Unit 13: News Review
How to use the language from the latest news stories
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Session 134
An unusually large number of blue whales have been spotted in the South Atlantic in recent weeks - more than have been seen in the period since commercial whaling finished. Neil and Catherine teach you the language the world's media is using to discuss this story.
Session 134 score
0 / 3
- 0 / 3Activity 1
Activity 1
News Review
Could the blue whales be back in numbers?
An unusually large number of blue whales have been spotted in the South Atlantic in recent weeks - more than have been seen in the period since commercial whaling finished. Neil and Catherine look at the vocabulary in the news around this story.
Watch the video and complete the activity

NEWS REVIEW PODCAST NOW AVAILABLE - SUBSCRIBE HERE
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The story
Scientists say they’ve seen a remarkable number of blue whales in recent weeks near the island of South Georgia in the South Atlantic. A survey counted 55 animals – a figure unprecedented in the decade since commercial whaling ended.
Key words and phrases
unprecedented
never having happened before
- Unprecedented bush fires hit Australia last year.
- Federer is hoping to win an unprecedented ninth Wimbledon.
bouncing back
becoming successful again after a bad experience
- Her hat trick shows she’s really bouncing back from her broken leg.
- The Amazon will never bounce back from deforestation.
soar
increase quickly
- Markets soar when there’s confidence in the economy.
- Ticket prices soared when the home team made the final.
To do
Try our quiz to see how well you've learned today's language.
News Review quiz
3 Questions
Now you've watched the video, try to answer these questions about the language in the news.
Help
Activity
Now you've watched the video, try to answer these questions about the language in the news.
Hint
Which word means 'never happened before'?Question 1 of 3
Help
Activity
Now you've watched the video, try to answer these questions about the language in the news.
Hint
What was the preposition that goes in this phrasal verb?Question 2 of 3
Help
Activity
Now you've watched the video, try to answer these questions about the language in the news.
Hint
Which word means 'increase quickly'?Question 3 of 3
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
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