Learning English Podcast - Nickel Mine, Avian Influenza, Drop in Math Skills

On today's podcast, Ashley Thompson and Dan Novak host the show while Ashley tells listeners what they will hear.
First (:56)Dan Friedell has a story about a nickel mine in the U.S. state of Michigan. Environmentalists opposed the mine. But after it was approved, people in the community helped to monitor the mine and waste runoff and most people are happy with the result.
Then (7:14) Bryan Lynn reports on the deaths of hundreds of seals and sea lions in Brazil which are being blamed on bird flu, avian influenza. Infected animals are being destroyed because Brazilian law requires it. Other animals also have died from bird flu including penguins. Infections have been reported in Argentina and Uruguay and is said to have started in Peru.
Then (11:16) Gena Bennett reports on a huge drop in math skills in students in many countries around the world. The information comes from the PISA test which was given in 81 countries with ties to the OECD. The most recent information says Math scores have dropped by 18 points since 2018. Twenty points is considered equal to 1 year of schooling.
After that (17:48), Ashely and Gena discuss the education report in depth. Gena said the COVID-19 pandemic was a big reason for poor math performance. She said the OECD found that only Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Lithuania had resilient education systems.
Finally, (19:40) John Russell uses Caty Weaver's story about how Walmart is finding new suppliers outside of China to talks about the term supply chain. John gives a detailed explanation of the term.
Then (29:22) Ashley and Dan sign off.
Nickel Mine, Environmental Activists Exist Together in Michigan learningenglis...
Bird Flu Kills Hundreds of Seals, Sea Lions in Brazil learningenglis...
Study: Student Learning Decreased in Math, Reading Worldwide learningenglis...

[@engvoice]

VOCABULARY FROM VIDEO: Thank you, VOA Learning English, for this insightful video. It sheds light on the environmental challenges and community collaboration around the Eagle mine in Michigan, offering a valuable perspective on balancing economic benefits and environmental concerns. VOCABULARY: 0. Eagle Mine (noun phrase) 00:31 -Context: 'About 20 years ago, the international mining company Rio Tinto said it would open a nickel mine in the far northern part of the American state of Michigan.' -Explanation: Eagle Mine refers to the nickel mine opened by Rio Tinto in Michigan, addressing concerns and showcasing collaboration with an environmental group. 1. Bird Flu (noun phrase) 06:51 -Context: 'Brazilian officials say bird flu has killed nearly 1000 seals and sea lions in the country's south.' -Explanation: Bird flu, or avian influenza, has impacted seals and sea lions in Brazil, prompting preventive measures and potential consequences for poultry exports. 2. PISA (abbreviation) 10:55 -Context: 'Students around the world suffered historic setbacks in reading and math during the COVID 19 pandemic. That information comes from results of the latest program for International Student Assessment, or PISA.' -Explanation: PISA stands for Program for International Student Assessment, a study measuring 15-year-old students' scores in reading, math, and science globally. 3. Supply Chain (noun phrase) 20:00 -Context: 'Walmart, the world's largest store, is importing more goods to the United States from India and reducing its dependence on China. Pay careful attention to the term supply chain.' -Explanation: Supply chain refers to the network of businesses supplying materials and parts needed for product manufacturing and distribution. I posted more learning listening video on my youtube too!

[@study-korean]

VOCABULARY FROM VIDEO: 0. Water Footprint (noun phrase) 01:49 -Context: 'Little-known details like this help shine a light on big Tech's water footprint.' -Explanation: Water footprint refers to the total volume of freshwater used, directly and indirectly, to support a particular activity or produce goods. 1. Environmental Sustainability (noun phrase) 03:02 -Context: 'Microsoft disclosed in its latest environmental sustainability report.' -Explanation: Environmental sustainability involves practices that preserve and protect the natural environment, ensuring resources are used in a way that meets present and future needs. 2. Water Scarcity (noun phrase) 04:49 -Context: 'Water scarcity is a big problem on every continent, exacerbated by the climate crisis.' -Explanation: Water scarcity refers to the lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demands of water usage within a region. 3. Regulators (noun) 09:14 -Context: 'Regulators may need to become more heavy-handed in terms of asking companies to disclose water usage.' -Explanation: Regulators are government bodies responsible for controlling and supervising specific activities, ensuring compliance with established rules and standards. 4. Water Withdrawal (noun phrase) 10:30 -Context: 'Global AI demand could be accountable for up to 6.6 billion cubic meters of water withdrawal by 2027.' -Explanation: Water withdrawal is the total amount of water removed from a water source, often for human use or industrial processes. 5. Generative AI (noun phrase) 13:23 -Context: 'Avoid using generative AI because those are generally more resource-consuming compared to a simple search.' -Explanation: Generative AI refers to AI systems that create new content, such as text, images, or music, based on patterns learned from existing data.

[@LeVan-uq7kt]

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