Welcome to Learning English, a daily 30 minute program from the Voice of America.

I'm Ashley Thompson.

And I'm Mario Ritter Jr.

This program is designed for English learners, so we speak a little slower

and we use words and phrases especially written for people learning

English.

Today Ashley and John Russell tell about a company using sheep to control plant growth.

Then scientists map an insect brain.

After that, Onimeteo reports on a pregnancy study,

and then the lesson of the day.

But first, some American communities and universities have been

experimenting with sheep and goats to keep plant growth under control.

Along the Cumberland River near Nashville, Tennessee, visitors on boats watch the large buildings of the city in the distance.

But they also can see something few expected.

Hundreds of sheep eating grass or grazing along the river.

Zach Richardson oversees the sheep.

His business is called Nashville Chu Crew.

Richardson said sometimes the boats will go out of their way to let passengers get a closer look at his sheep.

The group of sheep can be seen grazing a few hundred meters away from places where many people live and work.

The joy people get from watching sheep eat

is partly why the creatures are becoming popular workers in some urban areas.

Everybody that comes out here and experiences the sheep,

...