In training for the Olympics.
South Africa's women's football team is the first in the country's history to qualify for the games.
Although the team is dreaming of winning gold, their debut is about more than the glory alone.
Women's football is not yet professional in South Africa, so the team wants to raise the profile of the sport and inspire more young female athletes.
in training for
practising for
to qualify for
to get to the final stage of
glory
great achievement, high honour
professional
something people are paid to do
to raise the profile of
to increase awareness of
When is our time our own and when does it belong to the company?
We all love to keep in touch using the latest gadgets. But the stream of phone calls and emails when you've left the office can make out-of-hours time seem like you're still on duty.
The German government has decided to tackle the issue. It's laying down rules on when companies can and can't contact their employees.
to keep in touch
to communicate with someone
out-of-hours
after the normal timetable ends
on duty
working
to tackle
to deal with
laying down
establishing rules officially
First there was Paul the Octopus predicting World Cup results two years ago...
Now a psychic fish in Singapore is being used to forecast the scores of matches at Euro 2012.
The dragonfish, known as Big Huat, was spot on with one-all for the football tournament's opener between Poland and Greece.
Its younger nephew, though, was wide of the mark suggesting the Poles would win.
predicting
saying something will happen in the future
psychic
having the ability to predict the future
forecast
statement of what will happen in the future
spot on
exactly right
wide of the mark
wrong
Celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee... in miniature.
A new Lego model of Elizabeth II, complete with a mini version of the crown jewels, has been added to the Buckingham Palace scene at the toy company's theme park.
The 1.5 cm tall crown is made from silver, and has been studded with 48 real diamonds.
It's in the town of Windsor, which is home to one of the Queen's real castles.
Diamond Jubilee
60th anniversary celebration
miniature
smaller version of something
the crown jewels
the precious stones and ornaments used to decorate a monarch
theme park
park of entertainments based on one idea or set of characters
studded
decorated with small precious stones
It looks like something out of a sci-fi movie.
But these hanging pods are in fact a temporary hotel. Staff lead guests through bizarre rituals designed to put them in tune with nature.
They receive just the bare essentials but spend the night in comfort.
This interactive theatre performance was dreamt up by the Belgian group Time Circus and is taking part in a festival in Norfolk, England.
sci-fi or science fiction
a literary or movie genre that creates fantasies based on scientific discoveries
hanging
suspended from a height
bizarre
strange and unusual
in tune with
connected to or in harmony with something
bare essentials
items that people think they can't live without
They are the descendants of the first Brazilians.
Members of different indigenous groups have been living as squatters on the doorstep of the famous Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
But they're not looking forward to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The stadium's renovation works might put them at risk of eviction.
The derelict building used to house the first museum dedicated to their culture.
descendants
the living relatives of previous generations
squatters
people who occupy an area without permission
renovation works
repairs done to a building
eviction
to be forced to leave a place
derelict
abandoned and in bad condition
Dogs are forbidden here.
But feline visitors are more than welcome in this new coffee house in Vienna.
Cafe Neko is home to five cats which customers can cuddle whilst enjoying a hot drink.
Cat cafes are a popular phenomenon in Japan, but this is a first for Austria.
Officials were initially worried it would be unhygienic, but the establishment is already proving popular.
forbidden
not allowed
feline
cat
cuddle
hug affectionately
phenomenon
something extraordinary
unhygienic
unsanitary
The demilitarized zone between North and South Korea is the most heavily fortified border on earth.
But the south is planning to open a new eco-tourism site along its frontier with North Korea.
The buffer zone has been tightly restricted for more than 50 years creating an untouched nature reserve.
They hope to rebrand the area as a place of peace, not war.
demilitarized zone
a place where no military activity is permitted
fortified
strengthened
eco-tourism
holiday industry in which care for the environment is promoted
buffer zone
an area intended to separate two fighting armies
rebrand
launch with a new identity
A beloved symbol of Australia.
Koalas have been listed as a threatened species in some parts of the country after a plunge in the wild population.
Habitat loss, urban expansion, vehicle strikes, dog attacks and disease have contributed to their dwindling numbers.
Estimates on koala numbers vary but some studies suggest there are fewer than 80,000 koalas left in the wild.
beloved
that people like a lot
threatened
likely to become endangered
plunge
sudden fall in number
strikes
collisions with vehicles
dwindling
falling
This is a well-travelled football!
Identified thanks to the names written on it, the ball was set adrift by the tsunami that hit Japan over a year ago. It was washed ashore in Alaska!
Its proud owner is Misaki Murakami: he received this treasured possession from his schoolmates when he got transferred to another school. The teenager became a minor celebrity after it was located.
well-travelled
(someone or something) that has been to lots of places
set adrift
carried away by the sea with no specific direction
washed ashore
brought to the coast by the sea
possession
someone's belonging
located
found somewhere
The roar of vintage motorcycles in Cuba...
The town of Varadero has hosted the country's first ever Harley-Davidson convention.
The American brand was favoured by the authorities before the 1959 Revolution. Almost all of the country's remaining models date from that time.
But because of the US trade embargo, Cuban bikers have had to pull out all the stops to keep their machines running.
vintage
made in a particular period in the past
convention
organised meeting of people with the same interests
favoured
preferred
remaining
left, still in existence
to pull out all the stops
to make every effort
Is it a car? Is it a plane? No, it's a gyrocopter!
This Dutch vehicle can be driven on land or flown in the air. All it needs is a strip of tarmac.
If the idea catches on, it could put an end to traffic jams. Motorists would just unfold the wings and off they go.
Several test flights have been conducted and the company is looking for investors.
tarmac
black material used to coat roads
catches on
becomes popular and fashionable
unfold
spread till they reach their full size
conducted
performed
investors
people who give money to a project expecting a profit
A bird's eye view of London.
The final piece of steel in a building nicknamed the Shard has been put in place. When completed, it will be the European Union's tallest skyscraper.
But the work isn't for the faint-hearted. The structure reaches 310 metres.
With 87 storeys, the building will house residences, offices, a hotel and viewing gallery.
a bird's eye view
a view from a high place from which you can see a vast area
nicknamed
a name used informally instead of a real name
faint-hearted
timid, not confident
storeys
floors
(to) house (verb)
to accommodate
6000 Mexicans preparing to dance their way into the record books.
A crowd of mostly women flocked to the capital city's Zocalo Square for the world's largest aerobics class.
Having cemented their place in history, organisers hope the participants will continue an active lifestyle.
Local authorities are looking to get people out of their houses to enjoy the great outdoors in the sprawling metropolis.
the record books
official documents of information
flocked
came in great numbers
aerobics
exercise regime
cemented
made firm
sprawling metropolis
large city
Ah, a Russian village - a haven of tranquillity!
Or is it?! This is their unexpected entry for the Eurovision Song Contest.
There are no spring chickens in this band: most of the singers in the Buranovo Grannies are in their 70s, but they still have plenty of stamina.
They've been rehearsing their song, Party for Everybody, in the village hall but their household chores don't leave much time for it.
haven
a safe place
unexpected
surprising
no spring chicken
a polite and informal phrase meaning old
stamina
physical and mental strength
household chores
domestic tasks
Sadaf Rahimi practising her punches in the ring. The teenager is dreaming of representing Afghanistan in the first ever women's boxing tournament at the Olympics.
The seventeen-year-old has no opponents she can fight at home, so has travelled to Wales to practise.
She usually trains at a stadium once used for public executions.
The athlete wants to show that women in Afghanistan can reach the top.
tournament
competition
opponents
people to compete against
stadium
sports arena
athlete
person taking part in sport
reach the top
achieve success
The Perito Moreno glacier in Southern Argentina.
Huge sections of a massive ice wall have crashed into Lake Argentina in the Patagonia region of the country.
Periodically the glacier forms a dam separating the lake into two. Eventually pressure builds up and enormous chunks of ice fall into the lake.
Tourists visiting the national park enjoyed watching this spectacular ice rupture which occurs every four to five years.
glacier
mass of ice formed by accumulated snow
crashed into
violently fell into
periodically
from time to time
dam
a barrier that controls water flow
rupture
when something breaks
This Filipino coffee is definitely not to everyone's taste.
It comes from beans taken from the droppings of these cat-like animals called civets.
When they are eaten, the beans are fermented in the stomach by special enzymes.
Even if you can stomach the fact it's been through an animal, the price may put you off. It can cost almost $800 a kilo.
droppings
the waste of animals
fermented
the sugar in a foodstuff changed due to a chemical process
enzymes
chemicals important for digestion
to stomach
to tolerate
put (you) off
discouraged (you), made (you) lose interest
Billed as the biggest street party in the world, Rio de Janeiro's annual carnival has drawn to a colourful conclusion.
The city's best samba schools paraded amid Brazil's carnival festivities.
The venue for this event was the newly-renovated Sambadrome.
Thousands of dancers and musicians showed off their costumes and artistic skills to entertain the crowds that gathered to enjoy the spectacle.
billed as
regarded as
paraded
to walk as a group as part of a public celebration
festivities
celebrations
renovated
repaired and improved an old building or structure
spectacle
show
The first ever cartoon produced in Afghanistan.
Schoolchildren perform educational songs for the animation in recording sessions after school.
The programmes explore various themes like animal welfare and the importance of personal hygiene.
The series replaces old Russian and Iranian cartoons.
The pioneering project has been a huge success, despite the lack of professional studios.
cartoon
animated television series for children
animation
programme made by a series of drawings or photographs
animal welfare
ensuring animals are well-treated
personal hygiene
keeping oneself clean
pioneering
innovative
The temperature was twenty degrees below freezing, but that didn't stop these sports enthusiasts.
Racing teams in Poland took advantage of the wintry weather to sail their iceboats on a frozen reservoir.
The one-man vessel is light and agile, and can reach speeds of over 100km per hour.
Many competitors train in sailing boats in summer months and switch to iceboat racing during the winter.
enthusiasts
fans of a sport
took advantage of
made use of
reservoir
lake used to store water
vessel
boat or ship
competitors
people taking part in a sport or competition
Speaking out for their four-legged friends.
Activists have gathered in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, to protest against the killing of stray dogs.
They claim thousands have been electrocuted and poisoned in an attempt to clear the streets ahead of Euro 2012.
But protestors think putting them down is cruel and should be banned.
They want the government to fund shelters instead.
activists
protesters
stray
homeless
electrocuted
killed using electricity
putting them down
killing them
shelters
refuges for animals
Everyone knows this leaning tower but how about this one?
Experts say the famous London landmark could go the same way as the iconic Italian monument.
Cracks have been spotted in the walls of the Parliament building; recent construction work may have caused subsidence.
But time is on its side as the tower won't tilt as much as Pisa's for at least 10,000 years.
landmark
well-known building or structure
cracks
partial breaks
subsidence
movement of earth
time is on (its) side
it won't happen quickly
tilt
lean to one side
Rescued from certain death at sea.
This seal pup has been separated from its mother by storms and joined others in a sanctuary in the Netherlands. The refuge has been overwhelmed by the arrival of hundreds washed up on the beaches.
They are fed herrings stuffed with vitamins.
But when they grow up, they will face other challenges. Overfishing and pollution also affect their chances of survival.
sanctuary
safe place
overwhelmed
received a number greater than it would normally cope with
washed up
brought to the shore of a body of water
stuffed
totally filled with (something)
overfishing
fishing too much to the point of threatening the local fish population
Over a hundred metres above the Zambezi River.
With just a cord tied around her feet, an Australian adrenaline junkie launches herself into the void.
But Erin Langworthy's bungee jump became a nightmare when the line broke.
She got through the ordeal in one piece - here describing how she managed to swim to the river bank.
Erin suffered only cuts and bruises and thinks it's a miracle to be alive.
adrenaline junkie
someone addicted to dangerous activities
into the void
into an empty space with no immediate touchable ground
a nightmare
a bad dream
in one piece
with no serious injury
cuts and bruises
minor injuries
South Africa's women's football team is the first in the country's history to qualify for the games.
Although the team is dreaming of winning gold, their debut is about more than the glory alone.
Women's football is not yet professional in South Africa, so the team wants to raise the profile of the sport and inspire more young female athletes.
in training for
practising for
to qualify for
to get to the final stage of
glory
great achievement, high honour
professional
something people are paid to do
to raise the profile of
to increase awareness of
When is our time our own and when does it belong to the company?
We all love to keep in touch using the latest gadgets. But the stream of phone calls and emails when you've left the office can make out-of-hours time seem like you're still on duty.
The German government has decided to tackle the issue. It's laying down rules on when companies can and can't contact their employees.
to keep in touch
to communicate with someone
out-of-hours
after the normal timetable ends
on duty
working
to tackle
to deal with
laying down
establishing rules officially
First there was Paul the Octopus predicting World Cup results two years ago...
Now a psychic fish in Singapore is being used to forecast the scores of matches at Euro 2012.
The dragonfish, known as Big Huat, was spot on with one-all for the football tournament's opener between Poland and Greece.
Its younger nephew, though, was wide of the mark suggesting the Poles would win.
predicting
saying something will happen in the future
psychic
having the ability to predict the future
forecast
statement of what will happen in the future
spot on
exactly right
wide of the mark
wrong
Celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee... in miniature.
A new Lego model of Elizabeth II, complete with a mini version of the crown jewels, has been added to the Buckingham Palace scene at the toy company's theme park.
The 1.5 cm tall crown is made from silver, and has been studded with 48 real diamonds.
It's in the town of Windsor, which is home to one of the Queen's real castles.
Diamond Jubilee
60th anniversary celebration
miniature
smaller version of something
the crown jewels
the precious stones and ornaments used to decorate a monarch
theme park
park of entertainments based on one idea or set of characters
studded
decorated with small precious stones
It looks like something out of a sci-fi movie.
But these hanging pods are in fact a temporary hotel. Staff lead guests through bizarre rituals designed to put them in tune with nature.
They receive just the bare essentials but spend the night in comfort.
This interactive theatre performance was dreamt up by the Belgian group Time Circus and is taking part in a festival in Norfolk, England.
sci-fi or science fiction
a literary or movie genre that creates fantasies based on scientific discoveries
hanging
suspended from a height
bizarre
strange and unusual
in tune with
connected to or in harmony with something
bare essentials
items that people think they can't live without
They are the descendants of the first Brazilians.
Members of different indigenous groups have been living as squatters on the doorstep of the famous Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
But they're not looking forward to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The stadium's renovation works might put them at risk of eviction.
The derelict building used to house the first museum dedicated to their culture.
descendants
the living relatives of previous generations
squatters
people who occupy an area without permission
renovation works
repairs done to a building
eviction
to be forced to leave a place
derelict
abandoned and in bad condition
Dogs are forbidden here.
But feline visitors are more than welcome in this new coffee house in Vienna.
Cafe Neko is home to five cats which customers can cuddle whilst enjoying a hot drink.
Cat cafes are a popular phenomenon in Japan, but this is a first for Austria.
Officials were initially worried it would be unhygienic, but the establishment is already proving popular.
forbidden
not allowed
feline
cat
cuddle
hug affectionately
phenomenon
something extraordinary
unhygienic
unsanitary
The demilitarized zone between North and South Korea is the most heavily fortified border on earth.
But the south is planning to open a new eco-tourism site along its frontier with North Korea.
The buffer zone has been tightly restricted for more than 50 years creating an untouched nature reserve.
They hope to rebrand the area as a place of peace, not war.
demilitarized zone
a place where no military activity is permitted
fortified
strengthened
eco-tourism
holiday industry in which care for the environment is promoted
buffer zone
an area intended to separate two fighting armies
rebrand
launch with a new identity
A beloved symbol of Australia.
Koalas have been listed as a threatened species in some parts of the country after a plunge in the wild population.
Habitat loss, urban expansion, vehicle strikes, dog attacks and disease have contributed to their dwindling numbers.
Estimates on koala numbers vary but some studies suggest there are fewer than 80,000 koalas left in the wild.
beloved
that people like a lot
threatened
likely to become endangered
plunge
sudden fall in number
strikes
collisions with vehicles
dwindling
falling
This is a well-travelled football!
Identified thanks to the names written on it, the ball was set adrift by the tsunami that hit Japan over a year ago. It was washed ashore in Alaska!
Its proud owner is Misaki Murakami: he received this treasured possession from his schoolmates when he got transferred to another school. The teenager became a minor celebrity after it was located.
well-travelled
(someone or something) that has been to lots of places
set adrift
carried away by the sea with no specific direction
washed ashore
brought to the coast by the sea
possession
someone's belonging
located
found somewhere
The roar of vintage motorcycles in Cuba...
The town of Varadero has hosted the country's first ever Harley-Davidson convention.
The American brand was favoured by the authorities before the 1959 Revolution. Almost all of the country's remaining models date from that time.
But because of the US trade embargo, Cuban bikers have had to pull out all the stops to keep their machines running.
vintage
made in a particular period in the past
convention
organised meeting of people with the same interests
favoured
preferred
remaining
left, still in existence
to pull out all the stops
to make every effort
Is it a car? Is it a plane? No, it's a gyrocopter!
This Dutch vehicle can be driven on land or flown in the air. All it needs is a strip of tarmac.
If the idea catches on, it could put an end to traffic jams. Motorists would just unfold the wings and off they go.
Several test flights have been conducted and the company is looking for investors.
tarmac
black material used to coat roads
catches on
becomes popular and fashionable
unfold
spread till they reach their full size
conducted
performed
investors
people who give money to a project expecting a profit
A bird's eye view of London.
The final piece of steel in a building nicknamed the Shard has been put in place. When completed, it will be the European Union's tallest skyscraper.
But the work isn't for the faint-hearted. The structure reaches 310 metres.
With 87 storeys, the building will house residences, offices, a hotel and viewing gallery.
a bird's eye view
a view from a high place from which you can see a vast area
nicknamed
a name used informally instead of a real name
faint-hearted
timid, not confident
storeys
floors
(to) house (verb)
to accommodate
6000 Mexicans preparing to dance their way into the record books.
A crowd of mostly women flocked to the capital city's Zocalo Square for the world's largest aerobics class.
Having cemented their place in history, organisers hope the participants will continue an active lifestyle.
Local authorities are looking to get people out of their houses to enjoy the great outdoors in the sprawling metropolis.
the record books
official documents of information
flocked
came in great numbers
aerobics
exercise regime
cemented
made firm
sprawling metropolis
large city
Ah, a Russian village - a haven of tranquillity!
Or is it?! This is their unexpected entry for the Eurovision Song Contest.
There are no spring chickens in this band: most of the singers in the Buranovo Grannies are in their 70s, but they still have plenty of stamina.
They've been rehearsing their song, Party for Everybody, in the village hall but their household chores don't leave much time for it.
haven
a safe place
unexpected
surprising
no spring chicken
a polite and informal phrase meaning old
stamina
physical and mental strength
household chores
domestic tasks
Sadaf Rahimi practising her punches in the ring. The teenager is dreaming of representing Afghanistan in the first ever women's boxing tournament at the Olympics.
The seventeen-year-old has no opponents she can fight at home, so has travelled to Wales to practise.
She usually trains at a stadium once used for public executions.
The athlete wants to show that women in Afghanistan can reach the top.
tournament
competition
opponents
people to compete against
stadium
sports arena
athlete
person taking part in sport
reach the top
achieve success
The Perito Moreno glacier in Southern Argentina.
Huge sections of a massive ice wall have crashed into Lake Argentina in the Patagonia region of the country.
Periodically the glacier forms a dam separating the lake into two. Eventually pressure builds up and enormous chunks of ice fall into the lake.
Tourists visiting the national park enjoyed watching this spectacular ice rupture which occurs every four to five years.
glacier
mass of ice formed by accumulated snow
crashed into
violently fell into
periodically
from time to time
dam
a barrier that controls water flow
rupture
when something breaks
This Filipino coffee is definitely not to everyone's taste.
It comes from beans taken from the droppings of these cat-like animals called civets.
When they are eaten, the beans are fermented in the stomach by special enzymes.
Even if you can stomach the fact it's been through an animal, the price may put you off. It can cost almost $800 a kilo.
droppings
the waste of animals
fermented
the sugar in a foodstuff changed due to a chemical process
enzymes
chemicals important for digestion
to stomach
to tolerate
put (you) off
discouraged (you), made (you) lose interest
Billed as the biggest street party in the world, Rio de Janeiro's annual carnival has drawn to a colourful conclusion.
The city's best samba schools paraded amid Brazil's carnival festivities.
The venue for this event was the newly-renovated Sambadrome.
Thousands of dancers and musicians showed off their costumes and artistic skills to entertain the crowds that gathered to enjoy the spectacle.
billed as
regarded as
paraded
to walk as a group as part of a public celebration
festivities
celebrations
renovated
repaired and improved an old building or structure
spectacle
show
The first ever cartoon produced in Afghanistan.
Schoolchildren perform educational songs for the animation in recording sessions after school.
The programmes explore various themes like animal welfare and the importance of personal hygiene.
The series replaces old Russian and Iranian cartoons.
The pioneering project has been a huge success, despite the lack of professional studios.
cartoon
animated television series for children
animation
programme made by a series of drawings or photographs
animal welfare
ensuring animals are well-treated
personal hygiene
keeping oneself clean
pioneering
innovative
The temperature was twenty degrees below freezing, but that didn't stop these sports enthusiasts.
Racing teams in Poland took advantage of the wintry weather to sail their iceboats on a frozen reservoir.
The one-man vessel is light and agile, and can reach speeds of over 100km per hour.
Many competitors train in sailing boats in summer months and switch to iceboat racing during the winter.
enthusiasts
fans of a sport
took advantage of
made use of
reservoir
lake used to store water
vessel
boat or ship
competitors
people taking part in a sport or competition
Speaking out for their four-legged friends.
Activists have gathered in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, to protest against the killing of stray dogs.
They claim thousands have been electrocuted and poisoned in an attempt to clear the streets ahead of Euro 2012.
But protestors think putting them down is cruel and should be banned.
They want the government to fund shelters instead.
activists
protesters
stray
homeless
electrocuted
killed using electricity
putting them down
killing them
shelters
refuges for animals
Everyone knows this leaning tower but how about this one?
Experts say the famous London landmark could go the same way as the iconic Italian monument.
Cracks have been spotted in the walls of the Parliament building; recent construction work may have caused subsidence.
But time is on its side as the tower won't tilt as much as Pisa's for at least 10,000 years.
landmark
well-known building or structure
cracks
partial breaks
subsidence
movement of earth
time is on (its) side
it won't happen quickly
tilt
lean to one side
Rescued from certain death at sea.
This seal pup has been separated from its mother by storms and joined others in a sanctuary in the Netherlands. The refuge has been overwhelmed by the arrival of hundreds washed up on the beaches.
They are fed herrings stuffed with vitamins.
But when they grow up, they will face other challenges. Overfishing and pollution also affect their chances of survival.
sanctuary
safe place
overwhelmed
received a number greater than it would normally cope with
washed up
brought to the shore of a body of water
stuffed
totally filled with (something)
overfishing
fishing too much to the point of threatening the local fish population
Over a hundred metres above the Zambezi River.
With just a cord tied around her feet, an Australian adrenaline junkie launches herself into the void.
But Erin Langworthy's bungee jump became a nightmare when the line broke.
She got through the ordeal in one piece - here describing how she managed to swim to the river bank.
Erin suffered only cuts and bruises and thinks it's a miracle to be alive.
adrenaline junkie
someone addicted to dangerous activities
into the void
into an empty space with no immediate touchable ground
a nightmare
a bad dream
in one piece
with no serious injury
cuts and bruises
minor injuries