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  • Part of an abandoned rocket is thought to have hit the Moon last Friday

  • according to scientists.

  • Hello, this is News Review from BBC Learning English and I'm Rob.

  • And joining me today to look at the language from the headlines

  • about this story is Roy. Hello Roy.

  • Hello Rob and hello everybody.

  • If you would like to test yourself on the vocabulary around this story,

  • all you need to do is head to our website bbclearningenglish.com

  • but now let's hear more about this story from Professor Hugh Lewis,

  • a professor at the University of Southampton

  • who's talking about space debris.

  • So, the story is this:

  • part of a discarded rocket has most likely impacted

  • on the far side of the moon.

  • Now, it isn't clear at this time who this rocket belongs to.

  • The effects of the impact on the Moon are likely to be quite small and minor,

  • but interestingly the European Space Agency

  • estimates that there are now 36,500 pieces of space junk,

  • which is a word we useor phrase we useto say space rubbish,

  • larger than 10cm.

  • Wow. Well, we have three words and expressions

  • from the news headlines about this story.

  • What are those words and expressions please, Roy?

  • We have 'rogue', 'collision course' and 'calculate'.

  • That's 'rogue', 'collision course' and 'calculate'.

  • OK. Let's go to that first headline then please.

  • OK. So, our first headline comes from Space.com and it reads:

  • So, that's 'rogue' — describes something that behaves abnormally,

  • often in a way that causes damage.

  • OK. So, 'rogue' is being used as an adjective here.

  • It's spelt R-O-G-U-E

  • and it talks about something that is behaving unexpectedly.

  • It's describing something that's not acting in its normal way

  • and the result of these 'rogue' actions

  • usually leads to some kind of damage.

  • And in this headline, we're using the word 'rogue'

  • to describe the actual rocket, yeah?

  • Yeah, we are. So, for example,

  • the rocket was expected to do one thing or this...

  • the part of the rocket was expected to do one thing

  • and it's behaving in an unexpected way

  • as in it's now going to collide or has collided with the Moon.

  • We use this word 'rogue' quite often to talk about objects or people.

  • For example, a 'rogue' employee: if you have a rogue employee,

  • they're maybe doing something that's going to cause damage

  • or dangerous actions.

  • For example, they may be trying to sabotage

  • or steal secrets from the company.

  • If you have a 'rogue' company or a 'rogue' firm,

  • maybe they are behaving or trading in a bad way,

  • selling bad products, for example.

  • We also hear it when we talk about secret agents.

  • You can have a 'rogue' secret agent or a 'rogue' spy.

  • Maybe they're selling secrets to the enemy.

  • This all sounds very negative.

  • Is 'rogue' a negative word or can it be used in a positive way?

  • Yeah, quite... quite... quite commonly it is used negatively.

  • You can also, in some instances, use it positively.

  • For example, police officers: you have some police officers

  • and they're given some orders,

  • but they decide to go against their orders.

  • They go 'rogue' and they maybe save people from a building.

  • So, they... they... they...

  • they don't follow their orders and they go and help other people.

  • They... they go 'rogue'.

  • And we can talk about 'rogue' countries as well.

  • Yes, you can. A country that's not behaving in an...

  • in an expected wayin a normal way.

  • And the verb commonly used with 'rogue' is 'go rogue': to 'go rogue'.

  • OK. Thanks for that, Roy. Let's have a summary:

  • We've been to space before in News Review.

  • Last time we went there was to find some space wine.

  • Tell us more, Roy.

  • All you need to do to watch this story is click the link

  • in the description below.

  • Great. OK. Let's have a look at your next news headline please.

  • OK. So, our next headline comes from Euronews and it reads:

  • So, that's 'collision course' — on a path which will result in impact.

  • So, a two-word expression.

  • First word: 'collision' — C-O-L-L-I-S-I-O-N.

  • Second word: 'course' — C-O-U-R-S-E.

  • And it means on a path, or going in a direction,

  • that will result in an accident

  • and this expression is commonly used with the preposition 'on':

  • 'on a collision course'.

  • OK. Now, I've heard this expression used in the movies,

  • in a kind of action film or a disaster movie,

  • when for example two aircraft are heading towards each other:

  • they're on a 'collision course'. Is that right?

  • Yeah, that's right. So, for example,

  • one object is potentially movinglike a plane

  • in the direction of somethingfor example, a mountain

  • and if they don't change their direction, if they don't change their way,

  • they are on a 'collision course' and they will hit.

  • It could also be two objects moving towards each other

  • that are going to have an accident

  • and we commonly use it for talking about things like cars,

  • trains, moving objects.

  • What about two people? If they're going to head towards each other,

  • bump into each other, are they on a 'collision course'?

  • Is that a kind of literal meaning?

  • Well, I suppose you could if they've both got, like, trays of drinks

  • and they can't see and it's going to, you know...

  • they're both going towards each other and they're going to hit,

  • but it's not common that we would use...

  • say they're on a 'collision course'.

  • We do use it more non-literally, when we're talking about two people

  • who are maybe heading towards a big argument or a fight.

  • You could say they are on a 'collision course'.

  • OK. Unlike us, Roy, of coursenever on a 'collision course'.

  • Never.

  • OK. Thank you for that. Let's have a summary:

  • In our 6 Minute English programme

  • we talked about astronauts possibly going on strike.

  • How can we find out more, Roy?

  • All you need to do is click the link in the description below.

  • Yeah. Great. Let's have a look at your next headline now please.

  • OK. So, our next headline comes from the Daily Sabah and it reads:

  • So, the word is 'calculate' — come to a conclusion.

  • Yes. So, this word is 'calculate'

  • and it is spelt C-A-L-C-U-L-A-T-E

  • and it means arrive at a conclusion or understanding.

  • Now, 'calculate' — this is something... something to do with maths, isn't it?

  • Adding up numbers.

  • Yeah, quite commonly.

  • So, we 'calculate' sums or mathematical equations.

  • So, for example, 1 + 1...

  • I calculate that and it is... 2.

  • It often involves numbers or information.

  • Now, a synonym of this and it's more informal

  • a phrasal verbis to 'work out'.

  • So, you 'work out' an equation or you 'work out' a sum.

  • And if people can't 'work out' a sum in their heads,

  • they use a 'calculator'.

  • They do indeed. I use 'calculators' all the time.

  • I am terrible at maths, which is why I said 1 + 1!

  • I'm an English teacher, not a maths teacher.

  • But, yeah, that's right: you use a 'calculator' to work that out.

  • Now, in the headline 'calculate' is being used, as I said, as a verb

  • and it means to reach an understanding or to arrive at a conclusion.

  • And it's probably involving maths;

  • they were working out the angle or the speed of the rocket.

  • So, we also use it to talk about a person.

  • We do, but it's a very different meaning.

  • You can say somebody is a 'calculating' person

  • or they are 'calculating' and it's usually negative.

  • It means they're maybe plotting and scheming.

  • They're trying to control a situation for their benefit

  • and, as I say, it's usually negative.

  • Yes, very good. OK. Let's have a summary:

  • OK. Roy, it's time now for you to recap

  • the words and expressions that we've talked about today please.

  • Yes, we had 'rogue' — describes something that behaves abnormally,

  • often in a way that causes damage.

  • We had 'collision course' — on a path which will result in impact.

  • And we had 'calculate' — come to a conclusion.

  • Now, if you want to test yourself on the understanding of this vocabulary,

  • we have a quiz that's on our website at bbclearningenglish.com

  • and that's also the place to go to

  • to check out all our other Learning English materials.

  • And of course we're all across social media.

  • Well, that's all for today's News Review.

  • Thank you for watching and we'll see you next time.

  • Bye for now.

  • Bye!

Part of an abandoned rocket is thought to have hit the Moon last Friday

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