VOA News| Arctic Ocean Ice Shrinks to Second Lowest Level on Record

 Arctic Ocean Ice Shrinks to Second Lowest Level on Record

 Arctic Ocean Ice Shrinks to Second Lowest Level on Record

Scientists say ice in the Arctic Ocean melted to its second lowest level on record this summer. Arctic sea ice melts over the summer, reaching its lowest point sometime during September. Then, during the winter, ice builds up again and reaches its highest level in March. The National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado Boulder uses satellite imagery to observe and measure the ice levels. The center recently announced its latest findings about sea ice levels at the North Pole, as well as areas off Canada, Greenland, Russia and the U.S. state of Alaska. Researchers reported Arctic Ocean ice levels reached a summertime low of 3.7 million square kilometers on September 15. That is the second lowest level recorded since 1979, when satellite observations of the sea ice began. The lowest level recorded was in 2012, when the ice shrank to 3.4 million square kilometers. In the 1980s, the ice cover was about 2.7 million square kilometers bigger than current summer levels. Mark Serreze is director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center. "It's been a crazy year up north, with sea ice at a near-record low,” he told the French news agency AFP. He noted the heat waves and massive forest fires in the Siberian area of Russia. He said the heat wave last spring and natural climate conditions in the Arctic played a part in the latest sea ice melt. He noted that temperatures for much of the year in the Siberian Arctic were 8 to 10 degrees Celsius above normal. Some of the warming was caused by the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, he added. “Absolutely we’re seeing climate change at work because the warm summers become warmer and the cold winters aren’t as cold as they were,” Serreze said. Melting sea ice does not directly add to rising sea levels. But scientists say it can have a direct effect on rising temperatures. "When the sea ice disappears, the incident sunlight gets absorbed in the ocean, helping to further warm the Earth," Claire Parkinson told AFP. She is a climate scientist with the U.S. space agency NASA. Parkinson added that the lower ice coverage this year was "in line with the overall downward” patterns of the past 40 years. "What we are seeing here in the Arctic is really the opening up of a new ocean on top of the world, which means that we need to be protecting the area," she added. In another recent study, U.S. researchers suggested the Arctic has experienced such intense warming in recent decades that it is now changing to a completely “new climate state.” The study was carried out by the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The researchers said Arctic sea ice has seen such major melting in recent decades that even an unusually cold year “will no longer have the amount of summer sea ice that existed as recently as the mid-20th century.” The study predicted that autumn and winter temperatures will also warm enough to enter a “statistically distinct climate” by the middle of this century. This will likely result in seasonal changes to include months when rain will fall instead of snow. The scientists based their research on hundreds of detailed computer models and observations of Arctic climate conditions. They used this data to define climate conditions of what they considered the “old Arctic.” The team then attempted to identify future climate changes linked to human-caused warming. The study was based on high-end predictions for future levels of greenhouse gases, pollutants that trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere. The researchers noted that lower greenhouse gas levels would lessen future climate changes in the Arctic. I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and NCAR. Caty Weaver was the editor. Words in This Story crazy – adj. very unusual or strange absorb – v. to take something in and hold it decade – n. period of ten years statistical – adj. relating to statistics, a number that shows information about something distinct – adj. different and separate

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Daily Learning Vocabulary| English Vocabulary| 11

 

Daily Learning Vocabulary| English Vocabulary| 11 

headquarters /ˈhɛdˌkwoɚtɚz/  noun

[plural]

: a place from which something (such as a business or a military action) is controlled or directed

◊ Headquarters is plural in form but is used with both plural and singular verbs.

§ The company's headquarters is/are in Atlanta.

 

 

adrift /əˈdrɪft/  adjective

1 of a boat : floating on the water without being tied to anything or controlled by anyone

§ We could see a ship adrift [=drifting] in the storm.

§ The canoe was set/cast adrift from its moorings.

2 : without guidance, purpose, or support

§ She was alone and adrift in the city.

§ Many workers were cast adrift by massive layoffs.

 

document /ˈdɑːkjəmənt/  noun

[count]

1 : an official paper that gives information about something or that is used as proof of something

§ It is important to keep all of your financial documents in a safe place.

§ legal/official/historical documents

§ An important classified document has been leaked to the media.

2 : a computer file that contains text that you have written

§ creating a new document on your computer

§ I lost the document when the hard drive crashed.

 

 

 

famous /ˈfeɪməs/  adjective

[more famous; most famous]

: known or recognized by very many people : having fame

§ an internationally famous hotel

§ a famous entertainer/explorer/athlete/politician

— often + for or as

§ The hotel is (justly) famous for its luxury.

§ The hotel is famous as the place where the treaty was signed.

 

shoehorn /ˈʃuːˌhoɚn/  verb

[+ object]

: to force (something or someone) into a small space, a short period of time, etc.

§ A parking garage has been shoehorned between the buildings.

§ She's trying to shoehorn a year's worth of classes into a single semester.

§ I don't know how they managed to shoehorn everyone into that little room.

 

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Air Travel Vocabulary| Learning English Vocabulary by Topic| finish

 

Source: https://www.learnersdictionary.com/ TOEIC English Course: https://bitly.com.vn/aYj7b Air Travel Vocabulary| Learning English Vocabulary by Topic| Finish Air Travel Vocabulary duty–free /ˌduːtiˈfriː/ adjective 1 : not taxed when taken into another country  duty-free goods 2 : selling goods that will not be taxed when taken into another country  I bought chocolate at the duty-free shop at the airport. gate /ˈgeɪt/ noun an area at an airport where passengers arrive and leave  When she got off the plane, her mother was waiting for her at the gate.  Flight 213 is now boarding at Gate 6. itinerary /aɪˈtɪnəˌreri/ noun [count] : the places you go to or plan to go to on a journey  We planned a detailed itinerary.  Our itinerary included stops at several famous cathedrals. landing /ˈlændɪŋ/ noun : an act of returning to the ground or another surface after a flight [count]  The plane made a smooth/perfect landing.  The helicopter had to make an emergency landing.  The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings.  a lunar/moon landing [=a landing on the moon] [noncount]  Landing in high winds can be dangerous.  Our plane was cleared for landing. — often used before another noun  an airplane's landing lights  a landing zone/site lavatory /ˈlævəˌtori/ noun formal : a room with a toilet and sink ◊ In U.S. English, lavatory is most often used for a room in an airplane.  Smoking is not permitted in the airplane's lavatory. ◊ It may also be used for a room in other kinds of public places.  the school's lavatories [=(more commonly) restrooms] ◊ In British English, lavatory is most often used for a room in a public place but may also be used for a room in a home.   passport /ˈpæsˌpoɚt/ noun [count] 1 : an official document issued by the government of a country that identifies someone as a citizen of that country and that is usually necessary when entering or leaving a country 2 : something that allows a person to achieve something — + to  Education can be a passport to a successful future.

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Air Travel Vocabulary| Learning English Vocabulary by Topic| 01

 

Source: https://www.learnersdictionary.com/ Listening Stories: https://bitly.com.vn/Y0bP6

Air Travel Vocabulary

 

aisle /ˈajəl/  noun

: a passage where people walk: such as

a : a passage between sections of seats in a church, theater, airplane, etc. — see picture at theater

·         The bride walked down/up the aisle to the altar.

·         He likes to sit on the aisle. = He likes to sit in the aisle seat. [=he likes to sit in the seat next to the aisle]

·         By the end of the concert, the people in the theater were dancing in the aisles.

·         When the people of an audience are laughing a lot, they can be described as rolling in the aisles.

·         a new comedy that has audiences rolling in the aisles all across the country

b : a passage where people walk through a store, market, etc.

·         supermarket aisles

 

arrival /əˈraɪvəl/  noun

: the act of coming to or reaching a place : the act of arriving

[noncount]

·         They were awaiting the arrival of guests.

·         We checked into the hotel upon (our) arrival.

·         The flight's estimated time of arrival is 11:30. = The flight's estimated arrival time is 11:30.

·         When is the mail scheduled for arrival?

[count]

·         They track the number of airport arrivals and departures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

baggage /ˈbægɪʤ/  noun

1 chiefly US : the bags, suitcases, and personal things that a person carries when traveling : luggage

·         Please collect your baggage.

— see also baggage claim at ²claim

2 : the feelings, beliefs, problems, or past events that can make life difficult for a person or group

·         His difficult childhood left him with a lot of heavy/personal/emotional baggage.

·         the cultural/political/historical baggage of the region

 

 

crew /ˈkruː/  noun

[count]

a : the group of people who operate a ship, airplane, or train

·         a skilled member of a ship's crew

·         flight crews

·         the flight's passengers and crew

·         crew members

b : the people who work on a ship except the officers and captain

·         the ship's captain and crew

 

 

 

custom /ˈkʌstəm/  noun

a : taxes or fees that are paid to the government when goods come into or go out of a country — often used before another noun

·         customs duties

b : the place at an airport, border, etc., where government officers collect customs on goods and look for things that people are trying to bring into a country illegally

·         We went through customs at the airport without any difficulty.

·         It took us a long time to clear customs at the border.

— often used before another noun

·         a customs agent/officer/inspector

 

 

departure /dɪˈpɑɚtʃɚ/  noun

: the act of departing: such as

a : the act of leaving a place especially to start a journey

[noncount]

·         What is your time of departure?

·         Our departure is scheduled for 5 p.m. = Our departure time is 5 p.m.

·         They had to postpone (their) departure because of bad weather.

 [count]

·         a schedule of arrivals and departures

b [count] : the act of leaving a job, an organization, etc.

·         The departures of several key employees have caused problems for the company.

·         her sudden departure from the company

·         The team has struggled since the departure of its head coach.

 

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VOA News| Europe Reopens Schools

 

Source: https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/europe-reopens-schools/5565077.html Toeic English course: https://shorten.asia/3Kt2r8nb Europe Reopens Schools In Paris, a mother and her three children recently went to a supermarket to look for school supplies. They bought writing instruments, notebooks and plenty of face masks. Parents and children across Europe have been making similar purchases at the start of a new school year. European officials have decided to put children back into school classrooms for the new term. Facing an increase in coronavirus cases, officials in France, Britain, Spain and other countries are making rules about masks, building new classrooms and adding teachers. European leaders from the political left, right and center are sending a similar message to students and their parents: Even in a pandemic, children are better off in class. France’s prime minister promised last week to “do everything” to get people back to school and work. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called reopening schools a “moral duty.” His government even threatened to fine parents who keep children at home. And Italy’s health minister forced discos to close this month with one goal in mind: “to reopen schools in September in complete safety.” As both a parent and a teacher, Mathieu Maillard has a lot to worry about when French schools reopen. Over the past month, the number of virus infections has increased in France. Maillard thinks it is time for students to go back. School “has to start up again at some point,” he said. “The health risk exists, but the risk of not putting children in school is even bigger.” When governments ordered people to stay at home, he said, some students never joined his online literature classes. Some had no place to work or did not have computers. “Our students really, really need school,” he said. For those growing up in an environment plagued with violence and drugs, school “is a place where they can breathe.” In southeast London, father of three Mark Davis is looking forward to schools reopening in September. But he worries about what will happen if there is a rise in coronavirus infections. “Everyone is gunning for this (return to school), but it’s no good just hoping for the best,” he said. “Plans need to be put in place.” The British government says schools will only close if conditions become very bad. But parents say the government’s message has been unclear. Most of the country’s 11 million students have not seen a classroom since March. Britain has 41,515 virus-related deaths, the highest confirmed number in Europe. Johnson’s government has been strongly criticized for the way it has reacted to the pandemic. Some European schools are considering a mixed school year, with some in-person classes and others online. But most want to do in-person classes. UNICEF, the United Nations’ Childrens Fund, recently announced guidance for government officials. It said that at least a third of the world’s schoolchildren were unable to do distance learning during virus lockdowns. UNICEF officials warned that the effects “could be felt in economies and societies for decades.” Medical experts say the risk of opening schools depends on how widespread COVID-19 infections are in the community and what safety measures are taken. Evidence suggests young children do not spread the disease very easily. But children aged 10 years and up may spread it as easily as adults. While children appear less likely than adults to get infected, severe cases and deaths have been documented. Health experts say more evidence is needed. Parents and teachers are not the only people demanding a voice in school reopenings. Denmark’s second-largest city, Aarhus, sent all its high school students home after an increase in virus cases. But the students pushed back, saying they do not learn as much online. In protests last week, they held signs reading: “I just want to go to school.” I'm John Russell. Angela Charlton reported on this story for The Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

Words in This Story mask – n. a cover or partial cover for the face

pandemic – n. a situation in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world

disco – n. a business where people dance to recorded popular music

plague i to cause worry to someone — usually used as (be) plagued; to cause constant or repeated trouble or disease for (someone or something)

gun for (something) -- phrasal verb to try to get something in a very determined way

lockdown – n. requirements that people stay in their homes and limit activities outside the home

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Daily Learning Vocabulary| English Vocabulary| 10

 

Daily Learning Vocabulary| English Vocabulary| 10

 

quarrel /ˈkworəl/  verb

[no object]

: to argue about or disagree with something

§ The children quarrel all the time.

§ She and her husband are always quarreling about/over money.

§ I don't want to quarrel with you.

§ I won't quarrel [=disagree] with your version of what happened.

 

 

smudge /ˈsmʌʤ/  verb

1 [+ object] : to make a dirty mark, spot, streak, etc., on (something)

§ Don't smudge the picture with your dirty hands!

§ His face was smudged with grease.

2 a [no object] : to become blurry and unclear by being touched or rubbed

§ Charcoal drawings smudge easily.

2 b [+ object] : to make (something) blurry or unclear by touching or rubbing it

§ Be careful not to smudge [=smear] the ink.

 

 

swamp /ˈswɑːmp/  verb

[+ object]

1 : to cover (something) with water

§ The sea level rose and swamped the coastal villages.

§ The boat sank after it was swamped by waves.

2 : to cause (someone or something) to have to deal with a very large amount of things or people at the same time — usually used as (be) swamped

§ The agency has been swamped by requests for assistance.

§ I'm swamped with work right now. [=I'm extremely busy right now]

§ Because of the new laws, we were swamped with paperwork.

§ In the summer, the town is swamped with/by tourists.

 

 

spread /ˈsprɛd/  noun

1 [noncount] : growth or increase that causes something to cover a larger area, affect a larger number of people, etc. — often + of

§ We need to slow the spread of the disease/virus.

§ the spread of infection

§ the spread of new technology

2 : a soft food that is spread on bread, crackers, etc.

   [count]

§ She offered crackers and a cheese spread.

   [noncount]

§ He uses low-fat spread on his toast.

 

 

flatter /ˈflætɚ/  verb

[+ object]

1 : to praise (someone) in a way that is not sincere

§ He flattered her with comments about her youthful appearance.

§ His comments flattered her.

§ You're just flattering me.

2 : to cause (someone) to feel pleased by showing respect, affection, or admiration

§ It flattered her to be asked to sing at their wedding.

— usually used as (be) flattered

§ She was flattered when they asked her to sing.

§ I'm flattered that he asked me out, but he isn't my type.

 

 

component /kəmˈpoʊnənt/  noun

one of the parts of something (such as a system or mixture)

: one of the parts of something (such as a system or mixture) : an important piece of something

§ The components of an electric circuit

§ He sells spare computer components.

§ The interview is a key component in the hiring process.

§ Hard work has been a major component of his success.

 

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