新闻英语听力News28thMarch2012.doc

BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Wednesday, 28th March 2012
10.00am

ELEMENTARY: QUESTIONS

1. Who will attend the talks with ACAS and the Unite union? representatives from the _________ _________
2. When are oil tanker drivers threatening to go on strike?
3. Who are being trained to step in and take over, if necessary?
4. What are experts warning against?

5. Where is Total’s Elgin platform?
6. What highly flammable substance is leaking from the platform?
7. Which word means the opposite of ‘accidentally’?
8. What is there no imminent threat of, according to Total, despite the burning flare?
9. What did news of the burning flare cause in some quarters?
10. What is the name of Scotland’s environment secretary?
11. What should Total be providing, according to the environment secretary?
12. When is the flare expected to go out, according to Total?
13. How far is the gas leak from the burning flare?
14. What is blowing the gas away from the flame, according to the Total spokesman?

15. How much did the UK’s economy shrink by between October and December 2011?

16. How many bishops currently sit in the House of Lords?
17. What may that figure shrink to in future?

18. What are officially suffering from a drought?
19. What situation are Yorkshire Water’s reservoirs in?

BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Wednesday, 28th March 2012
10.00am

ELEMENTARY: ANSWERS

1. Who will attend the talks with ACAS and the Unite union? representatives from the oil companies
2. When are oil tanker drivers threatening to go on strike? over Easter
3. Who are being trained to step in and take over, if necessary? dozens of RAF drivers
4. What are experts warning against? panic buying

5. Where is Total’s Elgin platform? in the North Sea
6. What highly flammable substance is leaking from the platform? gas
7. Which word means the opposite of ‘accidentally’? ‘deliberately’
8. What is there no imminent threat of, according to Total, despite the burning flare? an explosion
9. What did news of the burning flare cause in some quarters? surprise
10. What is the name of Scotland’s environment secretary? Richard Lockhead
11. What should Total be providing, according to the environment secretary? more information
12. When is the flare expected to go out, according to Total? within a few hours
13. How far is the gas leak from the burning flare? 90 metres
14. What is blowing the gas away from the flame, according to the Total spokesman? the wind

15. How much did the UK’s economy shrink by between October and December 2011? 0.3%

16. How many bishops currently sit in the House of Lords? 26
17. What may that figure shrink to in future? 12

18. What are officially suffering from a drought? parts of East and South Yorkshire
19. What situation are Yorkshire Water’s reservoirs in? They’re full.
BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Wednesday, 28th March 2012
10.00am

INTERMEDIATE: GAP-FILL

1. The conciliation service ACAS has _________ representatives _________ the Unite union and the _________ companies for talks.
2. ACAS hopes to resolve a _________.
3. This dispute could result _________ a strike by tanker _________ over _________.
4. Dozens of _________ drivers are _________ trained to _________ _________ if needed.
5. Experts have _________ against panic buying.

6. The Elgin _________ in the _________ _________ is leaking highly flammable gas.
7. The operator of the platform says a flare on the installation was left burning _________.
8. Total said it was _________ off gas from the production process.
9. It _________ that there was no imminent threat of an _________.
10. The news that a flare was _________ burning _________ a platform where flammable gas was still escaping caused _________ in some quarters.
11. Jake Malloy, a _________ organiser, said the situation seemed to be at the mercy of the _________.
12. _________ environment secretary _________ _________ said Total _________ be providing more information.
13. The oil company said the flare had reduced in _________ and was expected to _________ _________ within a few _________.
14. A spokesman said there was no immediate _________ of an explosion.
15. He said the gas leak was _________ _________ from the flare and being _________ away from the flare by the _________.

16. The latest _________ on the state of the economy show that it _________ by more than expected in the final _________ of 2011.
17. GDP _________ by _________% between October and _________.
18. The initial estimate was _________%.

19. A committee of MPs and peers has agreed that bishops _________ retain a place in the House of Lords when it becomes a mainly elected _________ chamber.
20. At the moment _________ bishops sit in the House of Lords.
21. The committee is recommending that there should only be _________ in future.
22. The Government is expected to _________ the recommendation.

23. The Environment Agency says parts of _________ and _________ Yorkshire are officially suffering from a drought.
24. Yorkshire Water says it _________ yet anticipate restricting water use.
25. This is because _________ reservoirs are still _________.
BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Wednesday, 28th March 2012
10.00am

INTERMEDIATE: ANSWERS

1. The conciliation service ACAS has invited representatives from the Unite union and the oil companies for talks.
2. ACAS hopes to resolve a dispute.
3. This dispute could result in a strike by tanker drivers over Easter.
4. Dozens of RAF drivers are being trained to step in if needed.
5. Experts have warned against panic buying.

6. The Elgin platform in the North Sea is leaking highly flammable gas.
7. The operator of the platform says a flare on the installation was left burning deliberately.
8. Total said it was burning off gas from the production process.
9. It stressed that there was no imminent threat of an explosion.
10. The news that a flare was still burning above a platform where flammable gas was still escaping caused surprise in some quarters.
11. Jake Malloy, a union organiser, said the situation seemed to be at the mercy of the weather.
12. Scotland’s environment secretary Richard Lockhead said Total should be providing more information.
13. The oil company said the flare had reduced in size and was expected to go out within a few hours.
14. A spokesman said there was no immediate danger of an explosion.
15. He said the gas leak was 90 metres from the flare and being blown away from the flare by the wind.

16. The latest figures on the state of the economy show that it shrank by more than expected in the final quarter of 2011.
17. GDP fell by 0.3% between October and December.
18. The initial estimate was 0.2%.

19. A committee of MPs and peers has agreed that bishops should retain a place in the House of Lords when it becomes a mainly elected second chamber.
20. At the moment 26 bishops sit in the House of Lords.
21. The committee is recommending that there should only be 12 in future.
22. The Government is expected to accept the recommendation.

23. The Environment Agency says parts of East and South Yorkshire are officially suffering from a drought.
24. Yorkshire Water says it doesn’t yet anticipate restricting water use.
25. This is because its reservoirs are still full.
BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Wednesday, 28th March 2012
10.00am

ADVANCED: TRUE/FALSE

1. ACAS is a conciliation service which tries to resolve disputes.
2. ACAS has invited representatives from the Unison union and the oil companies to talks.
3. A dispute could result in a strike by oil platform workers over Easter.
4. Dozens of ARF drivers are being trained to step in if necessary.
5. Experts have warned people not to start panic buying.

6. The Elgin platform in the Norse Sea is leaking highly flammable gas.
7. The operator says a flare on the platform was left burning on purpose.
8. Total said it was burning off gas from the reduction process.
9. It stressed that there was no imminent threat of an explosion.
10. The flare is burning above a platform where flammable gas is escaping.
11. This news caused shock in some quarters, according to the reporter.
12. Jake Malloy, a union organiser, said it seems the situation is at the mercy of the management.
13. Richard Loghead is Scotland’s environment secretary.
14. He criticised Total for not providing enough information.
15. Total now says the flare was left burning on purpose.
16. However, it said the flame was getting smaller.
17. It also said it was expected to go out by Friday.
18. A spokesman said the gas leak is 19 metres from the flame and the gas is being blown away from the flame by the wind.

19. The latest figures on the state of the economy show that it contracted by more than expected in the final three months of 2011.
20. GDP fell by 0.3% between October and December, 0.1% more than originally estimated.

21. A committee of MPs and beers has agreed that bishops should retain a place in the House of Lords when it becomes a largely elected second chamber.
22. There are currently 26 bishops in the House of Lords.
23. The committee wants this figure cut to 12 in future.
24. The Government is expected to reject the committee’s recommendation.

25. The Environment Agency says the whole of Yorkshire is officially suffering from a drought.
26. Yorkshire Water will have to restrict water use now.
27. Despite the drought, Yorkshire Water’s reservoirs are still full.
BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Wednesday, 28th March 2012
10.00am

ADVANCED: ANSWERS

1. ACAS is a conciliation service which tries to resolve disputes. (T)
2. ACAS has invited representatives from the Unison union and the oil companies to talks. (F ‘the Unite union’)
3. A dispute could result in a strike by oil platform workers over Easter. (F ‘a strike by tanker drivers’)
4. Dozens of ARF drivers are being trained to step in if necessary. (F ‘RAF drivers’)
5. Experts have warned people not to start panic buying. (T ‘Experts have warned against panic buying.’)

6. The Elgin platform in the Norse Sea is leaking highly flammable gas. (F ‘in the North Sea’)
7. The operator says a flare on the platform was left burning on purpose. (T ‘deliberately’ = on purpose)
8. Total said it was burning off gas from the reduction process. (F ‘from the production process’)
9. It stressed that there was no imminent threat of an explosion. (T)
10. The flare is burning above a platform where flammable gas is escaping. (T)
11. This news caused shock in some quarters, according to the reporter. (F surprise, not shock)
12. Jake Malloy, a union organiser, said it seems the situation is at the mercy of the management. (F ‘at the mercy of the weather’)
13. Richard Loghead is Scotland’s environment secretary. (F Richard Lockhead)
14. He criticised Total for not providing enough information. (T ‘Richard Lockhead said Total ‘should be providing more information’.)
15. Total now says the flare was left burning on purpose. (F ‘deliberately’ = on purpose)
16. However, it said the flame was getting smaller. (T ‘but had reduced in size’)
17. It also said it was expected to go out by Friday. (F ‘and was expected to go out within a few hours’)
18. A spokesman said the gas leak is 19 metres from the flame and the gas is being blown away from the flame by the wind. (F ‘90 metres’)

19. The latest figures on the state of the economy show that it contracted by more than expected in the final three months of 2011. (T ‘contracted’ = shrank)
20. GDP fell by 0.3% between October and December, 0.1% more than originally estimated. (T ‘GDP fell by 0.3% between October and December, compared with the initial estimate of 0.2%.’)

21. A committee of MPs and beers has agreed that bishops should retain a place in the House of Lords when it becomes a largely elected second chamber. (F ‘MPs and peers’)
22. There are currently 26 bishops in the House of Lords. (T)
23. The committee wants this figure cut to 12 in future. (T)
24. The Government is expected to reject the committee’s recommendation. (F ‘to accept’, not to reject)

25. The Environment Agency says the whole of Yorkshire is officially suffering from a drought. (F ‘parts of East and South Yorkshire’)
26. Yorkshire Water will have to restrict water use now. (F ‘Yorkshire water says it doesn’t yet anticipate restricting water use because its reservoirs are full.’)
27. Despite the drought, Yorkshire Water’s reservoirs are still full. (T)
Distributed with kind permission from the BBC © The Listening Business 2012