\on a list of people to be arrested, and many more reportedly have been threatened with death, torture and disappearance, leading them to go into hiding.\
Ms. Power said governments like the one in Syria and armed groups, such as the Islamic State, attack journalists because they do not want people to see them for what they really are.
As the Security Council met Wednesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists released a statement condemning the murder of a Brazilian radio reporter. His tortured body was found last Saturday, one day after he was reported kidnapped in the country's northeast. It was the second murder of a Brazilian journalist in less than a week.
I'm Jim Tedder.
VOA's Margaret Besheer reported on this story from the United Nations. George Grow adapted it for Learning English.
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Words in This Story
journalist(s) – n. a writer, reporter or photographer for a news-gathering organization
zones – n. areas
ensuring – v. guaranteeing
accountability – n. a willingness to accept responsibility for one's actions
美国之音 > VOA Special English > Education Report
Everyday Grammar: Relative Pronouns
By Ashley Thompson 29 May, 2015
In this week's episode of Everyday Grammar, we are going to discuss the relative pronouns who, that and which.
A relative pronoun relates to the noun it is describing. Relative pronouns introduce a relative clause. Think of relative clauses as long adjectives. Adjectives are words that describe nouns.
Let's start with an example sentence:
The woman who called me yesterday was my mother.
Everyday Grammar - Relative Pronouns
In this sentence who is the relative pronoun, and who called me yesterday is the relative clause. The clause is describing the noun woman.
In general, the relative pronouns who, that, and which do one of two things:
1. They help identify the noun or
2. They help give more information about the noun.
In the example sentence, the clause \woman.
When a relative clause adds more information about the noun, the clause is surrounded by commas. Here is an example sentence:
My mother, who called me yesterday, says she is coming to visit me this summer.
Who is just one example of a relative pronoun that you can use when talking about a person. Let's listen to a scene from the comedy film Bridesmaids for another example. In this scene, the main character Annie is telling her best friend that she has changed. Listen for the relative pronoun:
\that this was completely over the top, ridiculous, and stupid!\
The relative pronoun Annie used in the scene is that -- when she says \that I know.\that I know describes the noun you.
Both who and that can be used in relative clauses that describe a person. That can also be used to describe a thing. For example:
\that I bought last week was stolen.\bike.
The relative pronoun which is also used to describe a thing.
Here is an example sentence using which.
\which I bought last week, was stolen.\
In this example, the relative clause \bike. The clause issurrounded by commas.
Here are some general rules about commas and relative clauses:
--If the clause begins with the relative pronoun that, you do not need commas.
--If the clause begins with the relative pronoun which, you generally need commas.
--If the clause begins with the relative pronoun who, you need commas if the clause is adding additional information about the noun.
Here is an example sentence using the relative pronoun who, with and without commas.
1. My sister who lives in New York bought an apartment
2. My sister, who lives in New York, bought an apartment.
In the first sentence, the relative clause who lives in New York is identifying the noun sister. The speaker might have more than one sister. The clause \
In the second sentence, the same relative clause is adding additional information about the noun sister.
Sometimes, English speakers remove the relative pronoun altogether. Listen for the relative clauses in Shania Twain's song You're Still the One.
You're still the one
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night
In one line, she keeps the relative pronoun that. In the rest, she omits -- or removes -- the relative pronoun. If the relative pronouns that and who are followed by a noun or pronoun, they can be omitted. That makes the sentences \
We can talk about other relative pronouns in another episode of Everyday Grammar. But for now, listen for the relative pronouns as we end this episode with the David Bowie song \
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world.
I'm Jonathan Evans.
And I'm Ashley Thompson.
Ashley Thompson wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Adam Brock edited and produced it.
Now it's your turn. Practice using relative pronouns by describing your best friend. Start with this: \someone who ______\
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Words in This Story
relate - v. to show or make a connection between (two or more things)
identify - v. to show who someone is or what something is
surround - v. to be on every side of something
美国之音 > VOA Special English > In the News
FIFA Re-Elect Blatter Despite Corruption Scandal
By Anne Ball 29 May, 2015
Sepp Blatter won a fifth term as FIFA president, while people around the world called for him to resign. The soccer organization has been rocked this week by arrests and corruption charges.
The 65th FIFA annual congress took place in Zurich, Switzerland. It is the same city where U.S. and Swiss authorities arrested senior FIFA officials at their luxury hotel two days ago.
An official casts his ballot in the vote to decide on the FIFA presidency in Zurich, Switzerland, May 29, 2015.
The voting went beyond the first round before Mr. Blatter's only opponent, Prince Ali bin al Hussein of Jordan, gave up and said Mr. Blatter had won. The U.S. and European organizations backed Prince Ali and had called for change at the top of FIFA.
The 79-year-old Mr. Blatter has been the leader of FIFA since 1998. Several current vice-presidents under Mr. Blatter are among the 14 officials charged with corruption. The U.S. government says the crimes date back 24 years. Mr. Blatter says he did not do anything wrong, and he has not been charged with any crimes.
After winning the vote, Mr. Blatter said, \to bring back FIFA.\
Calls for Blatter to step down
In Berlin before the vote, Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron called for Mr. Blatter to step down, saying \that happens the better.\in this organization and pretend that the person currently leading it is the right person to take it forward.\
Two major European football associations also had called on Mr. Blatter to resign before Friday's election. But he refused to do so. Instead, Mr. Blatter called for unity among the FIFA members and he promised to work to overcome the group's problems if he is re-elected.
Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the U.S. corruption case. In televised comments he said that the case is an attempt by the U.S. to spread its legal control to other countries. American law says that if some part of the crime took place in the United States, then U.S. officials can arrest foreign citizens involved in those crimes.
Mr. Putin also said it was an \supports Mr. Blatter as head of FIFA.
More investigations on FIFA ahead
The U.S. Justice Department charged 14 people with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering, among other offenses. All of these crimes, officials say go back to 1991. The defendants are alleged to have paid well over $150 million in bribes and kickbacks. They made those payments so they could get media and marketing rights to international soccer tournaments.
In addition to the U.S. case, Swiss authorities are conducting a separate investigation. They are looking into charges connected to the awarding of the 2018 World Cup to Russia and 2022 World Cup to Qatar.
Germany's Justice Minister Heiko Maas spoke to the German daily Bild on Friday. He said those World Cup decisions can't stand if it turns out that votes were bought. Qatar said its bid for the World Cup was done with \
Britain's Serious Fraud Office said Friday it is examining information about possible corruption at FIFA. But it has not begun a formal criminal investigation. The United Nations is reviewing its partnerships with FIFA following the corruption reports, a U.N. spokesman said Thursday.
Businesses to review sponsorships
Meanwhile, business sponsors are saying they might pull their support of the soccer organization. The credit card company Visa issued a statement expressing \would look at its sponsorship of FIFA.
Coca-Cola said it has repeatedly expressed concerns about the allegations. It said it expects FIFA to thoroughly examine the issues. Adidas called on the soccer organization to \Budweiser and McDonald's also are reconsidering their sponsorships.
I'm Anne Ball.
Anne Ball reported and wrote this story. Hai Do was the editor.
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Words in This Story
corruption – n. dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people
luxury – adj. situation of wealth and great comfort