التصنيف: نصائح عامة

Hi I’m Natalie and welcome to Talking Sport.

Today we are hearing about two divers fromChinaand learning the phrase ‘no room for error’.

He Zi and Wu Minxia are two divers fromChina.

They will dive together at this year’s Olympic games inLondon.

Let’s hear from BBC reporter Michael Bristow who has been to meet the divers.

Listen for how many Olympic medals Wu Minxia has already won and listen for the phrase ‘no room for error’.

Diving is years of training. He Zi has been practising the art since she was six. Barring injuries, she’ll perform at the London Olympics. This is who she’ll be diving with – Wu Minxia. She’s already won two Olympic gold medals. The two athletes must be in complete symmetry. InLondon, there’ll be no room for error.

Listen again for how many Olympic medals Wu Minxia has already won and listen for the phrase ‘no room for error’.

Diving is years of training. He Zi has been practising the art since she was six. Barring injuries, she’ll perform at the London Olympics. This is who she’ll be diving with – Wu Minxia. She’s already won two Olympic gold medals. The two athletes must be in complete symmetry. In London, there’ll be no room for error.

Did you hear how many Olympic medals Wu Minxia has already won?

Yes, Wu Minxia has already won two Olympic medals.

We heard the phrase ‘no room for error’.

لا مكان للأخطاء

InLondonthere will be no room for error.

Well we have heard about He Zi and Wu Minxia and learnt the phrase ‘no room for error’.

Now, let’s listen to some people inLondonusing this phrase.

When a pilot is landing a plane there is no room for error.

There is no room for error when competing in the Olympics.

There is no room for error in a medical operation.

When a pilot is landing a plane there is no room for error.

There is no room for error when competing in the Olympics.

There is no room for error in a medical operation.

I’m Natalie and that’s all from Talking Sport.

In the video we heard the word ‘must’:

“The two athletes must be in complete symmetry.”

‘Must’ is used when it is important that you do something.

E.g. I must pass my exams to get into university.

‘Mustn’t’ is used when it is important that you do not do something.

E.g. You mustn’t run beside the swimming pool as you may slip and hurt yourself.

‘Needn’t’ is used when you don’t need to do something.

E.g. You needn’t worry about getting a job. There are plenty of companies looking for people.

Now complete the sentences with must, mustn’t or needn’t.

1. I __________ buy some milk. I don’t have any in the house.

2. We __________ book the holiday now. We have plenty of time to get a trip organised.

3. You __________ lose this key. It is the only key we have to get into the house.

4. I __________ remember to send Debbie a birthday card.

In the video we heard the word ‘since’:

“He Zi has been practising the art since she was six.”

The word ‘since’ and the word ‘for’ can both be used to refer to how long something has been happening.

The word ‘since’ is used when we are talking about a point in time:

E.g. I have been playing football since I was five years old.

The word ‘for’ is used when we are talking about a period of time.

E.g. I have been living inLondonfor two years.

Now complete the sentences with ‘since’ or ‘for’.

1. I have been working in this company _________ January.

2. We have been in a relationship _________ three years.

3. It has been sunny _________ a few days.

4. John has been in the office _________ 7 o’clock

‘Must’, ‘mustn’t’ & ‘needn’t’

1. I must buy some milk. I don’t have any in the house.

2. We needn’t book the holiday now. We have plenty of time to get a trip organised.

3. You mustn’t lose this key. It is the only key we have to get into the house.

4. I must remember to send Debbie a birthday card.

1. I have been working in this company since January.

2. We have been in a relationship for three years.

3. It has been sunny for a few days.

4. John has been in the office since 7 o’clock.

يستعد ما يقارب الستة آلاف مكسيكي ومكسيكية للدخول في سجلات الارقام القياسية. فقد تقاطر جمع غفير وخصوصاً من النساء في ساحة زوكالو في العاصمة المكسيكية لحضور اكبر درس عالمي في التدريبات الرياضية.

وبعد ان ثبت المشاركون رقمهم القياسي العالمي، يأمل منظمو هذا التجمع أن يستمر المشاركون باتباع نظام حياة اكثر نشاطاً. وتتطلع السلطات الى تشجيع الناس للخروج من بيوتهم والتمتع بما تحتويه مدينتهم المترامية الاطراف.

6000 Mexicans preparing to dance their way into the record books.

A crowd of mostly women flocked to the capital city’s Zocalo Square for the world’s largest aerobics class.

Having cemented their place in history, organisers hope the participants will continue an active lifestyle.

Local authorities are looking to get people out of their houses to enjoy the great outdoors in the sprawling metropolis.

the record books – official documents of information سجلات الأرقام القياسية

flocked – came in great numbers تقاطر

aerobics – exercise regime العاب رياضية

cemented – made firm ثبات

sprawling metropolis – large city مدينة مترامية الأطراف

Use one of the words or phrases below to complete each of these sentences from BBC news reports.

Note that you may have to change the form of a word to complete the sentence correctly.

the record books / flocked / aerobics / cemented / sprawling metropolis

1. The sisters work twice per week with a personal trainer and have been taking ________________ classes since their release from prison.

2. It is a remnant from another golden age of cycling, 1950s Britain, when fans on their own bikes ________________ to the stands at velodromes.

3. “This is another incredible achievement to cap a year of incredible achievements,” said Martin Talbot from the Official Charts Company. “By overtaking Michael Jackson’s Bad, 21 has officially ________________ Adele’s place among the all-time greats.”

4. Most violence was reported from the eastern and central parts of the city, police say. Hundreds of people have been killed in ethnic violence in this ________________ in recent months.

5. The reason Tokyo gets into ________________ is that the surrounding region – which includes the country’s second city Yokohama, as well as 86 other towns and cities – has become so built up that it is now one huge continuous urbanised area.

1. The sisters work twice per week with a personal trainer and have been taking aerobics classes since their release from prison.

2. It is a remnant from another golden age of cycling, 1950s Britain, when fans on their own bikes flocked to the stands at velodromes.

3. “This is another incredible achievement to cap a year of incredible achievements,” said Martin Talbot from the Official Charts Company. By overtaking Bad, 21 has officially cemented Adele’s place among the all-time greats.”

4. Most violence was reported from the eastern and central parts of the city, police say. Hundreds of people have been killed in ethnic violence in this sprawling metropolis in recent months.

5. The reason Tokyo gets into the record books is that the surrounding region – which includes the country’s second city Yokohama, as well as 86 other towns and cities – has become so built up that it is now one huge continuous urbanised area.

Hi I’m Natalie and welcome to Talking Sport.

Today we are hearing about a mountain bike cyclist fromFranceand learning the word ‘impressive’.

Julien Absalon is fromFranceand is one of the best mountain bike cyclists in the world.

So does it matter which bike he uses when he is competing?

Let’s hear from BBC reporter Kieran Fox.

Listen for the word ‘impressive’ and listen for how long it takes to make one of Julien

It takes not just an impressive man, but an impressive machine to get gold. This is the Orbea Alma. It’s the bike that took French Olympic champion Julien Absalon to gold inBeijing. Absalon’s bike can take 18 months from design to production. It will cost you the price of a small car and weighs just 10kg, but his team can put one together in under an hour.

Listen again for the word ‘impressive’ and listen for how long it takes to make one of Julien Absalon’s bikes.

It takes not just an impressive man, but an impressive machine to get gold. This is the Orbea Alma. It’s the bike that took French Olympic champion Julien Absalon to gold in Beijing. Absalon’s bike can take 18 months from design to production. It will cost you the price of a small car and weighs just 10kg, but his team can put one together in under an hour.

Did you hear the word ‘impressive’?

It takes not just an impressive man but an impressive machine to get gold.

Did you hear how long it takes to make one of Julien Absalon’s bikes?

Yes, it can take up to 18 months.

“Absalon’s bike can take 18 months from design to production”

Well we have heard that Julien Absalon’s bike is very impressive. Now, let’s hear from some people inLondon. What do they think is impressive?

I thinkLondonis very impressive.

My friend’s new job is very impressive.

My sister’s exam results were really impressive.

I think Londonis very impressive.

My friend’s new job is very impressive.

My sister’s exam results were really impressive.

I’m Natalie and that’s all from Talking Sport.

In the video we heard the phrasal verb ‘put together’

“… his team can put one together in under an hour.”

Below are some more phrasal verbs with the word ‘put’:

put up with: to accept and deal with a difficult situation or person

put somebody down: to criticise someone

put off: to delay something

put forward: to make a suggestion

Now complete the sentences with the correct phrasal verb. The form of the phrasal verb may need to be changed.

1. A: I don’t know how you __________ Megan. She is always very rude.

B: Stop __________. She isn’t that bad once you get to know her.

2. We __________ the football match due to the bad weather. We hope to play it next

3. I am going to __________ a request for more flexible working hours.

In the video we heard the word ‘under’:

“… his team can put one together in under an hour.”

‘Under’ is a preposition which can be used with different meanings:

Meaning A: ‘Under’ can mean physically below something.

E.g. The chair was under the table.

Meaning B: ‘Under’ can mean less than.

E.g. I bought my dress in a charity shop for under £5.

Now read the sentences below and decide whether the word ‘under’ is used with – meaning A or meaning B above.

E.g. The pencil was under the chair. Answer – A

1. They sat under the tree. Answer ____.

2. All shoes in the shop cost under £30. Answer ____.

3. No person under the age of 15 can see this film. Answer ____.

4. She held her books under her arm. Answer ____.

1. A: I don’t know how you put up with Megan. She is always very rude.

B: Stop putting her down. She isn’t that bad once you get to know her.

2. We put off the football match due to the bad weather. We hope to play it next weekend

3. I am going to put forward a request for more flexible working hours.

1. They sat under the tree. Answer A.

2. All shoes in the shop cost under £30. Answer B.

3. No person under the age of 15 can see this film. Answer B.

4. She held her books under her arm. Answer A.

نظرة شاملة للندن. قطعة الحديد الأخيرة في المبنى الذي لقب بـ “شرد” وضعت في مكانها. وعند اكتماله ستكون أطول ناطحة سحاب في الاتحاد الأوروبي. ولكن العمل هنا ليس لضعيفي النفس، فالارتفاع يصل إلى 310 أمتار. ثمانية وسبعون طابقاً سيسكن فيها سكان، ومكاتب، وفندق، وإطلالة من فوق المبنى.

A bird’s eye view ofLondon.

The final piece of steel in a building nicknamed the Shard has been put in place. When completed, it will be the European Union’s tallest skyscraper.

But the work isn’t for the faint-hearted. The structure reaches 310 metres.

With 87 storeys, the building will house residences, offices, a hotel and viewing gallery.

a bird’s eye view – a view from a high place from which you can see a vast area

nicknamed – a name used informally instead of a real name

faint-hearted – timid, not confident

(to) house (verb) – to accommodate

1. Tickling a gorilla is not for the faint-hearted. But keeperPhilRidgesis not worried at getting into the enclosure with Emmie atPortLympneWildAnimalParkinKent.

2.Spain’s relatively new army museum is housed in the spectacular Alcazar inToledo. Once a fortress, it was largely destroyed in a famous siege during the Spanish Civil War, before being rebuilt by Franco.

3. A ewe thought to have been a contender for the title of world’s oldest sheep has died after falling off a cliff. An ear tag on the blackface ewe, nicknamed Methuselina, showed that it was 25 years and 11 months old.

4. Visitors will be guided through nine exhibitions, spread over four storeys, charting the history of the Titanic from its construction in the nearby Harland & Wolff shipyard to its final resting place at the bottom of theAtlantic.

5. A large platform has been carved out of the side of the hill above the mine that will offer a bird’s eye view of the rescue operations.

هل هذه سيارة ام طائرة؟ انها جايروكوبتر.

يمكن قيادة هذه المركبة الهولندية على الارض وفي السماء وكل ما تحتاجه هو مدرج للإقلاع.

واذا ما لقيت الفكرة رواجاً فسيمكن ات تضع حداً للازدحامات المرورية. وما على السائق الا ان يفرد الاجنحة ويطير.

تم اجراء العديد من اختبارات الطيران والشركة الآن تبحث عن بعض المستثمرين.

Is it a car? Is it a plane? No, it’s a gyrocopter!

This Dutch vehicle can be driven on land or flown in the air. All it needs is a strip of tarmac.

If the idea catches on, it could put an end to traffic jams. Motorists would just unfold the wings and off they go.

Several test flights have been conducted and the company is looking for investors.

tarmac – black material used to coat roads

catches on – becomes popular and fashionable

unfold – spread till they reach their full size

investors – people who give money to a project expecting a profit

Use one of the words or phrases below to complete each of these sentences from BBC news reports.

Note that you may have to change the form of a word to complete the sentence correctly.

tarmac / catches on / unfold / conducted / investors

1. “When a local gentleman pulled out a tatty bit of paper from the pocket of his wax jacket, I was rather surprised he thought it was something special. When I ________ the paper, I realised that the signatures were written in black ink on the back of the gentleman’s birth certificate.”

2. As Spain and Italy’s finances have looked more precarious, _______ have been worried about whether the eurozone’s firewall could cope with more bailouts.

3. There is very little to like about motorway journeys. Endless black ________, blurry white lines and fuzzy green trees.

4. Outside America the trend was beginning to _______ too. Many of the GIs stationed in Europe and Japan during the war were working-class boys from the Western states. While off duty they wore their jeans proudly as a symbol of home.

5. The tests were ________ at the request of the European Union to see whether travel disruption could be alleviated.

1. “When a local gentleman pulled out a tatty bit of paper from the pocket of his wax jacket, I was rather surprised he thought it was something special. When I unfolded the paper, I realised that the signatures were written in black ink on the back of the gentleman’s birth certificate.”

Source: Beatles signatures up for auction

2. As Spain and Italy’s finances have looked more precarious, investors have been worried about whether the eurozone’s firewall could cope with more bailouts.

Source: Eurozone ministers boost firewall to $1t

3. There is very little to like about motorway journeys. Endless black tarmac, blurry white lines and fuzzy green trees.

Source: The road sign as design classic

4. Outside America the trend was beginning to catch on too. Many of the GIs stationed in Europe and Japan during the war were working-class boys from the Western states. While off duty they wore their jeans proudly as a symbol of home.

Source: How jeans conquered the world

5. The tests were conducted at the request of the European Union to see whether travel disruption could be alleviated.

Source: Volcanic ash spreads more travel misery across Europe