US, South Korea Seem to Scale Back War Games

  The United States and South Korea have begun 10 days of joint military exercises on Monday. But the exercises will have fewer troops, vehicles and other equipment than last year. Military leaders say these exercises, also known as war games, are needed to maintain operational readiness. But there are concerns that a show of force could again increase tensions in the region. The yearly US-South Korea war games are large military planning and coordination exercises. They are designed to respond to computer-simulated North Korean attacks. About 17,500 American troops will participate in this year’s exercises, along with 50,000 South Koreans. That is down from 25,000 American troops in 2016. Military leaders say these annual war games are needed to train new soldiers in the region. Grant Newsham is with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in Tokyo. He said, “What we are talking about here is warfare. It’s not practicing for a parade, so you have to constantly be updated.” North Korean officials have long objected to the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises. They have called the exercises “rehearsals for invasion.” Last year’s war games included planning military strikes to kill the leadership in Pyongyang. Recently, the U.S. and North Korea have exchanged strong language over possible North Korean missile tests. But North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reduced tensions by suspending plans to fire missiles toward the U.S. territory of Guam. The move came after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the U.S. military was “locked and loaded” and would respond to any attack with “fire and fury.” Some political experts suggest the United States seems to have responded to North Korea’s restraint by reducing the size of this year’s exercises. On Sunday, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis denied that North Korea’s objections were the reason for the reduced number of troops in this year’s war games. "This is an exercise for the defense of Korea. It's a combined exercise and it's all worked out way in advance by the alliance.” On Monday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the joint exercises are defensive in nature. He added that they are not intended to increase tensions on the Korean peninsula. He warned North Korea to, in his words, “not exaggerate our efforts to keep peace.” China and Russia have also called for the suspension of the joint military exercises. The countries also want North Korea to suspend its missile and nuclear tests. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Brian Padden wrote this story for VOANews. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   exaggerate – v. to think of or describe something as larger or greater than it really is in advance – phrase - before a future event or time; before something happens war games – n. military training activities done to prepare for fighting in a war

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US War Ship Hits Tanker, 10 Sailors Missing

  For the second time in two months, a U.S. Navy war ship crashed into another large boat in Asia. This time, the U.S. ship ran into one carrying oil near Singapore. Ten U.S. sailors are missing. The U.S. Navy ship, named the John S. McCain, hit the other boat early Monday morning. The Navy says the U.S.S. McCain suffered “significant damage” on its left side. The hole caused water to enter the ship. The American ship was able to make its way to the Changi Naval Base in Singapore, but 10 sailors are missing and five were injured in the accident. Search-and-rescue boats are looking for the missing crew and the injured sailors are in the hospital. The ship is named for the father and grandfather of U.S. Senator John McCain. They were both U.S. Navy officers. Both McCain and U.S. President Donald Trump used Twitter to express their concern for the missing sailors. The U.S. ship is based in Japan and was on its way for a stop in Singapore. The oil tanker is registered in the African country of Liberia. In June, another U.S. ship, the Fitzgerald, ran into another ship near Japan. Seven men were killed when water flooded their sleeping area. The Navy recently announced punishment for the Fitzgerald’s captain and other officers. An investigation showed mistakes by the American officers contributed to the accident. On his way to Jordan, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said the Navy “has put together a broad inquiry to look into these incidents.” I’m Anne Ball.   Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by VOANews.com. Hai Do was the editor.  What do you think about the naval accident near Singapore? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   significant– adj. large enough to be noticed or have an effect

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People across America View Historic Total Eclipse of the Sun

People across America used telescopes, cameras and protective glasses to watch a historic total solar eclipse. A total solar eclipse happens when the sun, moon and Earth perfectly line up. The total solar eclipse was visible along a path about 110 kilometers wide across 14 states. This “path of totality” began in the western state of Oregon Monday morning. It ended in the afternoon in the southern state of South Carolina. More than 100,000 people gathered in Madras, Oregon - a town with a population of just 7,000 – to be among the first to watch the total solar eclipse.  People from across the U.S. and around the world came together in many other areas to view the eclipse. Skies turned dark for about two minutes as the moon completely blocked the sun. In addition, temperatures dropped slightly and crickets could be heard making the noises usually heard only at night.  Areas outside the total path only experienced a partial solar eclipse. This included the rest of North America, Central America and the top of South America. Weather officials reported about 70 percent of skies were clear for the eclipse. It was the first time in 99 years that a total solar eclipse passed over parts of the entire United States. It was expected to be the most watched and documented eclipse in history. Scientists warn against looking directly at the sun without eye protection. But many people used special solar eyeglasses or pinhole viewers that can show an image of the eclipse into a box. Mike O'Leary of San Diego, California – who has watched several eclipses in the past - traveled to Casper, Wyoming to view the total solar eclipse. “It's like nothing else you will ever see or do,” he told the Associated Press. “It can be religious. It makes you feel insignificant, like you're a speck in the whole scheme of things.” In Washington D.C., President Donald Trump, his wife Melania and their son Barron wore protective glasses as they watched the partial eclipse from a balcony of the White House. Many people posted photos or their feelings about watching the eclipse.   In Nashville, Tennessee, Twitter user Dave McGuire posted a picture of the sun disappearing. “The Nashville eclipse is over… interesting to hear the crickets start chirping when it became dark.” Well-known scientist and television presenter Bill Nye tweeted his hope that the eclipse might even have a uniting effect. “The #solareclipse is upon us. I hope this day reminds us that we share a common origin in the stars & that we're citizens of the same planet.” Baseball fans in some American cities headed to ballparks to watch the eclipse. Minor league teams from Oregon to South Carolina scheduled games Monday to be played as the total solar eclipse passed across the United States. People in some areas also went to local zoos, where animals are known to act differently during an eclipse. Officials at Nashville Zoo said people were already waiting in line to get inside the entrance at 6 a.m. Monday morning. With all the excitement across America, one company that studies worker productivity said Monday the total solar eclipse could cost U.S. companies nearly $700 million. A report by Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., estimated the losses due to a drop in worker productivity. The estimate was based on the possibility that many workers across America could take a break of up to 20 minutes from their normal workday to observe the total solar eclipse. For those who missed this total solar eclipse, the next one will be on July 2, 2019. But it can only be seen in the South Pacific Ocean and parts of Chile and Argentina. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn reported this story for VOA Learning English. His report was based on stories from 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 visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   visible – adj. able to be seen cricket – n. small insect that makes loud, high-pitched noises at night partial – adj. not complete or total pinhole – n. ​very small hole the size of a pin insignificant – adj. not important speck  – n. very small piece or spot balcony – n. platform attached to the outside of a building chirp – v. to make a short, high-pitched sound

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Americans Remember Comedians, Activists Lewis and Gregory

  This is What’s Trending Today… Jerry Lewis, one of the busiest comedians and actors the U.S. has ever seen, died Sunday at the age of 91. The day before, Dick Gregory, a comedian and political activist, died at 84. Gregory was one of the first African-American comedians to find success with white audiences in the 1960s. He was known for making jokes and commenting on the differences between black Americans and white Americans early in the civil rights movement. Lewis rose to fame in the 1940s and 1950s while working with comedy partner Dean Martin. He stayed busy working in movies, television and comedy for another 60 years. He was busy promoting a movie as recently as a year ago. Lewis is known for his movies, including “The Bellboy” and “The Nutty Professor.” He also performed on stage, including a role as the devil in “Damn Yankees.” While Lewis was known for his comedy in the United States, he was loved as an actor in France. The French government gave Lewis a pair of important awards in the 1980s. Gregory left his comedy career to fight for social causes, including Middle East peace, animal rights and equal rights for women. He also worked in the 1980s to promote a way of natural eating he called the “Slim-Safe Bahamian Diet.” Gregory even received over 200,000 votes for president in 1968 as the candidate for the Peace and Freedom Party. Off stage, Lewis worked to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic disease that causes people to lose their muscle mass. It can eventually cause death as it weakens muscles in the heart and those that are responsible for breathing. He raised $1.5 billion over about 50 years. The kind of comedy practiced by Lewis, relying on physical movement for humor, is called “slapstick.” Jim Carrey, a slapstick comedian like Lewis, expressed his appreciation over Twitter. “That fool was no dummy,” he wrote, calling Lewis an “undeniable genius.” Carrey said he could not have had his success without Lewis coming first. Comedian Lewis Black wrote about Gregory and Lewis dying on the same weekend. “I guess after this week,” he wrote on Twitter, “even God was desperate for a laugh.” And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Alice Bryant.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English based on reports from the Associated Press. Hai Do was the editor. What do you remember about comedians Jerry Lewis and Dick Gregory? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   comedian – n. a person who performs in front of an audience and makes people laugh by telling jokes or funny stories or by acting in a way that is funny : an actor who plays roles that make people laugh activist – n. a person who uses or supports strong actions (such as public protests) to help make changes in politics or society audience – n. a group of people who gather together to listen to something (such as a concert) or watch something (such as a movie or play): the people who attend a performance promote– v. to make people aware of (something, such as a new product) through advertising : to make (something) more popular, well-known, etc. cause– n. something (such as an organization, belief, idea, or goal) that a group or people support or fight for fool– n. a person who behaves in a silly way dummy– n. a stupid person; a fool genius– n. a very smart or talented person : a person who has a level of talent or intelligence that is very rare or remarkable desperate– adj. having a strong need or desire for something or to do something

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Total Solar Eclipse over the US

Total Solar Eclipse seen over the U.S. on August 21, 2017

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Lesson 48: Have You Ever ...?

Summary Anna helps a tourist find interesting museums in Washington, D.C. She gets some help herself, too. Speaking In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn about using the present perfect verb tense. Pronunciation Use this video to learn about how Americans pronounce "been," the present perfect form of BE. Conversation Anna: Hello! I have lived in Washington, D.C. for a long time now. And I have done a lot. I feel that I know this city pretty well. (walks off and comes back) That's the wrong way. Where is it again? Anna: (sees a tourist at a sign) Excuse me, can I help you? Have we met before? Jean: I don’t think so. I’ve just flown in from Boston. My name is Jean. Anna: Hi, Jean! I'm Anna. I really feel like we’ve met before. Anyway, how can I help? Jean: I want to see an interesting museum but I don’t know which one. Anna: I can help with that. I’ve lived in Washington, D.C. a long time. I think I’ve seen all the museums. Jean: Wow, thanks. So, tell me, which museums are good? Anna: Well, they are all good. But they’re all different. There are science museums and history museums and art and culture museums. Jean: I want to see an unusual museum. Anna: I like the Sculpture Garden. Have you ever seen sculptures in a garden? It is really artistic! Jean: I have never seen a garden of sculptures! I’ll write that on my list! Anna: Have you been to the Museum of the American Indian? I’ve visited that museum many times. It is very peaceful. Jean: I have always liked American Indian culture. Jean: I’ll put that on my list. (writes on list) Do you have any other suggestions? Anna: Well, if you like plants, you can visit the U.S. Botanic Gardens. It's very organic. Jean: I have always loved plants. I’ll write that on my list, too! Wow, you know so much about D.C.’s museums. Anna: Well, I have lived here for over a year. Jean: You’re so lucky to live in such a beautiful city filled with so many museums and a zoo! Anna: What? D.C. has a zoo? Jean: Yes, and it’s beautiful. You’ve lived here for so long and you haven’t been to the zoo? Anna: I've never been to D.C.’s zoo. I've never been to any zoos! Jean: You have never seen zoo animals? Anna: I grew up on a farm, Jean. I've known farm animals my whole life. Jean: But the zoo has lions (makes sound of lion roaring) and elephants (makes sound of elephant trumpeting) and zebras (makes no sound)! If you have never seen a real, live elephant, you must. They are so majestic. Anna: I will. I will! (writes list) There. I’ve written my own must-see zoo animal list! Jean: Have fun at the zoo and thanks, Anna! Anna: Have fun at the museums, Jean! And thank YOU! Anna: This has been awesome! And I have seen every animal on my list! Jean, the tourist, helped me see more of my city. But where have I seen her before? Oh well. Until next time …   Writing In this lesson, Anna helps Jean learn about places to see in Washington, D.C. Have you ever visited a museum, a zoo, or a public garden? Where was it? What did you see there? If you have not, what would you tell a tourist to see in your home town? Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about things you have seen or done. Please note, our activity sheets now can be completed on the computer. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Focus Attention. This strategy is what we use when we want to finish a job and make sure we do all of the things we want to do. In this lesson, Jean is a tourist in Washington, D.C. Anna tells Jean about the interesting museums in the city. Jean makes a list so she can remember to visit all of the interesting museums. When Jean makes at her list, then looks at it later, she is focusing attention on what she wants to do. As she sees each museum, she can check each museum off on the list. What do you do to focus your attention on the things you are learning 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 American Indian - n. a member of any of the first groups of people living in North America or South America. The members of these nations are also called Native Americans or by the name of their tribal nation, as in "a member of the Navajo tribe." animal - n. a living thing that is not a human being or plant U.S. Botanic Garden - n. a large public garden in Washington, D.C. where plants are grown in order to be studied elephant - n. a very large gray animal that has a long, flexible nose and two long tusks lion - n. a large wild cat that has golden brown fur and that lives mainly in Africa majestic - adj. large and impressively beautiful own - v. to have (something) as property or to legally possess (something) plant - n. a living thing that grows in the ground, usually has leaves or flowers, and needs sun and water to survive science - n. knowledge about or study of the natural world based on facts learned through experiments and observation sculpture - n. a piece of art that is made by carving or molding clay, stone, wood or metal suggestion - n. an idea about what someone should do or how someone should behave zebra - n. an African animal that looks like a horse and has black and white stripes covering its body zoo - n. a place where many kinds of animals are kept so that people can see them​ ​______________________________________________________________ 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 present perfect verb tense.   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: Present perfect verb tense​  Topics: Review of making recommendations; Talking about things to do and see  Learning Strategy: Focus Attention Speaking & Pronunciation: Past participle of BE​ ​_______________________________________________________________ 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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Theodore Roosevelt: Energetic

  VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. Today we are talking about Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States. Many Americans like to call him “Teddy” Roosevelt or even “T.R.” These nicknames for the president show that Roosevelt was, in general, popular with the public. He is one of the four presidents whose face can be seen on Mount Rushmore, a memorial to famous U.S. leaders. Historians note that Roosevelt’s term in office marks the beginning of the modern presidency. In other words, he expanded the position, and used the media to connect with the public. Among Americans, his public image is often linked to youth, energy, strength, courage, and playfulness. But his image has also been linked to a strong liking for military action – and for oneself. Early life Theodore Roosevelt is also often tied to the American West, but he was born and raised on the East Coast, in New York City. His father was a wealthy businessman. His mother was from a Southern planter family that owned slaves. Theodore Roosevelt had two sisters and a brother. His family called him by another nickname: Teedie. When he was a boy, young Theodore was often sick. He had asthma, a lung condition that could make physical activity difficult. So, as he got older, Roosevelt strengthened his body. For the rest of his life, he strongly believed in physical exercise and vigorous activity – what he called “the strenuous life.” Young Roosevelt also had hunger for learning. He studied with private tutors, traveled overseas, and studied many subjects while in college at Harvard. After his college years, he studied law briefly, and then began serving in public office in New York. But tragedy halted his early government service.   Roosevelt had married Alice Hathaway Lee, who soon became pregnant. But two days after the baby was born, Roosevelt’s wife died of kidney disease. And, as it happened, Roosevelt’s mother died on the same day, in the same house. She suffered from Bright’s Disease, another disorder affecting the kidneys. The future president was struck by grief. He left his baby daughter with his sister and went to the American West. There, Roosevelt lived as a cowboy – hunting, riding horses, taking part in cattle drives, and even chasing people who broke the law. The experience helped define Roosevelt’s life and beliefs. But after two years, he was ready to return to the East Coast. There, he married Edith Kermit Carow, a woman he had known since childhood. They settled in a house on Long Island, New York and raised Roosevelt’s daughter, Alice. He and Edith also had five other children. His family supported Roosevelt’s rise in Republican Party politics, including his campaign to become governor of New York. But some of the party officials were not happy with Roosevelt. They did not like his independence, and they did not want him to be re-elected as governor. So, they plotted to have him nominated as U.S. vice president in the election of 1900. They believed Roosevelt would not be able to give them much trouble in that position. As the Republican leaders hoped, Roosevelt and the sitting president, William McKinley, won both the popular and electoral vote in a landslide. But less than a year later, McKinley was dead. And with that, Republican leaders found that the man they wanted to get out of their way was now the country’s 26th president. Presidency When he became president, Roosevelt was only 42 years old. He is still the youngest person to hold that office. At first, Roosevelt promised to continue the policies of McKinley, who was, after all, the president voters had re-elected. But Roosevelt quickly put his own mark on the presidency. He is known for trying to balance the needs of many groups in society, including business owners, farmers and workers. Roosevelt called his program the “Square Deal.” In other words, he suggested that everyone was treated fairly. However, some Americans objected to Roosevelt reducing the power of big businesses. They said his use of government rules, in general, did not let market forces operate freely.     Roosevelt is also known for protecting the nation’s wilderness areas. He set aside more than 800,000 square kilometers of land to protect nature and wildlife. In his foreign policy, Roosevelt was energetic. He helped Panama win independence from Colombia in order to start building the Panama Canal. He also defended and even added to the Monroe Doctrine, an idea from the presidency of James Monroe. Roosevelt confirmed that the United States would bar European powers from intervening in South America. And, more than that, that the U.S. would “police” the Western Hemisphere and make sure that countries honored their international obligations. In other words, Roosevelt believed the United States had the right and responsibility to be a world power. If diplomatic negotiations did not work, he was not afraid to threaten the use of force. He famously said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.” Voters approved of Roosevelt’s actions. Or, at least they enjoyed his leadership, and his young family that played all over the White House.  In 1904, Roosevelt easily won the presidency in his own right. He is the first vice president who took power after the death of a sitting president to earn his own term. Legacy Although he was permitted to seek another term as president, Roosevelt promised not to. He left the White House in 1909, still a very young man. For a while, he traveled overseas. But when he returned home, he did not like the direction the new president and the Republican Party was going. So Roosevelt created a new political group, called the Progressive Party – or, as some called it, the Bull Moose Party. Not surprisingly, the term “bull moose” was meant to suggest Roosevelt and his animal-like strength. Although he earned many votes, Roosevelt did not win the 1912 election. Instead, he split the votes of the Republican Party, and permitted a Democrat to win the presidency. Roosevelt’s efforts were not entirely lost, however. Later presidents – including Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Kennedy, and Lyndon Johnson – used many of his ideas for reform. And, major U.S. political parties today often find lessons from Roosevelt’s presidency they admire or support. Both Democrat Bill Clinton and Republican George W. Bush said Theodore Roosevelt was one of their role models.  In the years after the 1912 election, Roosevelt remained active. He traveled, campaigned, and continued to try to influence politics from his home in New York, where he died unexpectedly in his sleep at age 60. One public official observed, “Death had to take Roosevelt sleeping, for if he had been awake, there would have been a fight.” I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.   Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Listening Quiz See how well you understand the story by taking a listening quiz. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   nickname - n. a name that is different from your real name but is what your family and friends call you when they are talking to you or about you vigorous - adj. done with great force and energy strenuous - adj. requiring or showing great energy and effort grief - n.  deep sadness caused especially by someone's death landslide - n. an election in which the winner gets a much greater number of votes than the loser obligation - n. something that you must do because of a law, rule, promise, etc. in his own right - n. because of his own efforts, talent, etc., and not because of his connection with someone else lesson - n. something learned through experience

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Study: 2016 Warmest Year on Record

  Last year, planet Earth was hotter than ever before. That is according to a report by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It says that 2016 marked the third year in a row of record warmth. NOAA scientists have kept records for the last 136 years. The report says long-term global warming and an unusually strong El Niño weather pattern combined to make it a record hot year. El Niños are weather patterns that warm the Pacific Ocean. That puts a lot of heat into the atmosphere and raises temperatures. They helped raise extreme temperatures, dry conditions and heavy rains. It also says high temperatures helped set fires in Alberta, Canada. Deadly heat and drought, or extremely dry conditions hit India, which resulted in a water crisis. More than 450 scientists from nearly 60 countries contributed to the report, released on August 10th. Deke Arndt is a co-author of the report. He spoke to VOA by Skype. "It confirms what we know. We know we live in a warming world, we know that that world is going to continue to warm. We know that this is going to cause issues around the world." Named the State of the Climate, NOAA says the report takes into account tens of thousands of measurements. They include global climate indicators, weather events, greenhouse gas emissions, sea levels, the saltiness of the oceans, snow cover and sea ice. Greenhouse gases were the highest on record.  Other climate numbers that were at their highest record include global surface temperatures, as well as sea surface temperatures. And, the global sea level average also rose to a new record high in 2016 - it was about 82 millimeters higher than observed in 1993. Tropical cyclones were also up. There were 93 named cyclones in 2016. One number went down—the amount of Arctic sea ice. It was not good news. The most Arctic sea ice coverage in March 2016 was the smallest in 37 years. NOAA's Arndt says there is little question about why the planet is warming. "We can always refine the numbers on exactly what percent is coming, but the vast majority is coming from human activity. And that's very abundantly clear." But this report is not in agreement with the Trump administration policy. Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt says it is still debatable whether humans are responsible for global warming. "I believe the ability to measure with precision the degree of human activity's effect on the climate is subject to more debate." Pruitt’s statements and the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement goes against what many climate scientists in the U.S. believe. The NOAA report came out days after The New York Times published a draft of a U.S. government report on climate. It said that the average temperature in the country has risen quickly and drastically since 1980. It also says that recent decades have been the warmest in the past 1,500 years. This report was written by scientists from 13 federal agencies. It says that Americans are already feeling the result of climate change. It also says human activities are mainly responsible for climate change, and that there are no other explanations. The report is part of the National Climate Assessment and is published every four years. The National Academy of Sciences has approved the study. The authors are waiting for the Trump administration to approve its release. I’m Anne Ball.  Anne Ball adapted this story for Learning English from several VOA News story. Hai Do was the editor. 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 greenhouse gas – n. carbon dioxide and other gases that scientists have linked to rising temperatures in Earth’s atmosphere emission – n. the act of producing or sending out something (such as energy or gas) from a source precision – n. the quality of being precise : exactness or accuracy draft – n. a version of something (such as a document) that you make before you make the final version drastic - adj. extreme in effect or action: severe or serious decade – n. ten years

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New Battery-Free Cellphone Is Powered by Radio Signals

  Researchers have built a cellphone that does not need batteries. They say the phone can send and receive calls using power from radio signals or light. A team from the University of Washington in Seattle is currently testing a prototype of the phone. The researchers were able to develop a device that uses much less power than any cellphones used today. This design allows the new phone to run on very small amounts of electricity. Team member Vamsi Talla says the phone picks up small electrical signals known as radio frequency, or RF waves.  “Ambient RF waves are all around us. So, as an example, your FM station broadcasts radio waves, your AM stations do that, your TV stations, your cellphone towers. They all are transmitting RF waves.” The phone can also convert ambient light into electrical current for power, according to the researchers. Shyam Gollakota is a professor in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering. He says the invention demonstrates great progress in new cellphone technology. “This battery-free phone is a major leap in terms of the capabilities of battery-free devices. Because now we have a streaming device that can continuously talk as well as receive data, which is basically a phone.” The phone identifies speech going into the microphone and coming out of the speaker. These speech vibrations are then converted into radio signals by a device called a base station.​ ​The prototype has been able to operate on power gathered from radio signals from a base station up to nine meters away, according to the researchers. Using power from ambient light, it has communicated with a base station up to 15 meters away.      The team says the base station operating model could eventually be widely used by putting the technology in existing cellphone towers and Wi-Fi systems.     The researchers demonstrated the phone in a test with the calling service Skype. During the test, the device received an incoming call, made an outgoing call and was able to put callers on hold. The prototype has limited capabilities because it is not a finished product. For example, users now have to use headphones to hear calls and must also press a button to change between talking and listening. And currently, it can only be used for making calls. ​However, the team plans to develop new prototypes that could handle texting, photos and internet use. They are also working on a version that could use a small solar cell to provide power.  Vamsi Talla says he thinks the technology might be able to greatly change the capabilities of all phones.This includes solving one of the biggest problems for all users - dead batteries. “In the future every smartphone will come with a battery-free mode where you can at least make a voice call when your battery's dead.”  The researchers are hoping to complete a finished product within about nine months. I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English based on reports from Reuters and the University of Washington. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Would you pay more for a phone that does not need a battery? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   prototype – n. original or first model of something from which others are developed or made ambient – adj. existing in the surrounding area convert – v. change from one thing into another leap – n. sudden change or improvement in something microphone – n. device people speak into that records sounds vibration – n. continuous shaking movement button – n. small part of a machine or device that is pushed to make it work solar – adj. of or related to the sun  

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US Wants to Make it Easier for Americans to Stop Smoking

  The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants to make it easier for people to stop smoking. It proposes to do this by lowering nicotine levels in cigarettes. The FDA said lower nicotine levels will make it easier for people to smoke less, and to move toward stopping smoking all together. Scott Gottlieb, the head of the FDA, is a doctor and cancer survivor. Gottlieb said that most deaths and diseases from smoking are a result of an addiction to nicotine, a chemical found in tobacco plants. A smoking addiction means that people feel such a physical need to smoke that they have a very difficult time stopping. He said that nicotine is to blame for this dependency.  Gottlieb also called cigarettes the only legal product that “when used as intended will kill half of all long-term users.” The FDA is taking public comments before deciding whether to put the proposed policy into effect. The Altria Group sells Marlboro and other brands of cigarettes in the United States. It said any change in nicotine levels must be done “based on science.” The company also said the FDA should watch out for “unintended consequences” – in other words, a result that was not thought of at the time an action was first proposed. Jennifer Tidey is a professor of psychiatry at Brown University in Rhode Island. She and others did research on lowering nicotine levels. Their findings were published two years ago in The New England Journal of Medicine. In their study, over 800 smokers were given cigarettes with different levels of nicotine over a six-week period. Tidey said the results showed that lower-nicotine cigarettes helped people smoke less and even stop smoking. The World Health Organization (WHO) says cigarette smoking is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced. WHO said more than seven million people are killed from smoking each year worldwide. Yet it said many people do not know about the dangers of smoking. “More than 6 million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use while around 890,000 are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke,” WHO said. Thirteen members of the U.S. Senate wrote a letter to the FDA. The Senators, all members of the Democratic Party, expressed support for the proposed nicotine regulation. They asked that the rule be put into effect quickly. The letter was put together by Senator Patty Murray from the western state of Washington. The Reuters news agency reported that officials expect regulators in Europe to study similar calls to reduce nicotine levels.  I’m Jonathan Evans.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. His report was based on information from Reuters, the Associated Press and other sources. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. Have you ever smoked? If so, how hard is it or has it been for you to stop smoking? __________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   nicotine - n. a poisonous substance in tobacco that makes it difficult for people to stop smoking cigarettes cigarettes - n. a small roll of paper that is filled with cut tobacco and smoked intend - v. the say something is supposed to be done psychiatry - n. a branch of medicine that deals with mental or emotional disorders expose - v. to cause someone to be affected by something    

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Detroit Turning to Immigrants to Energize Local Economy

  Detroit, Michigan has earned the name “America’s Comeback City” for a reason. Detroit knows both economic hardship and recovery. The city was especially hard hit during the Great Recession, which started in 2007 and continued to 2009. At one point, Detroit had an unemployment rate of 28.4 percent. Many businesses closed and some Detroit natives left the city. But by June 2017, the jobless rate was 7.8 percent. Detroit’s economy is improving, in part, because it has welcomed so many immigrants. They are opening new businesses, which have created jobs and made their neighborhoods safer. Yet some observers believe that, while the lives of immigrants are improving, the city is not. Ehsan Taqbeem founded the Bangladeshi-American Public Affairs Committee. He is one of many immigrants who are trying to strengthen Detroit’s economy. Taqbeem talked to a VOA reporter about his neighborhood. “This is the main street of Banglatown. All the commercial districts are right here. This is where the revitalization is taking place...” Banglatown was once a very poor neighborhood in Detroit. But Taqbeem and others are working to make the area a place that people want to visit. “You will hardly find any vacant spot right now. The value of the homes have gone up since then, businesses have been thriving, and traffic has gone up tremendously.” Groups like Global Detroit and the New American Economy have found that the arrival of immigrants has slowed the drop in the city’s population. They say immigrants are also responsible for rising housing prices. And they have created, or have helped keep in place, more than 1,700 local manufacturing jobs. A study by the two groups found that the number of immigrants in Detroit grew by 12.1 percent between 2010 and 2014 -- or 4,137 individuals. At the same time, the city’s population dropped about 4.2 percent. But some observers do not believe that immigrants are the reason the city is recovering. And they say Detroit still faces many tests. Stanley Renshon teaches political science at the City University of New York. He told VOA that immigrants alone will not save Detroit. He says “any economic activity is grabbed by economists as positive.” “You increase the overall financial numbers of the country, but the people who benefit most from that are the immigrants themselves. And that’s fine, you know. We want them to prosper, but please don’t tell me that what you’re doing is saving the country or the city or the town.” Renshon says Detroit has a long history of political corruption and one of the highest murder rates in the country. He says those problems cannot be solved by new immigrants. The administration of President Donald Trump says immigrants with few skills take away economic opportunities for native-born Americans. Yet, Global Detroit director Steve Tobocman disagrees. “Immigrants are leading in the city’s recovery,” he says. Tobocman adds that “new residents are moving in and helping to stabilize working-class communities by fixing up homes, opening up businesses and creating more consumers.” “We see a hard-working yet very low-income community, and what I expect to see is through people moving into the city -- particularly because immigrants are driving that -- neighborhoods stabilizing, and those communities that stabilize will begin to retain and attract new businesses, create more jobs, and that is the pathway forward.” Tobocman says depopulation remains the biggest problem facing Detroit. He says immigrants are “our best hope to rebuilding, especially on the neighborhood level.” I’m Dorothy Gundy. VOA’s Ramon Taylor reported this story from Detroit, Michigan. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   commercial district – n. places where stores and businesses are located revitalize – v. to make (someone or something) active, healthy or energetic again vacant – adj. not filled, used or lived in thrive – v. to grow or develop successfully; to flourish or succeed grab – v. used as an example prosper – v. to become very successful usually by making a lot of money stabilize – v. to stop quickly changing, increasing, getting worse, etc.

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