VOA慢速听力2篇【622-623】US Lawmakers Seek to Permit Religious Head...
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*【622】
AS IT IS
US Lawmakers Seek to Permit Religious Head Coverings in Congress
November 25, 2018
Democrat Ilhan Omar speaks after winning election to the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 6, 2018, in St. Paul, Minnesota. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)
For almost 200 years, the House of Representatives – part of the United States Congress – has barred lawmakers from wearing hats. But this year, voters in Minnesota elected Ilhan Omar to represent them in the House.
Omar, who was born in Somalia and is Muslim, wears a scarf that covers her head.
In answer, some political leaders are calling for a change to the rules so that lawmakers can wear religious headwear during official meetings. The proposed change would enable Omar to wear a headscarf on the House floor. It would also permit lawmakers to wear other kinds of religious headwear, such as kippahs. But it is unclear whether any current lawmaker would do so.
The reason for the ban on hats is mostly related to ideas about respectful behavior. Currently, the rule appears alongside bans on smoking or using small computers, such as iPhones, while lawmakers are meeting publicly.
But Democratic Party lawmakers have suggested a proposal to permit religious headwear. Nancy Pelosi and Jim McGovern were two of the writers of the proposal. They noted to NBC News that this year, voters had elected the most diverse Congress in history. McGovern added the amended headwear rule would permit lawmakers to do their jobs, regardless of their religious beliefs.
The Washington Post newspaper notes that the headwear proposal also denounces some of the anti-Muslim language heard in several election campaigns. The Postadded, “It is also notable coming at a time when several U.S. allies in Europe are adopting countrywide bans on face veils.”
I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.
Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Her reporting was based on stories in The Washington Post, Roll Call, and Bustle. George Grow was the editor.
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Words in This Story
scarf - n. a long piece of cloth that is worn on your shoulders, around your neck, or over your head
diverse - adj. made up of people or things that are different from each other
regardless of - adv. without being stopped or affected by (something)
adopt - v. to accept or approve
*【623】
AS IT IS
Scientists Work to Save Puerto Rican Parrots
November 25, 2018
In this Nov. 6, 2018 photo, Puerto Rican parrots huddle in a flight cage at the Iguaca Aviary in El Yunque, Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)
Scientists are trying to save Puerto Rico's endangered Amazon parrots after Hurricane Maria destroyed the birds' habitats and food sources.
El Yunque is a large national forest on the eastern part of Puerto Rico. Just two of the 56 wild parrots that once lived there survived Maria. The Category-4 storm struck Puerto Rico in September 2017. Scientists report other forests have seen great drops in parrot populations, as well.
In the 1800s, there were more than a million of the bright green parrots living in the wild in Puerto Rico. By the 1970s, the number was down to just 13 birds after years of forest clearing.
The U.S. and Puerto Rican governments launched a special program in 1972 to help increase the parrot population. That led to the creation of three breeding centers.
Just weeks before Hurricane Maria hit, scientists counted 56 wild parrots at El Yunque. That was the highest number in the program’s history.
Scientists say that even though several parrots have been born in captivity and in the wild since Maria, the species is still in danger.
Marisel Lopez oversees the parrot recovery program at El Yunque for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. She says she is worried about the disappearance of parrots in El Yunque. She said, “It was devastating, after so many years of having worked on this project.”
The Puerto Rican Amazon is the island's only remaining native parrot. The birds only reproduce once a year.
More than 460 of the birds are kept inside the breeding centers at El Yunque and the Rio Abajo forest. Scientists have not released any of the birds since Hurricane Maria. A third breeding center, in a forest in the western area of Maricao, has not been in operation since the storm.
How to bring back the species
Federal and local scientists plan to meet next month to discuss how best to bring back the species.
Scientists are considering whether to capture some of the remaining wild parrots and put them in the same cage as the birds that are set to be released. This way, the captive birds can learn from the wild birds how to survive in the forests.
Another consideration is to release some captive parrots in Maricao, which was not as heavily damaged by Maria.
But first, scientists need to make sure the forests can offer food and safe shelter for the birds.
Jessica Ilse works at El Yunque for the U.S. Forest Service. She says scientists are studying the amount of fruit falling from trees and the number of leaves the trees have dropped.
Many of the large trees where the parrots used to build nests are now gone. Without these trees, the parrots could become easy targets for their predators.
Ilse does not know how long the recovery program will take. She said the damage from Hurricane Maria has caused “a complete change to the ecosystem.”
Gustavo Olivieri works in the parrot recovery program for Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural Resources. He said, “We have a lot of work to do.”
I'm Ashley Thompson.
Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on Associated Press story by Danica Coto. Ashley Thompson was the editor.
Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.
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Words in This Story
habitat - n. a place where a plant or animal normally grows or lives
breeding - n. the process by which young animals, birds, etc., are produced by their parents
captivity - n. the state of being kept in a place
species - n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants
devastating - adj. causing great damage or harm
predator - n. an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals
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