Lesson 42: I Was Minding My Own Business

Summary Anna sees a crime and tries to help find the robbers. She hurts her arm. The news reporter wants to know, "How did she hurt herself?" Speaking In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn how to use reflexive pronouns like herself, ourselves, and yourself. Pronunciation Use this video to understand how English speakers pronounce the words "did you" quickly and learn to say them as /didjə/. Conversation Guy: Hello. I'm Guy Newsman with News Channel XYZ. I’m here in Washington, D.C. at the scene of a crime. Guy: We are talking with this woman. Guy: She saw the crime during her lunch break. It looks like she hurt herself while she was trying to stop the crime. Guy: Tell us your name. Anna: Hi, Guy. I'm Anna. Guy: Anna, what did you see and what happened to your arm? Anna: Guy, I was minding my own business. See, I work over there. Guy: Um-hum Anna: I left work to get some lunch. Then suddenly, I heard a woman yelling. She was yelling like this ... “Help! Help!” Guy: Um-hum Anna: Two robbers were grabbing her bag like this. She was hitting them with her umbrella. Guy: Is that when you hurt your arm? Anna: No. At that time, I was not fighting the robbers. Guy: Um-hum. Anna: See. I was too far away and I didn't have my own umbrella. Guy: So, what happened next? Anna: They grabbed her bag and ran away! So, I grabbed her umbrella and ran after the robbers. Guy: Then that is the time that you hurt your arm? Anna: No. I was yelling, “Stop, robbers! Stop!” She was yelling, “Hey, come back with my umbrella!” Guy: Were you afraid? Anna: I had no time to be afraid, Guy. Well, I had time while I was resting on a bench. I had a lot of time. Guy: Then what happened? Anna: The robbers got on a bus. So, I ran after the bus. A VO: While I was running, I tripped and fell. Guy: And that is the time that you hurt your arm? Anna: No. While I was lying on the ground, someone stepped on my arm! Guy: Ouch. That’s too bad. Anna: Yeah. And they didn’t apologize. Well, then the robbers got themselves kicked off the bus. Guy: Why? Anna: They didn’t pay. You've got to pay when you get on a bus. The police came and took them away. Guy: And that’s when you hurt your arm! Anna: No. Guy: Then, when did you hurt yourself? Anna: Well, Guy, by this time, I was feeling very hungry. So, I went to my office to get a snack. C: Anna, I'm calling for help right now. C: (on the phone) Hello? Yes, please come right away. My co-worker is stuck in a vending machine. Guy: You hurt your arm in a vending machine buying a bag of chips? Anna: I was really hungry and the bag was stuck. I had to - Guy: That’s all from News Channel XYZ. This is Guy Newsman saying goodbye. Guy: Okay, we have to find ourselves another story, guys. Anna: Until next time! Hi Mom! Writing In this lesson, Anna hurt herself in the vending machine. Did you ever hurt yourself by accident? What were you doing when you hurt yourself? Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice writing and using the past continuous tense and reflexive pronouns. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Read Between the Lines. This expression means to find a hidden meaning in something said or written. In this lesson, Guy Newsman asks Anna many questions.  Anna tells him a long story about the crime. But she doesn't explain how she hurt her arm until the end. Guy reads between the lines each time he guesses about how she hurt her arm. Do you ever read between the lines to understand what you hear or read in 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 arm - n. either one of the two long body parts that join the top of your body at the shoulder and that end at the hand or wrist chips - n. thin, hard, and usually salty pieces of food crime - n. an illegal act for which someone can be punished by the government fall (past tense: fell) - v. to come or go down suddenly from a standing position grab - v. (past participle: grabbing) to quickly take and hold (someone or something) with your hand or arms ground - n.  the soil that is on or under the surface of the earth kick off - phrasal verb. (past tense: kicked off) force (someone) to leave  lie - v. (gerund: lying) to be in a flat position on a surface minding my own business - idiom. doing what you normally do and not bothering anyone robber - n. a criminal who steals money or property or a thief who robs people snack - n. a small amount of food eaten between meals step -  - v. to put your foot down — usually + in or on stuck - adj. difficult or impossible to move from a position trip -  - v. (past tense: tripped) to fall or nearly by accidentally hitting your foot on something as you are walking or running umbrella - n. a device that is used for protection from the rain and sun vending machine - n. a machine that you put money into in order to buy food or drinks   Subject Pronouns (Lesson 2) Object Pronouns (Lesson 18) Possessive Adjectives (Lesson 15) Possessive Pronouns (Lesson 37) Reflexive Pronouns (Lesson 42) 1st person I me my mine myself 2nd person you you your yours yourself 3rd person (female) she her her hers herself 3rd person (male) he him his his himself 3rd person (neutral) it it its (not used) itself 1st person (plural) we us our ours ourselves 2nd person (plural) you you your yours yourselves 3rd person (plural) they them their theirs themselves ______________________________________________________________ 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 using the past continuous tense and reflexive pronouns. 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: Reflexive pronouns; While-clauses; Past Continuous Tense, Topics: Describing ongoing past activities; Asking about & giving information about past events; Describing a sequence of events; Expressing concern about someone; Reacting to bad news; Expressing sympathy                       Learning Strategy: Read Between the Lines Speaking & Pronunciation: Reflexive pronouns; Pronouncing /didjə/ ____________________________________________________________ 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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Benjamin Harrison: Grandson

  VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. Today we are talking about Benjamin Harrison. His family name may sound familiar. That is because he was the grandson of President William Henry Harrison. That situation is unique in U.S. history so far. Harrison played an unusually active role as president at a time when most chief executives saw themselves as simply administrators. As a result, American writer and intellectual Henry Adams said Harrison was the best president since Lincoln. But most Americans remember little about him, except his connection to the previous President Harrison, who himself died after only a month in office. Early life Benjamin Harrison grew up on a farm in the Midwestern state of Ohio as one of eight children. His grandfather was not the only famous political Harrison. His great-grandfather signed the Declaration of Independence. And his father had been a congressman. Young Benjamin Harrison respected these men and believed he had a role to play in history, too. He received a good education, and even outside of school he read many books. His hard work and intelligence carried him to Miami University in Ohio, and then to a career as a lawyer. Along the way, he married a woman he had known since he was a teenager, Caroline Lavinia Scott. The couple settled in another Midwestern city, Indianapolis, Indiana, and had a son and daughter. Over time, Harrison steadily built a career as a public official. But his political path was interrupted by the American Civil War. Harrison rose to the rank of general in the Union Army. He fought under General William T. Sherman, and was one of the first soldiers to enter Atlanta, Georgia after the city surrendered.  After the war, he returned home to Indiana and continued his legal and political career. In 1881, he was elected to the U.S. Senate. But six years later he lost his seat when Democrats came to power in his state.Reports say that Harrison was an excellent soldier. But he did not enjoy fighting or find war romantic. Harrison’s loss of his Senate seat soon turned to a victory. The Republican Party nominated him as their candidate to run against Grover Cleveland in the 1888 presidential election. Cleveland’s economic policies had become unpopular, and Republicans worked hard to support their candidate. They succeeded. Although Cleveland won the popular vote, Harrison won the Electoral College. In 1889, he followed his grandfather’s footsteps all the way to the White House. Presidency Harrison’s election was a major victory for his Republican Party. In addition to winning the White House, Republicans gained seats in the House of Representatives, held a majority in the Senate, and appointed several Republican justices to the Supreme Court. Harrison and other Republican lawmakers used their power to take action on issues at home and internationally. One act was to preserve forests. Harrison identified 17 protected natural areas, and helped create Yosemite National Park in California.  His government also established Ellis Island in New York to make immigration to the U.S. a more orderly process. ​ Internationally, Harrison’s administration sought to build ties with Latin American countries. His government established what would, in time, become the Organization of American States. His administration also increased the United States’ global trade – as well as the country’s navy. But, for the most part, the most pressing issues of the day were economic. The federal government at that time had an unusually large surplus. Some argued that the surplus was hurting business. In answer, Harrison’s government placed a high protective tariff on imported goods. The legislation was known as the McKinley Tariff of 1890. Officials also aimed to limit the power of large corporations to control important markets in the U.S. Finally, they agreed to require the government to buy silver to use as currency. These actions pleased some of his supporters. But, they may have contributed to the severe economic depression that followed Harrison’s term. And in general, voters disapproved of the amount of money Republican lawmakers were spending. Although the country was at peace, the 51st Congress appropriated $1 billion. At the midterm elections, many lawmakers paid for all the spending with their seats. Two years later, voters turned Harrison out of the White House, too. They returned Grover Cleveland to the presidency. Harrison did not express much disappointment. He had worked hard to become president like his grandfather. But he found he did not like being the chief executive. He said when he left the White House, it was like being released from prison. Legacy Among U.S. presidents, Harrison does not have one of the most dramatic biographies. The facts of his life show an intelligent, disciplined man who tried to live by his beliefs. But he was not considered passionate about many things, except perhaps his enjoyment of nature. And he did not have an easy way with people. Even his staff called him “the human iceberg” because he could be aloof and act coldly toward people. Yet Harrison’s family brought some warmth to his administration. His wife, Caroline, was known to be a lively, social person. She was the first to install a Christmas tree in the White House. Some of Harrison’s grandchildren also lived in the White House. Harrison permitted them to play on the grounds with their pet animals. During Harrison’s term, the family kept a goat, which the children called “Old Whiskers.” Harrison’s time in the White House saw sorrow, too. Toward the end of her husband’s term, the first lady became seriously ill with tuberculosis. For months, Benjamin Harrison divided his attention between his wife and his job, and yet in the end lost both. After his term as president ended, Benjamin Harrison returned to his home in Indianapolis. He did some work as a teacher and lawyer, and kept a good public image in his community. He also re-married. His second wife was a widow herself, as well as his first wife’s niece. He and Mary Scott Lord Dimmick Harrison had a daughter together. The child was only four when Harrison died from pneumonia at age 67. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.      Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Listening Quiz Check your understanding by taking a listening quiz. Play each video, then choose the best answer. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   role - n.  a part that someone or something has in a particular activity or situation interrupt - v.  to cause (something) to stop happening for a time romantic - adj. not realistic or practical : not based on what is real appropriate - v.  to get or save (money) for a specific use or purpose passionate - adj. having, showing, or expressing strong emotions or beliefs aloof - adj. not involved with or friendly toward other people

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Senators Target Websites that Sell Sex with Minors

  In 1996, the United States Congress passed the Communications Decency Act (CDA) to protect minors from pornography over the internet. The law also protects website owners from being held responsible for users’ opinions or comments on their pages. In 2016, two women brought a lawsuit against the website backpage.com. They said that as teenagers they were bought and sold for sex on backpage.com. In the lawsuit, one of the women said her pimp chose to run ads on backpage because he said they “could avoid getting caught.” “He also told her backpage.com would ‘make him the most money,’” the lawsuit said. The federal court in Massachusetts said that the website backpage.com had made “sex trafficking easier.” But the court also said the Communications Decency Act prevented the court from taking the sex ads down from the website.  U.S. Congress to act Now, 25 senators and over 100 members of the House of Representatives are proposing to change that law. Senator Rob Portman is a Republican from Ohio and the lead sponsor of the bill. He said it was never the intention of the CDA to allow websites to run advertisements for sex with underage children. “Imagine, if you will, that your daughter is missing. You do everything you can do to find her. Finally, you see her picture on the internet, and she is being sold for sex. That may sound like a horror movie to you, but it is very real,” Portman said.   Portman said the court in Massachusetts found Backpage had acted “immorally.” But the court decided it could not stop the website from running sex ads unless Congress changed the 1996 law. “That is who we are,” Portman said. “We are the legislators. The court of appeals said: Congress, do your job.” Senator Heidi Heitkamp is a Democrat from North Dakota and a co-sponsor of Portman’s bill. She said she finds it “disgusting” that a law passed by Congress is being used to protect human trafficking. Portman and other sponsors of the bill are hoping a recent movie, “I Am Jane Doe,” will bring more information about the issue of human trafficking to the public. It tells the stories of young women victimized by human trafficking and their efforts, along with their parents, to stop websites from advertising sex with underage children. Backpage did not comment on the new Senate bill. But in a court document last month, backpage asked another federal court to stop an investigation of its advertising by Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley. It said Hawley should know courts have blocked every effort “to shutdown websites.” The company’s lawyers also said the company works with law enforcement when requested to help investigations into sex trafficking. If it is stopped from running such ads, others would step in and not act as responsibly as backpage, the company said. Hawley said his investigation would continue. He said it is clear backpage knows traffickers are using its website to sell sex with underage children. And backpage wants to keep making money from sex trafficking, Hawley said. A 2017 U.S. Senate report said backpage “reportedly receives 80 percent of its money from sex advertising in the United States. Industry group has problems with bill Michael Beckerman is president of the Internet Association. The association represents large internet companies, such as Google, Facebook, Amazon and Twitter. Beckerman said association members regularly work with law enforcement to stop sex trafficking. But he said the new Senate bill goes too far. It will lead to unfair actions against internet companies and will not help the fight to stop human trafficking, Beckerman said. Portman said such criticism is “false.” The new bill would only take away protection from material on websites that assist or support people violating federal sex trafficking laws, Portman said. He said the bill protects internet freedom. What it will do, Portman said, is help children victimized by sex trafficking. A report last month by the State Department said holding human traffickers responsible for their actions is difficult. It said that there were fewer than 10,000 convictions for trafficking worldwide in 2016. But it noted “estimates of the number of victims of human trafficking remain in the tens of millions.” I'm Jill Robbins. And I'm Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. Do you know any victims of human trafficking? What help do you believe governments and people can do to help them? _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   pornography - n. movies, pictures, magazines, etc., that show or describe naked people or sex in a very open and direct way in order to cause sexual excitement pimp - n. a person who makes money illegally by getting customers for prostitutes sex trafficking - n. is modern-day slavery and involves the use of force or fraud to get people to work in the sex trade sponsor - n. a person who is the lead backer of a bill in a legislature advertisement - n. something such as a short film or a written notice that is presented to help sell a product or service disgusting - adj. to find something very upsetting conviction - n. finding someone guilty of a crime  

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Russia’s Most Expensive Diamonds to Be Sold Online

  A mining company has announced plans to sell a collection of what it says are the most valuable diamonds ever cut in Russia. The largest in the collection is a 51.38-carat round cut diamond. It was produced by Russia’s Alrosa company as part of a special collection called Dynasty. The state-run Alrosa said the five-piece collection was named after the Romanov dynasty, which ruled Russia for 300 years. It is also meant to honor Russian ruler Peter the Great, who built the city of St. Petersburg. The company said Peter the Great started the country’s first diamond factory early in the 18th century.   Alrosa calls the biggest piece “the purest of all large diamonds manufactured throughout Russian jewelry history.” The 51.38-carat diamond is 2.5 centimeters in diameter. The Dynasty collection was created from one 179-carat rough diamond discovered in 2015 in Russia’s far eastern republic of Sakha. It took a team more than a year and a half to complete the five polished diamonds. The project marked progress for Alrosa. The company is known for discovering rough diamonds, but not cutting and polishing them. It said the process “combined modern technologies with the secrets of jewelers of the Russian Imperial Court.”   Russia is considered the largest diamond producer in the world. Alrosa and British-based diamond company De Beers produce about half of the world's rough diamonds. Alrosa’s president said at a launch event in Moscow that the collection is expected to go on sale as a set in an online auction in November. The company expects to get at least $10 million for the diamonds, which are currently being shown in Moscow. The collection will also travel to Israel, Hong Kong and the United States to give possible buyers the chance to get a close look. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn adapted this story for Learning English based on reports from Reuters and other sources.  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   carat – n. unit for measuring the weight of jewels and the purity level of gold diamond – n. extremely hard, clear stone that is very valuable and often used in jewelry dynasty – n. a series of rulers from the same family polish – v. rub something to make it smooth and shiny auction – n. public sale at which things are sold to people who offer the most money  

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Scientists Building Redesigned Life Forms

  For thousands of years, humans have used yeast for making bread and alcoholic drinks, such as beer. But scientists are now constructing synthetic yeast that can do more than make a sandwich or a drink. The synthetic yeast can be used for medicines, vaccines, and biofuels – among other things. What is DNA? So, how does it work? Yeast, like humans, are living organisms with DNA. DNA is short for deoxyribonucleic acid. On long strings it carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, functioning and reproduction of all living things. Modern science allows researchers to cut and move around the four biological compounds that make up DNA. The compounds are known by the letters A,C, G and T. The yeast genome, or its genetic material map, has more than 10 million of these DNA letters. But that is nothing compared to us: Humans have about three billion. Making synthetic yeast Scientists have long been able to make changes in the DNA code.  But now, some scientists are doing something different. When you walk into Jef Boeke’s lab it smells like bread rising. But his team is not making homemade dough. Instead, they are changing the order of genes in yeast cells. Boeke manages a team of 11 labs on four continents. He spoke to VOA Learning English about this project. “What we're doing basically is writing that DNA and we also modify it along the way, so we kind of redesign it on a computer, and then it's that modified DNA that we actually put into cells. We swap it in place of the DNA that's already there.” So far, the scientists have constructed and replaced six of yeast’s 16 chromosomes. The new chromosomes have all worked well. Yeast is already used to produce many other valuable compounds, such as medicines, vaccines and biofuels. By making synthetic yeast, researchers could make different combinations used for different jobs. For example, one combination may be better for making biofuel, and another for making medicine. These compounds could then be made in large, industrial amounts. Synthetic yeast could also be used to make bioplastic—a material that, unlike plastic made from petroleum, would be biodegradable. Using this material would help reduce pollution. Boeke says the possible uses for yeast are limited only by one’s imagination. “They can be programmed through DNA writing to produce really an almost limitless range of products in terms of molecules or chemical compounds that that can replace things that we currently make from petroleum or other sources and as well as some new materials that don't even exist today." So far, scientists have engineered yeast to produce bright colors. The yeast can make artwork, and in the future, may even be used to paint a house. But, to be clear, Boeke says, his teams are not creating new life. “No one's ever created life out of non-living material. All the experiments we do start with pre-existing living cells and we introduced modified DNA into it so that's actually a common misunderstanding that we're creating life. We are not creating life.” Too much power? However, redesigning DNA worries some people. Laurie Zoloth is a bioethicist at Northwestern University. She told the Associated Press (AP) that she is concerned about making organisms with “properties we cannot fully know.” She said the work would concern people who believe creating life from scratch would give humans power they should not have. “It is not only a science project,” she wrote to AP. “It is an ethical and moral and theological proposal of significant proportions.” Boeke says he does not think his team is doing anything dangerous. He says he and other scientists always look at the risks, especially when it comes to food safety, or when researchers engineer viruses. Boeke says safety regulations help people who want to work in those areas. Other researchers experimenting with DNA are waiting to see the results of this yeast work. June Medford is with the University of Colorado. “I paid very careful attention to when they say ‘here are the lessons learned,’ because if they can’t do it in a simple thing like yeast, I will never be able to do it in a plant." But Medford and other DNA researchers will have to wait. Boeke needs at least another year to finish his pioneering project. I’m Anne Ball.  Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English with information from the Associated Press and VOA News. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. What do you think of the researchers' work to rebuild the yeast DNA? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding with this short quiz. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   genome – n. the genetic material of an organism  modify – v. to change some parts of (something) while not changing other parts swap – v. exchange biofuel – n. a fuel that comes directly from living matter. synthetic – adj. not made from natural materials biodegradable – adj. capable of being slowly destroyed and broken down into very small parts by natural processes, bacteria, etc. theological – adj.  related to a system of religious beliefs or ideas explosive – adj. able to cause an explosion

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Managing the Wild Horse Population

  Everyone, including members of Congress and Native American tribes, wants fewer wild horses on Western lands and tribal reservations. But there is little agreement on how the number should be reduced. The wild horses come from horses that were brought to America from Spain in the 16th century. By 1971, the number of wild horses had dropped sharply. So Congress passed a law to save them. Since then, the number of wild horses has increased three times in size. Experts predict there will be 115,000 wild horses by 2020. An average adult wild horse eats more than two-and-a-half kilograms of grass and drinks 75 liters of water a day. As a result, non-native plants begin growing in the affected areas. The horses’ actions have also caused soil erosion around water sources, threatening water quality. Gillian Lyons is a wildlife expert at The Humane Society of the United States. She said, “Originally, when the 1971 act passed, it allowed the [Bureau of Land Management] to destroy healthy horses…if populations grew too large.” Since 1994, except for one year, the BLM has been prevented from destroying wild horses. The agency now captures and places them in holding facilities. A few horses are adopted, but not many. It costs about $50 million a year to care for the captured animals. President Donald Trump wants to cut the BLM budget by $10 million in 2018. If Congress approves the plan, the BLM would have to find other ways to manage horse populations. “They’re going to do that in a couple of ways,” said Lyons. “One is by reducing any use of fertility control, which they use barely any of now. And the other way is by getting rid of horses in holding facilities.” Recently, a House committee voted to permit the BLM to kill the horses. But a Senate committee voted against another bill that would lift the ban on horse killing. Native American tribes have struggled with the problem for years. Some support capturing the animals. But others, including leaders of the tribes, say the animals should be treated well and not killed. The Northwest Tribal Horse Coalition is made up of five small groups and tribes in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. It says in the short term controlling the number of wild horse births will not stop overgrazing. It supports the slaughter of horses at “humane facilities.” An estimated 48,000 wild horses live on the Navajo Nation’s 7,000 square kilometers in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. Duane “Chili” Yazzie is the president of the Nation in Shiprock. Yazzie has started a horse capture program he considers more humane. The program would euthanize sick and old wild horses and sterilize healthy ones before returning them to the wild. He is also looking to train them as farm animals. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Correspondent Cecily Hilleary reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Hai Do 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   reservation – n. an area of land in the U.S. that is kept separate as a place for Native Americans to live erosion – n. the gradual destruction of something by natural forces (such as water, wind, or ice); the process by which something is eroded or worn away overgraze – v. to eat too much of the grass or other plants that are growing in a field, pasture, etc. humane – adj. kind or gentle to people or animals euthanize – v. to kill an animal that is very sick or injured in order to prevent any more suffering sterilize – v. to make (someone or something) unable to produce children, young animals, etc.

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Everyday Grammar: Make

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College Admission: Finding the Right Fit

  The United States has more than 4,000 colleges and universities. It is not easy to decide which schools might be best for you. At the end of high school, many young people in the United States apply for admission to several different schools. The College Board is a non-profit organization working to expand access to higher education in the U.S. It recommends that students apply to between five and eight schools. This gives them options if their first- or second-choice schools do not accept them. Paul White, an assistant dean of college admissions, agrees. White works at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. He has worked in university admissions for 38 years.White says that he applied to just three colleges when he was a high school student in 1974. If he were a student applying today, however, White says he would apply to four times as many schools. The reason? The number of students attending college in the U.S. has more than doubled since he was a college student. The schools make it easier for students to apply, White says. And the competition for admission has gotten more intense. "Colleges and universities have…become much more public-oriented …going after…not just the best students, but students in general, to try to attract students from different parts of the country, different parts of the world." But White says there are major differences between applying to an undergraduate program and applying to a graduate degree program. Most graduate degree programs are smaller than undergraduate programs. They can only accept a limited number of students. For example, more than 3,000 students applied to admissions to Johns Hopkins’ medical doctorate program for the 2018 school year. The program accepted only 120 of them.  How does the school choose some students over others? White says he feels that many students are concerned about just meeting the requirements to get into the school rather than getting to know the qualities of the program and school. It is easy to see which students have not thought about whether Johns Hopkins is necessarily a good fit for them, he adds. Every school has different goals, White notes. Some are more focused on research than others. Around 95 percent of new medical students at Johns Hopkins have some research experience. But that is not the only thing Johns Hopkins is looking for, he says. Johns Hopkins is in Baltimore, Maryland. Its location has an effect on its medical program – and the students it accepts, White says. In 2016, the Maryland Alliance for the Poor reported that about 45 percent of Baltimore’s population was living in poverty. The hospital where Johns Hopkins’ medical students get training works to treat health issues connected to poverty. A student interested in studying at the medical school, therefore, should show an interest in helping a poor, underserved community, White explains. "We want people … who want to care for patients. There’s no question about that. But you have to look at … what are they doing, not just on campus, but off-campus.… And if someone is interested in working with underserved communities, this a great place for them." White says applicants should spend time researching what kind of students a school looks for. They can start by visiting the school’s website, which will usually describe the programs the school is involved with. The website might also list its students with special achievements. White also suggests finding out what kind of research the school is doing and what former students are doing after graduation. Having experience that is connected to a school’s goals is important, he adds. For example, volunteer work can show that a medical school candidate does not just care about their career; the applicant also cares about helping a community. Even if a student does not have volunteer experience when they are applying, White says it is not too late for a student to show the admissions officers what kind of person they are. That can come during the interview process. Interviews are a big part of the selection process at Johns Hopkins and most other medical schools. Candidates must answer questions about themselves and why they want to attend the school. For example, at Johns Hopkins, interviewers often ask candidates to talk about a time they were not in the majority. Thoughtful answers can help interviewers better understand what kind of person a candidate is, White says. A student who may not have volunteer experience but gives thoughtful answers can show the interviewers they have an interest in gaining the understanding that such experience brings. That helps demonstrate that, with guidance, this person can become the kind of doctor the school hopes to produce, White says. Although undergraduate and graduate programs differ in many ways, trying to find the right fit can help undergraduate applicants, too. If a student knows the kind of school they are looking for, and can thoughtfully express why they want to attend, that makes them more appealing. "I don’t care what … institution you’re going to -- they’re all trying to shape a community. They’re trying to attract people who will add to that community." I’m Pete Musto. And I'm Caty Weaver.   Pete Musto reported this for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. How do you learn more about the schools you are interested in? What other kinds of advice for applying to college would you like to have? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   apply – v. to ask formally for something, such as a job, admission to a school, or a loan, usually in writing admission – n. the act or process of accepting someone as a student at a school option(s) – n. a choice or possibility dean – n. a person who is in charge of one of the parts of a university  undergraduate – adj. used to describe a student at a college or university who has not yet earned a degree graduate – adj. of or relating to a course of studies taken at a college or university after earning a bachelor's degree or other first degree doctorate – adj. focus(ed) - v. to direct your attention or effort at something specific campus – n. the area and buildings around a university, college, or school achievement(s) – n. a result of hard work interview – n. a meeting at which people talk to each other in order to ask questions and get information guidance – n. help or advice that tells you what to do institution – n. an established organization attract – v. to cause someone to choose to do or be involved in something

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Officials: Afghan Children Taken to Pakistani Religious Schools

  Officials say Afghan children are being taken to Pakistan to study at religious schools in areas controlled by the Taliban extremist group. Officials say each year there are at least three or four cases of children being illegally transported from Afghanistan to Pakistan.  In Pakistan the children are taken to religious schools, called madrassas. Authorities say the goal is for the children to later return to Afghanistan and enforce the same severe version of Islam observed by the Taliban. The Taliban was removed from power in Afghanistan in 2001 by United States-led coalition forces. One Afghan counterterrorism official spoke to the Associated Press about the issue. The officials said Afghan authorities have identified 26 madrassas in Pakistan. They are suspected of training future generations of Taliban members.  In some cases, students are trained in carrying out suicide bombings. Police have stopped vehicles traveling from Afghanistan’s eastern Ghazni province to Quetta, in Pakistan’s southwestern Baluchistan province.  After searching the vans, police found groups of boys between the ages of four and 15. They were all being taken illegally to Pakistan to study at madrassas. Quetta is important to Afghanistan’s Taliban.  It is the capital of Pakistan’s Baluchistan province and shares a border with Afghanistan. Many Taliban members graduated from madrassas there. It also is considered the headquarters of the Taliban leadership council, often called the “Quetta shura.” Several of the 26 madrassas identified as Taliban training centers are in Quetta. One of the madrassas in Quetta is called Sheikh Abdul Hakim.  Azizullah Mainkhail, a teacher at the madrassa told the Associated Press that some students there were from Afghanistan.  However, he said the majority are Pakistanis from villages throughout Baluchistan. He denied any connection with the Taliban. Mohammed Musa Mahmoodi is with the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission. He said a number of issues have aided the movement of children from Afghanistan.  These include war, poverty, insecurity and a lack of understanding by the parents of the dangers for their children. Parents sometimes approve However sometimes parents say they want their children to study in Pakistan.  “Parents often agree to send their children but they don’t know what is awaiting the child. Sometimes they are told they will be educated or will get a good job and be looked after,” said Mahmoodi. “But when they get there they are beaten, forced to work as cheap labor, or taken by Taliban as new recruits.” Mohammed Naseer wanted his son, a nephew and several other children from his area to study the Quran, the Muslim holy book, in Quetta. His son Mohammed Yaseen is just 9 years old, but he said he was excited to be going to Quetta. His dream: “I want to be a mullah [or a cleric].” Naseer said his son had studied three years in a village school but he still could not read or write in his native Pashto language. He said the village school offers English lessons but the teacher does not speak English. He also worries about the lack of quality Islamic schools where his son can study Islam.  So, he decided then to send his son to Pakistan. He put his son with 26 other children into the two vans.  He gave his son a change of clothes and gave money to the men taking his child to Pakistan “but only for transportation.” These stories are common, but senior police official Fazlur Rahman Bustani in Kabul said the movement of children is a dangerous business. “Those involved in the transport of children are part of a dangerous network and it is a criminal act,” said Bustani. “It doesn’t matter if the parents approve.” I’m Phil Dierking.   Phil Dierking adapted her report for VOA Learning English from an Associated Press report. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   Quran – n. the book of sacred writings used in the Muslim religion recruit – v. to find suitable people and get them to join a company, an organization, the armed forces, etc. smuggle - v. to move (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly

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Crocodile Industry Hopes to Boost Australia Aboriginal Communities

  A new report says the crocodile industry in Australia's Northern Territory is worth more than four times the previous estimate of $80 million. Officials hope the findings will be meaningful to poorer aboriginal communities that might develop a crocodile farming industry. The saltwater crocodile is the world's largest reptile. In Australia, the crocodiles were once hunted until they almost disappeared. Their skins were used to make durable leather goods and clothes. The crocodiles have been a protected species since the early 1970s. And their numbers in Australia's tropical north have increased. The Northern Territory regional government now sees economic opportunities for native communities. Officials want to expand crocodile egg collection programs. The eggs would help to stock crocodile farms owned by aboriginal groups. These groups would supply skins to companies that make costly clothing and other products such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci.   Michael Gunner is the chief minister of the Northern Territory. Gunner says the government is looking into investing in rangers to help grow the crocodile industry. He says harvesting eggs and growing the crocodile industry locally “is a very important and valuable use of traditional country done by traditional owners.” Bob Katter is a member of the Australian parliament. He said that as crocodile numbers increase, so does the threat to people. He believes hunters should be permitted to shoot them for sport. Katter has argued that crocodile hunts would boost the incomes of aboriginal communities. The Northern Territory government supports crocodile hunts. But only Australia’s federal government can make the final decision. So far, they have refused to permit them. Conservationists say that the shooting of animals for profit in Australia is, in their words, “abhorrent” and should never be permitted. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Phil Mercer wrote this story for VOANews. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   aboriginal – adj. of or relating to the people and things that have been in a region from the earliest time; of or relating to the native people of Australia. durable – adj. staying strong and in good condition over a long period of time species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants; a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus sport – n. a physical activity such as hunting, fishing, running, or swimming that is done for enjoyment ranger –n. a person in charge of managing and protecting part of a national park stock – v. to fill something, such as a room or a building, with a supply of food, drinks, etc.

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Your 'Dirty Laundry' Has Nothing to Do With Clothes

  Now, from VOA Learning English, it's time for Words and Their Stories. On this program you can learn English expressions that Americans use in conversation. Today we are going to talk about the fabric we wear on our bodies. In other words, our clothes, right? Well, yes and no. The word “clothes” is only part of a much larger story. American English has many more specific – and more colorful – terms related to these everyday items. For example, let’s say you carefully select the clothes you plan on wearing to work or a party. Sure, those are your clothes. But it would be better to call it an outfit. The word outfit means there was some planning involved. In fact, when we compliment people on what they are wearing, we usually say, "Hey, I really like your outfit." We probably wouldn't say, "Hey, I really like your clothes!" It just sounds a little odd. Our wardrobe also has a sense of planning. A wardrobe is a collection of clothing. It is all the clothing a person owns. If I know a man or woman who always looks sharp, I could say, “That person has an amazing wardrobe! Every item of clothing is gorgeous and fits perfectly!” Now, even the nicest outfit in the nicest wardrobe collects dirt and wrinkles. Then that outfit becomes dirty clothes. But why use that ordinary term when you can call it laundry! Laundry, very simply, is any fabric -- clothes, linens, towels, sheets, blankets -- that we need to wash. Some people have a laundry room, an area in their house or apartment with a washer and dryer. People who don't have a washer and dryer in their homes can go to the laundromat. Now, if you’re like me, doing your laundry can be one item on your laundry list of things to do on the weekend. Often, my Saturday morning begins with a couple loads of laundry. And I don't mind. It relaxes me to do laundry. Now, a “laundry list” is not a list of the things you need to wash. It is very long list of related things. For example, if you have many small tasks to finish at work, you can say you have a laundry list of projects. Here's another example: "At the parent-teacher meeting, the principal gave a terrible speech. It was just a laundry list of what the school staff had not done right." Whether you do your laundry at home, at a laundromat or have a professional do it for you, we all have dirty laundry -- in more ways than one! In conversation, dirty laundry is much more than soiled shirts and jeans. The expression “dirty laundry” means all those embarrassing things we don't want others to know about us or our families. We often use this expression as a warning. For example, if your mother catches telling your friend about your family, she may say, “Don't air our dirty laundry! Nobody needs to know every sordid detail about our family!"  Now, let's hear these expressions used in a conversation. These two friends are roommates in a medium-sized apartment building. It’s Sunday morning and they are doing their laundry. Kendra, that is such a cute outfit you’re wearing! Thanks, Karen! I just updated my wardrobe and got rid of everything that didn’t fit or just didn’t look good on me. I need to do that. Most of my clothes are too small. Oh, Kendra, I forgot to tell you something that happened yesterday. What happened? You know Raphael and Maya, right? You’re kidding, right? Of course, I know them. They're the loud couple who live upstairs from us and fight all the time. That’s them. Well, yesterday they had a huge fight, right in the basement laundry room! Right here in the basement laundry room? Oh yeah! And it was Saturday morning. So, half the apartment building was down here doing their laundry. What did they fight about? Well, Maya found a woman’s shirt in their laundry that was not hers. So, she accused Raphael of cheating on her! He, of course, denied it. But then she gave a laundry list of woman he's been secretly seeing . Well, not so secretly, if Maya knew about them. Good point. That sounds so embarrassing! It is not good to air your dirty laundry in public like that. They should have had their fight in the privacy of their own apartment. I totally agree. That way, only you and I would have heard it. Exactly. Can you hand me the laundry powder? And that's it for Words and Their Stories, a show where we teach common expressions in American English and where we don't air any dirty laundry! I'm Anna Matteo.   “Dirty little secrets, dirty little lies. We got our dirty little fingers in everybody’s pies. Love to cut you down to size, we love dirty laundry …” Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. The song at the end is Don Henley singing "Dirty Laundry." ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   specific – adj. relating to a particular person, situation, etc. outfit – n. a set of clothes that are worn together wardrobe – n. a collection of wearing apparel (as of one person or for one activity) a summer wardrobe sharp – adj. stylish a sharp outfit laundry – n. a room for doing the family wash : clothes or linens that have been or are to be laundered laundromat – n. a self-service laundry —formerly a U.S. registered trademark soil – v. to make or become dirty to make unclean especially superficially :  dirty : soiled – adj. embarrassing – adj. causing a feeling of self-conscious confusion and distress sordid – adj. very bad or dishonest deny – v. to say that something is not true

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