Scientists Aim to Give AI to Robot Cat That Helps the Elderly

  Imagine a cat that does not need someone to clean up after it, keeps an older person company and helps them remember to take their medicine. That is the shared dream of the toy maker Hasbro and scientists at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. The researchers received a $3-million-dollar award from the National Science Foundation for a special project. The goal of the project is to find ways to add artificial intelligence, or A.I., to Hasbro’s “Joy for All” robotic cat. The cat has already been for sale for two years. It is aimed at older people and meant to act as a “companion” for them. It makes the same noises as a real cat and even appears to seek attention from its owners. The Brown-Hasbro project is aimed at developing additional abilities for the cat. The team includes researchers from Brown’s medical school, local hospitals and a designer at the University of Cincinnati. Researchers at Brown’s Humanity-Centered Robotics Initiative are working to decide which activities older adults may need the most help with. Such activities include finding lost objects and reminding the person to take medicine or visit their doctor. Bertram Malle is a professor of cognitive, linguistic and psychological sciences at Brown. He said that the researchers do not want to make unrealistic promises of what the cat can do. He said he and his partner Michael Littman, a computer science professor, hope to make the cat perform a small number of activities very well. They also want to keep the cost down to just a few hundred dollars. Hasbro’s current “Joy for All” cat costs $100. They have given the project a name that follows that idea: Affordable Robotic Intelligence for Elderly Support, or ARIES. It is an idea that has appeal to Jeanne Elliott. Her 93-year-old mother Mary Derr lives with her in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Derr has dementia. The Joy for All cat that Elliott bought this year has become a true companion for Derr. The robot cat stays with Derr and keeps her calm while Elliot is at work. Derr treats it like a real cat, even though she knows it is electronic. Elliot told the Associated Press her mother often forgets things. She added that a cat that helps her mother to remember to take her medicine and be careful when she walks would be great. Diane Feeney Mahoney is a professor at the Massachusetts General Hospital’s Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing. She has studied technology for older people. She said the project shows promise because of the team of researchers. She called the cat a tool that could make things easier for someone caring for a person with middle-stage dementia. It could also be useful in elder care homes that do not permit people bring in real animals, she said. But she hopes the researchers involve people from the Alzheimer’s community. “We just don’t want to push technology for technology’s sake,” she said. The scientists are studying how people feel about the robot cats, as well as the everyday lives of elderly people. They are also trying to learn how the improved cats would complete helpful activities and how they would communicate that information. Littman said they do not want a talking cat, however. “Cats don’t generally talk to you,” he said. Instead they are looking at whether the cat could move its head in a special way to successfully communicate its message, for example. In the end, they hope to create an exchange between the human and the cat in which the human feels the cat needs them. By doing so, the researchers hope they can even help prevent feelings of loneliness and sadness among elderly people. “The cat doesn’t do things on its own. It needs the human, and the human gets something back,” Malle said. “That … is a huge step up. Loneliness and uselessness feelings are hugely problematic.” I’m Lucija Milonig. And I’m Pete Musto.   Michelle R. Smith reported this story for the Associated Press. Pete Musto adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. What other kinds of technology do you think might help with mental and physical illnesses? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ QUIZ _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   keep(s) (an older person) company – p.v. to spend time with someone who would be alone if you were not there toy – n. something a child plays with artificial intelligence – n. the power of a machine to copy intelligent human behavior companion – n. a person or animal you spend time with or enjoy being with remind(ing) – v. to cause someone to remember something cognitive – adj. of, relating to, or involving conscious mental activities (such as thinking, understanding, learning, and remembering linguistic – adj. of or relating to language or linguistics affordable – adj. able to be paid for at a low cost elderly – adj. old or rather old dementia – n. a mental illness that causes someone to be unable to think clearly or to understand what is real and what is not real Alzheimer’s (disease) – n. a disease of the brain that causes people to slowly lose their memory and mental abilities as they grow old sake – n. used in phrases with for to say that something is done for a particular purpose or to achieve a particular goal or result

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Venezuelans Seek Treasure in Polluted River

  Venezuela was once one of the wealthiest countries in Latin America. Today, images of poor Venezuelans eating from food waste in Caracas are evidence of the country’s deepening economic crisis. Young men and boys often search the dirty waters of the Guaire River for small pieces of metal that might help feed their families. One of those young men is 26-year-old Angel Villanueva. He searches the dirty, brown water for lost rings or other objects he may be able to trade for money.   “Working in the Guaire isn’t easy,” he told the Associated Press. “When it provides, it provides. When it takes, it takes your life.” The waters of the Guaire are known for being filthy. The river acts as a drain. It carries away rainwater from the streets and sewers, as well as industrial waste. Alejandro Velasco is a native of Caracas and teaches Latin American history at New York University. He says ,“As long as I can remember, the Guaire was this open sewage. It certainly seems to reflect the depth and extent of the desperation that this particular crisis has spawned.” Venezuelans have lived under socialist rule for nearly 20 years. During that period, food and oil production have dropped sharply. Poor organization of state resources and a drop in world oil prices have made many Venezuelans desperate. Each morning, people go to the Guaire River from nearby neighborhoods to search for treasure. Some cover their fingertips in tape to protect from cuts and infections. They largely ignore any possible long-term health effects from standing in dirty water for hours each day. Calls to clean up the river and the large amount of money already spent have had no result. In 2005, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez recognized the river’s filthy condition and promised a full cleanup. Seven years later, the Inter-American Development Bank provided a $300 million loan to build wastewater centers and treat waste that goes into the river. Nearly six years later, the water remains filthy. Bank officials refused to comment on the project. Venezuelan government leaders have also been silent on when the Guaire might be cleaned. Some parts of the river smell of sewage. Other parts produce a toxic, harmful smell. Most days, the treasure hunters go unnoticed by other people as they drive vehicles over the river on a major road. Angel Villanueva lives with his father in one of the poorest and most dangerous parts of Caracas. The son wanted to earn money, but he could only get low-paying jobs, such as cleaning the streets. The lowest legal wage for public employees in Venezuela is less than $7 a month. Food has become increasingly hard to find or very costly. One recent study estimated that 75 percent of Venezuelans lost an average of 8.7 kilograms last year. Angel Villanueva first started searching in the river six months ago. His first day’s work resulted in finding $20 worth of materials. People back in his neighborhood often tell him to keep away because he smells like the Guaire. Villanueva dreams of leaving Venezuela to find a better job. But for now he is taking his chances searching for treasure in the river. I'm Jonathan Evans.   Scott Smith reported this story for the Associated Press. Jonathan Evans adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _________________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   desperation – n. a strong feeling of sadness, fear, and loss of hope filthy – adj. very dirty Latin America – n. South America and North America south of the U.S. resources – n. supplies of something such as money that someone has and can use when it is needed spawn – v. to cause something to develop or begin; to produce or create something

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Indonesians Explore Plans to Move Capital

  For many years, Indonesians have talked and dreamed of moving their capital. Jakarta, on the island of Java, became the capital when Indonesia declared its independence from the Netherlands in the 1940s. The city, formerly called Batavia, was once an important Dutch colonial port. So nationalist leaders had an easy time agreeing on its home to the new Indonesian government. But since then, Indonesia’s capital has been an unending nightmare for city planners. Jakarta is the world’s second-largest metropolitan area. But it is sinking -- up to 18 centimeters every year. The design of the city and its road system has created a near-permanent traffic jam. The Jakarta Transportation Agency estimates those delays cost the government, businesses and the city’s residents $11 billion a year. Yet Jakarta remains Indonesia’s economic center. It is easily the largest city and provides more jobs than anywhere else in the country. The slow improvement of roads, public transportation and other infrastructure has led most Indonesians to wonder whether it is possible to move the capital. In 2017, after years of flooding, Indonesian President Joko Widodo asked for the National Development Planning Agency, or BAPPENAS, to study land on the island of Borneo. The main candidate for a new capital is Palangkaraya, a city in Central Kalimantan province. Years ago, even former president Sukarno imagined the city as Indonesians' capital. Widodo has said little about the project. Yet he admitted on Twitter last year that discussions have begun. “We are still carrying out the study on what it would take to relocate the capital,” said BAPPENAS Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro last year. “But it would be outside Java for sure.” The island of Java is the economic and population center of Indonesia, which has over 15,000 islands in all. “Preferably the new capital is in a central location within Indonesia, not too far East or West,” said Brodjonegoro. His comments would rule out Sumatra, the largest island. Sumatra is west of Java and home to several important cities and natural resources. Indonesia lies on what is known as the “Ring of Fire,” an area with many volcanoes, and where earthquakes are common. However, Borneo is farther away from the tectonic plates that cause most of the earthquakes and volcanic explosions. Last week, the governor of Central Kalimantan said that his province is preparing 500 hectares of land if the government decides to move the capital. Many countries have moved their capitals throughout modern history. One example is the United States. In 1800, the U.S. capital city was moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. In Southeast Asia, Myanmar, also known as Burma, moved its capital from Yangon to Naypyidaw in 2005. In North Africa, Egyptians are building a new capital in the desert outside Cairo. Some critics think the dream of moving Indonesia’s capital is part of a desire by some people to revisit the Sukarno era. Writer Johannes Nugroho believes Indonesians are experiencing a longing for Sukarno and his leadership. It was a “time when Indonesia was a major player on the international stage,” he says. “I think the desire to revisit Palangkaraya as a new capital city stems from the same nostalgia, to finish what Sukarno started.” The writer added that Sukarno thought Indonesians needed to break with the past and have a fresh start. There would be great economic and geopolitical costs to moving the capital from Java to Kalimantan. Most importantly, Indonesia shares Borneo with Malaysia and Brunei, and the political balance is delicate. Central Kalimantan has very low sea access for a nation of islands. “Political parties would have to move out,” noted Indonesian Vice President Yusuf Kalla last year. “Courts and Supreme Courts would also have to move, aside from the president. Military bases would also have to move. There would be hundreds of thousands who would need housing and offices,” he added. And finally, developing Palangkaraya or a nearby area would cause  environmental damage on Borneo. Palm oil and other industries have already cleared land, destroying forests where many animals lived. The island is home to many endangered species, such as the Borneo orangutan. Some Indonesians wonder if relocating the capital may mean simply moving problems from one island to another. I'm Susan Shand and I'm Dorothy Gundy.   Krithika Varagur reported this story for VOA. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning Engloish. Mario Ritter was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   Infrastructure – n. the roads, structures and public services that are needed for a city of area to operate properly Delicate – adj. easily broken or damaged Tectonic plates - n. structures in the Earth’s surface that move, float, and break, causing earthquakes, volcanoes, Nightmare – n. a frightening dream Traffic jam – n. a situation where a long line of vehicles have stopped moving or are moving very slowly Location – n. a position or place Resource – n. something that can be used to increase one’s wealth Era – n. a time or period Nostalgia – n. a desire or longing for something from the past Access – n. permission or ability to en

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China-led Group Wants More Development on Mekong River

  China and five Southeast Asian countries have set goals for developing the Mekong River area, but experts wonder if the group can succeed. Leaders of the five countries met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in early January in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. This was the second leaders’ meeting of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperative. Lancang is the Chinese name for the Mekong. The China-led cooperative was formed in 2015. All six countries on the Mekong River are part of the group. Other members are Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The Chinese premier said that his country would supply benefits to all the group’s members. “We talked about important principles in the meeting,” Li said. “We have to respect each other, and consider each other with equality for common development.” Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen told reporters about plans to create centers for improving water supply and environmental cooperation. He did not provide additional details of the five-year development plan, however. On Thursday, China and Cambodia signed agreements to improve Cambodia’s infrastructure, including a $2 billion deal to build a new expressway. Radio Free Asia noted that, in exchange, Cambodia promised to support China’s goals, including its territorial claims in the South China Sea. Chinese state media say China plans to loan countries billions of dollars for projects on the Mekong. Yet the Lancang-Mekong Cooperative is not the first group to deal with Mekong River issues. The Mekong River Commission (MRC) was formed to guide development on the river. The older group describes itself as an “inter-governmental organization” that works directly with Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam “to jointly manage the shared water resources and the sustainable development of the Mekong River.” China is not a full member and not required to offer its proposals for dam projects to the group. The MRC has been criticized for not doing enough to stop harmful projects on the river. But it is unclear if the Lancang-Mekong Cooperative, or LMC, will do better. Some observers say the LMC is another plan to expand China’s influence in Southeast Asia. China has pushed its Belt and Road initiative, a development plan for Asia, Europe and even Africa. Officials say their aim is to support cooperation and development in many of China’s trading partners. However, the six members of the LMC find it difficult to agree on their individual development projects. Countries downstream -- where the Mekong is widest -- are concerned that too many dams will hurt fisheries and reduce water flow. In 2016, water levels in the Mekong Delta area were extremely low. The lack of water threatened Vietnam’s rice crops. China agreed to increase the flow of water from dams in its territory, causing water levels to rise. An important resource for Southeast Asia The Mekong is Southeast Asia’s longest river. It flows more than 4,000 kilometers from its beginnings in Tibet to its mouth in Vietnam. The Mekong is home to important fisheries. At least 60 million people depend on it for food. It also is important for transportation and energy. China has reportedly built eight dams on the Mekong. The government has plans for at least 20 more. Laos is building two dams and preparing a third, although MRC members have protested. Maureen Harris is Southeast Asia director for International Rivers, an environmental group. She said communities in Thailand and Laos have reported problems linked to the dams for years, but nothing was done. Harris said that, over the past 20 years, dams upstream have changed the natural flood-drought cycle of the river. She said they block dirt and other materials from flowing downstream and hurt ecosystems and fisheries. A 2009 study warned about overdeveloping the river and its tributaries. The study was prepared for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Researchers found that fish on the Mekong would decrease by half if all the proposed projects were built. These include 11 mainstream dams and 78 tributary dams. Ian Baird is an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin. He studies river fisheries on the Mekong. He said LMC’s members would like access to China’s money, but gaining respect and cooperation in the area is more difficult. “Are they willing to give up enough power and say (influence) to the other countries that will make them really want to support this initiative?” he asks. He says it will take time to see how well the cooperative works. I’m Mario Ritter.   David Boyle and Sun Narin reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted their report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   benefit – n. a good outcome of some plan or activity principles – n. guiding beliefs about right and wrong or behavior manage – v. to direct someone or something sustainable - adj. using methods that do not completely use up resources initiative – n. an action, plan or program upstream – adj. or adj. in the direction opposite to the flow of water cycle – n. a process that repeats itself sediment – n. soil that is carried away by water ecosystems – n. environments and the life that depends on them tributaries – n. rivers and streams that flow into larger rivers We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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Everyday Grammar: Check in, Check up

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Review of Level 2 Lessons 11 - 15

Welcome Back It's a new year and you're halfway through Let's Learn English Level 2! Use the links on this page to review the last five lessons and then take the quiz to check your understanding.   Review of Lessons 11 -- 15 Lesson 11: The Big Snow​ Grammar focus: Present Perfect Simple/Continuous; Past Perfect  Topics: Describe actions that have occurred; Describe actions that haven't occurred yet; Discuss duration of activity Learning Strategy: Find / Apply Patterns Lesson 12: Run! Bees!​ Grammar focus: Conditional: Present Real (If _____ Will); Present Unreal (If _____ Would) Topics: Asking for Information; Indicating Uncertainty; Asking for and Giving Reasons; Making Deductions Learning Strategy: Sequence Lesson 13: Save the Bees! Grammar focus: Conditional: Present Real (If _____ Will) and Present Unreal (If _____ Would)​ Topics: Hope-Clauses; Consequences of Actions Discussing Future Events Learning Strategy: Make Predictions Lesson 14: Made for Each Other​ Grammar focus: Connectors: And ... Either So, But, Either (note that there are two different pronunciations of "either" in this conversation: /ˈiːðɚ/ and /ˈaɪðə/ . Both can be used in American English.​ Topics: ​Discussing Feelings; Relationships Learning Strategy: Self-evaluate​ Lesson 15: Before and After Grammar focus: Adverb clauses (using even though, when, since, if, before, after, as, because) Topics: Describing exercise; Indicating misinformation​ Learning Strategy: Access resources   Listening Quiz See how well you understand the latest lessons 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.       Comments How is your progress in Level 2? Are you happy with it? What skills would you like to improve? 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 the Let's Learn English course.

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US Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Honored

  Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American leader of the civil rights movement in the 1960s. King is remembered for his non-violent protests against the unequal treatment of African-Americans. His actions led to equal rights laws for all people. In addition to being an activist, King was a scholar and religious leader – a pastor in the Christian Baptist church. One of the most famous events related to him came in 1963. That year, more the 250,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C. for the “March on Washington.” King spoke to them on the steps of President Abraham Lincoln’s memorial. He delivered a historic address known as the “I Have a Dream” speech. One of the most famous lines from the speech reads: “I have a dream that…one day … little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.” King’s actions helped pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The law ended the legal separation of people by race in public places. The act also banned job discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin. King and other activists watched the president sign the law. ​The Civil Rights Act was important, but it did not address all kinds of racial discrimination. For example, black Americans still did not have the same voting rights as white Americans, especially in southern states. So, in March of 1965, a group of activists in Alabama marched in protest of unequal voting practices. State police attacked the protesters. Some wanted to answer with violence, but King urged peaceful action instead. The events in Alabama pushed Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act. It was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in August of 1965. In the following years, King worked for economic equality. In April 1968, he was attending a workers’ strike in Tennessee. While he was standing outside his hotel room, a sniper shot him in the face. King soon died of his wounds. ​The shooter was identified as a criminal who had escaped from jail. James Earl Ray was a white man who said he hated King. Ray was found guilty and sent to prison. King is remembered for many things, including his focus on nonviolent action to achieve social and political change. In 1986, the U.S. government observed the first Martin Luther King Day. Many Americans have the day off school and work. They are urged to use the time to volunteer in their communities.   Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and achievements are also honored at a memorial. It was dedicated in Washington, D.C. in 2011.   Dorothy Gundy wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   scholar – n. a person who has studied a subject for a long time and knows a lot about it pastor – n. a minister or priest in charge of a church or parish delivered – v. something said officially or publicly address – n. a formal speech basis – n. a reason for doing something origin – n. the place, social situation, or type of family that a person comes from address – v. to give attention to something focus –v. to direct your attention or effort at something specific achieve –v.  to get or reach something by working hard achievements –n.  something that has been done or achieved through effort: a result of hard work   Do you remember and honor a historic person? Who is it and why? Let us know in the Comments Section.  

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College Admissions: Visiting Schools to Learn More

  So many everyday activities in modern life are done over the internet. This includes everything from buying clothes to watching movies to even applying for admission to college. Almost every college and university in the United States now offers some form of internet-based application. And future students can see photographs of schools on their websites. Some even provide video tours. Candidates can find all kinds of information about the schools they hope to attend all over the internet. But Ed Bustos argues that students miss out on a lot when they only use internet information to make their college decisions. Bustos is the director of international admission at Rollins College, a private liberal arts school in Winter Park, Florida. Bustos says the best way to get a detailed look at what life is like at any college or university is by visiting the campus. “We all sound alike on paper and, I think, on websites,” he told VOA. “So what makes us a lot different is when a student can actually visit us, because I think that’s when they see the true differences and uniqueness of each campus.” School visits are very common in the U.S., Bustos notes. Most students begin visiting colleges and universities of interest in the summer before their final year of high school. But, the majority of colleges and universities let interested students and their families visit their campuses at almost any time of year. Busto suggests that students contact the admissions offices of the schools that interest them. Then they can join other visiting candidates for a free guided tour of the campus. Current students usually lead the tours, Bustos notes. Their job is to provide information, offer advice and show future students all the different parts of the campus, such as housing and classrooms. So students should prepare plenty of questions. Bustos adds that students should not limit their questions just to tour guides. He suggests that students should also try to plan a meeting with an admissions official on the same day they come for a tour. Most schools keep a record of all the exchanges they have with candidates, he says. And trying to meet with officials in person to ask them questions shows interest on the part of the applicant, which schools like to see. Bustos also notes that it is never too early to visit a school. He says students should consider visiting any college or university they can. This could be years before they even start thinking about the application process. And it does not matter if the school they visit is the one they have interest in attending, he says. Simply witnessing the college experience in real life can be helpful for young people. That is why Bustos always enjoys seeing applicants bring any younger brothers and sister they might have with them on visits. “It’s very beneficial for them because maybe they can think, ‘Wow, I really need to take my grades seriously, because this is actually achievable,’ he said. “They …always hear about it. But when they actually step on a college campus and get to see it, they’re like, ‘Oh wow, I really need to take this seriously because I need to make this happen. This could be me some day.’” Still, Bustos argues, there is more to visiting a college or university than taking a tour or meeting administrators. After all, he notes, most tours take place over several hours during the morning or middle of the day. That is when most of the current students are in class, so it can often seem like there is no actual student life going on at all. That is why Bustos says Rollins began offering night tours in 2017. That way visitors can see students, professors and employees involved in social activities and sporting events that happen outside of class hours. But he also notes that many colleges and universities in the U.S. are publically operated. This means anyone can enter the campus whenever they want. So interested students can take it upon themselves to see a different side of a school without a representative only showing them what they want people to see. “Pick up the newspaper,” said Bustos. “Go to, maybe, some collegiate events out there. … See what it feels like to go to a play. See what’s going on around campus … Talk to students. Ask them their perspective. Yes, we all train our tour guides to give the best possible tour and show the best side of the university. … But when you go walk on a campus and talk to random students, I think that is a great way to learn … because you’re going … to hear a ‘true’ perspective.” However, Bustos admits that visiting schools may not be a choice available to everyone, especially international students. And he says administrators understand this. So, he says, schools do not punish applicants for not visiting their campuses. Also, if a student is applying to several schools that are similar in size or environment, Bustos suggests visiting only one. That will still help the applicant imagine what it would be like to live and study at such a college or university, while cutting down on travel costs. Finally, for students who are unable to visit any schools they hope to attend, Bustos says there is one additional resource: social media. Many schools use Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to advertise themselves. Current students are often contributors to these social media accounts. Bustos says schools will permit some students to post videos and pictures that show what their daily lives are like at college. These can provide applicants with a view that is almost as good as being there in person. I’m Dorothy Gundy. And I’m Pete Musto.   Pete Musto reported this for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. How common is it for students in your country to visit the colleges and universities they want to attend before they apply? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ QUIZ _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   apply(ing) – v. to ask formally for something, such as a job, admission to a school, or a loan, usually in writing campus – n. the area and buildings around a university, college, or school uniqueness – n. the quality of being unlike anything or anyone else tour – n. an activity in which you go through a place, such as a building or city, in order to see and learn about the different parts of it beneficial – adj. producing good or helpful results or effects grade(s) – n. a number or letter that indicates how a student performed in a class or on a test achievable – adj. able to be done, earned or reached by working hard perspective – n. a way of thinking about and understanding something (such as a particular issue or life in general random – adj. chosen or done without a particular plan or pattern contributor(s) – n. someone who creates something, such as a story, poem, or essay, for a publication

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Time to Get 'Cozy!'

  Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. On this program we discuss the meaning and usage of common expressions in American English. The world can be a cold, cold place. Sometimes the environment is figuratively cold, meaning not cold in temperature but rather cold in feeling. People can be mean. Work can be thankless. Living conditions can be hard. And sometimes the world is literally cold. Temperatures drop. Snow falls from the clouds and sticks to the ground. Ice covers sidewalks and roads. Bitterly cold wind stings your face. Whether your world feels literally or figuratively cold, our program today will give you the language to find comfort and warmth! First, let's talk about our first protection against the cold -- clothing. When the weather is cold, it is important to wear the right clothing. Warm clothes -- a good coat, hat, scarf, and gloves -- can make all the difference. In fact, I've read that Swedish people have this expression: "There is no bad weather only bad clothing." So, when it's cold outside, you need to bundle up! This phrasal verb means to dress warmly. Being underdressed in cold weather can be unpleasant or even dangerous. Parents often tell children to bundle up as advice. "Make sure to bundle up! It's really cold today." Babies bundled up in soft blankets are warm, protected and very cute! After a day out in the cold world, it feels good to come home and change out of your day clothes. Putting on something comfortable, like pajamas, can warm both the body and soul. When we use "comfortable" to describe things like clothing or furniture, we sometimes shorten it to just comfy. For example, "This sweater is so comfy!" or "Your couch is very comfy." Now, a simple pleasure on a cold, winter day is to sit close to a warm fire. If you are lucky enough to be sitting by a fire, wearing comfy clothes, and drinking a cup of hot chocolate, you could say comfy-cozy, toasty-roasty. This sounds like part of a children's song, but it is just a way of saying you are warm and comfortable. If you're really lucky, you have someone to cozy up with. To cozy up to someone means to get physically close to them. Another word for this is to snuggle. After a bad day, it can be warm and comforting to cozy up with a husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, or even your loyal dog or cat.  But this expression has another meaning. To cozy up to someone can mean to start a friendship with someone or simply be nice to them in an attempt to get something. In order to get something you want, you are nice and extra friendly. Let's hear it used in this example. A: Matthew has been so nice to me recently. It's strange. I didn't think he liked me. B: He heard that you will be deciding who goes overseas to work on that big project. So, he's cozying up to you. A: Oh. That explains the box of chocolates he gave me!  So, people can cozy up to others to try to get something they want but so can industries. You may hear “cozy up” when talking about the attempt to influence government officials. For example, to get favorable laws passed, lobbyists may cozy up to lawmakers.  Another way we say this is to get cozy (with someone.) You might hear it used this way. “I see you’ve been getting cozy with the coach lately. Worried about your position on the team, are you?” Now, even though big business and lawmakers often cozy up with each other, we would not describe either of them as warm-and-fuzzy. (Sometimes this word combination is hyphenated. Sometimes it is not.) Something that feels really good after escaping the cold is something warm-and-fuzzy. Fuzzy describes something very soft to the touch – like a puppy or a kitten. So, warm-and-fuzzy clothing can comfort you after dealing with literal cold. But something warm-and-fuzzy can also protect you against figurative cold. For example, a movie can be warm-and-fuzzy. This means it makes you feel good when you watch it. However, we also use this expression to describe someone or something that is really cold or unfeeling. As we said earlier, lobbyists and lawmakers usually aren't warm-and-fuzzy.  Let's hear how it is used in another example: A: "Your roommate sure isn't the warm and fuzzy type, is she?" B: "No, she's not. Last week when I had a cold, she told me not to sneeze so loudly." A: "Now, that's cold." After a bad day -- either a cold or hot one -- many of us just want to get home and escape. My perfect way to escape would be change into my comfy-cozy pajamas, sink into my comfy couch and curl up in front of a fire to watch a warm-and-fuzzy movie. “To curl up” means to make your body into the shape of a ball to keep warm, as a kitten would. Is there anything cuter than a fuzzy, baby animal curling up by its mother? I don't think so. To escape a cold world, you may want to curl up with a cup of hot tea and our next Words and Their Stories.   I'm Anna Matteo. After a bad day in the cold world, how do you find comfort? Practice using the language you heard here. Or practice using "cozy up" to write about people trying to get something they want. You can do both ... in the Comments Section. Big old cups of steaming cider Fall asleep by a cozy fire It's the warm and fuzzy time of year   Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. The song at the end is Billy Gilman singing "Warm and Fuzzy." __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   figuratively – adv. using words not in their normal literal meaning but in a way that makes a description more interesting or impressive literally – adv. with the meaning of each individual word given exactly sting – v. to prick painfully: such as comfort – n. a state or situation in which you are relaxed and do not have any physically unpleasant feelings caused by pain, heat, cold, etc. underdressed – adj. to dress in clothes that are too informal or not warm enough for an occasion cute – adj. having a pleasing and usually youthful appearance soul – n. a person's deeply felt moral and emotional nature slip – v. to lose your balance especially on a slippery surface snuggle – v. to lie or sit close together in a comfortable position industry – n. a group of businesses that provide a particular product or service

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South African Grandmothers Are Boxing to Fight Old Age

Some older women in South Africa are fighting the effects of aging with boxing exercises. They call themselves the grannies. They belong to a boxing group near the South African capital, Johannesburg. The 75-to-80-year-old women are fighting the pains of aging while keeping their bodies fit. Mariam Barie is one of the boxing grannies. "The advice I give to other grannies like me is that they should leave the old way of telling themselves that they are old, and that they are grannies, and to try their best. Just because you are a granny does not mean you need to burden yourself with that word "granny." You need to wake yourself up and show that you are a granny with life." The group started five years ago with a special, aerobic exercise training program.  Nqobile Khumalo is one of the boxing trainers. “We were doing fitness…they saw my gloves. And then they just tried them on. And then since from there, they just never stopped.” Boxer Constance Guban seems to have turned back time. “I feel young. I feel like I’m 16, but my age is 80, yes.” Boxing is more than just good exercise for at least one of the grannies. Germina Maluleka learned recently that she has cancer. She says boxing gives her new hope for the future. "The gym has helped me through my illness. When I was starting out I had a problem with my feet. I used to have swollen feet. Since going to the gym I do not have that problem anymore.  I never used to have a problem with my knees, with my legs, but the gym helped me a lot." The trainers say the grannies are inspiring a younger generation to get fit at an earlier age. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Arash Arabasadi reported this story for VOANews. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   aerobic – adj. strengthening the heart and lungs by making them work hard for several minutes or more boxing – n. the sport of fighting someone with your hands while wearing very thick gloves burden – v.  to make (someone) hold or carry something heavy or accept or deal with something difficult granny – n. an informal term for grandmother inspiring - v.  making someone want to do something; to give someone an idea about what to do or create

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Disease Spreading Among Rohingya at Refugee Camp

  Unclean water, crowded shelters and dirty conditions create a perfect environment at the Balukhali refugee camp for spread of preventable diseases. The camp is in Cox’s Bazaar, a town in southeastern Bangladesh. It is home to some of the estimated 650,000 Rohingya Muslims who fled unrest in neighboring Myanmar. More than 200 mobile vaccination teams have given about 900,000 doses of oral cholera vaccine to the refugees. However, another contagious bacterial infection, diphtheria, has appeared. "Diphtheria is a vaccine preventable disease,” notes Kate Nolan. She works for the international aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders. Nolan added that the appearance of diphtheria shows the Rohingya did not have good health care in Myanmar, also known as Burma. The disease often causes the buildup of a sticky grey-white substance in the nose or throat. The infection makes breathing difficult and damages the heart and central nervous system. Without diphtheria medication, death is possible. Navaratnasamy Paranietharan is the World Health Organization representative to Bangladesh. He says the refugees have low vaccination rates. He believes conditions in the camp could lead to the appearance of “infectious diseases like cholera, measles, rubella and diphtheria.” Health care in Myanmar is considered among the worst in the world, especially in areas where conflict and poverty have delayed medical development. The Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar's northern Rakhine state after militants attacked security forces in late August. Myanmar’s military answered the attack with an operation that some observers have called ethnic cleansing. Myanmar's government denies it is involved in ethnic cleansing. The government says a majority of the violence and burning of Rohingya villages was the work of Rohingya militants who attacked security forces. “Just a small amount of the needs were being met, even before the attacks in August," noted Chris Lewa, an expert on Rohingya. Lewa is with the Arakan Project, a human rights organization that studies and documents the situation. She said that health care in Rakhine state was very bad before the violence. According to Lewa, the Rohingya from northern Rakhine say Myanmar medical workers at government hospitals discriminate against them. And they said they face severe restrictions on movement when traveling to health care centers. Lewa pointed to Myanmar's Maungdaw District, where the army carried out what it called "clearance operations" after deadly militant attacks last year. Health centers set up by international non-governmental organizations in Maungdaw have been burned to the ground, Lewa said. She added that this will make it even more difficult for the Rohingya Muslims if and when they are allowed to return.” Currently, international non-governmental organizations are not permitted to operate in the areas outside Maungdaw. Doctors Without Borders has reacted to the spread of diphtheria in Bangladesh by building treatment centers at the Balukhali refugee camp. Nolan said doctors are concerned about public health at the camp. Now, those who have come in contact with the bacterium must get antibiotics and other drugs to prevent the further spread of the disease and kill it. "We need to find all the suspected cases in the camps and get them all here to start the antibiotic treatment and keep them isolated for 48 hours," said doctor Thomas Hansen. Because the disease spreads easily, medical workers must quarantine the sick and then visit the patient's family to know if they also have the disease. Doctors Without Borders and its health partners are working together to find and quarantine suspected cases. One of the biggest problems for health workers is getting to rural areas where the disease can spread. With the arrival of the 650,000 refugees, new camp housing is being built well beyond the main roadways. "They live in areas that are difficult to reach," said Dagne Hordvei, team leader with the Norwegian Red Cross. "We have an agreement with [Doctors Without Borders] that we take the measles patients from them, and they take the diphtheria patients, with lots of activity going out to the communities to try to reduce the speed of the spreading of diphtheria." As Bangladesh's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launches a vaccination campaign to prevent diphtheria, it appears that at least some of the young Rohingya will have protection from preventable diseases. As of December 21, Doctors Without Borders has observed more than 2,000 diphtheria cases in its health centers, and the number is rising. Most of the patients are between the ages of 5 and 14 years old. More than 20 Rohingya in Bangladesh have died from the disease. I'm Susan Shand.   _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   dose - n. the amount of a medicine, drug, or vitamin that is taken at one time contagious - adj. able to be passed from one person or animal to another by touching ethnic cleansing - n. the practice of removing or killing people who belong to an ethnic group that is different from the ruling group in a country or region isolate – v. to separate or set apart from others quarantine - n. the period of time during which a person or animal that has a disease or that might have a disease is kept away from others to prevent the disease from spreading    

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