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News Report

Intermediate level

China growth slows

Episode 160119 / 19 Jan 2016

Step 1: Listen

You're going to hear a genuine BBC news report from 19th January 2016. Before you listen, read these three summaries:

a) The Chinese economy is getting smaller.

b) The Chinese economy is getting bigger at a slower speed than before.

c) The Chinese economy is only affecting China.

Now listen and decide which one is correct. Listen again if you need to.

Step 2: Learn the key words and listen again

How was that? Try listening again. Here are three definitions of key vocabulary items which may help you.

rate of growth
speed at which something increases in size

shrinking
getting smaller

depreciation
process in which something becomes less valuable

Step 3: Transcript and answer

The Chinese economy grew by 6.9% last year.

It's the slowest rate of growth for the world's second largest economy in 25 years.

Concerns about the health of the Chinese economy, including shrinking foreign and domestic demand and the depreciation of its currency, has contributed to sharp falls on global markets.

Answer

b) The Chinese economy is getting bigger at a slower speed than before.

This bulletin comes from BBC World Service Radio.

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