BBC Learning English

Words in the News

21st September 2011
Palestinians in UN bid

Transcript
The site of the most intractable conflict in the modern era
This land, occupied by Israel since 1967, has been fought over in two uprisings.
Now their officials have launched a campaign to join the United Nations as a full member
state.
The ideas strongly opposed by Israel and its close ally, the United States, who say theyll veto
the move.
Vocabulary
intractable:
difficult to manage or resolve
uprisings:
violent protest against a higher authority
launched a campaign:
started a series of activities to reach a goal
ally:
country which supports another
veto:
power to prevent a move
Watch this video online:

Palestinians in UN bid

Words in the News

http://bbc.in/puc7sY

British Broadcasting Corporation 2011

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Exercise
Use one of the words or phrases below to complete each of these sentences from a BBC news
report. Note that you may have to change the form of a word to complete the sentence
correctly.
intractable / uprisings / launched a campaign / ally / veto

1.
Turkey used to be a close _______ of Syria, but has recently joined calls for Mr Assad to
implement reforms.
2.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told me at the end of March that Turkey feared the chaos
that might well follow the fall of President Assad. This is not like Egypt or Libya, he said. It has
the potential to become an ___________ sectarian conflict, more like Iraq.
3.
But that proposal came with a caveat - a promise from Mr Obama that he would ___________
any bill eventually passed by Congress that cut healthcare but did not include new taxes on the
rich.
4.
Six months after they started their ___________, Syrian opposition groups have for the first
time agreed on a single body to represent them.
5.
Roald Dahl's family has __________________ to save the hut in which the late author wrote
many of his best-loved stories.

Words in the News

British Broadcasting Corporation 2011

Page 2 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com

Answers

1.
Turkey used to be a close ally of Syria, but has recently joined calls for Mr Assad to implement
reforms.
Source: Syrian opposition unveils council names

http://bbc.in/qhxO7S

2.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told me at the end of March that Turkey feared the chaos
that might well follow the fall of President Assad. This is not like Egypt or Libya, he said. It has
the potential to become an intractable sectarian conflict, more like Iraq.
Source: Turkey's dilemma over Syrian unrest

http://bbc.in/mhU719

3.
But that proposal came with a caveat - a promise from Mr Obama that he would veto any bill
eventually passed by Congress that cut healthcare but did not include new taxes on the rich.
Source: Obama unveils plans to cut US deficit

http://bbc.in/oIRGWH

4.
Six months after they started their uprising, Syrian opposition groups have for the first time
agreed on a single body to represent them.
Source: Syrian dissidents form new united front

http://bbc.in/n4gZai

5.
The Roald Dahl's family has launched a campaign to save the hut in which the late author wrote
many of his best-loved stories.
Source: Roald Dahl hut campaign launched

Words in the News

http://bbc.in/nRpUKj

British Broadcasting Corporation 2011

Page 3 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com