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Unit 5: Let and allow
Other ways to say 'Let's go!'

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  4. 4 5 ways to use 'would'
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  17. 17 Word stress
  18. 18 Different ways of saying 'if'
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  20. 20 The subjunctive
  21. 21 When and if
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  23. 23 Phrasal verbs
  24. 24 The future
  25. 25 Modals in the past
  26. 26 Narrative tenses
  27. 27 Phrasal verb myths
  28. 28 Conditionals review
  29. 29 Used to - review
  30. 30 Linking words of contrast

Session 2

Obama's fight on gun crime

How does President Obama plan to save people from gun violence in the US? Watch and listen to Neil and Catherine discuss the issue. You'll learn the words and phrases you need to talk about this story

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Session 2 score

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    Activity 1
  1. Activity 1

Activity 1

News Review

Obama takes on gun crime

US President Obama wants to make it more difficult for Americans to buy guns. And he's using special powers to do it.

In this programme, Neil and Catherine explore the language being used by the world's media to discuss this story. Watch the programme and learn the words and phrases you need to talk about the news. Then see what you've learned with a short quiz.

Watch the video and complete the activity

The story

From a BBC report on 5th January 2016:

The White House has given details of President Obama's plans to tighten gun controls in the US.

It says all gun sellers will have to be registered and must carry out background checks on buyers.

After years of fierce opposition, President Obama has decided to bypass Congress and introduce the measures through a series of executive orders.

US President Barack Obama

Although we have to be very clear that this is not going to solve every violent crime in this country. It's not going to prevent every mass shooting. It's not going to keep every gun out of the hands of a criminal. It will potentially save lives in this country and spare families the pain and the extraordinary loss that they've suffered as a consequence of a firearm being in the hands of the wrong people.

Key words and phrases

background checks
checks on the things a person has done in their past

bypass
to go around something in order to avoid it

executive action
an action taken by a person in charge which doesn't follow the usual approval procedure

To do

Try these questions to test your ability to use the words from this News Review.

Obama and guns

3 Questions

How well did you understand the new language in today's programme?

Congratulations you completed the Quiz
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
x / y

Your challenge

We asked which of these are NOT used to describe roads in the UK?

a) motorway

b) dual carriageway

c) freeway

The right answer is c) freeway. We don't use that word to describe roads in the UK. Well done if you got it right!

Next

Learn more about this story in News Report.

Session Vocabulary

  • background checks
    checks on the things a person has done in their past                                   

    bypass 
    to go around something in order to avoid it

    executive action
    an action taken by a person in charge which doesn't follow the usual approval procedure

     

View full vocabulary reference

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