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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

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.

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'     

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

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?

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?    

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