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Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.(2019/12/14 09:30)
Question: This week we answer a question from Hamza. She writes, “What is the difference between "make" & "do"? How and when should I use them?”
Answer:
Dear Hamza,
“Make” and “do” are similar verbs in English. There are some words that go together with “make” and others that go together with “do.” In other words, there are fixed expressions in English with both of these verbs, and you just have to learn them. But there are general rules you can follow:
Use “make” for when you create or produce something.
Use “do” for actions you must do, like jobs or work, and for general activities, especially activities you repeat often.
Let’s look at some examples of each verb.
Make
Here are examples of “make” for things we produce. These can be something you can touch, like food and drinks.
I made a cake for your birthday.
Please make some tea before you leave.
Sometimes you cannot see or touch the thing that is created.
Your dog is making too much noise.
We are making progress on our study.
She made plans to go to a movie with her sister.
Do
Let’s look at use of “do” for work or jobs. In another “Ask a Teacher” we talked about the questions, “What do you do? and “What are you doing?” Here are some other examples of using “do” to talk about work at home.
I have to do the planting every fall.
Mom says, “No TV until you do your homework.”
Another way to use “do” is with words like “something,” “anything” and “nothing.”
I did not do anything yesterday.
Are you doing something interesting over the holiday?
The police did nothing to stop the crimes.
Next time you are trying to decide between “make” and “do,” please keep these rules in mind. The more you listen to and read English, the easier it will be to choose between these verbs.
Do you have a question for the VOA English teachers? Please email us with your question. Our email is learningenglish@voanews.com.
I’m Jill Robbins.
Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.
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Words in This Story
cake – n. a sweet cooked food, often eaten to celebrate something.
Do you have a question for the teacher? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or email us at learningenglish@voanews.com(2019/12/14 08:05)
We present the short story "After Twenty Years," by O. Henry. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State.
The cop moved along the street, looking strong and important. This was the way he always moved. He was not thinking of how he looked. There were few people on the street to see him. It was only about ten at night, but it was cold. And there was a wind with a little rain in it.
He stopped at doors as he walked along, trying each door to be sure that it was closed for the night. Now and then he turned and looked up and down the street. He was a fine-looking cop, watchful, guarding the peace.
People in this part of the city went home early. Now and then you might see the lights of a shop or of a small restaurant. But most of the doors belonged to business places that had been closed hours ago.
Then the cop suddenly slowed his walk. Near the door of a darkened shop a man was standing. As the cop walked toward him, the man spoke quickly.
“It’s all right, officer,” he said. “I’m waiting for a friend. Twenty years ago we agreed to meet here tonight. It sounds strange to you, doesn’t it? I’ll explain if you want to be sure that everything’s all right. About twenty years ago there was a restaurant where this shop stands. ‘Big Joe’ Brady’s restaurant.”
“It was here until five years ago,” said the cop.
The man near the door had a colorless square face with bright eyes, and a little white mark near his right eye. He had a large jewel in his necktie.
“Twenty years ago tonight,” said the man, “I had dinner here with Jimmy Wells. He was my best friend and the best fellow in the world. He and I grew up together here in New York, like two brothers. I was eighteen and Jimmy was twenty. The next morning I was to start for the West. I was going to find a job and make a great success. You couldn’t have pulled Jimmy out of New York. He thought it was the only place on earth.
“We agreed that night that we would meet here again in twenty years. We thought that in twenty years we would know what kind of men we were, and what future waited for us.”
“It sounds interesting,” said the cop. “A long time between meetings, it seems to me. Have you heard from your friend since you went West?”
“Yes, for a time we did write to each other,” said the man. “But after a year or two, we stopped. The West is big. I moved around everywhere, and I moved quickly. But I know that Jimmy will meet me here if he can. He was as true as any man in the world. He’ll never forget. I came a thousand miles to stand here tonight. But I’ll be glad about that, if my old friend comes too.”
The man waiting took out a fine watch, covered with small jewels.
“Three minutes before ten,” he said. “It was ten that night when we said goodbye here at the restaurant door.”
“You were successful in the West, weren’t you?” asked the cop.
“I surely was! I hope Jimmy has done half as well. He was a slow mover. I’ve had to fight for my success. In New York a man doesn’t change much. In the West you learn how to fight for what you get.”
The cop took a step or two. “I’ll go on my way,” he said. “I hope your friend comes all right. If he isn’t here at ten, are you going to leave?”
“I am not!” said the other. “I’ll wait half an hour, at least. If Jimmy is alive on earth, he’ll be here by that time. Good night, officer.”
“Good night,” said the cop, and walked away, trying doors as he went.
There was now a cold rain falling and the wind was stronger. The few people walking along that street were hurrying, trying to keep warm. At the door of the shop stood the man who had come a thousand miles to meet a friend. Such a meeting could not be certain. But he waited.
About twenty minutes he waited, and then a tall man in a long coat came hurrying across the street. He went directly to the waiting man.
“Is that you, Bob?” he asked, doubtfully.
“Is that you, Jimmy Wells?” cried the man at the door.
The new man took the other man’s hands in his. “It’s Bob! It surely is. I was certain I would find you here if you were still alive. Twenty years is a long time. The old restaurant is gone, Bob. I wish it were here, so that we could have another dinner in it. Has the West been good to you?”
“It gave me everything I asked for. You’ve changed, Jimmy. I never thought you were so tall.”
“Oh, I grew a little after I was twenty.”
“Are you doing well in New York, Jimmy?”
“Well enough. I work for the city. Come on, Bob, We’ll go to a place I know, and have a good long talk about old times.”
The two men started along the street, arm in arm. The man from the West was beginning to tell the story of his life. The other, with his coat up to his ears, listened with interest.
At the corner stood a shop bright with electric lights. When they came near, each turned to look at the other’s face.
The man from the West stopped suddenly and pulled his arm away. “You’re not Jimmy Wells,” he said. “Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough to change the shape of a man’s nose.”
“It sometimes changes a good man into a bad one,” said the tall man. “You’ve been under arrest for ten minutes, Bob. Chicago cops thought you might be coming to New York. They told us to watch for you. Are you coming with me quietly? That’s wise. But first here is something I was asked to give you. You may read it here at the window. It’s from a cop named Wells.”
The man from the West opened the little piece of paper. His hand began to shake a little as he read.
“Bob: I was at the place on time. I saw the face of the man wanted by Chicago cops. I didn’t want to arrest you myself. So I went and got another cop and sent him to do the job.
JIMMY.”
Download activities to help you understand this story here.
Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. How much do people change over time? What is it like to try to connect with a friend you have not seen in a long time? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page.
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QUIZ
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Words in This Story
cop – n. a person whose job is to enforce laws, investigate crimes, and make arrests
shop – n. a building or room where goods and services are sold
necktie –n. a long piece of cloth that is worn by men around the neck and under a collar and that is tied in front with a knot at the top
coat – n. an outer piece of clothing that can be long or short and that is worn to keep warm or dry(2019/12/14 08:02)
A new car racing track is nearing completion in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The Formula 1 website reports that crews are expected to finish work on the race course next month. The international racing event is making preparations for the country’s first Formula 1 Grand Prix. The race is to take place in April.
The Vietnam Grand Prix circuit, or raceway, is 5.6 kilometers in length. It was designed to include a permanent track structure, but also extends into some of Hanoi’s streets. Formula 1 says it expects drivers to reach top speeds of about 335 kilometers an hour.
Asia experts say Formula 1’s arrival in Vietnam demonstrates the economic health of the Communist-led country. The Grand Prix races are expected to bring more foreigners into Vietnam.
Rajiv Biswas is the chief Asia-Pacific economist at market research company IHS Markit. He told VOA he thinks the government will use Formula 1 events to expand the country’s tourism industry. “Then of course Vietnam’s own more upper middle-class population would be interested in these types of events,” he added.
Liam Parker is head of communications for Formula 1. He says one reason the organization chose Vietnam was because of major growth in its increasingly market-driven economy. The country enjoys a growing local population with a “large and young workforce” and higher personal earnings, Parker told VOA.
“Hanoi is one of the most exciting cities in the world right now with such a rich history and an incredible future ahead of it,” he added. “This is the perfect formula for Grand Prix racing and we believe this will become a real highlight of the F1 calendar.”
Between 2010 and 2018, the number of foreign tourists in Vietnam expanded from 5 million to more than 15 million.
Vietnamese officials expect the Formula 1 event to bring in even more tourists, said Mark Thomas, an advisor with sports marketing company OmniCom Experiential Group.
“I sort of think it works for both sides,” Thomas said. He explained that the government gets a new way to advertise Vietnam to the world, while Formula 1 and its owners make money from the deal.
Vietnam, like China 15 years ago, is an “up-and-coming nation that wants to showcase itself to the world,” Thomas added. Around East Asia, Formula 1 holds other races in China, Japan and Singapore.
More than one-third of Vietnam’s 97 million people will be middle class or more by next year, the Boston Consulting Group predicts. The middle-class growth is fueled mainly by a rise in export manufacturing that has created jobs.
More Vietnamese now have money to attend live sporting events. Soccer and basketball have both gained popularity in recent years. A Formula 1 Grand Prix ticket will cost between $30 to $300, depending on the event date and seats bought.
I’m Bryan Lynn.
Ralph Jennings wrote this story for VOA News. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.
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Words in This Story
track – n. a path or road used for races
tourism – n. the business of providing services for visitors to a place
incredible – adj. very good or exciting
calendar – n. events planned during the year for a particular activity or organization
showcase – v. present the best qualities of something(2019/12/14 07:53)
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Conservative Party have won a big victory in general elections.
Results show the Conservatives won a clear majority of the 650 seats in Parliament. Johnson is now likely to act on his promise to lead Britain out of the European Union (EU).
The country is set to withdraw from the EU by January 31, the latest time limit set by the two sides. However, British negotiators will have much work to do to reach a trade deal with Europe before that date.
Johnson has stated that Britain will withdraw from the EU, a move known as Brexit, with or without a deal in place.
It has been more than three years since Britons decided in a special referendum to separate from the EU. Political observers say it is likely that voters on Thursday, even those who wanted to stay with the EU, had grown tired of the issue and political indecision.
‘Get Brexit Done’
Before the vote, Johnson had a simple message: “Get Brexit Done.” The message was designed to win votes. During the election campaign, the prime minister tried to avoid answering reporters’ questions. His actions led to criticism in the media, but clearly did not hurt him and other Conservative candidates.
The Associated Press notes that the Labour Party, led by Jeremy Corbyn, struggled to find a message to appeal to voters. Corbyn was seen as unsure about whether he supported Brexit or not. He was criticized for failing to take steps to deal with reports of anti-Semitism in his party. He also failed to gain support for costly socialist reforms.
Corbyn has said he will not lead the Labour Party into another election, but has not offered to step down immediately.
In addition to the Conservatives, the National Party of Scotland was another big winner in the elections. The party won 48 seats in Parliament, 13 more than it had before.
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, said the election gave her a renewed mandate to push for another vote on Scottish independence. A vote on independence failed in 2014. Johnson has said he opposes another referendum on Scotland.
In Northern Ireland, the pro-Britain Democratic Unionist Party lost two of its 10 seats in the election. The party’s leader, Arlene Foster, blamed Irish nationalist parties for the defeat.
The vote showed strong support for Brexit, but the Brexit Party of Nigel Farage did not win any seats. The party decided against nominating candidates for 317 Conservative-held seats to avoid splitting the pro-Brexit vote.
Farage said he would rather his party not win seats than have a second referendum on Brexit.
Johnson’s success did not seem possible only a few weeks ago. His first three months in office were marked by defeats in Parliament and in the courts.
This summer, after the prime minister sought to have Parliament suspended in order to push through Brexit, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom ruled the move illegal. He was then forced to ask the EU for more time beyond October 31 to work toward a Brexit agreement.
Johnson then took a chance by supporting calls for general elections in an effort to gain public support and allies to pass Brexit legislation.
I’m Caty Weaver.
Mario Ritter Jr. adapted this AP story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
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Words in This Story
referendum –n. a vote in a county, state or country in which the public votes on a single issue
mandate –n. the power to act that voters give their elected leaders
rather – adv. with better reason; more willing(2019/12/14 07:51)
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