BBC Learning English
Video Words in the News
9 October 2013
Wedding saviours
Transcript:
The lush surroundings of Yosemite National Park.
Joy and Adam saved for a year to hold their wedding here.
But the US government shutdown forced national parks to close, leaving their
dream in tatters.
Thankfully, their story inspired strangers to step in and donate not only a new
venue, but also catering, flowers and the cake.
So, the happy couple tied the knot after all.
Vocabulary:
lush
having a lot of green plants and trees
shutdown
an occasion when a machine or organisation stops working
in tatters
badly damaged or completely spoiled
donate
give money or goods to help an organisation or person
tied the knot
got married
Watch the video online: Wedding Saviours http://bbc.in/17mjKOH
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.
lush / shutdown / in tatters / donate / tied the knot
1. With the Afghan economy __________, hunting and trading in birds offers a
welcome source of income for many struggling Afghans.
2. Even the children dream of a better day. When they were asked to paint
happy scenes on the bare walls of their school trailers, they drew
_________ green landscapes with story-book houses that looked like
Switzerland.
3. All around the world, more and more people are _________ their time to
take part in online volunteering projects. What motivates them to help
strangers without expectation of money or even thanks?
4. Leaders have gathered for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation
summit in Bali, Indonesia, with the notable exception of US president
Barack Obama.
He cancelled his trip owing to the partial US government _________.
5. American actress Scarlett Johansson is engaged.
The 28-year-old Avengers star is set to _________ with independent
advertising agency owner Romain Dauriac.
Video Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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bbclearningenglish.com
Answers:
1. With the Afghan economy in tatters, hunting and trading in birds offers a
welcome source of income for many struggling Afghans.
Source: Bird hunters 'emptying Afghan skies'
http://bbc.in/1b6UsIr
2. Even the children dream of a better day. When they were asked to paint happy
scenes on the bare walls of their school trailers, they drew lush green
landscapes with story-book houses that looked like Switzerland.
Source: Life in Zaatari - Jordan's vast camp for Syrian refugees
http://bbc.in/1gmEQ7u
3. All around the world, more and more people are donating their time to take
part in online volunteering projects. What motivates them to help strangers
without expectation of money or even thanks?
Source: Digital do-gooders: Why do we help strangers online?
http://bbc.in/19cqpgV
4. Leaders have gathered for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit
in Bali, Indonesia, with the notable exception of US president Barack Obama.
He cancelled his trip owing to the partial US government shutdown.
Source: Does Barack Obama's absence at Apec summit matter?
http://bbc.in/19wDFRz
5. American actress Scarlett Johansson is engaged.
The 28-year-old Avengers star is set to tie the knot with independent
advertising agency owner Romain Dauriac.
Source: Scarlett Johansson gets engaged to Romain Dauriac
http://bbc.in/1a7kR6m
Video Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
Page 3 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com