BBC Learning English
Words in the News

Europe's cold snap
3rd February 2012

Words in the News

© British Broadcasting Corporation 2012

Page 1 of 2

bbclearningenglish.com

The death toll from the ongoing cold snap in Central and Eastern Europe has risen to
more than 100. In some countries the army has been called out to help people trapped
by heavy snowfall and authorities have set up temporary shelters for the homeless. From
Warsaw, the BBC's Adam Easton reports.

Most of the deaths have occurred in Poland and Ukraine, where 65 mainly homeless
people have died from exposure over the last week as temperatures have fallen to
-30C.

In many Ukrainian cities the authorities have erected heated tents with hot tea and food.

Outdoor coal braziers have been placed beside bus stops in Polish cities and the police
are urging the public to report sightings of people sleeping rough in train stations or
allotments so they can be offered beds in shelters.

The extremely cold weather is forecast to continue for the next week. Rising demand
for gas has led Ukraine to increase its imports from Russia, and Poland to introduce
rationing to some industrial plants, due to fears that stocks will run out.

Words in the News

© British Broadcasting Corporation 2012

Page 2 of 2

bbclearningenglish.com

Vocabulary and definitions

homeless people

people who have no home

exposure

being out in cold weather for too long

erected

putting up

coal braziers

large metal that holds fire and burns coal to keep
people warm

are urging

persuading

sightings

occasions when you see something

sleeping rough

sleeping in the open

forecast

predicted using scientific calculations

rising demand

increasing requests

rationing

fixing the amount of things like food and fuel that
you are officially allowed to have

More on this story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16870914

Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/02/120203_witn_cold.shtml