新闻听力练习radio4news25thjanuary2012

www.thelisteningbusiness.comDistributed with kind permission from the BBC © The Listening Business 2012BBC RADIO 4 NEWS Wednesday, 25th January 2012 10.00am ELEMENTARY: FILL IN THE MISSING WORDS1. New figures show that the UKs economy shrank by _% in the final three _ of 2011. 2. This is slightly _ than expected. 3. Overall Gross Domestic Product _ by _% last year compared to _. 4. The first very severe economic downturn was brought on by the credit _. 5. Unemployment is on the _. 6. Many people fear the first three months of 2012 will be _. 7. There was a _ drop in _ from manufacturers last quarter. 8. Demand for electricity and _ also suffered. 9. Business in hotels and _ was down. 10. Construction work _ tailed off.11. President Obama wants a _ tax system in the USA. 12. He says the _ Americans should pay more tax. 13. His opponents have called his policy a _ war.14. _ Special Forces have rescued two aid workers held by pirates in Somalia. 15. The aid workers were employed by a _ charity.16. The Arab League mission to Syria has been extended to _ _. 17. Yesterday _ Gulf states joined Saudi Arabia in _ their monitors from the mission.18. A paedophile has been _ dead in prison in _. 19. Martin _ _ Lianne is in custody in _. 20. She is accused of murdering her two _ _ in a _ two years ago. 21. The bodies of the children were discovered on the same _ Martin Smith was extradited to _ to face child sex abuse charges.www.thelisteningbusiness.comDistributed with kind permission from the BBC © The Listening Business 2012BBC RADIO 4 NEWS Wednesday, 25th January 2012 10.00am ELEMENTARY: ANSWERS1. New figures show that the UKs economy shrank by 0.2% in the final three months of 2011. 2. This is slightly worse than expected. 3. Overall Gross Domestic Product rose by 0.9% last year compared to 2010. 4. The first very severe economic downturn was brought on by the credit crunch. 5. Unemployment is on the rise. 6. Many people fear the first three months of 2012 will be disappointing. 7. There was a big drop in output from manufacturers last quarter. 8. Demand for electricity and gas also suffered. 9. Business in hotels and restaurants was down. 10. Construction work also tailed off.11. President Obama wants a fairer tax system in the USA. 12. He says the wealthiest Americans should pay more tax. 13. His opponents have called his policy a class war.14. US Special Forces have rescued two aid workers held by pirates in Somalia. 15. The aid workers were employed by a Danish charity.16. The Arab League mission to Syria has been extended to 23rd February. 17. Yesterday five Gulf states joined Saudi Arabia in withdrawing their monitors from the mission.18. A paedophile has been found dead in prison in Manchester. 19. Martin Smiths wife Lianne is in custody in Spain. 20. She is accused of murdering her two young children in a hotel two years ago. 21. The bodies of the children were discovered on the same day Martin Smith was extradited to Britain to face child sex abuse charges.www.thelisteningbusiness.comDistributed with kind permission from the BBC © The Listening Business 2012BBC RADIO 4 NEWS Wednesday, 25th January 2012 10.00am INTERMEDIATE: TRUE/FALSE1. The new figures were released late last night. 2. The UKs economy shrank by 0.2% in the final three months of last year. 3. This is slightly better than expected. 4. Overall GDP (Gross Domestic Product) increased by 0.9% between 2010 and 2011. 5. There have been fears that Britain would suffer a double-tip recession. 6. Economists define a recession as two consecutive quarters of shrinkage. 7. The reporter says employment is on the rise. 8. There are fears that the opening three months of 2012 will be disappointing. 9. Last quarter manufacturing output fell sharply. 10. Meanwhile business in hotels and restrooms was down.11. President Obama has just given his annual Steak of the Union speech. 12. He wants the US tax system to be fairer, with the richest Americans paying more tax. 13. His opponents have called his policy a classic war.14. US Special Forces have rescued two aid workers held by pirates in Somalia from the beginning of October last year. 15. The aid workers are both from Denmark. 16. They werent hurt in the rescue operation.17. The Arab League mission in Syria has been extended by a fortnight. 18. Yesterday five Gulf states joined Saudi Arabia in sending monitors to Syria.19. A paedophile has been found dead in prison in Chester. 20. It seems the man committed suicide. 21. Martin Schmidts wife Lianne is in custody in Spain. 22. She is accused of murdering her parents in a hotel two years ago. 23. The childrens bodies we