ANIA B2.3 Lesson 15

Class
Listening Skills:
1. Weak forms and assimilation recap.
2. High numbers.

Podcast More or Less 22/04/2016
Listen or download here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03s4577

An artist's impression of the planned nuclear power plant. 

What is the most expensive “object” ever built? There are plans in the UK to build a brand new nuclear power station called Hinckley Point. The environmental charity Greenpeace have claimed it is set to be the most expensive object on Earth. But could it really cost more to build than the Great Pyramid of Giza? We take a look at some of the most costly building projects on the planet.

Notes:

Billion 1,000,000,000 (short scale used in the U.S., U.K. since 1974 and most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand).

1,000,000,000,000 (long scale used in the U.K. until 1974, still used in some countries e.g. in South Amercia).

Pronunciation of large numbers:

£324,345,923.00 

Three hundred and twenty four million, three hundred and forty-five thousand, nine hundred and twenty-three pounds.

Note also the use of commas and full stops in English.

Vocabulary

Piffling - trival/of little value e.g. A piffling number/amount = an insignificant number or amount. 

To splash out on (something) = to spend a lot of money on

A bargain = something of good quality obtained at a low price

Quids = pounds

Caveat = caution, warning

Homework

Finish listening to the rest of the podcast. If the accents are difficult at first, they will get easier the more you listen. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03s4577