Pronunciation ChallengeCNN10: Myanmar & Hong Kong / Antarctica Ice Shelf Cracks / A New Guinness World Record

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Thank you, Ken. Have a good one, everyone.

[Transcript]

--- Myanmar & Hong Kong News Updates ---

For our first news today, we return to the South Asian country - Myanmar, also known as Burma. A military takeover happened there one month ago, and protests have been welling up ever since. A Burmese military commander has said troops have been using minimal force when confronting protesters. However, during demonstrations across the country, troops used tear gas, stun grenades, and according to the United Nations, even real bullets against protesters, causing at least 18 people dead and dozens of others injured across Myanmar.

While activists have asked other countries to get involved in stopping the military takeover, tensions between demonstrators and government forces have also been flaring in Hong Kong. China imposed a national security law last year that says people who try to secede, subvert the government, or cooperate with other countries against it could spend their lives in prison. 47 activists were recently arrested under that law and accused of trying to subvert Hong Kong's government by organizing an unofficial election.

--- Antarctica Ice Shelf Cracks ---

British researchers say an iceberg the size of New York City just broke off Antarctica, which is the south pole. However, they aren’t really surprised by it. The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has been monitoring the ice shelf for years. Over that period of time, massive cracks have formed in the Brunt Ice Shelf, which is almost 500 feet thick. According to the British research team, the cracks have been growing by about one kilometer a day starting January 2021. The BAS says the crack got even wider, which essentially freed the massive iceberg from the rest of the shelf.


--- A New Guinness World Record ---

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the Atlantic Ocean! Meet Jasmine Harrison, a 21-year-old part time swimming teacher, bartender, and apparently, she’s become the holder of a new Guinness World Record. Harrison is the youngest woman to row a boat solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She sailed from Spain to Antigua, which is an island close to Puerto Rico, in 70 days and she’s set a new world record for the youngest female to row solo across any ocean. Despite her incredible achievement, Harrison was not a professional boat sailor and hardly did she know how to row a boat. She picked up the habit and got her own boat in 2020. And then, after considering it for a few months, she made up her mind to take on this huge challenge.

According to Harrison, once the journey began she quickly experienced the beauty of nature. She saw all sorts of different fish, whales, and lots of dolphins swimming by her side. She grabbed onto her camera and took a shot with 40 dolphins in a single picture. She even had a little companion during the journey, a little crab climbed into her boat to catch a free ride, which she later thought was ridiculous. Sometimes she wanted to give up, but as she put her hands into the water and felt the swarm of fish, it made Harrison feel as if they’re guiding her to her destination. What a great inspiration! Folks, if you’re also in the middle of a challenge or dilemma, take a deep breath and don’t give up. Just like what Jasmine Harrison said, “Calm down, don’t let things go into your head. And you know, just keep going.”

Check out today’s CNN10 video to watch her amazing journey.



[Vocabulary]

1. British
Relating to or people from the UK, Great Britain and England.

Ex: Mr. Bean is a British sitcom created by Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis.


2. iceberg
a very large mass of ice that floats in the sea

Before breaking off, we call it an ice shelf. After it breaks off it becomes an iceberg.
So, an iceberg is smaller than an ice shelf in size.

Ex: The Titanic hit an iceberg and unfortunately sunk into the Atlantic ocean back in 1912.


3. Antarctica
the continent around the South Pole

So for the north pole, we would call it “Arctic”.

Ex: The Emperor Penguins live in Antarctica, or the south pole.


Alright and that’s all the time we have for today.
It’s quite impressive to challenge mother nature.
However, if you plan to do so, please be well prepared and professionally trained before trying.
This is Ken Miao and I’ll see you guys again next week.

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