Media Rights Groups: Press Freedom 'Never Been So Threatened'

  Two media rights groups have reported a sharp drop in press freedoms around the world in 2016. The two groups note that much of the decline in media rights took place in democratic countries. Freedom House and Reporters Without Borders say North Korea, Syria and China were the countries with the most restrictions on media in 2016. They noted that all three countries were among the worst offenders of press freedoms in recent years. But what is changing is that democracies, such as the United States, also had a decline in press freedom last year. Jennifer Dunham is the research director for Freedom House. “One of the biggest trends we saw were declines in democracies, and this was one of the most disturbing trends we saw.” Dunham also spoke about U.S. President Donald Trump. She noted that Trump attacked media organizations and individual reporters during the 2016 presidential campaign -- and since his election. Dunham said free speech is still valued in the United States. “Right now, we are very concerned about the U.S., but we haven’t seen any kind of dramatic decline.” Delphine Halgand is the North America director of Reporters Without Borders. She says Trump’s criticisms of the media are making leaders in other countries more willing to limit press freedoms.   “This hate speech contributed to disinhibit attacks on the media almost everywhere in the world, including in democratic countries.” In its report last Wednesday, Reporters Without Borders said “media freedom has never been so threatened.” It said 62 percent of countries measured showed a decline in press freedom. The report said the reductions in press freedoms were sharpest in places where “the authoritarian strongman model has triumphed," such as Poland, Hungary and Turkey.     The report said the Middle East and North Africa continued to be the most dangerous area for journalists and media crews last year. Eastern Europe and Central Asia were also dangerous places for reporters. Reporters Without Borders identified five countries with the highest level of freedom for journalists last year. They are Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands. Laos, Pakistan, Sweden, Myanmar and the Philippines were the countries with the most improvements in press freedom. I’m Caty Weaver.   VOA’s William Gallo and Chris Hannas reported on this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted their reports 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   decline - n. the process of becoming worse in condition or quality trend - n.a general direction of change dramatic- adj. sudden and extreme disinhibit - adj. make (someone or something) less inhibited      inhibited - adj. unable to act in a relaxed and natural way​ authoritarian - adj. expecting or requiring people to obey rules or laws : not allowing personal freedom

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The Lunatic Fringe: Life on the Edge of Society

English in a Minute: Crawl Out of the Woodwork

"Woodwork" is anything in a building or home that is made of wood. But what could this expression possibly mean?

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President Trump First 100 Days

April 29th is the 100th day of Donald Trump's presidency. The power of a president is usually greatest in his first 100 days. Learning English looks at what happened in the early days of the Trump presidency.

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Going to College on 'Words to the Wise'

  Today’s we are going to school on ‘Words to the Wise.'  I’m Caty Weaver. Here with me in the Learning English studio is Pete Musto. Hi Pete! Hi Caty. So, we got a comment on an earlier Words to the Wise program from Ahmed. He wrote: “Thank you very much for your help. I would like you to talk about curriculum and tertiary education.”  So, that’s why we’re going to school today. That's right. And that’s why it's great you are here, Pete. Pete is an education reporter for Learning English. And he is quite the scholar when it comes to university education issues. Well, that’s kind of you to say, Caty. So, I guess scholar can be our first education word to define. A scholar is a person who has studied a subject a lot and is knowledge about it as a result. The adjectival form is scholarly. People often call research publications, scholarly journals. The Journal of American Medicine is a famous one. Experts usually write the pieces found in scholarly publications. And sometimes these experts are university professors. Now, we all know what a professor is, but there are kind of professors that confuse me. What is an adjunct professor, Pete? And, is it the same as an associate professor? No, no, no. Adjunct mostly means part time, with no permanent tie to the college or university. The adjunct professor usually teaches just one or two classes. The teaching agreement with the school is often made individually for each course. Oh, OK. So, an associate professor has a permanent position. These are full-time professors, and together, professors and teaching staff, make up what's called the faculty. That's right.  So professors usually have tenure. I think that's another term we should explain, right Pete? Tenure is something professors can earn over time, right? Oh yes. And it is important. It means permanent employment with a university. It usually provides the teacher with strong protection against dismissal. But, it's mostly common in the United States. Professors in other countries don't really have tenure. And, of course, the word tenure is not only used for academic settings. Your tenure at a job, for example, refers to your period of service. But, when most people hear the word, they think of higher education, or what our friend Ahmed called “tertiary education.” Tertiary comes from the Latin, right -- for three or third? That’s right. So, university is the third part of a person’s formal education. First, there is primary school, then secondary school and, finally, higher education or tertiary education. Ahmed also used the term curriculum. Some English learners may not be familiar with that word. Curriculum is the program of study for a subject. The program of study will include many different courses. Right. A course is a series of classes on a subject. For example if you seek a degree in psychology, your curriculum might require courses in human behavior, personality development and cognitive psychology. So, psychology sounds like an interesting major. A major is what we call the central academic subject of your college studies. So schools usually require students to declare their major by the end of their second year. You are able to change your major at most universities in the United States at any point. Sometimes it can be a really good idea. Absolutely. So, does all this tertiary education talk make you wish you were back on a college campus, Caty? If you mean walking around a beautiful university’s grounds…sure! But I can do without the homework, tests and papers! Yeah, I agree with you. I think I'll just stick to academic vocabulary for now. Maybe we could even do another education Words to the Wise soon.  To be sure...many more words to cover. And we’d love for our fans to keep posting messages about what subjects they’d like to hear about. A big thanks to Ahmed! I’m Caty Weaver. And I’m Pete Musto. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   scholar - n. a person who has studied a subject for a long time and knows a lot about it adjunct - n. ​something that is joined or added to another thing but is not an essential part of it associate - n. a member of a group or organization who is at a level that is below the highest level​ staff  - n. ​a group of people who work for an organization or business​ tenure  - n. ​the right to keep a job (especially the job of being a professor at a college or university) for as long as you want to have it tertiary - adj. related to education at the college or university level  primary - adj. ​happening or coming first familiar  - adj. ​frequently seen, heard, or experienced​ curriculum - n. the courses that are taught by a school, college, etc. course  - n. ​a series of classes about a particular subject in a school​ major  - n. ​the main subject studied by a college or university student​ campus - n. the area and buildings around a university, college, school, etc.

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Wins and Losses for President Trump’s First 100 Days

  No president has had a first 100 days like Donald Trump. He won confirmation of a new Supreme Court nominee and ordered the bombing of a Syrian air base. He moved to cancel policies by former President Barack Obama and promised to stop North Korea’s expanding nuclear program. But he received almost as much attention for his tweets. He often uses Twitter to criticize the news media and his political opponents, sometimes unfairly, according to fact checkers. But Trump also uses Twitter to explain what his administration is doing. On Thursday morning, he explained why he decided not to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement, hours after aides said he was considering doing so. The  tweet read: “I received calls from the President of Mexico and the Prime Minister of Canada asking to renegotiate NAFTA rather than terminate. I agreed...” Mark Peterson is chair of the Department of Public Policy at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). He said, “As a general proposition, there hasn't been a first 100 days like what we have experienced with President Trump.” Joshua Stockley, a political science professor at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, said the start of the Trump presidency has been frantic. By frantic, he means wild and hurried activity.       Among the most frantic were the five days leading to Saturday, the 100th day of his presidency. On Wednesday, Trump offered a new proposal for what an aide said is “one of the biggest tax cuts in American history.” That same day he invited the entire United States Senate to a briefing on North Korea. Senators were told Trump plans to pressure North Korea to pull back on its nuclear weapons program and that war is a last resort. Trump also continued to issue executive orders. By Saturday, the White House said the total should reach 30, the largest number in a president’s first 100 days since President Franklin Roosevelt in 1933. Orders blocked and setbacks But three executive orders related to immigration have been blocked by federal judges. Two were orders to temporarily block travel from some Muslim majority nations. Another would cut federal funding to local governments that fail to enforce immigration laws. The court decisions were not Trump’s only setbacks. During the campaign, Trump, a Republican, promised to repeal and replace Obama’s health care bill, known as Obamacare. But a congressional vote on a repeal bill was cancelled because there were not enough votes to pass it. A newly negotiated health care plan could get a vote soon, but approval remains uncertain.   Adding to Trump’s problems are FBI and congressional investigations into whether members of Trump’s presidential campaign worked with Russia to influence the 2016 election. Sean Spicer is Trump’s chief spokesman. He said that Trump has been carrying out his promises, particularly on reducing illegal immigration. “I think we feel very proud of what we've been able to accomplish and fulfill the promises that he’s made to the American people,”  Spicer said. Tweets getting attention Sometimes Trump’s policy announcements get less attention than his tweets, often written in the early morning hours. That was the case with four Trump tweets on March 4 that charged Obama with wiretapping his phones at Trump Tower during the election. One of them said, “How low has President Obama gone to tapp my phones during the very sacred election process. This is Nixon/Watergate. Bad (or sick) guy!” Members of Congress and the U.S. FBI director said Obama did not wiretap Trump. Country still divided A Washington Post/ABC News poll this week found that only two percent of people who voted for Trump regret doing so. But with Democrats and many independents expressing negative views, Trump’s approval rate averages 42 percent, according to Real Clear Politics. That compares to an average approval rate of 69 percent for the last 12 presidents nearing 100 days into their presidencies. Peterson, the UCLA political expert, said the good news for Trump is that people who voted for him still support him. Many who voted against Trump are over their shock of his surprise victory, but remain fearful of what Trump will do as president, he said. Susan Roberts is a political science professor at Davidson College in North Carolina. She said many cannot get used to Trump after eight years of President Obama. Obama was often described as “no drama Obama.”  By “no drama,” people meant that Obama  generally appeared calm. Supreme Court choice important to Trump voters Tony Perkins is president of the Family Research Council, a Christian conservative group. Perkins said a major reason Trump voters continue to back him is his choice of conservative judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court. “This is why so many people went out to vote for Donald Trump, getting a conservative Supreme Court justice and hopefully more,” Perkins said.   Trump on TV 24/7 People who watch American cable news or late-night comedy programs are used to seeing lots of Donald Trump. On Comedy Central this week, “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah discussed the first three+ months of the Trump presidency. “It’s 100 days in Trump time. For us, it’s 15 years,” Noah said. ​In an interview this week with Reuters, Trump said his first 100 days as president were difficult. "I loved my previous life, I loved my previous life. I had so many things going. I actually...this is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier." I'm Bruce Alpert and I'm Ashley Thompson.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English based on reports by VOA News, the Associated Press, Reuters and other sources. 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   terminate - v. to end something proposition - n. a plan or proposal presented to a person or group of people to consider last resort - n. an action taken only when everything else has been tried and failed repeal - v. to officially make a law or regulation no longer valid particularly - adv. more than usually accomplish - v. to get something done view -  n. an opinion or way of thinking about something previous - adj. existing or happening before the present time  

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Play Recreates Parts of Trump Cabinet Confirmation Hearings

  A theatrical production about American politics opens in New York City next month. On May 11, The Public Theater will present a staged reading of All The President’s Men? No, not the book, All The President’s Men, which told about two reporters and their investigation of Watergate -- the biggest political scandal in American history.  Unlike that book and movie about Watergate, the title of this new work ends in a question mark. And the show is performed as a sort-of “reality theater.” The words the actors will speak are direct testimony from the sometimes-angry Senate confirmation hearings for four nominees to President Donald Trump’s cabinet. All four were confirmed. They are Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Health and Human Services chief Tom Price and Scott Pruitt, head of the Environmental Protection Agency. The show will be held at the theater called Town Hall. The show's cast has yet to be announced, but it is expected to include some famous names. “All the President’s Men?” is among several recent artistic productions created in reaction to Trump's election as president. British writer Howard Jacobson just published a humor novel called Pussy. An HBO television series about the 2016 election is in the works. And, Robert Schenkkan's play “Building the Wall,” which imagines Trump’s presidency turning dictatorial, can be seen at a theater in Los Angeles. Britain’s Nicholas Kent created and directs All the President's Men? He led the staged reading of the work Monday at London’s Vaudeville Theater. The director said he wanted to understand what Trump, the “outsider” politician, really stands for. He said, “I thought the best way of finding out about the whole philosophy behind the Trump presidency would be to look at the Senate confirmation hearings. Because the beliefs of the people involved would come out of that, and their backgrounds would come out.” Kent, a former artistic director in London's Tricycle Theatre, has overseen other fact-based plays. His work The Riots examined England's 2011 riots. His Guantanamo - Honor Bound to Defend Freedom looked at the U.S.-led war on terror. And his play, The Great Game, explored Afghanistan's history of conflict. For his latest project, Kent watched 50 hours of Senate hearings. He said, at first, “it was a little like watching paint dry.” But, he said, over time the important issues came out during the testimony. In his words, “The questioners, and the questions asked, were as revealing as the answers in many ways.” The four cabinet nominees were little known to most Americans. Tillerson is a former head of the energy company ExxonMobil. Sessions served 10 years in the Senate and, earlier, was Attorney General for the state of Alabama. Tom Price is a medical doctor. He served many years in the U.S. Congress representing the state of Georgia. And Scott Pruitt was formerly Attorney General of Oklahoma. Kent said he chose these four men because he believed they generally represent how America will be governed. He said, “I'm not trying to do a satirical portrait in any way whatsoever. I'm trying to look at their beliefs.” Kent says the president himself appears in the show only through “a few tweets.” “It's the administration that's going to make the man, as we've already seen,” the director said. He noted that two of Trump's campaign promises -- to halt travel by people from countries considered centers of terrorism and to end Obamacare -- have been blocked by courts and Congress. Kent said Trump can tweet forever but, he added, “It is actually the machinery of government and the people under him, who are going to carry out his policies, that are the most interesting.” I’m Caty Weaver. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   scandal –​ n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong title –​ n. the name given to something (such as a book, song, or movie) to identify or describe it​ testimony –​ n. something that someone says especially in a court of law while formally promising to tell the truth​ philosophy –​ n. a set of ideas about how to do something or how to live​ background –​ n. the experiences, knowledge, education, etc., in a person's pas​ reveal –​ v. to show (something) plainly or clearly​ portrait –​ n. a detailed description of something or someone​  

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Can Technology Help Vietnam's Energy Dilemma?

  The Vietnamese government is dealing with an important question: how can the country supply its growing energy needs without destroying the environment? Trilliant is a software firm for electricity grids. It says that Southeast Asia in general will see energy use grow 80 percent in the next 20 years. But for Vietnam, growth will be closer to 200 percent. The answers to the problem might lie in a combination of technology, renewable power, and greater energy efficiency. However, the issue is a complex one for Vietnam's officials. They see coal as an inexpensive way to fuel the economy. By 2030, dozens of new coal power plants will open despite the pollution they emit. Although Vietnam just increased the price it pays to solar power investors, the market for renewable energy is still small. Vietnam faces the same problem many countries do -- economic growth comes at a price. Vo Van Hoan is the chief of staff  at the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee. Hoan explains that Vietnam is taking part in the global technological revolution. The number of factories has grown in recent years as electronics have overtaken rice and coffee as a leading export. The growth, Hoan says, also brings pollution, deforestation, and other damages linked to climate change. Technology can be a problem, but it can also be a solution. It could help decrease the economy's harm to the environment, especially by addressing the country's energy needs. One such technology is the smart meter, an electricity meter that connects to the internet. Trilliant and the Saigon Hi-Tech Park finished a smart meter project in a manufacturing area that houses Intel and Samsung. The devices alert authorities when there is a power outage. They also detect tampering and measure power quality. Smart meters get information every 15 minutes, so that people can see and make decisions about their electricity consumption in real time. Another technology that could help developing economics is energy-efficient lighting, such as LED bulbs. Chinn Lim is the lead public sector strategist at Autodesk, which makes software for architecture, engineering, and manufacturing. Based in Singapore, Lim said his company is consulting with Vietnamese government agencies about how to cut energy waste. Lim said it is becoming more popular for buildings to be fitted with efficient lighting, such as LED bulbs and lights that can be programmed to shut off on their own. He added that a common application of emerging technology is to study traffic patterns, in the hopes of improving fuel use. In Singapore's case, Lim adds, the government simulates various building arrangements to see the impact on traffic. Smart bulbs and smart meters might offer small changes, but with more power blackouts expected in the near future, Vietnam needs all the progress it can get. I'm John Russell. Ha Nguyen reported this story from Ho Chi Minh City. John Russell adapted it 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   inexpensive - adj. low in price​ emit - v. to send (light, energy, etc.) out from a source global - adj. involving the entire world​ alert - v. to make (someone) aware of something detect - v. to discover or notice the presence of (something that is hidden or hard to see, hear, taste, etc.) grid – n. a network of electrical wires and equipment that supplies electricity to a large area renewable – adj.  restored or replaced by natural processes : able to be replaced by nature efficiency – n. the ability to do something or produce something without wasting materials, time, or energy : the quality or degree of being efficient meter – n.  a device that measures and records the amount of something that has been used tampering – n. that act of changing or touching (something) especially in a way that causes damage or harm bulb – n. a glass bulb or tube that produces light when it is supplied with electricity consumption - n. the use of something (such as fuel) efficient - adj. capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy consult - v. to talk about something with (someone) in order to make a decision simulate - v.  to look, feel, or behave like (something)

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Influencing North Korea Not Easy for China

U.S. President Donald Trump and many experts have said that China’s support in efforts to limit North Korea’s weapons programs is important. The Trump administration told U.S. senators Wednesday that sanctions and diplomacy were needed to get North Korea to return to negotiations. The United Nations, the U.S. and South Korea have all placed sanctions on North Korea to force it to end its nuclear weapons program. However, China’s willingness and ability to pressure its neighbor is not fully clear. Additional energy cuts possible Some observers in China say the government is doing all it can to restrain North Korea. China cut coal imports from North Korea earlier this year. It also is reducing financial flows to the North. Lu Chao is a North Korea expert at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences in northeast China. Lu says Chinese banks have stopped banking activities with North Korean banks. “China has imposed the harshest sanctions ever against North Korea, the effect of which may take some time to kick in, but they will be effective,” he said. Recent reports have said the price of gasoline in the capital, Pyongyang, more than doubled. This has led some experts to say that China is the cause. However, some analysts say North Korea could be saving gasoline to prepare for a future import ban. Others say that, as tensions rise, the military is getting the gasoline. China is unlikely to place new sanctions on North Korea by itself, observers say. However, North Korea could face greater restrictions if it continues to violate U.N. resolutions. These could include gasoline import cuts or other energy products. Cai Jian is director of the Center for Korea Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai. He told VOA that such a move would have a big effect on North Korea’s nuclear weapons development. However, he said such moves “will also affect the livelihood of its people. So, we have to be cautious about these harsh sanctions, which should only be imposed as a last resort.” Close allies, strained ties China has been North Korea’s main ally for many years. They are often described as being as close as “lips and teeth.” However, relations between the two countries have been strained since leader Kim Jong Un came to power in 2011. Talks between North and South Korea, China, Russia, Japan and the United States, known as the six-party talks, have not taken place since 2007. Kim Jong Un has now carried out three nuclear tests and more than 20 long-range missile launches. Unlike his father, leader Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un has not visited China. His uncle, Jang Song Thaek was said to have had close ties with China. He also called for opening the North’s economy. But he was executed in 2013. China recently tried to send its diplomat for nuclear issues, Wu Dawei, to North Korea. However, that move was rejected. China has not been satisfied with North Korea’s actions. But experts such as Daniel Pinkston say China is unlikely to place so much stress on North Korea that the government collapses. Pinkston is with Troy University in Seoul, South Korea. “I just don’t see the Chinese doing that,” Pinkston says. “They’ don’t believe it is in their interest and I think they are probably right.” Communications more difficult Recent opinion pieces in Chinese state media have warned North Korea not to carry out tests banned by U.N. Security Council sanctions. Bong Young-shik is with the Yonsei University Institute for North Korean Studies in Seoul. He says China has warned leaders in Pyongyang not to go too far. “That’s a very stern warning to Pyongyang, to warn Pyongyang not to engage in any outright provocations that will be perceived by the United States as North Korea has crossed the redline.” North Korea was a major issue that Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed during their meeting in early April in Florida. Euan Graham is an international security expert with the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Sydney, Australia. He says it is a problem that there is no one on the North Korean side who handles relations with China as Jang Song Thaek had. “There’s no central person like Jang Song Thaek, who for many years was the main channel,” Graham said. “So, it’s not as easy, and the Chinese, I think, have genuine frustrations.” I’m Mario Ritter.   Bill Ide reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson 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   Harshest –adj. the most difficult or most harmful kick in –v. take effect, to happen sanctions –n. actions taken against a country to cause it to obey international law, usually in the form of economic restrictions provocations –n. actions taken to cause someone to get angry or to cause a response redline –n. a limit frustrations –n. the state of not being able to do something

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'The Blue Hotel,' by Stephen Crane, Part One

We present the first of four parts of the short story "The Blue Hotel," by Stephen Crane. The story was originally adapted by the U.S. Department of State. The audio was recorded and produce by VOA Learning English. The Palace Hotel at Fort Romper was painted a light blue, a color of blue found on the legs of a certain bird that makes it bright in any surroundings. The Palace Hotel, then, looked always loud and screaming in a way that made the bright winter scenes of Nebraska seem only a dull gray. It stood alone, and when the snow was falling, the town two hundred yards away could not be seen. When a traveler came from the railroad station, he was obliged to pass the Palace Hotel before he came to the group of low houses which was Fort Romper. It was believed that no traveler could pass the Palace Hotel without looking at it. Pat Scully, the hotel owner, had proved himself a master at choosing paints. It is true that on clear days, when the long lines of trains swept through Fort Romper, passengers were surprised at the sight. Those that knew the brown-reds, and the dark greens of the eastern part of the country laughingly expressed shame, pity, shock. But to the citizens of this western town and to the people who stopped there, Pat Scully had performed a wonder. As if the displayed delights of such a blue hotel were not sufficiently inviting, Scully went every morning and evening to meet the trains that stopped at Romper. He would express greetings and welcome to anyone he might see hesitating. One morning when a snow-covered engine dragged its long string of cars to the station, Scully performed the marvelous trick of catching three men. One was a shaky and quick-eyed Swede, with a great, shining, cheap bag; one was a tall, sun-browned cowboy, who was on his way to a job near the Dakota border; one was a little silent man from the east coast, who didn’t look like it and didn’t announce it. Scully practically made them prisoners. He was so quick and merry and kindly that each probably thought it would be cruel to try to escape. So they followed the eager little man. He wore a heavy fur cap pulled tightly down on his head. It caused his two red ears to stand out stiffly, as if they were made of tin. At last, Scully grandly conducted them through the door of the blue hotel. The room which they entered was small. It was occupied mostly by a huge stove in the center, which was burning with great force. At various points on its surface the iron had become shiny and glowed yellow from the heat. Beside the stove, Scully’s son, Johnnie, was playing a game of cards with a farmer. They were quarreling. With loud words Scully stopped their play, and hurried his son upstairs with the bags of the new guests. He himself led them to three bowls of icy water. The cowboy and the Easterner washed themselves in this water until they were as red as fire. The Swede, however, merely placed his fingers in the bowl. It was noticeable throughout these proceedings that the three travelers were made to feel that Scully was very kind indeed. He was giving out great favors. Afterward they returned to the first room. There, sitting about the stove, they listened to Scully shouting at his daughters, who were preparing the noon meal. They employed the silence of experienced men who move carefully among new people. The Swede was especially silent. He seemed to be occupied in making secret judgments of each man in the room. One might have thought that he had the sense of foolish fear which accompanies guilt. He looked like a badly frightened man. Later, at dinner, he spoke a little, directing his conversation entirely to Scully. He said that he had come from New York, where he had worked for ten years as a suit maker. These facts seemed to interest Scully, and afterward he told that he had lived at Romper for fourteen years. The Swede asked about the crops and the price of labor. He seemed hardly to listen to Scully’s lengthy replies. His eyes continued to wander from man to man. Finally, with a laugh, he said that some of these western towns were very dangerous; and after this declaration he straightened his legs under the table, nodded his head, and laughed again, loudly. It was plain that this had no meaning to the others. They looked at him, wondering and in silence. After dinner, it was decided to play a game of cards. The cowboy offered to play with Johnnie, and they all turned to ask the Swede to play with the little Easterner. The Swede asked some questions about the game. Learning that it wore many names, and that he had played it under another name, he accepted the invitation. He came toward the men nervously, as though he expected to be attacked. Finally, seated, he looked from face to face and laughed sharply. This laugh was so strange that the Easterner looked up quickly, the cowboy sat with his mouth open, and Johnnie paused, holding the cards with still fingers. Afterward there was a short silence. Then Johnnie said, “Well, let’s begin. Come on now!” They pulled their chairs forward until their knees touched under the table. They began to play, and their interest in the game caused the others to forget the strange ways of the Swede. Suddenly the Swede spoke to Johnnie: “I suppose there have been a good many men killed in this room.” The mouths of the others dropped open and they looked at him. “What are you talking about?” said Johnnie. The Swede laughed again his loud laugh, full of a kind of false courage. “Oh, you know what I mean all right,” he answered. “I don’t!” Johnnie protested. The card game stopped, and the men stared at the Swede. Johnnie evidently felt that as the son of the hotel owner he should make a direct inquiry. “Now, what are you trying to say?” he asked. The Swede’s fingers shook on the edge of the table. “Oh, maybe you think I haven’t been anywhere. Maybe you think I don’t have any experience?” “I don’t know anything about you,” answered Johnnie “and I don’t care where you’ve been. I just don’t know what you’re trying to say. Nobody has ever been killed in this room.” The cowboy, who had been steadily gazing at the Swede, then spoke: “What’s wrong with you, fellow?” Apparently it seemed to the Swede that he was powerfully threatened. He trembled, and turned pale near the comers of his mouth. He sent an appealing glance in the direction of the little Easterner. “They say they don’t know what I mean,” he remarked bitterly to the Easterner. The latter answered after long and careful thought. “I don’t understand you,” he said calmly. The Swede made a movement then which announced that he thought he had met attack from the only place where he had expected sympathy, if not help. “I see that you are all against me. I see—” The cowboy felt as though he had lost his senses. “Say,” he cried, as he threw the cards fiercely down upon the table, “say, what are you trying to do?” The Swede jumped up. “I don’t want to fight!” he shouted. “I don’t want to fight!” The cowboy stretched his long legs slowly and carefully. His hands were in his pockets. “Well, who thought you did?” he inquired. The Swede moved rapidly back toward a corner of the room. His hands were out protectingly in front of his chest, but he was making an apparent struggle to control his fright. “Gentlemen,” he almost whispered, “I suppose I am going to be killed before I can leave this house! I suppose I am going to be killed before I can leave this house!” A door opened, and Scully himself entered. He paused in surprise as he noted the terror-filled eyes of the Swede. Then he said, “What’s the matter here?” The Swede answered him quickly and eagerly: “These men are going to kill me.” “Kill you!” shouted Scully. “Kill you! What are you talking about?” The Swede put out his hands helplessly. Scully turned upon his son. “What is this, Johnnie?” The lad had become ill-tempered. “I don’t know,” he answered. “It doesn’t make any sense to me.” He began to pick up the cards, gathering them together angrily. “He says a good many men have been killed in this room, or something like that. And he says he’s going to be killed here, too. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. He’s probably crazy.” Scully then looked for explanation to the cowboy, but the cowboy simply shook his head. “Kill you?” said Scully again to the Swede. “Kill you? Man, you’re crazy.” “Oh, I know,” burst out the Swede. “I know what will happen. Yes, I’m crazy—yes. Yes, of course, I’m crazy—yes. But I know one thing—” There was suffering and terror upon his face. “I know I won’t get out of here alive.” Scully turned suddenly and faced his son. “You’ve been troubling this man!” Johnnie’s voice was loud with its burden of undeserved blame. “Why, good God, I haven’t done anything to him!” The Swede broke in. “Gentlemen, do not trouble yourselves. I will leave this house. I will go away, because—” he blamed them with his glance— “because I do not want to be killed.” “You will not go away,” said Scully. “You will not go away until I hear the reason of this business. If anybody has troubled you, I will take care of him. This is my house. You are under my roof, and I will not allow any peaceful man to be troubled here.” He looked threateningly at Johnnie, the cowboy, and the Easterner. “Don’t, Mr. Scully, don’t. I will go away. I do not want to be killed.” The Swede moved toward the door which opened to the stairs. It was evidently his intention to go at once for his bag. “No, no,” shouted Scully commandingly; but the pale-faced man slipped by him and disappeared. “Now,” Scully angrily to the others, “what does this mean?” Johnnie and the cowboy cried together: “Why, we didn’t do anything to him!” Scully’s eyes were cold. “No,” he said, “you didn’t?” Johnnie repeated his words. “Why, this is the wildest madman I ever saw. We didn’t do anything at all. We were just sitting here playing cards, and he—” The father suddenly spoke to the Easterner. “What have these boys been doing?” The Easterner thought again. “I didn’t see anything wrong at all,” he said at last, slowly. Scully began to shout. “But what does it mean?” He stared fiercely at his son. “I ought to beat you for this, my boy.” Johnnie was wild. “Well, what have I done?” he screamed at his father.   Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. What is the best way to stop people from fighting? What do you do to stay calm when you start to get angry? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. See how well you understand this part of the story by taking a listening quiz. Play each short video and choose the best answer. Download a lesson plan to use with this story here.   _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   sufficiently – adv. having or providing as much as is needed cowboy – n. a man who rides a horse and whose job is to take care of cows or horses especially in the western U.S. occupied – adj. being used by someone or something cards – n. a game played with a set of small pieces of stiff paper that are marked with symbols or pictures to show its value quarrel(ing) – v. to argue about or disagree with something nervously – adv. in a way showing feelings of being worried and afraid about what might happen courage – n. the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous evidently – adv. in a way that can be easily seen or noticed apparently – adv. used to describe something that appears to be true based on what is known tremble(d) – v. to shake slightly because you are afraid, nervous or excited eagerly – adv. in a way that shows you are very interested undeserved – adj. unfair or unjustified

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English @ the Movies: 'Got Our Work Cut Out For Us'

On English @ the Movies we tell you about the saying "got our work cut out for us." It is from the movie "Norm of The North." This animation film is about a polar bear and his friends trying to save their Arctic home. Watch or video to find out what "got our work cut out for us" means.

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