Monkeypox: New disease spreads: BBC News Review

Monkey pox cases continue to spread around the world.

This is News Review from BBC Learning English.

I'm Neil. Joining me is Roy. Hello Roy.

Hello Neil 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 to take a quiz.

But now, let's hear more about this story from this BBC News report:

So, new cases of monkey pox are being discovered in the UK every day.

There have now been outbreaks

in at least fifteen countries around the world.

Global authorities are meeting to discuss the outbreak.

OK. You've been looking at this story across the world's media

and you've picked out some really interesting vocabulary.

What have you got?

We have 'ramp up', 'formidable' and 'explodes'.

'Ramp up', 'formidable' and 'explodes'.

Let's take a look at your first headline please, Roy.

OK. So, our first headline comes from The Guardian and it reads:

  'Ramp up' — increase level of something dramatically.

Yes. So, this is a phrasal verb.

Two words. First word: R-A-M-P.

Second word: U-P – 'up'.

And it is a separable phrasal verb,

which means you can 'ramp something up'

or 'ramp up something'.

And it means increase something sharply.

Now, Roy, it might be useful for remembering this word

to look at that first part 'ramp' as a noun.

A 'ramp' is a structure to help something with wheels

go from a lower level to a higher level:

for example, a wheelchair or a car.

Yes. So, that idea of taking something with wheels from one level to another,

from increasing its level,

really helps us to understand the idea of 'ramp up'.

Now, 'ramp up' basically means increase something suddenly.

Now, in terms of the headline, we're talking about 'ramping up' efforts.

You can also use it in the working world:

for example, if you need to 'ramp up' your work or your effort on a project.

And if there is a lack of a product, you can 'ramp up' manufacture.

Are there any alternatives to this word 'ramp up'?

Yeah. OK. So, 'ramp up' is a phrasal verb, which means it's quite informal.

Another phrasal verb would be 'step up',

but if you want to go away... get away from phrasal verbs,

you could use 'increase' or 'boost'.

So, you could 'increase' your efforts or 'boost' your efforts.

And specifically related to efforts, you could 'double your efforts'.

OK. Let's get a summary:

Now, of course over the last two years,

we have talked a lot about illnesses spreading around the world.

We have plenty of stories about coronavirus.

We've got a really interesting one

from the vocabulary point of view, haven't we, Roy?

Yes, we do. And all you need to do to watch that

is click the link in the description below.

Now, it's time for your next headline please.

OK. So, our next headline comes from The Independent and it reads:

Right. 'Formidable' — F-O-R-M-I-D-A-B-L-E.

And it basically describes something

that causes fear because it is very difficult.

Yes. And we often see this word used

in combination with the word 'challenge': a 'formidable challenge'.

Yeah. So, if a... if a challenge is 'formidable',

it's basically saying that it is a very difficult challenge,

to the point where it scares you or causes fear.

Now, synonyms for 'formidable' could be 'daunting' or 'intimidating'.

And it can be used to describe challenges

or situations that are difficult.

Also, for example, it could be used to describe an army.

So, if it is a 'formidable' force,

you're describing a force that is very powerful:

an army that is very powerful and scary.

You could even... even use it to describe, for example, a mountain:

if there is a 'formidable' mountain,

it maybe says that that mountain is very big and scary.

So, it's often used to talk about things like size, power and difficulty.

And how about people? Can we describe people as 'formidable'?

Yes, you can. So, for example,

if somebody has read a lot about a subject,

you could say they have 'formidable' knowledge of a subject.

Or in politics, for example, you may have a very powerful opponent

and you could describe that person as a 'formidable' opponent.

OK. Let's have a summary:

Talking about fear, we have a programme about spiders, don't we, Roy?

Yes, we do. And all you need to do to watch that programme

is click the link in the description below.

Time now for your next headline.

OK. So, our next headline comes from The Sun and it reads:

'Explodes' — increases rapidly.

Yes. So, this word is a verb

and it is spelt E-X-P-L-O-D-E-S.

And it basically means to increase suddenly and quickly.

Now, Roy, usually we hear this word 'explode' in connection with bombs.

Yes. Now, if you think about that idea of a bomb, it's...

it very quickly goes from nothing to a very huge event.

So, we use this idea of 'explode' to talk about a huge increase

in the number of things or people.

For example, product sales could 'explode'

if something gets bought a lot.

Or even if, for example, a singer suddenly becomes very popular,

you could say they 'explode in popularity'.

Another way that we could talk about this:

after pandemic restrictions eased, we could say that

the number of commuters on trains 'exploded'.

Are there any alternatives, Roy?

Yeah, you could say a 'sharp rise', a 'sudden increase'

or you could use the verb 'soar'.

OK. Let's get a summary:

Time now for a recap please, Roy.

OK. We had 'ramp up' — increase level of something dramatically.

We had 'formidable' — describes something that causes fear

because it is difficult.

And we had 'explodes' — increases rapidly.

It's really important that you test yourself on the vocabulary you learn,

so go to our website at bbclearningenglish.com

where you'll find a quiz and lots of other activities

to help you improve your English.

Thank you for joining us and goodbye.

Bye.