Calls to Remove Statue of a Chinese God from Indonesian City

  Community organizations on the Indonesian island of Java are demanding that a statue of a Chinese god be destroyed. Protesters from the organizations demonstrated in the city of Surabaya on Monday. They gathered in front of the East Java Provincial Legislative Building to demand the demolition of the warrior god statue. They claim it does not represent Indonesian culture. The brightly colored, 30-meter-tall statue stands on the grounds of the Kwan Seng Bio temple in Tuban, East Java. The statue is now covered in cloth. Chinese Indonesians are a minority in the world’s most populous Muslim nation. Local Chinese Indonesians say the protesters do not understand that the Confucian god directs people to oppose war. One local official told VOA the only problem with the statue is that it lacks a building permit. Religious divides raise tension The protest over the statue of the Chinese god comes at a time of religious tension in Indonesia. In Jakarta, Islamist protests against the city’s Chinese Christian governor, Basuki "Ahok" Purnama, turned violent during his recent re-election campaign. He is now serving a two-year jail sentence after a court found him guilty of blasphemy charges. Purnama failed to win re-election in the April voting. He lost to Anies Baswedan, whose campaign was backed by supporters of political Islam. In July, Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo banned the group Hizbut Tahrir, which supports creation of an Islamic caliphate. And while the country is an officially secular – not supporting any one religion -- public support for Islamic sharia law has been on the rise. Didik Muadi helped to organize the Tuban protest. He told local media that many consider the huge Confucian statue an insult to Indonesia. The statue has been part of the local landscape since July. At the time, the chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly said he hoped Indonesians and foreigners would come to see the statue. Statue's height seen as a threat His comments did not please Didik Maudi, however. He said, “If they want to make a memorial statue, it should not be that high...Maybe it should be at most two meters high, and inside the temple, if it is a memorial. This statue is so tall, it’s as if the god of war has taken over Tuban, and we can’t permit that!”    Gatot Santosom heads the Regional Association of Chinese-Indonesians in East Java. He said the protest was based on a lack of understanding of the statue. He said, “They misunderstood and thought the statue is of a general, that we are showing respect to a war general, but that’s not true...What we respect is what he symbolizes - loyalty, our loyalty to humanity - and he defends justice.” Where's the building permit? Abu Cholifah is a member of the Tuban Regency Legislative Body. He is blaming outsiders for the debate about the statue. He said they wanted to turn a statue of a Chinese god into a political issue in a nation with a long history of oppressing the Chinese community. If there is any issue with the warrior god statue, he added, it is that the local government failed to issue a building permit before it was put up. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Petrus Riski reported this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted his report for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   temple – n. a building for religious services or uses blasphemy – n. the act of showing disrespect for God or something considered holy caliphate – n. the rule of a chief Muslim leader landscape – n. all the recognizable mountains, rivers and other things on a piece of land or in the countryside We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.  

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Nuclear Threats on Anniversary of Nagasaki Atomic Bombing

The threat of a nuclear conflict between the United States and North Korea affected an event marking the anniversary of world’s second atomic attack. A crowd gathered in the Japanese city of Nagasaki Wednesday to remember the U.S. atomic bombing there in the final days of World War II. The attack took place on August 9, 1945. Three days earlier, U.S. forces had dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The mayor of Nagasaki spoke at Wednesday’s observance. He said “A strong sense of anxiety is spreading across the globe that in the not too distant future these weapons could actually be used again.” He and the crowd observed a moment of silence at 11:02, local time -- the exact time when the atomic bomb was dropped. The ceremony took place a short time after U.S. and North Korea officials exchanged strong language about the North’s nuclear activities. On Tuesday, American media reported that the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency thinks North Korea recently succeeded in building a small nuclear warhead. The weapon is said to be small enough for the missiles that North Korea recently test-fired. The North Korean government has threatened nuclear war with the United States in the past because of United Nations sanctions against North Korea. Those measures are meant to punish the government for its nuclear tests. U.S. President Donald Trump warned North Korea Tuesday that its threat against the United States “will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.” North Korea reacted quickly to Trump’s comments. The North’s Korean Central News Agency said the North Korean military is examining its plan for “making an enveloping fire” around Guam. The U.S. military has bases on the island territory. This is the first time that North Korea has identified an exact target. Balbina Hwang teaches at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She said, "The increase in rhetoric does raise existing tensions, but it does not translate into a shift of U.S. policy or strategy on North Korea." A former deputy U.S. ambassador to the UN, David Pressman, is concerned about the rising tensions. “Perhaps there wasn't a careful consideration of the words of our commander in chief in this instance,” Pressman said. He added that, "If ever there was a topic on which we need to be extremely precise, it's nuclear proliferation, when dealing with someone who is as unpredictable as Kim Jong Un." Speaking to reporters while flying to Guam, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said he does not believe there is a threat to the island any time soon. He added “the president is sending a strong message to North Korea in language that Kim Jong Un would understand.” In Seoul, South Korean officials seem to agree with Tillerson’s comment. A top official said “I do not believe the situation has reached a state of crisis, and rather think we may turn this into an opportunity to overcome the serious security condition." The South Korean news agency Yonhap reported his comments.   Hai Do adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on VOA News and Yonhap reports. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   anxiety - n. fear about what might happen fury - n. wild and dangerous force envelop - v. completely cover rhetoric - n. language that is intended to influence people and that may not be honest or reasonable translate - v. to change into a different form shift - n. a change in position strategy - n. a careful plan for achieving a particular goal over a long period of time precise - adj. very accurate and exact proliferation - n. an increase in number or amount quickly

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قصيدة رائعة

Lesson 43: Time for Plan B

Summary Anna lost her wallet and needs to go to her class. She is calling her friends to get help. Who will help her find money for the train? Speaking In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn about using modal verbs, like "would" and "could," to ask for help politely. Pronunciation Use this video to learn about using informal pronunciation with "what are you" and "would you." Conversation Anna: Hey there! Tonight, I am teaching my ukulele class. It is far away. So, I am going to ride the Metro. Oh, no! I lost my wallet! It has my Metro card, my credit card and my money! Oh, no! Anna: It's times like this I remember my father’s important words. He said, “Anna, never … ” No wait, “Always have emergency money.” .” (Anna pulls an envelope out of her bag and looks inside) It's empty. Time for Plan B. ‘Extra Emergency Money.’ (Anna pulls another envelope out of her bag and looks inside) Anna: No! It's empty too! Anna, it's time for Plan C. Anna: Hi, Marsha! Marsha: Hi Anna. What’s up? Anna: I’m stuck downtown without any money. Would you be able to come downtown? Please? Marsha: Anna, I can’t. I’m too busy. I have to give a big presentation in one hour. Sorry! Anna: That's ok. Good luck with your presentation! Marsha: Thanks! Anna: Time for Plan D. Anna: Hi, Jonathan! How’s it going? Jonathan: Hey, Anna. Things are great. What’s up? Anna: Well, I was wondering if you could give me some money. Jonathan: What? Anna: See, I lost my wallet and I’m stuck downtown and I -- Jonathan: Anna, I wish I could. I'm at the airport with my mother. Her flight leaves in two hours. Anna: That’s okay. Tell your Mom to have a nice trip! Jonathan: I do wish I could help. Thanks. Anna: 'Bye. Anna: This is serious. Time for … Plan E. Ashley: Hello. Anna: Hi, Ashley! What are you doing? Ashley: Oh! Hi Anna! Anna: (Anna hears a child crying through the phone.) Ashley, I was wondering, uh, would you be able to come downtown? And could you give me $20? Ashley: Anna, I can’t. Anna: I’ll pay you back the money. I promise. Ashley: Anna, I’m not worried about the money. I’m babysitting. (off-camera to niece) That was very, very, bad! Anna: Well, losing your wallet is bad, but it's not the end of the world, Ashley. Ashley: I was talking to my niece, Anna. Anna: Well, thanks anyway, Ashley! Ashley: Good luck getting money. Anna: Good luck babysitting! Ashley: Thanks. Anna: Well, Plans A, B, C, D and E did not work. Think, Anna, think. Time for Plan F. Anna: (singing) Won't you give, could -- Thank you very much, sir! -- would you give me money, won't you give -- Thank you very much! -- could you give, won't you give me money -- until next time! -- won't you give me money?   Writing In this lesson, Anna needs help from a friend. Did you ever have a problem that a friend helped you to solve? Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice using what you know to make polite requests and excuses.   Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Use What You Know. When we use what we know, we solve problems in communication by thinking of familiar words or structures, and trying to communicate with them. In this lesson, Anna learns that her friends cannot help her. She uses what she knows, playing the ukulele, to get the money she needs to ride on the train. Do you ever use what you know when you speak 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   airport - n. a place where aircraft land and take off and where there are buildings for passengers to wait in and for aircraft to be sheltered babysit - v. to take care of a child while the child's parents are away could - modal verb. used in speech to make a polite request or suggestion downtown - adv. to, toward, or in the main or central part of a city or town emergency - n. an unexpected and usually dangerous situation that calls for immediate action empty - adj. containing nothing flight - n. a journey on an airplane presentation - n. an activity in which someone shows, describes, or explains something to a group of people wallet - n.a small folding case that holds paper money or credit cards without - prep. not having or including (something) wonder- v. to have interest in knowing or learning something worried - adj. feeling or showing fear and concern because you think that something bad has happened or could happen would - modal verb. used to ask a polite question or to make a polite request, offer, or invitation ______________________________________________________________ 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 making excuses in response to requests for help. 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: Could; Would; Be able to; Have got to; Too + adjective Topics: Asking and telling about ability to do things; Review of Giving an Excuse; Expressing past & future ability or obligation Learning Strategy: Personalize Speaking & Pronunciation: Using modal verbs to make polite requests; Informal pronunciation of "what are you & would you" ____________________________________________________________ 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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August 8, 2017

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

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More US High Schools Adopt Later Start Times

  Like many American high school students, Josh Leong used to eat breakfast while it was still dark outside. But that changed when his high school, McLean, in the American state of Virginia, changed to a later start time two years ago. Proponents of late start times The issue of school start times has become increasingly important in recent years. A growing number of sleep research studies have pointed to high schoolers' need for more sleep. The American Psychological Association, or APA, says that more than half of teens between ages 15 and 17 sleep for 7 or fewer hours per night. Teens like to stay up at night. They tend to go to bed late and wake up late in the morning. These habits are a result of biology, according to the APA.  Changing the sleep schedule of teens may not work. "Simply going to bed earlier does not necessarily make someone less tired in the early morning hours," says a statement on the organization's website. The American Medical Association, or AMA,  has also advocated for later start times. At last year's annual AMA meeting, Board Member William E. Kobler said, "Sleep deprivation is a growing public health issue affecting our nation's adolescents, putting them at risk for mental, physical and emotional distress and disorders." In 2016, the group issued a new policy proposal that "encourages middle schools and high schools to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m." Concerns about changing sleep times While the medical community has largely supported later start times, Americans do not always agree on the issue. American schools are separated into districts. According to the U.S. Census bureau, there are over 14,000 school districts in the country. Each district has its own governing body, which sets school start and end times, and other important school policies. Some have opposed the adoption of later times on the grounds that after-school sports will suffer. The Atlantic reports on strong opposition to later start times in the American state of New Jersey. “It seems like there’s a disconnect here between the people who are making the decisions and the kids who actually want to play sports,” said Rich Perello, a parent and opponent of later start times. Others have opposed the adoption of later start times because they believe schools are adopting later start times without enough planning. Gregg Lindner is a school board director in the Unionville-Chadds Ford school district in the state of Pennsylvania. He voted against the adoption of later start times. Lindner says he believes the scientific evidence about the benefits of later start times. But, he said, it would have been better for the district to adopt the later start time after careful consideration. He felt there was "a rush to implementation." Lindner's main concern was logistics. Logistics refers to the things that must be done to plan and organize a complicated activity or event that involves many people. Lindner's school district, Unionville-Chadds Ford, is very large, about 77 square miles, or about 200 square kilometers. School buses must travel far to pick up students. Many teachers live outside the district. Later start times mean they might have to travel during peak traffic times. In addition, many of the teachers have children themselves. Their children might study in different school districts that have different start times. "It [the adoption of a later start time] is impactful," Lindner noted. Lindner said he would have preferred adopting later start times in the 2018-2019 school year, instead of the upcoming 2017-2018 school year. Phyliss Payne is the implementation director for Start School Later, an advocacy group. She agrees that school districts can, and should, plan for these logistical problems. Payne notes that Americans already expect change in school schedules when their children move from elementary to middle and high schools. American districts often have different start times for each of these types of schools. “The biggest challenge is that people do not like change... we like to protect ourselves from change. So, when we hear that something new is coming, our immediate gut reaction is to say ‘I don't want this, this is going to be bad’ and we speculate about what's going to be different and how it is going  to be hard for us.” Perspectives on school start times Payne adds that culture plays a role in how different people think about later start times. What might seem reasonable in one place might not seem reasonable in another place. “The definition of 'later' varies from culture to culture. When I talk to friends who have lived in England, for example, who then come back here after having the high school experience in England, they are very shocked at how early we [Americans] start, how short of a time we give the kids for lunch. There are interesting cultural differences.” Sleep experts – notably in the UK – have called for school start times as late as 10 or 11am, according to the Guardian. Josh Leong, the student at McLean High School, likes his school's new start time of 8:05 am.  “I think I appreciate the fact that I get to wake up a little bit more with the light. I get to wake up with the sunrise. I'm not trying to make my breakfast in the darkness.” He said, "If you get a good night's sleep, your next day at school is significantly better.” I'm Jill Robbins. And I'm John Russell.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   district  – n. US: an area or region containing the schools that a school board is in charge of disconnect – n. a separation of (something) from something else; breaking of a connection between two or more things benefit – n. a good or helpful result or effect rush – n. a situation in which someone is doing something very quickly or hurrying logistics – n. plural the things that must be done to plan and organize a complicated activity or event that involves many people (ie transporting many students to school) impactful – adj. having a major impact or effect.  

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The World's Highest Village is Running Out of Water

  The highest village in the world is running out of water. Komik sits at 4,587 meters high in the Spiti Valley of India. It can only be reached during the summer by small roads winding around the Himalaya mountains. During the winter, temperatures can drop to 30 degrees Celsius below zero. The village is also cut off from the rest of India for six months of the year when snowfall blocks mountain passes. There is almost no phone and internet connectivity. "We are used to being in a remote place. We have our traditional ways of living," said 32-year-old farmer Nawang Phunchok. "But these days the water is not coming like it used to. We see there is less water than before." Water shortage across India According to the World Resources Institute, India is facing a water crisis. More than half of the country's water wells have recorded a drop in water levels in the last 10 years. Up to 80 percent of rivers, lakes, ponds and streams are polluted with human waste and sewage. Climate change is only making the problems worse. Overall rainfall in the last century has not been stable, and the annual average temperature has risen by 0.5 degrees Celsius, says India's meteorological department. "There exists a huge knowledge gap regarding the connection between water scarcity and climate change. There is an immediate need to fill this gap and make people aware about the importance of water conservation," said WaterAid India's Puneet Srivastava. Srivastava also said the government needs better methods to regulate and monitor how groundwater resources are used. These issues create risks to food security, which affects around 200 million farm workers in the region. Thousands of farmers have committed suicide over the last 10 years, as drought combined with lower global food prices have hurt farm incomes. Recently, authorities have tried to better support farmers. Some measures include providing insurance for crop failures, providing farmers with drought-resistant seeds, and a $3 billion project to clean up the Ganges, India's largest and most sacred river. Environmental experts say, however, that more focus is put on supporting India's plains, which have higher concentration of farms and people, than on remote regions like the Himalayas. ​Less water from melting glaciers A 2014 study by Jawaharlal Nehru University said that annual temperatures in the Indian Himalayas rose by up to 2 degrees Celsius over 20 years. The study also said the glaciers have reduced by 13 percent over the past 50 years. Arun Sharma, a senior government official in Spiti, said, "There is no doubt there is a big water crisis here. We've put in place a lot of projects such as providing water tanks and constructing water catchment areas, but we are limited by the weather. For six months of the year, life stops as we are snowbound and we cannot do any major work." Experts say that changes in weather affect not only the food, water and energy security of the people living in Himalayan villages. It also affects over one billion other people living across Asia who depend on rivers such as the Yangtze, Ganges and Mekong. The melting snow and ice from the Himalayas feed these rivers and the streams and springs around Spiti Valley. Unlike other parts of India, where there are two farming seasons to plant and harvest crops, Spiti only has one farming season. This creates problems for farmers if their plants die during the one season. Ishita Khanna leads Ecosphere, an ecotourism company in Spiti Valley. She said there was not enough snowfall in the last two years and the springs all dried out in the valley. "With the climate changing, this could be disastrous for people living here if this keeps happening. There should be more support for people and a deeper understanding of their way of life here. It's a very hard life." I’m Phil Dierking.   Nita Bhalla reported this story for Reuters. Phil Dierking adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Hai Do 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 winding - adj. curving challenge - n.  to test the ability, skill, or strength of (someone or something) drought - n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain glacier - n.  a very large area of ice that moves slowly down a slope or valley or over a wide area of land irrigation - n.  to supply (something, such as land) with water by using artificial means (such as pipes) remote - n.  far away from other people, houses, cities, etc. scarcity - n. a very small supply

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Google Fires Engineer Who Wrote Anti-Diversity Memo

  Google has dismissed a male engineer who suggested that biological differences prevent women from progressing the same as men in the technology industry. The engineer, James Damore, wrote his opinion in a memo he sent last week. The document – which also criticized Google’s diversity efforts – was later published online. Damore confirmed his dismissal in an email to news organizations. He said the company acted against him because he was “perpetuating gender stereotypes.” Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai sent a note to all company employees about the memo. He said reaction within the company had resulted in “a very difficult time.” He said the company strongly supports the right of all employees to express their opinions. But he noted that parts of Damore’s memo had violated company policy by “advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace.” “To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK,” Pichai wrote in his message. He added that the memo had affected many Google employees, “some of whom are hurting and feel judged based on their gender.” Damore accused Google of having a bias on the political left. He said this had created “a politically correct” culture that prevented honest discussion of diversity. He also attacked the idea that gender diversity should be a company goal. "The distribution of preferences and abilities of men and women differ in part due to biological causes,” he wrote in the memo. “These differences may explain why we don't see equal representation of women in tech and leadership." Damore said he filed a case with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board accusing Google of trying to shame him into silence. He said he was also exploring possible legal action. On Tuesday, Damore received support and a job offer from Julian Assange of WikiLeaks. "Censorship is for losers," Assange wrote on Twitter. "Women & men deserve respect. That includes not firing them for politely expressing ideas but rather arguing back."   Publicity over the memo comes as the American technology industry has battled accusations of sexism and discrimination. The U.S. Department of Labor is currently investigating whether Google pays women less than men. The head of Uber recently lost his job after the ride-sharing company was accused of widespread sexual harassment and discrimination. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for Learning English, based on reports from VOA News, Reuters and the Associated Press. 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   memo – n. brief message written within a company diversity – n. having people who are different sexes or races in a group or organization perpetuate – v. cause something to be continued stereotype – n. fixed idea people have about a particular type of person or group trait – n. quality making one person or thing different from others distribution – n. way something is divided up preference – n. liking of one thing over another shame – v. cause someone to feel ashamed harassment – n. the act of annoying, bothering or attacking someone  

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US Can Destroy Drones Flying Near Military Bases

  This is What’s Trending Today. People who live near American military bases and like to use drones, should be careful. Their flying toy might become a target. A drone is a flying machine operated by a device on the ground. On Monday, the U.S. military announced new guidelines about how it may deal with private drones. Navy officer Jeff Davis is a spokesman for the United States Defense Department. He said that civilian drones in the sky could be at risk of capture or destruction. Captain Davis said the U.S. government is concerned about the safety of military sites, airplanes and people. So, he said, it is closely watching drones. The Federal Aviation Administration estimated the number of private business drones alone could increase 10 times by 2021. In late 2016, the agency estimated there were 42,000 drones being used by businesses. Google, Amazon and pizza delivery services have proposed using drones to reach customers.   The government has announced a plan to deal with drones. It took months to negotiate. Many details are still secret about terms for capturing or destroying private drones. It is not even clear how far drones must stay from military sites to avoid being targeted. Action against drones does not have to involve firepower. The news website CNN said the U.S. Department of Defense has developed systems for bringing down drones using radio waves. The report said such systems are already in use in Syria, Iraq and other places. The drone story led to a mixed reaction on Twitter. Several tweets suggested the military’s announcement about possible downings of drones was not news. Seany Hide tweeted, “Of course they can.”   Keith Wheeler agreed. “Sounds reasonable,” he tweeted.   Others wondered why homeowners cannot take similar action. Twitter user Mark Bradford said people should be able to shoot down drones flying over their property. On Tuesday, U.S. defense officials said an Iranian drone interfered with an American fighter jet in the Persian Gulf. The drone was being controlled by people on an Iranian boat. The officials said airplanes have avoided hitting drones 12 other times this year. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for VOA Learning English based on reports by Reuters and CNN.com. Caty Weaver was the editor. What do you think of the drone rules? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   drone – n. a type of small aircraft that flies without a pilot toy – n. something a child plays with site – n. the place where something (such as a building) is, was, or will be located delivery – n. the act of taking something to a person or place  

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Reports Say N. Korea Can Put Nuclear Weapon inside a Missile

  North Korea may have successfully produced a nuclear weapon small enough to fit inside its missiles. That information comes from a Japanese defense paper and an American newspaper. Japan’s Defense Ministry released its yearly report on Tuesday. The report said “it is possible that North Korea has achieved the miniaturization of nuclear weapons and has developed nuclear warheads.” In a separate story, The Washington Post reported that North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead for use in ballistic missiles. The newspaper said its information came from unnamed United States intelligence officials. It said their investigation was completed last month for the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency. The paper also reported that North Korea has up to 60 nuclear weapons, more than two times greater than earlier estimates. Officials at the agency would not comment Tuesday on the Post report. Over the weekend, the United Nations Security Council approved new sanctions designed to punish North Korea for its latest missile test. Those measures aim to cut about $1 billion from North Korea’s $3 billion in yearly earnings from exports. The North Korean government reacted to the Council’s vote with threats to take action against the U.S. government. North Korea also said through its state-operated media that sanctions will not force it to negotiate over its nuclear program. The United States, Japan and South Korea are considered possible targets for a nuclear-armed North Korea.   Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on The Washington Post and Associated Press news reports. Gerge Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   fit - v. to be the right size achieve - v. to reach a goal miniaturization - n. making something in a very small size  

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Ancient Fish Returns to Illinois Waters

  The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is returning a fish called the alligator gar to the state’s rivers. Some people call the fish a “living fossil.”  Experts believe the fish first appeared during the Early Cretaceous period more than 100 million years ago. Randy Sauer is an Illinois state fisheries biologist. He says the fish disappeared from the state’s rivers in the 1990s, although they have continued to do well in southern states. Sauer says biologists want to bring the fish back to northern rivers “because it is important to have top predators to balance the species below them,” he said. Sport fishermen like to try to catch the alligator gar. Alligator gar are the second-largest freshwater fish in North America. They can grow as large as 2.7 meters and weigh more than 136 kilograms. Sauer says their large size is one reason they disappeared in the 1990s. Experts say alligator gars are “opportunistic feeders.” This means they will eat almost anything -- including small turtles or ducks. They also eat invasive species such as Asian and silver carp. Sauer hopes the re-introduction of the alligator gar will help the state’s efforts to control the carp. Because gar can live up to 60 years, the program will continue to increase for many years. Sauer notes that female alligator gars do “not sexually mature until 11 years, and the male not till 6 or 7 years.” That means the biologists will try to raise and release a lot of fish early in the program to re-introduce them. “We’re probably going to stock more heavily than 10 or 20 years down the road when hopefully these fish will find each other and start doing the job on their own,” Sauer says. Small devices have been placed in 7,000 of the fish so they can be observed after they are released into the waterways of Illinois. As it rains and floods, biologists expect some of the fish will follow the rivers into the states of Louisiana and Texas. I’m Mario Ritter.   Correspondent Erika Celeste reported this story from the Kasaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area in Illinois.  Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   fossil – n. something (such as a leaf, skeleton, or footprint) that is from a plant or animal which lived in ancient times and that you can see in some rocks predator – n. an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals; an animal that preys on other animals 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 stock – v. to fill something with a supply of things down the road – expression in or into the future

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