Thousands Protest at Annual 'March for Life' in Washington

Thousands of people came to Washington to attend the March for Life demonstration on Friday.  The yearly gathering protests abortion. An abortion is a medical operation that ends a pregnancy and results in the death of the fetus. The march took place almost one week after about 500,000 people marched in Washington the day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Many of those demonstrators called for the protection of reproduction rights. Friday, activists opposed to abortion gathered near the Washington Monument to hear speeches from Vice President Mike Pence and other politicians. Pence told the crowd that “life is winning again in America.”  Pence is a longtime opponent of abortion. “Along with you, we will not grow weary, we will not rest until we restore a culture of life in America for ourselves and our posterity," Pence said. Demonstrators oppose abortion decision Demonstrators have come together for 43 years to protest the Supreme Court decision known as Roe versus Wade.  That decision, in 1973, made abortion legal in the United States.  Fern Parent came from Greenwood Lake, New York to attend the march on a windy day.  She said that she came this year to support the rights of the unborn children. “There’s a large group of people in this country that believe that every individual has rights, including people who can’t speak for themselves.” The demonstrators welcomed a recent action by President Trump.  In one of his first acts, Trump signed an executive order. It prevents U.S. funding from going to any foreign organizations that support abortion.  It is known as the “Mexico City policy.” Trump does not have a consistent record on the issue of abortion.  In 1999, he said he was “very pro-choice.”  He later changed his position. Trump created controversy during the presidential campaign in 2016 by saying that women seeking abortions should face “some sort of punishment.” On Friday, Trump tweeted his support for the marchers: “The #MarchForLife is so important.  To all of you marching --- you have my full support!” Abortion an issue for a future Supreme Court Justice Currently, the Supreme Court has eight justices instead of nine. The president has said he will nominate a justice who opposes abortion. Trump is expected to announce his choice to fill the high court’s vacancy next week. ​Rob Van Rite from Maryland is hopeful that this year’s march will help influence the president to nominate a justice that supports the anti-abortion or pro-life cause. “The president has the unique opportunity to appoint a member to the Supreme Court.  The battle for pro-life has been waged …and has gone back and forth.  And those nine wise souls are now eight, and their needs to be some balance restored.”  Rite also said that he believed the goal of the march was to have everyone value and share respect for life. In his words, they "want to return to a view where life trumps death." The word “trump” means to be more important than something else. It is also the last name of the U.S. president. I’m Anne Ball.   This story was originally written for VOANews.com by Katherine Gypson.  Phil Dierking adapted this story for Learning English using other media. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   abortion – n. a medical operation that ends a pregnancy and results in the death of the fetus. fetus – n.  a human being before it is born reproduction – n. the process by which plants and animals give rise to offspring posterity – n. people in the future consistent – adj. always acting or behaving in the same way controversy – n. argument that involves many people who strongly disagree about something vacancy – n. a job or position that is available to be taken wage – v. to start or continue a war or battle, etc. to get something or achieve something soul – n. the spiritual part of a person that is believed to give life to the body and in many religions is believed to live forever

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2jGtNN1
via IFTTT

Kansas Police Department Shows Sense of Humor

This is What’s Trending Today. The Super Bowl is usually the most-watched television program in the United States each year. This year, it is on Sunday, February 5. A 30-second television commercial during the game this year costs about $5 million. Companies believe that is a good investment. Tostitos makes a snack food similar to a potato chip. They are made from ground corn. The corn chips are often eaten with a mixture of chopped tomatoes, peppers and other spices. The combination is known as salsa. The company that makes the chip is not advertising during next week’s Super Bowl. But it is trying an innovative way to be noticed by consumers. It recently sent out a new bag to reporters. The bag has a sensor that detects alcohol. If you blow into the bag, it will light up if there is alcohol on your breath. The gimmick promotes a partnership with the ride-sharing car service Uber. Anyone who buys the chips this week will get a discount for an Uber ride. That is because people sometimes drink too much alcohol while watching the game and cause accidents on their way home. Many reporters wrote about the bag and posted their stories on Twitter. People reacted to the story, including the police department for the small city of Lawrence, Kansas. Lawrence is home to the University of Kansas, a large school with almost 30,000 students. The police department wrote on Twitter: “If you have to blow into a Tostitos bag to know if you’re intoxicated, for the love of all that is holy, DO NOT DRIVE.” The statement has been shared and liked almost 150,000 times so far. It turns out the Lawrence Police have a good sense of humor and a lot of experience dealing with drunk people. On January 22, someone from Lawrence Police wrote: “Ok Lawrence. All you have to do is walk out of the bar and get home safely. Don't. Stop. To. Punch. Other. People. We can do this!” That was followed by two other tweets updating readers on the number of days between fights at bars in Lawrence. The first one said the city made it one day without a fight. It was followed with: “We spoke too soon. Lawrence has successfully gone 0 days without a fight at bar closing time. Ugh.”  The account is also filled with wisdom about how to be good citizens and how to interact with police. Oh, and the department even has an officer named Shelby Wisdom.  One night, the police wrote: “Contrary to some belief, you do in fact need both headlights to legally drive.” That same night, it posted a photo jokingly showing a doughnut truck, and called it “recon.”  The Lawrence Police Twitter account has almost 12,000 followers. There are only about 90,000 residents in all of Lawrence. One person, Taylor Snider is a fan. She wrote: “Wouldn’t mind being pulled over by whoever runs the @LawrenceKS_PD Twitter page. They seem cool.”  And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Who do you think of the Lawrence Police Department? Let us know in the comments section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   innovative – adj. introducing or using new ideas or methods sensor – n. a device that detects or senses heat, light, sound, motion, etc., and then reacts to it in a particular way gimmick – n. a method or trick that is used to get people's attention or to sell something intoxicated – n. affected by alcohol or drugs drunk – n. having drunk so much alcohol that normal actions (such as talking, thinking, and moving) become difficult to do account – n. a business arrangement in which a person or company regularly buys products or services from a particular company revise – v. to make changes especially to correct or improve recon – n. military activity in which soldiers, airplanes, etc., are sent to find out information about an enemy cool – adj. very fashionable, stylish, or appealing in a way that is generally approved of especially by young people  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2jGq5Tl
via IFTTT

'One Thousand Dollars,' by O. Henry

Our story today is called “One Thousand Dollars.”  It was written by O. Henry.  Here is Steve Ember with the story. "One thousand dollars," said the lawyer Tolman, in a severe and serious voice.  "And here is the money.” Young Gillian touched the thin package of $50 bills and laughed. "It's such an unusual amount," he explained kindly to the lawyer. “If it had been $10,000, a man might celebrate with a lot of fireworks. Even $50 would have been less trouble." "You heard the reading of your uncle's will after he died," continued the lawyer Tolman. "I do not know if you paid much attention to its details. I must remind you of one. You are required to provide us with a report of how you used this $1,000 as soon as you have spent it. I trust that you will obey the wishes of your late uncle." "You may depend on it," said the young man respectfully. Gillian went to his club. He searched for a man he called Old Bryson. Old Bryson was a calm, anti-social man, about 40 years old.  He was in a corner reading a book. When he saw Gillian coming near he took a noisy, deep breath, laid down his book and took off his glasses. "I have a funny story to tell you,” said Gillian.  "I wish you would tell it to someone in the billiard room," said Old Bryson. "You know how I hate your stories." "This is a better one than usual," said Gillian, rolling a cigarette, and I'm glad to tell it to you. It's too sad and funny to go with the rattling of billiard balls. I’ve just come from a meeting with my late uncle's lawyers. He leaves me an even $1,000. Now, what can a man possibly do with $1,000?" Old Bryson showed very little interest.  "I thought the late Septimus Gillian was worth something like half a million." "He was," agreed Gillian, happily.  "And that's where the joke comes in. He has left a lot of his money to an organism. That is, part of it goes to the man who invents a new bacillus and the rest to establish a hospital for doing away with it again. There are one or two small, unimportant gifts on the side. The butler and the housekeeper get a seal ring and $10 dollars each. His nephew gets $1,000 thousand dollars." "Were there any others mentioned in your uncle’s will?" asked Old Bryson. "None." said Gillian. “There is a Miss Hayden.  My uncle was responsible for her. She lived in his house. She's a quiet thing … musical … the daughter of somebody who was unlucky enough to be his friend.   "I forgot to say that she was in on the ring and $10 joke, too. I wish I had been.  Then I could have had two bottles of wine, given the ring to the waiter and had the whole business off my hands. Now tell me what a man can do with $1,000." Old Bryson rubbed his glasses and smiled. And when Old Bryson smiled, Gillian knew that he intended to be more offensive than ever. There are many good things a man could do with $1,000,” said Bryson. "You?" he said with a gentle laugh. "Why, Bobby Gillian, there's only one reasonable thing you could do. You can go and buy Miss Lotta Lauriere a diamond necklace with the money and then take yourself off to Idaho and inflict your presence upon a ranch. I advise a sheep ranch, as I have a particular dislike for sheep.” "Thanks," said Gillian as he rose from his chair. "I knew I could depend on you, Old Bryson. You've hit on the very idea. I wanted to spend the money on one thing, because I have to turn in a report for it, and I hate itemizing.” Gillian phoned for a cab and said to the driver:  "The stage entrance of the Columbine Theatre." The theater was crowded. Miss Lotta Lauriere was preparing for her performance when her assistant spoke the name of Mr. Gillian. "Let it in," said Miss Lauriere. "Now, what is it, Bobby? I'm going on stage in two minutes." “It won't take two minutes for me. What do you say to a little thing in the jewelry line?  I can spend $1,000." “Say, Bobby,” said Miss Lauriere,  “Did you see that necklace Della Stacey had on the other night?  It cost $2,200 at Tiffany's.” Miss Lauriere was called to the stage for her performance. Gillian slowly walked out to where his cab was waiting.  "What would you do with $1,000 if you had it?" he asked the driver. "Open a drinking place," said the driver, quickly. "I know a place I could take money in with both hands. I've got it worked out -- if you were thinking of putting up the money.” "Oh, no," said Gillian. “I was just wondering.” Eight blocks down Broadway, Gillian got out of the cab. A blind man sat on the sidewalk selling pencils. Gillian went out and stood in front of him. "Excuse me, but would you mind telling me what you would do if you had $1,000?” asked Gillian. The blind man took a small book from his coat pocket and held it out. Gillian opened it and saw that it was a bank deposit book. It showed that the blind man had a balance of $1,785 in his bank account. Gillian returned the bank book and got back into the cab. "I forgot something," he said. "You may drive to the law offices of Tolman and Sharp.” Lawyer Tolman looked at Gillian in a hostile and questioning way. "I beg your pardon," said Gillian, cheerfully.  "But was Miss Hayden left anything by my uncle's will in addition to the ring and the $10 dollars?" "Nothing," said Mr. Tolman. “I thank you very much, sir," said Gillian, and went to his cab. He gave the driver the address of his late uncle's home. Miss Hayden was writing letters in the library. The small, thin woman wore black clothes. But you would have noticed her eyes. Gillian entered the room as if the world were unimportant. “I have just come from old Tolman's," he explained. “They have been going over the papers down there. They found a …”  Gillian searched his memory for a legal term.  “They found an amendment or a post-script or something to the will.  It seemed that my uncle had second thoughts and willed you $1,000. Tolman asked me to bring you the money.  Here it is.” Gillian laid the money beside her hand on the desk. Miss Hayden turned white. "Oh!" she said. And again, "Oh!" Gillian half turned and looked out the window. In a low voice he said, "I suppose, of course, that you know I love you." "I am sorry," said Miss Hayden, as she picked up her money. "There is no use?" asked Gillian, almost light-heartedly. "I am sorry," she said again. "May I write a note?" asked Gillian, with a smile.  Miss Hayden supplied him with paper and pen, and then went back to her writing table. Gillian wrote a report of how he spent the $1,000: “Paid by Robert Gillian, $1,000 on account of the eternal happiness, owed by Heaven to the best and dearest woman on Earth." Gillian put the note into an envelope.  He bowed to Miss Hayden and left. His cab stopped again at the offices of Tolman and Sharp. “I have spent the $1,000," he said cheerfully, to Tolman. "And I have come to present a report of it, as I agreed.” He threw a white envelope on the lawyer's table. Without touching the envelope, Mr. Tolman went to a door and called his partner, Sharp. Together they searched for something in a large safe. They brought out a big envelope sealed with wax. As they opened the envelope, they shook their heads together over its contents. Then Tolman became the spokesman. "Mr. Gillian," he said, “there was an addition to your uncle's will. It was given to us privately, with instructions that it not be opened until you had provided us with a full report of your handling of the $1,000 received in the will. “As you have satisfied the conditions, my partner and I have read the addition.  I will explain to you the spirit of its contents. “In the event that your use of the $1,000 shows that you possess any of the qualifications that deserve reward, you stand to gain much more. If your disposal of the money in question has been sensible, wise, or unselfish, it is in our power to give you bonds to the value of $50,000. But if you have used this money in a wasteful, foolish way as you have in the past, the $50,000 is to be paid to Miriam Hayden, ward of the late Mr. Gillian, without delay. “Now, Mr. Gillian, Mr. Sharp and I will examine your report of the $1,000.” Mr. Tolman reached for the envelope. Gillian was a little quicker in taking it up.  He calmly tore the report and its cover into pieces and dropped them into his pocket. "It's all right," he said, smilingly. "There isn't a bit of need to bother you with this.  I don't suppose you would understand these itemized bets, anyway. I lost the $1,000 on the races. Good-day to you, gentlemen." Tolman and Sharp shook their heads mournfully at each other when Gillian left.  They heard him whistling happily in the hallway as he waited for the elevator. ________________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   will - n. (law) a legal document in which a person states who should receive his or her possessions after he or she dies billiards - n. any one of several games that are played on a large table by hitting solid balls into one another with the end of a long stick bacillus- n. a straight rod-shaped bacterium that requires oxygen for growth safe - n. a strong metal box with a lock that is used to store money or valuable things ward - n. a person (such as a child) who is protected and cared for by a court or guardian

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2k1yGkK
via IFTTT

Chinese Migrant Workers Protest Unpaid Wages

  Chinese New Year is January 28 this year. To celebrate, millions will leave the cities where they work and travel home. But this year, some Chinese workers are not going home. They are staying to protest. They say their employers have not paid them for their work. Arguments over pay in China are common around the New Year, especially in traditional industries such as construction and steel. But these protests are different. This time, the protesters are unpaid workers from the new-economy industries. “New economy industries” refers to e-commerce, such as online sales and services. China Labor Bulletin is a pro-worker organization and media outlet.  The organization's Strike Map estimates that China has seen over 2,000 street protests about unpaid wages since February 2016. It found that workers across China had already staged more than 130 protests in the month of December. And it expects the number of worker strikes to grow in the next few weeks. “There’s no other way but to spend the Chinese New Year here” Zou Zhanhai and his fellow villagers from Hebei province are among those who are demonstrating. In September 2015, he and 21 others worked on an oil project. They are still missing the final payment of some 530,000 yuan, or about $77,000, from their employer. Zou spoke to VOA from the city of Xi’an. He has been protesting since late December in front of the oil company’s headquarters. “We couldn’t get by without this small amount of money, which hasn’t arrived yet. Each of us has to work to support his family of five or six,” Zou explained. Despite the new regulations, Zou says public servants have not yet helped him: “The employer now asks us to go home, saying that we will be paid after the Chinese New Year. But we can’t keep taking their word for it. We plan to hold on to our protest unless we’re paid. There’s no other way but to spend the Chinese New Year here,” he said. The employer, Tien Yu Company, is what is known as a subcontractor. A subcontractor is a person or company hired to do part of a job that another company has been hired to do. Tien Yu could not be reached by VOA for comment. Increased regulations and oversight China has tried to address the problem of unpaid workers in recent years by increasing regulations and oversight. Earlier this month, the State Council set a goal to end the country's wage situation. Some of the increased regulations include jail terms and fines for company executives who are found guilty of not paying wages. However, many critics find the maximum fine of 20,000 yuan, or about $3,000, is not enough. Government officials add that subcontracting has made holding employers responsible a difficult issue. And the current economic downturn does not help businesses survive, they added. What Can Be Done? Zou Zhanhai, the worker who is striking in front of the oil company, says the regulations are not resulting in him getting paid. The government may be trying to help, he says, but government officials cannot seem to be able to enforce the measures. Keegan Elmer is a labor researcher for China Labor Bulletin. Elmer also believes that the government's approach has not been effective. Instead, he wants to stop the problems before they start. Elmer says workers should be able to use collective bargaining to manage their employers. They should also be able to talk openly with their employers, he says, and understand how employers are doing business. In short, he says workers and employers should have ways to solve these conflicts before they turn violent and dangerous. I'm John Russell.   Joyce Huang wrote this story for VOA News. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   unpaid – adj. needing to be paid e-commerce – n.  activities that relate to the buying and selling of goods and services over the Internet subcontractor – n. a person or company who is hired to do part of a job that another person or company has been hired to do regulations – n. an official rule or law that says how something should be done oversight – n.  the act or job of directing work that is being done collective bargaining – n.  talks between an employer and the leaders of a union about how much a group of workers will be paid, how many hours they will work, etc.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2jeGgv7
via IFTTT

Venezuela's Economic Problems Will Grow, IMF Predicts

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says people in Venezuela are likely to experience economic hardship in 2017. Venezuelans are already experiencing severe shortages of food and other goods because of the country's economic crisis. Venezuela is “on a path to hyperinflation,” wrote Alejandro Werner, the IMF’s director for the Western Hemisphere. He expects inflation levels to keep rising, while economic activity shrinks. Werner made the comments in the organization’s latest predictions on Latin America and the Caribbean. Venezuela’s problems are partly to blame on a large and growing budget deficit, economic distortions, and a severe restriction on the availability of imports of some goods, he wrote. His comments appeared Monday on an IMF website. Sanguino chosen to lead Central Bank This week, President Nicolás Maduro appointed economist Ricardo Sanguino to lead the country's Central Bank. Sanguino is a political ally of Maduro and a member of the ruling United Socialist Party. He replaces Nelson Merentes, who resigned last Friday. Merentes had the support of investors until he supervised an expansion of the money supply that helped fuel inflation to a reported 800% last year. That information comes from Reuters news agency.  Economist Jesus Casique told VOA it is hard to measure the exact rate of inflation or economic shrinkage because the central bank does not publicize the numbers. He suggested that, by keeping such information secret, “the Central Bank of Venezuela has been repeatedly violating the constitution of the republic.” Venezuela's extensive oil supply made it the richest Latin American nation in the 1970s. But with the 2014 collapse of oil prices, costs for goods and services have risen, along with crime. Last month, the Associated Press (AP) found evidence that Venezuela's military was profiting by seizing and reselling rice and other foods at high prices. Maduro had given the military the responsibility of food distribution. Call for sanctions Several members of the United States Congress are calling for U.S. sanctions against those who sell food illegally, including Venezuelan officials, the AP reported.  Opponents of Maduro's administration demonstrated in Caracas on Monday. The demonstrators were demanding local elections and a nationwide vote on Maduro’s leadership. His supporters also organized marches. The protest was held on the anniversary of Venezuelan dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez' removal and a return to democracy in 1958. I’m Alice Bryant.   Alvaro Algarra wrote this report for VOAnews.com, with additional reporting from Carol Guensburg. Alice Bryant adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   distribution - n. the act of giving or providing something to people sanctions - n. an action that is designed to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country and/or by not permitting economic aid for that country hyperinflation - n. inflation growing at a high rate in a short time distortion - n. the act of changing the shape of something

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

English @ the Movies: 'Lost Their Way'

Today on English @ the Movies we tell you about the saying "lost their way" from the movie "Dr. Strange." It is about mysterious powers and superheroes who use them. Do you know what "lost their way" means? Watch and find out!

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

Mexican President Cancels Meeting with Trump

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has cancelled a meeting with the new president of the United States, Donald Trump. The meeting had been planned for next week. Pena Nieto acted shortly after Trump posted on Twitter about plans for building a wall between Mexico and the U.S. Trump tweeted early Thursday, “If Mexico is unwilling to pay for the badly needed wall, then it would be better to cancel the upcoming meeting.”   Pena Nieto later tweeted, "This morning we informed the White House that I will not attend the work meeting planned for next Tuesday with @POTUS.” POTUS stands for President of the United States. Trump administration official Sean Spicer said: "We'll look for a date to schedule something in the future.” And he added, “We will keep the lines of communication open." Jorge Castaneda served as Mexico’s foreign relations secretary under its former administration. In his words, "Pena Nieto has no other choice but to say 'I'm not going.'” Tensions have increased between the two countries since Trump launched his campaign in 2015. Trump had said immigrants from Mexico brought drugs and crime into the U.S. He promised to build a wall to stop them and said Mexico would pay for it. The new U.S. President has also blamed Mexico for taking jobs away from Americans. He wants to re-negotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA. Calling it a “total disaster,” he said it costs the U.S. as much as $60 billion each year in trade deficits to Mexico. On Wednesday, Trump signed an order to build the wall as Mexico’s Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray arrived for a meeting with the White House staff. Republican leaders of the U.S. Congress estimated the cost of building the wall would be between $10 billion to $20 billion. Trump said the U.S. will finance the wall initially. But, he said Mexico will repay the United States. “There will be a payment, it will be in a form, perhaps a complicated form," Trump said in an interview with ABC News. Late in the day, a White House spokesman said that Trump is calling for a 20 percent tax on imports from Mexico to pay for the wall. I’m Anne Ball.   Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press and Reuters. Caty Weaver was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   schedule - v. to plan at a certain time complicated - adj. hard to explain, understand interview - n. a meeting between a reporter and another person in order to get information for a news story   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2k6T4Ts
via IFTTT

More Adult Children in the US Living with Parents

  When Michael Sheehan spoke at Saint Anselm College in 2016, he asked students to thank their parents for making their college education possible. As his request, graduates of the New Hampshire school stood and cheered their parents. “That was beautiful,” said Sheehan, a top official of The Boston Globe newspaper. “Now maybe mom and dad won’t mind so much when you move back in with them.” The college graduates and their parents laughed. But Sheehan’s words hold much truth. In the United States, lots of young adults are living at home with their parents, according to the Pew Research Center. Pew researchers found that 32 percent of 18-to-34-year-old Americans lived at their parents’ home in 2014. That is the highest percentage nationwide since 1940. More young adults lived at home with their parents than lived with a husband, wife, or partner in 2014, the center said. In that year, 31 percent were married or living with a partner -- half what it was in 1960, it said. Student Will Return Home after Graduation Hannah Raines plans to move back in with her parents after she completes her study program at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The 21-year-old would like to get a job and save money for graduate school. Raines’ parents, Jim and Juli, already have experience with an adult child returning home. Hannah’s twin brother, Dakota, returned home last year after the building where he lived was put up for sale. “It was very natural,” Juli Raines said. She said having their adult children back at home is good for her and her husband. “It wasn’t anything I had to think about,” Raines said. The only problem is figuring out where all four family members should park their cars, she noted. Experts say younger Americans are experiencing different economic problems than earlier generations. Pay is not keeping up with housing costs or the bigger loans many graduating students must pay off after leaving school. Pavel Marceux is an economic expert with Euromonitor International, a market research company. He said moving home for young adults may be a good decision. They can live at home with no or low rental payments, he said. This will enable them to save money or pay down loans. It can also help aging parents deal with changing technology, Marceux said. Not everyone who has returned home to live with one or both parents is struggling with their careers. Damon Casarez is a photographer. He took pictures of his peers for The New York Times Magazine in 2014. But even with selling his photos to the New York Times and other successes, he needed to return home to save money. Saving is necessary so he can repay $120,000 in loans that went toward his studies at the Art Center College of Design in California. He said, “If I didn’t have that loan, I’d easily be able to live on my own somewhere comfortably.” Grateful for Education, Despite Cost Casarez said he is happy about his education, even with the high cost. His father wanted to go to art school to study painting, but never got the chance. He said his mother also did not get to go to college. Both parents wanted him to get a good education to move forward with his career goals, Casarez said. Another young adult who recently moved back home is Giovanna Tolda of Northampton, Massachusetts. The 31-year-old is completing a master’s degree in special education. Tolda said her parents were glad to have her back home. While Tolda is back at home, she said her parents are talking to her about ways to buy a house after graduation, instead of renting one. Her own goals include a doctorate degree program in education, a job as a special education administrator and, yes, owning her own home. I’m Caty Weaver   Marissa Melton reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   graduate - n. a person who has earned a degree or diploma from a school, college, or university mind - v. to be bothered by something park - v. to leave a car, truck or motorcycle in a particular place rent - n. money that you pay in return for being able to live in an apartment or house peer - n. a person who belongs to the same age group or social group as someone else comfortably -  adv. causing no worries

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2jk1mmX
via IFTTT

Turkey Expects Better Relationship With US under Trump

  The Turkish government is preparing to reset its relationship with the United States under its new leadership. A Turkish official said the new administration of U.S. President Donald Trump “will guard Turkey’s sensitive position” in the Middle East. Turkey’s relationship with the U.S. was strained during Barack Obama’s eight years in office. Semih Idiz writes about politics for the Turkish website Al-Monitor. He says people in Turkey think Trump will get the relationship between Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the U.S. back on track. “Trump is going to be more amenable towards the Erdogan government than many people assume. I think this is what Ankara is relying on. They have common enemies and I think they will try to concentrate on that...” Turkish political experts say the relationship was hurt by the U.S. offer of military support to Kurdish opposition forces in Syria. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim spoke recently about what the Trump government needs to do to reset the U.S. relationship with Turkey. Yildirim called first for the U.S. to surrender Turkish clergyman Fethullah Gulen. He is accused of inspiring last summer’s failed attempt to forcibly remove Erdogan. Gulen lives in the United States. The prime minister also demanded that the U.S. end its support of the Syrian Kurdish group known as PYD. PYD is fighting against the Islamic State in the Syrian city of Raqqa. The Turkish government believes the PYD is also supporting Kurdish militant groups within Turkey. Atilla Yesilada is an expert on Turkish politics and finance with the company GlobalSource Partners. He questioned the likelihood of Yildirim’s conditions being met. He said the U.S. Department of Justice is responsible for sending or not sending, Gulen back to Turkey. He said there is little Trump could do to make it happen faster. He also said that said Rex Tillerson, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, has defended the Kurds as allies in the fight against the Islamic State. Politics observer Semih Idiz also said Turks should lower their expectations for a renewed relationship with the U.S. But he said there is still some reason for optimism. He said many people thought Barack Obama’s election would heal all of the problems in the Middle East, but it did not work out that way. Idiz thinks people will be disappointed with the Trump administration, but that there will be some change. “So I think that is what really a lot of people are looking for rather than any sort of panacea or magic wand that will fix everything overnight.” There are other issues that may continue to strain the U.S. relationship with Turkey. They include the possible move of the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem; Trump’s support of Israeli settlements in the West Bank; and plans for U.S. use of the Turkish airbase in Incirlik. Erdogan recently said “we keep hearing words [from Trump] about the Middle East that are actually disturbing.” And expert Atilla Yesilada called it “foolish” for Turkey to believe that Trump is “pro-Turkish” only because he is seen as “anti-Obama.” Dorian Jones wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. How do you think Turkey will fare during the Trump era? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   sensitive – adj. needing to be handled in a careful or secret way in order to protect someone or something strained – adj. not friendly and relaxed on track – adj. happening the way that you expect or want things to happen : following a schedule, routine, etc. amenable – adj. willing to agree or to accept something that is wanted or asked for assume – v. to think that something is true or probably true without knowing that it is true rely – v. to trust or believe (someone or something) concentrate – v. to cause (attention, efforts, strength, etc.) to be used or directed for a single purpose — usually + on 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

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2k6IRq7
via IFTTT

You Can Use the Simple Past Tense to Make Polite Offers

  Imagine you are at a café in the United States. The server walks toward you and asks the following question: Did you want cream for your coffee? You might ask yourself how you should answer. What is the server talking about? Why did the server use a past tense construction, "Did you want?" Why did the server not say "Do you want cream for your coffee?" In today's Everyday Grammar, we will try to solve a mystery: why do some Americans use the past tense when they are talking about the present? Simple Past Tense The simple past tense is used for actions or situations that happened in the past. These actions or situations are finished. For example, you might hear a person say, "Did you have a good weekend?" When they ask this question, they are using the past tense construction, "Did you have…", and they are clearly discussing a recent weekend that is now finished. They might ask such a question when they see you on Monday or Tuesday – when you are back at work or school, for example. The traditional use of the simple past tense is this: to note complete actions or situations in the past. This definition is true most of the time in English conversation. Simple Past Tense with "want" and "need" However, there are exceptions. For example, in conversation, Americans often use the simple past tense of the verbs want or need even though they are asking a question about the present. Let’s go back to the American café. You might hear a conversation such as this: Server: Did you want cream for your coffee? Customer: No thanks! Server: Did you need more water? Customer: Yes, please! In the conversation, the server uses the simple past tense when asking questions. It would be grammatically correct to say "Do you want cream for your coffee” or "Do you need more water?" So, why did the server use the simple past tense instead of the present tense? Culture and Grammar Susan Conrad and Douglas Biber are grammar experts. They say that different cultures have different rules about politeness. In American culture, it is often considered polite to speak indirectly. One way some Americans speak indirectly, Conrad and Biber say, is by using a past tense verb when asking about a present desire. Americans do this by using the construction did + want and did + need. Even close friends may use this polite form with each other. When they are asking about what another person wants to do, some Americans say, "Did you want to go to the concert?" instead of "Do you want to go to the concert?" However, speakers do not answer such questions in the simple past tense. The answer usually comes in the verb forms that you would expect -- a simple present, present progressive or future tense verb, for example. Consider one of our example sentences: "Did you want to go to the concert?" The response to this question could be in the simple present tense: "No, I don't want to." Or the response could be in the present progressive: "No, I'm watching a movie." Or the answer could be in the future tense: "Yes, I'll go to the concert." You can read more about these verb forms in previous Everyday Grammar stories. Past tense with other verbs We started this program with a question: why do some Americans use the past tense when talking about the present? We have discovered that Americans generally only do this when asking about a present desire or preference – and usually only with the verbs want and need. In general, Americans do not use the simple past in this way when they are asking for information or using other verbs, such as like, love, prefer, and so on. This lesson is not designed to give you yet another grammar rule to remember. The point is to show you that native speakers will use language in ways that do not always follow the grammatical definitions that you may have learned about. Today's lesson will be useful if you are ever listening or speaking to an American. You might be able to ask polite questions, or understand what Americans mean when they ask you a question. Remember: we have talked about a grammatical structure that you might hear or use in conversation. It does not follow the traditional rules of grammar, so we do not advise that you use it on your next English grammar test! I'm Alice Bryant. And I'm John Russell. John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. *See Conrad and Biber Real Grammar: A Corpus-Based Approach to English. Pearson Education. 2009. Pgs. 1-3 _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   politeness – n. having or showing good manners or respect for other people concert – n. a public performance of music preference – n. a feeling of liking or wanting one person or thing more than another person or thing

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

Federer, Williams Sisters Set Up 'Old Folks' Finals in Australia

This is What’s Trending Today. Professional athletes in most sports start to slow down after the age of 35. Some retire. Jamaican Olympic runner Usain Bolt has talked about retiring, for example. He is only 30 years old. But on Thursday, Serena Williams earned a spot in the Australian Open finals. She will face her older sister, Venus, who won her semifinal match a day earlier. It is the first time the Williams sisters will play in a “Grand Slam” final since 2009. Venus is 36. Serena is 35. One older champion will play in the men’s final, too. Roger Federer qualified for the final by defeating Stan Wawrinka. Federer, like Serena Williams, is 35 years old. It will be one of the sport’s oldest tournament finals in a long time. Ken Rosewall of Australia is the oldest winner of a Grand Slam. He was 37 when he won the Australian Open in 1972. Serena Williams is already the oldest winner of a women’s Grand Slam tournament. She won Wimbledon last year at the age of 34. Many people are impressed that three of the finalists are 35 or older. All of the players have recently had injuries. Federer missed six months due to back and knee injuries. He told the crowd that he did not think he would be able to make it back to a Grand Slam final. “If I can’t walk for another five months, that’s okay,” he said. The Williams sisters have had difficulties, too. Earlier this month, Venus won a match in New Zealand but withdrew from the tournament after hurting her arm. She also learned in 2011 she had the immune system disorder called Sjogren’s syndrome. The disorder kept her from practicing and staying in good physical condition for a number of years. Serena took time off to recover from knee and shoulder injuries after losing in the semifinals of the U.S. Open last September. It is the ninth time the sisters will face each other in a major tournament finals. Serena has defeated her sister six of those times. If she wins, Serena will beat Steffi Graff’s record for the most Grand Slam titles ever in women’s tennis. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Who do you think will win the Australian Open matches? Let us know in the comments section. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   tournament – n. a sports competition or series of contests that involves many players or teams and that usually continues for at least several days Grand Slam – n. an important tournament in tennis or golf, for example, the Australian Open, Wimbledon, or U.S. Open immune system – n. the system that protects your body from diseases and infections  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2k8Bsa8
via IFTTT