英语新闻听力练习BBCRadio4News18thApril2012.doc

BBC RADIO 4 NEWSWednesday, 18th April 201210.00am ELEMENTARY: CORRECT THE MISTAKE IN EACH SENTENCE1. The number of people out of work has risen by 35,000.2. This is the first increase in almost a year.3. The jobless total for the three months to February was up to 6.5 million.4. This is just over 8% of the workforce.5. The number of unemployed women is at its highest rate for almost five years.6. It stands at 1.4 million.7. The figure for 60-year-olds shows a fall to just over a million.8. Nicholas Balmer is from the Office for National Statistics.9. He says unemployment rose quite strongly during the spring of last year.10. He says unemployment is significantly lower than at the same time a year ago.11. He says its around 117,000 higher than at the same time a year ago.12. Paul Ducker is a deputy governor at the Bank of England.13. He says inflation remains uncontrollably high.14. He gave a speech in Blackpool.15. He said inflation might remain above three per cent next year.16. A Libyan military commander is taking legal action against Jock Straw.17. Mr Straw used to be the defence secretary.18. The commander wants to find out if Mr Straw designed papers allowing his rendition.19. Abdul Hakim Belhadj claims he was flown to Libya against his will two years ago.20. He claims this was on the basis of intelligence provided by the CIA.21. Mr Straw has said he did no such thing.22. The Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is going to visit Britain and Norway next month.23. It will be the first time shes left Burma since 2002.24. Shes expected to visit Oxford where she worked in the 1970s.25. The deputy prime minister Mick Clegg says hes enjoying being in government.26. He says hes not the slightest bit aggressive about the decisions being taken by ministers.27. He defended plans to curb tax relief on blood donations.28. He said he made absolutely no excuse for trying to create a tax system in which everyone paid their fair share. BBC RADIO 4 NEWSWednesday, 18th April 201210.00am ELEMENTARY: ANSWERS1. The number of people out of work has risen by 35,000. has fallen by 35,0002. This is the first increase in almost a year. the first decrease in almost a year3. The jobless total for the three months to February was up to 6.5 million. Figures show the jobless total at 2.65 million.4. This is just over 8% of the workforce. just over 8% of the population5. The number of unemployed women is at its highest rate for almost five years. for almost 25 years6. It stands at 1.4 million. at 1.14 million7. The figure for 60-year-olds shows a fall to just over a million. The figure for 16 to 24-year-olds.8. Nicholas Balmer is from the Office for National Statistics. Nicholas Palmer9. He says unemployment rose quite strongly during the spring of last year. during the summer of last year10. He says unemployment is significantly lower than at the same time a year ago. significantly higher11. He says its around 117,000 higher than at the same time a year ago. 170,00012. Paul Ducker is a deputy governor at the Bank of England. Paul Tucker13. He says inflation remains uncontrollably high. uncomfortably high14. He gave a speech in Blackpool. in Liverpool15. He said inflation might remain above three per cent next year. in the second half of this year16. A Libyan military commander is taking legal action against Jock Straw. Jack Straw17. Mr Straw used to be the defence secretary. the foreign secretary18. The commander wants to find out if Mr Straw designed papers allowing his rendition. signed papers19. Abdul Hakim Belhadj claims he was flown to Libya against his will two years ago. in 200420. He claims this was on the basis of intelligence provided by the CIA. provided by the British authorities21. Mr Straw has said he did no such thing. Mr Straw has declined to comment. i.e. He hasnt said anything.22. The Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is going to visit Britain and Norway next month. in June23. It will be the first time shes left Burma since 2002. Itll be the first time shes left the country in two decades. i.e. since 199224. Shes expected to visit Oxford where she worked in the 1970s. Shes expected to visit Oxford where she studied in the 1970s.25. The deputy prime minister Mick Clegg says hes enjoying being in government. Nick Clegg26. He says hes not the slightest bit aggressive about the decisions being taken by ministers. defensive, not aggressive27. He defended plans to curb tax relief on blood donations. on charity donations28. He said he made absolutely no excuse for trying to create a tax system in which everyone paid their fair share. absolutely no apologyBBC RADIO 4 NEWSWednesday, 18th April 201210.00am INTERMEDIATE: GAP-FILL1. The number of people out of _ has _ by 35,000.2. This is the _ fall in almost a _.3. Overall, figures for the three _ to February show the _ total at _ million.4. This is just over _% of the _.5. The number of _ unemployed is now at its _ rate for almost _ years at _ million.6. However, the figure for _ to _-year-olds fell to just over a million.7. Nicholas _ is from the Office for National Statistics.8. He says unemployment rose quite strongly last _.9. The increases then _ _ towards the end of the year.10. Nicholas says the level of unemployment is significantly _ than it was a year _.11. A deputy governor of the Bank of _, Paul _, says inflation is still uncomfortably _.12. He says inflation probably _ fall as fast as the Bank _ previously forecast.13. He gave a speech in _ in which he said inflation might remain above _% in the second _ of 2012.14. The Bank had been predicting until recently that inflation would _ steadily to _%.15. A Libyan military commander is _ legal action _ Jack Straw.16. He wants to _ _ if the former foreign secretary _ papers allowing his rendition.17. Abdul Hakim Belhadj claims he was _ to Libya against his _ in _.18. He says this was on the basis of intelligence provided by the _ authorities.19. The Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is going to _ Britain and Norway in _.20. _ be the first _ shes left Burma in 20 years.21. Shes expected to visit Oxford _ she studied in the _.22. The deputy prime minister Nick Clegg says _ _ _ in government.23. He insists hes not the least defensive _ the decisions _ _ by ministers.24. He defended _ to curb tax relief on _ donations.25. He said he made no _ for trying to create a tax system in which everyone _ their fair _.BBC RADIO 4 NEWSWednesday, 18th April 201210.00am INTERMEDIATE: ANSWERS1. The number of people out of work has fallen by 35,000.2. This is the first fall in almost a year.3. Overall, figures for the three months to February show the jobless total at 2.65 million.4. This is just over 8% of the population.5. The number of women unemployed is now at its highest rate for almost 25 years at 1.14 million.6. However, the figure for 16 to 24-year-olds fell to just over a million.7. Nicholas Palmer is from the Office for National Statistics.8. He says unemployment rose quite strongly last summer.9. The increases then tailed off towards the end of the year.10. Nicholas says the level of unemployment is significantly higher than it was a year ago.11. A deputy governor of the Bank of England, Paul Tucker, says inflation is still uncomfortably high.12. He says inflation probably wont fall as fast as the Bank had previously forecast.13. He gave a speech in Liverpool in which he said inflation might remain above 3% in the second half of 2012.14. The Bank had been predicting until recently that inflation would fall steadily to 2%.15. A Libyan military commander is taking legal action against Jack Straw.16. He wants to find out if the former foreign secretary signed papers allowing his rendition.17. Abdul Hakim Belhadj claims he was flown to Libya against his will in 2004.18. He says this was on the basis of intelligence provided by the British authorities.19. The Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is going to visit Britain and Norway in June.20. Itll be the first time shes left Burma in 20 years.21. Shes expected to visit Oxford where she studied in the 1970s.22. The deputy prime minister Nick Clegg says hes enjoying being in government.23. He insists hes not the least defensive about the decisions being taken by ministers.24. He defended plans to curb tax relief on charity donations.25. He said he made no apology for trying to create a tax system in which everyone paid their fair share.BBC RADIO 4 NEWSWednesday, 18th April 201210.00am ADVANCED: QUESTIONS1. What has fallen by 35,000?2. Why is this significant?3. How many people were unemployed in the three months to February?4. What is this just over 8% of?5. What is now at its highest rate for almost 25 years?6. Which figure has fallen to just over a million?7. What is the name of the man from the Office for National Statistics?8. What does he suggest we look at first?9. When did unemployment rise quite strongly?10. What happened to increases in unemployment towards the end of 2011?11. How does the rate of unemployment at the end of February compare with the same period in 2011?12. What is the name of the deputy governor at the Bank of England?13. What remains uncontrollably high, according to this man?14. Where did this man give a speech?15. What might inflation remain above in the second half of 2012, according to this man?16. What had the Bank of England been predicting that inflation would do in the second half of 2012?17. Who is taking legal action against Jack Straw?18. Which political position did Jack Straw use to hold?19. What does the commander what to find out?20. What does Abdul Hakim Belhadj claim happened to him in 2004, on the basis of British intelligence?21. What has Mr Straw said in his defence?22. How is Aung San Suu Kyi described?23. What is she going to do in June?24. Why is this significant?25. What did she fear would happen to her if she left Burma?26. Why is Oxford significant to her?27. Who is Nick Clegg?28. What has he said?29. What has he insisted?30. What is the Government planning to curb tax relief on?31. What is Mr Clegg trying to create?BBC RADIO 4 NEWSWednesday, 18th April 201210.00am ADVANCED: ANSWERS1. What has fallen by 35,000? the number of people out of work (i.e. unemployment)2. Why is this significant? Because its the first decrease in almost a year.3. How many people were unemployed in the three months to February? 2.65 million4. What is this just over 8% of? the population5. What is now at its highest rate for almost 25 years? The number of women who are unemployed.6. Which figure has fallen to just over a million? the figure for 16 to 24-year-olds7. What is the name of the man from the Office for National Statistics? Nicholas Palmer8. What does he suggest we look at first? the longer term picture9. When did unemployment rise quite strongly? during the summer of last year10. What happened to increases in unemployment towards the end of 2011? They tailed off a bit.11. How does the rate of unemployment at the end of February compare with the same period in 2011? Its significantly higher. In fact its some 170,000 higher than it was at the same point a year ago.12. What is the name of the deputy governor at the Bank of England? Paul Tucker13. What remains uncontrollably high, according to this man? inflation14. Where did this man give a speech? in Liverpool15. What might inflation remain above in the second half of 2012, according to this man? 3%16. What had the Bank of England been predicting that inflation would do in the second half of 2012? That it would fall steadily to 2%.17. Who is taking legal action against Jack Straw? a Libyan military comma