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Voice of America
18-03-2025
- Science
- Voice of America
Wilbur and Orville Wright: The First Airplane
Wilbur and Orville Wright are the American inventors who made a small engine-powered flying machine. They proved that flight without the aid of gas-filled balloons was possible. Wilbur Wright was born in 1867 near Melville, Indiana. His brother Orville was born four years later in Dayton, Ohio. As they grew up, the Wright brothers experimented with mechanical things. Later, the Wright brothers began to design their own flying machine. They used ideas they had developed from earlier experiments with a toy helicopter, kites, the printing machine and bicycles. Soon, they needed a place to test their ideas about flight. The best place with the best wind conditions seemed to be a piece of sandy land in North Carolina along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It was called Kill Devil Hill, near the town of Kitty Hawk. The Wright brothers did many tests with gliders at Kitty Hawk. With these tests, they learned how to solve many problems. By the autumn of 1903, Wilbur and Orville had designed and built an airplane powered by a gasoline engine. The plane had wings 12 meters across. It weighed about 340 kilograms, including the pilot. On December 17th, 1903, they made the world's first flight in a machine that was heavier than air and powered by an engine. Orville flew the plane 36 meters. He was in the air for 12 seconds. The two brothers made three more flights that day. Four other men watched the Wright brothers' first flights. One of the men took pictures. Few newspapers, however, noted the event. It was almost five years before the Wright brothers became famous. In 1908, Wilbur went to France. He gave demonstration flights at heights of 90 meters. A French company agreed to begin making the Wright brothers' flying machine. Orville made successful flights in the United States at the time Wilbur was in France. The United States War Department agreed to buy a Wright brothers' plane. Wilbur and Orville suddenly became world heroes. But the brothers were not seeking fame. They returned to Dayton where they continued to improve their airplanes. They taught many others how to fly. Wilbur Wright died of typhoid fever in 1912. Orville Wright continued designing and inventing until he died many years later, in 1948. Today, the Wright brothers' first airplane is in the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Visitors to the museum can look at the Wright brothers' small plane. Then they can walk to another area and see space vehicles and a rock collected from the moon. The world has changed a lot since Wilbur and Orville Wright began the modern age of flight over one hundred years ago. I'm John Russell. Marilyn Rice Christiano wrote this story for VOA Learning English. John Russell adapted it. Quiz - Wilbur and Orville Wright: The First Airplane Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ______________________________________________________ Words in This Story glider– n. a flying object similar to an airplane but without an engine
Voice of America
14-03-2025
- General
- Voice of America
Sew and Knit
This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Rohullah in Afghanistan about using the words 'sew' and 'knit' and related terms. Dear VOA Learning English, I am sending this email to know what the differences are between "sewing and knitting" or "sew and knit.' Besides [that], I wanted to know what I can call a woman or a man that makes clothes. Thank you I'm happy to answer this question, Rohullah. An important difference between sewing and knitting is that when we sew, we connect pieces of fabric or cloth that are already made. When we knit, we make the cloth itself from strings called yarn. Also, the word 'sewing' can describe many ways people connect or repair fabric and clothes. For example, people can sew many kinds of clothes, such as socks, shirts, dresses, hats, and gloves. People can also sew larger things, such as window coverings or tents. A person can sew using a sewing machine or simply by using their hands with a needle and thread. Knitting does not generally require use of a machine or a needle and thread. To knit, a person uses thicker strings called yarn, along with two thin sticks called knitting needles. Yarn is usually made of small, natural pieces, called fibers, such as wool or cotton. While sewing thread is often less than one millimeter thick, knitting yarn is generally two to five millimeters thick. Many people who knit make clothing for cold weather, such as wool sweaters, hats, and scarves. They may also knit blankets or other things that can be used in the home. More than 50 years ago, most Americans who earned money sewing clothes in a factory were women. They were called 'seamstresses.' Today, we sometimes call any person who sews a 'sewist.' Or we can simply say 'a person who sews.' And a person whose job is to sew or repair clothes to make them fit well is called a tailor. For our readers and listeners, what are your questions about American English? Do you like to knit or sew? We want to hear from you! Send us an email at learningenglish@ And please let us know where you are from, too. And that's Ask a Teacher. I'm Andrew Smith. Andrew Smith wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. ______________________________________________________ Words in This Story fabric – n. cloth or other material made from cotton, wool, silk, nylon or other threads tent – n. a shelter made of nylon or strong, heavy cloth held up by poles, typically used for camping needle – n. a small, very thin piece of metal with a sharp point at one end and a hole at the other for a thread to go through thread – n. a long, thin piece of material such as cotton, nylon or silk used for sewing blanket – n. a large square or rectangular piece of cloth, typically put on bed to keep you warm
Voice of America
14-03-2025
- General
- Voice of America
Common Adverbs in Conversation: Amplifiers, Downtoners
From VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. Imagine you are at a business meeting. You have just presented a plan to your business partners. They want to give suggestions for how to make your plan better. The conversation might sound like this: A: I really like your plan! B: Yes, it's pretty good … but it needs a little revising. A: Of course , you did a very good job. But you might need to consider a few more points. B: Yes, it will probably be more effective if you highlight the staffing requirements and expand on the budget. Whether you like business or not, this conversation gives you important grammar information that you can use in just about any situation. In particular, the exchange offers examples of some of the most important adverbs that you will hear in everyday speech. This week, we will explore special adverbs that increase or decrease the force of a statement. These adverbs are sometimes called amplifiers or downtoners.* What are adverbs? What are amplifiers? Adverbs are words that modify, or change, the meaning of adjectives, verbs, and sometimes entire sentences. They are often used to show time, a way of doing something, place, or degree – a measure of something. Some kinds of adverbs act as amplifiers. The word amplify means to make something stronger. So these amplifiers make the meaning of an adjective or sentence stronger. In American English, amplifiers have three common uses: increasing intensity, expressing certainty and showing precision. This information comes from Susan Conrad and Douglas Biber, two experts on English grammar. Words such as really and very are among the most common that increase the intensity of a statement. They usually modify an adjective. Take the adjective good, for example. Imagine you are trying some food that your friends cooked. Perhaps you want to tell them, "This food is good." You could increase the intensity of your statement by using the word very: "This food is very good." You could express certainty by using an amplifier such as definitely: "This is definitely the best food I've ever had." Or you could use an amplifier to show precision: "At exactly 5:13 p.m. on February 6th, I ate the best food I've ever had in my life!" What are downtoners? Other kinds of adverbs act as downtoners. Downtoners are the opposite of amplifiers. They reduce the force of a statement or express doubt. In other words, they set the tone of a statement. You can remember the term 'downtoner' by thinking about what it does: toning down a statement. Downtoners have three common functions: reducing intensity, expressing doubt or showing imprecision. Three common downtoners in conversational English are pretty, maybe and probably, say Conrad and Biber. How can you use downtoners to change the meaning of the statement? Take our earlier example: "This food is good." If you wanted to reduce the intensity of your statement, you could say: "This food is pretty good." You could show doubt, even raise questions, by saying: "This is maybe the best food I've ever had." Or, "This is probably the best food I've ever had." These statements express someone's opinion about the food. But they are not as strong as the example sentences that use amplifiers. In other words, saying "This food is pretty good" is not as forceful as saying, "This food is really good." Amplifiers and downtoners in a conversation So what does this discussion of food have to do with the exchange we heard at the beginning of this report? Let's think back to the business conversation: A: I really like your plan! B: Yes, it's pretty good … but it needs a little revising. A: Of course , you did a very good job, but you might need to consider a few more points. B: Yes, it will probably be more effective if you highlight the staffing requirements and expand on the budget. You might notice that one of the speakers uses amplifiers such as really and very. She is using these words to give more force to her statement. She is probably more excited about the business plan. The second speaker uses downtoners – the words pretty and probably, for example. So you might suspect that he is more guarded about the plan. Maybe he has doubts that the new plan will be better. The amplifiers and downtoners they use are also among the most common ones that you will hear in American English. These words are useful in a number of settings. They are polite and acceptable in almost any situation. Amplifiers and downtoners in writing Remember this: the amplifiers and downtoners we have discussed today are common in conversation. Different amplifiers and downtoners are more common in writing. For example, you are more likely to read words such as indeed, certainly, or approximately than you are to hear them in everyday conversation. If you use these amplifiers and downtoners in conversation, your speech will take on a very official sound. While that might be a good idea in a formal presentation or speech, it might not be the best choice for an everyday conversation. Amplifiers and downtoners are not always necessary to use in a sentence. But when you see or hear them, you are getting information about the thoughts and feelings of another person. You are learning about how strongly they feel about something. And that's the end of this really long report! I'm Jill Robbins. And I'm John Russell. *These are also often called qualifiers. John Russell wrote this 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 revise – v. to make changes especially to correct or improve (something) staff – n. the people who make a business or organization do what it does amplifier – n. (grammar) an adverb that increases the force of a statement downtoner – n. (grammar) an adverb that decreases the force of a statement function – n. the special purpose or activity for which a thing exists or is used conversation – n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people highlight – v. to direct attention to (someone or something) grammar – n. the set of rules that explain how words are used in a language particular – n. special or unusual adverb – n. a word that describes a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or a sentence and that is often used to show time, manner, place, or degree certainty – n. something that is certain : a fact about which there is no doubt precision – n. exactness or accuracy imprecision – n. the opposite of precision doubt – n. a feeling of being uncertain or unsure about something tone – n. a quality, feeling, or attitude expressed by the words that someone uses in speaking or writing polite – adj. having or showing good manners or respect for other people
Voice of America
07-03-2025
- Voice of America
Beach, Coast, Shore
This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Doyeon in Korea about the usage of three similar words. Here is the question: Hello. I want to know the differences between the beach, . . . coast and shore. Thank you. You ask a useful question, Doyeon. Beach, shore and coast are related words, but they have some important differences. Beach The word 'beach' is the most specific of the three words. The Collins online dictionary defines beach as 'a nearly level stretch of pebbles and sand beside a sea, lake, etc., often washed by high water.' Ocean beaches are popular places to visit. We often use the phrase 'at the beach' to express the idea of spending time in the general area of the beach, as in the following example: They will vacation at the beach this summer. We usually say 'on the beach' when describing specific activities we do there: She went for a walk on the beach. I'm going to spend my afternoon on the beach. They are playing football on the beach. Coast The Learning English Word Book defines coast as 'land on the edge of the ocean.' We can use the word to describe a wide area, however. For example, Baltimore, Maryland is an East Coast city even though it is several kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean. Here are more examples of how we can use 'coast' in a sentence. The Florida coast has many nice towns and beaches. The coast of California extends over 1,300 kilometers. Like the expression 'at the beach,' we can say 'on the coast' when describing the general area, as in the following example: Her mother has lived on the coast for 30 years. We can use the expression 'off the coast of' to describe an area of ocean or sea relative to a place on land: The island is about 60 kilometers off the coast of Africa. Shore The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the word 'shore' as 'the land bordering a usually large body of water.' Shore can sometimes mean the beach, but not always. For example, you might swim to shore and come out of the water onto a beach. But you could also come to shore at a port with no beach in sight. And we can use 'shore' when discussing the general area, just like we do with the word 'coast.' The following example shows this meaning: The northern shore has many nice towns and beaches. For our readers and listeners, what are your questions about American English? We want to hear from you! Do you like to spend time at the coast? Send us an email at learningenglish@ And please let us know where you are from, too. And that's Ask a Teacher. I'm Andrew Smith. Andrew Smith wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. _______________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story specific – adj. precise, relating to one thing and not others pebble – n. a small rock
Voice of America
02-03-2025
- Business
- Voice of America
The Empire State Building: Once the World's Tallest
The Empire State Building remains a popular place to visit in New York City. The structure sits in a central part of New York's Manhattan area. It was built at a time when many developers were racing to become the first to complete the world's tallest building. Construction on the Empire State Building started in January 1930. Building operations began two months later. The structure went up very quickly, with workers completing framing for the structure at a rate of about four-and-a-half floors per week. When completed in 1931, the Empire State Building was just over 443 meters tall, with 102 floors. The measurement included a 62-meter-tall lightening pole on top. It was the world's tallest building at the time and remained so for more than 40 years. On May 1, 1931, the president of the United States, Herbert Hoover, took part in an opening ceremony. He pressed a button that turned on the lights to officially open the building. By 1946, the Empire State Building had become the headquarters for numerous organizations and supported more than 15,000 employees. But over time, the building never became as popular with large companies as the developers had hoped. Today, the structure houses mostly small businesses. The Empire State Building opened during the Great Depression, a long-lasting economic crisis that affected the U.S. and other economies around the world. This resulted in lower than predicted building costs. The structure alone cost about $25 million, while the cost of the land brought the price up to more than $40 million. Today, New York City officials estimate that more than 2.5 million people visit the Empire State Building each year. At least half the visitors come from other countries. The building has observation areas on two floors. The first is on the 86th floor and the other on the 102nd. The upper area has top-to-bottom windows on all sides to provide 360-degree views of the city skyline. Building officials say that on a clear day, visitors can see up to 120 kilometers. On the way up, visitors can stop at an exhibit area on the second floor. Among the things to see there is a model of the moving hand used in the popular 1933 movie King Kong. In the film, King Kong climbs the Empire State Building. The huge creature is then attacked by military planes and falls to his death. The Empire State Building appears in many pictures and films. It also disproves a common saying that 'lightning never strikes the same place twice.' Lightning actually strikes the Empire State Building an average of 25 times a year. I'm Bryan Lynn. Steve Ember and Faith Lapidus reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Bryan Lynn adapted the report. Quiz - The Empire State Building: Once the World's Tallest Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _________________________________________________ Words in This Story construction –n. the act of physically building a large or extensive structure frame – n. the basic structure of a building that carries its weight exhibit – n. an area that displays objects to the public, such as works of art or historical items
