BBC Learning English – Words in the News / Guns in school

Transcript

No, they’re not soldiers. These armed men are actually teachers.

At this school in Pakistan, teachers have been told to carry guns in order to protect children. One is even acting as a sniper on the school roof.

Many schools have taken this unusual step following a Taliban attack that killed over 130 pupils.

This teacher says he would rather be carrying a pen.

Vocabulary

armed
carrying guns or other weapons

in order to
with the aim or purpose of doing something

sniper
someone who shoots a gun from a hidden place

unusual step
an unexpected decision or action

pupils
school children

To do

Use one of the words or phrases below to complete each of these sentences from news reports. Note that you may have to change the form of a word to complete the sentence correctly.

armed / in order to /sniper / unusual step / pupil                    

1. Human rights groups say that dozens of people have been killed during the protests. The government puts the figure at 12 – a policeman shot by a __________ and 11 looters killed by security guards.

2. The people behind one of the biggest video games of the year are taking the __________ of banning some of its fans from playing the online, multi-player version.

3. A 90-year-old Kenyan woman who goes to class with six of her great-great-grandchildren is believed to be the oldest primary school __________ in the world.

4. Labour Leader Ed Miliband said he would “put working people first” __________ build a prosperous UK if his party comes to power in the general election.

5. In September a man __________ with a knife scaled the White House perimeter fence and gained access to the building.

Answers

1. Human rights groups say that dozens of people have been killed during the protests. The government puts the figure at 12 – a policeman shot by a sniper and 11 looters killed by security guards.

See story

2. The people behind one of the biggest video games of the year are taking the unusual step of banning some of its fans from playing the online, multi-player version.

See story

3. A 90-year-old Kenyan woman who goes to class with six of her great-great-grandchildren is believed to be the oldest primary school pupil in the world.

See story 

4. Labour Leader Ed Miliband said he would “put working people first” in order to build a prosperous UK if his party comes to power in the general election.

See story 

5. In September a man armed with a knife scaled the White House perimeter fence and gained access to the building.

See story

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