Oprahs show to end

Report

The Oprah Winfrey Show began in 1986 and is now broadcast in 140 countries. With
its confessional atmosphere and Ms Winfreys candour about her troubled childhood and
her weight and relationship problems, its redefined the talk show genre.

Its also made her the wealthiest black women in the world, and possibly too, the most
influential. A Maryland University study suggested her support for Barak Obama had been key
to his nomination. Authors appearing on her programme can become bestsellers overnight.

Oprah is still the highest rated talk show on US television but audiences are half what
they were a decade ago. Her empire also includes magazines, a radio show and, from next
year, a television network, so it seems likely her place in American culture will continue.

VOCABULARY

with its confessional atmosphere

encouraging participants to admit that they have done something wrong, or that there is
something they feel guilty or bad about, almost like in a Christian church where people tell God
or a priest about their wrongdoings in order to be forgiven

candour being honest and telling the truth, even when it is difficult and
embarrassing

her troubled childhood the many problems she experienced and lived through while she
was a child

redefined the talk show genre

changed significantly the way in which talk shows were made, broadcast and perceived

the most influential having more power over/effect on more people than any other
black women

key to the most important in

bestsellers here, authors of books that enjoys big commercial success (note
that a very commercially successful book is also called a
bestseller)

the highest rated the most popular, the most watched

empire here, a very large and powerful business

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 Lindsey Lohan sentenced to jail
Report

In 2007 Lindsay Lohan pleaded guilty to two counts of being under the influence of
cocaine and no contest to two drunk driving charges.

She went to jail but spent only 84 minutes behind bars. She was also ordered to
complete a series of alcohol education courses.

But she failed to do them on time and missed a number of meetings. When the judge
announced that she was now sentencing Lohan to 90 days in jail, the actress burst into tears.

She isnt required to go to jail until July 20 th but when shes releases shell have to
enter an inpatient rehabilitation programme.

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pleaded guilty admitted to

under the influence of intoxicated by

no contest a legal plea where someone neither admits guilt nor claims
innocence of the charges

drunk driving driving a car after having consumed too much alcohol

behind bars in prison

alcohol education courses classes which teach and advise about the use and misuse of
alcohol

on time at the expected hour

sentencing imposing a punishment

burst into tears started crying

inpatient rehabilitation programme

a course to help people rejoin society after receiving medical care

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 Golden Globe winners announced
Director James Cameron

Report

James Cameron, whos spent the past five years working on Avatar, was named best
director. The film, which is on course to become the highest crossing movie of all time, is
now considered to be in pole position to do well at the Oscars.

The Hangover, a film based around a stag party in Las Vegas, won the award for best
comedy. Jeff Bridges, who plays a country music singer in the film Crazy Heart, was named
best actor. And Meryl Streep took the award for best actress in a comedy for her portrayal of
the American TV chef, the late Julia Child, in Julie and Julia.

Many of the celebrities wore ribbons in support of the people of Haiti. TV viewers were
encouraged to give money. The organizers of the show, the Hollywood Foreign Press
Association, said they were donating $100,000 to the earthquake relief fund.

VOCABULARY

on course to seems to be going to

the highest grossing movie be film which has taken most money from people going
to see it

to be in pole position to do well to be a favorite and most likely to won

a stag party a party which a man has before he gets married, usually
with only his male friends

her portrayal of her playing the part of

late now dead

ribbons small pieces of coloured material often worn to show

support for a particular cause

donating giving, usually for a charitable cause

the earthquake relief fund a collection of money to be used to help people affected
by the earthquake in Haiti

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 Spanish fans celebrate World Cup Victory
Report

Theyre still partying here in Madrid; the celebration of Spains first ever World Cup win
has gone on right through the night.

The city high street, Gran Via, has been closed to traffic as thousands of fans conduct
their own victory parade. Theyve been dancing on dustbins and hanging from lamp-posts.
Wrapped in the national flag, theyve been singing, drinking, and savouring the moment.

Prime Minister Zapatero has called Spains success an epic victory; one thatll go
down in the countrys history. The team coach calls winning the World Cup reward for
beautiful football. Theres no doubting that for Spanish fans. Later today, the new world
champions will arrive back here in Madrid. This city, the whole country, plans to welcome their
footballers as national heroes.

VOCABULARY

right through the night all night, until the morning

high street the main road in a city or town

victory parade public celebrations to mark the win

lamp-posts tall poles to hold up street lights

the national flag the piece of cloth with colours and patterns representing
the country

savouring the moment enjoying the experience

an epic victory an impressive win

go down in the countrys history be remembered by the nation

world champions the best team on the planet

national heroes people who are admired by the whole country

4
 Confucius the movie
Report

Lights cameras philosophy An unlikely subject for a blockbuster with an

unlikely leading man. Chow Yun-Fat, the star of numerous Hong Kong gangster movies, is to
swap his sub-machine gun for the scholarly robes of Confucius. The film could also seem
unlikely given how the ancient thinker fell out of favour in China. Chairman Mao Zedong said
he belonged to the feudal age, and the Red Guards of the Cultural Revolution destroyed his
grave.

But that was in the 1960s and 70s. Now Chinas leaders are turning to Confucius to
give the country some spiritual guidance. His emphasis on harmony and self-discipline,
without to God of course, has been endorsed by the president. Confucian texts have been
given greater prominence in universities and the government is now partly funding the 20
million dollar film.

So what wisdom can we expect up on the silver screen? Better a diamond with a
flaw than a pebble without? Or perhaps one suited to Chow Yun-Fats earlier movies: before
you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.

VOCABULARY

a blockbuster a film that is very commercially successful

leading man the actor playing the main part

fell out of favour stopped being treated with respect

spiritual guidance teaching aimed at achieving non-materials gains, such as

reducing stress and anxiety, living more happily, etc.

emphasis on underscoring, or stressing the importance of

endorsed officially approved

been given greater prominence begun to be studied more widely and thoroughly

wisdom here, a saying based on many peoples knowledge of life gained

through their experiences

up on the silver screen showing in cinemas (the silver screen is an old-fashioned way of
referring to both the special screen on which films are projected
and the film industry in general)

a flaw a fault or imperfection

5
 Music legend Michael Jackson dies
Report

Michael Jacksons body was airlifted from hospital to the coroners office in
downtown Los Angeles. TV stations here carried live coverage of the helicopters journey. An
autopsy will be carried out later today to establish the precise cause of his death.

Paramedics had been called to the Beverly Hills mansion Michael Jackson had been
renting whilst he prepared for a series of fifty sold-out shows in London next month. The
singers brother Jermain told a news conference that after they failed to resuscitate him,
Jackson was transferred to a nearby hospital where a team of doctors worked for more than an
hour in a vain attempt to revive him.

Only a few hours earlier Michael Jackson had been rehearsing at a local sports
stadium, but concerns about his fitness for the concert tour had already begun to circulate, amid
reports that he was looking frail. Hundreds of fans have maintained a vigil outside the hospital
to which he was taken, some to mourn his passing, others to celebrate his music.

For the all the controversy that surrounded the latter part of his career several
commentators here has likened his musical legacy to that of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and
Elvis Presley.

VOCABULARY

airlifted moved by aircraft or helicopter (here, because of an emergency)

coroners office a place where an official person examines the reason why
someone died unexpectedly

carried live coverage broadcast news and events as they happened

paramedics medical workers specially trained to deal with emergencies

sold-out shows concerts so popular, that there are no tickets left to buy

resuscitate bring someone back to life or consciousness

vain attempt when you try to do something difficult but without much chance
of succeeding

frail weak, unhealthy

maintained a vigil stayed in one place to think about and honour an ill or dead
person

mourn his passing express sadness over his death

controversy difficulties, trouble

6
 Sherlock Holmes returns
Report

The character of Sherlock Holmes was originally created by the Scottish writer Arthur
Conan Doyle, who featured him in four novels and more than 50 short stories. After his death,
his son Adrian wrote several stories featuring the famous Victorian detective, but critics say
he was never that popular.

But its the first time that the Arthur Conan Doyle estate has officially asked an author
to write a new novel. He has been named as Anthony Horowitz and is best known his Alex Rider
childrens series. So was he daunted by the challenge? Anthony Horowitz:

Well obviously, it was daunting to a certain extent and you are dealing with probably
the most iconic detective in the whole history of literature. And the one thing I didnt want to do
was to disappoint those really devout fans, the sort of Sherlock Holmes Society and people
who love these books. But to be honest with you, I actually found it fairly easy to write because I
have loved those books since I was 16 years old, Ive read them two or three times during the
course of my lifetime in fact, my whole life as a writer of crime fiction myself was, to a certain
extent, inspired by Doyle and I find the book not so scary as I thought it might be.

Anthony Horowitz says hes a devoted fan and aims to produce a first rate mystery for
a modern audience.

VOCABULARY

character here, a person or a creature that has been created for a story

Victorian detective person who tried to solve crimes during the time of Queen Victorias
reign in Britain (1837-1901)

critics people who write or talk about their opinions, sometimes in the media

an author someone who writes books or articles

daunted by worried, slightly frightened or intimidated by

to a certain extent in some ways

iconic someone or something which is representative of a time, culture or

purpose

to disappoint to make others feel sad because you havent done something they
expected you to

devout fans people who love and support something or someone with a passion
thats almost religious

crime fiction stories that are created by writers about illegal activities which are not
true

7
 Female players get football league in England
Report

Womens football or soccer as its known in many countries has been played in
England for more than a hundred years. But, unlike mens football, its always been an amateur
game. The new Super League will be the first semi-professional competition for women, with
eight teams from across the country competing for the title.

The players will get paid for their efforts, although their salaries will be nothing like
those given to top made football stars. The Football Association says it hoped to avoid uneven
competition, where a countrys richest clubs get access to all the best players.

Each club in the womens Super League will have a maximum annual budget of
around $400,000. Some clubs, like Arsenal and Everton, will be helped by their respective male
clubs, but others are trying to match their incomes by coaching school pupils or raising money
through social events.

Organizers are hoping the league will eventually attract the worlds best female players
and stop Englands top stars heading to Germany and the United States, where there are
already major professional competitions.

VOCABULARY

unlike not similar to

amateur not professional, not done for money

efforts attempts to do something

avoid stay away from, prevent meeting

uneven unbalanced, unequal

budget amount of money available

to match to equal

incomes monies or amounts regularly earned

eventually some time in the future, probably after delays or problems

heading to going to, leaving for

8
 Japanese pop star goes on trial
Report

When she sang and acted, Noriko Sakai could always draw a crowd but rarely as big
as the one that turned up to witness her downfall. 6,615 people queued, some all night in
pouring rain, to get into the courtroom in Tokyo. Officials set up tents and handed out numbered
armbands before holding a lottery draw to decide who would get the 20 seats in the public
gallery.

When the hearing began the 38-year-old pleaded guilty to possessing 0.008 of a
gram of whats been described as stimulant drugs, and using drugs too.

Noriko Sakai has been famous since she was a teenager, first as a J-Pop singer, later
as an actress. But her girl next door image was shattered in August when her husband was
arrested over a drugs offence. She went on the run for several days before turning herself in.
In the meantime the police have found more drugs in her flat. In court, Noriko Sakai said she
wanted a divorce and to make a fresh start, studying nursing care for the elderly. Her lawyers
pleaded for leniency. The prosecution in seeking an 18 month prison sentence.

VOCABULARY

could always draw a crowd was popular enough to be sure that performances as a singer or
actor would always attract a lot of attention (from her fans, the
press etc.)

turned up to witness her downfall came/arrived to see her failure

pleaded guilty publicly declared in court that she was responsible for her
wrongdoing

J-pop short for Japanese pop, a style of music that begin in the 1990s
and has its origins in 1960s music, such as The Beatles

girl next door someone who is sweet, wholesome, modest and easy-going and
seen as very feminine in the traditional way

went on the run disappeared, was hiding (usually from the police or authorities)

turning herself in coming to the police

to make a fresh start to begin living her life differently

nursing care when someone is professionally trained to look after sick, elderly
or disabled people and does it as their job

pleaded for leniency asked for a less severe punishment; asked to show mercy

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 Kings speech crowned at Oscars
Report

The words every filmmaker wants to hear: Spielberg: And the Oscar goes to Bowes:
came from the legendary Hollywood director, Steven Spielberg. Spielberg: The film tells the
story of how George VI employed an unconventional speech therapist from Australia to help
him overcome his problem with stammering.

Funded in part by the UK Film Council, a body which is being disbanded by the
government, the film also won the award for best original screenplay and best director. Colin
Firth, who plays the King, joked that his award for best actor meant his career had peaked.

Firth: Im afraid I have to warn you, that I am experiencing stirrings, somewhere in the
upper abdominals, which are threatening to form themselves into dance movies.

Bowes: David Seidler, who wrote the screenplay, said he hoped the award would
inspire people who are trying to overcome speech impediments:

Seidler: I accept this on behalf of all the stutterers throughout the world. We have a
choice. We have been heard, thanks to you, the Academy.

Bowes: It wasnt a clean sweep for The Kings Speech, out of 12 nominations it won in
four categories, but Oscar glory is bound to boost the films takings at the box office.

VOCABULARY

unconventional here, alternative, quirky or not following well-known or

established methods

funded financed or given money to be made

disbanded taken apart or discontinued

peaked reached the top, or become as good as its likely to get

stirrings strong feelings that make you want to act in a particular way

upper abdominal muscles around your belly or stomach

to form themselves into to come together and become

speech impediments medical conditions causing people to suffer difficulties with

speaking

a clean sweep here, winning every award it was nominated for

takings money earned from selling (tickets)

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