Common Mistakes 4

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Phrasal Verbs with Answers: To Catch

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

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Comprehension: Sanctuary offers orphaned elephants a chance in life

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

1. All of the baby elephants are orphaned because of poaching.

a. True

b. False

2. The baby elephants are fed by their sponsors.

a. True

b. False

3. The increase in demand for ivory was caused by a shortage of ivory in 2008.

a. True

b. False

For transcript and answers see below or go to:

http://eflexlanguages.blogspot.fr/2012/12/transcript-and-answers-sanctuary-offers.html

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Transcript and Answers: Sanctuary offers orphaned elephants a chance in life

Basilinga was two weeks old when his mother was shot by a poacher. He stayed by her side until wildlife rangers found them, but it was too late to save his mum, so  just a few weeks old he was brought here, to the David Sheldrick Elephant orphanage in Nairobi.

 "Out of the 25 baby elephants that we have, I would say 90 to around 95 per cent of them it is because of poaching. So you can see how bad it is."

 Conservationists say poaching levels are the highest since records began and unless it’s tackled soon, wild elephants could be extinct in Africa within a decade.   Adult elephants are killed for their tusks.  The value of ivory has skyrocketed in recent years due to growing demand in China and the Far East that fuels the illegal trade.

 "North of the Zambezi there are a lot of countries that have lost all their elephants and central Africa looks as though it’s going to lose all theirs. We've lost most of ours, the population's gone down from 100,000 to, they reckon, about, it’s probably about 25,000, 20,000 if that now, and declining rapidly."

 This Christmas the trust is asking foster parents to come forward and help raise the baby elephants by sponsoring them. They have to be fed every three hours, and the keepers even sleep in the same room.  The more donations they get, the more elephants like Basilinga they can save.

"We know he will be making it, because he has passed the most critical stage in elephants, which is the teething, he is above that, he is feeding on plants and we believe he will be back into the wild, successfully."

 In 2008, four southern African countries were allowed to sell their ivory stockpiles. Conservationists say this one-off move just whetted Asia's appetite for more, fuelling poaching. And the small legal, but badly policed, ivory market that now exists provides a cover for traders to offload illegal tusks. 

 The David Sheldrick trust is now campaigning for a total and indefinite ban on ivory sales -- but until the demand decreases, the trust will continue to take in orphaned elephants and raise them until they can fend for themselves.

Answers:
1. b

2. b

3. b

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Idioms: Answers to Winter Idioms

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

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Comprehension: Spaniards tighten their belts for crisis Christmas

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

1. There aren't many people at the Christmas Market in Madrid.

a. True

b. False

2. About a quarter of Spanish people are unemployed.

a. True

b. False

3. Everyone who works in the private sector has lost their Christmas bonus this year.

a. True

b. False

For transcript and answers see below or go to:

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Transcript and Answers to Spaniards tighten their belts for crisis Christmas

There may be plenty of people at this Christmas market in Madrid, but appearances are deceptive. Spaniards are preparing for a tough Christmas after one of the worst years in a five-year economic crisis. They're struggling against a recession, a record unemployment rate of more than 25 percent and repeated budget cuts. 

"This year I will be spending less. Today I have a job that from January onwards I don't know if I'll keep it or I'll be laid off. There are so many businesses and public services closing down." 

"A few years ago you could spend 300 or 400 € on presents. This year I will be surprised if I spend more than 100." 

As Spain cuts spending, all public sector workers and many private sector employees have lost their Christmas bonus this year. Prices have gone up, too, with the top rate of sales tax rising from 18 percent to 21 percent. 

"From 2007 to 2012 we expect Christmas spending per family to fall from 1,000 € to 600 €. The effect of the crisis will really hit home this year in almost all Spanish families." 

Another victim of the crisis is Spain's lottery, known as El Gordo, or the Fat One. Even if more people are buying tickets, the state lottery expects overall revenue to fall. 

"I am going to spend less on the lottery because we are earning less and everything is more expensive. If you don't have any money you can't spend it." 

"I have been looking for a job for a year and can't find work. Maybe if I buy a winning ticket it will improve my economic situation and my family's." 

Times are tough for business, too. This well-known shop hasn’t raised prices in three years so while its traditional “turron” may be sweet, Christmas will still be bitter for many this year. 

Answers:

1. b

2. a

3. b


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