BBC Learning English
Video Words in the News
27 November 2013
Christmas lights
Transcript:
Meet David Richards - the leading light when it comes to Christmas decorations.
The Australian has set a new world record for the most Christmas lights
attached to a family home.
Friends and neighbours in suburban Canberra have been coming to see the half
million bulbs which light up the property.
His electricity bill will be higher than usual, but a local power company is
playing Father Christmas and supporting his project.
Vocabulary:
leading light
an important and respected person or group in a particular field
world record
the best achievement in the world in a particular field
bulbs
sealed glass devices which produce light
light up
illuminate
electricity bill
payment made to a power company for the energy used
Watch the video online: Christmas lights http://bbc.in/1aVt6G1
Video Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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Exercise:
Use one of the words or phrases below to complete each of these sentences from
news reports.
Note that you may have to change the form of a word to complete the sentence
correctly.
leading light / world record / bulbs / light up / electricity bill
1. An eruption from Mount Etna __________ the night sky over much of
eastern Sicily late on Saturday night and into the early hours of Sunday.
2. Mr Sietas did hold another free-diving __________ for the longest
underwater swim on one breath until that was broken by Goran Colak from
Croatia who swam 273m during a 2011 competition in Italy.
3. In one school, just 10km (six miles) from Rangoon, I saw a couple of
fluorescent light __________. But I was told they only worked if attached to
a car battery.
4. South Africans have been paying tribute to one of the __________ of the
anti-apartheid movement, Albertina Sisulu, who has died aged 92.
5. Petrol prices went up by 44% while diesel prices rose by 22%, leading to
higher transportation costs and __________.
Video Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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Answers:
1. An eruption from Mount Etna lit up the night sky over much of eastern Sicily
late on Saturday night and into the early hours of Sunday.
Source: Mount Etna eruption lights up Sicily skies
http://bbc.in/1ayVm0X
2. Mr Sietas did hold another free-diving world record for the longest
underwater swim on one breath until that was broken by Goran Colak from
Croatia who swam 273m during a 2011 competition in Italy.
Source: Man v seal: How we compare with our marine cousins
http://bbc.in/1bLvDQY
3. In one school, just 10km (six miles) from Rangoon, I saw a couple of
fluorescent light bulbs. But I was told they only worked if attached to a car
battery.
Source: Burma's power supply problems hurt growth
http://bbc.in/16z4F0o
4. South Africans have been paying tribute to one of the leading lights of the
anti-apartheid movement, Albertina Sisulu, who has died aged 92.
Source: In quotes: Albertina Sisulu remembered
http://bbc.in/jIWo5b
5. Petrol prices went up by 44% while diesel prices rose by 22%, leading to
higher transportation costs and electricity bills.
Source: Indonesian economy sees weakest growth in four years
http://bbc.in/17EmXjx
Video Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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bbclearningenglish.com