Rene Rivera says strong family ties and a shared Catholic faith helped people deal with the hard life in their community.

VOA: special.2010.06.21

The recession has hit especially hard in California, home of the world's eighth largest economy and one out of eight Americans.

VOA: special.2009.07.31

Experts say it will be hard to find a nominee with as much experience in both health issues and politics.

VOA: special.2009.02.06

Rudolf found it hard to believe that there was someone in the world who did not know what violin was.

VOA: special.2010.05.08

Jack London's many stories truthfully explained just how hard it was to be a gold seeker in eighteen ninety-seven.

VOA: special.2009.02.11

In terms of unemployment, the troubles of the Detroit auto industry have hit Michigan in the Midwest especially hard.

VOA: special.2009.05.08

Many Americans learned this the hard way by investing all their money in stock shares, which then lost value.

VOA: special.2011.03.27

Even in hard times and some might say especially in hard times people still show concern about others.

VOA: special.2009.11.02

They seem like the hard rock maple trees often found in that area, nothing can make them move.

VOA: special.2009.03.07

Clay becomes very hard when it is put in a fire or a special oven called a kiln.

VOA: special.2009.01.12

Andrew worked hard. He opened his own tailoring business in the eastern part of the state of Tennessee.

VOA: special.2010.01.21

He had to struggle to reach forward for the controls while being pushed back hard in his seat.

VOA: special.2010.07.07

He had always been interested in environmental issues and worked hard to improve the environment in his state.

VOA: special.2010.04.21

In your pain and sadness, you may decide that the person you loved is hard-hearted, and in fact,has a heart of stone.

VOA: special.2010.07.18