Transcript and Answers to Gaza fishing family struggles for survival

For more than a month, the Al Qaraan family has not caught a single fish. Equipped with just a small boat and a few nets which he made himself, Atef al Qaraan's livelihood depends entirely on the seas off Gaza. 
"We only have a small boat which we power with paddles. We don't have the money to buy a motor boat or fishing nets. No-one helps us, we need a motor boat to be able to eat." 
The economic blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip in 2007 after the Islamist movement Hamas took power there, makes the task even more difficult. After the 8-day war in November, Israel lightened restrictions on Palestinian fishermen - they can now sail up to six nautical miles from the coast, rather than three. But with no engine for his boat, it's of little help to Atef. He has no money to hire other workers, so his wife and two children help out. A third of Gaza's population is unemployed. Like many others, the Al-Qaraan family fridge is often bare. 
 "When we manage to find some fish, we earn between 300 and 400 shekels. It's not enough - I can't buy water, gas, flour, sugar or even fish. My whole life turns on a few shekels." 
When the nets come up empty, the family relies on donations of bread and tea from neighbours. Before the blockade, around three and a half thousand fishermen plied the waters off the Gaza coast. But their numbers have dropped consistently, and their trade has also been hit by pollution pumped into the sea. As a result, the Strip imports ever greater quantities of fish - above all from Egypt and Israel itself. 

1. b
2. b
3. b

For transcript and answers see below or go to:

http://eflexlanguages.blogspot.fr/2013/01/transcript-and-answers-to-take-hip-hop.html

For information about eflex languages go to: 
http://www.eflexlanguages.com/


For some examples of our online courses go to: 
http://www.eflexenglish.com/ and enter demo.pe for name and password. The modules marked ACTIVE are available for you to try.

Phrasal Verbs with Answers: to draw

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

For information about eflex languages go to: 
http://www.eflexlanguages.com/
For some examples of our online courses go to: 
http://www.eflexenglish.com/ and enter demo.pe for name and password.
The modules marked ACTIVE are available for you to try.

Comprehension: Take a hip-hop lesson 'à la française'

This January, the Paris suburb of Suresnes is hosting the 21st edition of its annual hip hop dance festival, a showcase for the vibrant fusion of street and contemporary dance that France has made its own.

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

1. Hip-hop started in the Bronx in the 1970’s.
    a. True
    b. False

2. The younger dancers want to keep hip-hop traditional.
    a. True
    b. False

3. From hearing the report, do you think that this type of hip-hop is unique to   
    France?
    a. True
    b. False


For transcript and answers see below or go to:
http://eflexlanguages.blogspot.fr/2013/01/transcript-and-answers-to-take-hip-hop.html

For information about eflex languages go to: 
http://www.eflexlanguages.com/


For some examples of our online courses go to: 
http://www.eflexenglish.com/ and enter demo.pe for name and password. The modules marked ACTIVE are available for you to try.

Transcript and Answers to Take a hip-hop lesson 'à la française'

Hip-hop was born in the Bronx in the 1970s -- but it's found a second home in modern multicultural France. Though it began as an art form of the streets, French aficionados quickly gave it pride of place on stages across the country…slotting it into theatre programmes alongside more established forms of dance like classical or contemporary. This prestigious hip-hop festival in the Paris suburbs is now in its 21st year. 

 "In other countries it's remained a type of choreography, with dancers grouped together in set places. But there's no diversity, there's no one coming out of the pack to take a solo, showing individual personality." 

And though it's often seen as a male-dominated world, women are increasingly involved in hip-hop. Though many say that before they could take part in the famous hip-hop freestyle battles, they had to prove themselves worthy opponents. 

"You had to act like them -- put on a big baggy T-shirt and baseball cap, do THIS like the guys did. Once you'd done that, it was all, 'You see, I can do that too….and I know how to do THIS as well, I know how to do THIS and THIS and THIS. you know, I can act like a girl -- I am a girl.' " 

And there's now a new generation of hip-hop stars, drawing inspiration from some unexpected sources. Dancers on this stage are incorporating elements from the circus and carnival tradition…creating new, hybrid forms of dance. 

"This cultural exchange is always worthwhile. And what's interesting is keeping things evolving, getting to a level where you can bring everything together." 

It may owe more to the dance school than the ghetto -- but as this festival hopes to show, hip-hop has, for many young admirers, become one of the most French dance forms available. 

Answers:

1. a

2. b

3. a

For information about eflex languages go to: http://www.eflexlanguages.com/

For some examples of our online courses go to: http://www.eflexenglish.com/

and enter demo.pe for name and password.

The modules marked ACTIVE are available for you to try.

Idioms: Answers to Leafy idioms

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

For information about eflex languages go to:http://www.eflexlanguages.com/

For some examples of our online courses go to:http://www.eflexenglish.com/and enter demo.pe for name and password.

The modules marked ACTIVE are available for you to try.

Comprehension: Using rubbish to help Thailand's poorest go green

Thailand's poorest are able to trade in recyclable waste for food in an innovative scheme taking off across the country.

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

1. The poor exchange rubbish for money.

a. True

b. False

2. 25% of Thailand's rubbish is recycled.

a. True

b. False

3. By the end of 2013, Thailand wants to set up 80 recycling shops.

a. True

b. False

For transcript and answers see below or go to:

http://eflexlanguages.blogspot.fr/2013/01/transcript-and-answers-to-using-rubbish.html

For information about eflex languages go to: 

http://www.eflexlanguages.com/

For some examples of our online courses go to: 

http://www.eflexenglish.com/ and enter demo.pe for name and password. The modules marked ACTIVE are available for you to try.

Transcript and Answers to Using rubbish to help Thailand's poorest go green

A dirty job reserved for Thailand's poorest. Nom and Rai are scavengers: each day they comb dustbins in their area looking for recyclable rubbish to sell. The money they make isn't always enough to live on -- but an innovative scheme is helping them out. 

 "When we're starving, we can find rubbish to exchange for rice to eat, detergent, soap and everything." 

The husband and wife bring used bottles, cartons, cans and paper to this shop and trade them in for food and other goods - no cash needed. The shop works as a cooperative for local people. By selling to the recycling plants in bulk, it gets a better rate than individual scavengers would manage on their own. And profits from the shop are then paid back in dividends to its members. 

 "Sometimes we would have to buy things like fish sauce or rice on credit at shops. But people looked down on us as we're poor and they'd wonder whether they would get their money back. So that's why we started up our own shop." 

The project's success is inspiring others too -- in another part of Bangkok, people recently set up their own cash-free shop to which they take along their household rubbish. About a quarter of Thailand's garbage is currently recycled -- but that's largely thanks to scavengers rather than efforts by consumers to separate their waste. It's hoped schemes like this will help people be more environmentally responsible. 

 "Recycling is not an alien word any more. Everyone is aware that recycling can help the world one way or another. So people are more aware and people want to take more action. But I think what we are lacking now is the system in place." 

The goal is to set up 80 cash-free recycling shops across Thailand by the end of 2013 and there's a lot of international interest too. More and more communities are coming together to help themselves -- and the environment. 

Answers:
1. b
2. a
3. a

For information about eflex languages go to: 
http://www.eflexlanguages.com/
For some examples of our online courses go to: 
http://www.eflexenglish.com/ and enter demo.pe for name and password.

The modules marked ACTIVE are available for you to try.