BBC NEWS PAGE 1

Which do you think was the most important news

story last week? Which story do you think is going
to dominate the news this week?
Before listening, try to complete the first story using
the initial letters to help you. Then listen and check
your ideas.
American r_____________ have suggested a scientific
explanation for the other-worldly e_________________
reported by people who have come close to d_________.
A study published in the p__________________ of the
National Academy of Sciences shows a burst of activity in the brains of rats as they die. Scientists
believe something similar could happen in h_________________ as our science reporter
Rebecca Morelle explains. From bright white lights to out-of-body s________________, the
experiences reported by people who have come close to death but have survived are common
the w____________ over. Now scientists believe they could be caused by a surge of electrical
activity in the b___________. Scientists at the University of Michigan monitored nine rats
as they were dying. In the 30-second period after the animals’ h____________ had stopped
they m_________________ a sharp increase in high frequency brainwaves called gamma
oscillations. The researchers think this blast of activity is a last gasp of the d_____________
brain and in humans it would be enough to give rise to the visions that many near-death
s______________ describe as feeling realer than real.
Discussion What do you think causes near-death
experiences?
Before listening to the next story, add vowels to the
consonants in brackets to make words for the gaps.
Then listen and check your ideas.
The government is planning to raise the upper age
limit for people to serve on ________________ (jrs) in
England and Wales from 70 to 75. The Justice Minister
Damien Green said the knowledge and life _____________________ (xprncs) of older people
would bring significant benefits to the _______________ (crt) process. More details from our
legal affairs correspondent Clive Coleman. Each year around 178,000 people in England
and Wales do jury _______________ (srvc). Currently they have to be aged between 18
and 70. The government doesn’t think that takes into _______________ (ccnt) increases
in life expectancy over the past 25 years and wants to make the system more inclusive and
representative of modern ________________ (scty). Under the plans those aged between
70 and 75 who are ________________ (smmnd) would be expected to serve unless they
can show a good reason why they should be excused, for instance ill ______________ (hlth)
or having significant caring ___________________ (rspnsblts). The changes, which have
been welcomed by groups representing the elderly, will require primary __________________
(lgsltn) and that will be brought forward early next year.
Discussion What do you think should be the minimum and maximum ages to serve on a jury?
Before listening, complete the next story with the appropriate prepositions. Then listen
and check your ideas.
 BBC NEWS PAGE 2
Research suggests that while people are spending
more time watching television _____ mobile devices
traditional TV remains as popular as ever. The study
_____ Thinkbox, the marketing body _____ commercial
television, also found that even when people have
digital recorders they still watch most _____ their TV
live. Here’s our technology correspondent Rory Cellan-
Jones. Watching television _____ anything other than a
TV set has only really become practical _____ the last couple ____ years, and these figures
show that the average person now spends three and a half minutes a day viewing _____ a
smartphone, tablet or a laptop computer. That only makes _____ one and a half per cent _____
total viewing _____ just _________ four hours a day, and as more televisions get an Internet
connection more people may choose to use services like Sky Go and the BBC iPlayer _____
the main set rather than _____ another device. Television remains a hugely popular pastime,
and even _____ households with digital recorders live
viewing still accounts _____ ________ 80% _____ TV
consumption.
Discussion How many hours of television do you watch
a week and which devices do you use to watch it?
Before listening, complete the final story with the
appropriate words. Then listen and check your ideas.
Research suggests that winning a classical music
__________________ is as much about how the
contestants look as their musical ability. The study
published in the proceedings of the Academy of Sciences has concluded that people often judge
musical __________________ by how enthusiastic the performers appear to be. Our science
reporter Rebecca Morelle has more. It takes years of dedication and __________________
to play like this, but there’s now evidence to suggest musicians should spend more time
perfecting their __________________ presence. A researcher at University College London
asked more than 1,000 people to review recitals from past competitions. Some were played
__________________ without any sound while others were played audio recordings with
no __________________, they were then asked to select who they thought had won. The
__________________, whether they were musical experts or novices, were far more likely to
pick the winners from the silent __________________ than from the music alone. It suggests
that judges are _________________ by what they see as well as what they hear and conveying
__________________ and enthusiasm could be the key to scooping a __________________.
Discussion Why do you think enthusiasm is important when judging a person’s performance?
Vocabulary focus Choose five words that you would like to learn from the news and write
example sentences for them below.
BBC NEWS PAGE 3
Teacher’s notes
Total pages 3 / student pages 2 / week of 02.09.13 / CD track 2 / intermediate+ (B1+)
Transcript
American researchers have suggested a scientific explanation for the other-worldly experiences reported
by people who have come close to death. A study published in the proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences shows a burst of activity in the brains of rats as they die. Scientists believe something similar
could happen in humans as our science reporter Rebecca Morelle explains. From bright white lights to out-
of-body sensations, the experiences reported by people who have come close to death but have survived
are common the world over. Now scientists believe they could be caused by a surge of electrical activity in
the brain. Scientists at the University of Michigan monitored nine rats as they were dying. In the 30-second
period after the animals’ hearts had stopped they measured a sharp increase in high frequency brainwaves
called gamma oscillations. The researchers think this blast of activity is a last gasp of the dying brain and
in humans it would be enough to give rise to the visions that many near-death survivors describe as feeling
realer than real.

The government is planning to raise the upper age limit for people to serve on juries in England and Wales
from 70 to 75. The Justice Minister Damien Green said the knowledge and life experiences of older people
would bring significant benefits to the court process. More details from our legal affairs correspondent Clive
Coleman. Each year around 178,000 people in England and Wales do jury service. Currently they have to be
aged between 18 and 70. The government doesn’t think that takes into account increases in life expectancy
over the past 25 years and wants to make the system more inclusive and representative of modern society.
Under the plans those aged between 70 and 75 who are summoned would be expected to serve unless
they can show a good reason why they should be excused, for instance ill health or having significant caring
responsibilities. The changes, which have been welcomed by groups representing the elderly, will require
primary legislation and that will be brought forward early next year.

Research suggests that while people are spending more time watching television on mobile devices traditional
TV remains as popular as ever. The study by Thinkbox, the marketing body for commercial television, also
found that even when people have digital recorders they still watch most of their TV live. Here’s our technology
correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones. Watching television on anything other than a TV set has only really become
practical in the last couple of years, and these figures show that the average person now spends three and
a half minutes a day viewing on a smartphone, tablet or a laptop computer. That only makes up one and a
half per cent of total viewing of just over four hours a day, and as more televisions get an Internet connection
more people may choose to use services like Sky Go and the BBC iPlayer on the main set rather than on
another device. Television remains a hugely popular pastime, and even in households with digital recorders
live viewing still accounts for over 80% of TV consumption.

Research suggests that winning a classical music competition is as much about how the contestants look as
their musical ability. The study published in the proceedings of the Academy of Sciences has concluded that
people often judge musical recitals by how enthusiastic the performers appear to be. Our science reporter
Rebecca Morelle has more. It takes years of dedication and practice to play like this, but there’s now evidence
to suggest musicians should spend more time perfecting their stage presence. A researcher at University
College London asked more than 1,000 people to review recitals from past competitions. Some were played
videos without any sound while others were played audio recordings with no visuals, they were then asked
to select who they thought had won. The volunteers, whether they were musical experts or novices, were far
more likely to pick the winners from the silent footage than from the music alone. It suggests that judges are
swayed by what they see as well as what they hear and conveying passion and enthusiasm could be the key
to scooping a prize.