This time im reading the article “what are your true colors?” from VOA learning english

Here´s the article.
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And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.

On today’s show, we talk about colors.

Sometimes we talk about our feelings with words describing colors. For example, if I am feeling down or a bit sad, I can say I am “blue.” If I’m angry, I might say that I see “red.” If I’m out of sorts or really unhappy, I can say I’m in a “black” mood. If I want something that someone else has, I can say I’m “green” with envy.

All these different feelings can be represented with colors. But what about your “true colors?” What does it mean to show your true colors?

If we show our “true colors,” we are true to ourselves. We show what we are really like. We reveal our true nature, character, or personality.

For example, I have a friend who loves the sun and sea. When she is at the beach, she shows her “true colors.” She’s very active — swimming in the sea, walking along the beach, and enjoying other outdoor activities. When she is away from the beach, she doesn’t seem herself. She is often inside and not very active.

However, showing one’s true colors does not always mean something good. Some people may present themselves in a way other than how they really are. They might seem to have positive characteristics. They act kind, pleasant, generous, or helpful. But in fact, they are really the opposite. They are not showing their “true colors.” They keep their “true nature” hidden.

Let’s listen to this example:

A: You know, I thought Mack was easygoing. But then I worked with him on a big project.

B: I know exactly what you mean. He’s easygoing and fun to work with when he gets his way. But if you question any of his ideas, he shows his true colors.

A: That is exactly what happened! I suggested an alternative to his idea, and he became really rude … and mean.

Some word experts say the expression “true colors” dates back to the 1700s and comes from the world of sailing ships. Colored flags were, and still are, used to show what country a ship was registered to and to communicate with other ships at a distance. The ship’s colors were its flags.

Pirates’ ships would sail under “false colors,” meaning under a friendly flag. They would do this to get close to other ships without raising concern. Then, when the pirates were close enough and ready to attack, they would raise their “true colors.”

Another expression with a similar meaning is to show your stripes. Stripes can be your true nature and something you cannot hide or remove. However, this expression is less common.

Here is an example:

Marisa showed her true stripes when her back was against the wall. When she had no way out of the problems that she had created, she blamed everyone … everyone but herself, that is.

And that’s this week’s Words and Their Stories. Until next time…

I’m Tomás Agurto.

and now from this blog post…
Farewell, until the next time the stars align.

Hi readers
For this audio upload I had to read 3 news articles from a page.
Let us begin.

1- Rats look for people

Trainers from Belgian company APOPO are training rats to search for people in disaster zones.

Rats are very curious and they like to explore, so people train them just like dogs. They are very small, so they can easily move through debris. Also, they have very good smell to find things.

The animals wear a small backpack with special technology. A video camera and a device helps rescuers communicate with survivors.

Currently people train the rats in a simulated disaster zone. When the rat finds the person in an empty room, it pulls a switch on their vest. This sends a signal to rescuers that someone is in the debris. Then, the rat returns to the rescuers, and they reward the animal.

2- Scientist find many new species

Biologists in New Zealand found about 100 new species deep in the sea. There were many unidentified ones and a creature called a ‘sea-pig’.

Scientists hoped to discover species before they disappeared forever. They found many creatures, like large sea cucumbers and unique sea cucumbers with leg-like parts. With the help of cameras, they saw known species at big depths. They also found new types of octopus and coral and some unknown creatures.

The area didn’t seem too interesting for scientists but now, they recognize it as rich and want to explore it more.

3- Car park is a farm

Noah Verin was a chef in Sydney, Australia, but in 2020, he started an unusual business.

Verin’s company is called Urban Green, and the man grows herbs and microgreens in a car park in the center of Sydney. Currently, he grows 40 different plants, and he uses lights and fans to keep the air fresh.

Verin wants his business to be carbon neutral by 2026. He already cut down the energy use by 50%, and now, he is replacing plastic packages with other materials. He also uses natural medium to grow his plants.

Verin delivers his products to local restaurants, and they are very satisfied with the quality. The plants don’t travel from far away, and they come in the pots and not cut, so they are very fresh.

That’s all of them

Let me know if I mispronounced anything, Im still learning after all.

Farewell
until the next time the stars align

Greetings Reader
Now that me and my classmates came back from summer vacation, it’s time to see what the new year has in store for all of us.

I personally don’t have any specific goals in mind, just improving my grasp on the English lenguage.
I didn’t really improve in my ability to do homework on time, so getting better at that may be another goal.

Now what do I expect for this year…
New content? Absolutely. I also expect to polish my skills and knowledge from last year.

With all of that said, I thought of another “goal” that will be “challenging” but I “expect” to archieve.
Beyond all that knowledge and skills, I need to better myself as a person. Looking back… I feel like im on the right track.
What other challenges will I find this year? I have no idea, but I’ll face them with determination.

Farewell.
Until the next time the stars align.