English in a Minute: Turn the Tables

When should you "turn the tables?" Find out how to use this expression in this week's English in a Minute!

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The Longest Living Vertebrate is… a Shark

  New research found the longest living animal on Earth with a backbone is  – a shark. The research, published in Science magazine, found the Greenland shark is the longest living vertebrate – or animal with a backbone-- in the world. The gray-colored sharks live in the cold waters of the Arctic and are named after Greenland, the world’s largest island. After examining one of these sharks, scientists decided it was born in the icy waters about 400 years ago, and only died recently. An international team of biologists and physicists was able to estimate the ages of 28 dead female Greenland sharks by studying the lenses of their eyes. It is a new way to learn the age of an animal. Eight of the sharks were probably 200 years old or more, and could even have been 300 years old. That would make them older than the bowhead whale, which earlier was believed to have been the oldest vertebrate at about 211 years old, according to the Associated Press. This also means Greenland sharks can live more than three times longer than humans. Many people these days can expect to live into their eighties. African elephants average about 70 years. The oldest of the Greenland sharks the scientists studied was nearly 5 meters long. It was thought to have been 392 years old when it was caught four years ago.  But because the testing method is so new, it is not exact.  The study’s lead author is Julius Nielsen, a marine biologist from Denmark. He says the 392 number could be off by as much as 120 years in either direction. That means the shark was probably born sometime between the years 1500 and 1740, with 1620 being the most likely. "It's an estimate. It's not a determination," Nielsen said. "It is the best we can do." Even at the lowest age, the shark would have been 272 years old when it died, and still would be the longest-living animal with a backbone, Nielsen said. "I don't know why they get as old, but I hope someone will find out," Nielsen said. Christopher Lowe is director of the shark lab at California State University in Long Beach. He was not part of the study, but praised it. In an email to AP, Lowe wrote that he is not surprised that Greenland sharks live a long time.  But, he said, "I'm really shocked by the magnitude of that longevity."   Lowe said that when the water is deep and cold, that usually means fish can live a long time. Why? It could be because the cold water slows down an animal’s metabolism—or the way it processes food into energy. While Greenland sharks are among the largest fish in the world, they only grow about one centimeter a year. That fact caught Nielson’s attention and he decided to find a way to determine their age. To get the age estimates, Nielsen and his team used a complex system that combines chemical tests, mathematical models and growth measurements. The research also suggested the female Greenland sharks do not mate and have babies until they are about 150 years old. That may not be good news, because the Greenland sharks may not have many young. If too many are caught, the species could die out. The scientists worry that the sharks are being caught up and killed with other species by commercial fisheries. Some animals without backbones can live even longer. A clam, found in waters off Iceland, lived to be 507 years old. And scientists say some sponges are estimated to be more than 2,000 years old. I’m Anne Ball, and I'm Bryan Lynn. Kevin Enochs wrote this story for VOA. Anne Ball wrote it for Learning English with information from the Associated Press. Pete Heinlein was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _________________________________________________________________   Words in This Story vertebrate – n. animal with a backbone lens – n. the clear part of the eye that focuses light to see images determination – n. finding out or calculating something magnitude – n. the size or importance of something longevity – n. the length of life metabolism – n. the process that a living thing makes food and water into energy

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Wheels: An Invention Worth Exploring

  Now, the weekly program Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. On this program, we explore the history and usage of common expressions in American English. Today we explore expressions using the word “wheel.” The first wheels, it is believed, were not used for transportation. They were created to serve as potter’s wheels around 3500 B.C. in Mesopotamia. The invention of the wheel was a big deal for humanity. And we can be proud of our ancient human ancestors. So, after going through all that trouble of inventing something like the wheel, it is foolish to reinvent it. This gives us our first expression: to reinvent the wheel. To reinvent the wheel means to waste a lot of time or effort to create something that already exists. For example, in the United States there are many schools that have Parent Teacher Associations (PTA.) These groups let parents help teachers in many different way. So, if you are a parent who wants to start a PTA at your child’s school, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You can simply copy the structure already created by many thousands of parents many times over. However, one man actually did reinvent the wheel. By 2001, Australia had introduced a new, online patent system. This system did not require a lawyer. So, a patent lawyer in Australia wanted to prove the system was flawed. So, he submitted a patent application for a “circular transportation facilitation device.” His “wheel” was given a patent, and he proved his point. Just as the wheel is an important invention, a big wheel is an important person. Like gears in a large machine, the big wheel makes the other smaller wheels turn. The same can be said for a person. A big wheel is powerful and can affect other people. The phrase “big wheel” came into use during World War II. As the big wheels are the ones with the power, they are usually the ones doing the wheeling and dealing. To wheel and deal means to make business or political deals, especially in a dishonest way. For example, the wheeling and dealing of Wall Street brokers helped create the 2008 real estate crash in the United States. If we talk about important people, like a big wheel, we should also talk about unimportant people. They can be called a fifth wheel. A car only needs four wheels to operate. So, the “fifth wheel” is unnecessary. A “fifth wheel” is someone who is not needed or who is being ignored in a situation. You will also hear some people use the phrase third wheel. It means the same thing but refers to a bicycle needing only two wheels to operate and not three. Whether you are driving a car or riding a bike, it is important to keep wheels running smoothly. So, sometimes a good idea to grease them. Nothing is more annoying than a squeaky wheel. Maybe that is why we say, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. This idiom means that the problem complained about most loudly, usually gets fixed first. Some word historians say this idiom comes from the American writer Josh Billings. He wrote the poem, “The Kicker,” in 1870. I hate to be a kicker, I always long for peace, But the wheel that does the squeaking, Is the one that gets the grease. You will also hear some people exchange the word “grease” for “oil,” but the meaning remains the same. Most Americans drive and own a car. American English has many expressions that come from our car culture. One important driving lesson we learn very early is to not drive when you are tired. Falling asleep at the wheel is dangerous and can get you or others killed. To be asleep at the wheel is also an expression in American English. It means you are being careless and you don’t notice what is going on around you. If someone falls asleep at the wheel, they are careless at work or are not taking their responsibilities seriously. Let’s listen to this example. Imagine there is a tour company that is doing very well. They successful operate for years, supplying quality tours and vacations. And, they have many repeat customers. Then the president of the company retires and names her son to take her place. But he does not want the job and does not give it the attention it needs. His best friend, who makes mistakes often, is in charge of hotel reservations. The new president puts too many people on tours. He fails to pay money back to unsatisfied customers. Everything falls apart in a matter of months. You could say the new president was asleep at the wheel. He lost control of the company, just like a sleeping person would lose control at the wheel of a car. Now, when you say your wheels are turning it means you are having an idea. When the wheels and gears of a machine turn, things start working. We say the same thing about the brain. To set the wheels in motion means to begin something. But if you are spinning your wheels, you are not beginning anything. This comes from trying to drive in mud or on ice. The car’s wheels cannot grip the surface. They spin and spin in place and don’t go anywhere. That brings us to the end of this Words and Their Stories and our exploration of the word “wheel.” Hopefully, we did a good job and will not be accused of falling asleep at the wheel.  I’m Anna Matteo. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story potter – n. a person who makes pots, bowls, plates, etc., out of clay : a person who makes pottery by hand foolish – adj. having or showing a lack of good sense or judgment patent – n. protected by a trademark or a brand name so as to establish proprietary rights analogous to those conveyed by letters patent or a patent broker – n. a person who helps other people to reach agreements, to make deals, or to buy and sell property such as stocks or houses crash – n. a sudden decline (as of a population) or failure (as of a business) grease – n. an oily substance tour company – n. a journey through the different parts of a country, region, etc. reservation – n. an arrangement to have something (such as a room, table, or seat) held for your use at a later time   customer – n. someone who buys goods or services from a business grip  – v.  to grab or hold tightly

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Yellowstone: America's First National Park

The National Park Service has overseen the nation’s national parks for 100 years. Today, hear about the nation’s first national park, Yellowstone. It is one of the great wild places left not only in America but the world.

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Yellowstone: America's First National Park

Yellowstone is America's first national park. It is one of the great wild places left not only in America but the world.

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French Burkini Bans Revive Debate On Muslim Clothing

  France’s top administrative court has ruled that French towns cannot  ban women from wearing a kind of clothing for swimming on their beaches. The town of Villeneuve-Loubet, had banned “burkinis,” a swimsuit some Muslim women wear to cover their whole bodies. The court’s ruling comes as a worldwide debate has grown over the French bans on burkinis. Some people expressed shock and anger at images of French policemen fining a Muslim woman, and appearing to make her take off a piece of her clothing. The decision by the Council of State Friday deals with the ban in the Riviera town of Villeneuve-Loubet. But, it is expected to affect all of about 30 French towns and cities that have similar bans. The city of Nice is one of them. That is where 86 people were killed when a truck ran into a crowd gathered to see fireworks on France’s Bastille Day. The Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for that attack. In Friday’s case, lawyers for two human rights groups argued the ban was not legal. They said the bans are not in keeping with people’s freedoms and that mayors did not have the power to tell women what to wear on beaches. Mayors had expressed concern about public order after the deadly attacks by Islamic extremists this summer.  At least one mayor said he will not lift the ban, even after the court’s decision.  “Here the tension is very, very, very strong and I won’t withdraw it,” the mayor of Sisco told BFM-TV Friday. Some top political leaders say the swimsuits oppress women and violate France’s secular values. But the bans have divided France’s government, as other leaders spoke out against the laws. What in the world is a burkini? The name “burkini” combines two words: “bikini” and “burka.” A bikini is a small, two-piece swimsuit shaped like women’s undergarments. Burkas are what some Muslim women wear to cover their whole bodies except for a small opening for their eyes. In comparison, a burkini covers a woman’s body. It leaves only her face, hands and feet showing. Burkinis were first created by Australian designer Aheda Zanetti in 2004.  She said she made them so Muslim women who choose to wear a head covering can take part in water activities and other sports. A history of banning Muslim clothes French officials banned burkinis for reasons including water safety and security concerns. France has outlawed Muslim clothes before. It banned the face-covering veil, as well as the head-covering veil, in public schools. Prime Minister Manuel Valls described the burkini, along with the veil, as a form of enslavement. “The burkini is not a new swimsuit model, it is not a trend,” Valls told La Provence newspaper in support of the ban. He said it “goes against modern society.” A new image for Muslim women Many see the ban as discrimination against Muslims. Others say officials do not understand Muslim women’s new image. Neslihan Cevik designs clothes for Muslim women. Cevik says Muslim women who wear veils are involved in many activities of modern life. “But the market hasn’t taken them seriously so far.” In addition to being a designer, Cevik is also a sociologist who wrote a book on Muslims. “The clothing for that woman has been like, ‘she’s oppressed, she stays at home or goes to her in-laws,’" Cevik adds. “It’s only now that markets are catching up with that new image.” Cevik’s brand targets young, college-aged women who go to cafes and listen to Latin music. They want what is called "Muslim hipster fashion” — backpacks with matching headscarves, jeans or pleated skirts. They do not want to wear the usual long overcoats, she says. “They’ll do anything any young female would do. What’s different is they’re passionately religious.” A business opportunity Neslihan Cevik, who is Turkish, launched M-Line Fashion last December. Her online company has been growing by 20 percent each month. Most of her customers are Turkish. But the business has customers from France and other European countries, as well as South Africa. Cevik sells stylish long tops called tunics, and veils. She hopes to add a line of Muslim swimwear by next summer. She does not like the ones she sees for sale. “It’s so ugly right now,” says Cevik of burkinis. “That’s one of the biggest problems for Muslim women. Whatever you do, all the designs we’ve had so far have been so ugly.” Designers such as Cevik say that the swimsuit and other modern Muslim women’s wear can be liberating. They say the clothing industry is far behind the needs of conservative modern Muslim women. They say the industry could be making much more money designing clothes Muslim women want. Some well-known stores and brands are already starting to sell clothes targeting the Muslim market. They include Britain’s Marks & Spencer and House of Fraser. Mango and DKNY have also launched “Ramadan” clothes collections connected to the holy Muslim holiday. Sales of clothes for the Muslim women market are expected to be worth several billions of dollars in the next few years. I’m Anne Ball. Lisa Bryant wrote this story for VOA News.  Anne Ball wrote it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   swimsuit – n. clothing people wear to swim in undergarment – n. a piece of underwear worn under clothes veil – n. a piece of cloth worn to cover one’s head and/or face enslavement – n. the action of making someone a slave trend – n. something currently popular or fashionable ugly – adj. opposite of beautiful liberating – adj. making you feel free passionately – adv. showing or having strong emotions

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How Americans View What Work Men and Women Should Do

  The United States could elect its first woman president in November. But most Americans still believe in the traditional division of household jobs, according to a new study. The study surveyed 1,000 adults. It was released at last weekend’s meeting of the American Sociological Association in Seattle, Washington. Three in four adults believe that in a couple with a man and a woman, the woman should do most housework, the study found. That includes cooking, the laundry, and cleaning the house. Nearly 90 percent believe that the man should do the automobile repairs and outdoor work. The survey found that 82 percent of Americans said that women should be responsible for a child’s physical needs. Seventy-two percent said woman should also take care of a child’s emotional needs. Discipline is an exception The exception, in the question of childcare, is discipline. Fifty-five percent said men should deal with discipline of children. And if a couple decides a parent is needed at home to take care of children, 62 percent said it should be the woman, not the man, who stays home. “Sex was by far the strongest determinant of which tasks people assigned to each spouse in heterosexual couples,” said Natasha Quadlin, lead author of the study. Quadlin is a doctoral student in sociology at Indiana University. Working with her on the study was Long Doan, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Maryland. Survey Released Before Presidential Election The study’s release comes less than three months before Americans vote for a new a president -- choosing between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. If Clinton wins, she would be America’s first woman president. For same-sex couples, the study found most Americans believe the decisions about who does what should be decided by which partner is most feminine and which is more masculine. Sixty percent of Americans said the most feminine partners should cook and buy the food. Sixty-seven percent said that the more masculine partners should handle car repairs and do outdoor work. Old Stereotypes Terry O’Neill is president of the National Organization for Women, which works for women’s rights. She is surprised that a majority of Americans support divisions of work based on old stereotypes. A stereotype is an often unfair belief about what people should or can do based on their sex or other characteristics. Old stereotypes about what women do better and what men do better do not make sense for many couples, O’Neill said. For example, O’Neill said she could fix the family car far better than her ex-husband. But she said her former husband was very good at comforting their daughter. She said he also was able to get her to appointments on time, despite the stereotype that men do not do those tasks very well. In O’Neill’s opinion, too many couples let one partner, often the man, make decisions about who does the work. What should happen is a “sharing of power, and sharing of decisions,” with negotiations to decide who does what and when, she said. It does not seem to matter that many women are working as hard if not harder and earning as much, if not more, than their husbands, said Natasha Quadlin. “Even if women have higher earnings than their husbands they are expected to come home and perform a second shift of chores and childcare,” she said. However, men may pay a price for taking on the outside work responsibilities by themselves. Another study found that men’s psychological well-being and health declined when they were their families' only member earning an income. Researchers from the University of Connecticut carried out that study, which also was presented at the American Sociological Association meeting. I’m Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported this story for VOA Learning English.  Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. Do you think certain jobs should be done only by a woman or by a man? ___________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   survey -- v. an activity in which many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to gather information about what most people do or think about something couple -- n. two people who are married or who have a romantic or sexual relationship discipline -- n. control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed and punishing bad behavior feminine -- adj. of, relating to, or suited to women or girls characteristic -- n. typical of a person, thing, or group masculine -- adj. of, relating to, or suited to a man or boys chore -- n. a small job that is done regularly    

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Burkini Ban Reversed in France

  This is What’s Trending Today. Two weeks ago, resort cities in France banned Muslim women from wearing so-called "burkinis" to beaches. A burkini is a swimsuit designed to cover the whole body. The mayor of Cannes in southern France said these swimsuits that obeyed Muslim rules of how women should dress outside the home could create problems. He said the swimsuits showed a person’s religious affiliation in an “ostentatious way.” France is worried after deadly terror attacks in Paris, Nice and other places claimed by the Islamic State group. When the ban was put in place, women wearing burkas and burkinis at the beach were at risk of being fined or asked to remove them. A burka is a full body covering that only has holes for the eyes. Critics said this new rule was evidence of Islamophobia, or excessive fear of Islamic things, in France. On Friday, France’s highest court suspended the ban in the resort town of Villeneuve-Loubet. The ruling is expected to set an example for at least 30 other cities that have announced bans. The decision comes a day after protestors gathered in London outside of the French Embassy to rally against the ban. Protestors at a beach party wore burkinis and held signs saying "Islamophobia is not freedom.” When the news came out, users of social media sites like Facebook and Twitter spoke out. One person in the U.S. state of Vermont wrote: “This whole issue seems crazy to me. … Maybe someone should be questioning the Speedo instead?”  Speedo is the name of a company that makes swimsuits. Another said “banning the burkini didn’t make any sense.”  With the ban on burkinis overturned, another Facebook commenter wondered if that meant human rights activists would now move on to other issues. He mentioned the fact that women in Saudi Arabia cannot drive cars.  And finally, a Twitter user wrote: “Now let them swim in peace … good grief!” And that’s What’s Trending Today.   I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. What do you think of the burkini debate in France? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   affiliation – n. the state of being closely associated with or connected to an organization, company, etc. ostentatious – adj. behaving in a way that is meant to attract attention good grief – n. an expression of surprise or annoyance  

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Obama to Create World's Largest Marine Park

  United States President Barack Obama will add to a national monument near the coast of Hawaii. The Obama administration announced the move Friday. It will create the world's largest marine protected area. The presidential action will add to the size of a monument created by President George W. Bush in 2006. The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument now will be increased to about 1.5 million square kilometers. That is more than twice the size of the American state of Texas. The expanded area is considered a sacred place for Native Hawaiians. Obama will travel to the monument next week to bring attention to the need to protect public lands and waters from climate change. The move bans commercial fishing and new mining in the area of the monument. Fishing for recreation may be done with a permit. Scientific research and the removal of fish and other resources for Native Hawaiian cultural practices also will be permitted. Some fishing groups are concerned that an expansion of the marine national monument will hurt their industry. Sean Martin is the president of the Hawaii Longline Association. Hawaii's longline fishing fleet supplies much of the fresh tuna and other fish to Hawaii. Martin has previously estimated the fleet catches about 900,000 kilograms of fish each year from the area proposed for the expanded monument. He said he was "disappointed'' by Hawaiian Governor David Ige's decision to support the expansion. He said the monument's expansion would be based on political and not scientific reasons. The Obama administration has described the expansion as protecting more than 7,000 species of marine life. It also says the move will protect and improve the environment. Shipwrecks and crashed aircraft from the Battle of Midway in World War II are in the expansion area. The battle was fought in June of 1942 and marked a major shift in that war. Obama has now created or expanded 26 national monuments. The administration said Obama has increased national monuments more than any other president. The Obama administration said the expansion is an answer to a proposal by Democratic Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Native Hawaiian leaders. The federal government will give Hawaii's Department of Natural Resources and its Office of Hawaiian Affairs a greater role in supervising the monument. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOA News staff wrote this story with adds from the Associated Press. Jim Dresbach adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   monument – n. a building or place that is important because of when it was built or because of something in history that happened there marine – adj. of or relating to the sea or the plants and animals that live in the sea longline – n. a type of deep-sea fishing equipment using a long main line anchored to the bottom to which shorter lines with baited hooks is attached fleet – n. a group of ships or vehicles that move or work together tuna – n. a large fish that lives in the ocean and is eaten as food species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants shipwreck – n. a ruined or destroyed ship

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'Pigs Is Pigs,' by Ellis Parker Butler

Our story today is called "Pigs is Pigs."  It was written by Ellis Parker Butler.  Mike Flannery, the agent of the Interurban Express Company, leaned over the desk in the company's office in Westcote and shook his fist. Mr. Morehouse, angry and red, stood on the other side of the desk shaking with fury. The argument had been long and hot. At last Mr. Morehouse had become speechless. The cause of the trouble lay on the desk between the two men. It was a box with two guinea pigs inside. "Do as you like, then!" shouted Flannery. "Pay for them and take them. Or don't pay for them and leave them here. Rules are rules, Mr. Morehouse. And Mike Flannery is not going to break them." "But you stupid idiot!" shouted Mr. Morehouse, madly shaking a thin book beneath the agent's nose. "Can't you read it here – in your own book of transportation rates? ‘Pets, domestic, Franklin to Westcote, if correctly boxed, twenty-five cents each.'" He threw the book on the desk. "What more do you want? Aren't they pets?  Aren't they domestic? Aren't they correctly boxed? What?" He turned and walked back and forth rapidly, with a furious look on his face.  "Pets," he said. "P-E-T-S! Twenty-five cents each. Two times twenty-five is fifty! Can you understand that? I offer you fifty cents." Flannery reached for the book. He ran his hand through the pages and stopped at page sixty-four. "I don't take fifty cents," he whispered in an unpleasant voice. "Here's the rule for it: ‘When the agent be in any doubt about which two rates should be charged on a shipment, he shall charge the larger. The person receiving the shipment may put in a claim for the overcharge.' In this case, Mr. Morehouse, I be in doubt. Pets them animals may be. And domestic they may be, but pigs I'm sure they do be. And my rule says plain as the nose on your face, ‘Pigs, Franklin to Westcote, thirty cents each.'" Mr. Morehouse shook his head savagely. "Nonsense!" he shouted.  "Confounded nonsense, I tell you!  That rule means common pigs, not guinea pigs!" "Pigs is pigs," Flannery said firmly. Mr. Morehouse bit his lip and then flung his arms out wildly. "Very well!" he shouted. "You shall hear of this! Your president shall hear of this! It is an outrage! I have offered you fifty cents. You refuse it. Keep the pigs until you are ready to take the fifty cents. But, by George, sir, if one hair of those pigs' heads is harmed, I will have the law on you!" He turned and walked out, slamming the door. Flannery carefully lifted the box from the desk and put it in a corner. Mr. Morehouse quickly wrote a letter to the president of the transportation express company. The president answered, informing Mr. Morehouse that all claims for overcharge should be sent to the Claims Department. Mr. Morehouse wrote to the Claims Department. One week later he received an answer. The Claims Department said it had discussed the matter with the agent at Westcote. The agent said Mr. Morehouse had refused to accept the two guinea pigs shipped to him. Therefore, the department said, Mr. Morehouse had no claim against the company and should write to its Tariff Department. Mr. Morehouse wrote to the Tariff Department. He stated his case clearly.  The head of the Tariff Department read Mr. Morehouse's letter. "Huh!  Guinea pigs," he said. "Probably starved to death by this time." He wrote to the agent asking why the shipment was held up. He also wanted to know if the guinea pigs were still in good health. Before answering, agent Flannery wanted to make sure his report was up to date. So he went to the back of the office and looked into the cage. Good Lord!  There were now eight of them! All well and eating like hippopotamuses. He went back to the office and explained to the head of the Tariff Department what the rules said about pigs. And as for the condition of the guinea pigs, said Flannery, they were all well. But there were eight of them now, all good eaters. The head of the Tariff Department laughed when he read Flannery's letter.  He read it again and became serious. "By George!" he said. "Flannery is right. Pigs is pigs. I'll have to get something official on this." He spoke to the president of the company. The president treated the matter lightly. "What is the rate on pigs and on pets?" he asked. "Pigs thirty cents, pets twenty-five," the head of the Tariff Department answered. "Then of course guinea pigs are pigs," the president said. "Yes," the head of the Tariff Department agreed. "I look at it that way too. A thing that can come under two rates is naturally to be charged at the higher one. But are guinea pigs, pigs? Aren't they rabbits?" "Come to think of it," the president said, "I believe they are more like rabbits.  Sort of half-way between pig and rabbit. I think the question is this – are guinea pigs of the domestic pig family? I'll ask Professor Gordon. He is an expert about such things." The president wrote to Professor Gordon. Unfortunately, the professor was in South America collecting zoological samples. His wife forwarded the letter to him. The professor was in the High Andes Mountains. The letter took many months to reach him. In time, the president forgot the guinea pigs. The head of the Tariff Department forgot them. Mr. Morehouse forgot them. But agent Flannery did not. The guinea pigs had increased to thirty-two. He asked the head of the Tariff Department what he should do with them. "Don't sell the pigs," agent Flannery was told. "They are not your property.  Take care of them until the case is settled." The guinea pigs needed more room. Flannery made a large and airy room for them in the back of his office. Some months later he discovered he now had one hundred sixty of them. He was going out of his mind. Not long after this, the president of the express company heard from Professor Gordon. It was a long and scholarly letter. It pointed out that the guinea pig was the cavia aparoea, while the common pig was the genus sus of the family suidae. The president then told the head of the Tariff Department that guinea pigs are not pigs and must be charged only twenty-five cents as domestic pets.  The Tariff Department informed agent Flannery that he should take the one hundred sixty guinea pigs to Mr. Morehouse and collect twenty-five cents for each of them. Agent Flannery wired back. "I've got eight hundred now. Shall I collect for eight hundred or what? How about the sixty-four dollars I paid for cabbages to feed them?" Many letters went back and forth. Flannery was crowded into a few feet at the extreme front of the office. The guinea pigs had all the rest of the room.  Time kept moving on as the letters continued to go back and forth. Flannery now had four thousand sixty-four guinea pigs. He was beginning to lose control of himself. Then, he got a telegram from the company that said: "Error in guinea pig bill. Collect for two guinea pigs -- fifty cents." Flannery ran all the way to Mr. Morehouse's home. But Mr. Morehouse had moved. Flannery searched for him in town but without success. He returned to the express office and found that two hundred six guinea pigs had entered the world since he left the office. At last, he got an urgent telegram from the main office: "Send the pigs to the main office of the company at Franklin." Flannery did so. Soon, came another telegram. "Stop sending pigs. Warehouse full." But he kept sending them. Agent Flannery finally got free of the guinea pigs. "Rules may be rules," he said, "but so long as Flannery runs this express office, pigs is pets and cows is pets and horses is pets and lions and tigers and Rocky Mountain goats is pets. And the rate on them is twenty-five cents." Then he looked around and said cheerfully, "Well, anyhow, it is not as bad as it might have been. What if them guinea pigs had been elephants?"   Download activities to help you understand this story here. Now it's your turn. Did you ever have an experience with an official who did not understand you? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   interurban - n. between cities or towns guinea pig - n. a small furry animal, or rodent, that is often kept as a pet hippopotamus - n. a large African animal that has an extremely large head and mouth and short legs and that spends most of its time in water genus - n. a group of related animals or plants that includes several or many different species telegram - n.  a message that is sent by telegraph (an old-fashioned system of sending messages over long distances by using wires and electrical signals) Just for fun, here's a cartoon of the story.

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More Zika in Florida, First Case in Hong Kong

  Health officials in the southern U.S. state of Florida identified several new cases of local transmission of the Zika virus this week.   And internationally, Hong Kong joined the list of areas affected by the widespread virus. Miami outbreak Most of the new Florida cases were in Miami-Dade County. This is where the first case of a person becoming infected with the Zika virus within the U.S. took place earlier this month. Mosquitos mainly spread the virus, which has affected much of Latin America and the Caribbean area. Zika can also be transmitted sexually.  The virus causes mild or no reaction in most people. But it is linked to a severe birth defect called microcephaly in pregnant women. Infected women can give birth to babies born with unusually small heads and underdeveloped brains. Microcephaly can result in mental and physical problems and even death. ​ Health officials have warned pregnant women to avoid parts of Miami and other affected Florida counties. As of Friday, the state’s Department of Health reported a total of 534 travel-related infections. It said the state had 43 local cases. A total of 70 pregnant women in Florida have been infected.  Earlier this month, America’s top expert on infectious diseases said more cases of Zika were likely in Florida, as well as other U.S. Gulf Coast states. Zika to 'hang around' U.S. Speaking to ABC News, Dr. Anthony Fauci said he thinks Texas and Louisiana will be the most vulnerable states to Zika. Fauci heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He said the United States can expect the virus to “hang around” for as long as two more years. He added that U.S. officials need to be prepared for a “broad outbreak,” although he does not think that is likely. “Hopefully, we get to a point to where we could suppress it, so we won't have any risk of it.” New Hong Kong case  In Hong Kong, health officials this week confirmed the first case of Zika. The patient is a 38-year-old woman who developed symptoms August 20. She is being treated in the hospital in good condition. Officials said the Hong Kong resident had recently traveled to the Caribbean area, where she remembered being bitten by mosquitoes. Hong Kong officials urged the public to protect themselves from mosquitoes and warned pregnant women to avoid affected areas. Four Southeast Asian countries have so far reported local Zika outbreaks, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Affected countries include Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. ​ The WHO said that no cases of Zika have been confirmed in anyone associated with the Rio Olympics. The games ended August 21. The virus was first detected in Brazil in 2015. Tens of thousands of people are believed to have been infected there. Clinton's plan to fight Zika In the U.S. presidential campaign, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton discussed the fight against Zika. She proposed a new fund to improve and speed up the way the federal government deals with Zika and other health emergencies. I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA News, the Associated Press and Reuters. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Do you think governments and organizations are doing enough to prevent further spread of Zika? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   transmission – n. the spreading of something from one thing to another mosquito – n. a small flying insect that bites the skin of people and can spreads disease county – n. a regional area that maintains its own government  microcephaly – n. a physical condition that causes birth defects in the brain lobby – v. to try and persuade government legislators to do something  vulnerable – adj. easily hurt or attacked physically or emotionally suppress – v. prevent certain information from being known symptom – n. a physical feeling that indicates someone has a particular illness fund – n. amount of money collected and saved for a certain purpose  

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