英语听力精选进阶版 13874（在线收听）

BBC Learning English 

Words in the News  

4 July 2012 

No sanctuary for whales 

Transcript: 

No new sanctuary for these whales.  

In spite of pressure from conservation groups, there won't be further protection 

in the South Atlantic. 

The bid for its creation has been defeated at the International Whaling 

Commission meeting in Panama. 

It's been a recurring issue at the annual gathering along with Japan's request 

for a commercial hunting quota.  

Indigenous communities in the Arctic also want more subsistence hunting 

permits.  

Vocabulary: 

sanctuary  

safe place  

in spite of 

without regard for someone or something 

bid 

proposal 

recurring 

something that shows up repeatedly 

subsistence 

essential for survival  

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. 

sanctuary / in spite of / bid / recurring / subsistence 

1. The Palestinian delegation welcomed the approval of its _______ to get 

protected status for the church, built on a site some believe was Jesus's 

birthplace. 

2. The BBC's Tomi Oladipo in Lagos say the two groups have a history of land 

disputes, in an area where most of the people depend on _______ farming for a 

living. 

3. ________ his conviction, Mr Gilani emerged from his trial with his reputation 

enhanced, having succeeded in portraying himself as a man defending 

democracy in the face of a politically motivated campaign against him and his 

government. 

4. Sicily Park residents said the flooding was a ________ problem, with the 

street flooding nine times since 2008. 

5. A Sumatran rhinoceros - one of the world's most endangered species - has 

given birth at a ________ in Indonesia.  

Answers:  

1. The Palestinian delegation welcomed the approval of its bid to get protected 

status for the church, built on a site some believe was Jesus's birthplace. 

Source:  Bethlehem sites given Unesco World Heritage status 

2. The BBC's Tomi Oladipo in Lagos say the two groups have a history of land 

disputes, in an area where most of the people depend on subsistence farming 

for a living. 

Source:  Nigeria's Ebonyi state ethnic clashes: 50 killed 

3. In spite of his conviction, Mr Gilani emerged from his trial with his reputation 

enhanced, having succeeded in portraying himself as a man defending 

democracy in the face of a politically motivated campaign against him and his 

government. 

Source:  Profile: Yousuf Raza Gilani 

4. Sicily Park residents said the flooding was a recurring problem, with the 

street flooding nine times since 2008. 

Source:  Flash flooding hits Sicily Park in south Belfast 

5. A Sumatran rhinoceros - one of the world's most endangered species - has 

given birth at a sanctuary in Indonesia.  

Source:  Endangered Sumatran rhinoceros born in captivity