Slow and Steady Wins the Race!
Step 1: Listen
You're going to hear a genuine BBC news report. Before you listen, read these three summaries. Now listen and decide which one is correct. Listen again if you need to.
a) Smoking has been made illegal in Beijing. Similar laws have been passed previously.
b) Smoking has been made illegal in some places in Beijing. It's the first time this type of law has been tried.
c) Smoking has been made illegal in some places in Beijing. Similar laws have been passed previously.
Step 2: Learn the key words and listen again
How was that? Try listening again. Here are four definitions of key vocabulary which may help you.
come into force
become effective in law
supervised
managed
imposed
officially forced to do or accept
comply
act according to a rule
Step 3: Transcript and answer
Still not sure? This time you can read the transcript. The answer's underneath.
Newsreader
A smoking ban has come into force at all indoor public places in the Chinese capital, Beijing.
It will be supervised by thousands of inspectors and fines will be imposed in venues that don't comply.
Previous bans in the capital have not been successful.
Answer
The correct answer is:
c) Smoking has been made illegal in some places in Beijing. Similar laws have been passed previously.
This bulletin comes from BBC World Service Radio