BBC Learning English
Video Words in the News
27 February 2013
Mexico's father of fun
Transcript:
Not what you usually see in a religious ceremony.
Father Humberto Alvarez uses a toy to bless his young congregation with holy
water.
He says it's a way of reaching out to children who live in a community affected
by drug crime.
He also adorns his robes with the images of comic-book superheroes such as
Superman and Batman. Alvarez says that like Jesus, these characters are
searching for justice.
Vocabulary:
bless
ask for God's help and protection
holy water
water that is blessed and used for religious purposes
reaching out
trying to communicate (with someone)
adorns
decorates
justice
fair and reasonable treatment
Watch the video online: Mexico's father of fun http://bbc.in/13QbIfF
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.
bless/ holy water/ reaching out/ adorns/ justice
1. The 70-member peace council was set up more than two years ago by
Afghan President Hamid Karzai to open negotiations with insurgents. It
was given the task of ______ to hundreds of Taliban field commanders, but
it has consistently failed to woo any senior figures away from the
insurgency.
2. "What I'm really interested in is not the organisation that manages police
and crime and _______, but actually what it means in terms of delivering
crime reduction and _______ for people who are victims of crime."
3. A giant pink neon heart now _______ the European Parliament building in
Brussels in memory of the late dissident playwright and Czech leader Vaclav
Havel, who died a year ago.
4. Pope Benedict XVI has given his final Sunday _______ at the Vatican before
he steps down on Thursday.
5. Reverend Wanak gave many mourners communion before sprinkling Eryk's
white coffin with _______. Then, as the bells of St Marie's tolled, two
pallbearers carried the coffin, bearing a white wreath, from the church.
Video Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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Answers:
1. The 70-member peace council was set up more than two years ago by Afghan
President Hamid Karzai to open negotiations with insurgents. It was given the
task of reaching out to hundreds of Taliban field commanders, but it has
consistently failed to woo any senior figures away from the insurgency.
Source: Pakistan agrees Afghan Taliban releases in Islamabad talks
http://bbc.in/UCc8Hn
2. "What I'm really interested in is not the organisation that manages police and
crime and justice, but actually what it means in terms of delivering crime
reduction and justice for people who are victims of crime".
Source: Wales police devolution: David Hanson warns on challenge
http://bbc.in/Xi5WDE
3. A giant pink neon heart now adorns the European Parliament building in
Brussels in memory of the late dissident playwright and Czech leader Vaclav
Havel, who died a year ago.
Source: Vaclav Havel honoured with giant neon heart in Brussels?
http://bbc.in/UxUtfn
4. Pope Benedict XVI has given his final Sunday blessing at the Vatican before he
steps down on Thursday.
Source: Pope Benedict gives last Sunday blessing at Vatican
http://bbc.in/Wkqk3W
5. Reverend Wanak gave many mourners communion before sprinkling Eryk's white
coffin with holy water. Then, as the bells of St Marie's tolled, two pallbearers
carried the coffin, bearing a white wreath, from the church.
Source: Funeral for Eryk Cieraszewski who was swept out to sea
http://bbc.in/tIzKmr
Video Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
Page 3 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com