Man Hopes to Define Every English Word with a Limerick

  There are many different methods for studying languages and learning new words. One man has come up with his own unusual way to define the meanings of words - through rhyming. He uses words that end with the same sound or a similar sound. Chris Strolin, an American from Belleville, Illinois, is working on an English language reference guide completely made up of limericks. A limerick is a humorous five-line poem with an orderly structure of rhymes. A limerick follows a set of rules. The last words in lines one, two and five must sound alike. The last words in lines three and four must rhyme with each other. Lines one, two and five must have nine sounds or parts, while lines three and four must have six syllables. Strolin says the idea for his dictionary started out as a joke when he suggested it to some of his language-loving friends. His joke centered on the Oxford English Dictionary, a highly-respected publication produced in Britain. It defines 600,000 words. Strolin told his friends that while the Oxford dictionary was good, it could be improved. His not-so-serious suggestion was to use limericks. In 2004, he decided to launch his own limerick dictionary online. He called it, The Omnificent English Dictionary in Limerick Form. “It is a international dictionary-writing project in which our goal is to write at least one original limerick for every single definition of every single word in the English language.” Strolin started out with a limerick definition of the word “a.” It simply began with the words, “The very first word here is a…” From there, he just kept going and has not stopped since.   “The limerick is probably the most reader friendly of all types of poetry,” he told the Associated Press. “It’s also one of the easiest forms of poetry to write.” Strolin, a retired Air Force radio operator, explains that the best limericks in his dictionary “will clearly define their words in a humorous or interesting way.” But he admits some limericks are meant more for fun than to provide the best possible definitions. Since the project is massive, Strolin invited others to come up with and add their own limericks to the dictionary. The reaction to his appeal was huge. About 1,000 people have contributed examples for the effort. To date, more than 97,000 rhyming definitions have been created, with the number expected to reach 100,000 this year.    One of the most active contributors is Andrew Besso of Jericho, Vermont. He began creating limerick definitions in late 2015. “I’ve been writing a limerick a day, or sometimes two, for a while now,” Besso said. “Usually the way I decide what to write is by choosing from lists of words that haven’t been defined yet. I won’t tackle a word that’s already been defined unless I’ve got something to add.” Here, Besso reads his limerick definition for “armed robber.” “An armed robber came into our shop, And he brandished a knife at my pop. He demanded some cash, Told us not to be rash, Then got Tased by an off-duty cop.”   Another limerick writer is Rory Ewins, who reads his definition for "CCTV."  "What's to fear from a camera or three And appearing on CCTV? Having every move tracked Is a comfort, in fact. Why, the state's like a brother to me."   In addition to his publishing duties, Strolin says, he also tries to write at least one limerick each day. But he thinks some of the best definitions come from people all over the world. Here he reads one of his favorite limericks for the word “adult,” created by writer Bill Middleton.   “As a kid, I was wild and a clown. As a teen, I would dash about town. Now adult, I shall go Very cautious and slow. Goes to prove: what grows up must calm down.”   To simplify the collection and publishing process, Strolin decided to keep adding new limericks in alphabetical order. Currently, the dictionary stops after the letter G.    Strolin says he believes the unusual dictionary - once completed - will be used by language lovers for years to come. “There’s no doubt in my mind people are going to be reading and enjoying our limericks 200 to 300 years from now,” he said. The dictionary itself will be growing for many years to come. Strolin estimates his project will not be fully completed until 2076 – long after he is gone. He said he hopes his grandchildren, or maybe their children, will want to take over the project and finish it. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on a report from the Associated Press and other sources. George Grow was the editor. If you like limericks and have an idea for your own, we would love to see it here. Please share it with us! You can also visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ QUIZ ​_________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   original – adj. special and interesting because of not being the same as others contribute – v. to donate or provide something tackle – v. to deal with something difficult brandish – v. to wave something in the air, especially a weapon pop – n. a person’s father rash – adj. done or made quickly and without thought about what will happen as a result tase – v. to shoot with a Taser gun clown – n. a performer who wears funny clothes and makes people laugh by performing tricks dash – v. to run or move quickly or suddenly doubt – n. a feeling of not knowing what to believe or what to do  

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In Japan, Saying ‘Me Too’ Comes With Risks

  In the United States, a movement known as #MeToo has been urging women and men to speak out against sexual abuse, especially in the workplace. The goal is to end sexual wrongdoing. But the movement has not been as successful in Japan. Women there who speak out against sexual abuse are more likely to receive criticism than sympathy. Just ask Rika Shiiki, a 20-year-old university student and business entrepreneur. She wrote on Twitter last year that she had lost business contracts because she refused to have sex with clients. Most answers she received on Twitter were not kind, she said. Many social media users accused her of lying and seeking publicity. Some said that by agreeing to have dinner with a client, she led him to believe that she was open to having sex. Shiiki said on a Japanese television show in December: “We need to create a society where we can speak up." Otherwise, she said, sexual harassment and other wrongdoing will continue forever. Speak up or stay silent?  Japanese society is controlled mostly by men, says Mari Miura. She is a political science professor at Sophia University in Tokyo. Miura says Japanese women are used to taking the blame. So, she says, instead of seeking justice or support, Japanese sexual abuse victims try to forget the events ever happened. “Japan lacks such a sisterhood,” she said. Speaking up is tiring and intimidating, Miura notes, so victims naturally fear talking publicly about their abuse. A recent Japanese government study found that one in 15 Japanese women say they have been raped. However, nearly 75 percent of them had never told anyone. And only four percent said they had reported the attack to police. Legal experts say the victims may not want to share information that feels private, or to risk losing their jobs. And their cases may not be prosecuted anyway. Official numbers from Japan’s Justice Ministry show that only one-third of rape cases go to court. For attackers who are found guilty, punishment is rarely severe. Only 17 percent of the people who were tried for sexual assault last year were sent to prison for three years or longer. Saori Ikeuchi is an activist and former lawmaker. She said Japanese society discourages women from speaking out or saying “no” to many things, including unwanted sex. She said that mindset silenced nearly all of Japan’s so-called “comfort women,” who were abused as sex workers for the wartime military. Japan has shown little sympathy to victims from Korea and other countries, Ikeuchi added. Shiori Ito’s story Last year, reporter Shiori Ito went public with her story of sexual abuse. She said that, in 2015, she was raped by well-known television reporter Noriyuki Yamaguchi. Ito said the attack happened after Yamaguchi invited her to eat dinner and discuss job possibilities. Many online commenters criticized Ito for speaking out. Some writers wrote that she looked “seductive” and that she ruined Yamaguchi’s life. Some women called her an embarrassment, Ito told the Associated Press. Yamaguchi has denied any wrongdoing. And local government lawyers decided not to press charges against him. Later, Ito requested a panel to review the decision to drop the case. The panel said they agreed with the decision not to press charges against Yamaguchi. However, opposition lawmakers are now investigating the events, seeking to find if the charges were dropped because of Yamaguchi’s connection to powerful public officials. In the meantime, Ito has filed a civil lawsuit against Yamaguchi. And last October, she released a book called “Blackbox.” It included details about the reported rape and the problems she says she faced getting help afterwards. Ito said that she visited a women’s medical center the day after the attack. Its doctors and workers were not trained to support rape victims, she said. In addition, she said a rape victim support center refused to give her help over the phone. And when she went to the police, officers required her to describe the attack repeatedly and to demonstrate it with a life-sized doll, she said. Ito’s book release came as the #MeToo movement was making news in America. It led to some discussion in Japan, but only a small number of other women came forward to discuss their experiences of sexual violence. Yukiko Tsunoda is a lawyer and sex crimes expert. She said that “many people think [Ito’s] problem has nothing to do with them...and that’s why #MeToo isn’t growing in Japan.” She said women in Japan who are sexually abused are often called “the flawed.” Support and understanding for victims Mika Kobayashi is a rape victim. She runs a self-help group that has shared thousands of #MeToo experiences, but only anonymously among themselves. Kobayashi says she was pushed into a car and raped on her way home in 2000. She reported the attack to police, but the attacker has not been found. She has since published books about her recovery from the attack to educate the public. She says her aim is to provide support and understanding for victims, and not to be an activist. “I used to think of myself as someone hiding a big secret, a sex assault victim and unclean,” she said. “I’m so grateful I could connect with fellow victims. They gave me strength.” But she said she understands that some victims may not want to speak up and share their stories. “I respect any decision that makes a victim feel most comfortable,” Kobayashi said. I’m Ashley Thompson. And I'm Caty Weaver.    The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   client - n.​ a person who pays a professional person or organization for services intimidating - adj.​ causing fear mindset - n. a particular way of thinking : a person's attitude or set of opinions about something seductive - adj. sexually attractive​ doll - n. a child's toy in the form of a baby or small person​ flawed - adj.  having a mistake, fault, or weakness panel - n. a group of people with special knowledge, skill, or experience who give advice or make decisions file - v. to give (something, such as an official form or a legal document) to someone in authority so that it can be considered, dealt with, approved, etc. lawsuit - n. a process by which a court of law makes a decision to end a disagreement between people or organizations anonymously - adv. not named or identified​ grateful - adj. feeling or showing thanks​ comfortable  - adj. not causing any physically unpleasant feelings

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North Korea Says No Need for Nuclear Program if Military Threats Disappear

A South Korean official says North Korea has suggested there was no need to keep its nuclear program if military threats against the country are removed. He added that North Korea expressed a willingness to hold talks with the United States. South Korea's top security advisor, Chung Eui-yong, made the comments to reporters in Seoul Tuesday. Chung heads the National Security Office and is the government’s special representative to North Korea. He spoke after a South Korean delegation returned from a two-day trip to the North. Chung met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the visit. The South Korean official said the two sides agreed on plans for a summit between the leaders of North and South Korea in late April. The meeting would be the first face-to-face talks between their leaders in more than 10 years. Chung added that North Korea said it was open to discussing denuclearization and normalizing relations with the U.S. government. Reaction to the Pyongyang talks Commenting on the recent developments involving North Korea, President Donald Trump on Tuesday tweeted, ‘We will see what happens.” Trump later added, “The World is watching and waiting! May be false hope, but the U.S. is ready to go hard in either direction!” Last week, Trump reacted to a North Korean idea for talks with the U.S, by saying that will happen only “under the right conditions.” Earlier Tuesday, South Korean President Moon expressed hope that improving relations with North Korean can lead to denuclearization talks between the North and the U.S. He also spoke about Monday’s meeting in Pyongyang between Chung, his special representative to North Korea and Kim Jong Un. Moon described those talks as the beginning of a larger diplomatic process. After meeting with Moon, Chung planned to travel to Washington for talks with U.S. officials. North Korea’s official news agency KCNA described Monday’s meeting in positive terms. It said Kim voiced his “firm will to vigorously advance" between the two Koreas. The news agency added that the two sides discussed “easing the acute military tensions on the Korean Peninsula” and that they “made a satisfactory agreement.” An official in Seoul’s presidential Blue House said the “agreement” meant plans for a leaders’ summit, and not talks with the U.S. Military exercises South Korea is in a race against time to advance talks between North Korea and the U.S. before tensions likely increase again in April. That is when South Korea and the U.S. are expected to hold joint military exercises. In recent weeks, North Korea has acted with restraint by suspending missile and nuclear tests, and expressing a willingness to ease tensions with South Korea. The North also sent a delegation to South Korea for the recent winter Olympics. Observers say the Kim government’s sudden support of cooperation was also likely part of a plan to split the U.S.-South Korea alliance. They also believe he hoped to weaken international support for sanctions against the North. The U.S. also showed support for the reduced tensions during the Olympics by agreeing to postpone joint military exercises. But the Olympic truce could come to an end in April when the joint exercises are planned. The North Korean government has warned it will react to the exercises, which it claims are evidence of plans for invasion. Some observers believe the military exercises could be delayed or reduced in scope. South Korean National Defense Ministry refused to say whether plans for the exercises could be changed as part of a diplomatic deal.     Brian Padden reported this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted his report for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   denuclearization – n. removal of nuclear arms from an area positive – adj. Hopeful; good or useful advance – v. to move forward sanction – n. a measure or action that results from failure to obey a rule or law scope – n. space for action or thought; extent of treatment or activity   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Young Brains of Super-Agers

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle Report. As we age, our ability to think and remember starts to deteriorate. But not everyone. Some of us have brains that age more slowly. Enter the super-ager! Super-agers are people over the age of 80 who have the brain structures and abilities of much younger people. Eighty-seven-year-old Bill Gurolnick is a super-ager. "What do I feel like? If I was to give a number, I probably feel like I'm about my early 70s..." Scientists know that parts of the brain decrease in size with age. But in super-agers that process is much slower. Emily Rogalski is a neuroscientist at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, in Chicago, Illinois. In a recent study, she showed that super-agers have young brains. The area of the brain responsible for attention and memory -- the cortex -- was shown to be thicker in super-agers.     "When we look at the cortex of their brain, we see that, on average, that it looks more like a 50-year-old brain than it looks like an average 80-year-old brain..." Not only do super-agers have thicker cortexes, they have more von Economo neurons. These large brain cells appear to be involved with social-emotional communication. But their exact purpose is still a mystery. Scientists writing for Smithsonian magazine also call them spindle neurons, and say they are "brain cells for socializing." Several factors affect how our brains age Scientists say super-agers have several things in common, including an active lifestyle. Many travel and play sports. They are often big readers. And they usually have healthy relationships and spend time with friends. Super-agers also seem to have certain common personality traits. Rogalski says they are, for the most part, known for their optimism, resilience and perseverance. Growing old, she adds, does not have to be depressing and sad. "Perhaps, if we expected a bit better from ourselves, then we would understand that not all aging is 'doom and gloom..." As lead investigator of the study, Rogalski jokingly said that super-agers do not grow on trees -- meaning they are special and few. She says she wants to find out the reasons Gurolnick's mind is working so well and not aging as quickly as most. Gurolnick’s own father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his 50s. Solving this mystery, Rogalski says, may help those who suffer from brain diseases such as Alzheimer's. "We think if we can understand the factors contributing to super-aging, it may offer new hypotheses and new ways to explore the challenges in Alzheimer's disease." Can we all be super-agers? The science behind super-aging is a relatively new, but growing field. Scientists involved in the research offer this advice as we age: Stay active. Learn new things. Challenge yourself. Surround yourself with healthy relationships. And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo.   Anna Matteo wrote this story for Learning English with information from a report by George Putic for VOA News. Caty Weaver was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Quiz _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   deteriorate – v. to become worse as time passes optimism – n. a feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future : a feeling or belief that what you hope for will happen resilience – n. the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens perseverance – n. the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult doom and gloom – phrase a general feeling that nothing is going to work out or be good diagnose - v. to discover; to confirm through testing contributing – adj. to help to cause something to happen challenge – n. a difficult task or problem

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Oscars Honoring, Correcting Past History

  The 90th Academy Awards honored the best films of 2017. Mexican director Guillermo del Toro was the big winner with the Best Picture and Best Director Oscars for his film “The Shape of Water.” But more importantly, the show from Hollywood aired live on television as planned with speeches, old film and appeals for female solidarity. There were no protests or mistakes, unlike last year when Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty announced the wrong winner for Best Picture. Jimmy Kimmel hosted the ceremony at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre. And three actresses, Ashley Judd, Salma Hayek and Annabella Sciorra, appeared together before a video showing a changing Hollywood industry. They were among the several women who accused producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual abuse. The video showed Greta Gerwig, only the fifth woman to ever be nominated for best director. It also had Yance Ford, the first transgender nominee for “Strong Island,” Dee Rees, whose “Mudbound” received a cinematographer nomination and the Pakistani-born Kumail Nanjiani for “The Big Sick.” The program avoided problems when actor Casey Affleck, last year’s Best Actor winner, stayed home, rather than follow tradition and present the Best Actress award. Affleck has been accused of sexual misbehavior. Instead Jodie Foster and Jennifer Lawrence presented the Best Actress Oscar. Special Oscars moments Walking joyously onto the stage, 86-year-old Rita Moreno wore the same dress from the 1962 ceremony. She had worn the dress 56 years ago to receive the Best Supporting Actress for “West Side Story.” James Ivory became the oldest Oscar-winner at the age of 89. He won for his screenplay “Call Me By Your Name.” And Christopher Nolan’s World War II film “Dunkirk” received three technical awards. Chile’s “A Fantastic Woman,” which starred the transgender actress Daniela Vega, won best foreign film. Disney and Pixar’s celebration of Mexican culture, “Coco,” took best animated feature, as well as best song for “Remember Me.” Jordan Peele became the first African-American to win best original screenplay for his horror film “Get Out.” Peele said he stopped writing it “20 times,” because he did not think it would get made. “But I kept coming back to it because I knew if someone would let me make this movie, that people would hear it and people would see it,” said Peele. Frances McDormand used her appearance on stage to speak on behalf of women. The Best Actress winner asked, “If I may be so honored to have all the female nominees stand with me.” “We all have stories to tell,” she said. I'm Anna Matteo.   Susan Shand adapted this story for Learning English based on AP news reports. Hai Do was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   solidarity - n. a feeling of unity among people who have the same interst, goal transgender – adj. of or relating to people who feel that their true nature does not match their sex at birth joyously - adv. feeling or showing great happiness

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Trump Is 'Not Backing Down' on Tariffs Plan

U.S. President Donald Trump said he is “not backing down” on his plan to raise taxes, known as tariffs, on imported steel and aluminum. However, members of his Republican Party and leaders around the world are warning the taxes are not a good idea. The president has said products from Canada and Mexico, two of the largest steel exporters to the U.S., would face the tax just like all other countries. But he suggested that he might be willing to exempt the two countries if they agreed to different terms for the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. “No, we’re not backing down,” Trump said in the Oval Office during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We’ve had a very bad deal with Mexico, we’ve had a very bad deal with Canada — it’s called NAFTA,” Trump said. Trump made his comments after a spokeswoman for House Speaker Paul Ryan said the Republican leader was “extremely worried” about a trade war. She added that Ryan urged the president “to not advance with this plan.” The Trump administration says the tariffs are necessary to support American industries that are important to national security. But the president’s comments and messages on Twitter have suggested that he is seeking to influence talks on NAFTA. The latest round of a nearly yearlong renegotiation effort is coming to an end this week in Mexico City. Trump tweeted, “Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum will only come off if new & fair NAFTA agreement is signed. Also, Canada must treat our farmers much better. Highly restrictive. Mexico must do much more on stopping drugs from pouring into the U.S.” ​ ​Reactions to tariffs plan Trump’s announcement last week that he would place tariffs on steel and aluminum imports unsettled the stock markets and angered allies. The U.S. military has asked for targeted tariffs on metal imports from countries like China. It warned that tariffs on all countries would hurt national security partnerships with some countries. But other officials supported a tariff without exceptions. Speaking on a Fox news program, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said: “25 percent on steel, and the 10 percent on aluminum, no country exclusions — firm line in the sand.” Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said the sweeping action would let China “off the hook.” He also said it would divide the U.S. and its allies. Jean-Claude Juncker is president of the European Commission. He said the European Union could answer by taxing American goods including whiskey, blue jeans, and Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Trump replied by threatened to tax European cars if the EU raises tariffs on American products. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross called threats from American allies “pretty trivial” and not much more than a “rounding error.” Douglas Irwin is a Dartmouth College economist. He recently published the book “Clashing Over Commerce: A History of U.S. Trade Policy.” He told the Associated Press, “Usually, all sides lose in a trade war. Trade shrinks as countries pile on barriers in an effort to remedy some grievance, with consumers paying the price.” Trump administration officials said Monday that the tariffs will be made official in the next two weeks.     Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on AP news reports. Mario Ritter was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   tariffs –n. taxes on good coming into or leaving a country exempt –v. to say that one person or group does not have to do something that all others have to do advance –v. to carry forward exceptions –n. cases where the rule does not apply exclusions –n. cases not included along with the others sweeping –adj. something broad or general, not applying to only a few trivial –adj. of little importance pile –v. to continue to add things making a pile grievance –n. statements of dissatisfaction with a situation or process consumers –n. people who buy goods and services    

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South Korean Officials Meet with North Korean Leader Kim

  Special envoys for South Korean President Moon Jae-in reportedly met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Monday. Moon’s office said the envoys were to meet with North Korean officials and to attend a dinner hosted by Kim. Observers note that this would be unusual for a North Korean leader. Kim has not met with any foreign leaders since he took power in 2011 after the death of his father Kim Jong il. Moon’s national security advisor, Chung Eui-Yong, led the 10-member delegation. The head of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service is also in the delegation. The group traveled on a rare direct flight from Seoul to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital. The envoys brought a message from Moon about removing all nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula and peace between the two Koreas. Chung spoke to reporters before leaving for the trip. He said he would “deliver President Moon’s firm resolve to achieve a denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and genuine and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.” Chung said he would seek “in-depth” discussions to find a way to restart talks between North Korea and the U.S. “For this, we plan to have in-depth discussion not only on South-North talks, but also ways to continue talks between North Korea and the international community, including the United States,” he said. However, the diplomatic effort faces North Korean opposition to planned military drills to be held between the South and the U.S. in April. North Korea’s KCNA news agency warned that the North would, in its words, “counter the U.S.” if it holds the joint exercises as currently planned. The military joint exercises were postponed because of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea last month. Kim Jong Un sent his sister and chief of state Kim Yong Nam to the opening ceremonies of the Games. He also sent high-level party official Kim Yong Chol to the closing ceremonies. Moon spoke by telephone with U.S. President Donald Trump about the visit last week. After the two-day visit is complete, the South Korean special envoys are to travel to the U.S. to discuss their contact with the North. North Korean officials have told Moon that they are willing to restart talks with the U.S. And the U.S. president has said he also is willing to hold talks, but only “under the right conditions.” The U.S. placed another set of sanctions on the North last month that target individuals, companies and ships. Those restrictions are in addition to United Nations Security Council sanctions put in place since early 2016. I’m Mario Ritter.   Mario Ritter adapted this for VOA Learning English based on AP and VOA news reports. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   envoy –n. a person sent by a government to represent it in talks with another government determination –n. the quality of continuing to work or try at something that is difficult genuine –adj. real, true or honest drills –n. practice or exercises done to increase preparation and skills sanctions –n. punishments usually in the form of trade restrictions meant to force a country to obey international law We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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US Aircraft Carrier Makes First Visit to Vietnam Since War

  An American aircraft carrier has arrived at a Vietnamese port for the first time since the Vietnam War. The USS Carl Vinson arrived Monday in the central city of Danang and will remain for several days. Two other U.S. Navy ships are also visiting. The carrier has more than 5,000 crew members. The U.S. carrier’s vis it was first announced in January during a visit to Vietnam by U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. The two countries normalized relations in 1995 and have greatly expanded ties in many areas. A U.S. arms embargo was lifted in 2016. The arrival of the USS Carl Vinson marks the biggest U.S. military presence in Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. The U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, Daniel Kritenbrink, said in a statement the historic visit shows the “dramatic progress” in U.S.-Vietnamese relations in recent years. “Through hard work, mutual respect, and by continuing to address the past while we work toward a better future, we have gone from former enemies to close partners,” the ambassador added. The first U.S. Marines arrived in Danang in 1965, marking the start of major American involvement in the Vietnam War. About 58,000 American soldiers and an estimated 3 million Vietnamese were killed in the war. Danang was a major U.S. military base during that time. It is now Vietnam’s third-largest city and a place many people visit for vacation. Some city residents said they welcomed the Navy visit. “During the war, I was scared when I saw American soldiers,” 55-year-old Tran Thi Luyen told the Associated Press. He operates a small shop in the city. “Now the aircraft carrier comes with a completely different mission, a mission of peace and promoting economic and military cooperation between the two countries,” he said. Huynh Quang Nguyen, a taxi driver, said he was “happy and excited” about the visit. “Increased cooperation between the two countries in economic, diplomatic and military areas would serve as a counterbalance to Beijing’s,” he said. He was speaking about the growing influence of China across the region. China has been building up man-made islands in the South China Sea in recent years that can support military structures. The expansion has angered Vietnam and other nations in the area which also have territorial claims in the South China Sea. Le Hong Hiep is with the Singapore-based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. He told the Associated Press the Carl Vinson’s visit can be a clear sign to China that the U.S. is committed to keeping strong ties in the area. “Although the visit is mainly symbolic and would not be able to change China’s behavior - especially in the South China Sea - it is still necessary in conveying the message that the U.S. will be there to stay,” he said. Le, however, added that China knows Vietnam is not likely to side with the U.S. militarily to challenge Chinese expansion. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Mario Ritter 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   dramatic – adj. attracting attention: causing people to carefully look or listen, while often showing a lot of emotion mutual – adj. shared between two or more people or groups counterbalance – n. adding balance to something by being opposite symbolic – adj. expressing or representing something without using words convey – v. make something known to someone challenge – v. to say or show that something may not be true or correct  

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Anti-EU Parties Win in Italy, Not Enough to Govern

  Two anti-European Union parties appear to be the biggest winners in Italy’s parliamentary elections on Sunday. However, neither parties, Movimento 5 Stelle, or M5S,  and Lega, have received enough seats in Parliament to govern the country alone. Early projections say that M5S will be the largest single party with about 32 percent of the vote. The M5S did not even exist 10 years ago. The right-wing coalition of Lega and Forza Italia appear to have earned 36 percent of the vote. Forza Italia is an established party of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. It was also clear that Italian voters rejected the ruling Democratic Party’s message that the economy had improved under its government. The pro-European Union party suffered the biggest losses this election. As the results arrived, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen celebrated the strong showing of the Lega party. She tweeted: "The spectacular advance and top showing of the League [Lega] coalition led by our ally and friend Matteo Salvini is a new stage in the awakening of the people!" The results of Sunday’s elections will not be seen as good news for migrants in Italy. The two winning parties have supported efforts to stop migration and increase deportations.   An unclear political future The outcome of the vote, leaving no party with a clear majority, creates political uncertainty for Italy.  Some political experts say Italy would face a political revolution if M5S and the Lega formed a coalition government. But others think it is not likely to happen. An advisor to Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella said, “many in M5S just won't sit at the same table as the Lega.” It is also possible that Italy may be left with the same Prime Minister as before the election, Paolo Gentiloni. The 63-year-old Gentiloni is widely seen as one of the few politicians with the diplomatic ability to manage current Italian politics. Some experts say Mattarella will likely pick Gentiloni to lead a coalition government if the winning parties cannot form a government among themselves. The new Italian parliament will meet for the first time on March 23. And President Mattarella is not expected to open formal talks on forming a government until early April. I’m Phil Dierking.   Jaime Dettmer wrote this story for VOA News. Phil Dierking adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Do you think two populist parties can agree on enough issues to run the government?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   deportation - n. to force (a person who is not a citizen) to leave a country​ spectacular - adj. causing wonder and admiration​ uncertain - adj. not exactly known or decided​

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Study: Ebola Crisis Damaged Liberian Health Care System

  A new study says more than 100,000 malaria cases went untreated in Liberia during the height of the Ebola crisis. The deadly virus spread in West Africa for two years beginning in 2014. The disease killed about 11,000 people. But it also severely affected basic health care services. Ebola kills about half of those it infects. It causes flu-like effects first, then vomiting and diarrhea. It can lead to severe bleeding both inside and outside the body. The disease spreads through contact with an infected person’s body fluids. Three countries were mainly affected in the West African spread: Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. None were well-prepared to deal with the event. Many clinics did not even have the protective tools needed to safely deal with Ebola patients, like gloves and face masks. Bradley Wagenaar was the lead researcher of the University of Washington study. “Rightfully so, people were afraid to go to the clinic because they might get Ebola when they’re at the clinic.”  The team looked at records from 379 clinics outside the Liberian capital, Monrovia. The records covered a period from 2010 through 2016. Wagenaar says the researchers saw what he called a “huge, dramatic decrease” in basic health care services early in the outbreak. They found measles vaccinations dropped by 67 percent, malaria prevention fell by 61 percent and 35 percent fewer women got early pregnancy care. The researchers say it took a full year and a half for health services to return to the levels they were before the Ebola outbreak.   Lost possibilities The researcher estimate that a loss of a possible 750,000 clinic visits took place during the crisis. That includes more than 5,000 births at health care centers. Liberia already suffers one the world’s highest maternal death rates. The research suggests that about 100,000 malarial treatments were lost, as well. Wagenaar says the number suggest the losses also of other usual services, like mosquito control and protection devices. “Some of those other things didn’t happen during the Ebola outbreak because the health system and other partners were busy with other issues. And now, the cases have been increasing.” In December 2017, malaria cases were 50 percent higher than they were before the Ebola crisis. Wagenaar says the research shows how much more attention is needed to continue basic services during a health emergency. The research on Liberia’s health care services could be used during future outbreaks. Wagenaar’s team hopes it might help health care officials decide what services are most important to continue in an emergency. I'm Rachel Dennis. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   vomit – v. a sickness that causes food, liquid, etc., in your stomach to come out through your mouth​ diarrhea – n. a sickness that causes the body to expel waste often and in liquid rather than solid form​ clinic – n. a place where people get medical help​ outbreak – n. the sudden start or increase of a disease or fighting maternal – adj. of or relating to a woman who is having a baby​ We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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How to Pronounce the Sound /r/

Follow John Russell to learn how to pronounce the /r/ sound.

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