Unit 3: News Review
How to use the language from the latest news stories
Select a unit
- 1 News Review
- 2 News Review
- 3 News Review
- 4 News Review
- 5 News Review
- 6 News Review
- 7 News Review
- 8 News Review
- 9 News Review
- 10 News Review
- 11 News Review
- 12 News Review
- 13 News Review
- 14 News Review
- 15 News Review
- 16 News Review
- 17 News Review
- 18 News Review
- 19 News Review
- 20 News Review
- 21 News Review
Session 26
Scientists have discovered how vampire bats can survive on a blood-only diet. Neil and Catherine teach you the language the world's media is using to discuss this story.
Activity 1
News Review
Vampire bats' blood-only diet
Scientists have found that vampire bats can survive on a blood-only diet because of genetic and digestive differences which have evolved over time.
Language challenge
Which of these 'blood' idioms means that family relationships are closer than friendships?
a) it's like getting blood from a stone
b) to have blood on your hands
c) blood is thicker than water
Watch the video and complete the activity

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NEWS REVIEW PODCAST NOW AVAILABLE - SUBSCRIBE HERE
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Did you like that? Why not try these?
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The story
A new study has found that vampire bats have undergone many genetic changes to be able to live on a blood-only diet.
The three species of bats are the only mammals to feed exclusively on blood.
The study found that vampire bats' genes involved in immune response and metabolism are very different from the genes of other bats.
The study also found that the microbes in their guts are very distinct from those of the fruit and insect-eating bats - giving vampire bats protection against diseases.
Vocabulary
bloodthirsty
keen to enjoy violence
iron guts
the ability to eat or drink anything without vomiting
live off
depend on something or someone for money or food
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
If something is bloodthirsty, it enjoys violence.Question 1 of 3
Help
Activity
Now you've watched the video, try to answer these questions about the language in the news.
Hint
Their bodies have changed over time.Question 2 of 3
Help
Activity
Now you've watched the video, try to answer these questions about the language in the news.
Hint
He depends on them, he doesn't eat them.Question 3 of 3
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored: