VOA · As It Is
Intermediate · B1–B2learner speed4:032025-02-21public domain
As It Is is VOA Learning English's daily news magazine. Each report covers a current story in clear, learner-speed English with a controlled vocabulary — the closest thing to real news broadcasts that intermediate learners can fully digest, and ideal raw material for dictation.
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01Philadelphia, also sometimes called Philly, is a big city on the Delaware River in the northeastern state of Pennsylvania.
02It has about 1.5 million people, estimates from the United States Census Bureau show.
03William Penn, an Englishman and member of the Christian group known as Quakers, founded Pennsylvania in the 1680s.
04He also designed the city.
05Penn chose the name Philadelphia, a term he interpreted to mean city of brotherly love in Greek.
06Philadelphia is famous for holding an important place in American history.
07It served as the nation's capital from 1785 to 1790.
08Earlier, it was the capital of the American colonies during most of the Revolutionary War against Britain.
09Philadelphia became the central meeting place for the Founding Fathers who created the United States government.
10The buildings where they worked can be seen today in an area called the Old City, or Independence National Historical Park.
11The main building is Independence Hall.
12That was where colonial leaders declared independence and later debated the creation of a government.
13The National Park Service says more than 2.6 million people visited Independence National Historical Park last year.
14Close to the park is the National Liberty Museum.
15It holds a collection of more than 90 paintings and sculptures.
16They represent the idea that liberty is a freedom that is easily violated.
17Several blocks away lies the National Constitution Center.
18This privately operated non-profit museum opened its doors in Philadelphia on July 4, 2003.
19It was created to increase public recognition of the Constitution, its history, and its importance today.
20Visitors are presented with the idea that the most important part of American constitutional democracy is the individual citizen.
21Rich with tradition, Philadelphia offers plenty for visitors who are less concerned about history and more concerned about their stomachs.
22There are many food choices for hungry visitors.
23Reading Terminal Market, for example, is one of the nation's largest public markets.
24At Reading Terminal Market, visitors can find all kinds of foods, including, of course, Philly cheesesteak.
25The city is known for these sandwiches.
26They are made of thin pieces of meat covered with cheese.
27A cheesesteak is offered with onions and other toppings and served on a long roll.
28And where might a visitor find the best Philly cheesesteak?
29That question is the subject of much debate.
30I'm John Russell.
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