The Strange Way 'Birds and Bees' Help Us

Now, its time for Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. Spring is in the air! Well, at least, in half of the world. The amount of daylight in the northern half is increasing, day by day. And air temperatures are slowly rising. Spring is

'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, stoo

Syrian Refugee Baby Gets Life-saving Surgery, Others Wait

Sara al-Matoura watched her daughter through a window as her daughters chest moved up and down under a tangle of medical wires. The mother from the Syrian city of Homs had not eaten for a day. She was up all night by her one-year-old daughters side a

In Bhutan, Gross National Happiness More Important

Prayer flags fly high in the wind across steep valleys and roads in the Kingdom of Bhutan. Many visitors remember seeing Bhutans Buddhist religious centers and stately looking defenses called zhongs. Others might recall large water-powered prayer whe

VOA慢速英语--春分：春天的到来

Vernal Equinox: The Arrival of Spring The vernal equinox this year falls on Tuesday, March 20. In the Northern Hemisphere, the day marks the start of spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, the same day marks the start of the autumnal equinox, or the beg

VOA慢速英语2018--美国最高法院的崛起

The Rise of the US Supreme Court When Americans are angry and believe they are right about an issue, they might use this expression: Im going take it all the way to the Supreme Court! These words capture two important ideas. First, the Supreme Court

《美国国家地理杂志》杂志负责人承认种族主义报道的历史

'National Geographic' Magazine Chief Admits History of Racist Coverage National Geographic magazine admitted this week that racism had influenced its reporting on the world for generations. The head of National Geographic was critical of its images o

圣帕特里克节 每个人都会成为爱尔兰人

Everyone Gets to be Irish on Saint Patricks Day On March 17, people around the world celebrate the Irish holiday of Saint Patricks Day. It is a major holiday in Ireland, but the rest of the world has influenced its celebration as much as the Irish th

For American Factory Towns, Loss of Good-Paying Jobs Hurts the Most

It is easy for people in Erie, Pennsylvania to blame their citys economic problems on the loss of manufacturing jobs to China and Mexico. Many Americans, including President Donald Trump, believe that factory closures are the main issue facing aging

法国面包师因每周工作7天而被罚款

French Baker Fined For Working 7 Days a Week This is Whats Trending Today Cedric Vaivre owns a bakery in the small French village of Lusigny-sur-Barse. Last summer, Vaivre decided to keep his business open every day of the week to serve visitors to t

VOA慢速英语2018 沙特称如果伊朗发展核武器,沙特也将效仿

Report: Saudi Will Develop Nuclear Bomb if Iran Does The crown prince of Saudi Arabia said his country will develop nuclear weapons if its rival Iran does. 沙特王储表示，如果其竞争对手伊朗发展核武器，沙特也会这么做。 Pri

Egypt’s President Struggles with Islamic State in Sinai

As Egypt prepares for a presidential election, the country continues to struggle with security in the Sinai Peninsula. The election will take place from March 26 through March 28. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to easily win a second term

VOA慢速英语--US Targets 'Cyber Actors' as Russians Prepare for Presidential Elections

The United States government is taking action against over 20 Russian cyber actors for interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The Treasury Department announced sanctions against the GRU, the Russian military intelligence organization, an

VOA慢速英语--Use -Ever Words Whenever You Like

In the song Whenever, Wherever, popular Colombian singer Shakira tells us about a long-distance romance. At one point in the song, she asserts that time and distance are of little importance when two people are meant for each other: Can't you see I'm

Study: Rich Cities Largely Responsible for Greenhouse Gases

Rich cities around the world are largely responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, says a new study. The study measures emissions based on the use of goods and services, such as food, clothing and electronics, by people living inside cities. It inclu

火山喷发中,古时代的南非人没有受伤害

Ancient People in South Africa Unharmed by Volcanic Eruption About 74,000 years ago, the Mount Toba volcano erupted on what is now the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The eruption caused a worldwide environmental disaster. It may have destroyed ancient

Study: Bones Found on Pacific Island Likely from Amelia Earhart

A new study suggests bones found on a Pacific Island in 1940 were likely those of famous American pilot Amelia Earhart. If true, the findings would end a long debate over what happened to Earhart. She disappeared in 1937 over the southern Pacific Oce

Kim-Trump Meeting Met with Caution

A meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un seemed unthinkable only months ago. In the last year, the two leaders have exchanged strong insults and threats raising fears of armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

'The Diamond Lens' by Fitz-James O'Brien, Part Two

Our story is called The Diamond Lens. It was written by Fitz-James O'Brien. Today we will hear the second and final part of the story. Here is Maurice Joyce with part two of The Diamond Lens. When I was a child, someone gave me a microscope. I spent

George Washington’s Tree Brought Down by Strong Winds

This is Whats Trending Today The eastern United States is recovering from a major storm, which left widespread damage. Strong gusts of wind broke windows and removed tops of buildings. Hundreds of thousands of people lost power for one or more days.