting with an international leader. And it was not for a joint session of Congress. No, on this day, Trump greeted thousands of children. They had come to the White House for the annual Easter Egg Roll. The event has been a U.S. tradition for more than a century. In the late 1800s, local children gathered on the hill beside the president’s house to play a game with their colored eggs following the Easter holiday. The White House Easter Egg Roll was of special interest this year. The Trump administration was very late to organize it. Some people who hoped to attend the event were even worried that it would be canceled. Political observers said the Easter Egg Roll would show how well Trump’s administration could plan and operate a complex public relations event. Talk about the event also brought attention to the first lady, whose office usually plans the White House Easter Egg Roll. First Lady Melania Trump has not yet moved to Washington, DC. She says she will remain in New York City until her son finishes the school year.   So, how did the White House Easter Egg Roll go this year?   Just fine, early reports say. About 21,000 children and their families received tickets to this year’s event. They came in small groups to the lawn near the president’s house. They played soccer, tossed bean bags and, of course, pushed hard-boiled eggs down the hill.  The event was smaller than in previous years. Last year, for example, about 36,000 people attended. This year’s Easter Egg Roll also did not include performances by top celebrities or professional athletes. Instead, children were invited to draw pictures for U.S. soldiers. The Easter Bunny made an appearance, though, as did both Trump and the first lady. They were there with their 11-year-old son, Barron. The president welcomed his young guests and promised them that the nation was getting stronger, bigger, and better.  I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.   Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson 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 joint – adj. combining two or more people or groups century – n. one hundred years bean bag – n. a small cloth bag that is filled with dried beans or small pieces of another material and used as a toy to toss

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Are Your Clothes Causing Pollution?

Very small pieces of plastic, called microfibers, are polluting rivers and oceans. The source of these microfibers may surprise you: your clothes. Clothes worn for outdoor activities and exercise are often made of synthetic material, like polyester or nylon. In cold weather, many people wear soft fleece clothing to keep warm. They contain very small plastic fibers. They may also be harming the environment when you wash them. When people wash these clothes, very small pieces go down the drain with the wash water. These microfibers cannot be seen without a microscope. Studies on microfibers in the environment Pollution caused by plastic is not new, but recent studies have shown the effect of microfibers in the environment. Studies show very small microfibers are ending up in our waters. A 2015 study found them in fish from California. They have even been found in table salt in China. For three years, the Montana-based group Adventure Scientists has been researching microfibers and microplastics by collecting water samples from around the world. Katie Holsinger is Adventure Scientists’ microplastics manager. She says seventy-five percent of the water samples contained microplastics, but there has been a surprise: “In our samples, ninety percent of the plastics we are finding are microfibers… Those are often times originating from textiles or other fibrous synthetic products.”     The group has “adventure athletes” collect water samples while they are enjoying the outdoors, and most likely wearing this kind of clothing. So far, they have collected almost 2,300 one-liter bottles of water from oceans and fresh waters all over the planet, even remote places. “What we know right now is that microplastic contamination is pervasive and it exists in places we would expect, which may be downstream from some wastewater treatment facilities, and in places that maybe at first we wouldn’t expect—in some really remote areas of this world.” Patagonia is a company that makes fleece jackets and clothing popular with outdoor athletes. The data on microfibers led them to support research to find ways to stop the fabric from coming off in the wash. The company provided support for research done by Patricia Holden and her students at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The researchers worked to find out how much of the microfibers are released when washed. They tested fleece clothes, from both Patagonia and another company, by washing them in several kinds of washing machines. They caught the fibers with filters, and weighed them.  They found, on average, fleece clothes lost .3 percent of the cloth, or about one gram of fiber, with each washing. The study was published in Environmental Science and Technology last September. Patricia Holden explains the weight of these microfibers can add up. “So you think about the, you know, literally millions of garments like this that are being washed every day. And if a gram or more from each is being released into the wash water, that adds up. That can potentially add up to quite a bit.” Microfibers’ effect on food supplies Beyond the waterways, the researchers say microfibers may end up in soil and agricultural lands. They can also move around the atmosphere. This means there is much to be learned about microfibers and the environment, Holden says. “Still very few studies and we need a good grip on the magnitude of this problem, where most of these fibers are ending up, and then that will tell us how to focus our future research and our future action and where it’s needed to safeguard human health and the environment.” Some studies have shown that microfibers end up inside marine animals, like oysters. So if these microfibers have been found in fish and seafood, are they safe to eat? Holden says the fibers tend not to move into the tissue of the fish. Researchers, including Holden, say that needs more study. “It’s not necessarily a new problem but it is being newly recognized as an issue that we need to better understand. Is it a real problem? Is it a real problem for human health, in terms of our diet, of fish or other types of food, we just don’t know.” Katie Holsinger from Adventure Scientists says the microplastics are harming sea creatures. She says because other toxins can attach to microfibers and other plastics, it is something “we should all consider when we make food choices.” “Right now what science is coming out is tying microplastics ingested into fish and the way that those microplastics and the concentration of them in fish is affecting their mortality, their ability to reproduce, their nervous system function.” Steps to save keep microfibers from the environment Until more information becomes known, there are steps to take to reduce the amount of microfibers in the environment. Katie Holsinger says people should use less of the synthetic materials. “But of course we rely, I including, heavily on my yoga pants that are stretchy and my polar fleeces to keep me warm outside. So if we already have those in our lives and we’re using them, an important step would be washing them less.” New technology may also help. A bag is being designed in which to wash these clothes. It traps the microfibers in the bag and may soon to be available for purchase. Already on the market are filters for washing machines to keep microfibers from escaping with the wash water. I’m Anne Ball. And I'm Bryan Lynn.   Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English with material from VOA. Hai Do 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   synthetic - adj. made by combining different substances : not natural​ textile - n. a fabric that is woven or knit fibrous - adj. containing, made of, or resembling fibers​ remote - adj. remote or far away contamination - n. the act of making something dangerous, dirty, or impure by adding something harmful or undesirable to it​ pervasive - adj. existing in every part of something : spreading to all parts of something​ grip - v. to grab or hold something tightly magnitude - n. the size, extent, or importance of something​ toxin - n. a poisonous substance mortality - n. the death of a person, animal, etc.​ nervous system - n. the system of nerves in your body that sends messages for controlling movement and feeling between the brain and the other parts of the body​

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William Henry Harrison: Short-Lived

VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents.   Today we are talking about William Henry Harrison. Although he was elected in 1840, many Americans still remember his catchy campaign slogan: “Tippecanoe and Tyler, too.”   “Tyler” referred to John Tyler, Harrison’s partner on the ticket. In other words, Harrison was the candidate for president, and Tyler was the candidate for vice president. That seems straightforward enough. But “Tippecanoe”? That was Harrison’s nickname. It came from a battle he had fought nearly 30 years before the presidential campaign. At that time, Harrison led troops against an alliance of Native American tribes. The alliance was fighting white American settlers who were taking native people’s territory. Harrison and his men wanted to prevent the alliance from getting the supplies and warriors it needed to fight a long war. They planned to attack an important Native American base in what is today the state of Indiana. But Native American warriors attacked first. They struck at dawn, when Harrison’s men were still sleeping in a camp near the River Tippecanoe. The battle was confused and bloody. Many fighters on both sides died. After several hours, Harrison’s troops pushed the Native American fighters away from the camp. It was not really clear who won, but Harrison declared victory. His presidential campaign reminded voters about the battle. The nickname “Tippecanoe” suggested Harrison was a simple yet tough westerner who would fight for white Americans. But that image of Harrison was not entirely true. Early life Harrison did not come from a simple, western family. Instead, he was the youngest child of a wealthy family from the southern state of Virginia. The Harrisons were active in the politics of the young nation. His father signed the Declaration of Independence and became the governor of Virginia. Young William Harrison received a good education. But he did not want to become a doctor or lawyer. He joined the military instead. Harrison succeeded quickly as an Army officer. He earned a reputation as an able leader in fights against Native Americans. Harrison became the governor of what was known as Indiana Territory. In that job, he persuaded Native Americans to enter into treaties that sold their land to the U.S. government – often for very little money. Harrison’s insistence on securing land for white settlers was one reason Native American tribes formed an alliance against the United States. A member of the Shawnee tribe, Tecumseh, was one of their most prominent leaders. It was Tecumseh’s men who fought against Harrison in the Battle of Tippecanoe. Tecumseh’s men clashed again with Harrison during the War of 1812 at a battle in Ontario, Canada near the River Thames. In that battle, both the British and Native Americans were clearly defeated. Tecumseh was killed. After that, the Native American alliance fell apart. And Harrison became famous again. Political career Although Harrison was a well-known fighter against Native Americans, he could not find lasting success as a politician. He served briefly in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, but he did not stay in those positions long.   He struggled with debt. His home in Indiana was very expensive. He also had to provide for his ten children. The emotional cost of his family was also high: only four of his children lived past the age of 40. In 1836, Harrison’s fortunes seemed to change. A new party, called the Whigs, looked to him as a presidential candidate. The Whigs strongly opposed President Andrew Jackson and his policies. They did not want Jackson’s vice president and right-hand man, Martin Van Buren, to become president. But they understood that Jackson was very popular with everyday Americans. So the Whigs thought that Harrison – a military hero from the west, just as Jackson was – would appeal to voters. (At the time, voting was limited mostly to white men.) The Whigs nominated Harrison as one of their candidates. Harrison did well – but not well enough. Van Buren won the 1836 election. But the next election belonged to Harrison. His campaign developed that memorable song about “Tippecanoe and Tyler, too.” Supporters also turned an insult against Harrison into an advantage. Harrison’s opposition said he would be happy to spend the rest of his life just sitting in a log cabin and drinking hard cider – an alcoholic drink made from apples. The opposition wanted to suggest that Harrison was not really interested in becoming president and working hard for the American people. But Harrison’s supporters used the images of a log cabin and hard cider to portray Harrison as a humble man who could relate to common Americans.   In 1842, the plan was a success: Harrison won the election. A surprising turn of events At 68, Harrison was the oldest person yet to take office. On his Inauguration Day, he reportedly wanted to show that he was strong enough to serve as president by delivering a very long speech without wearing a coat or hat. Several weeks later, Harrison became sick. He complained of many problems: anxiety, fatigue, and pain in his stomach. His health grew worse and worse. One month after he was sworn-in, Harrison died. It was the first time in the country’s history that a president had died in office.   The event raised many questions about who would become president. That question is answered in the next episode of this series.     For future generations, it also raised a question about what Harrison died of. The traditional story is that his long inaugural speech led to a fatal pneumonia. But researchers in 2014 proposed a different reason. Jane McHugh and Philip Mackowiak wrote in the New York Times that, while Harrison was in office, Washington, DC did not have a good sewer system. Human waste “simply flowed onto public grounds a short distance from the White House.” The researchers conclude that Harrison probably died from problems related to drinking dirty water in the president’s house. So, for Harrison, winning the White House may not have been good fortune at all. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly. See how well you understand the story by taking this listening quiz. ​____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   catchy - adj. appealing and easy to remember slogan - n. a word or phrase that is easy to remember prominent - adj. well known right-hand man - n. very important assistant advantage - n. a good position or condition more likely to succeed  

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Sears, Other American Store Chains Are Downsizing

Well known businesses across the United States are facing hard decisions about keeping their stores open. Experts say Americans are changing the way they buy clothing and other products. They say people are making more purchases over the Internet and looking for better shopping experiences. After years of falling sales, department store chains, like Sears, Kmart and Macy’s, are closing stores around the country. So are Abercrombie and Fitch, JCPenney and other businesses. In February, Sears announced plans to close 150 stores it owns in the United States. That number includes more than 100 Kmart stores. The company recently said it is not sure about keeping its remaining stores open. The Sears name remains well known Sears was established in 1893 as Sears, Roebuck & Co. It offered a catalogue that became famous all over the U.S. Americans could choose from a large number of goods pictured in the book. Shoppers would send their orders to Sears and receive products in the mail, even if they lived far from a big city. Denise Lee Yohn wrote a book called, “What Great Brands Do.” She told VOA’s Victor Beattie that department stores have faced a difficult time in recent years because of competition from internet businesses. “The department store category, on the whole, has been declining, even as online sales and Amazon specifically has been on the rise.” But she added that Sears has a long history and a name that is still recognizable to many Americans. Sears has struggled under ownership by Eddie Lampert, who operates a hedge fund. The company has had to sell some of its best-known brands, including Land’s End clothing and Craftsman tools. Lee Yohn said the company did not do enough to develop its online business. Sears also did not invest in the appearance of their stores, she added. However, she thinks companies like Sears can come back to life. She said car maker Ford is an example of a company that was able to revive its business. The company also must show its employees they are valued as a way to improve customer service. Otherwise, she said, Sears may not survive. Sears is not the only nationwide business closing stores. Macy’s Incorporated has said in recent months that it plans to close more than 60 Macy’s department stores. The move could affect thousands of jobs. Some business experts believe the future of retail sales will be different from what traditional department stores have had to offer. Are stores outdated? Last month, the financial research company Synchrony Financial released a report about changes in the retail sales industry. The report said that there will likely be department stores in the future, but just not as many as there used to be. It also said stores should seek to provide more reasons for shoppers to visit. “People are social by nature and will be drawn to gathering places to share ideas and be entertained,” the report noted. “It’s not just about making money. It’s about building trust. Retailers who tap into this trend will be rewarded.” The report pointed to some new ideas linked to the future of shopping. These include stores where people shop and pay for products by themselves, so called do-it-yourself shopping. Synchrony Financial also said that shoppers will expect stores to use their personal information to “deliver better customized products and offers.” Many experts say stores need to better use technology in order to interest their customers. Not all retail stores are cutting back. One example is Urban Outfitters, a company that operates about 200 stores under its own name and also the name Anthropologie. Urban Outfitters says it plans to open 15 stores across the country. The company, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has not had sharp losses reported by other retail stores. And online seller Amazon recently started to open its own stores in U.S. cities. The company that changed the way people bought things online hopes to do the same with stores focused on its own line of products. I’m Mario Ritter.   Mario Ritter wrote this report for VOA Learning English. His story was based on information from VOA’s Victor Beattie and stories from The Guardian, Reuters and the Associated Press. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   brand –n. a group of products made by a specific company under a specific name customer –n someone who buys goods and services trend –n. the general direction of change hedge fund –n. an investment group that takes financial risks in order to get high returns retail –adj. related to the business of selling products directly to customers shopping –n. visiting places were goods are sold department store –n. a large store that sells many different products in different areas such as clothing, toys, furniture and appliances chain –n. many stores of the same business that appear across a state or nationwide catalog –n. a book provided by a business that shows what products it has to offer

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Long Now Foundation Thinks 10,000 Years Ahead

The non-profit Long Now Foundation works to solve problems like climate change, disease and the loss of languages. But it recently started an unusual project that could help support all its causes. Inside a mountain cave in Texas, the group is building a huge clock. But, not one you would use to plan your day around. This clock will tick just once a year. Every 100 years, it will make a louder, bong sound. And, each thousand years, the clock will release a cuckoo sound. The foundation says the 150-meter-tall clock is to opearate for at least 10,000 years. So, what it is for? Alexander Rose is the executive director of Long Now. He says the clock is a symbol of the importance of long-term thinking. “There’s certain problems such as climate change, or education or things like that that can only be solved if you’re thinking on a multi-generational or even longer time frame.” Rose notes the black-footed ferret as an example. Long Now’s Revise and Restore project is working to save the endangered animal. The animal is threatened by habitat loss but also by an old disease called plague. The Long Now Foundation is trying to make the ferret resistant to plague by changing the animal’s DNA. Rose says Revise and Restore is also trying to bring back the wooly mammoth. It went out of existence many thousands of years ago. “We’re sitting on the cusp of one of the very first times in human history where we can do that. That project has been pulling together different scientists as well as ecologists to figure out not only what species we could do but what species we should do to help the environment.” Disappearing languages is another Long Now concern. Experts say thousands of rare human languages could disappear in the next 80 years. One of them is Arapaho, a Native American language. William C’Hair of the Northern Arapaho Language and Culture Commission still speaks it. “It is necessary to retain our language, which is our identity.” The foundation is working with language experts and native speakers to keep these languages alive. It has created small devices called Rosetta Disks that can hold thousands of pages of texts in more than 1,000 languages. Heather Ryan is the director of archives at the University of Colorado. She has helped the Long Now Foundation with the Rosetta Project since 2007. Ryan says the disks will help people who live on Earth thousands of years from now. “Looking 10,000 years into the future, somebody could come across and pick up the fact that there’s information etched on here. We can then find clues to all the languages of human civilization over time.” The Long Now Foundation also supports live and recorded public speaking by creative thinkers like Larry Brilliant. He is a doctor who studies the spread of diseases. He helped the World Health Organization end the disease smallpox. Dr. Brilliant’s audience says such talks lead them to think about the future “Eventually, I want to make a difference in the world.” “We have to have a long-term view in order to have a long-term life.” Using long-term thinking to make a difference in the world is exactly what the Long Now Foundation is trying to do…before the big clock stops. I’m Caty Weaver.   Shelley Schlender reported this story for VOA. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Caty Weaver 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   tick - n. a small, quick sound made by a clock. cuckoo - n. a type of bird with a call that sounds like its name frame - n. basic structure on the cusp - expression, at the point when something is about to change to something else ecologist - n. a scientist who studies relationships between groups of living things and their environment species - n. a group of related animals or plants archive - a place in which public records or historical materials are kept disk - n. a flat, thin round object used to store information etch - v. to produce a pattern, design etc. often used figuratively

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Study: Prehistoric Humans Were Not Very Nutritious

  Prehistoric people may have hunted and killed other members of their own species and eaten them, but probably not for food. That is what a new study written by James Cole of the University of Brighton in England says. Cole says compared to large animals, humans do not provide much food. His study was published in the journal Scientific Reports. Cole studied nine places where fossils have been found and where researchers have found evidence of cannibalism. Such signs include cutting marks on the bones. Scientists dated the sites to between 14,000 and more than 900,000 years ago. That is the so-called Paleolithic period, also known as the Stone Age. Five of the sites had Neanderthal fossils, the remains of earlier human ancestors. Two sites had fossils of prehistoric members of our own species and the others had fossils from much earlier human ancestors. Cole estimated how many calories each of the bodies at each site had. He used earlier studies that found eating an average-sized modern-day human could provide up to 144,000 calories. He then made his estimates, based on the ages of the bodies at the sites. The researcher found that the hunters would not get as much energy from the humans as they would from one large animal -- like a mammoth, a woolly rhino or a bear. So, Cole asked, why would the early humans hunt and kill their own species? “You’re dealing with an animal that is as smart as you are, as resourceful as you are, and can fight back in the way you fight them,” Cole noted. He says our ancestors may have eaten members of their species who had died because they did not have to be hunted. But he says cannibalism probably took place for reasons other than the need for food. He said it could have happened after times of violence or to defend territory. Tim White of the University of California, Berkeley and Paola Villa of the University of Colorado Museum in Boulder said they do not know any scientists who believe our ancestors hunted each other for food. In an email, Villa said the new study “does not change our general understanding of human cannibalism.” But Palmira Saladie, of the Catalan Institute for Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution near Barcelona, Spain, said Cole’s study “will undoubtedly be key in the interpretation of new sites (and) the reevaluation of old interpretations.” In an email, she wrote that, to understand why our ancestors sometimes ate each other, “we still have a long way to go.” I’m Dorothy Gundy.     The Associated Press news agency reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter 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   fossil – n. something (such as a leaf, skeleton, or footprint) that is from a plant or animal which lived in ancient times and that you can see in some rocks cannibal – n. a person who eats the flesh of human beings date – v. to show or find out when (something) was made or produced Paleolithic – adj. of or relating to the time during the early Stone Age when people made rough tools and weapons out of stone calorie – n. a unit of heat used to indicate the amount of energy that foods will produce in the human body resourceful – adj. able to deal well with new or difficult situations and to find solutions to problems key – adj. extremely important interpretation – n. the act or result of explaining or interpreting something; the way something is explained or understood reevaluate – v. to judge the value or condition of (someone or something) again    

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Everyday Grammar: Quoted Speech

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