new word in the oxford english dictionary
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to tweet
to tweet is to update (mettre à jour) your news on the twitter website
dimanche 28 novembre 2010
hoody
hooded sweatshirt
new word in the oxford english dictionary
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hoody
a hoody is a young person wearing a hooded top
samedi 12 janvier 2008
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:
Listen to the story
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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vendredi 11 janvier 2008
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:
Listen to the story
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 :
*)falls on :
is marked/celebrated on
*)dissenting, questioning voices can also be heard :
*)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 :
*)tabloid :
a type of popular newspaper with smaller pages which has many pictures and short simple reports
*)incidentally :
*)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 :
*)time off :
here, holiday, leave
*)to do the sums :
*)to do the sums :
here, to calculate the impact on the economy, to count losses
*)GDP :
*)GDP :
short for Gross Domestic Product - the total value of goods and services produced by a country in a year
*)outlay :
*)outlay :
here, the amount of money many Russians spent to prepare for and celebrate the New Year and Christmas
*)well in excess of :
*)well in excess of :
a lot more than
Read more about this story
Read more about this story
vendredi 24 août 2007
بتی فریدن
BBC Betty Friedan
Learning English - Words in the News06 February, 2006 - Published 12:28 GMTUS feminist Betty Friedan diesBetty Friedan, a feminist iconOne of America's most famous feminist thinkers and writers, Betty Friedan, has died at the age of 85. She was best known for her book The Feminine Mystique, which helped start the modern women's movement in the United States.
This report by Lucy Williamson:
Listen to the story
That the things Betty Friedan said in the 1960s seem unremarkable now is, partly at least, down to her impact.
Learning English - Words in the News06 February, 2006 - Published 12:28 GMTUS feminist Betty Friedan diesBetty Friedan, a feminist iconOne of America's most famous feminist thinkers and writers, Betty Friedan, has died at the age of 85. She was best known for her book The Feminine Mystique, which helped start the modern women's movement in the United States.
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This report by Lucy Williamson:
Listen to the story
That the things Betty Friedan said in the 1960s seem unremarkable now is, partly at least, down to her impact.
Back then the things she campaigned for - the right to abortion, equal pay, maternity leave and job adverts that didn't specify the sex of the person being sought - were seen by many in America as radical ideas.
Something Betty Friedan herself was keenly aware of, when in 1963 she published her book The Feminine Mystique.In the book, Betty Friedan described what she called 'the problem with no name' - the frustrations felt by educated, full-time mothers. In the 1950s, America expected its women to be completely fulfilled by marriage and motherhood. The idea that women might want to achieve something outside of this startled polite society.The book became a best-seller; and Betty Friedan a household name.
Three years later, she co-founded the National Organisation for Women and served as its first president. But in the 1970s, she split from the organisation, accusing many of her contemporaries of focusing too much on lesbian issues and of equating feminism with hating men.
Listen to the words
impact = influence, powerful effect
campaigned for = worked for
specify = describe, name
sought = looked for
radical = extreme, supporting great social and political change
mystique = the quality of being special in a mysterious and attractive way
startled polite society = surprised and worried large numbers of people who live in a socially correct way
a household name = a very famous person that most people know of
lesbian = to do with women who are sexually attracted to other women
equating feminism with hating men = thinking of feminism and hating men as the same thing
Listen to the words
impact = influence, powerful effect
campaigned for = worked for
specify = describe, name
sought = looked for
radical = extreme, supporting great social and political change
mystique = the quality of being special in a mysterious and attractive way
startled polite society = surprised and worried large numbers of people who live in a socially correct way
a household name = a very famous person that most people know of
lesbian = to do with women who are sexually attracted to other women
equating feminism with hating men = thinking of feminism and hating men as the same thing
********************************************************************************
leave = congé
--------------
le moindre.
le moins.
---------------
At least : au moins
------------------------
abortion =
avortement
avortement
------------------------
au courant.
---------------------
s'acquitter de.
-----------------------------
split
se diviser
---------------
vendredi 17 août 2007
Beijing Sidelines a Million Cars for Olympic Air-Quality Test
By Daniel Schearf Beijing17 August 2007
Schearf report (mp3) - Download 575k Listen to Schearf report (mp3)
Beijing is pulling more than a million cars from the streets to test the effect on air quality and traffic flow. The four-day experiment is part of a search for ways to improve the Chinese capital's notorious air pollution and horrific traffic jams during next year's Olympic games. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.
Rush hour traffic on Beijing streets. Beijing is one of the world's most polluted cities and poor air quality (File)For four days, most vehicles in Beijing will only be allowed to take to the road on alternate days - odd-numbered license plates one day, even numbers the next.
China's official Xinhua news agency says the temporary measure is expected to remove more than a third of Beijing's three million-plus vehicles from city streets.
If the test leads to significant improvements in air quality and traffic flow, Beijing may use a similar method during the Olympic games next year, when 2.5 million visitors are expected to put added strains on the city's already clogged transportation systems.
Wen Bo is based in Beijing-based for Pacific Environment, a San-Francisco environmental group. He says limiting cars might affect traffic, but is not likely to have a big impact on Beijing's air quality. He says the city is surrounded by too much polluting industry for temporary measures to make much of a difference.
"Lots of factories have been relocated out of Beijing but they are still surrounding the city. So, they have to deal with the entire region. It's not just one city," he said. "You cannot just have a pocket of clean air and a sea of polluted air all around it. By reducing car numbers on the street, you're only dealing with one section of the problem."
Olympic teams are worried that the heavy air pollution may affect their athletes' health during the games.
The International Olympic Committee president said some endurance events might have to be postponed if Beijing's air quality is too poor.
The Chinese government is counting on the games to highlight the country's emergence as a world economic power. If the games are tainted by poor air, or if athletes can't get to their venues because they are trapped in traffic, it would be a major embarrassment for the hosts.
Officials say particulate matter, a major element of air pollution, has been reduced in recent years, but the rapidly increasing number of cars on the capital's roads poses a new challenge to air quality.
As the economy has raced ahead, the city's well-to-do have bought cars to show off their new wealth, adding a thousand new vehicles to Beijing streets each day.
Before the Olympic Games begin in August 2008, the city government plans to more than double the number of subway lines and put more buses on the road to encourage the use of public transportation. Half of Beijing's more than 20,000 buses already run on clean natural gas, and the other half are due to be converted by the end of this year.
But officials are concerned these steps may not be enough. Draconian measures, like ordering vehicles off the streets, may be necessary.
By Daniel Schearf Beijing17 August 2007
Schearf report (mp3) - Download 575k Listen to Schearf report (mp3)
Beijing is pulling more than a million cars from the streets to test the effect on air quality and traffic flow. The four-day experiment is part of a search for ways to improve the Chinese capital's notorious air pollution and horrific traffic jams during next year's Olympic games. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.
Rush hour traffic on Beijing streets. Beijing is one of the world's most polluted cities and poor air quality (File)For four days, most vehicles in Beijing will only be allowed to take to the road on alternate days - odd-numbered license plates one day, even numbers the next.
China's official Xinhua news agency says the temporary measure is expected to remove more than a third of Beijing's three million-plus vehicles from city streets.
If the test leads to significant improvements in air quality and traffic flow, Beijing may use a similar method during the Olympic games next year, when 2.5 million visitors are expected to put added strains on the city's already clogged transportation systems.
Wen Bo is based in Beijing-based for Pacific Environment, a San-Francisco environmental group. He says limiting cars might affect traffic, but is not likely to have a big impact on Beijing's air quality. He says the city is surrounded by too much polluting industry for temporary measures to make much of a difference.
"Lots of factories have been relocated out of Beijing but they are still surrounding the city. So, they have to deal with the entire region. It's not just one city," he said. "You cannot just have a pocket of clean air and a sea of polluted air all around it. By reducing car numbers on the street, you're only dealing with one section of the problem."
Olympic teams are worried that the heavy air pollution may affect their athletes' health during the games.
The International Olympic Committee president said some endurance events might have to be postponed if Beijing's air quality is too poor.
The Chinese government is counting on the games to highlight the country's emergence as a world economic power. If the games are tainted by poor air, or if athletes can't get to their venues because they are trapped in traffic, it would be a major embarrassment for the hosts.
Officials say particulate matter, a major element of air pollution, has been reduced in recent years, but the rapidly increasing number of cars on the capital's roads poses a new challenge to air quality.
As the economy has raced ahead, the city's well-to-do have bought cars to show off their new wealth, adding a thousand new vehicles to Beijing streets each day.
Before the Olympic Games begin in August 2008, the city government plans to more than double the number of subway lines and put more buses on the road to encourage the use of public transportation. Half of Beijing's more than 20,000 buses already run on clean natural gas, and the other half are due to be converted by the end of this year.
But officials are concerned these steps may not be enough. Draconian measures, like ordering vehicles off the streets, may be necessary.
Learning English - Words in the News
13 August, 2007 - Published 14:29 GMT
Fidel Castro's birthday
The president of Cuba, Fidel Castro, is 81 today and for the first time in years there will be no official celebrations to mark his birthday. Mr Castro has been ill since last year when he was forced to hand over the leadership temporarily basis. This report from Simon Watts:
Listen to the story
When he was in good health, Fidel Castro enjoyed celebrating his birthday in public. Concerts were laid on, Cubans would wave flags at parades and children would share slices of cake. The events gave Mr Castro an image of being "father of the revolution"; his absence today is further confirmation that he's unlikely to play the same role again.
But although Fidel Castro dominated Cuban political life for nearly fifty years, his illness hasn't created a leadership vacuum. His brother, Raul - acting president now for over a year - is credited with keeping the Cuban people calm and the government united. Raul Castro has moved his supporters into key positions, while the powerful Cuban army - which he leads - has been given a bigger role in overhauling the economy.
Many analysts think the transition to a Raul Castro presidency is well underway, even though his ailing brother insists he's being consulted on the key decisions. But the real test for the survival of the Cuban system will still come when Fidel Castro dies. This could be the catalyst for bottled-up social tension, or rivalry within the government to break out, even though observers generally think Cuba is more likely to experience a slow, orderly transition to a more open system.
Simon Watts, BBC
Listen to the words
laid onhere, held
further confirmationyet more proof
dominatedwas the most important person, had control over Cuba
leadership vacuumwhen there is no clear leader
credited withpraised for, responsible for
overhauling the economyrestructuring and improving the economy so that every part of it works properly
well underwayevidently happening
ailingill, unfit
catalystan event or person that causes great change
bottled-upwhen a person bottles things up, they refuse to talk about things that make them angry or worried, or express their feelings/thoughts
Read more about this story
13 August, 2007 - Published 14:29 GMT
Fidel Castro's birthday
The president of Cuba, Fidel Castro, is 81 today and for the first time in years there will be no official celebrations to mark his birthday. Mr Castro has been ill since last year when he was forced to hand over the leadership temporarily basis. This report from Simon Watts:
Listen to the story
When he was in good health, Fidel Castro enjoyed celebrating his birthday in public. Concerts were laid on, Cubans would wave flags at parades and children would share slices of cake. The events gave Mr Castro an image of being "father of the revolution"; his absence today is further confirmation that he's unlikely to play the same role again.
But although Fidel Castro dominated Cuban political life for nearly fifty years, his illness hasn't created a leadership vacuum. His brother, Raul - acting president now for over a year - is credited with keeping the Cuban people calm and the government united. Raul Castro has moved his supporters into key positions, while the powerful Cuban army - which he leads - has been given a bigger role in overhauling the economy.
Many analysts think the transition to a Raul Castro presidency is well underway, even though his ailing brother insists he's being consulted on the key decisions. But the real test for the survival of the Cuban system will still come when Fidel Castro dies. This could be the catalyst for bottled-up social tension, or rivalry within the government to break out, even though observers generally think Cuba is more likely to experience a slow, orderly transition to a more open system.
Simon Watts, BBC
Listen to the words
laid onhere, held
further confirmationyet more proof
dominatedwas the most important person, had control over Cuba
leadership vacuumwhen there is no clear leader
credited withpraised for, responsible for
overhauling the economyrestructuring and improving the economy so that every part of it works properly
well underwayevidently happening
ailingill, unfit
catalystan event or person that causes great change
bottled-upwhen a person bottles things up, they refuse to talk about things that make them angry or worried, or express their feelings/thoughts
Read more about this story
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