博文
This is the VOA Special English
Education Report. A listener from China named Walker would like
information about agricultural programs in the United States. This
is our subject today in week No.30 of our Foreign Students
Series.
About 100 colleges and universities began as public agricultural colleges and continued to teach agriculture. These are called land grant schools. They began with support from the federal government. Federal aid supported the building of most major state universities. The idea of the land grant college goes back to a law in the 19th century called the Moral Act. A congressman named Justin Smith Moral wrote legislation to create at least one in each state.
The name 'land grant' came from the kind of aid provided by the government. The government wanted Americans to learn better ways to farm. So it gave thousands of hectares of land to each northern state. The idea was that the states would sell the land a
About 100 colleges and universities began as public agricultural colleges and continued to teach agriculture. These are called land grant schools. They began with support from the federal government. Federal aid supported the building of most major state universities. The idea of the land grant college goes back to a law in the 19th century called the Moral Act. A congressman named Justin Smith Moral wrote legislation to create at least one in each state.
The name 'land grant' came from the kind of aid provided by the government. The government wanted Americans to learn better ways to farm. So it gave thousands of hectares of land to each northern state. The idea was that the states would sell the land a
This is the VOA Special English
Health Report.
Chest compressions on a CPR training dummy
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, can save the life of someone whose heart has stopped. The condition is called cardiac arrest. The heart stops pumping blood. The person stops breathing. Without lifesaving measures, the brain starts to die within four to six minutes.
CPR combines breathing into the victim's mouth and repeated presses on the chest. CPR keeps blood and oxygen flowing to the heart and brain.
However, a new Japanese study questions the usefulness of mouth-to-mouth breathing.
The study was published in the British medical magazine, The Lancet. Doctors in Tokyo led the research. It examined more than four thousand people who had suffered cardiac arrest. In all the cases, witnesses saw the event happen.
More than one thousand of the victims received some kind of medical assistance from wit
Chest compressions on a CPR training dummy
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, can save the life of someone whose heart has stopped. The condition is called cardiac arrest. The heart stops pumping blood. The person stops breathing. Without lifesaving measures, the brain starts to die within four to six minutes.
CPR combines breathing into the victim's mouth and repeated presses on the chest. CPR keeps blood and oxygen flowing to the heart and brain.
However, a new Japanese study questions the usefulness of mouth-to-mouth breathing.
The study was published in the British medical magazine, The Lancet. Doctors in Tokyo led the research. It examined more than four thousand people who had suffered cardiac arrest. In all the cases, witnesses saw the event happen.
More than one thousand of the victims received some kind of medical assistance from wit
This is the VOA Special English
Economics Report.
Financial markets had a rough week again as investors grew more concerned about the United States housing market. Much of the concern is about home loans to people with poor credit or little history of borrowing money.
Most homebuyers are considered 'prime,' or a high-quality credit risk. Yet lenders have taken the risk of subprime loans because those buyers pay higher interest rates.
The number and complexity of nontraditional home loans grew along with the housing market. Now, that market has cooled. At the same time, many buyers, and not just in the subprime market, are seeing their monthly payments go up. Nontraditional loans often start with low payments for the first year or two.
The Mortgage Bankers Association reported this week on the condition of eighty percent of home loans nationally. It says five percent of all mortgage payments were at least thi
Financial markets had a rough week again as investors grew more concerned about the United States housing market. Much of the concern is about home loans to people with poor credit or little history of borrowing money.
Most homebuyers are considered 'prime,' or a high-quality credit risk. Yet lenders have taken the risk of subprime loans because those buyers pay higher interest rates.
The number and complexity of nontraditional home loans grew along with the housing market. Now, that market has cooled. At the same time, many buyers, and not just in the subprime market, are seeing their monthly payments go up. Nontraditional loans often start with low payments for the first year or two.
The Mortgage Bankers Association reported this week on the condition of eighty percent of home loans nationally. It says five percent of all mortgage payments were at least thi
Now the VOA Special English
program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.
Some of the most exciting information comes by way of the grapevine. That is so because reports received through the grapevine are supposed to be secret. The information is all 'Hush, hush'. It is whispered into your ear with the understanding that you will not pass it on to others. You feel honored and excited. You are one of the special few to get this information. You cannot wait. You must quickly find other ears to pour the information into(逢人传言). And so the information, secret as it is, begins to spread. Nobody knows how far. The expression_r 'by the grapevine' is more than one hundred years old.
The American inventor Samuel F. Morse is largely responsible(负主要责任) for the birth of the expression_r. Among others, he experime
Some of the most exciting information comes by way of the grapevine. That is so because reports received through the grapevine are supposed to be secret. The information is all 'Hush, hush'. It is whispered into your ear with the understanding that you will not pass it on to others. You feel honored and excited. You are one of the special few to get this information. You cannot wait. You must quickly find other ears to pour the information into(逢人传言). And so the information, secret as it is, begins to spread. Nobody knows how far. The expression_r 'by the grapevine' is more than one hundred years old.
The American inventor Samuel F. Morse is largely responsible(负主要责任) for the birth of the expression_r. Among others, he experime
Now the VOA Special English
Program, Words and Their Stories.
Every week at this time, the VOA tells about popular words and expression_rs used in the United States. Some expression_rs have made a jump from sports events to everyday life. One such expresson is fall guy.
A fall guy is the person who someone decides will be a loser or victim. The first fall guys were men who wrestled for money. At the end of 19th century wresling was a very popular sport in the United States. Wrestling competitions were held not only in big cities but also at in country affairs and travelling shows. As the sports became more popular, it became less and less of a sport. Many of the matches were fixed. The wrestlers knew before the match which one of them would be the winner. The goal in wrestling is to hold your opponent shoulders down against the floor. This is called a fall. Sometimes one of the wrestlers would be paid before the match to take the
Every week at this time, the VOA tells about popular words and expression_rs used in the United States. Some expression_rs have made a jump from sports events to everyday life. One such expresson is fall guy.
A fall guy is the person who someone decides will be a loser or victim. The first fall guys were men who wrestled for money. At the end of 19th century wresling was a very popular sport in the United States. Wrestling competitions were held not only in big cities but also at in country affairs and travelling shows. As the sports became more popular, it became less and less of a sport. Many of the matches were fixed. The wrestlers knew before the match which one of them would be the winner. The goal in wrestling is to hold your opponent shoulders down against the floor. This is called a fall. Sometimes one of the wrestlers would be paid before the match to take the
This is the VOA Special English
Education Report.
Financial aid is the subject this week in our Foreign Student Series on higher education in the United States.
Students who want to study in the United States may find that their chances for financial aid are limited. They often have to pay for their education with their own savings or their family's money.
A recent report from the Institute of International Education in New York looked at the two thousand five-two thousand six school year:
Colleges and universities in the United States had more than half a million foreign students. Sixty-three percent of them paid for school mostly by themselves or with family help. Twenty-six percent were supported by the school they attended.
There are other sources of financial aid for international students. These include a student's home government or university, or the United States government. Private spons
Financial aid is the subject this week in our Foreign Student Series on higher education in the United States.
Students who want to study in the United States may find that their chances for financial aid are limited. They often have to pay for their education with their own savings or their family's money.
A recent report from the Institute of International Education in New York looked at the two thousand five-two thousand six school year:
Colleges and universities in the United States had more than half a million foreign students. Sixty-three percent of them paid for school mostly by themselves or with family help. Twenty-six percent were supported by the school they attended.
There are other sources of financial aid for international students. These include a student's home government or university, or the United States government. Private spons
This is the VOA Special English
Education Report.
More than five hundred sixty thousand foreign students attended an American college or university during the last school year. It was the seventh straight year with more than half a million international students in the United States.
Last year's group was about the same size as the year before -- which was good news for schools. Why? Because the number of students coming to the United States had been falling for two years.
Today, in our Foreign Student Series, we present numbers from the latest 'Open Doors' report. The information is from the Institute of International Education, based in New York.
India again sent the most students in the school year that began in autumn of two thousand five. India passed China in two thousand one as the leading sender of foreign students to the United States.
American schools last year had more than seventy-six
More than five hundred sixty thousand foreign students attended an American college or university during the last school year. It was the seventh straight year with more than half a million international students in the United States.
Last year's group was about the same size as the year before -- which was good news for schools. Why? Because the number of students coming to the United States had been falling for two years.
Today, in our Foreign Student Series, we present numbers from the latest 'Open Doors' report. The information is from the Institute of International Education, based in New York.
India again sent the most students in the school year that began in autumn of two thousand five. India passed China in two thousand one as the leading sender of foreign students to the United States.
American schools last year had more than seventy-six
This is the VOA Special English
Education Report.
We come to the twentieth week of our series on higher education in the United States. Today we answer two e-mails from Thailand. A refugee from Burma and another listener in Thailand both want to know more about the Fulbright Program.
The Fulbright Program gives Americans a chance to study, teach or do research in other countries. And it gives people in other countries a chance to do the same in America.
Fulbright grants are given to graduate students, scholars and professionals. There is also a Fulbright exchange program just for teachers and administrators.
Each year about six thousand people receive Fulbright grants. The United States government pays most of the costs. Foreign governments and schools help by sharing costs and providing other support.
The Fulbright Program operates in about one hundred fifty c
We come to the twentieth week of our series on higher education in the United States. Today we answer two e-mails from Thailand. A refugee from Burma and another listener in Thailand both want to know more about the Fulbright Program.
The Fulbright Program gives Americans a chance to study, teach or do research in other countries. And it gives people in other countries a chance to do the same in America.
Fulbright grants are given to graduate students, scholars and professionals. There is also a Fulbright exchange program just for teachers and administrators.
Each year about six thousand people receive Fulbright grants. The United States government pays most of the costs. Foreign governments and schools help by sharing costs and providing other support.
The Fulbright Program operates in about one hundred fifty c
This is the VOA Special English
Education Report.
Graduate students often work as teaching assistants while they study in the United States. Teaching assistants may get money or get to take classes for free, or both.
A T.A. usually works about twenty hours each week. In some cases, the professors they assist have big undergraduate classes with hundreds of students. The professor gives one or two lectures a week, and teaching assistants lead smaller discussions at other times.
Graduate students often work as teaching assistants while they study in the United States. Teaching assistants may get money or get to take classes for free, or both.
A T.A. usually works about twenty hours each week. In some cases, the professors they assist have big undergraduate classes with hundreds of students. The professor gives one or two lectures a week, and teaching assistants lead smaller discussions at other times.
They also give tests, grade work, provide laboratory assistance and meet with students who need help. And they have their own educations to think about.
Labor unions have been working to organize teaching assistants who feel overworked and underpaid. Some schools have had strikes.
Another issue is the language barrier. Many states have proposed to require that teaching assistants be
This is the VOA Special English
Education Report.
We continue our Foreign Student Series this week with a report on the International Student Handbook. This publication can be a useful guide if you are interested in attending a college or university in the United States. The College Board organization publishes a new one every year. In it, students may find much of the information they need to know about higher education in America.
The International Student Handbook explains the higher education system and how to apply to schools. It explains the different costs and the kinds of financial aid available to foreign students. The handbook also gives information about admissions tests.
The material is organized for undergraduate and graduate students. Information is provided about almost three thousand two-year and four-year schools.
A printed copy of the International Student Handbook costs about thirty dollar
We continue our Foreign Student Series this week with a report on the International Student Handbook. This publication can be a useful guide if you are interested in attending a college or university in the United States. The College Board organization publishes a new one every year. In it, students may find much of the information they need to know about higher education in America.
The International Student Handbook explains the higher education system and how to apply to schools. It explains the different costs and the kinds of financial aid available to foreign students. The handbook also gives information about admissions tests.
The material is organized for undergraduate and graduate students. Information is provided about almost three thousand two-year and four-year schools.
A printed copy of the International Student Handbook costs about thirty dollar
