CNN Student News: April 15, 2011

CNN Student News is a ten-minute, commercial-free, daily news program for middle and high school students in the US produced by the journalists and educators at CNN.

Today we bring you the latest edition of CNN Students News (April 15. 2011) for you to practise Listening Comprehension. The programme is not intended for learners of English, but we think it is a great way for you to improve your target language and to be in contact with English. Additionally, you may download today's program's transcription. Enjoy!

TRANSCRIPTION

Bomb detection dog wins purple cross

Bomb detection dog wins purple cross

Jennifer Macey reported this story on Tuesday, April 5, 2011

This report is brought to you courtesy of ABC Radio Australia.

As you listen, you may read the transcription. Ideally, it would be great not to do so. We post it here for you to check some words that may be difficult to understand beca

use of their pronunciation.

LISTEN HERE

________________________________________

MARK COLVIN: The bomb detection dog Sarbi which went missing in action in Afghanistan for 13 months today received the RSPCA's highest honour, the purple cross medal. It's only the second time the purple cross has been awarded for service in war. The first was bestowed posthumously on 'Murphy', one of John Simpson's Gallipoli donkeys.

Jennifer Macey prepared this report.

LYNNE BRADSHAW: So here's your reward, Sarbi. Congratulations.

JENNIFER MACEY: At the War Memorial in Canberra today, the national president of the RSPCA, Lynne Bradshaw received a big lick on the lips from the latest recipient of the animal bravery award, the bomb detection dog Sarbi.

LYNNE BRADSHAW: I think there's no doubt that Sarbi has shown an incredible resilience and strength that should be recognised. The RSPCA would like to present Sarbi with the RSPCA Australia purple cross award for the courage she has shown while serving her country during her time in Afghanistan.

And by presenting this award to Sarbi, the RSPCA hopes to raise awareness of the role that animals play in war, the unquestioning and unwavering service to man. And we hope now that Sarbi can live out her life here in Australia with all the love and luxuries that any dog deserves.

JENNIFER MACEY: The medal was in recognition of an encounter Sarbi had with the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2008. The Taliban ambushed a convoy of Australian and American troops, injuring nine soldiers, including Sarbi's handler, Sergeant D.

The explosion blew off the leash that attached Sarbi to her handler and she went missing in action. One of the soldiers, Trooper Mark Donaldson was later awarded a Victoria Cross for risking his life to rescue an Afghan interpreter who was blown off the vehicle. Today the nine-year-old Labrador/Newfoundland cross, Sarbi, becomes the second member of that convoy awarded a medal for bravery.

LYNNE BRADSHAW: Throughout our history thousands of animals have supported the Australian Defence Force in a variety of roles. Like most people, no doubt, we would prefer animals didn't go to war but they do go, and while ever they do we must recognise the part they play and, in many cases, the lives lost.

JENNIFER MACEY: After the ambush, nobody could find Sarbi. Then 13 months later an American soldier on patrol in north-eastern Uruzgan province spotted a Labrador cross walking with an Afghan man. She was eventually identified and reunited with her handler, Sergeant D. Then, after several months in quarantine Sarbi returned to Australia in January.

Corporal Adam Exelby from the School of Military Engineering in Sydney trains dogs to sniff out explosives and accompanied Sarbi to the ceremony in Canberra today.

ADAM EXELBY: I think it's great. I think they probably don't maybe get recognised enough for the job that they do over there.

JENNIFER MACEY: Sarbi meanwhile took all the attention in her stride.

ADAM EXELBY: Yeah, I think she's all a bit bewildered at the moment but all the attention, you know they do tend to get a lot of attention, especially overseas as well with the troops. Yeah, probably wouldn't be the first time that she's actually had a lot of attention.

JENNIFER MACEY: But she won't be going back to the front line again.

ADAM EXELBY: No, she won't actually deploy overseas again. As far as her role here in Australia, she's currently helping with a course that's running. But other than that, she's probably due to retire in the not too distant future. So she'll actually, Sergeant D will be taking her home and she'll become a bit of a home dog.

JENNIFER MACEY: This is the Sarbi's third award. She's also the recipient of the Afghanistan medal and the canine service medal awarded by the Australian Defence Trackers Association.

MARK COLVIN: Jennifer Macey.

L & R in Consonant Clusters

Click the answer button to see the answer.

1. The nurse made a hole in her surgical ___ when she was injecting a needle.
   a. glove
   b. grove
   Answer a

2. Members of the upper ___ in British society have distinct speech patterns.
   a. class
   b. crass
   Answer a

3. To clear the entrance way you can sweep with a ___ or use a vacuum cleaner.
   a. bloom
   b. broom
   Answer b

4. Once he left the keg in the sun too long and the pressure ___ the lid off.
   a. blew
   b. brew
   Answer a

5. When Becky heard the sound "___", she knew her ice cream had hit the floor.
   a. plop
   b. prop
   Answer a

6. A person's ___ income is the amount of money made before taxes are taken off.
   a. gloss
   b. gross
   Answer b

7. The painful ___ in his neck was caused by hunching over the computer too long.
   a. click
   b. crick
   Answer b

8. The loud, shameless woman was called a "___ hussy" by the others at the party.
   a. brazen
   b. blazon
   Answer a

9. A ___ is an earthen vessel often used to store pickles or other fermented foods.
   a. clock
   b. crock
   Answer b

10. It was hard to concentrate while hearing the sharp, loud ___ of the typewriters.
    a. clack
    b. crack
    Answer a

11. To do good research it is necessary to carefully ___ the facts from many sources.
    a. glean
    b. green
    Answer a

12. A dark feeling of ___ fell over the waiting bridal party because the bride was late
    a. gloom
    b. groom
    Answer a

13. The flowers' ___ perfume drifted from the bouquet to the far corners of the house.
    a. flagrant
    b. fragrant
    Answer b

14. He took a ___ to his eye, then to his nose before he collapsed in the boxing ring.
    a. blow
    b. brow
    Answer a

15. The man who was arrested did not have any ___ or previous indictments on his record.
    a. pliers
    b. priors
    Answer b

16. He played a nasty ___ on his friend when he telephoned and pretended to be the police.
    a. plank
    b. prank
    Answer b

17. I don't mean to ___ but could you tell me who came over for dinner at your house tonight?
    a. ply
    b. pry
    Answer b

18. Refrigeration and improved transportation allow people to eat ___ meat and vegetables daily.
    a. fresh
    b. flesh
    Answer a

19. The politicians outrageous and shameless acceptance of bribes was a ___ disregard of the law.
    a. flagrant
    b. fragrant
    Answer a

20. A type of fern that grows in the forest and turns a reddish brown color in the fall is called ___.
    a. blacken
    b. bracken
    Answer b

21. It would be considered ___ and insensitive to ask the widow how much the funeral was costing her.
    a. class
    b. crass
    Answer b

22. It is unwise to ___ or feel happy about the misfortune of others because the same could come to you.
    a. gloat
    b. groat
    Answer a

23. The instrument of choice for a soloist is a ___ piano which is the largest and most expensive of all pianos.
    a. gland
    b. grand
    Answer b

24. The hysterical patients' arms and legs were strapped down so that they would not ___ during the examination.
    a. flail
    b. frail
    Answer a

Copyright (C) 1998 Donna Tatsuki

Future Perfect or Future Progressive?

"Will Be Doing" or "Will Have Done"

Click the answer button to see the answer.

1. My English class ends at 3 pm. So at 4 o'clock it ___
   a. will be ending
   b. will have ended
   Answerb - It will have ended.

2. John swims from 9 to 10 every morning. So at 9:30 tomorrow morning he ___
   a. will be swimming
   b. will have swum
   Answera- He will be swimming.

3. I will graduate in December. So, in January I ___
   a. will be graduating
   b. will have graduated
   Answerb- I will have graduated.

4. The movie starts at 5:30. It's 5:20. It will take us 30 minutes to get to the theater. When we get there, the movie ___
   a. will be starting
   b. will have started
   Answerb- It will have started.

5. Mary always watches the news on TV from 8 to 8:30 pm. It's 8:15 now. If we call her now, she ___
   a. will be watching the news
   b. will have watched the news
   Answerb- She will be watching the news.

6. I will go to Europe on February 10th. Please call me before that day. If you call me after February 10, I already ___ to Europe.
   a. will be going
   b. will have gone
   Answerb- I will have gone to Europe.

7. My father uses the computer until 6 pm every day. It's 5 o'clock now. Let's wait until 6. If we go home now, he ___ the computer.
   a. will be using
   b. will have used
   Answera- He will be using the computer.

8. Susan is on vacation in Florida. She doesn't have much money and she's spending it too quickly. Before the end of her vacation, she ___ all her money. She'll be broke.
   a. will be spending
   b. will have spent
   Answerb- She will have spent it.

9. I'm very tired today. I'm going to bed early. Please don't call me after 9 pm because I ___
   a. will be sleeping
   b. will have slept
   Answera- I will be sleeping.

10. I have a very important English test tomorrow. I will study hard today and I'm sure before I go to bed I ___ all the verb tenses.
    a. will be learning
    b. will have learned
    AnswerI will have learned them.

Copyright 1998 by Carlos Gontow

Assorted Questions

Click the answer button to see the correct answer.

1. That is ___ you are poor.
   a. why
   b. that
   c. which
   Answera

2. I couldn't help ___ when he told me that story.
   a. laugh
   b. laughed
   c. laughing
   d. to laugh
   Answerc

3. I heard him ___.
   a. sings
   b. is singing
   c. sing
   d. sang
   e. has sung
   Answerc

4. The place ___ we used to study is no longer a school.
   a. whom
   b. at
   c. where
   Answerc

5. He is ___ taller than you.
   a. very
   b. so
   c. much
   Answerc

6. Jane is ___ than her sister.
   a. more tall
   b. tall
   c. taller
   Answerc

7. There are ___ books on my desk.
   a. little
   b. a little
   c. a few
   Answerc

8. The supermarket ___ their prices last week.
   a. rose
   b. raised
   c. has risen
   Answerb

9. I ___ him last Saturday.
   a. have visited
   b. visited
   Answerb

10. Shakespeare ___ in 1616.
    a. died
    b. has died
    c. was died
    Answera

11. I ___ that movie yet.
    a. don't see
    b. haven't seen
    Answerb

12. He wished he ___ better.
    a. do
    b. did
    c. had done
    Answerc

13. I ___ to go to school.
    a. can
    b. have
    c. must
    Answerb

14. Would you ___ opening the window?
    a. go
    b. have
    c. mind
    d. please
    Answerc

15. Did you enjoy ___ with your girlfriend?
    a. walk
    b. walked
    c. walking
    d. to walk
    Answerc

16. I ___ rather die than spend the rest of my life in prison.
    a. will
    b. would
    c. might
    Answerb

17. He ___ be a fool to do such a thing.
    a. can
    b. must
    Answerb

18. Joe and I ___ good friends.
    a. am
    b. is
    c. are
    Answerc

19. That question is ___ important to be neglected.
    a. so
    b. too
    c. very
    Answerb

20. My mother told me ___ do that.
    a. not to
    b. not
    Answera

21. One of the students ___ in the classroom.
    a. is
    b. are
    Answera

22. I am very fond of ___.
    a. they
    b. them
    c. their
    Answerb

23. ___ isn't easy to learn how to play the piano.
    a. It
    b. That
    c. This
    Answera

24. He had the boy ___ his car.
    a. wash
    b. washed
    Answera

25. I am not as ___ at swimming as you are.
    a. good
    b. well
    Answera

26. Neither my brother nor I ___ rich.
    a. am
    b. are
    c. is
    Answera

27. I saw her ___ by the door.
    a. to stand
    b. standing
    c. stands
    d. stood
    Answerb

28. This is a ___ interesting book.
    a. much
    b. very
    Answerb

29. My brother is ___ stronger than your father.
    a. much
    b. very
    Answera

30. Please take good care ___ your mother.
    a. about
    b. of
    c. to
    Answerb

31. ___ my way to school, I stopped at the post office.
    a. At
    b. In
    c. On
    Answerc

32. I bought this car ___ four thousand dollars.
    a. by
    b. for
    c. with
    Answerb

33. This is a ___ fast car.
    a. much
    b. very
    Answerb

34. I had ___ money, so I couldn't buy lunch.
    a. little
    b. a little
    Answera

35. Please speak a little slower. I can ___ understand you.
    a. hard
    b. hardly
    Answerb

36. I am not used ___ driving this car.
    a. for
    b. of
    c. to
    Answerc

37. I get up ___ seven.
    a. at
    b. in
    c. to
    Answera

38. I didn't see ___ of those movies.
    a. any
    b. none
    Answera

39. There were ___ people at the party.
    a. many
    b. much
    Answera

40. I have a ___ money in my pocket.
    a. few
    b. little
    Answerb

41. He looks ___ than his father.
    a. more happy
    b. happier
    Answerb

42. This place is famous ___ its good-tasting rice.
    a. by
    b. for
    c. with
    Answerb

43. I go to school ___ foot.
    a. by
    b. on
    c. with
    Answerb

44. I have lived here ___ many years.
    a. during
    b. for
    Answerb

45. My brother is ___ of the two.
    a. taller
    b. the taller
    Answerb

46. This news ___ interesting.
    a. was
    b. were
    Answera

47. Did they ___ tennis last Saturday?
    a. played
    b. plays
    c. play
    d. playing
    Answerc

48. He ___ a camera.
    a. have
    b. has
    Answerb

(C) 1997 Charles I. Kelly

Various Questions I

Click the answer buttons to see the answers.

1. She was angry ___ being left alone.
   a. with
   b. at
   Answerb

2. That woman dressed ___ is my neighbor.
   a. in black
   b. with black
   Answera

3. I'm sure there's no secret between ___
   a. you and I.
   b. you and me.
   Answerb

4. I must ___ the bill today.
   a. pay
   b. pay for
   Answera

5. The dentist told him ___ forget to brush his teeth beforegoing to bed.
   a. not to
   b. to not
   Answera

6. ___ such bad accident.
   a. Never I have seen
   b. Never have I seen
   Answerb

7. I don't know where ___
   a. the bookstore is.
   b. is the bookstore
   Answera

8. She has just finished reading ___ chapters of the book.
   a. the two first
   b. the first two
   Answerb

9. What ___ this is!
   a. delicious coffee
   b. a delicious coffee
   Answera

10. He was ___ for murder.
    a. hung
    b. hanged
    Answerb

11. He's ___ a man that nobody likes him.
    a. so stubborn
    b. such stubborn
    Answera

12. Hemingway and Steinbeck are excellent writers, but I prefer ___
    a. the last
    b. the latter
    Answerb

13. They are using new ___ in their industry.
    a. machineries
    b. machinery
    Answerb

14. John, as well as his brother, ___ coming to the party.
    a. is
    b. are
    Answera

15. ___ we walked home.
    a. After
    b. Afterwards
    Answerb

16. He flunked biology. Now he wishes he ___ more.
    a. studied
    b. had studied
    Answerb

17. ___ he is right or wrong does not concern us.
    a. Whether
    b. If
    Answera

18. It's mandatory that he ___ there on time.
    a. is
    b. be
    Answerb
Copyright 1998 by Vera Mello

Various Questions II

Click the answer buttons to see the answers.

1. As ___, he forgot to bring his notebook to school.
   a. usual
   b. usually
   Answera

2. He speaks neither English __ French.
   a. or
   b. nor
   Answerb

3. ___ do you call that in English?
   a. How
   b. What
   Answerb

4. The teacher explained ___
   a. the lesson to the student.
   b. the student the lesson.
   Answera

5. He was charged ___ murder.
   a. with
   b. for
   Answera

6. The storm prevented ___ on a picnic.
   a. us to go
   b. us from going
   Answerb

7. The students have no difficulty ___ the exercise.
   a. in doing
   b. to do
   Answera

8. The committee comprises ___ with widely different views.
   a. men
   b. of men
   Answera

9. A man's concept of liberty is different from ___.
   a. a woman
   b. a woman's
   Answerb

10. He objects ___ treated like a child.
    a. to be
    b. to being
    Answerb

11. I ___ here for three years.
    a. am teaching
    b. have been teaching
    Answerb

12. a. Can you give me ___ details, please?
    a. further
    b. farther
    Answera

13. Hijacking is considered a ___ serious crime than kidnapping.
    a. more
    b. most
    Answera

14. Does he ___ his mother or father?
    a. resemble to
    b. resemble
    Answerb

15. The boy ___ father is a famous scientist has won the prize.
    a. whose
    b. who's
    Answera

16. ___ is a great virtue.
    a. The wisdom
    b. Wisdom
    Answerb

17. He typed ___
    a. the report carefully.
    b. carefully the report
    Answera

18. ___ he didn't like her, he invited her out.
    a. However
    b. Although
    Answerb

19. We ___ the pictures on the wall.
    a. hung
    b. hanged
    Answera
Copyright 1998 by Vera Mello