Comprehension: Buffaloes a Divisive Link To Hong Kong's Past

Just a short journey from the hectic centre of Hong Kong, water buffaloes roam over jungle-clad hills. But a decision to move some of them has sparked a row between villagers who view them as a nuisance, and nature lovers who see them as part of a beautiful rural setting. 

Watch the video below and answer the following questions. Are they True or False?

1.The buffaloes are related to farm animals.
a. True
b. False

2.Many buffaloes have been moved to the nature reserve.

a. True
b. False

3. The buffaloes help to create a good environment for birds at the nature reserve.

a. True
b. False

For transcript and answers see below

Transcript and Answers

Buffaloes are perhaps the last thing you'd expect to find in Hong Kong. Yet scores of the majestic beasts roam just a short journey from gleaming skyscrapers. But many residents aren't happy to share their island with the farm animal descendants. 

"If they get into parks, it’s dangerous for the children playing there, and they get frightened by them. There are a lot of buffaloes on the beaches too and we’re afraid when we swim because they look fierce. Sometimes they cross the road, which is dangerous for drivers, who often have to stop to let them pass."

 But now a handful of the buffaloes have a useful job to do. They've been moved to a nature reserve in northwest Hong Kong where they graze wetlands and there is little risk of coming into conflict with humans. 

"We found that buffalo are actually very good at managing the habitats, at keeping short vegetation, keeping  wetland areas, which provides very good habitat for the birds that we get here." 

The WWF hopes to take in more buffaloes soon. But not everyone's so happy to see their neighbours leave.

 "This is their home. They make this place beautiful for the community. Without them, we do not have this beautiful scenery." 

Proof then that the beasts do have friends - of all shapes and sizes. 

Answers:

1. a

2. b

3. a

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Idioms: Cake idioms with answers

Answers and examples to this weeks idioms. The theme this week is 'cake'.

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Comprehension: Tattoo Artists Gather In Paris

The world's leading tattoo artists get together in Paris at the weekend. AFPTV meets with Tin-tin, tattoo artists with a VIP client base. 

Watch the video below and answer the following questions. Are they True or False?

1.10% of 25 to 35 year olds of France’s population have a tattoo.

a. True

b. False

2. According to Tin-tin all social classes like tattoos.

a. True

b. False

3. In primitive societies, tattoos would often mark an important stage in someone’s life.

a. True

b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers:

What Shiming is fighting bravely is overwhelming pain. 

"It hurts, a lot. It's like an operation." 

Yes it hurts, and yet, tattooing is attracting more and more people. Here in France, 10 percent of the population has a tattoo, for 25 to 35 year olds it's even 20 per cent. Tin-tin, France's star tattoo artist, says contrary to prejudice, his art is appreciated by all social classes. 

"Stalin had a tattoo, Roosevelt had a tattoo, Churchill had a tattoo, Juan Carlos has a tattoo. Judges, lawyers, cops and robbers, shop owners, bakers, rock stars, singers, actors ... Everyone likes tattoos, and it's spreading." 

Tin-tin's shop is usually crowded. He has dozens of customers daily who lay down 100 euros to several thousands of euros to have their skin pierced. Former tennis star Yannick Noah and fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier have been here, along with plenty of ordinary people. 

"I do graffiti and I paint, and I really wanted to try skin as my canvas. It's alive, and everybody's skin is different." 

In primitive societies adorning the skin in an indelible way was often part rites of passage. Today it's simply fashionable to wear a guiding image on one's skin. Like this phoenix. 

"It's about rising from my ashes. Whatever adversity or trials I may face, I can handle them. I'll always manage, get back on my feet and move on." 

And that alone may well be worth four hours of excruciating pain... 

Answers:

1. b

2. a

3. a

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Comprehension: Life Returning To Normal In Northern Mali

Ever since Islamists were rushed out of Gao by the French army, traces of their presence have begun to fade. Now people are returning to the city, trying to rediscover their old way of life. 

Watch the video below and answer the following questions. Are they True or False?

1. The owner of the bar ‘Le Petit Dogon’, has returned with his cousins.

a. True

b. False

2. 20% of Gao’s population stayed during the troubles.

a. True

b. False

3. In Yana Maïga High School only one third of students are still missing.

a. True

b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers:

The city of Gao can breathe once again. Sharia law is no more, the Islamists have left, and symbols of the influence they once had in one of Mali's largest cities are vanishing. Bars are beginning to reopen, such as "Le Petit Dogon". Its owner fled, and still hasn't returned, but earlier this month, his cousins decided to revive the business. 

"After the French and foreign forces cleared the city, we asked ourselves: 'why not reopen the bar?' Even if we're not going to reset everything, the goal is to bring attention from customers to "Le Petit Dogon".”

 According to one local NGO, 80% of Gao's population fled in 2012. But with French forces on patrol, word is spreading that the area is now secure. 

"I am back today for the first time. I hear that Gao is good again. I hear people saying it but I wanted to see it for myself." 

The change is also visible in local schools. Under Islamic law, girls were forced to wear a veil and be segregated from boys. Though that's no longer the case, at Yana Maïga High School, only one third of students is back in class. Exams were delayed because of the fighting, and students are behind in the school year. 

"We now hope that Mali has recovered its territory. The Malian authorities and the ministry will be there to make sure the kids are able to sit their exams properly." 

At the entry point to Gao, one last Islamic symbol remains. It's a reminder which most of the city's 

90 000 inhabitants will want to forget, in the hope that normal life has returned for good. 

Answers:

1. b

2. a

3. b

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Phrasal Verbs with Answers: to fall

This week,'to fall' is the verb used to make our phrasal verbs.  Do you know what they mean?

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Comprehension: Colombian cumbia conquers Latin America

Cumbia started life as rural Colombian folk music, but has since taken Latin America by storm, with electronic cumbia nights all the rage among Argentina's hipsters.

Watch the video below and answer the following questions. Are they True or False?

1. Cumbia originated from a mix of Spanish and electronic music.

    a. True

    b. False

2. “Cumbia villera” is music created by the middle class of Argentina.

     a. True

     b. False

3. La Yegros is becoming popular in Europe.

    a. True

    b. False

For transcript and answers see below: 

Transcript and Answers:

Cumbia is Colombian folk music - born from the mix of sounds brought there by colonists from Spain and slaves from Africa.   It's played on a gaita - a sort of flute carved from the cactus plant - and drums.

 But cumbia's come a long way from its roots in the Colombian countryside - and is now all the rage here, thousands of miles away in Argentina.

 "At the beginning of the last decade, 2001, 2002, cumbia really started to catch on here, a genre appeared that seemed very shocking for the middle classes, cumbia villera, but cumbia existed and was popular before that"

 Cumbia villera - literally, slum cumbia - was created by young people in poor areas of Argentina's cities, mixing up the Colombian music with electronic beats.

 "Los Wachiturros", stars of the moment, make infectious dance music that hopes to overturn prejudices about inner-city young people.

 "They're just songs about having fun, dancing and meeting girls, having fun in a healthy way. Because, thank God, we have fun in a healthy way. We don't do drugs, we're not alcoholics, and we're not violent."

Their latest hit "Tirate un paso" has been watched 18 million times on YouTube.

 "Digital cumbia" is a more laid-back and musically sophisticated form - like La Yegros, a female singer influenced by folk rhythms, putting a different spin on cumbia's often macho lyrics.

 "It's often about a strong man, and the woman, hanging around admiring him, and I like occupying that space where you, the woman, can also be strong, you can transmit all your energy, all your power from the stage"

La Yegros has even started to win over fans in Europe - her single "Viene de Mi" was picked as one of the best of 2012 by music critics in France and Germany.

Whether it's her more relaxed style or cumbia villera's rap-influenced beats that get people moving, it's clear that cumbia has conquered Latin America's dance floors.

Answers

1. b

2. b

3. a

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