Learning English | BBC World Service



You are in:	Learning English > Watch and Listen > Retro English

Learning English

Retro English

Exercise: the 80's - boom and bust

Tony Thorne

1980's

Do you know the meaning of the following? Try this exercise and check your answers afterwards:


	1: The expression 'tremendously symbolic' means...					'very important, because it represents a significant social change'
						'unimportant, because it has little effect'
						'related to the use of certain shapes or designs to represent an idea'

	2: What is universally known as 'Big Bang' is in fact...					any big explosion
						the moment when the Universe started (according to a popular theory)
						the most successful moment in a person's professional career

	3: Your 'nickname' is...					the name by which you are informally known
						the name given to you in a police station, or a prison
						your real name

	4: If you 'emphasize' something, you...					draw special attention to it, you indicate its importance
						are very passionate about it
						show you understand it from your personal experience

Check answers

Back to 'The 80's: boom and bust'


	Learning English \| News English \| Business English \| Watch and Listen Grammar and Vocabulary \| Communicate \| Quizzes \| For teachers Downloads \| FAQ \| Contact us