Current Affairs- Vocab & Speaking

Current affairs vocabulary brainstorming and speaking

Brainstorm language for the current affairs categories in teams. You will get one point for each word or phrase which is on your list and not in the answer key.

Compare with the answer key and share your other ideas.

Use as many words from your lists and the answer key as you can to talk about recent news and news sources.

Disasters and environmental problems

 

 

 

Crimes

   

Punishments

 

 

 

Verbs connected to crime and punishment

 

 

 

People connected to crime and punishment

 

 

 

Politicians and what they do

 

 

 

Economic figures

 

 

 

Social problems

 

 

 

Words connected to war

 

 

 

International organisations

 

 

 

Other parts of a newspaper/ Other kinds of news

 

 

-------------------

Suggested answers

Disasters and environmental problems

Flood, landslide/ avalanche, storm (hurricane/ cyclone/ typhoon), drought, famine/ starvation, volcanic eruption, earthquake, tidal wave/ tsunami, forest fire, crash/ collision/ pileup, fire, acid rain, pollution, oil spill/ oil slick, hole in the ozone layer, global warming, rising sea levels, extinction of endangered animals, illegal logging, tax dodging, epidemic,

Crimes

Theft/ robbery (e.g. bag snatching, pickpocketing, burglary, shoplifting, mugging), (first degree) murder/ homicide, second degree murder/ manslaughter, bribery, blackmail, insider trading, drink driving, arson, smuggling, terrorism, sexual harassment, illegal discrimination, organised crime (e.g. mafia and gangs), rape, assault

Punishments

Prison sentence (e.g. a life sentence), death penalty/ capital punishment, community service, suspended sentence, corporal punishment, fine, compensation/ damages,

Verbs connected to crime and punishment

Arrest, escape/ flee, question, confess, deny, prosecute, break in, threaten, steal, hide, apologise, convict, release, commit, investigate,

People connected to crime and punishment

Lawyer, judge, magistrate, criminal, suspect, victim, prison guard, police officer, private

detective, suspect, witness, alibi, jury, court reporter, defendant/ accused

Politicians and what they do

MP, senator, congressman, mayor, local counsellor, PM, president, candidate, vice president, MEP, incumbent, shadow minister, minister, The Chancellor (of the Exchequer)/ finance minister, lawmaker, president in waiting, conservative, leftwinger, member of the House of Lords, leader of the opposition, Speaker, cabinet, give a speech, vote, resign, release a statement, stand for election, take bribes, write a manifesto, form a coalition, retract a statement, be interviewed

Economic figures

Inflation, unemployment rate, business confidence, GDP, GNP, economic growth, interest rates, consumer confidence, stockmarket index (e.g. FTSE, Dow Jones), budget deficit, trade deficit, bankruptcies, household debt, national debt

Social problems

Abortion. divorce, bullying (e.g. in the workplace), censorship, child labour, data protection problems, domestic violence, educational standards, birthrate, addiction, globalisation, vandalism (e.g. graffiti), health scares, homelessness, human trafficking, gambling, weapons, immigration, inequality, NEETs, vigilantism, obesity, poverty, e.g. the Working Poor, school absenteeism, sex industry, stress-related illnesses, suicide

Words connected to war

Battle, attack, retreat, pact, ceasefire/ truce, defeat, ethnic cleansing, prisoner of war camp, refugee, civil war, ethnic tensions, invade, capture, defend/ hold off, ally, enemy, mediator,

International organisations

UNHCR, Red Cross, ASEAN, OPEC, IMF, World Bank, NATO, Amnesty International, UNESCO, WTO, WHO, EU, APEC, NAFTA

Other parts of a newspaper/ Other kinds of news

Opinion/ column/ editorial, reviews, listings, crossword, sports, weather, celebrity gossip, political scandal, cartoon