Who's your hero?
May 31st, 2009The BBC Learning English site has a great article about Susan Boyle, the contestant on Britain's Got Talent, a TV talent show.
Unknown only a few weeks ago, her rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" became an instant hit on YouTube, and has now been viewed by more than 100 million people.
So why is she so popular? Perhaps because at first sight, she looks so unlike a singing superstar. I think she makes us all question how we judge people on their appearance, and how quick we are to ignore people who don't live up to certain stereotypes.
What do you think? Who's your hero?
Do tall people earn more?
May 24th, 2009Researchers in Australia say that tall people earn more than shorter people, and chubby (= fat) people earn more than skinny people. Apparently this is because society considers taller people as more powerful.
What do you think? Do tall people in your country earn more?
Greeting someone after a long time
May 17th, 2009Things you can say in English when you meet someone you haven't seen in a long time.
Some greetings
Long time no see!
Wow! Haven't seen you in ages!
I don't believe it! It's…. (name of person)
Complimenting the other person
I hardly recognised you!
You look well!
You look great!
Some questions you can ask
How's life treating you?
What have you been up to recently?
Are you still in… (name of town)
How's …. (name of mutual friend)
Tongue twisters
May 10th, 2009Try these tongue twisters to improve your pronunciation of vowels and consonants. (The article is about improving your singing.)
Scandal of MP expenses
May 9th, 2009A "mole" (= spy) has leaked details about what British MPs have claimed as expenses. Now, parliamentary authorities have called in the police to find out who the identity of the mole, who has supplied information to the Daily Telegraph. But the government are worried that the police investigation may backfire as there is huge anger at what the public consider as greed and fraud by MPs.
An example is the cost of a razor, claimed by a health minister. He said that when he was told the expense was inadmissible, he withdrew his claim. He said "In order to represent my constituents effectively I have somewhere to live – in my family home – and I have somewhere to live in London to carry out my duties in parliament. In all my claims for the costs of the accommodation in London I have acted with the full approval of the fees office and the claims are entirely in line with the rules of parliament."
Some other examples:
- a minister claimed about £60,000 under the second homes allowance, but for a house where his parents lived.
- an MP claimed for two tins of pet food.
- a minister claimed for two packets of nappies
- a senior politician claimed for the service on his swimming pool boiler.
- some MPs have changed their second home from London to their constituency home to allow them to claim for renovation work on the new second property.
David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party said: "I completely understand how angry the public are about this and we desperately need change. "We've got to radically reduce the number of things that MPs can claim for such as barbeques and patio heaters."
Words in the news
leak details / information = tell other people confidential information
MP = Member of Parliament
claim sth as an expense = say you needed to buy something from your own money and ask the company to pay back (i.e. if you need to pay for a hotel room when you are on a company trip)
backfire = have completely the opposite effect of what you wanted
greed = when you want more money than fair or necessary
fraud = trying to get money by making a wrong claim
inadmissible = cannot be allowed
constituents = the people an MP represents
act with the full approval = do what is allowed
in line with = in accordance with
boiler = machine which heats water
Other related words
submit a claim for = give your company a form where you write down what you paid and attach the receipt
constituency = the geographical area that an MP represents
personal expenditure = the money you pay for personal items
personal gain = doing something to get money for yourself
unethical = not ethical / morally acceptable
Madeleine McCann – two years on
May 3rd, 2009
Today is the second anniversary of the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann from the resort of Praia da Luz in Portugal.
The anniversary was marked by prayers in her home village of Rothley, Leicestershire, where the family priest dedicated today's mass to Madeleine.
The McCann family have released a digitally enhanced age progression image of Madeleine at six years old. Their spokesman said, "This is the child that somebody who is close to Madeleine may spot, rather than the child in those other photos." In a statement the McCanns said,"It is two long years since Madeleine was taken. It is two years since we were a happy family of five. The pain and anxiety does not lessen, but our determination to find our beautiful daughter remains steadfast. We are no longer looking for a four-year-old little girl, but a six-year-old one. This is crucial."
A documentary about the disappearance will be aired this week. In it, two private detectives try to piece together witness evidence. They believe that the answer to Madeleine's disappearance lies in Praia da Luz. The McCann family hope that the documentary will jolt people's memories.
Photo credit: Find Madeleine Campaign/PA
resort = a village or town where people go on holiday
mark the anniversary = do something special on an anniversary
mass = Catholic service
spot = see by accident
lessen = become less or weaker
steadfast = strong, constant
documentary = factual TV programme
aired = broadcast
piece together = to put together small pieces
a witness = someone who has seen something
jolt someone's memory = make someone remember
Related vocabulary
to go missing = to disappear
to be abducted = when a person is taken away by someone
to be kidnapped = to be taken by a person who then demands money to release the victim
To help, please visit the Find Madeleine site.
