Fashion Companies to Stop Working with Very Thin Models

  Two of the world's biggest luxury goods companies will stop working with fashion models that are too thin. The agreement, signed this week by the French companies LVMH and Kering, seeks to protect the health of fashion models. The agreement will affect well-known brands including Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and others. The companies' agreement meets – and goes beyond – the requirements of a new French law. That law, which will start on October 1, requires male and female models to show health certificates received within the past two years. LMVH and Kering said their new agreement would shorten that requirement to six months. LMVH and Kering also agreed to ban the use of female models who are below a French woman's size 34. That is similar to a U.S. size 0-2 and a U.K. size 6. The two groups said they hoped to set a new standard for the fashion industry. “We hope to inspire the entire industry to follow suit, thus making a real difference in the working conditions of fashion models industry-wide,” Kering CEO Francois-Henri Pinault said in a statement. Unlike the French law, the agreement will apply to the international Kering and LVMH brands. I'm John Russell.   AP News reported this story. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   certificate – n. a document that is official proof that something has happened (i.e. a health inspection) standard – n. a level of quality, achievement, etc., that is considered acceptable or desirable collection – n. fashion a group of clothes that a fashion designer has created    

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2gWc7Ac
via IFTTT

Lesson 2: The Interview

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2eOV5ja
via IFTTT

Lesson 2: The Interview

Summary Ms. Weaver asks Anna to team up with a person who is different from her. Who will she find? Conversation   Anna:   Ms. Weaver is giving new assignments out. I am ready to take on anything she gives me. Well, except reporting traffic from a helicopter. Wish me luck. Professor Bot:   I wonder what Anna’s new assignment will be? Professor Bot here! While you are watching, look for phrasal, or two-word verbs. Some stay together, like “go back” and some can come apart, like “give [assignments] out.” Good luck, Anna! Ms. Weaver:            So, as I said at the meeting last week, I have new assignments for everyone at The Studio. Anna, you're good at asking questions. So, I want you to go back to hosting and reporting.  Anna:   That sounds great. Ms. Weaver:    You're also a team player. So, I want you team up with someone ... Anna:     That sounds even better! Ms. Weaver:    ... someone who is very "different" from you. Anna:  That sounds ... what do you mean "different"? Ms. Weaver:   Well, you are very cheerful, you're a people person. I want you to team up with someone who ... isn't. Anna:  Ms. Weaver, I will find that person. Mimi:   Excuse me. Are you using this chair? Pete:  Yes. Anna:  Pete, hi! Thanks for meeting me. Pete:  Sure. But I don’t have lots of time, Anna. I’m busy looking for work. Anna:  Pete, you can tear these want ads up and throw them away! I have good news! Pete:  Anna, I was working on that crossword puzzle.  Anna:  Oh. Sorry. Sorry. Pete, forget about the crossword puzzle. I have a job offer for you! Pete:   I'm listening. Anna:  My boss wants me to team up with someone to host a talk show. But the person must be different from me. So, I thought of you.  Pete:   Different from you? What do you mean? Anna:  I'm sorry, Pete, I don't have time right now. Here's my boss's address. Your interview is tomorrow morning at 10 am. Pete:  But what do you mean “different”? Anna:  Just be yourself, Pete. Just be yourself. Professor Bot:      Did you find any two-word verbs? Here’s one example. Pete can throw the wants ads away! Throw away is a two-word verb. Ms. Weaver:   Thanks for coming in, Pete. Pete:   Thanks for the opportunity, Ms. Weaver. Ms. Weaver:   I need to find out if you have the skills for this job. And I want you to be completely honest. Pete:  Okay. Ms. Weaver:   First, let's talk about your personal skills. Pete, are you a people person? Pete:   Well, okay, sometimes I think people talk too much. Ms. Weaver:   Pete, what work of yours are you most proud of? Pete:  Last year, I locked myself in a cabin and wrote a book. I didn't speak to anybody the entire time! It was the best two months of my life. Ms. Weaver:            Okay. I think I’ve heard enough. Anna: Hey! Hey, Pete, how was the interview with Ms. Weaver? Pete:  Well, she said I was grumpy and not good with people.   Anna: And … ? Pete:  And, I got the job! Anna: I knew it! Congratulations! Let's go celebrate. Pete:  Okay! Professor Bot:          Did you find more two-word verbs? Here is the list. give out find out take on tear up go back throw away team up come in   Two-part verbs come in - phrasal verb. to enter a place find out - phrasal verb. to learn (something) by making an effort give out - phrasal verb. to give (something) to many people or to hand out (something) go back to - phrasal verb. to return to a person, place, subject, or activity take on - phrasal verb. to begin to deal with (something, such as a job or responsibility) team up- phrasal verb. to join with someone to work together tear up - phrasal verb. to completely destroy (something) by tearing it into pieces throw away - phrasal verb. to put (something that is no longer useful or wanted) in a trash can, garbage can, rubbish bin   New Words cabin - n. a small, simple house made of wood cheery - adj. having or causing happy feelings crossword puzzle - n. a puzzle in which words that are the answers to clues are written into a pattern of numbered squares that go across and down grumpy - adj. easily annoyed or angered, having a bad temper or complaining often helicopter - n. an aircraft that can stay in the air without moving forward and that has metal blades that turn around on its top host - v. to talk to guests on a television or radio show offer -n. the act of giving someone the opportunity to accept something lock - v. to fasten (something) with a lock people person - n. a person who enjoys or is particularly good at interacting with others personal skills - n. (interpersonal skills) the skills used by a person to interact with others properly team player - n. someone who cares more about helping a group or team to succeed than about his or her individual success​ want ad - n. a notice in a newspaper, magazine, or website that lets people know about something that you want to buy or sell or a job that is available wish me luck - expression. asks someone to say that they hope you will have success   Learning Strategy Setting a goal is important when beginning to study. Learners who set goals put a powerful idea into their own minds: "I will do this by this time." For example, "I will improve my English speaking skills so I can talk with a friend for five minutes in English by next September." In this lesson, Anna sets a goal: she wants to find someone who is different from herself. Ms. Weaver asked Anna to team up with someone for her new show. Anna asks different people first. Then, she asks Pete, and he says he will talk to Ms. Weaver. She met her goal of finding the right person for the job. How about you? What is your goal for learning English? How will you use Let's Lean English Level 2 to help meet your goal? Think of what you want to do, and when you will be able to do it. Write to us in the Comments section or send us an email.  Listening Quiz See how well you understand this lesson by taking a listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer.   Free Materials Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. For Teachers Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus:  Review: Two-word verbs; Separable and Inseparable  Topics: Job Interviews​, Describing Talents and Skills, Describing Accomplishments Learning Strategy: Goal Setting Comments 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.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2xev6fA
via IFTTT

Everyday Grammar: Three-Part Phrasal Verbs

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2xeRKV3
via IFTTT

Lesson 2: Hello, I'm Anna!

Let's Learn English is a course for English learners. Certified American English teachers designed the course for beginners. There are 52 lessons. Every fifth lesson, there is a review of the previous lessons. Each week, there is a new lesson with video showing the lives of young Americans. The lesson includes instruction in speaking, vocabulary and writing. There are also printable worksheets, assessments and lesson plans for individual learners and English teachers. We encourage you to follow the weekly lessons and share your progress with us through comments and email. Summary Anna moves to Washington, DC. She goes to her new apartment and meets a new friend. Speaking Listen to the speaker in the video. Use your computer or phone to record yourself saying the words. Listen to yourself, then listen to the video again. Can you say the words the same way? If not, listen carefully and try again. Pronunciation Watch the video to learn about linked sounds, or how speakers say "you're" for "you are."  Conversation   Jonathan: Hey, Pete! Who’s your friend? Pete: She is Anna. She is new to D.C. Jonathan: Where are you from? Anna: I am from a small town. Jonathan: Well, welcome to D.C. Anna: Thank you. Jonathan: I am Jonathan. I am in apartment B4. Anna: I am in apartment C2. Marsha is my roommate. Jonathan: I know Marsha. She is nice. Pete: And I am in Apartment D7. I have to go now. Anna: Oh! Pete: Remember to call  Marsha at work. Tell her you’re here. Anna: Right, thanks, Pete. Nice to meet you! Jonathan: You too, Bye. Anna: Apartment C2, here I come! Writing We often write our name and address on forms. Americans write and say an address this way: name, number, street city, state, zip code, country. How do people in your country address an envelope? Anna sends a letter to her family. Look at how she writes the address: Now download the worksheet and practice filling in a form and addressing an envelope. Learning Strategies  Learning strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. This lesson's learning strategy is preview. To preview is to look over what you will study in advance. During the preview, remember what you already know about the topic and the language, and think of what you need to learn. Here is an example: Mari previews the video for Lesson 2 of Let's Learn English. She sees the title is "Hello, I'm Anna." She thinks, "This lesson is about meeting people. What words do I know in English for when I meet people? What do people usually say and do?" She knows, "Nice to meet you" from Lesson 1. She remembers hearing "Where are you from?" in class. She wants to know if the new friends ask other questions. Mari keeps this in mind as she watches the video. When she hears Jonathan ask, "Where are you from?" she smiles and thinks, "I know what that means already!" She watches carefully to see how Anna answers the question. Preview is an important learning strategy because it helps you prepare for what you will learn. Do you use this strategy when you are learning? Send us an email or write to us in the comments section. See the Lesson Plan for more details. Listening Quiz See how well you understand the lesson by taking this quiz. Each question has a video. Play the video and choose the correct answer. _____________________________________________________________ New Words know - v. to have met and talked to (someone) meet - v.  to see and speak to (someone) for the first time. Anna meets Pete near her apartment.  call - v.  to make a telephone call. I call once a week to talk to my parents. friend - n. a person who you like and enjoy being with. Meet my friend, Anna. number - n.  a number or a set of numbers and other symbols that is used to identify a person or thing or a telephone number. I am in apartment number D7. remember - v. to have or keep an image or idea in your mind of (something or someone from the past) or to think of (something or someone from the past) again. Do you remember me?  roommate - n. a person who shares a room, apartment, or house with someone else. Anna and Marsha both live in apartment C2 because they are roommates. work - n.  the place where you do your job. She is not at work today. 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 writing addresses in English. For Teachers Click on the Lesson Plan to learn how to teach this lesson in your classroom. The Activity Sheet and script of the video are included in the Lesson Plan. Grammar Focus: BE + noun; BE + location ; Subject pronouns: I, you, he, she, we, they Topics: Welcoming & Leave-taking, Spelling names aloud Pronunciation: Contractions with BE Speaking Focus: Vocabulary; saying your address _______________________________________________________________ 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. Poll

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2wSHxNx
via IFTTT

US Education Chief Promises to Change Rules on Sexual Assault

  The United States Secretary of Education plans to change the way colleges and universities deal with accusations of sexual assault. “The era of ‘rule by letter’ is over,” said Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, in comments last Thursday to the news media. DeVos is promising to replace a set of rules from a 2011 document known as the “Dear Colleague Letter.” It was given to school officials during the presidency of Barack Obama. The letter expanded on Title IX, a U.S. law barring sex discrimination in schools that receive financial support from the federal government. It said Title IX can also be used to protect victims of sexual assault and harassment. This meant schools were required to, among other things, offer a clear way for students and employees to report claims. In addition, colleges and universities must provide special medical services for victims. The schools also have to hold their own fair and open investigations in addition to any criminal investigations by the police. If they fail to meet these and other requirements, the Education Department has the right to block their financial support. However, the government has yet to make use of such punishment. Secretary Devos has promised to replace those rules, which she says created a system that failed students. She spoke during a visit to George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. “Instead of working with schools on behalf of students, the [Obama] administration weaponized the Office for Civil Rights to work against schools and against students,” she said. DeVos spoke several times about protecting the rights of both sexual assault victims and those accused of carrying out attacks. She said the discussion about the issue has wrongly been formed as a competition between men and women. DeVos did not explain how the rules will change. But she did say her office will ask the public and universities for help in developing new ones. Critics of the “Dear Colleague Letter” cheered her announcement. They claim the current rules do not treat the accused and victims equally, but instead weigh more heavily against the accused. Victim activists groups, however, called the education secretary’s message a step in the wrong direction. New York lawyer Andrew Miltenberg has represented students accused of sexual assault. He said he was pleased to see the government recognize that schools had been mistreating the accused. “Up until now, everyone’s been [frightened] of saying what [DeVos] said because the fear is it would be seen as being against victims’ rights,” he said. Know Your IX is an activist group for sexual-assault survivors. Its members said the speech sent the message that there is no one that will hold schools responsible for protecting students. Sejal Singh serves as a policy coordinator for the group. She said, “I really fear that DeVos will take us back to the days when schools [often] violated survivors’ rights and pushed sexual assault under the rug.” Debate over the 2011 memo has been rising in recent years. Critics say the rules ask school officials with little legal experience to act as judges. Also, they say the standards required for evidence are too low. In U.S. criminal courts, the accusers must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a suspect is guilty. But the 2011 letter told colleges to judge students based on whether it is “more likely than not” that they committed the offense. During her speech, DeVos agreed with critics who say the current rules are too complex and hard to understand. They also depend on “the lowest standard of proof,” she added. “Every survivor of sexual misconduct must be taken seriously. Every student accused of sexual misconduct must know that guilt is not [already decided],” she said. At the same time, she made it clear that “acts of sexual misconduct are … unacceptable” and must be dealt with directly. “Never again will these acts only be whispered about in closed-off … rooms or swept under the rug,” she promised. About 25 protesters gathered outside the George Mason University building where DeVos spoke. Some were women who said they were sexually assaulted at their schools. Former Obama administration officials disputed the comments DeVos made. Catherine Lhamon led the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights during Obama’s presidency. She defended the current rules and said the courts have supported them several times. Lhamon added that her office ruled on behalf of students accused of sexual assault many times. She criticized DeVos for opening the rules to what she called “essentially a popular vote.” But others education leaders said it is too soon to know how a change in federal policy would affect schools. Gloria Larson, the president of Bentley University in Massachusetts, said her school would continue to follow the Obama administration rules. American Council on Education senior vice president Terry Hartle says many schools will likely do the same. His organization represents about 1,800 college presidents. But Hartle disagrees that DeVos’s speech means she will treat sexual assault accusations less seriously. “The Obama administration took a very important step and raised the importance of the issue,” Hartle said.  “But they missed the target, and we need to go back and ask whether or not we’ve got the policies … in place that we should.” I’m Dorothy Gundy. And I’m Pete Musto.   Collin Binkley and Laurie Kellman reported on this story for the Associated Press. Pete Musto adapted their report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. What rules does the government in your country have governing how universities deal with sexual assault? Do you think they are strong and fair enough? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   assault – n. the crime of trying or threatening to hurt someone physically era – n.a period of time that is associated with a particular quality, event, person​ financial – adj. relating to money harassment – n. the act of annoying or bothering (someone) in a constant or repeated way on behalf of – n. something done in support of someone under the rug – idm. something that is illegal, embarrassing, or wrong that is hidden standard(s) – n. a level of quality, or achievement that is considered acceptable or desirable doubt – n. a feeling of being uncertain or unsure about something misconduct – n. wrong behavior whisper(ed) – v. to speak very softly or quietly

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2xm18XY
via IFTTT

China Restarts Fastest Bullet Trains

  China will again lay claim to operating the fastest bullet train service in the world. According to Chinese media, the Beijing to Shanghai train will once again be allowed to reach speeds up to 350 kilometers an hour. A deadly crash between two bullet trains in 2011 caused China to limit the speeds to 300 kilometers an hour. The South China Morning Post reported the change will cut travel time by one hour on the 1,300 kilometer trip between Beijing and Shanghai. The faster Beijing-Shanghai trains will begin September 21 and additional lines will also be launched, according to the newspaper. China already has several of the world’s fastest operating trains. The fastest is a non-bullet train - the Shanghai Maglev - that can reach speeds up to 430 kilometers an hour. The train is limited to carrying passengers from Shanghai’s center to the city's airport. The term maglev stands for magnetic levitation. In this system, train vehicles are kept off the ground and powered by magnets. High-speed bullet trains have wheels and run on a track. The second-fastest train in the world is the one running between Beijing and Shanghai, according to the website Railway Technology. China also has more high-speed rail lines than anywhere else in the world - covering about 19,000 total kilometers, according to the Associated Press. How fast are trains in other countries? The fastest non-operating train in the world - undergoing testing in Japan - has reached a top speed of 603 kilometers per hour. It is a Japan Railway maglev train. ​ In Europe, Germany, Italy and Spain all have trains that can travel more than 320 kilometers an hour.    In the United States, the Amtrak Acela Express – which connects several eastern cities - is the country’s fastest train. It can travel at a top speed of 241 kilometers an hour. Last year, Amtrak received a $2.45 billion loan from the U.S. government to help develop new high-speed trains expected to launch in 2021. Amtrak says those trains are designed to travel up to 300 kilometers an hour, but will begin service at about 260 kilometers an hour. Other transport systems U.S. company Hyperloop One is continuing to test its own high-speed transport system. Hyperloop is being developed by businessman Elon Musk. He created and owns the aerospace company SpaceX, as well as electric carmaker Tesla.Hyperloop operates in a similar way to maglev trains, but uses vehicles called pods. An electromagnetic force causes the pods to “float” on air inside a series of steel tubes. The system forces air out of the tubes to reduce pressure and lower the resistance for the vehicles. Musk recently announced a Hyperloop pod had reached a top speed of 355 kilometers an hour during a new test. This beat the previous record of 324 kilometers an hour, reached by a student team from Germany during a Hyperloop competition in California. Musk has said he plans to keep developing the Hyperloop system, which he hopes will eventually greatly reduce travel times between major U.S. cities. He previously said Hyperloop would be designed to reach a top speed of about 1,200 kilometers an hour. To most experts, that goal seems out of reach in the near future. However, a Chinese aerospace company just announced plans to build a super high-speed train that it says could reach a speed of 4,000 kilometers an hour. An official at China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation recently spoke about the project during a conference in China, the state-run China News Service reported. The official said the planned train would use maglev technology, combined with a Hyperloop-style tube system. He said a project team is currently working with dozens of researchers and companies to develop the world’s first “high-speed flying train.” I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for Learning English, based on reports from Reuters, the Associated Press and other sources.  Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   levitation – n. making something rise into the air electromagnetic – adj. pertaining to a magnetic field that is produced by a current of electricity style – n. a particular kind of something  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2wRrcsE
via IFTTT

Quick 'Mindfulness' Fix May Lower Alcohol Drinking

  A small experiment shows that mindfulness training exercises may help people who drink large amounts of alcohol. Mindfulness is a method of quietly, but fully, experiencing what is happening in the present, both in and around you. The mindfulness study involved 68 heavy drinkers in the United Kingdom. The subjects were not alcoholics, but they did have more alcohol to drink than most people. Some of the subjects received training in relaxation methods. The other subjects took part in an 11-minute training program in mindfulness exercises. The program was designed to help them recognize their desire for a drink without acting on it. Over the next week, the group that received mindfulness training drank much less than they had during the week before the study started. But the subjects in the relaxation group did not drink much less. Damla Irez is with University College London. She says the study did not involve ‘treating’ people who needed help cutting down their alcohol use. “But it did suggest that people who drink too much, but don’t have an alcohol use disorder, might be able to reduce their consumption, at least in the short term, by practicing mindfulness,” Irez said by email. The Reuters news agency reported her comments. A report on the study was published in The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. During the mindfulness training, people were told to pay attention to their desire to drink instead of ignoring this feeling. They were told that, by noticing bodily sensations, they could accept them as temporary events without needing to act on them. The other group – those in relaxation training – was told that softening the muscles, calming and unwinding the mind and releasing tension in the body could reduce the desire to drink. After receiving one of these trainings, all 68 people were asked to use the techniques they learned for one week. Right after training, both groups reported a reduced desire for a drink although the reduction was greater in the relaxation group. However, people in the mindfulness group drank 9.3 fewer units of alcohol in the week after the training than they did in the week before the study began. This is about equal to three pints of beer – or about 13,000 milliliters. In the relaxation group, people consumed just 3 fewer units of alcohol. This difference was too small to rule out the possibility that the cause was chance. One limitation of the study was the small number of subjects. Another limitation was that the researchers depended on the subjects to remember and report how much alcohol they drank. Researchers also depended on them to be honest about whether they had been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder. In addition, the study was too brief to show how much training people might require to see long-term changes to their drinking behavior. William Marchand is a psychiatry professor at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He wasn't involved in the British study. But he said it was new and surprising that such a short training period would have an effect on behavior. In an email to Reuters, Marchard said he would have thought much more training would be needed to change behavior. “What we don’t know,” he said, “is whether there will be a lasting impact on drinking behavior.” Still, the first step in targeting addictive behaviors is to notice them, said Stefan Hofmann, a psychology researcher at Boston University in Massachusetts. Hofmann told Reuters in an email that humans usually develop habits and link behaviors to situational signals. For example, for drinkers, this might mean that being around certain people or in places, such as a bar, will make drinking more probable, he said. Ordering another drink can become automatic in these situations, but becoming watchful of signs that lead to more drinking can help change how people react to these signs. “This is why mindfulness can be a very powerful strategy,” Hofmann said. He said it stops automatic behavior by making people more thoughtful. I’m Alice Bryant. And I'm Bryan Lynn.   Lisa Rapaport reported this story for Reuters. Alice Bryant adapted Her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   heavy drinker – n. a person who drinks a large amount of alcohol alcoholic – n. a person who often drinks too much alcohol and is unable to live a normal and healthy life relaxation – n. something that you do to stop feeling nervous or worried consumption – n. the act of eating or drinking something diagnose – v. to recognize a disease or illness by examining someone impact – n. a change that results when something is done or happens addictive – adj. causing a strong and harmful need to regularly have or do something habit – n. something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way automatic – adj. involuntary; done as if by a machine

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2gSxP4o
via IFTTT

Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi Shows Links Between Cultures

  On November 11, the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum will open in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The museum is part of a project designed to appeal to millions of visitors every year. The waterfront museum will hold hundreds of pieces of art representing ancient and modern times around the world. It will include Middle Eastern objects and paintings, as well as works by Western artists. The Louvre in Paris, France is one of the most famous museums in the world. In 2007, France agreed to take part in a joint project to open an art museum in Abu Dhabi. French officials say the collection does not face any restrictions. Jean-Francois Charnier is the scientific director of Agence France-Museums. He said the museum organizers had complete freedom in making decisions about the art to present. "You have nude statues in the museum, contemporary paintings. You also have religious images from all religions," he said. The works will represent major periods of human development and will show connections between different cultures, Charnier said. "The objective," he said, "is to show that in history there are more links and bridges than walls." The museum has major pieces of art including a 15th century painting by Giovanni Bellini and a 19th century painting by Osama Hamdy Bey. The museum also has a 3000-year-old Egyptian funeral set. Famed French architect Jean Nouvel designed the museum. It is almost 100,000 square meters in size. It includes a series of white buildings under a huge, rounded steel top. The steel is cut in numerous places and shapes to let in daylight and produce beautiful shadows. French Culture Minister Francoise Nyssen spoke at a news conference in which the museum opening was announced. "At a time when some forces are attacking history by destroying work, taking our heritage hostage, this is an essential act," she said. "It is civilization responding to barbarity." I'm John Russell.    Sylvia Westfall reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   museum – n. a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and shown to the public nude – adj. of or involving people who have no clothes on contemporary – adj. : existing or happening in the same time period : from the same time period shadow – n. a dark shape that appears on a surface when someone or something moves between the surface and a source of light heritage – n. the traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc., that are part of the history of a group or nation — usually singular respond – v.  to do something as a reaction to something that has happened or been done barbarity – n. extreme cruelty : a very cruel and violent quality

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2xn40Ui
via IFTTT

How Do Hurricanes Form?

Three powerful ocean storms threaten the Caribbean, the coast of the southeastern United States and southeastern Mexico. Hurricane Irma has struck Cuba and now threatens the state of Florida with strong winds and rain. The storm has caused deaths and widespread destruction on several Caribbean islands.   Hurricane Katia is in the southern Gulf of Mexico. It is nearing Mexico’s eastern coast. And Hurricane Jose is gaining strength in the Atlantic Ocean. The three hurricanes come as the state of Texas recovers from Hurricane Harvey. The huge storm caused severe flooding and billions of dollars in damage in Houston, the country’s fourth-largest city. Hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean goes from June 1 to November 30. And the month of September is the peak of storm activity. Hurricanes: a weather engine fueled by warm, moist air Hurricanes are the most powerful storms in the Earth’s atmosphere. The storms have different names depending on where they take place. Scientists call all these storms tropical cyclones. If the storms form over the Atlantic Ocean or eastern Pacific Ocean, they are called hurricanes. Storms that form in the western Pacific Ocean are known as typhoons. In the Indian Ocean, they are called cyclones. Although they have different names, all these storms form in the same way. Scientists at the American space agency NASA describe tropical cyclones as huge weather “engines” that use warm, moist air as fuel. They can only form over warm, tropical waters near the equator. A tropical cyclone develops when warm moist air near the surface of the ocean rises. This creates an area of unusually low air pressure. Higher-pressure air from surrounding areas pushes in to take the place of the warm, rising air. It becomes warmer and moister and rises, too. The rising, moist air goes high into the atmosphere, where temperatures are low. This creates wind. The moisture forms clouds. The developing weather system begins to spin because of the Earth’s rotation. As the storm spins faster and faster, what is called an “eye” of the storm develops at its center. This is a calm area of very low pressure. Higher pressure air from above flows down into the eye. Tropical cyclone categories—it’s about wind speed When wind speeds reach about 63 kilometers per hour, meteorologists say a tropical storm has formed. When winds in the storm are measured at 119 kilometers per hour or above, a tropical storm officially becomes a category one “tropical cyclone,” or in the Western Hemisphere, a hurricane. Meteorologists use measurements of wind speed to place tropical cyclones in categories. When a hurricane’s wind speed reaches 155 kilometers an hour, it is called category two. The categories go up to category five, the most dangerous and catastrophic storm. A category-five storm has wind speeds measured at over 250 kilometers per hour. They can cause a storm surge, or a rise in water levels of more than five meters. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, operates two satellites that track weather and storms in the eastern Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. NOAA provides maps from the (GOES) satellites online. I’m Mario Ritter.   Mario Ritter adapted this story for VOA Learning English from materials provided by NASA and other sources. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   Moist –adj. containing water or moisture Spin –v. to move in a circular way Rotation –n. the state of turning on an axis Meteorologist –n someone who works in the field of weather science We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2jaAfzV
via IFTTT

'Transients in Arcadia' by O. Henry

We present the short story "Transients in Arcadia," by O. Henry. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State. There is a certain hotel on Broadway that is very pleasant in the summer. Not many people have heard about it. It is wide and cool. Its rooms have walls of dark wood. There are green trees around it, and soft winds. It has all the pleasures of mountain living, and none of the pains. You will eat better fish there than you could catch for yourself in streams in the hills. You will have better meat than a hunter brings home from the forest. A few have discovered this cool spot in the hot summer of New York. You will see these few guests, eating dinner in the hotel restaurant. They are happy to be there, and happy to know that they are very few. They feel especially wise because they have found this delightful place. More waiters than necessary are always near. They bring what is wanted before anyone asks for it. The pleasing distant noise of Broadway sounds like running water in a forest. At every strange footstep, the guests turn quickly and look. They are afraid that the restless pleasure-seekers will find their hotel and destroy its pleasant quiet. And so these few live during the hot season. They enjoy the delights of mountain and seashore. All is brought to them in their Broadway hotel. This summer a lady came to the hotel giving this name: “Madame Héloise D’Arcy Beaumont.” The name was like a name in the story of a great romance. And Madame Beaumont was the kind of lady the Hotel Lotus loved. She was beautiful and her manner was very fine. Everyone wished to serve her. The other guests believed that as a guest she was perfection. This perfect guest did not often leave the hotel. In this, she was like the other guests of the Hotel Lotus. To enjoy that hotel, one needed to forget the city. New York might have been miles away. At night sometimes one might go out. But during the hot day one remained in the cool shade of the Lotus. Madame was alone in the Hotel Lotus. She was alone as a queen is alone, because of her high position. She rose from bed late in the morning. She was then a sweet, soft person who seemed to shine quietly. But at dinner she was different. She would wear a beautiful dress. I cannot find words fine enough to tell about it. Always there were red flowers at her shoulder. When the head waiter saw a dress like this, he met it at the door. You thought of Paris when you saw it, and of the theater and of old romances. A story about Madame Beaumont was told among the guests in the Hotel Lotus. It was said that she was a woman who had traveled all over the world. It was said that she knew the most important people everywhere. It was said that in her white hands she held the future of certain nations. It was no surprise, they said, that such a lady should choose the Hotel Lotus. It was the most desirable and the most restful place in America during the heat of summer. On the third day of Madame Beaumont’s stay in the hotel, a young man entered as a guest. His clothes were quiet but good. His face was pleasant. His expression was that of a man who had traveled and could understand the world. He said that he would remain three or four days. He asked about the sailing of certain ships. He seemed to like this hotel the best of all he had known. The young man put his name on the list of hotel guests: Harold Farrington. It was a name with a fine sound. And the young man belonged perfectly in the quiet life of the Lotus. In one day he became like all the other guests. Like them he had his table and his waiter. He also had the same fear that the wrong people might suddenly discover this hotel and destroy its peace. After dinner on the next day, Madame Beaumont dropped something as she passed Harold Farrington’s table. He picked it up and, following her, returned it. He spoke only a few quiet words as he did this, and she was pleased by his good manners. She knew that he was a gentleman. Guests of the Lotus seemed to understand each other very easily. Perhaps it was the result of having discovered this Broadway hotel. Guests felt sure that only especially fine people would enjoy the cool delights of the Lotus. Now, very quickly, a sudden friendship grew between Farrington and Madame Beaumont. They stood and talked for a few moments. “I have seen too much of the usual summer hotels,” said Madame Beaumont, with a small but sweet smile. “Why go to the mountains or the seashore? We cannot escape noise and dust there. The people who make noise and dust follow us there.” “Even on the ocean,” said Farrington, sadly, “those same people are all around us. What shall we do when they discover the Lotus?” “I hope they don’t discover the Lotus this week,” said Madame. “I only know one other place I like as well. It is the beautiful home of a prince in the mountains in Europe.” “The best people,” said Farrington, “are seeking for the quiet places, like this one, where they can escape the crowds.” “I promise myself three more days of this delightful rest,” said Madame Beaumont. “The next day my ship sails.” Harold Farrington’s eyes showed that he was sorry. “I too must leave then,” he said. “But I am not sailing for Europe.” “We cannot stay here forever, though it is so delightful,” said Madame Beaumont. “I like it better than my usual life, which is too full of people. I shall never forget my week in the Hotel Lotus.” “Nor shall I,” said Farrington in a low voice. “And I shall never like the ship that carries you away.” On their last evening the two sat together at a little table. A waiter brought them something cool to eat. Madame Beaumont was wearing the same beautiful dress. She seemed thoughtful. When she had finished eating, she took out a dollar. “Mr. Farrington,” she said, with the smile that everyone in the Lotus loved, “I want to tell you something. I’m going to leave early tomorrow morning because I must go back to work. I work selling women’s clothes at Casey’s shop. That dollar is all the money I have. I won’t have any more until I get paid at the end of the week. You’re a real gentleman and you’ve been good to me. I wanted to tell you before I went. “For a year I’ve been planning to come here. Each week I put aside a little of my pay, so that I would have enough money. I wanted to live one week like a rich lady. I wanted to get up in the morning when I wished. I wanted to be served by waiters. I wanted to have the best of everything. Now I’ve done it, and I’ve been happier than I ever was before. And now I’m going back to work. “I—I wanted to tell you about it, Mr. Farrington, because I—I thought you liked me, and I—I liked you. This week I’ve told you many things that weren’t true. I told you things I’ve read about. They never happened to me. I’ve been living in a story. It wasn’t real. I wanted you to think I was a great lady.  “This dress I’m wearing—it’s the only pretty dress I own. I haven’t paid for it yet. I’m paying for it a little at a time. “The price was seventy-five dollars. It was made for me at O’Dowd and Levinsky’s shop. I paid ten dollars first, and now I have to pay a dollar a week until it’s all paid. “And that’s all I have to say, Mr. Farrington, except that my name is Mamie Siviter, and not Madame Beaumont. Thank you for listening to me. This dollar is the dollar I’m going to pay for my dress tomorrow. And now I’ll go up to my room.” As Harold Farrington listened, his face had not changed. When she had finished, he took out a small book and began to write in it. Then he pulled out the small page with his writing on it, and gave it to her. And he took the dollar from her hand. “I go to work too, tomorrow morning,” he said. “And I decided to begin now. That paper says you’ve paid your dollar for this week. I’ve been working for O’Dowd and Levinsky for three years. Strange, isn’t it? We both had the same idea. I always wanted to stay at a good hotel. I get twenty dollars a week. Like you, I put aside a little money at a time, until I had enough. Listen, Mamie. Will you go to the pleasure park on Coney Island with me on pay day?” The girl who had been Madame Héloise D’Arcy Beaumont smiled. “I’d love to go, Mr. Farrington. Coney will be all right, although we did live here with rich people for a week.” They could hear the night noises of the hot city. Inside the Hotel Lotus it was cool. The waiter stood near, ready to get anything they asked for. Madame Beaumont started up to her room for the last time. And he said, “Forget that ‘Harold Farrington,’ will you? McManus is the name—James McManus. Some call me Jimmy.” “Good night, Jimmy,” said Madame. Download activities to help you understand this story here. Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. Have you ever lied to people about who you are or where you are from? Do you dream of living a different life? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ QUIZ ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story guest(s) – n. a person who pays to stay at a hotel or eat at a restaurant waiter(s) – n. a man who serves food or drinks to people in a restaurant or hotel footstep – n. the sound of a foot making a step seashore – n. the land along the edge of the sea that is usually covered with sand or rocks romance – n. a love story manner – n. the way that a person normally behaves especially while with other people dress – n. a piece of clothing for a woman or a girl that has a top part that covers the upper body and a skirt that hangs down to cover the legs shop – n. a building or room where goods and services are sold

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2jdQ9d1
via IFTTT