Learning English - Words in the News

09 January, 2008 - Published 13:35 GMT

Chinese ice sculptures melting

Animals, people, even buildings are turned into intricate sculptures
A famous ice festival in China is the latest victim of rising global temperatures. Every winter tens of thousands of tourists go to Harbin, in the far north east of China, to see the city's ice sculptures. But with higher temperatures, the sculptures are starting to melt. This report from Michael Bristow:
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Harbin is one of China's coldest cities. In winter, temperatures can drop as low as minus 35 degrees centigrade. Despite this harsh climate, the city has turned itself into a popular winter tourist destination. Visitors arrive from across Asia to experience the cold - and see the city's ice sculptures. Animals, people, even famous buildings are turned into intricate sculptures that are lit up at night.
But, there's a problem - winters just aren't as cold as they used to be. Last year, Harbin had its warmest year since records began. And that means the city's famous ice sculptures are melting earlier.
The ice festival traditionally lasts until the end of February. But this year, there are fears the ice will have melted long before then. And this is not just a worry for environmentalists. Harbin's ice festival is the city's biggest source of income. If the ice goes, so do the tourists. (Si la glace va, les touristes aussi)
Michael Bristow, BBC News, Beijing
Listen to the words
*)temperatures can drop as low as :

the weather can be very cold

*)harsh :

severe or very cold

*)has turned itself into :

the people and businesses of the city have made it become

*) tourist destination :

a place where travellers and holiday makers want to go to visit

*)ice sculptures :

statues that are not permanent because they are made of ice (rather than stone)

*)intricate sculptures :

statues that have a lot of small, complicated details, carvings or markings

*)since records began :

from the time that people first started to keep information (about weather temperatures) for future reference, by writing it down or storing it on a computer

*)melting :

changing from ice to water (when heat is applied to the ice)

*)environmentalists :

people who try to protect the world from being damaged by human activities

*)income :

money from doing work or having a business (here, money from tourists during the ice festival)
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Learning English - Words in the News

11 January, 2008 - Published 15:02 GMT

Holiday cost in Russia

Russia has resumed its daily routine after its long break for New Year and Orthodox Christmas. Russian media have been trying to add up the cost of the lengthy lay-off: one newspaper says the holiday has cost the country some 2 per cent of GDP. This report from James Rodgers:
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Russia is struggling sluggishly back to work. Their lengthy annual holiday begins on New Year's Eve, and finishes only after Orthodox Christmas, which falls on January the 7th in the contemporary calendar.
While the vast majority of Russians seem to enjoy the long break, some dissenting, questioning voices can also be heard. Official figures of the cost to the economy won't be published until later, but one tabloid - incidentally in its first edition of the New Year, the papers here get a long time off too - has been trying to do the sums. Komsomolskaya Pravda quotes an expert who estimates that the New Year break cost the Russian economy more than 20 billion dollars, or 2 per cent of GDP.
Many Russians are adding up their own personal outlay. Surveys carried out in December suggested that Russians are celebrating their country's economic growth by spending more on presents. They certainly need cash to enjoy the party. A place at a New Year's Eve dinner in even a modest Moscow restaurant this year cost well in excess of 100 dollars.
James Rodgers, BBC News, Moscow
Listen to the words
*)struggling sluggishly back to work :

slowly beginning to work again but without much enthusiasm or energy
*)falls on :

is marked/celebrated on
*)dissenting, questioning voices can also be heard :

not everyone in Russia thinks a long break over Christmas is a good idea; some people strongly disagree with the idea and are asking publicly why this is happening
*)tabloid :

a type of popular newspaper with smaller pages which has many pictures and short simple reports
*)incidentally :

this adverb is used to say that something is connected to, although is less important than, the main subject of a talk/conversation/report
*)time off :

here, holiday, leave
*)to do the sums :

here, to calculate the impact on the economy, to count losses
*)GDP :

short for Gross Domestic Product - the total value of goods and services produced by a country in a year
*)outlay :

here, the amount of money many Russians spent to prepare for and celebrate the New Year and Christmas
*)well in excess of :

a lot more than
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