BBC Learning English
Video Words in the News
13 November 2013
Marathon swim
Transcript:
A gruelling journey of 1,500 km.
After 135 days, Sean Conway has become the first person to swim the
length of Britain.
Jellyfish stings, dangerous tides and autumn storms meant the
adventure was full of peril.
And his face was so cold he couldn't chew, and had to have his meals
pureed.
Back on land, he had to wait just a little longer to dry out.
Vocabulary:
gruelling
extremely tiring and difficult, needing great effort and determination
jellyfish
sea creatures with soft, round bodies that you can see through
tides
rising and falling in the sea that happens twice a day
peril
danger
pureed
mashed into a smooth sauce by crushing
Watch the video online: Marathon swim http://bbc.in/1byBdHt
Video Words in the News ©British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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bbclearningenglish.com
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.
gruelling / jellyfish / tides / peril / pureed
1. Barriers designed to protect the Italian city of Venice from flooding during
high __________ have been successfully tested for the first time.
2. The commandos, who are part of the Royal Navy, are famous the world
over for the __________ training they face and their bravery on the
battlefield.
3. Spoon-feeding babies __________ food is unnatural and unnecessary, a
childcare expert has warned.
4. Holidaymakers on Spain's Costa del Sol have been warned of large numbers
of stinging __________ in seas around the Malaga coastline.
5. President Assad will not go, presumably, unless he feels seriously in
__________ - that is one reason, it is argued, to arm the rebels.
Video Words in the News ©British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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bbclearningenglish.com
Answers:
1. Barriers designed to protect the Italian city of Venice from flooding during
high tides have been successfully tested for the first time.
Source: Venice flood barriers pass first test
http://bbc.in/19HXEga
2. The commandos, who are part of the Royal Navy, are famous the world over
for the gruelling training they face and their bravery on the battlefield.
Source: Has Afghan murder case damaged reputation of Royal Marines?
http://bbc.in/1hrrsln
3. Spoon-feeding babies pureed food is unnatural and unnecessary, a childcare
expert has warned.
Source: Pureed baby food is 'unnatural'
http://bbc.in/1hCpij8
4. Holidaymakers on Spain's Costa del Sol have been warned of large numbers
of stinging jellyfish in seas around the Malaga coastline.
Source: Jellyfish invade Spain's Costa del Sol
http://bbc.in/NqDt5y
5. President Assad will not go, presumably, unless he feels seriously in peril -
that is one reason, it is argued, to arm the rebels.
Source: Syrian rebel fighters' civil war within a civil war
http://bbc.in/1dqG4u5
Video Words in the News ©British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
Page 3 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com