英语听力精选进阶版 14446（在线收听）

BBC Learning English 

Video Words in the News  

21 May 2014 

Ghost cyclists

Transcript:

A spectacular performance featuring choreographed cyclists with lights.

Dozens of volunteers have taken part in the 'Ghost Peloton' on the streets of Leeds in northern England.

An audience of 2,000 people showed up to watch the event put on by the Phoenix Dance Theatre.

It marks the countdown to the start of the Tour de France cycle race, which visits the region this year.

Vocabulary:

choreographed

created a sequence of actions which comprise a performance

volunteers

people who do something of their own free will

showed up

came in

put on

produced

countdown

backward counting

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.

choreographed / volunteers / showed up / put on / countdown

1. I __________ 10 minutes early for my first zumba class in Mumbai last month. The first class with a new instructor is more nerve-wracking than a first date.

2. Composer Ella Spira has collaborated with the group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who will be creating the soundscape for dancers from Rambert and The Royal Ballet, __________ by Mark Baldwin.

3. Indian space authorities have called off plans to re-launch a communications satellite barely an hour before it was to lift-off. A 29-hour __________ for the launch had begun on Sunday at the launch pad in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

4. English National Opera is to stage modern musicals in an attempt to secure its financial future. The company is going into partnership with commercial producers Michael Grade and Michael Linnit to __________ musicals at its home at the London Coliseum.

5. The Sava river has risen particularly high in the western town of Sabac, and 

__________ have tried to shore up flood defences there. Rescue coordinator Predrag Maric appealed for food, water, and clothing to help those 

in need.

Answers:

1. I showed up 10 minutes early for my first zumba class in Mumbai last month. The first class with a new instructor is more nerve-wracking than a first date.

2. Composer Ella Spira has collaborated with the group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who will be creating the soundscape for dancers from Rambert and The Royal Ballet, choreographed by Mark Baldwin.

3. Indian space authorities have called off plans to re-launch a communications satellite barely an hour before it was to lift-off. A 29-hour countdown for the launch had begun on Sunday at the launch pad in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

4. English National Opera is to stage modern musicals in an attempt to secure its financial future. The company is going into partnership with commercial producers Michael Grade and Michael Linnit to put on musicals at its home at the London Coliseum.

5. The Sava river has risen particularly high in the western town of Sabac, and volunteers have tried to shore up flood defences there. Rescue co-ordinator Predrag Maric appealed for food, water, and clothing to help those in need.