Will China Bring Back ‘Chairman’ Title?

China has only one chairman, and that is Chairman Mao Zedong. Mao served as chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. The position was so powerful that party leaders did away with the title within years of Mao’s death in 1976. But is the title truly gone forever? Maybe not. On June 30, at a military parade in Hong Kong, President Xi Jinping met troops from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The troops responded to greetings from Xi by shouting, “Greetings, Chairman.” The title was heard again on July 30, during a military parade to mark the 90th anniversary of the PLA in Inner Mongolia. At that event, troops also responded to Xi’s greetings by saying, “Greetings, Chairman.” ​ A new position for Xi? Currently, Xi is both general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China as well as chairman of the Central Military Commission. But some wonder if Xi might use the National Congress meeting this autumn to claim the position of party chairman. The move is important because it would permit Xi to have veto power over all the other members of the committee. It could also permit him to hold on to power longer. Xi’s current position as general secretary is limited to two terms. Tai Ming Cheung is an analyst of Chinese and East Asian defense and national security affairs with the Institute of Global Conflict and Cooperation at the University of California, San Diego. He said that Xi’s two recent meetings with troops showed that “if the PLA and the country go to war, he is in charge.” With the National Party Congress set to meet, one might expect a few candidates to be working to follow Xi as party leader. “But there were no other political leaders at any of these parades, so it looks as if he’s not grooming a successor, and it looks as if he controls the military,” Cheung told VOA Chinese. Tom Fingar is a Shorenstein Asia-Pacific research fellow at Stanford University in California. He said the PLA’s response to Xi as party leader shows the army takes orders from the party, not the people. “I do not see this as elevating Xi to the stature of Mao,” Fingar said. Why is the title important? History may explain why some Chinese worry about bringing back Mao’s title of chairman. Wenqian Gao is a senior policy adviser at Human Rights in China. He said, “All the biggest disasters that occurred during the Communist rule were due to Chairman Mao’s unchecked power.” In May 1966, Mao started the Cultural Revolution to take full control over the Communist Party. The New York Times said the exact number of dead during the Cultural Revolution is not known. But a number of one million or more is most commonly reported. Many died from food shortages, and others were killed by the government or died in prison because they were not seen as loyal enough to the Communist Party. I’m John Russell.   Ning Xin reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted this story for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   title - n. a word or name that describes a person's job in a company, government or organization respond - v. to say or write something as an answer to a question or request groom - v. to prepare someone for a particular job or position successor - n. a person who succeeds another person elevate - v. to make someone more important stature - n. the level of respect that people have for a successful person, organization

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Everyday Grammar: Anyway

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You Won’t Get Grades at These Colleges

At most American colleges, teachers give students grades that evaluate their performance in class. The grades range from A to F – with A the highest and F signaling failure. But some colleges do not use grades. Instead, teachers write reports on what the students did well and what they did not do well. The reports also include suggestions on how students can do better. Students and teachers say the written reports provide much more information than letter grades on how students are doing. But some students admit that their parents complain they cannot brag to family and friends that their child is an “A student.” Students praise feedback Jessica Wewers, 21, is an early education major at Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Alverno is a small Catholic college serving female students. Wewers said when she returns to her home in Illinois, some friends tell her they think it is strange she does not receive letter grades. But Wewers likes the detailed information her teachers provide. It has already helped her prepare teaching plans simple enough for young children to understand. “I was asking a little too much of younger children,” Wewers said. Her classmate, Angelina Nuno, transferred from a large state college, where she struggled with her writing. Detailed suggestions from her Alverno teachers helped her write clearly. Soon, Nuno expects to begin tutoring fellow students to help with their writing problems. Student willing to take difficult classes Ben Stumps is a senior at Hampshire College in Massachusetts. He said that he received traditional A through F grades at high school. But in many cases, he could not explain why he received the grades he did. Stumps said students at Hampshire and other colleges without letter grades are more willing to take difficult classes. For example, Stumps said he struggled in high school with science. But he was willing to take a science class in college because he did not risk getting a bad grade that could hurt his grade point average. And, he found that he not only enjoyed the science class, but had the skills to successfully complete scientific research. Other schools that provide written reports instead of letter grades include Antioch University with campuses in Los Angles, California and four other locations; New College of Florida; Prescott College in Arizona; Goddard College in Vermont and Washington; and Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies and Evergreen State College, both in Washington State. Indiana University did a report on the history of grading in America. It said Yale University in Connecticut was the first college to give out grades to “differentiate” student performance. In other words, it wanted to show how students compared to each other. Yale started in the late 1700s with a top grade of “optimi” and a grade of "inferiores" for students not doing very well. International students Mark Hower is interim provost at Antioch University in Los Angeles. He said international students often must adjust to college life in America. Written evaluations can help them understand what is expected of them better than a letter grade that “tells them very little,” Hower said. Nevertheless, some people worry what will happen to Antioch students when they apply for graduate school and jobs. Will they be able to compete with students who have traditional grades? Hower says yes. Most admissions officers and employers welcome the more detailed information Antioch provides, he added. Rachel Rubinstein is dean of academic support at Hampshire College. She said people running companies do not use letter grades to evaluate their workers. They value employees based on whether they can do their jobs well. Rubinstein said colleges should do the same. “Letter grades do not tell you nearly enough about how students are doing."  Do students need the reward of good grades to work hard? William Coplin is director of the Public Affairs Program of the Maxwell School at Syracuse University in New York. He said most colleges do not give students enough information about how grades are determined. But he questions if students will work hard if they are not worrying about getting good grades. “Kids are motivated by grades,” Coplin said. “There are very few kids who are self-motivated.” Vanessa Rios, 32, earned an undergraduate degree from Antioch University in Los Angeles. She is now working toward her master’s degree at Antioch. Rios said just because students are not getting letter grades does not mean students can get away without working hard. The detailed reviews by teachers mean they need to understand what is being taught, she said. “What it (not having grades) does do is reduce the anxiety level,” Rios said. Students expecting less work will be disappointed Kathy Lake is vice president for academic affairs at Alverno. She said students will be disappointed if they think “no grades” means less work. At many colleges, students stay up all night before big exams to try to learn information they were supposed to learn over months in the classroom. “That just doesn’t work at Alverno,” Lake said. At Alverno, teachers evaluate students at each class -- meaning one night of studying will not be nearly enough, she said. I'm Bruce Alpert. And I'm Jill Robbins.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. Would you like to attend school that does not provide letter grades? Do you think you’d learn more about your performance from written reports? _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   brag - v. to talk about yourself, your achievements, your family and other things in a way that shows too much pride tutor - v. to work with a student to help him/her learn campus - n. the area and buildings around a university, college, school adjust - v. to make necessary changes evaluation - n. to judge the value or condition of someone in a careful and thoughtful way academic - adj. relating to schools and education anxiety - n. fear or nervousness about what might happen  

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A New Use for Old Books

  Some people are using old books to create works of art, including sculptures. They can change the shape of a hardcover book so it becomes three-dimensional, for example. The resulting sculpture has not only a length and width, but depth. The process can be very simple, and the result is often beautiful. There are many kinds of book folding. Artists fold, bend, and sometimes cut, a book’s pages while keeping them together. The art work can be hung on a wall or placed on a table. “They look impressive on the wall,” says writer Candice Caldwell. “A group of six of these on the wall together can look really beautiful, and they’re just really simple folds.” Caldwell operates a blog called the "ReFab Diaries.” She writes about re-purposing everyday objects like books for uses other than what they were designed for.  In 2003, Caldwell was making clocks from old books when she saw plans for a simple book-folding project in a do-it-yourself magazine. She tried it. She has since taught several friends and her mother how to create wall art from books. Clare Youngs has written a book called “Folded Book Art.” She says book folding is easy. From her home in England, she told the Associated Press by email that “it looks as if it is complicated and unachievable, but it is really easy to do. You just don’t tell anyone how easy it is and they will be amazed at your creations.”  (http://ift.tt/2w7DE6R) Youngs began making art from book pages several years ago when she saw pictures of folded books at the website Pinterest.com. She also watched some videos on YouTube that tell how to create art from books. “It is quite a therapeutic activity,” says Youngs. “…it’s very satisfying to see the shape develop.” An American book folder defends the activity against those who say it is an act of destruction. Ann Martin of Delaware has written a book called “All Things Paper.” She says “sometimes old books are better-suited for a new purpose. I feel it’s OK to go ahead and take that old, unused book  that’s going to be tossed anyway and turn it into a work of art.” Caldwell suggests folding cooking recipe and photography books. She says that “if it’s really visual and really colorful when you start to fold it, you get a whole new look on the wall.”   I’m Anne Ball.   The Associated Press news agency reported this story. 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 sculpture – n. the action or art of shaping plastic or hard materials into works of art; a piece of art folding – n. the act of bending an object into a smaller shape clock – n. a device or instrument for keeping time complicated – adj. complex unachievable – adj. resulting in failure; of or related to something you are unable to complete therapeutic – adj. of or related to the treatment of a disorder suited – v. to meet the needs or desires of something or someone tossed – v. to throw    

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Japan Not Worried About Robots Taking Their Jobs

  In a factory near Tokyo, thousands of cans are filled with beer, capped, washed, and put into boxes at speeds of 1,500 cans a minute. However, there are hardly any people in sight as the cans speed through processing. Japan’s Asahi Breweries operates the factory. The machines do almost all of the physical work.  Humans make sure that the machines do the work right, and the automated sensing devices are working correctly. “Basically, nothing goes wrong.  The lines are up and running 96 percent,” said Shinichi Uno, a manager at the factory.  “Although machines make things, human beings oversee the machines.” Leading the field While some countries, like the U.S., are debating the issue of robots taking jobs from humans, in Japan, the discussion is much different. Birth rates in Japan have been decreasing for many years.  This has caused many in the country to fear the possibility of a labor shortage. The introduction of robots has filled this need for labor. The robots appear to be a welcomed addition to the workforce in Japan. Starting in the 1990’s, Japan began a big push to develop robots for the workforce. It currently leads the world in the use of robots.  There are 1,562 robots for every 10,000 human workers.  This is higher than Germany, with 1,133 robots, or the U.S., with 1,091 for every worker. The numbers come from a White House report submitted to Congress last year. The report says Japan also was ahead in robots used outside of the automobile industry, with 219 robots per 10,000 workers, compared to 76 for the U.S. and 147 for Germany. A different work culture There are some differences with Japan’s work culture that might influence Japanese opinions about giving jobs to robots.  One important difference is their “lifetime employment” system. In Japan, many major companies often keep their workers, even if their skills become outdated.  They will use them instead for other tasks, said Koichi Iwamoto, a senior fellow at the Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD, gathers information about the use of robots in its member countries. The information shows that increasing the use of robots or computer programs at work decreases the demand for mid-level or repetitive work tasks, such as operating assembly lines.  But it increases the demand for low-and high-skilled jobs.  However, the OECD data showed employment conditions remained almost unchanged for Japan for the period from 2002 to 2014. That means companies in Japan were not trying as hard as those in the U.S. to replace humans with robots. Clerical workers, for example, were keeping their jobs although computers might do their jobs better. Another example is how Japanese society has so far preferred to keep taxis instead of shifting to online ride services. A “reflective stage” But, machines have increasingly replaced people in Japan. Iwamoto says the country now has entered a “reflective stage.” He says people are actually interested in having “human harmony with machines.” “Some tasks may be better performed by people, after all,” said Iwamoto. Kiyoshi Sakai also is an Asahi employee. He has worked at the company for 29 years.  He said that in the past can caps were put into machines by hand.  This was a repetitive task that was hard on the body and the mind. Now, machines have replaced many of those jobs, and he is grateful for the changes to his work life.  Machines at the plant have become more than 50 percent smaller over the years. They are faster and more precise than 30 years ago. He said in the past, things used to go wrong all the time and people had to check the machines every 10 to 15 minutes.  Now, problems with machines are so rare that people do not need to worry. Like many workers in Japan, Sakai is not worried about his job disappearing. After people no longer needed to work on assembly lines, his position was upgraded to the general affairs section, a common administrative department in Japanese companies. “I remember the work being so hard. But when I think back, and it was all about delivering great beer to everyone, it makes me so proud,” said Sakai, who drinks beer every day. “I have no regrets. This is a stable job.” I’m Phil Dierking. And I'm Alice Bryant.   This story was originally written by Yuri Kageyama for the Associated Press.  Phil Dierking adapted the story for VOA Learning English from an Associated Press report. Mario Ritter was the editor. Do you think more jobs should be replaced by machines, if the machines can do them better? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story manager  -n.  someone who is in charge of a business, department, etc. assembly lines –n. a series of workers and machines in a factory by which a succession of identical items is progressively assembled. automate –v.  to run or operate (something, such as a factory or system) by using machines, computers, etc., instead of people to do the work can –n. a closed metal container that is usually shaped like a cylinder and that holds food or drink cap –v. to cover the top or end of  clerical –adj. of or relating to a clerk or office worker precise –adj. very accurate and exact stable –adj. in a good state or condition that is not easily changed or likely to change  

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English in a Minute: Come Full Circle

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August 25, 2017

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

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Blue Crabs: A Messy Meal from the Chesapeake Bay

  What have ten legs, two of them large claws, a hard shell cover, and live in oceans, fresh water, and on land? Crabs, of course! There are thousands of different kinds of crabs all over the world. They can be as small as a few millimeters across or grow as big as 4 meters. And all play an important part in the environments in which they live. Crabs may look strange. But many people also find them delicious. The blue crab is an especially popular crab for eating in the United States. These crabs can grow up to about 23 centimeters and they get their name from the blue coloring on the legs and claws. Blue crabs live in the waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, and in the Gulf of Mexico. However, one place in America is especially famous for its blue crabs: the Chesapeake Bay. This largest U.S. estuary borders Maryland and Virginia. Both states have long made use of the Chesapeake for food, transportation, and fun. All around the area you can see images of the blue crab on clothing, advertisements, cars, and in restaurant windows. Scientists in Maryland and Virginia say the bay holds hundreds of millions of blue crabs. From early spring through much of fall thousands of people hit the water to capture some of these creatures. Pete White works with Captain White’s Seafood City in Washington, D.C. The family-owned business gathers crabs and other seafood from the bay and sells it at its store right along the Potomac River. White told VOA that his family has been in the business for about 100 years. He is a big fan of Chesapeake blue crabs. “[These] are the best crabs, in my opinion, out of all the country,” White said. “I get a lot of people coming from Pennsylvania … a lot of people out of Jersey, New York, North Carolina. … They come from Georgia and they take them home on their car ride.” White said blue crabs are special because of their sweet meat. There are many ways to cook blue crabs. Some people like to grill them, while others make crab soup. But the cooking style most traditional to the area is steaming. The first step, White explained, is to combine water or beer with vinegar in a large, metal container. Then, White adds “Old Bay.” Old Bay is a seasoning product of hot and salty spices. It was created in Baltimore, Maryland in 1939. Then you turn on the heat and wait for the liquid to boil. The crabs are always cooked alive. But, White suggested, they should not touch the water directly. They normally are placed flat on a rack just above the water. Old Bay can be added to each layer of crabs. It takes 20 to 30 minutes for the steam from the boiling liquid to cook the crabs. Then, they are removed from the container. And White said, they can be mixed with more Old Bay. Cooking crabs is fairly easy. But eating them can be a challenge. The shells are still very hard. Some people use special tools called crackers and mallets to crack the shells and reach the meat. Other use their hands, breaking at weak points of the shell. Either way, it is a messy meal that usually leaves the eaters covered in shell, bits of meat and lots of red seasoning. Each blue crab only has between about 60 and 100 grams of meat in them. So sellers most often sell them by the bushel, meaning in groups of about 60 to 100. People usually buy them when they are feeding a lot of people. The so-called crab feast has become a summer tradition in the Chesapeake region. Kate Livie knows a lot about crab feasts. She is the director of education at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland. Livie says that close access to the Bay and its resources have always been important to people. Native Americans such as the Powhatan, the Piscataway and the Nanticoke lived in the area long before Europeans arrived in the 1500s. Scientists have found evidence that these Native Americans enjoyed crabs as well as other seafood, such as oysters. In fact, oysters were the main seafood of choice from the Chesapeake for many early years, Livie says. But improvements in food preservation, especially in keeping it cold, changed everything for the crab market in the warm summer months. “Although [blue crabs] were [eaten] through the 17th and 18th century, you couldn’t sell more than you could eat in a day,” she told VOA via Skype. “So food preservation [technology] and transportation turned crabs from, kind of, free but priceless, into an incredibly successful and economically [important] harvest.” There was also improvement in the crabbing industry. A local fisherman invented a trap for crabs in the 1920s. The trap, called a crab pot, made it easier to catch the animals. Plus, Livie says, Old Bay and some advertising campaigns helped grow the crab market. And she she says the blue crab became a major part of the Maryland identity. However, the blue crab has weathered some stormy seas. Bruce Vogt is a manager of the Chesapeake Bay office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA. He says that pollution and other problems have had a serious effect on the health of the bay and its crabs. In fact, in 2008 scientists reported that the blue crab came very close to disappearing from the Chesapeake completely. But efforts that began in the 1970s to improve the Chesapeake’s conditions continue, Vogt says. And this year, researchers estimated there were 254 million female blue crabs in the bay, the largest population since 1990. Vogt argues that people who love crabs cannot simply hope they will always be there. He says people must work to guarantee their survival. That is why experts push for conservation action, including limiting the harvest of females to about 25 percent. “There’s obviously a lot of work to do,” Vogt told VOA via Skype. “We can’t just sit back and expect that everything is going well now and we’ll have crabs in the future.” I’m Pete Musto. And I’m Lucija Millonig.   Pete Musto reported this story for VOA Learning English and produced the video. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. What kinds of seafood do people eat in your country? How do they prepare that seafood? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   claw(s) – n. a sharp curved body part of an animal, such as a lobster or crab, that is used for gripping and holding things delicious – adj. very pleasant to eat grill – v. to cook food on a metal frame over fire soup – n. a food made by cooking vegetables, meat, or fish in a large amount of liquid steam(ing) – v. cook, heat, or treat (something) with the hot gas that is created when water is boiled beer – n. an alcoholic drink made from malt and flavored with hops vinegar – n. a liquid with an acid taste that is used to flavor or preserve foods or to clean things spice(s) – n. a substance, such as pepper or nutmeg, that is used in cooking to add flavor to food and that comes from a dried plant and is usually a powder or seed rack – n. a frame or stand on which you place things challenge – n. a difficult task or problem mallet(s) – n. a tool with a large usually wooden head that is connected to a part that is easy for a hand to hold messy – adj. not clean or tidy oyster(s) – n. a type of shellfish that has a rough shell with two parts and that is eaten both cooked and raw

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'After Twenty Years,' by O.Henry

  We present the short story "After Twenty Years," by O. Henry. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State.   The cop moved along the street, looking strong and important. This was the way he always moved. He was not thinking of how he looked. There were few people on the street to see him. It was only about ten at night, but it was cold. And there was a wind with a little rain in it. He stopped at doors as he walked along, trying each door to be sure that it was closed for the night. Now and then he turned and looked up and down the street. He was a fine-looking cop, watchful, guarding the peace. People in this part of the city went home early. Now and then you might see the lights of a shop or of a small restaurant. But most of the doors belonged to business places that had been closed hours ago. Then the cop suddenly slowed his walk. Near the door of a darkened shop a man was standing. As the cop walked toward him, the man spoke quickly. “It’s all right, officer,” he said. “I’m waiting for a friend. Twenty years ago we agreed to meet here tonight. It sounds strange to you, doesn’t it? I’ll explain if you want to be sure that everything’s all right. About twenty years ago there was a restaurant where this shop stands. ‘Big Joe’ Brady’s restaurant.” “It was here until five years ago,” said the cop. The man near the door had a colorless square face with bright eyes, and a little white mark near his right eye. He had a large jewel in his necktie. “Twenty years ago tonight,” said the man, “I had dinner here with Jimmy Wells. He was my best friend and the best fellow in the world. He and I grew up together here in New York, like two brothers. I was eighteen and Jimmy was twenty. The next morning I was to start for the West. I was going to find a job and make a great success. You couldn’t have pulled Jimmy out of New York. He thought it was the only place on earth. “We agreed that night that we would meet here again in twenty years. We thought that in twenty years we would know what kind of men we were, and what future waited for us.” “It sounds interesting,” said the cop. “A long time between meetings, it seems to me. Have you heard from your friend since you went West?” “Yes, for a time we did write to each other,” said the man. “But after a year or two, we stopped. The West is big. I moved around everywhere, and I moved quickly. But I know that Jimmy will meet me here if he can. He was as true as any man in the world. He’ll never forget. I came a thousand miles to stand here tonight. But I’ll be glad about that, if my old friend comes too.” The man waiting took out a fine watch, covered with small jewels. “Three minutes before ten,” he said. “It was ten that night when we said goodbye here at the restaurant door.” “You were successful in the West, weren’t you?” asked the cop. “I surely was! I hope Jimmy has done half as well. He was a slow mover. I’ve had to fight for my success. In New York a man doesn’t change much. In the West you learn how to fight for what you get.” The cop took a step or two. “I’ll go on my way,” he said. “I hope your friend comes all right. If he isn’t here at ten, are you going to leave?” “I am not!” said the other. “I’ll wait half an hour, at least. If Jimmy is alive on earth, he’ll be here by that time. Good night, officer.” “Good night,” said the cop, and walked away, trying doors as he went. There was now a cold rain falling and the wind was stronger. The few people walking along that street were hurrying, trying to keep warm. At the door of the shop stood the man who had come a thousand miles to meet a friend. Such a meeting could not be certain. But he waited. About twenty minutes he waited, and then a tall man in a long coat came hurrying across the street. He went directly to the waiting man. “Is that you, Bob?” he asked, doubtfully. “Is that you, Jimmy Wells?” cried the man at the door. The new man took the other man’s hands in his. “It’s Bob! It surely is. I was certain I would find you here if you were still alive. Twenty years is a long time. The old restaurant is gone, Bob. I wish it were here, so that we could have another dinner in it. Has the West been good to you?” “It gave me everything I asked for. You’ve changed, Jimmy. I never thought you were so tall.” “Oh, I grew a little after I was twenty.” “Are you doing well in New York, Jimmy?” “Well enough. I work for the city. Come on, Bob, We’ll go to a place I know, and have a good long talk about old times.” The two men started along the street, arm in arm. The man from the West was beginning to tell the story of his life. The other, with his coat up to his ears, listened with interest. At the corner stood a shop bright with electric lights. When they came near, each turned to look at the other’s face. The man from the West stopped suddenly and pulled his arm away. “You’re not Jimmy Wells,” he said. “Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough to change the shape of a man’s nose.” “It sometimes changes a good man into a bad one,” said the tall man. “You’ve been under arrest for ten minutes, Bob. Chicago cops thought you might be coming to New York. They told us to watch for you. Are you coming with me quietly? That’s wise. But first here is something I was asked to give you. You may read it here at the window. It’s from a cop named Wells.” The man from the West opened the little piece of paper. His hand began to shake a little as he read. “Bob: I was at the place on time. I saw the face of the man wanted by Chicago cops. I didn’t want to arrest you myself. So I went and got another cop and sent him to do the job. JIMMY.” Download activities to help you understand this story here. Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. How much do people change over time? What is it like to try to connect with a friend you have not seen in a long time? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ QUIZ   ​ ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cop – n. a person whose job is to enforce laws, investigate crimes, and make arrests shop – n. a building or room where goods and services are sold necktie –n. a long piece of cloth that is worn by men around the neck and under a collar and that is tied in front with a knot at the top coat – n. an outer piece of clothing that can be long or short and that is worn to keep warm or dry

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'Wolf Warrior 2' Sets Box Office Records in China

The Chinese action film Wolf Warrior 2 continues to set box office records and cause online debate in China. The film has earned almost $700 million in a just a few weeks since its opening in Chinese theaters. It could easily become the country’s biggest blockbuster yet. Some critics have expressed concern about what they consider an aggressively nationalistic message in the movie. Others argue the movie shows that China’s patriotic films can become big hits, if done right. Realistic fiction A VOA reporter spoke with movie-goers in Beijing. Some said the film represented situations Chinese have and could face overseas when conflicts arise. They also noted that it tells the story of a real dispute in China. At the beginning of Wolf Warrior 2, the film’s hero, played by Wu Jing, is serving a prison sentence for killing a criminal. The violence is the result of a dispute about a forced home demolition. Forced demolitions are connected to China’s economic growth. They are also a major cause of social dissatisfaction in the country. One moviegoer, surnamed Dong, had already seen Wolf Warrior 2 twice. She said she found the film both shocking and interesting. She said it made her think of situations when the Chinese military had to remove Chinese workers from foreign countries where conflicts arose.     “The director has good understanding of history and politics,” she said. “I heard similar stories (about the removal of Chinese citizens from Libya).” The film clearly attempts to represent China’s military as firm about its aim of keeping Chinese citizens safe overseas. Near the end, the film shows a picture of a Chinese passport and a short message: “Citizens of the People’s Republic of China. When you encounter danger in a foreign land, do not give up! Please remember, at your back stands a strong motherland.” Atypical patriotic flick Chinese state media have praised the examples of patriotism seen in Wolf Warrior 2. The Global Times said patriotism was one reason for the movie’s rising popularity. But the Chinese citizens VOA spoke with said they liked the movie because it was different from other films. One woman surnamed Qi said most patriotic films are stupid. “Usually patriotic movies like The Founding of An Army do not reflect realistic situations of everyday life like Wolf Warrior does, which showed scenes of him trying to stop a forced demolition. These kinds of things are more realistic,” she said. Floundering military film The Founding of An Army tells about the establishment of the People’s Liberation Army. It and Wolf Warrior 2 were both released close to the anniversary of the Chinese military’s founding. But The Founding of an Army has done poorly at the box office. Interference by movie censors might be partly to blame, however. The Chinese social networking service Douban bars users from commenting or rating The Founding of An Army. Wolf Warrior 2, however, has received high marks on Douban. At the theater in Beijing, the room playing Wolf Warrior 2 had a large crowd. The room in which The Founding of An Army was shown was nearly empty. One theater employee told VOA that state-owned businesses had sent employees in large groups to some showings of The Founding of An Army. This improved the film’s showing at the box office. Reports of box office cheating are not uncommon in China. The website Cbooo.cn reports on movie ticket sales in China. It says The Founding of An Army has earned about 10 percent of that made by Wolf Warrior 2. Game changer According to The Hollywood Reporter magazine, Wolf Warrior 2 is already the third highest-earning film in a single territory, after Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Avatar. The film’s success has some already predicting a brighter future for China’s film industry. But others have expressed concern about the blood and violence in Wolf Warrior. One man, surnamed Zhang, said some of the debate the film has fueled online is worrying. He said he will not go see the film. “The movie is like a war mobilization film,” he said.  “…Some who have seen it are saying we should wage war.” On social media, many are already urging the film’s director Wu Jing to follow up soon with Wolf Warrior 3. Some have even suggested that the next film tell about conflicts with foreign powers, and show examples of Chinese-made weaponry. I'm Caty Weaver. William Ide reported this story for VOANews.com. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   box office - n. an area in a theater where tickets are sold for a movie or play​ blockbuster - n. something that is very large, expensive, or successful patriotic - adj. having or showing great love and support for your country  demolition  - n. deliberate destruction of a building or other structure reflect - v. to show (something) scene - n.  a part of a play, movie or story in which a particular action or activity occurs censor - n.  person who examines books, movies or letters, and removes things that are considered to be offensive, immoral or harmful to society mobilize - v. to make (soldiers or an army) ready for war

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Old Airplanes Left in Elephant’s Shelter Get New Homes

Over 100 years ago, Britain’s military had about 2,000 de Havilland DH.9 airplanes. The military used the planes for British bombing raids over Germany during World War I. The DH.9s were known as “strategic bombers.” They were one of the first warplanes where pilots did not drop bombs by hand. The bombs were stored inside the fuselage, or main body, of the plane. Pilots released them by opening a door with a lever. The plane was large enough to carry two large bombs or four smaller ones. Of the 2,000 DH.9 planes used in World War I, only about six were saved. Or at least that is what people thought until about 20 years ago, when several DH.9s were discovered in rural India. Britain donated those planes to India, then a British colony, at the end of the war. The website AirHistory.org.uk says India received 60 of the aircraft. For many years, people thought nearly all the DH.9s were destroyed or used to supply parts for other planes. That changed in 1998, when a lover of historic aircraft found several DH.9s in India in an unusual place: a building where an elephant was once kept. Janice Black is the director of Britain’s Historic Aircraft Collection. “Sadly, the engines were taken out and the aircraft were put into an elephant stable. The engines were then used to help to pump water around the estate – which is where we retrieved them from. And the aircraft themselves were left in the elephants’ stable, which was fortunately very dry.” What was left of the old airplanes was purchased and shipped back to England for restoration. The repairs took about 60,000 hours. In 2007, the Imperial War Museum bought the first restored DH.9 for about $1.3 million, but it does not fly. The planes are important in the timeline of military history. But they were not especially successful warplanes. Their engines that were not very strong, so the military could not depend on them in battle. However, after the war, many were used to carry mail and even passengers. The Historic Aircraft Collection team is working to restore another DH.9. This time, they hope to make it airworthy and fly late this year. I’m Dan Friedell.   George Putic wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What do you think of this historic airplane? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   strategic – adj. useful or important in achieving a plan or strategy lever – n. a bar or rod that is used to operate or adjust something on a machine, vehicle, or device stable – n. a building in which horses are kept, fed, and cared for estate – n. a large piece of land with a large house on it restoration – n. returning (something) to an earlier or original condition by repairing or cleaning it

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