【979-981】圣母院之火看全球现场测试社交媒体&网球改变了华盛顿年轻人的生活&你多大了？在韩国，答案可能不同
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AS IT IS
Notre Dame Fire Seen Live Worldwide Tests Social Media
April 17, 2019
A view of the damaged roof and debris inside Notre-Dame de Paris in the aftermath of a fire that devastated the cathedral during the visit of French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner (not pictured) in Paris, France, April 16, 2019.
France has promised a worldwide effort to rebuild Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, the famous Christian church damaged by fire this week.
Many people have been sharing pictures of themselves and their families visiting Notre-Dame. For many, the building combines their personal memories with a long-established cultural heritage.
Live images of the fire were broadcast and shared as firefighters struggled to contain the flames that destroyed the building’s tall spire and its wooden roof.
The fire happened at a time when some social media companies are testing methods for fighting back against false information. But in the case of YouTube, its methods did not help stop false information from spreading. YouTube’s algorithm detected the images of the burning cathedral and sent users links about the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Links included Wikipedia and Encyclopedia Britannica entries about the 9/11 attack.
Observers say the incident demonstrates some of the problems with automatic systems that are meant to correct misleading information.
Worldwide calls to rebuild
French president Emmanuel Macron sent a message on Twitter expressing sadness at the loss, “I am sad tonight to see this part of us burn.”
He and many French leaders stressed the importance of the cathedral to France’s common culture.
U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that he offered sympathy to the head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis and offered U.S. experts to help rebuild it.
Notre-Dame de Paris is among the most famous Catholic churches in the world and is the seat of Catholic leadership of Paris. It is estimated that 13 million people visit the building every year.
The Paris public prosecutor is investigating the cause of the fire, which is suspected to be linked to extensive renovation work.
On Wednesday, France announced it would invite architects from around the world to propose designs to replace the spire that was destroyed in the fire. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said a competition would decide whether the cathedral should have a new design or be rebuilt as it was.
I’m Mario Ritter Jr.
Mario Ritter Jr. adapted this story for VOA Learning English from VOA reports and additional sources. Ashley Thompson was the editor.
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Words in This Story
heritage –n. the traditions, achievements and beliefs that are part of the history of a group or nation
algorithm –n. a set of steps that are followed to solve a mathematical problem or complete a computer process
fact-check –v. to find out if a claim or statement is true or correct
architect –n. a person who designs buildings
spire –n. a tall, narrow, pointed structure on the top of a building
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AS IT IS
Tennis Changes Lives of Young People in Washington
April 17, 2019
Andrea Nichelson likes to play tennis after a day at school. She is only 10 years old, but she has been playing the sport for five years, and she loves it.
"The one thing I like most about tennis is the game. It just really gets my attention [more] than anything I do. It just brings up the fire in me."
Andrea lives in Washington, D.C. She is one of around 900 children who use the free services of the Washington Tennis and Education Foundation.
The Foundation was set up in 1955. It gives children from eight to 18-years-old a chance to play tennis, and learn school-related and other skills. By combining sports and education, the group helps young people keep physically active and continue working on their studies.
Skills and sense of belonging
The Washington Tennis and Education Foundation has two programs. In one, tennis coaches go to schools around the city, and teach the game to students there. In the other program, children go to the group's tennis center to learn the game on indoor courts. Teachers also help them with homework from school, design robots and play games like chess.
Audra Bell works with the Foundation. She says the lives of children change when they decide to join the program.
"They learn discipline and they learn mental toughness and all of the things that tennis teaches you as a whole, it's really amazing to see."
The group’s president, Rebecca Crouch-Pelham, agrees.
"You're on the court, you're playing singles, you're by yourself, you're relying on yourself."
She says that is the same strength and ability to react to change that the children need in the classroom.
Children in the program are successful in school. Crouch-Pelham says all children should have this kind of contact with sports and educational services. It gives them a sense of belonging to a community, she says. Children who have completed the program come back to help in the summer as coaches.
Coming back
Mike Ragland is one such graduate. He says joining the program at age 13 changed his life.
"I was doing things I shouldn't have been doing, got myself in a lot of trouble. When I started playing tennis, it gave me a different path to life."
Because of his skill on the court, Ragland went to college and received enough financial assistance to pay for all the college costs. He then launched a career as a tennis coach.
Coaches, in many cases, are like a parent for young players. They teach young players more than how to play tennis. Ragland explains that they teach the children good behavior.
"We take the kids in, we talk to the kids about life, how to carry themselves, how to behave and give them a structure, something that they can go forward with."
Coach Ragland visited 18-year-old Xavier Boone's school 8 years ago to get young children interested in playing the sport. Boone says the program helped him learn much about tennis and life.
"It teaches you not to give up and it teaches you just to kind of push through life. Everyone here is doing very well in school, and that's just all thanks to the tutors and the teachers that we have here."
The Foundation’s coaches say a few of their kids go on to become tennis pros. Others excel in other fields and receive full financial aid for college, while the rest - officials say - get a solid basis to help them succeed in whatever they do in life.
I’m Jill Robbins.
Faiza Elmasry reported on this story for VOA News. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
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Words in This Story
coach - n. a person who teaches and trains a player or performer
court - n. a large flat surface that is used for playing games like tennis and basketball
discipline - n. the ability to keep working at something that is difficult
toughness - adj. strong and not easily broken or damaged
rely - v. to need (someone or something) for support or help; to depend on (someone or something)
pro - n. (short form of professional) someone who is paid to take part or play in a sport or activity
What sport do children like to play after school in your town? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.
AS IT IS
How Old Are You? In Korea, Answers May Differ
April 17, 2019
In this April 9, 2019, photo, Lee Dong Kil's daughter Lee Yoon Seol sits to celebrate her 100th day of the birth at Lee's house in Daejeon, South Korea. Just two hours after Lee’s daughter was born on New Year’s Eve, the clock struck midnight. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Lee Dong Kil’s daughter was born on December 31, 2018.
She arrived late in the night – two hours before the start of the New Year. But two hours later, the baby girl became 2 years old.
She was not alone in aging quickly. Every baby born in South Korea last year turned 2 on January 1st, 2019.
Based on an unusual system for calculating ages, South Korea’s babies become 1 on the day of their birth. They become an additional year older on January 1st.
Lee Dong Kil remembers sharing news about his daughter’s birth on social media. His friends immediately sent him messages to congratulate him.
"An hour later, when the New Year began, they phoned me again to say congratulations for my baby becoming 2-years-old," said Lee. "I thought, 'Ah, right. She's now 2 years old, though it's been only two hours since she was born. What the heck!'"
By the way, Lee is 32 years old internationally, but 34 in South Korea.
Exactly how this aging system developed is not clear. Defining a full-term pregnancy as one lasting 40 weeks is one way to explain why babies are one when they are born.
But becoming a year older on January 1st? That is even harder to explain.
Jung Yon-hak is with the National Folk Museum of Korea in Seoul. He suggests that perhaps ancient Koreans cared about the year in which they were born in the Chinese 60-year cycle. Without modern methods of measuring time, they did not care much about the specific day they were born.
Officially, South Korea has used Western-style calculations since the early 1960s. But many South Koreans still use the old system in their daily lives. The government has done little to get people to change over to the Western system.
In January, lawmaker Hwang Ju-hong proposed a bill that would require the government to put international ages in official documents. The bill also urges citizens to go with their international ages in everyday life. It is the first legislative attempt to end "Korean age."
The goal of the bill is to end confusion “caused by the mixed use of age-counting systems," Hwang said in the proposed legislation.
His office said a parliamentary committee discussion and a public hearing on the issue are expected in coming months.
Opinion studies in recent years showed more South Koreans supported international age. It was not clear, however, how seriously they wanted a change.
"If we use international age, things could get more complicated because it's a society that cares so much about which year you were born," said Lim Kyoung Jae, head of the Seoul-based Miko Travel agency. "We should also definitely count the time of a baby being conceived and growing in its mother's womb."
Lim's employee Choi Min Kyung, who is 26 internationally and 28 in South Korea, disagreed.
"It's good to be two years younger ... (especially) when you meet men" on blind dates, Choi said with a laugh. "There is a big difference between 26 and 28."
I'm John Russell.
Hyung-Jin Kim reported on this story for AP. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
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Words in This Story
calculate – v. to find a number or answer by using mathematics
What the heck! -- expression informal – an expression of shock or misunderstanding
style – n. a way of doing things or expression
cycle – n. a period of time
complicated – adj. hard to understand, explain, or deal with
conceive – v. to become pregnant
blind date – n. when two people who do not know each other meet and decide if they may want to have a relationship
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