BBC Learning English
Words in the News
14
th
December 2011
Thriller in Manila
Words in the News
© British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
Page 1 of 4
bbclearningenglish.com
Transcript:
The dance moves of Michael Jackson performed by a Santa Claus lookalike.
Drivers on a congested road in the capital of the Philippines, Manila, are being entertained
by traffic enforcer, Ramiro Hinojas.
The fifty-five-year-old man, in fancy dress costume, directs traffic at a chaotic intersection
with his distinctive dance routine.
His amusing antics are aimed at lightening the motorists' mood during the busy festive
season.
Vocabulary:
lookalike
a person who looks very similar to the person mentioned
congested
full of vehicles or traffic
traffic enforcer
someone who makes sure people obey particular laws about driving on the road
distinctive
having a special style or characteristic
antics
silly, ridiculous or sometimes disruptive behaviour
Watch this video online: Thriller in Manila
http://bbc.in/tTnvKc
Words in the News
© British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
Page 2 of 4
bbclearningenglish.com
Exercise:
Use one of the words or phrases below to complete each of these sentences from BBC
news reports.
Note that you may have to change the form of a word to complete the sentence correctly.
lookalike / congested / traffic enforcer / distinctive / antics
1.
Steven Taylor managed to stop Aguero's shot but when the ball bounced to Toure, his
follow-up was blocked by Ryan Taylor's outstretched arm. Balotelli made no mistake from
the spot. The Italian produced another ____________ celebration, walking towards keeper
Krul stern-faced and with his arms folded across his chest.
2.
The E01 Expressway is the first motorway on this island, which is slightly smaller than Ireland
in land area. True, for now you still have to drive through the fairly ____________ eastern
suburbs to get to it, but then you see the start of the motorway, with multicoloured flags
flying for its grand opening.
3.
The off-field _________ of some of England's Rugby World Cup players are to be
investigated by the sport's governing body over the next two weeks.
4.
US reality TV star Kim Kardashian wants to stop a US clothing store from using a
______________ model of her in its ads.
5.
Every vehicle - but above all the taxis, the vans and the lorries - stopped, chatted, gave them
a toot or a wave. They are fighting a legal case against "revenue-driven"
___________________, and pretty effectively. Thus warned, there were no traffic violations
occurring.
Words in the News
© British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
Page 3 of 4
bbclearningenglish.com
Answers:
1.
Steven Taylor managed to stop Aguero's shot but when the ball bounced to Toure, his
follow-up was blocked by Ryan Taylor's outstretched arm. Balotelli made no mistake from
the spot. The Italian produced another distinctive celebration, walking towards keeper
Krul stern-faced and with his arms folded across his chest.
Source: Manchester City 3-1 Newcastle
http://bbc.in/tGVuxi
2.
The E01 Expressway is the first motorway on this island, which is slightly smaller than Ireland
in land area. True, for now you still have to drive through the fairly congested eastern
suburbs to get to it, but then you see the start of the motorway, with multicoloured flags
flying for its grand opening.
Source: Sri Lanka opens its first motorway
http://bbc.in/u7q9p5
3.
The off-field antics of some of England's Rugby World Cup players are to be investigated by
the sport's governing body over the next two weeks.
Source: Rugby World Cup: RFU to investigate player conduct
http://bbc.in/rffQGu
4.
US reality TV star Kim Kardashian wants to stop a US clothing store from using a lookalike
model of her in its ads.
Source: Kim Kardashian sues US clothing store over 'lookalike'
http://bbc.in/u721do
Words in the News
© British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
Page 4 of 4
bbclearningenglish.com
5.
Every vehicle - but above all the taxis, the vans and the lorries - stopped, chatted, gave them
a toot or a wave. They are fighting a legal case against "revenue-driven" traffic
enforcement, and pretty effectively. Thus warned, there were no traffic violations
occurring.
Source: V is for what? The meaning of the mask
http://bbc.in/rmVT7z