英语新闻听力News3rdMay2012.doc

BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Thursday, 3rd May 2012
10.00am

ELEMENTARY: CORRECT THE MISTAKE IN EACH SENTENCE

1. Sir Mervyn Queen is the governor of the Bank of England.
2. The Bank of England failed to do its job properly before the financial crisis of 2010.
3. Sir Mervyn has admitted he should have shouted a warning ‘from the treetops’.
4. Banks had been allowed to borrow and steal too much.

5. A new deal will allow a private firm running a heavily indebted NAS hospital to make a profit.
6. Lord Howe has sent an email to the company.
7. The company is called ‘Square’.
8. Hinchingbrooke Hospital is in Cambridge.
9. The Government argues that without the deal the public will lose ‘a well-run service’.
10. The chairman of the private company is Ali Parsa.
11. He appeared on the Tonight programme.
12. The contract will run for two years.
13. The hospital is £14 million in debt.

14. Voting is underway in this year’s national elections.
15. Almost 5,000 chairs are being contested in 181 local authorities.
16. Voting is taking place in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
17. There are also mayoral contests in London, Blackpool and Salford.

18. New figures show the coastal waters around the UK are the cleanest they’ve been for at least 10 years.
19. The current system of measurements began 40 years ago.

20. The authorities in New Zealand have raised concerns about ‘a stupid drinking game called “Possum”’.
21. During the game participants sit on walls drinking alcohol until they fall to the ground.
22. The craze has reportedly swept the North Island city of Dunedin.
23. Public parks are strewn with (i.e. covered in) glass, letters and vomit.
BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Thursday, 3rd May 2012
10.00am

ELEMENTARY: ANSWERS

1. Sir Mervyn Queen is the governor of the Bank of England. Sir Mervyn King
2. The Bank of England failed to do its job properly before the financial crisis of 2010. the financial crisis of 2008
3. Sir Mervyn has admitted he should have shouted a warning ‘from the treetops’. ‘from the rooftops’
4. Banks had been allowed to borrow and steal too much. to borrow and lend too much

5. A new deal will allow a private firm running a heavily indebted NAS hospital to make a profit. NHS hospital
6. Lord Howe has sent an email to the company. a letter, not an email
7. The company is called ‘Square’. ‘Circle’
8. Hinchingbrooke Hospital is in Cambridge. Cambridgeshire (i.e. the county, not the city)
9. The Government argues that without the deal the public will lose ‘a well-run service’. ‘a valued service’
10. The chairman of the private company is Ali Parsa. He’s the chief executive.
11. He appeared on the Tonight programme. the Today programme
12. The contract will run for two years. ‘the 10-year contract’
13. The hospital is £14 million in debt. £40 million

14. Voting is underway in this year’s national elections. in this year’s local elections
15. Almost 5,000 chairs are being contested in 181 local authorities. ‘Almost 5,000 seats’
16. Voting is taking place in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. England, Scotland and Wales
17. There are also mayoral contests in London, Blackpool and Salford. Liverpool

18. New figures show the coastal waters around the UK are the cleanest they’ve been for at least 10 years. ‘for at least two decades’ i.e. for at least 20 years (a decade = 10 years)
19. The current system of measurements began 40 years ago. It began ‘in the late 1980s’.

20. The authorities in New Zealand have raised concerns about ‘a stupid drinking game called “Possum”’. a student drinking game
21. During the game participants sit on walls drinking alcohol until they fall to the ground. They sit in trees.
22. The craze has reportedly swept the North Island city of Dunedin. the South Island city of Dunedin
23. Public parks are strewn with (i.e. covered in) glass, letters and vomit. glass, litter and vomit
BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Thursday, 3rd May 2012
10.00am

INTERMEDIATE: QUESTIONS

1. What is the surname of the governor of the Bank of England?
2. When did the Bank of England fail to do its job properly?
3. Where should he have shouted a warning from?
4. What had banks been allowed to do?
5. Fill in the missing words: ‘He said the decision to _________ the bank of _________ regulatory powers was partly to _________.’

6. What will the deal allow a private company operating an NHS hospital to make?
7. What is Lord Howe a minister of?
8. What is the name of the private company?
9. Where is Hinchingbrooke Hospital?
10. Who could lose ‘a valued service’ without the deal, according to the Government?
11. What is Ali Parsa’s role in the private company?
12. What will last for 10 years?
13. What is the last word Ali Parsa says?

14. What type of elections are being held today?
15. How many seats are being contested in 181 local authorities?
16. Where are these local authorities?
17. Which two cities, besides Salford, are voting for their mayors?
18. What are holding referendums on whether to choose directly-elected leaders?

19. What does the newsreader say about the coastal waters around the UK?
20. When did the current system of measurements begin?

21. What is ‘Possum’ in New Zealand? (NB Not to be confused with a possum, which is an animal.)
22. Where do participants sit while drinking large quantities of alcohol?
23. What do they then do ‘in a drunken stupor’?
24. Where in New Zealand is Dunedin?
25. What are public parks in Dunedin strewn with (i.e. covered in) because of this new craze?
BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Thursday, 3rd May 2012
10.00am

INTERMEDIATE: ANSWERS

1. What is the surname of the governor of the Bank of England? King
2. When did the Bank of England fail to do its job properly? before the financial crisis in 2008
3. Where should he have shouted a warning from? ‘the rooftops’
4. What had banks been allowed to do? They had been allowed to borrow and lend too much.
5. Fill in the missing words: ‘He said the decision to strip the bank of its regulatory powers was partly to blame.’

6. What will the deal allow a private company operating an NHS hospital to make? a profit
7. What is Lord Howe a minister of? health
8. What is the name of the private company? Circle
9. Where is Hinchingbrooke Hospital? It’s in Cambridgeshire.
10. Who could lose ‘a valued service’ without the deal, according to the Government? the public
11. What is Ali Parsa’s role in the private company? chief executive
12. What will last for 10 years? the contract (between Circle and the Government)
13. What is the last word Ali Parsa says? ‘absolutely’

14. What type of elections are being held today? local elections
15. How many seats are being contested in 181 local authorities? almost 5,000
16. Where are these local authorities? in England, Scotland and Wales
17. Which two cities, besides Salford, are voting for their mayors? London and Liverpool
18. What are holding referendums on whether to choose directly-elected leaders? 10 other cities

19. What does the newsreader say about the coastal waters around the UK? She says they are the cleanest they’ve been for at least two decades.
20. When did the current system of measurements begin? in the late 1980s

21. What is ‘Possum’ in New Zealand? (NB Not to be confused with a possum, which is an animal.) It’s a student drinking game.
22. Where do participants sit while drinking large quantities of alcohol? in trees
23. What do they then do ‘in a drunken stupor’? They fall to the ground.
24. Where in New Zealand is Dunedin? It’s in the South Island.
25. What are public parks in Dunedin strewn with (i.e. covered in) because of this new craze? glass, litter and vomit
BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Thursday, 3rd May 2012
10.00am

ADVANCED: GAP-FILL

1. The governor of the _________ of England is Sir Mervyn _________.
2. He’s said he’s prepared to _________ with any new inquiry into the bank’s _________ before the financial crisis in _________.
3. He’s admitted he ‘_________ _________ _________ from the _________’ that banks _________ been allowed to _________ and _________ too much.
4. He _________ blamed the bank’s failures on the decision to _________ it of its regulatory powers.

5. _________ have condemned a deal which will allow a private _________ running a _________ indebted _________ hospital to _________ a profit.
6. The newsreader mentions a _________ which the _________ minister Lord Howe wrote to the company, _________.
7. The letter gives details of how the company will be _________ for _________ Hinchingbrooke Hospital in _________.
8. The Government’s argument is that _________ this deal the _________ would _________ a valued service.
9. The company’s _________ executive, Ali Parsa, appeared on the _________ programme.
10. He said he was _________ the deficit _________ be settled during the 10-year _________.
11. The hospital is £_________ million in debt.
12. The last word Mr Parsi says is ‘_________’.

13. Voting is _________ in this year’s _________ elections.
14. Almost 5,000 _________ are _________ contested in _________ local authorities in England, _________ and _________.
15. There are also mayoral contests in _________, _________ and Salford.
16. Ten other _________ are holding referendums on _________ to introduce _________-elected leaders.

17. New _________ show that the UK’s _________ waters are the _________ they’ve _________ for at least 40 years.
18. The results were the most _________ recorded _________ the current system of measurements _________ in the late _________.

19. A student _________ game called ‘Possum’ is causing concern in New Zealand.
20. In the game participants _________ in _________, _________ alcohol, until they _________ to the _________ in a drunken stupor.
21. The _________ has reportedly _________ the South _________ city of Dunedin.
22. Public parks are strewn with (i.e. covered in) _________, _________ and _________.
BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Thursday, 3rd May 2012
10.00am

ADVANCED: ANSWERS

1. The governor of the Bank of England is Sir Mervyn King.
2. He’s said he’s prepared to cooperate with any new inquiry into the bank’s failures before the financial crisis in 2008.
3. He’s admitted he ‘should have shouted from the rooftops’ that banks had been allowed to borrow and lend too much.
4. He partly blamed the bank’s failures on the decision to strip it of its regulatory powers.

5. Unions have condemned a deal which will allow a private firm running a heavily indebted NHS hospital to make a profit.
6. The newsreader mentions a letter which the health minister Lord Howe wrote to the company, Circle.
7. The letter gives details of how the company will be paid for running Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Cambridgeshire.
8. The Government’s argument is that without this deal the public would lose a valued service.
9. The company’s chief executive, Ali Parsa, appeared on the Today programme.
10. He said he was certain the deficit would be settled during the 10-year contract.
11. The hospital is £40 million in debt.
12. The last word Mr Parsi says is ‘absolutely’.

13. Voting is underway in this year’s local elections.
14. Almost 5,000 seats are being contested in 181 local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales.
15. There are also mayoral contests in London, Liverpool and Salford.
16. Ten other cities are holding referendums on whether to introduce directly-elected leaders.

17. New figures show that the UK’s coastal waters are the cleanest they’ve been for at least 40 years.
18. The results were the most positive recorded since the current system of measurements began in the late 1980s.

19. A student drinking game called ‘Possum’ is causing concern in New Zealand.
20. In the game participants sit in trees, drinking alcohol, until they fall to the ground in a drunken stupor.
21. The craze has reportedly swept the South Island city of Dunedin.
22. Public parks are strewn with (i.e. covered in) glass, litter and vomit.
Distributed with kind permission from the BBC © The Listening Business 2012