VOA Special English

AMERICAN MOSAIC - Across the Land, the Invasion of Flip-Flops Gains More Footing With a Slap-Happy Crowd

By Jill Moss, Erin Schiavone and Nancy Steinbach
Broadcast: Friday, August 18, 2006
HOST:
Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC, in VOA Special English.
(MUSIC)
I'm Faith Lapidus. On our show this week:
We answer a question about what American Presidents do after they retire ...
Play some music by Tom Petty ...
And report about a popular kind of footwear.
Flip-Flops
Flip-flop shoes have become very popular in the United States, mostly among young people. Steve Ember tells us about them.
STEVE EMBER:
Flip flops are popular summertime footwear.
Flip-flops have a flat sole and a V-shaped strap. The strap goes between the wearer's big toe and second toe and around either side of the foot. The name flip-flop comes from the noise the shoes make while slapping against the bottom of the wearer's foot and the ground when he or she walks. Listen to see if you recognize the sound.
(SOUND)
People in other countries have worn flip-flops for many years. Today, flip-flops are often made of rubber. They are popular in developing countries because of their low cost. Some flip-flips only cost about a dollar.