English @ the Movies: 'Go Undercover'

Do you know what "go undercover" means? It is this week's English @ the Movies saying, and it comes from the film "Baywatch." The movie is about lifeguards at a California beach who try to catch criminals. Watch the video, take the quiz. Did you guess the right answer?

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Robot Explores Fukushima Reactor

  A robot entered a damaged reactor at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant this week to take pictures of the reactor destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011. The robot, nicknamed 'The Little Sunfish,' is very small – about the size of a loaf of bread. It has lights, five propellers, and two cameras, among other data collection tools. Toshiba Corp., the electronics and energy company, and the International Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning, a government-funded group, developed the Little Sunfish. Four operators control the Little Sunfish from afar. It is designed to tolerate radiation of up to 200 sieverts, a level that can kill humans instantly. Robots are important for decommissioning the plant Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, is the plant's operator. TEPCO spokesman Takahiro Kimoto praised the robot's work, saying it took pictures of the underwater damage that had not been previously seen. However, the pictures showed no sign of the melted nuclear fuel that researchers hope to find, he said. Robots are a key part of the plan to decommission the damaged plant. However, high levels of radiation and damage have stopped robots from doing their work in the past. In previous tests, two robots became stuck inside two of the plant's other reactors. A scorpion-shaped robot failed inside the plant’s Unit 2 reactor. A snake-shaped robot designed to clear debris for the scorpion probe was removed after two hours when its cameras failed. The cameras failed because radiation levels were five times higher than anticipated. Kimoto said the Little Sunfish showed that the Unit 3 reactor chamber was “clearly more severely damaged” than Unit 2, which was explored by the scorpion probe. Scientists need to know the melted fuel’s exact location and understand the damage in each of the three wrecked reactors. This information will help them to decide on the safest and most efficient ways to remove the fuel. Japanese officials say they want to decide on methods for removing the melted nuclear fuel this summer. They hope to start the removal work in 2021. I'm John Russell.   The Associated Press reported this story. 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   reactor – n. a large device that produces nuclear energy propeller – n. a device with two or more blades that turn quickly and cause a ship or aircraft to move decommission – v.  to officially stop using (a ship, weapon, dam, etc.) : to remove (something) from service sievert – n. physics the standard unit in the International System of Units (SI) of dose equivalent having the same biological effect as one joule of x-rays per kilogram of recipient mass (or one gray) efficient – adj. capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy

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Lesson 35: Let’s Make Dinner!

Summary In this lesson, Anna and Marsha are planning a dinner party. But Anna comes home from the store with some unusual foods for dinner. Speaking In this video, learn about using measure words, like "jar of" and "bag of." Pronunciation Use this video to learn about the reduced pronunciation of the word "of" before measure words. Conversation   Anna: Hi there! Washington, D.C. has many fun places to eat. But, sometimes it's more fun to cook. In fact, tonight Marsha and I are cooking for friends. Well, she is cooking. I am doing the shopping. (phone rings) It’s Marsha. Hi, Marsha. Marsha: Hi, Anna. Do you have the shopping list? Anna: Yes, I told you: I have the shopping list. Can you hear it? Marsha: Okay, good. I hear the list. Anna, please buy all the ingredients on the list. Anna: Yes, Marsha, I will. Marsha: And do not spend too much time shopping. Anna: No, Marsha, I won’t. See you later. Anna: Sometimes, Marsha worries too much. I love shopping! And, I did not spend too much money. Oh, no! But I did spend too much time! I have to return home now! Marsha: Anna, what took you so long? Our guests will be here soon! Anna: Don’t worry, Marsha. I bought everything on the list. Marsha: Let me see. You bought a bunch of bananas, a box of pancake mix, a bag of coffee … Anna, this is all wrong! Anna: What do you mean wrong? I bought a jar of peanut butter and a loaf of bread … no, wait … two loaves of bread. Marsha: Anna, these are the wrong ingredients! Anna: These ingredients are all on the list! I took this list from the counter. Marsha: Anna, this is the shopping list for breakfast. I said, take the shopping list - on the refrigerator - for dinner! Anna: Marsha, there was no shopping list - on the refrigerator - for dinner! Marsha: Oh no! It’s on the floor!! Anna/Marsha: Ahh!!! Ahh!!! Marsha: What are we going to do? Anna: When do our guests arrive? Marsha: They arrive in 30 minutes! Anna: I can fix this. Do you trust me? Marsha: Do I have to? Anna: Yes. (The story continues next week) Writing Do you like shopping for food? What do you like to make for a dinner with guests? Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about foods and measure words.​ Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Cooperate.  When we work together to meet a goal we are cooperating.  In this lesson, Anna and Marsha are planning a dinner party. They cooperate to share the work. Anna says, "In fact, tonight Marsha and I are cooking for friends. Well, she is cooking. I am doing the shopping.​" We can also cooperate by practicing English language skills with a friend or classmate. How do you use this cooperating strategy in your study of English? Write to us about it in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan  for more details on teaching this strategy. Quiz Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz. ______________________________________________________________ New Words banana - n. a long curved fruit with a thick peel that is yellow when it is ripe bought - v. past tense of buy: to get (something) by paying money for it box - n. a container that is made of a hard material (such as wood, metal, or cardboard) and that usually has four straight sides bread - n. a baked food made from a mixture of flour and water bunch - n. a group of things of the same kind that are held or tied together or that grow together counter - n. a long, flat surface on which food is prepared in a kitchen floor - n. the   part of a room on which you stand ingredient - n. one of the things that are used to make a food or product jar - n. a glass container that has a wide opening and usually a lid loaf - n. an amount of bread that has been baked in a long, round, or square shape (plural: loaves) mix - n. a dry mixture of ingredients that is sold in one package and used for making something (such as a type of food) pancake - n. a thin, flat, round cake that is made by cooking batter on both sides in a frying pan or on a hot surface peanut butter - n. a creamy food made from peanuts shopping list - n. a list of things to be bought at a shop or store told - v. past tense of tell: to give information to (someone) by speaking or writing trust - v. to believe that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, or effective ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice talking about foods and measure words. For Teachers ​ See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources.Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: Partitives (measure words); Count/Non-count Nouns (review) Topics: Giving reasons for concern Learning Strategy: Cooperate Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Reduced​ “of” before consonants and vowels (in partitives)   ____________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

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Why Americans Use Euphemisms

  Comedian George Carlin is famous for talking about language. He is famous for criticizing indirect or overly pleasant speech. Consider these lines from one of his performances: "I don't like words that hide the truth. I don't like words that conceal reality. I don't like euphemisms – or euphemistic language. And American English is loaded with euphemisms. Because Americans have a lot of trouble dealing with reality." ​Today we will explore the case of euphemisms – pleasant or nice words that take the place of direct language. We will give you examples of euphemisms, and explain why they are so common. Direct speech and politeness In earlier Everyday Grammar stories, we discussed how Americans sometimes choose indirect speech. They consider it to be more polite. What takes the place of direct speech? Americans often replace it with creative noun phrases, phrasal verbs, or expressions. These words give the same basic meaning as direct language, but they have a very different style. Americans often use euphemisms when talking about sensitive topics – death, love, body processes, anything they might not want to speak of directly. Here is an example. Consider the noun, alcohol. Alcohol consumption can be a taboo topic in American society. So, some restaurants and stores sell adult beverages instead. The term adult beverages is a euphemism. It refers to alcohol, but in an indirect manner. ​Euphemisms and death You might think that euphemisms are very informal, or slang. You  might think that euphemisms are silly. But, Americans often use euphemisms when talking about serious issues – death, for one. Consider the verb die. In euphemistic language, Americans often replace it with the phrasal verb, pass away. ​When expressing news about a person's death, Americans might say, "I was sad to hear that so-and-so passed away." Americans often send condolence cards to those who have lost friends or family.  These condolence cards often do not use the verb die. Instead, they use euphemistic or indirect language. Here is another example. Instead of saying euthanize, or even kill, Americans might say, put to sleep. Put to sleep sounds much gentler and kinder than euthanize or kill. Parents often use this structure when a child's beloved pet needs to be euthanized by a veterinarian. The reason they do this is to avoid making the child sadder about the situation. Food and euphemisms Euphemisms are not always used to talk about sensitive topics. Sometimes business people create euphemisms to increase sales. Consider this example. If you were to ask Americans if they would like to eat Patagonian toothfish, they would probably say no. Toothfish just does not sound like an appealing food to eat. However, if you were to ask Americans if they would like to eat Chilean sea bass, they might say yes. The two names refer to the exact same kind of fish. Ralph Keyes is an author. He wrote "Euphemania," a book about euphemisms. In an interview with NPR, Keyes noted that "[At] one time, Patagonian toothfish was freely available to anyone because no one wanted to eat it…until a very clever entrepreneurial sea importer renamed it Chilean sea bass." Now, you will see Chilean sea bass on menus at expensive restaurants. The lowly toothfish has come a long way!   Euphemisms and style Euphemisms often make sentences longer.  They can also take away clarity – especially in writing. For these reasons, writing style guides often recommend that writers not use euphemisms or indirect language.   Whether you like euphemisms or not, you should learn some of the common ones. They play a part in American culture – for better or for worse.   The next time you are watching a film, listening to music or reading the news, try to look for euphemistic language. Ask yourself why the speaker or writer might want to use a euphemism instead of direct language.   We will leave you with a euphemism from the 2004 comedy, Anchorman. Actor Will Ferrell is expressing surprise. Instead of using bad or offensive words, he refers to Odin, a character in Norse mythology. Americans do not use this expression. They rarely refer to Norse mythology. That is part of the humor of the line. Great Odin's Raven! I'm Pete Musto. And I'm John Russell.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. When is it right or wrong to use a euphemism? Write to us in the Comments Section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   conceal – v.  to prevent disclosure or recognition of  euphemism – n. a mild or pleasant word or phrase that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive creative – adj. having or showing an ability to make new things or think of new ideas taboo – adj. not acceptable to talk about or do sensitive – adj. likely to cause people to become upset condolence – n. a feeling or expression of sympathy and sadness especially when someone is suffering because of the death of a family member, a friend, etc. euthanize – v.  to kill or permit the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (such as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy veterinarian – n.  a person qualified and authorized to practice veterinary medicine entrepreneurial – adj. a person who starts a business and is willing to risk loss in order to make money​ mythology – n. the myths or stories of a particular group or culture

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5 Driverless Robots for Transporting Food and More

  One of the latest trends in technology is the creation of personal robots to help people with day-to-day activities. Some companies are testing driverless robots to bring food and other products directly to customers. One such service is already operating on the streets of Washington, D.C. Starship Technologies launched several self-driving robotic vehicles in the city earlier this year. The six-wheeled electric machine sits about a half-meter high. It has a box to carry small groceries or food products, up to nine kilograms in weight. Users can order the robot service through an app – a software program -- on a smartphone. The food or other things remain safe and secure inside the vehicle until the consumer orders the app to open the compartment. The robotic vehicles move themselves along sidewalks, using camera and tracking technology to avoid people, cars and other objects. Each robot has lights and a red flag on top to help people recognize them. Someone is always following the robots’ movements from a distance. The company admits that someone might try to steal or block the robots. But it adds that such an individual would be easy to catch because of the machine’s cameras and tracking system.    ​ Another company, Dispatch, also has been testing a delivery robot. This robot is a little taller than the one working in Washington. The door of the Dispatch is on the side of the robot and slides up to open the compartment. It operates along city sidewalks or the edge of streets. In April, another business launched a robotic delivery service in San Francisco, California. Marble is partnering with the food delivery company Yelp Eat24 to provide door-to-door robot service. The Marble robot is somewhat bigger than the others and has a more industrial look. But it works the same way. Orders are placed through an app, the machine makes the autonomous delivery, and a computer code is used to unlock the goods. Marble is looking to expand its delivery service from San Francisco to other cities. It also plans to offer the ability to change conditions inside the compartment from hot and cold, or cold to hot, depending on what is being carried. A company in China has taken robot delivery to the extreme by putting a whole mini market on wheels. The creators of Moby Mart say they have invented the world's first self-driving supermarket. Engineers from Swedish company Himalafy worked with a team from China’s Hefei University of Technology on the project. Another partner is Sweden’s Wheelys, which owns many movable coffee stands. Moby Mart is about the size of a small bus. It offers many products found in most convenience stores. They include milk, lunch meats, fruits and medicine. The service has been tested in the city of Shanghai in recent months. Designers say that when fully operational, Moby Mart will use electricity powered by the sun. People enter their location through an app and the vehicle then drives itself to the location and stops. A customer then enters a code to enter the “mini market” and chooses the desired items. Goods are scanned by phone and paid for through the app. The company has said the cost of building Moby Mart is less than $100,000, about one-tenth the cost of a traditional store. Another robot could be used in the future to deliver beer and other drinks. For this purpose, researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology or MIT created vehicles they are calling “beerbots.” The system is actually a team of robots programmed to serve customers at a bar or restaurant. One big robot gathers cans of beer, which it places into smaller, four-wheeled robots. These “turtlebots” autonomously make the drink deliveries and take orders. The MIT researchers used artificial intelligence (AI) to try to get the robots to reason on their own. The idea is to have them use human-like thinking to provide the best service. The team found the beerbots had problems reacting to difficult situations just like humans would. But the researchers were surprised by other AI successes. They are continuing to find new ways to use reasoning methods in other robot applications.  I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Would you trust a self-driving robot to deliver your food? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   customer – n. person who buys goods or services from a business delivery – n. the act of taking something to a person or place groceries – n. food and other goods sold in stores to be used at home autonomous – adj. engaging in an activity separately from other things bar – n. place where people go to drink scan – v. to read or mark something location – n. the position or placement of something convenience – adj. designed for quick and easy use trend – n. a general movement or development artificial intelligence – n. the development of computers to perform intelligence-related tasks without human involvement  

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Opposition Strike Halts Business in Venezuela

A national strike called by Venezuela’s opposition Thursday brought much of the country to a halt.  Opponents of President Nicolas Maduro called the 24-hour strike. The opposition groups want to show national disapproval for Maduro’s plan to rewrite Venezuela’s constitution. It was the first major strike in Venezuela since 2002, when the opposition tried unsuccessfully to oust former president Hugo Chavez. The action appeared to have stopped nearly all bus traffic across the capital, Caracas. Many private businesses were closed even though the government demanded that they stay open. Government-run companies remained open. But some had limited services because many employees did not show up for work. Some people noted that the opposition action would cost them money at a time of extreme economic crisis and food shortages. Many others said it was important to show support for the cause.  Several groups set up roadblocks in areas across Caracas to show opposition to Maduro’s rule. A collection of groups oppose Maduro’s proposal to create a new legislative body to rewrite the country’s 1999 constitution. It would also have the power to dissolve state institutions. Maduro has set a July 30 vote to create the body. The opposition has accused Maduro of seeking to build up the proposed new legislature with his supporters. They say this would permit him to remove the few remaining checks on his power and create a Cuba-style system controlled by his socialist party. The opposition wants the military to defend the current constitution. It has also demanded new elections before Maduro’s term ends in early 2019. The strike came after more than seven million Venezuelans voted last weekend in an unofficial referendum. In the opposition-organized vote, 98 percent rejected Maduro’s proposal to rewrite the constitution. The referendum was seen as symbolic because it was not part of an official government election. Maduro dismissed the voting as unconstitutional. He said it would have no effect on the government or his proposals. On Monday, American President Donald Trump also spoke against the proposal. In a statement, Trump said, “If the Maduro regime imposes its Constituent Assembly on July 30, the United States will take strong and swift economic actions.” Anti-government unrest over the past four months has left almost 100 people dead and 1,500 injured. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn adapted this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press and Reuters. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   dissolve – v. officially end something institution – n. large, established organization referendum – n. vote in which all voters cast ballots to decide an issue rather than representatives in government symbolic – adj. serving as a symbol or representing something  

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American Director Leads Project to Protect African Films

  American filmmaker Martin Scorsese is supporting an international project to preserve African movies. It is called the African Film Heritage Project. Its goal is to protect the work of Africa's most important directors, and restore some of the films. The Film Foundation, a nonprofit launched by Scorsese, created the project. According to Scorsese, its goals are similar to the Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project. "The idea of the world cinema foundation was to restore and make available as best as possible films made in areas that really don't have the infrastructure, the archival infrastructure to take care of these films and take care of that cultural heritage." The project will locate, restore, and preserve these films. Many important films from the continent are difficult to find, especially for the average movie viewer. The Film Foundation is partnering with the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI) and UNESCO in this project. FEPACI’s advisory board is identifying 50 films for restoration. The board is made up of archivists, scholars, and filmmakers who are active in Africa. Scorsese says the films are a hidden part of the continent's history. "Those films were made by Africans, about Africans for Africans, for the world and it is time to take that as another facet of the culture. The creative thinking, the creative action of the entire continent." Director Yemani Demissie teaches filmmaking at New York University.  He says: "Many African films that were made in the previous century don't have the opportunity to be screened by filmmakers all over the world.” Demissie adds that this project will allow a wider audience to see these films. Irina Bokova is UNESCO director-general. She says the project will “give justice to the African history” and encourage creativity among young filmmakers. Scorsese agrees: “I think it is something that could be very fruitful, for young people who are beginning to make their own films or are making their own films." In the past ten years, Scorsese's World Cinema Project has helped restore films from Egypt and Senegal as well as from India, Armenia, Brazil, and the Philippines. I’m Phil Dierking.   Arzouma Kompaore reported this story for VOA News. Phil Dierking adapted the report for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Are there important films from your country that you think everyone should see? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   archive - n. a place in which public records or historical materials are kept​ cinema - n. the film industry​ fruitful - adj. producing a good result​ infrastructure - n.  the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly​ preserve - v.  to keep (something) in its original state or in good condition​ restore - v. to return (something) to an earlier or original condition by repairing it, cleaning it, etc.​  

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July 20, 2017

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

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‘Despacito’ Becomes Most Streamed Song Ever

The hit summer dance song Despacito has become the most streamed song of all time. It now has more than 4.6 billion plays across major streaming services. It passed Justin Bieber’s 2015 song Sorry this week to break the all-time record. Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi and rap singer Daddy Yankee released Despacito in January. They later released a version that included Justin Bieber. The remixed song helped increase its popularity in several English-speaking countries, including the United States. Despacito, which means “slowly” in Spanish, is also now the most successful Spanish-language pop song of all time. The chief of Universal Music Group, Lucian Grainge, released a statement about Despacito’s success. It said, “streaming has opened up the possibility of a song with a different beat, from a different culture and in a different language to become a juggernaut of success around the world.” Fonsi is 39 years old. Until Despacito, he was not well known outside of Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory. It is the first mostly Spanish song to reach the top of the Billboard’s Hot 100 list in the U.S. since the 1996 summer hit Macarena. Despacito has been the top song this year in more than 30 countries worldwide. Also this week, officials in Malaysia banned broadcasts of Despacito on government-run radio and television. Malaysia’s communications minister said the government acted in answer to public protest that the words in the song are offensive. The ban, however, does not extend to private stations, YouTube, or music streaming services. When the new record was announced this week, Fonsi gave credit to streaming services for helping his music reach every part of the planet. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Anne Ball.   Ashley Thompson adapted this story from Reuters and AP News reports. Caty Weaver was the editor. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   stream - v. to transmit or receive over the Internet as a steady, continuous flow. pop - adj.  of or relating to popular music juggernaut - n. something (such as a force, campaign, or movement) that is extremely large and powerful and cannot be stopped

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Senator John McCain Has Brain Cancer

Senator John McCain has brain cancer. McCain, 80, is a Republican who lost the 2008 presidential election to Democrat Barack Obama. He is considered a war hero from his service in the Vietnam War. His office and the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, provided the medical information about McCain on Wednesday night. McCain was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer. It forms tumors in the brain and spinal cord, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. The American Cancer Society estimates that people who develop glioblastoma after the age of 55 have a five-year survival rate of 4 percent. McCain’s Senate office said the senator is in “good spirits” as he continues to recover from surgery at his Arizona home. Praise for McCain came from leaders of both political parties. Former President Obama tweeted: “John McCain is an American hero & one of the bravest fighters I've ever known. Cancer doesn't know what it's up against. Give it hell, John.”   Republican President Donald Trump, who once questioned whether McCain was really a war hero, also offered best wishes. “Senator John McCain has always been a fighter. Melania and I send our thoughts and prayers to Senator McCain, Cindy, and their entire family. Get well soon.” Before entering politics, McCain was a Navy fighter pilot. He was imprisoned and tortured by the North Vietnamese for five years after his plane was shot down. McCain refused the North Vietnamese offers to leave early from a prison known as the “Hanoi Hilton.” McCain said he would not leave unless fellow American prisoners of war were also released. When McCain was finally released in 1973, he was badly injured and weakened. In 1982, McCain was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Four years later, he was elected to the Senate. McCain has survived other health issues, including melanoma -- the most dangerous form of skin cancer. He also faced a variety of health problems caused by his five years of imprisonment in Vietnam. His daughter, Meghan, said her father is demonstrating his usual strength and bravery. “It won’t surprise you to learn that in all this, the one of us who is most confident and calm is my father,” she said. “He is the toughest person I know.” McCain’s office said his doctors will decide when he can return to the Senate. A lengthy absence will make it more difficult for the Trump administration and Republican congressional leaders to pass bills. Republicans had already delayed a vote on eliminating and replacing the health law, known as Obamacare. The delay was announced after McCain had surgery last week to remove a blood clot from behind his left eye. On Wednesday night, the Mayo Clinic and the Arizona Republican's office announced McCain's diagnosis of a brain tumor. McCain's doctors said the senator's next treatment may include a combination of chemotherapy and radiation. Republican Senator Jeff Flake also represents the state of Arizona. He found out about the cancer during a telephone discussion with McCain. “Only at the end of the conversation, I asked him how he was feeling today, and he said, 'I'm feeling fine, but I might have some chemotherapy in my future,'" Flake said on ABC television. “And that's how I learned of it. So it was almost in passing about his diagnosis.” Flake went on to say that McCain sounded “optimistic.” “He's John McCain -- that's what we expect,” Flake said.   VOA News reported this story. Bruce Alpert adapted the story for Learning English, with additional material from Reuters, the Associated Press and other sources. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   diagnose - v. to recognize a disease or injury by examining someone tumors - n. a mass of tissue found in or on the body that is made up of abnormal cells spinal cord - n. the large group of nerves which runs through the center of the spine and carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body confident - v. having a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something toughest - adj. physically and emotionally very strong chemotherapy - n. the use of chemicals to treat or control a disease such as cancer conversation - n. a discussion with someone optimistic - adj. having or showing hope for the future  

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News Words: Pristine

If something in the environment is pristine, what does that mean? Learn the answer with Anne Ball and Jonathan Evans in VOA's News Words.

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