新闻英语听力News15thMarch2012.doc

BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Thursday, 15th March 2012
10.00am

ELEMENTARY: CORRECT THE MISTAKE IN EACH SENTENCE

1. The Turkish authorities say there’s been ‘a slight increase’ in the number of refugees fleeing across the border from Syria.
2. About 1,000 refugees are reported to have arrived since Monday.
3. A colonel is said to be among them.

4. It is exactly a month since the uprising began.
5. Emails have been published which are said to be from President Assad and his mother.
6. The Gordon newspaper says its checks suggest the emails are genuine.
7. They paint a picture of a foreign family continuing to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle.
8. At the same time Syrian forces are accused of ‘brutally cussing’ opponents of the regime.
9. Mark Wooldridge has been reading the emails.
10. The emails show the president has received money from Iran.
11. They also show President Assad was briefed about the presence of Western tourists in the Baba Amr district of Homs.
12. He was urged to tighten the security grip on the opposition-held city last month.
13. The emails also appear to show the president downloading recipes.
14. Meanwhile his wife spent a thousand dollars on the Internet on designer goods.
15. She allegedly ordered wine glasses, tables and chandeliers from Paris.

16. The European Court of Human Lights has just announced a new ruling.
17. It says the police didn’t breach human rights in the tactics they used to contain protestors in London during Pay Day demonstrations in 2001.
18. Police officers sealed off an area of Oxford Circus for seven days.

19. The Government has defended the privatisation of the Court Interpreters Service in the UK.
20. The Professional Interpreters Alliance says the change has led to better pay and conditions.
21. It says ‘unusual people’ have been booked to translate.
22. The justice minister is Crispin Plunt.
23. He said improvements were being made slowly.
24. He said the previously system had been ‘demonstrably decrepit’.

BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Thursday, 15th March 2012
10.00am

ELEMENTARY: ANSWERS

1. The Turkish authorities say there’s been ‘a slight increase’ in the number of refugees fleeing across the border from Syria. ‘a sharp increase’
2. About 1,000 refugees are reported to have arrived since Monday. ‘in the past 24 hours’
3. A colonel is said to be among them. a general

4. It is exactly a month since the uprising began. ‘Exactly a year after the start of the uprising...’
5. Emails have been published which are said to be from President Assad and his mother. ‘and his wife’
6. The Gordon newspaper says its checks suggest the emails are genuine. The Guardian
7. They paint a picture of a foreign family continuing to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. a First Family, not a foreign family
8. At the same time Syrian forces are accused of ‘brutally cussing’ opponents of the regime. ‘brutally crushing’
9. Mark Wooldridge has been reading the emails. Mike Wooldridge
10. The emails show the president has received money from Iran. advice, not money
11. They also show President Assad was briefed about the presence of Western tourists in the Baba Amr district of Homs. Western journalists
12. He was urged to tighten the security grip on the opposition-held city last month. last November
13. The emails also appear to show the president downloading recipes. downloading music
14. Meanwhile his wife spent a thousand dollars on the Internet on designer goods. thousands of dollars
15. She allegedly ordered wine glasses, tables and chandeliers from Paris. candlesticks, not wine glasses

16. The European Court of Human Lights has just announced a new ruling. The European Court of Human Rights
17. It says the police didn’t breach human rights in the tactics they used to contain protestors in London during Pay Day demonstrations in 2001. May Day demonstrations
18. Police officers sealed off an area of Oxford Circus for seven days. for seven hours

19. The Government has defended the privatisation of the Court Interpreters Service in the UK. ‘in England and Wales ‘(i.e. not Scotland and Northern Ireland as well)
20. The Professional Interpreters Alliance says the change has led to better pay and conditions. ‘worse pay and conditions’
21. It says ‘unusual people’ have been booked to translate. ‘unsuitable people’
22. The justice minister is Crispin Plunt. Crispin Blunt
23. He said improvements were being made slowly. ‘but he said rapid improvements were being made’
24. He said the previously system had been ‘demonstrably decrepit’. ‘administratively decrepit’
BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Thursday, 15th March 2012
10.00am

INTERMEDIATE: GAP-FILL

1. The _________ authorities have reported a _________ increase in refugees from Syria fleeing across the Turkish _________.
2. About _________ people are reported to have arrived in the last _________ _________.
3. A _________ is said to be _________ those who’ve fled.

4. Exactly one _________ after the start of the uprising, emails said to be from President Assad and his _________ have been published.
5. The Guardian newspaper says _________ checks suggest the emails are _________.
6. The emails _________ a picture of a _________ Family continuing to enjoy a luxurious _________.
7. _________ Wooldridge has been _________ them.
8. The emails show that President Assad has received _________ from Iran or its proxies _________ several occasions.
9. They also show that President Assad was briefed in detail about the presence of _________ journalists in the Baba Amr district of Homs.
10. He was urged to _________ the grip on the opposition-held _________ in November.
11. The emails also show the president downloading _________.
12. Meanwhile his wife _________ thousands of dollars over the Internet on _________ goods.
13. She allegedly ordered candlesticks, _________ and chandeliers from _________.

14. The European Court of _________ Rights has just ruled that the _________ did not breach human rights with the tactics they used to contain protestors in _________ during _________ _________ demonstrations in _________.
15. Officers sealed off an area of _________ _________ for _________ hours using a tactic _________ as ‘kettling’.

16. The Government has defended its decision to privatise the Court Interpreting _________ in England and _________.
17. The Professional Interpreters Alliance says the _________, which was introduced last _________, has led to _________ pay and conditions.
18. It also says _________ people have been _________ for translation work.
19. The justice minister Crispin _________ acknowledged there _________ _________ problems.
20. However, he said rapid improvements _________ _________ _________.
21. He said the _________ arrangements had replaced a system that had been ‘_________ decrepit’.
BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Thursday, 15th March 2012
10.00am

INTERMEDIATE: ANSWERS

1. The Turkish authorities have reported a sharp increase in refugees from Syria fleeing across the Turkish border.
2. About 1,000 people are reported to have arrived in the last 24 hours.
3. A general is said to be among those who’ve fled.

4. Exactly one year after the start of the uprising, emails said to be from President Assad and his wife have been published.
5. The Guardian newspaper says its checks suggest the emails are genuine.
6. The emails paint a picture of a First Family continuing to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle.
7. Mike Wooldridge has been reading them.
8. The emails show that President Assad has received advice from Iran or its proxies on several occasions.
9. They also show that President Assad was briefed in detail about the presence of Western journalists in the Baba Amr district of Homs.
10. He was urged to tighten the grip on the opposition-held city in November.
11. The emails also show the president downloading music.
12. Meanwhile his wife spent thousands of dollars over the Internet on designer goods.
13. She allegedly ordered candlesticks, tables and chandeliers from Paris.

14. The European Court of Human Rights has just ruled that the police did not breach human rights with the tactics they used to contain protestors in London during May Day demonstrations in 2001.
15. Officers sealed off an area of Oxford Circus for seven hours using a tactic known as ‘kettling’.

16. The Government has defended its decision to privatise the Court Interpreting Service in England and Wales.
17. The Professional Interpreters Alliance says the change, which was introduced last month, has led to worse pay and conditions.
18. It also says unsuitable people have been booked for translation work.
19. The justice minister Crispin Blunt acknowledged there had/have been problems.
20. However, he said rapid improvements were being made.
21. He said the new arrangements had replaced a system that had been ‘administratively decrepit’.
BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Thursday, 15th March 2012
10.00am

ADVANCED: QUESTIONS

1. Which two countries in this first story share a border?
2. Which expression means ‘a big rise’?
3. Who is said to be among those who’ve fled?

4. What began in Syria exactly a year ago?
5. Who are the emails allegedly from?
6. Which British newspaper has checked the emails?
7. What do the emails paint a picture of?
8. What have Syrian forces been doing since the uprising began?
9. What does it seem President Assad has received from Iran or its proxies on a number of occasions?
10. Who were present in the Baba Amr district of Homs last November?
11. What was President Assad urged to do with the opposition-held city of Homs in November?
12. What do the emails appear to show President Assad doing?
13. What did his wife spend thousands of dollars on over the Internet?
14. Name two items she’s alleged to have ordered from Paris, in addition to chandeliers:

15. Which court is mentioned?
16. Which protests are mentioned?
17. What exactly did police officers do in an area of Oxford Circus?
18. What is the tactic the police used known as?

19. What has the Government defended?
20. When was the change introduced?
21. What has the change resulted in, according to the Professional Interpreters Alliance?
22. Who have been booked for translation work?
23. What is the justice minister’s surname?
24. What is the connection between Question 2 and Question 23?
25. What are being made, according to the justice minister?
26. What did he minister say about the previous interpretation service?
BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Thursday, 15th March 2012
10.00am

ADVANCED: ANSWERS

1. Which two countries in this first story share a border? Turkey and Syria
2. Which expression means ‘a big rise’? ‘a sharp increase’
3. Who is said to be among those who’ve fled? a general

4. What began in Syria exactly a year ago? an uprising
5. Who are the emails allegedly from? President Assad and his wife
6. Which British newspaper has checked the emails? The Guardian
7. What do the emails paint a picture of? A First Family enjoying a luxurious lifestyle.
8. What have Syrian forces been doing since the uprising began? They have been brutally crushing the opposition.
9. What does it seem President Assad has received from Iran or its proxies on a number of occasions? advice
10. Who were present in the Baba Amr district of Homs last November? Western journalists
11. What was President Assad urged to do with the opposition-held city of Homs in November? He was urged to tighten the security grip on the city.
12. What do the emails appear to show President Assad doing? downloading music
13. What did his wife spend thousands of dollars on over the Internet? designer goods
14. Name two items she’s alleged to have ordered from Paris, in addition to chandeliers: candlesticks and tables

15. Which court is mentioned? The European Court of Human Rights
16. Which demonstrations are mentioned? the May Day demonstrations in London in 2001
17. What exactly did police officers do in an area of Oxford Circus? They sealed it off for seven hours.
18. What is the tactic the police used known as? ‘kettling’

19. What has the Government defended? The privatisation of the Court Interpretation Service in England and Wales.
20. When was the change introduced? last month
21. What has the change resulted in, according to the Professional Interpreters Alliance? worse pay and conditions
22. Who have been booked for translation work? unsuitable people
23. What is the justice minister’s surname? Blunt
24. What is the connection between Question 2 and Question 23? The connection is that ‘blunt’ is the opposite of ‘sharp’.
25. What are being made, according to the justice minister? rapid improvements
26. What did he minister say about the previous interpretation service? He said it was ‘administratively decrepit’.
Distributed with kind permission from the BBC © The Listening Business 2012