Where Are the Tallest Buildings in the World?

  Skyscrapers look like their name: They are buildings so high; it appears like they are scraping, or touching the sky. With better technology, architects — people who design buildings — engineers and builders have been able to build buildings higher and higher. For the cities and countries where they are built, they bring a sense of pride and visitors. They bring their money and the desire to be entertained. Daniel Safarik works for the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), a group with members all over the world. He says the race to build tall buildings started in the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries between companies showing their economic power. Now, he says, the competition is between cities, and countries. “Part of the competition, of course has to do with pure height and the bragging rights to say that you hold that title. That is certainly the case with say, the top ten and twenty.” But just being a very tall building is no longer enough to get people to visit. Safarik says those that invest heavily in entertainment will be most successful financially. “Some of the things that they have done is put amusement park style rides at the top. That includes Ferris wheels, roller coasters, sheer drop type rides — where you’re basically just in a moment of free fall before whatever safety equipment they have engages.” Older buildings have added items like glass floors or tilting rooms that give you the feeling of looking out high over the edge. Even within the same city, some of these tall buildings compete for people’s attention—and money. Take Shanghai, China for example. The Shanghai Tower is the world’s second tallest building. Its unusual shape—rounded and twisted, with a second outer layer is a sight to see. Nearby is the Shanghai World Financial Center, number nine on the list. There you can walk on a sky bridge with a glass floor to look down to the roofs and neighborhoods below. Safarik says a third building in the city, the 19th tallest one in the world, also opened a new attraction. “The Jin Mao tower the oldest of the three has just recently opened up an experience where basically you can be tied to the side of the building and lean over the edge outdoor and sort of (laugh) test your fortitude.”  Because of what it takes to get these buildings to rise up out of the ground, and stay there, Safarik says they are some of the safest buildings around. Grouping many people in one place makes sense as the planet’s population grows. These tall buildings can be environmentally sustainable, especially when they are located near mass transportation like trains and subways. How high will the next ones be? For now, one limit appears to be elevators-- how fast and far they can go, and what peoples’ comfort level is. Here is a list of the top ten tallest buildings in the world. 1) Burj Khalifa Standing 828 meters high, this building in Dubai, United Arab Emirates has 163 floors. The center of a new downtown, it was completed in 2010. It calls itself a “vertical city.” Level 148 holds the world’s highest observation deck. A new spiral flight enclosed in glass connects Levels 124 and 125 and opens to views of the city. 2) Shanghai Tower Shanghai Tower, completed in 2015, has 128 floors and is the tallest of three in the city’s finance area. The curved building is 632 meters tall and its twisted shape provides protection from wind. It has a see-through glass second skin that wraps around the building. It has one of the world's fastest elevators that moves up at 20.5 meters per second. 3) Makkah Royal Clock Tower Standing at 601 meters high, this tower is in the center of the holiest Islamic city, Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Completed in 2012, it 120 floors and housing for Muslims making the journey there every year for the Hajj. Four very large clocks — the largest and highest in the world -- are located near the top of the tower.   4. Ping An Finance Center Located in Shenzhen, China, it stands 599 meters high and was completed in 2017. It is connected to neighboring business and residential properties. The tower’s shape narrows to form a pyramid at the top. It has 115 floors and the world’s largest stainless steel façade, or face. 5. Lotte World Tower Newly opened in Seoul, South Korea. The 123-story glass and steel structure is South Korea’s tallest building. It rises 554.5 meters above the Seoul skyline. The tower features the world’s highest floor made of glass. The building also has the highest swimming pool in the world, and one of the world’s fastest elevators. 6. One World Trade Center This New York City building replaces the World Trade Center towers that were destroyed on September 11, 2001. It rises 541.3 meters above the memorials in the ground where the twin towers once stood. With 94 floors, the building helped bring back downtown Manhattan as a business center. It is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. 7. Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre Located in Guangzhou, China, this building is 530 meters high with 111 floors. Completed in 2016, it has four setbacks as it climbs in the air. This design allows for sky terraces and dramatic skylights. The use of terracotta as a building material helped environmentally. 8) Taipei 101  Located in Taipei, Taiwan, this building was the first 100 plus story building built in the 21st century. It once was the world’s tallest building because it had a 60-meter spire that made it 508 meters. The tower’s top section has observation levels and a private club, on floor 101. 9) Shanghai World Financial Center Completed in 2008, this is the second tallest skyscraper in China. It is 492 meters tall, and has 101 floors. Located in the financial center, it has luxury hotels and meeting areas. Builders say it can survive a massive 8-magnitude earthquake. Its Sky Walk is on floor 100 and creates the sense of walking in the air above the nearby buildings and city. 10) International Commerce Centre Located in Hong Kong, this building is 484 meters high with 108 floors. Completed in 2010, it houses financial institutions, a 360-degree observation deck and the world’s highest hotel, The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong. I’m Anne Ball. And I’m Jonathan Evans.   Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   bragging rights – n. a good reason to talk with pride about something you have done amusement park – n. a place that has games and rides for entertainment twisted – adj. not a normal shape fortitude – n. mental strength and courage that allows someone to face danger, pain, etc. sustainable – adj. involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources elevator – n. a machine used for carrying people and things to different levels in a building spiral – n. a circular curving line that goes around a central point while getting closer to or farther away from it pyramid – n. a shape, object, or pile that is wide near the bottom and narrows gradually as it reaches the top setback – n. in architecture, a steplike recession in the side of a high-rise building terracotta – n. a reddish clay that is used for pottery and tiles    

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2q885Eb
via IFTTT

Do Face Masks Protect Against Air Pollution?

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. In many areas of the world, taking a deep breath of air can be unhealthy and dangerous. The WHO estimates that air pollution is responsible for about 6.5 million premature -- or early -- deaths every year. It estimates that nearly 600,000 of those who die are children under the age of five. Most of these deaths, WHO officials say, happen in developing countries. With all this pollution in the air, many people try to protect themselves and reduce their exposure. So, some people use face masks. You may have seen pictures of people wearing such masks in big cities like Beijing and Tokyo. But do they work?   One expert tells VOA Learning English that some work much better than others. “We see lots of air pollution that just passes right through these cloth materials. And for us, it’s an important public health issue because people worldwide are choosing to use these kinds of masks to reduce their exposure.” Richard Peltier is a professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in the Department of Public Health and Health Sciences. He studies the effects of exposure to air pollution. Recently, he was the lead author of a study on how well inexpensive face masks work. Peltier led a team that tested several types of inexpensive face masks they bought on the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal. These masks are commonly used in other polluted parts of the world.   First, what is an N95 mask?                    The N95 is generally considered to be the gold standard, or the best. The U.S. government rates the N95 face mask for people who might work around pollutants. So, air quality experts like Peltier know exactly what it can do and what it cannot do. Peltier calls the N95 mask a more advanced version of the inexpensive cloth masks that he studied. The researchers used the N95 mask in their study for comparison. However, Peltier says, N95 masks are either not available or too expensive in many places where pollution is severe. Also, he adds, it is made of paper. So, it can't be washed and reused like cloth face masks. “But what we find in many parts of the world are the unavailability of N95 masks. You can’t buy these. Or if they are available, they are too expensive. So, people chose to substitute the N95 masks for inexpensive pieces of cloth.” The face masks that Peltier and his team studied can be bought on city streets in places like China, Nepal and India. He explains that these face masks have some effect -- but not enough. “So, the masks that we studied do have some effect. It’s not a complete effect and it’s nowhere near comparable to an N95 mask.” The researchers found that the most popular type of mask -- an inexpensive cloth rectangle that you can wash -- provided little protection against the smallest particles. These particles of pollution are less than 2.5 micrometers and can penetrate deep into the lungs. He adds that there are other face masks on the market that meet the expectation of an N95 mask. But most of these masks are too expensive. So, they are not an option for people in the developing world. “But there are other technologies out there -- commercial products – that do sort of meet the expectation of an N95 mask. They do work very, very well. However, one of the issues that we find, is that a lot of these masks are too expensive. They’re not financially attainable by many people in the developing world.” Peltier says if you have a job that pays you $25 a week, you cannot afford a $25-$35 face mask. Which inexpensive face mask works best? So, among the cheaper cloth face masks -- is there a difference in quality? Peltier says yes. He explains that cloth masks with exhalation valves performed better in testing. However, it is not the exhalation valve itself that makes the mask more effective. Face masks with these valves are usually thicker. The thicker material is what makes the mask better at keeping out pollutants. “The cloth masks that had exhalation valves were a little thicker in material. There was more material to the masks itself. And we think that’s actually what causes the pollution to be captured by the mask and reducing the exposure. It's not the exhalation valve itself. That valve is merely for a user's comfort. We think that the feature of the mask that makes it most useful is how thick the material is. How much material is between the air pollution and you.” Also, surgical masks made out of paper performed surprisingly well. In an interview with the New York Times, Peltier explained that these paper masks didn’t fit as snugly to the face. But rather they stuck against the wearer’s wet mouth. A good fit is most important Peltier and other air pollution and health experts agree on one important thing: No matter how much you pay for a mask, they only work if they fit snugly on your face. But, if they are made out of cloth, too tight is not good either. During his study, Peltier found that if a person pulled their cloth mask too tightly, it lost the ability to filter anything. False sense of security You might think that wearing any type of face mask is better than wearing nothing at all. “Wearing a face mask – an inexpensive, non-working face mask made out of cloth – does give a false sense of security because it makes you feel like you’re being protected when in fact you’re not. You feel like you’re doing something good for your body to protect yourself from air pollution. But in reality it’s not doing anything at all or it’s doing very little.” Peltier adds that this false sense of security might prevent you from taking other measures to protect yourself, such as avoiding highly polluted areas or avoiding outside exercise during times of very high pollution. Health officials around the world warn that air pollution is only getting worse. And not just in poorer countries. “Air pollution is a global problem and it is growing in magnitude across the planet. And individuals can make informed decisions about reducing their exposure to air pollution, whether it’s through wearing appropriate masks or avoiding an exposure that will, in fact, have health benefits to that individual.” And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo.   Anna Matteo reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   premature – adj. happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the proper, usual, or intended time; exposure – n. the fact or condition of being affected by something or experiencing something inexpensive – adj. reasonable in price gold standard – adj. a model of excellence rate – v. to determine or assign the relative rank or class of substitute – v. to put or use in the place of another attainable – adj. to be able to come into possession of exhalation – n. the action of forcing air out of the lungs valve – n. a mechanical device that controls the flow of liquid, gas, etc., by opening and closing snugly– adv. to cause to fit closely magnitude – n. great size or extent __________________________________________________________________ Now, test your understand with this short quiz.  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2pZiBl3
via IFTTT

Macron, Le Pen Head to Runoff in French Presidential Race

France’s two non-traditional presidential candidates offer voters a big choice: stay or leave the European Union. Emmanuel Macron is a former economy minister and Marine Le Pen is the leader of the Nationalist Front party. The two will face each other in the May 7th election, after finishing first and second in the first round of voting on Sunday. Macron, 39, and Le Pen, 48, finished ahead of candidates from the leading French political parties, including the party of the current president.    Le Pen wants French voters to follow Britain and vote for France’s exit from the European Union. She also calls for major limits on immigration. Macron wants France to remain in the European Union. He promises new spending on job training and building up roads, transportation and less-polluting energy. Establishment backing Macron Macron ran as an independent and political outsider. But political leaders, both inside and outside France, quickly offered support for Macron. Outgoing French President Francois Hollande said Le Pen would “deeply divide France” at a time when terrorism threats require “solidarity.” Macron was the top adviser on economic issues for Hollande. He ended that role to start his En Marche independent party. His party’s name means, “In Motion" in French.  Francois Fillon of the conservative Republicans finished in third place in the weekend’s voting. On Monday, Fillon urged his supporters to vote for Macron. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel joined officials from Spain and the European Union in supporting Macron on Monday. If Macron wins on May 7th, he would become France’s youngest president. Le Pen out campaigning Le Pen did not waste any time attacking her opponent. On Monday, she called Macron “weak” in the fight against Islamic terrorism. During an appearance at a farmers’ market in northern France, she told reporters that Macron “has no program” to stop terrorism. Le Pen’s supporters criticized Macron’s job as an investment banker and his efforts under Hollande to deregulate the French economy. Florian Philippot is deputy leader of Le Pen’s National Front. He said on BFM TV that Macron will not help French workers. “He sold off national companies. He criticized French culture,” Philippot said. Macron’s early lead Macron’s establishment support and early lead in the polls appeared to please investors. Stock markets across Europe saw big increases Monday and the Euro increased value against the American dollar. CAC 40, the French stock market index, increased 4.1 percent on Monday to close at its highest level since early 2008. But some experts say a Macron win is not guaranteed. They noted that British voters surprised experts last year by approving withdrawal from the European Union, a move that has become known as “Brexit.” And few political experts saw Donald Trump beating Hillary Clinton in last year’s American presidential election. Christophe Guilluy is author of “The Twilight of Elite France.” He said, “In France, Britain, the Netherlands, Austria and the U.S. the same people -- blue- and white-collar workers, intermediate occupations and farmers -- are joining the populist revolt. “The rift between the global market’s winners and losers has replaced the old right-left split.” Luis Ramirez and Jamie Dettmer reported on this story for VOA News. Bruce Alpert adapted the story for Learning English with additional reporting by Reuters and the Associated Press. 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   exit - n. the act of going out or away from something poll - n. an activity in which several or many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to get information about what most people think about something strategy - n. a plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time solidarity - n. a feeling of unity between people who have the same interests, goals motion - n. an act or process of moving deregulate - v. remove regulations on an activity  white-collar - adj. having the kind of jobs that are done in an office instead of a factory or warehouse intermediate occupations - phrase . other kinds of jobs  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2ptPUfR
via IFTTT

American Woman Breaks NASA Space Orbit Record

U.S. astronaut Peggy Whitson broke the record Monday for the most total time spent in orbit by an American. Commander Whitson, who is currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has been in space a total of 534 days during her career. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to Whitson by video from the Oval Office. "Five-hundred and thirty-four days and counting. That's an incredible record to break. And on behalf of our nation, and frankly on behalf of the world, I'd like to congratulate you. That is really something." The 57-year-old Whitson is the most experienced U.S. woman astronaut. When she returns to earth next September, NASA says she will have spent more than 650 days in space during three stays on the ISS. Speaking from space, she told the president what this day meant to her. “It’s actually a huge honor to break a record like this. But it’s an honor for me basically to be representing all the folks at NASA who make this space flight possible and who make me setting this record feasible.” She explained to Trump how technology in the ISS allows astronauts to convert their urine to drinking water. She said it is not as bad as it sounds. Commander Whitson said her dream to be an astronaut came from the Apollo program that sent men to the moon in the 1960s and 1970s. It became a goal for her when the first female astronauts joined the program. Holding records is not new to Whitson. In 2008 she was the first woman to command the space station. This year, she became the first woman to command it twice. Last month she set the record for most spacewalks by a female. She has spent more than 53 hours outside the space station. And, from 2009-2012, she was the first female chief of NASA’s astronaut office.   With a doctorate in biochemistry, Whitson has held a number of research-related positions at NASA. During the current mission, Expedition 51, Whitson and the other crew members aboard the ISS are conducting about 250 science experiments. They include increasing the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment, and growing fresh food in space. Being able to grow fresh food in space is a necessary part of sending humans to Mars. Last month, President Trump made humans reaching Mars by the 2030s an official goal for the space agency. Whitson told the president that NASA officials “are excited about the missions to Mars in the 2030s.” Her fellow U.S. astronaut Jack Fisher arrived at the ISS last week for the first time. He also spoke to the president about nations working together in space. “It’s amazing, the International Space Station is by far the best example of international cooperation and what we can do when we work together, in the history of humanity. And I am so proud to be a part of it.” Congress still has to approve the money to fund the president’s program of getting humans to Mars. I’m Mario Ritter.   Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English with material from VOA and NASA. Kelly Jean Kelly 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   feasible – adj. possible to do convert – v. to change (something) into a different form or so that it can be used in a different way urine – n. waste liquid that collects in the bladder before leaving the body doctorate – n. the highest degree given by a university endeavor – n. a serious effort or attempt

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2peLNDG
via IFTTT

Trump Congratulates Astronaut Whitson for New Record

President Trump congratulated Peggy Whitson, commander of the International Space Station for breaking the record for the most time spent in space of any U.S. astronaut.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2peMlcA
via IFTTT

Students Going into Debt to Pay for College

College students are facing more debt than ever before. Students who graduated from college in 2015 left school with an average of $34,000 in debt, the Federal Reserve Bank reported this month. Just 10 years ago, the average student debt was $20,000. The Federal Reserve Bank said students and their parents are taking out bigger loans than in the past. That is because state and local governments are paying a smaller percentage of the cost of higher education. William Dudley is president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank in New York. He said that graduates from some colleges are having trouble finding good-paying jobs. That is making it difficult for them to pay off their loans, he said. Some efforts to reduce college costs Several measures have been proposed to deal with the rising costs of college. In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed into law a bill that will let New Yorkers send their children to public colleges without having to pay tuition. Students from families whose yearly incomes are $125,000 or less will be eligible for free tuition. The New York plan is similar to what Senator Bernie Sanders proposed nationally during his unsuccessful presidential campaign last year. Sanders lost the Democratic nomination to Hillary Clinton. Cuomo said 95 percent of jobs created since 2008 require at least some college education. “So you need a college education. But at the same time, college is harder and harder to get. It is more and more expensive. You can't go to the family and say, ‘Pay the tuition.’ They can't. You go and you get loans. You graduate with a mountain of debt you pay for half your life.” Other states are trying different ways to make college more affordable. In Tennessee, all high school graduates can attend two-year community colleges without paying tuition. Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam wants to expand that program. He wants to also permit all adults without a college degree to attend community college without paying tuition. Sarah McCormick is a doctor in Palatine, Illinois. She wrote about her efforts to repay $400,000 in loans she took out for medical school on the website studentdebtcrisis.org. “Many people think doctors are rich,” she wrote. “I have many friends who are pinching pennies to even make it as physicians right now. Their loans are even higher than mine and some are paying up to $4,000 a month.” International students often pay full tuition International students often pay full tuition to attend American colleges. They are not eligible for American tuition assistance programs, such as Pell Grants. It is difficult for international students to get loans; they need someone to promise to pay it off if the student fails to do so. Kwadwo Poku-Agyemang is a 27-year-old graduate student from Ghana. He is getting his master’s degree in business and finance at Louisiana State University (LSU). His first year of study cost him $30,000. He saved up money before coming to LSU by working at Ghana’s tax office – money he has used to pay tuition. He also got some financial help from his parents. His father is an engineer and his mom works for Ghana’s government. “Coming to America is hard, and you have to figure out a way to make it work,” Poku-Agyemang said. Still, he is glad he decided to go to LSU. He says he has learned a lot. And, he says, he will only have to pay for 10 percent of his second year of Master’s studies. LSU will cover the remaining tuition costs for him.  Maiko Le Lay is a PhD student in critical dance studies at the University of California at Riverside. She describes herself as “half French and half Japanese.” She said she did not have to pay for her first year in the PhD program. But after the first year, she had to pay $15,000 a year as a “nonresident of California.” “I was told everything would be free and not to worry,” Le Lay said. It has been a struggle to find the $15,000 because her student visa limits her to working about 20 hours a week during the school year, she said. A fellowship helped, and so did a job with her college’s international student association. But she said she has no guarantees that the fellowship will continue. As a candidate, Trump promised to help college students During his successful campaign for president, Donald Trump proposed that student loan borrowers limit their monthly loan payments “based on their ability to pay.” His Education Secretary is Betsy DeVos of Michigan. In response to questions from the U.S. Senate, DeVos said “changes to the loan programs should be made carefully.” She promised to work with Congress to develop proposals. Colleges looking for students who can pay full tuition Parke Muth is a college admission’s adviser in Charlottesville, Virginia. He said most colleges look for international students who can pay full tuition because they cannot find enough American students who can afford to do so. In many countries, only the top one percent of wage earners would be able pay full price to send their children to American colleges. Muth then mentioned an international student from Myanmar. Not long ago, she was living in a refugee camp without enough food. Now, he said, she has won a scholarship to attend the University of Texas next fall. I'm Bruce Alpert. And I'm Dorothy Gundy.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA 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. For those who went or are planning to attend college, how did you or how will you pay for college. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   tuition - n. money that is paid to a school for the right to study there eligible - adj. able to do or receive something expensive - adj. costing a lot of money afford - v. able to pay the cost of something pinching pennies - phrase, trying not to spend any more money than necessary physician - n a medical doctor fellowship - n. a financial award to study something or do research cap - v. a limit on how much can be spent  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2pUpOCA
via IFTTT

John Tyler: Unexpected

VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. Today we are talking about a vice president. John Tyler was William Henry Harrison’s partner on the ticket in the 1840 election; he was the “Tyler” of the campaign slogan “Tippecanoe and Tyler, too.” But only one month into his term as president, Harrison unexpectedly died. He was the first U.S. president to die in office. Today, Americans accept that when that happens, the vice president becomes the president. But in 1841, no one really knew what to do. So people turned to the Constitution. It said if the president is removed from office, or if he dies, resigns, or is not able to perform his duties, his power and responsibility is given to the vice president. But the meaning of those words was unclear. Did the vice president really become the president, or did the vice president just act like the president? The Constitution may not have been clear, but John Tyler was. He claimed that, after Harrison’s death, he really was the president. Tyler made sure he was quickly sworn-in. He answered only to the title “president.” He even refused to open letters that were sent to “Acting President Tyler.” Eventually, Americans accepted John Tyler was the nation’s 10th president. But some Americans were not happy about that fact. During his presidency, all but one of Tyler’s cabinet advisors resigned, and members of his own party tried to impeach him. Early life Tyler was from the southern state of Virginia, home to five earlier U.S. presidents. Like many of the leaders before him, he was a lawyer from an upper class family who owned slaves. He strongly supported the power of the states against the federal government, expansion of slavery, and rule by a small, elite group. But the United States was starting to change. For example, President John Quincy Adams had proposed creating a national system of roads. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 limited slavery in new states in the northwest. And in the 1830s, many white men who did not own property earned the right to vote.  In other words, the U.S. was becoming more national, abolitionist, and equal. Tyler resisted these changes. He fought against them as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a governor of Virginia, and a senator. His fight reached a crisis during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. The two men belonged to the same party, the Democratic Party. However, Tyler hated Jackson’s populist policies and use of presidential powers against the states. In the middle of the 1830s, Tyler joined with several other political leaders to create a new, anti-Jackson party. They were called the Whigs.  Presidency  The new Whig party badly wanted to win the 1840 presidential election against Jackson’s right hand man, Martin Van Buren. They proposed John Tyler as the party’s vice presidential candidate because they hoped he would appeal to southern voters.  The Whigs succeeded. Tyler and Harrison won the election. The new party expected that they would be able to achieve many of their policy goals. But then Harrison died, and Tyler unexpectedly became president. Tyler kept Harrison’s cabinet of top advisers. But he did not accept their advice. Whig lawmakers presented bill after bill to Tyler, but he failed to support the measures. He believed they gave too much power to the federal government over the states. In anger, all but one of Tyler’s cabinet members resigned. Then Whig leaders officially declared that Tyler was no longer part of their group. The following year they even moved to impeach him. He became known as a president without a party.  Tyler was able to achieve one major political act, however. Three days before he left office, he signed the law that made Texas a state. Perhaps wisely, Tyler withdrew from the next presidential election. He eventually withdrew even his support for the federal government. He became a leader in the movement for Southern secession. In other words, he believed the Southern states had the right to separate from the North and leave the Union. In time, the separation between the South and North would lead to the Civil War.   Family Tyler was an unusual president. He took office in an unusual way, and he took the unusual step of vetoing legislative action proposed by his own party. His family life has other unusual details. Tyler was the first president to get married while in office. He was the president with the most children. And two of his grandchildren remained alive until well into the 21st century. In 1844, Tyler married Julia Gardiner. She was his second wife. His first wife, Letitia, had died two years earlier. John and Letitia Tyler had eight children together. Since Julia Gardiner Tyler was 24 years old -- 30 years younger than her new husband -- the two had plenty of time to have another seven children. And, because one of their sons had children in the 1920s, two of Tyler’s grandchildren are still alive as of early 2017.   Legacy Tyler is not remembered as a good president. But he is remembered for establishing a precedent – a way of doing something that other people have followed. The Tyler precedent permitted the peaceful of transfer of power from president to vice president in 1841. And it eased the transition after other presidents have died since then. In 1967, the Constitution was even changed to clarify what Tyler had claimed all along: when the president dies, the vice president becomes the new chief executive. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.   Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   slogan - n.  a word or phrase that is easy to remember and is used by a group or business to attract attention elite - n. the people who have the most wealth and status in a society abolitionist - n. a person who wants to stop or abolish slavery achieve - v. to get or reach (something) by working hard secession - n. the act of separating from a nation or state and becoming independent transfer - v. to give rights to another person executive - n. a person who manages or directs other people in a company or organization We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2q4MCfB
via IFTTT

Scientists Study to Remove Carbon from the Atmosphere

Scientists have traveled to the mountains of Oman to find a way to remove carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere. The geologists hope to find an effective and low-cost way to capture the gas which is blamed for worldwide climate change. The Middle Eastern country of Oman is one of the few places in the world where the Earth's mantle is easy to reach. This part of the Arabian Peninsula is where an unusual rock formation pulls carbon out of the air. Geologists are taking rock samples from the al-Hajjar Mountains. They want to discover how a natural process changed carbon dioxide into minerals such as limestone and marble millions of years ago. Peter Kelemen is a geochemist at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. He has been exploring Oman's hills for almost 30 years. "You can walk down these beautiful canyons and basically descend 20 kilometers into the earth's interior," he said. This area in Oman has the largest exposed parts of the Earth's mantle, a part of the Earth that is usually far below the surface. It was brought to the surface by the forces of plate tectonics millions of years ago. The mantle contains rocks called peridotite. The rocks react with carbon in the air and water to form marble and limestone. Kelemen explained that magnesium atoms combined with carbon dioxide to form limestone, quartz and magnesium carbonate. He said one of the mountains nearby holds “about a billion tons of CO2,” or carbon dioxide. In Oman’s mountain caves, rain and ground water form pools. The rain and water pull carbon from the exposed mantle to make mineral formations called stalactites and stalagmites. The surface of these natural pools of water develops a layer of white carbonate—a kind of mineral that contains carbon. Keleman said if you take off this thin white film, it will grow back in a day. He says that is very fast for a geological process. Kelemen and a team of 40 scientists have formed the Oman Drilling Project to study how the process works. They want to find out how the rocks managed to capture so much carbon over time. They want to know if the process could be used to clean carbon from the earth's atmosphere. Keleman's team recently spent four months in Oman collecting many rock samples. They hope to use these samples to develop a geological history of the process that turns carbon dioxide into carbonate. The team plans to send 13 tons of samples from four different areas to a research ship off the coast of Japan. Kelemen and other geologists will study the rocks there. They want to find out how the rocks captured so much carbon over 90 million years. And they want to know if there is a way to make that process happen faster. Kelemen thinks a drilling operation be used to move carbon-rich water into the new seabed on underwater mountains. The submerged rock would chemically take in carbon from the water. The water could then move back to the surface to absorb more carbon from the atmosphere. Then the process would repeat itself. Fighting carbon dioxide The scientists hope their research will provide a way of dealing with carbon dioxide and other carbon-based greenhouse gases linked to climate change.  Climate change is a global change in weather patterns. Scientists say it is caused by an increase in levels of carbon dioxide and other gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. The use of fossil fuels is considered a major source of carbon dioxide. Until now, most efforts to combat climate change have centered on reducing emissions from cars and power plants. But researchers are testing ways to remove or recycle carbon already in the seas and sky. In Iceland, they inject carbon into volcanic rock at the Hellisheidi geothermal plant. In China, carbon is filtered and reused at the Sinopec fertilizer plant. "Any one technique is not guaranteed to succeed," said Stuart Haszeldine. He is a geology professor at the University of Edinburgh. He also serves on a U.N. climate group that studies how to reduce atmospheric carbon. Keleman said the Oman Drilling Project would need more years of testing. He hopes the energy industry will take an interest and help the project. So far, it has only received support from science organizations including the U.S. space agency NASA. I'm Jonathan Evans.   Anne Ball adapted this story for Learning English based on the Associated Press reports. Hai Do was the editor. How do you think climate change can be fixed?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   geologist –n. a science that studies rocks, layers of soil, etc., in order to learn about the history of the Earth and its life​ mantle –n. the middle layer of the Earth that is between the top crust and the inner core​ plate tectonics –n. a theory explaining the structure of the earth's crust and many associated phenomena as resulting from the interaction of rigid plates that move slowly over the underlying mantle.​ layer – n. an amount of something that is spread over an area​ fossil fuel –n. a fuel (such as coal, oil, or natural gas) that is formed in the earth from dead plants or animals​ greenhouse gas –n. a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation, e.g., carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons. patterns - n. a repeated form or design especially that is used to decorate something​  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2p6XYQJ
via IFTTT

Chinese Officials Move to Ban Strongly Religious Baby Names

Officials in northwestern China are reported to have banned baby names with strong religious meanings. American-based broadcaster Radio Free Asia reports that the officials work in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Uyghurs are a mostly Muslim ethnic minority in China. Mecca, Saddam, Hajj, Islam and Medina are among the names that parents are not permitted to give their children. The ban is part of the Chinese Communist Party’s “Naming Rules for Ethnic Minorities,” an official said Thursday. A naming ban reportedly took effect in the southern part of Xinjiang in 2015. Now, Radio Free Asia (RFA) says, Chinese officials are enforcing the ban throughout the area. RFA and VOA are each part of the U.S. government-supported Broadcasting Board of Governors. A worker who answered the telephone at a police station in Xinjiang’s capital, Urumqi, said that “overly religious” names are banned. The worker said that any babies registered with such names would be barred from the government system that gives the child rights to education and health care. Traditional names Another person told RFA that the safest names for Uyghurs to name their children are those that sound more "mainstream." "I have been talking with friends in Xinjiang about this, and they all say that any with potentially extremist overtones will be banned,” the person said. “But names like Memet ... that you see everywhere, are considered more mainstream by the Chinese Communist Party.” Strike-hard campaigns The Chinese government aims to limit what it calls religious extremism in Xinjiang. Officials often carry out what have been called “strike hard” campaigns. These include police raids of Uyghur homes and restrictions on Islamic customs, as well as placing limits on the culture and language of the Uyghur people. Last month, Xinjiang officials reportedly dismissed a Uyghur official for holding her marriage ceremony at home – following Islamic traditions -- instead of at a government-approved area. Local people claimed that the woman was removed from her job for taking her marriage declarations — known as “nikah” in Muslim culture — in her own home.   Xin Lin reported on this story for RFA's Mandarin Service. Luisetta Mudie translated and edited the story. It was adapted for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   mainstream - n. the thoughts, beliefs, and choices that are accepted by the largest number of people overtones - n. an idea or quality that is suggested without being said directly

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2pUKZ7Q
via IFTTT

Missing Rohingya Children Could Be Trafficking Victims

A number of Rohingya refugee children have disappeared in Bangladesh and are feared to be victims of human trafficking groups. In the past seven months, more than 70,000 Rohingya have fled violent persecution in their homeland of Myanmar. There have been widespread reports of rapes and murders as part of a military campaign against Rohingya civilians. The Myanmar government denies the charges. Rashida is among the Rohingya who fled. She and her children arrived at a camp in the Cox’s Bazar area of Bangladesh late last year. Her husband had been killed in a military offensive in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, where most of the minority Rohingya live. A month ago, Rashida’s 10-year-old son Muhammad disappeared from a school he was attending. Rashida says all efforts to learn what happened to him have failed. “My daughter is always crying. She says that she’ll never see her brother in the future.” As many as 300,000 to 500,000 Rohingya are thought to be living in Bangladesh. Several non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, in the region are working to help the refugees. But political sensitivities restrain the groups from reporting fully about the issues Rohingya face.  Speaking out However, the recent child disappearances among the newly arrived refugees has led one NGO to speak out. Action Against Hunger says in knows of 16 suspected kidnappings since January. The group director says newly arrived refugee families are at special risk of kidnapping and exploitation. He says they lack the safety of community structures they had back home. "They don't have any support. They have to make a living so they have to be separated from their kids. So they have some kind of set-up where they're leaving the children assuming it's safe and they're going to try to earn some living. And those kind of separations, like when they are separated that is also the highest risk." Human trafficking groups are well established in the region. But little is known about the disappearances, which have taken place both inside and outside the camps. Many Rohingya fear asking local authorities for help. This leaves little hope for parents like Rashida. She says all she can do is protect her daughter, continue to search and find comfort in her religion. "I expect that I'll get him back if Allah wishes." I’m Marsha James.   John Owens reported on this story for VOANews.com. Marsha James adapted her report for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   region – n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way exploitation – n. the act or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work authorities - n. people who have power to make decisions and enforce rules and laws comfort - n. a state or feeling of being less worried, upset, frightened, etc., during a time of trouble or emotional pain   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2oj7Cmj
via IFTTT

Everyday Grammar: Expressing Preference

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2pr3NMb
via IFTTT