Step 1: Listen

You’re going to hear a genuine BBC news report from 2nd February 2016. Before you listen, read these three summaries:

a) The Rio Olympics will be cancelled because the World Health Organisation says the the Zika virus is an international emergency.

b) Pregnant women will be banned from attending the Rio Olympics after a World Health Organisation assessment.

c) The government of Brazil says the Rio Olympics will go ahead despite a World Health Organisation assessment.

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.

the spread of

the growing area affected by something

constitutes

considered to be

endangered

in a situation which could cause harm

Step 3: Transcript and answer

Brazil says there’s no risk that the Olympic Games in Rio will be cancelled despite the World Health Organisation’s assessment that the spread of the Zika virus constitutes an international public health emergency.

A spokesman for President Dilma Rousseff said the lives of athletes and spectators would not be endangered, though pregnant women should not attend.

Answer

c) The government of Brazil says the Rio Olympics will go ahead despite a World Health Organisation assessment.