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Today's story: Swiss francs, British pounds, euros, and various kinds of dollars are divided into hundredths. But not all currencies have 1/100th coins. Today, we look at how Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, euro-area countries, the U.S., and the U.K. handle their lowest-value coins.

Also in this episode: Learn English expression 'more trouble than it's worth'

Full lesson: Take advantage of your trial! The full lesson includes translations, exercises, and the chance to practice what you learn. https://plainenglish.com/655

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* Toolkit workshops - Videos and exercises to help you express better ideas

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* Expert Answers - Ask any question in English & get a personal, video reply

* Live calls - Practice your conversation on a live conversation call

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Today's story: The Nobel prize-winning author Gabriel García Márquez worked on a slim novel called "Until August" on and off for decades. In his final years, the author determined the book was not fit for publication and ordered the drafts destroyed. Now, ten years after his death, the writer's sons have published the book against his wishes. Did they do the right thing?

Also in this episode: Learn English expression 'cloud your judgment'

Full lesson: Take advantage of your trial! The full lesson includes translations, exercises, and the chance to practice what you learn. https://plainenglish.com/664

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During your free trial, take advantage of these great Plain English resources:

* Toolkit workshops - Videos and exercises to help you express better ideas

* Practice what you learn - Write your own examples and get personalized, expert feedback

* Expert Answers - Ask any question in English & get a personal, video reply

* Live calls - Practice your conversation on a live conversation call

==

How it works: Finish signing up now and don't miss a single day of Plain English benefits. All memberships include a 30-day money-back guarantee. Pause or cancel your payments any time without penalty.

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Like what you hear? Finish signing up now to unlock access to our full library of fast-audio episodes: https://plainenglish.com/plus

Today's story: Shohei Ohtani is a superstar baseball player in Los Angeles. Since his arrival in the U.S., he has used a Japanese translator. But the translator stands accused of stealing money from Ohtani and using the money to pay off sports gambling debts. Ohtani himself is considered the victim.

Also in this episode: Learn English expression 'caught up in'

Full lesson: Take advantage of your trial! The full lesson includes translations, exercises, and the chance to practice what you learn. https://plainenglish.com/673

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During your free trial, take advantage of these great Plain English resources:

* Toolkit workshops - Videos and exercises to help you express better ideas

* Practice what you learn - Write your own examples and get personalized, expert feedback

* Expert Answers - Ask any question in English & get a personal, video reply

* Live calls - Practice your conversation on a live conversation call

==

How it works: Finish signing up now and don't miss a single day of Plain English benefits. All memberships include a 30-day money-back guarantee. Pause or cancel your payments any time without penalty.

Sign up now: https://plainenglish.com/plus

Like what you hear? Finish signing up now to unlock access to our full library of fast-audio episodes: https://plainenglish.com/plus

Today's story: The Mona Lisa is the most famous portrait in the world, but much is not known about it. The background shows a lake, rock formations, and a stone arch bridge, but the location has never been known definitively. Now, a geologist and art historian says she has identified the background: Lecco, near Lake Colmo in Italy.

Also in this episode: Learn English expression 'stand up to scrutiny'

Full lesson: Take advantage of your trial! The full lesson includes translations, exercises, and the chance to practice what you learn. https://plainenglish.com/681

==

During your free trial, take advantage of these great Plain English resources:

* Toolkit workshops - Videos and exercises to help you express better ideas

* Practice what you learn - Write your own examples and get personalized, expert feedback

* Expert Answers - Ask any question in English & get a personal, video reply

* Live calls - Practice your conversation on a live conversation call

==

How it works: Finish signing up now and don't miss a single day of Plain English benefits. All memberships include a 30-day money-back guarantee. Pause or cancel your payments any time without penalty.

Sign up now: https://plainenglish.com/plus

Like what you hear? Finish signing up now to unlock access to our full library of fast-audio episodes: https://plainenglish.com/plus

Today's story: The east coast of the U.S., between Washington, D.C., and Boston, is home to about 50 million people. It has rich history, great cultural treasures, top-notch universities, and four distinct seasons. But the winters are harsh, costs can be high, and the pace of life is fast.

Also in this episode: Learn English phrasal verb 'focus on'

Full lesson: Take advantage of your trial! The full lesson includes translations, exercises, and the chance to practice what you learn. https://plainenglish.com/688

==

During your free trial, take advantage of these great Plain English resources:

* Toolkit workshops - Videos and exercises to help you express better ideas

* Practice what you learn - Write your own examples and get personalized, expert feedback

* Expert Answers - Ask any question in English & get a personal, video reply

* Live calls - Practice your conversation on a live conversation call

...and much more!

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How it works: Finish signing up now and don't miss a single day of Plain English benefits. All memberships include a 30-day money-back guarantee. Pause or cancel your payments any time without penalty.

Sign up now: https://plainenglish.com/plus

Like what you hear? Finish signing up now to unlock access to our full library of fast-audio episodes: https://plainenglish.com/plus

Today's story: Life on the west coast really is different. The weather is pleasant, people are healthy, and Western states are often at the forefront of cultural change. It's home to Hollywood and high-tech and has some great public universities. But car culture dominates west-coast cities.

Also in this episode: Learn English expression 'year-round'

Full lesson: Take advantage of your trial! The full lesson includes translations, exercises, and the chance to practice what you learn. https://plainenglish.com/689

==

During your free trial, take advantage of these great Plain English resources:

* Toolkit workshops - Videos and exercises to help you express better ideas

* Practice what you learn - Write your own examples and get personalized, expert feedback

* Expert Answers - Ask any question in English & get a personal, video reply

* Live calls - Practice your conversation on a live conversation call

==

How it works: Finish signing up now and don't miss a single day of Plain English benefits. All memberships include a 30-day money-back guarantee. Pause or cancel your payments any time without penalty.

Sign up now: https://plainenglish.com/plus