Close menu
6

Unit 6: Passive voice
Tips for learning irregular verbs

Select a unit

  1. 1 Go beyond intermediate with our new video course
  2. 2 Reported speech in 90 seconds!
  3. 3 If or whether?
  4. 4 5 ways to use 'would'
  5. 5 Let and allow
  6. 6 Passive voice
  7. 7 Unless
  8. 8 Mixed conditionals
  9. 9 The zero article - in 90 seconds
  10. 10 The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
  11. 11 The. That's right - the! Learn all about it in 90 seconds
  12. 12 The continuous passive
  13. 13 Future perfect
  14. 14 Need + verb-ing
  15. 15 Have something done
  16. 16 Wish
  17. 17 Word stress
  18. 18 Different ways of saying 'if'
  19. 19 Passive reporting structures
  20. 20 The subjunctive
  21. 21 When and if
  22. 22 Inversion
  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

Reinventing the lightbulb

Scientists in the US have created a new energy-efficient lightbulb. Watch and listen to Neil and Catherine and learn the words and phrases you need to talk about this story

Sessions in this unit

12345

Session 2 score

0 / 3

  • 0 / 3
    Activity 1
  1. Activity 1

Activity 1

News Review

Recycling light

Scientists in the US have taken a classic design and brought it into the 21st Century. The new lightbulb uses three times less energy than the old-fashioned version. And it does so by recycling light.

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 12th January 2016:

Researchers in the United States say they've developed a technique that can significantly improve the efficiency of the traditional incandescent lightbulb.

They say they've built prototypes that are already three times more efficient than standard incandescent bulbs.

Ognjen Ilic - Massachusetts Institute of Technology

We take this incandescent filament and really redesign it in a way that when we surround it with the right structures we can send that infrared light back so that it's not wasted. And the net effect is – and of course let visible light through – so the net effect is that it takes less electrical energy – electrical power – to get as much visible light.

Key words and phrases

incandescent
producing light from a heated part

comeback
when someone or something that was once successful becomes successful again

revamp
change something in order to improve it

To do

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

Light up your English

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

What does it mean to have ‘a lightbulb moment’?

a) To realise suddenly that you have a great idea.

b) Lights suddenly going out in a house or building.

c) To decide suddenly to buy some lightbulbs.

The right answer is a) To realise suddenly that you have a great idea.

More

Learn more about this story in News Report.

End of Session 2

Join us in Session 3 for Lingohack - our video which teaches you using the latest BBC World News bulletins.

Session Grammar

View full grammar reference

Session Vocabulary

  • incandescent
    producing light from a heated part

    comeback
    when someone or something that was once successful becomes successful again

    revamp
    change something in order to improve it

    significantly 
    by a large or noticeable amount                                         

    prototype 
    the first example of a new product

View full vocabulary reference

Download centre

Latest course content