BBC Learning English
Words in the News
30
th
November 2011
Back to nature
Words in the News
© British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
Page 1 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com
Transcript:
The neon lights of Tokyo.
For decades, rapidly growing Asian economies have encouraged young workers to leave
the fields and flock to the cities.
But now many young Japanese are bucking the trend, abandoning the office and heading
back to the fields.
Economic stagnation means millions can't find a permanent job.
New recruits are being welcomed by Japanese farmers, whose average age is more than 65.
Vocabulary:
encouraged - made happen with incentives
flock to - go in large numbers to
bucking the trend - behaving the opposite way to the norm
heading back - returning
stagnation - no growth
Watch this video online: Back to nature
http://bbc.in/t8NPHj
Words in the News
© British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
Page 2 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com
Exercise:
Use one of the words or phrases below to complete each of these sentences from a BBC
news report.
Note that you may have to change the form of a word to complete the sentence correctly.
encouraged / flock to / bucking the trend / heading back / stagnation
1.
There is little public appetite across the world for building new nuclear reactors, a poll for
the BBC indicates. In countries with nuclear programmes, people are significantly more
opposed than they were in 2005, with only the UK and US ____________________.
2.
As life begins to return to normal in Libya, the first batch of Bangladeshi migrant workers are
_______________ to work in the country.
3.
A campaign is under way to __________ people to cut down on wasting water.
4.
Because if everyone - governments, households and companies - simultaneously tries to save
more, that effort will be self-defeating. The result will be economic ___________, or
something rather worse.
5.
As night fell in Cairo, thousands more ____________ the symbolic square - the focal point
of the protests which overthrew President Hosni Mubarak in February.
Words in the News
© British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
Page 3 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com
Answers:
1.
There is little public appetite across the world for building new nuclear reactors, a poll for
the BBC indicates. In countries with nuclear programmes, people are significantly more
opposed than they were in 2005, with only the UK and US bucking the trend.
Source: Nuclear power 'gets little public support worldwide'
http://bbc.in/unQhXG
2.
As life begins to return to normal in Libya, the first batch of Bangladeshi migrant workers are
heading back to work in the country.
Source: Bangladeshis head back to Libya
http://bbc.in/rWIhRu
3.
A campaign is under way to encourage people to cut down on wasting water.
Source: Anglian Water granted drought permit after dry spring
http://bbc.in/tSd857
4.
Because if everyone - governments, households and companies - simultaneously tries to save
more, that effort will be self-defeating. The result will be economic stagnation, or
something rather worse.
Source: Mr Cameron, GDP and the hole in the recovery
http://bbc.in/obogCZ
5.
As night fell in Cairo, thousands more flocked to the symbolic square - the focal point of
the protests which overthrew President Hosni Mubarak in February.
Source: Egypt cabinet offers to resign as Cairo protests grow
http://bbc.in/tyuZDX