新闻英语听力News27thMarch2012.doc

BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Tuesday, 27th March 2012
10.00am

ELEMENTARY: FILL IN THE MISSING WORDS

1. New _________ guidelines are being revealed.
2. The guidelines will encourage councils to _________ _________ the process of considering planning applications.
3. The Government wants local authorities to approve developments if they are in the public _________.
4. Environmental groups say the guidelines could threaten the _________.
5. Jane Thomas works for _________ of the Earth.
6. She says ‘There are other levers to encourage economic _________.’
7. Ms Thomas expects a lot of planning appeals to end up in the _________ Court.

8. The justice secretary Ken Clarke wants some people serving community sentences to be subject to _________ bans and curfews.
9. The new plans could also include a _________ use of electronic _________.

10. The security services in Afghanistan say they’ve found _________ _________ containing explosives near the Ministry of Defence in Kabul.
11. Some of those arrested are believed to be _________ soldiers.

12. A formal investigation has begun in _________ into alleged links between Dominique Strauss-Kahn and a gang that _________ prostitutes.
13. It was recently alleged that Mr Strauss-Kahn raped a hotel chambermaid in _________ _________, but the case was dismissed in _________.

14. Royal _________ will be able to set its own _________ in future.
15. However, there will be safeguards, such as a _________ on second class _________.

16. An exclusion zone has been _________ in place _________ an oil platform in the _________ Sea.
17. The platform has been leaking gas _________ the weekend.
18. Coastguards say _________ and aircraft have been ordered to _________ _________ from Total’s Elgin platform.
19. The platform is situated near the Scottish city of _________.

BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Tuesday, 27th March 2012
10.00am

ELEMENTARY: ANSWERS

1. New planning guidelines are being revealed.
2. The guidelines will encourage councils to speed up the process of considering planning applications.
3. The Government wants local authorities to approve developments if they are in the public interest.
4. Environmental groups say the guidelines could threaten the countryside.
5. Jane Thomas works for Friends of the Earth.
6. She says ‘There are other levers to encourage economic growth.’
7. Ms Thomas expects a lot of planning appeals to end up in the High Court.

8. The justice secretary Ken Clarke wants some people serving community sentences to be subject to travel bans and curfews.
9. The new plans could also include a greater use of electronic tags.

10. The security services in Afghanistan say they’ve found 11 jackets containing explosives near the Ministry of Defence in Kabul.
11. Some of those arrested are believed to be Afghan soldiers.

12. A formal investigation has begun in France into alleged links between Dominique Strauss-Kahn and a gang that hired prostitutes.
13. It was recently alleged that Mr Strauss-Kahn raped a hotel chambermaid in New York, but the case was dismissed in August.

14. Royal Mail will be able to set its own prices in future.
15. However, there will be safeguards, such as a cap on second class stamps.

16. An exclusion zone has been put in place around an oil platform in the North Sea.
17. The platform has been leaking gas since the weekend.
18. Coastguards say shipping and aircraft have been ordered to stay away from Total’s Elgin platform.
19. The platform is situated near the Scottish city of Aberdeen.
BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Tuesday, 27th March 2012
10.00am

INTERMEDIATE: TRUE/FALSE

1. New planing guidelines are being revealed.
2. The guidelines will encourage councils to speed up the process of considering applications.
3. The Government wants local authorities to approve developments, as long as they’re in the public interest.
4. Environmental groups say the guidelines could threaten city centres.
5. Jane Thomas works for Friend of the Earth.
6. She says ‘There are other levels to encourage economic growth.’
7. Ms Thomas speaks about ‘this dash for economic growth’.
8. She expects there to be a lot more planning appeals in future.
9. These appeals usually go to the Crown Court.
10. Ms Thomas says ‘there’ll be a lock-jam’.

11. The justice secretary Ken Clarke is proposing that some criminals serving community sentences are subject to tobacco bans and curfews.
12. There are new plans for tougher sentencing.
13. There would also be greater use of a tax on electricity.
14. More efforts would be made ‘to prevent women offending’.

15. The security forces in Afghanistan say they’ve found 11 jeeps containing explosives near the Ministry of Defence in Kabul.
16. They believe they’ve prevented a large-scale suicide attack.
17. Some of those arrested are believed to be Afghan salesmen.

18. A formal investigation has begun in France into alleged links ‘between Dominique Strauss-Kahn and a gang that had prostitutes’.
19. Claims that Mr Strauss-Kahn raped a chambermaid in York were dismissed in August.

20. Royal Mail will be allowed to set its own prices in future.
21. However, there will be safeguards, such as a cap on second class citizens.

22. An exclusion zone has been put in place around an oil platform in the Norse Sea.
23. The platform has been leaking oil since the weekend.
24. Shipping and planes have been ordered to stay away from Total’s Elgin platform.
25. The platform is located off Haberdeen.
BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Tuesday, 27th March 2012
10.00am

INTERMEDIATE: ANSWERS

1. New planing guidelines are being revealed. (F ‘New planning guidelines’)
2. The guidelines will encourage councils to speed up the process of considering applications. (T)
3. The Government wants local authorities to approve developments, as long as they’re in the public interest. (T)
4. Environmental groups say the guidelines could threaten city centres. (F ‘could threaten the countryside’)
5. Jane Thomas works for Friend of the Earth. (F ‘Friends of the Earth’)
6. She says ‘There are other levels to encourage economic growth.’ (F ‘There are other levers to encourage economic growth.’)
7. Ms Thomas speaks about ‘this dash for economic growth’. (T)
8. She expects there to be a lot more planning appeals in future. (T)
9. These appeals usually go to the Crown Court. (F ‘the High Court’)
10. Ms Thomas says ‘there’ll be a lock-jam’. (F ‘there’ll be a log-jam’)

11. The justice secretary Ken Clarke is proposing that some criminals serving community sentences are subject to tobacco bans and curfews. (F ‘travel bans’)
12. There are new plans for tougher sentencing. (T)
13. There would also be greater use of a tax on electricity. (F ‘a greater use of electronic tags’)
14. More efforts would be made ‘to prevent women offending’. (F ‘to prevent re-offending’)

15. The security forces in Afghanistan say they’ve found 11 jeeps containing explosives near the Ministry of Defence in Kabul. (F ‘11 jackets’)
16. They believe they’ve prevented a large-scale suicide attack. (T ‘they’ve foiled’ = they’ve prevented)
17. Some of those arrested are believed to be Afghan salesmen. (F Afghan soldiers)

18. A formal investigation has begun in France into alleged links ‘between Dominique Strauss-Kahn and a gang that had prostitutes’. (F ‘and a gang that hired prostitutes’)
19. Claims that Mr Strauss-Kahn raped a chambermaid in York were dismissed in August. (F in New York)

20. Royal Mail will be allowed to set its own prices in future. (T)
21. However, there will be safeguards, such as a cap on second class citizens. (F second class stamps)

22. An exclusion zone has been put in place around an oil platform in the Norse Sea. (F the North Sea)
23. The platform has been leaking oil since the weekend. (F gas, not oil)
24. Shipping and planes have been ordered to stay away from Total’s Elgin platform. (T ‘aircraft’ = planes)
25. The platform is located off Haberdeen. (F Aberdeen)
BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Tuesday, 27th March 2012
10.00am

ADVANCED: QUESTIONS

1. What will encourage councils to cut the time they spend considering planning applications in future?
2. What is another way of saying ‘councils’?
3. What must developments be, under the new guidelines?
4. What could the new guidelines threaten, according to environmental groups?
5. Which organisation is Jane Thomas speaking on behalf of?
6. What is the Government putting first, according to Ms Thomas?
7. What will the new guidelines result in a huge increase in, according to Ms Thomas?
8. Which court deals with these, according to Ms Thomas?
9. Which expression does Ms Thomas use instead of ‘a back-log’?

10. Who is Ken Clarke?
11. What should be banned for some people serving community sentences, according to Mr Clarke?
12. Which word do you hear in front of ‘sentencing’?
13. What could there be a greater use of under the plans?
14. What is a shorter way of saying ‘to offend again’

15. What do the security forces in Afghanistan say they’ve found near the Ministry of Defence in Kabul?
16. What do the security forces believe they’ve prevented?
17. What is surprising about some of the people who’ve been arrested in connection with the planned attack?

18. What is an investigation in France investigating links between? Dominique Strauss-Kahn and a...
19. Who was Mr Strauss Kahn accused of raping in New York a while ago?
20. What happened to the case against Mr Strauss-Kahn?

21. What will be able to set its own prices in future?
22. What will there be a cap on, as a safeguard?

23. Where has an exclusion zone been put in place?
24. What has the platform been doing since the weekend?
25. What have been ordered to stay away from Total’s Elgin platform?
26. Which Scottish city is closest to the platform?
BBC RADIO 4 NEWS
Tuesday, 27th March 2012
10.00am

ADVANCED: ANSWERS

1. What will encourage councils to cut the time they spend considering planning applications in future? new planning guidelines
2. What is another way of saying ‘councils’? local authorities
3. What must developments be, under the new guidelines? in the public interest
4. What could the new guidelines threaten, according to environmental groups? the countryside
5. Which organisation is Jane Thomas speaking on behalf of? Friends of the Earth
6. What is the Government putting first, according to Ms Thomas? economic growth
7. What will the new guidelines result in a huge increase in, according to Ms Thomas? planning appeals
8. Which court deals with these, according to Ms Thomas? the High Court
9. Which expression does Ms Thomas use instead of ‘a back-log’? ‘a log-jam’

10. Who is Ken Clarke? He’s the justice secretary.
11. What should be banned for some people serving community sentences, according to Mr Clarke? travel
12. Which word do you hear in front of ‘sentencing’? ‘tougher’
13. What could there be a greater use of under the plans? electronic tags
14. What is a shorter way of saying ‘to offend again’ ‘to re-offend’

15. What do the security forces in Afghanistan say they’ve found near the Ministry of Defence in Kabul? Eleven jackets containing explosives.
16. What do the security forces believe they’ve prevented? a large-scale suicide attack
17. What is surprising about some of the people who’ve been arrested in connection with the planned attack? Some of them are believed to be Afghan soldiers.

18. What is an investigation in France investigating links between? Dominique Strauss-Kahn and a gang that hired prostitutes.
19. Who was Mr Strauss Kahn accused of raping in New York a while ago? a hotel chambermaid
20. What happened to the case against Mr Strauss-Kahn? It was dismissed in August.

21. What will be able to set its own prices in future? Royal Mail
22. What will there be a cap on, as a safeguard? second class stamps

23. Where has an exclusion zone been put in place? around an oil platform in the North Sea
24. What has the platform been doing since the weekend? It’s been leaking gas.
25. What have been ordered to stay away from Total’s Elgin platform? shipping and aircraft
26. Which Scottish city is closest to the platform? Aberdeen
Distributed with kind permission from the BBC © The Listening Business 2012