Transcript
The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.
That’s what world leaders who are gathering for the start of the World Economic Forum are being told this week.
The charity Oxfam says that by 2015, 50% of the world’s wealth will be owned by the richest 1% of the population.
They say urgent action is needed to narrow the gap between the global elite and the other 99%.
Vocabulary
world leaders
presidents, prime ministers and other important people
charity
an organisation that helps people in need
urgent action
serious steps that need to be taken to solve a problem
narrow the gap
to bring two things closer together
global elite
the small group of people with the most power and money around the world
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.
global elite / world leaders / narrow the gap / charity / urgent action
1. Growing scientific evidence of accelerating greenhouse gas emissions, melting icecaps and the shrinking capacity of “sinks” to absorb emissions means we need bold, __________ by government to drive down emissions to zero.
2. “We also recognise the importance of helping the lagging regions __________ in growth rates.”
3. While __________ were formulating an international response to modern climate change, archaeologists were discussing a serious shift in climate that happened 2,500 years ago.
4. Stephen Sackur asks “is it time we challenged the power of the __________?”
5. Filmmakers and __________ workers are joining forces to raise awareness of the dangers of childbirth in Bangladesh.
Answers
1. Growing scientific evidence of accelerating greenhouse gas emissions, melting icecaps and the shrinking capacity of “sinks” to absorb emissions means we need bold, urgent action by government to drive down emissions to zero.
2. “We also recognise the importance of helping the lagging regions narrow the gap in growth rates.”
3. While world leaders were formulating an international response to modern climate change, archaeologists were discussing a serious shift in climate that happened 2,500 years ago.
4. Stephen Sackur asks “is it time we challenged the power of the global elite?”
5. Filmmakers and charity workers are joining forces to raise awareness of the dangers of childbirth in Bangladesh.