Step 1: Listen

You're going to hear a genuine BBC news report. Before you listen, read these three summaries.

a) Germany is spending $6bn on building new homes for asylum seekers.

b) Germany will build homes for new migrants arriving in the country.

c) Germany's temporary relaxation of EU laws has caused a humanitarian crisis.

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 some definitions of key vocabulary items to help you.

to cope with
to deal with a difficult situation

asylum procedures
legal steps that governments take in order to offer shelter to people who are forced to leave their own countries

averted
stopped something bad from happening

humanitarian crisis
an event such as war that threatens the health and safety of a large number of people

easing
making a bad situation get better

Step 3: Transcript and answer

Still not sure? This time you can read the transcript. The answer's underneath.

The German government has announced a $6bn action plan to cope with a record influx of migrants.

The measures include speeding up asylum procedures and building homes for new arrivals. The government says that by temporarily relaxing EU migration laws over the weekend it’s averted a humanitarian crisis.

The flow of people heading for Europe shows no sign of easing. A Greek ferry carrying about 2,000 migrants from the island of Lesbos has arrived at the port of Piraeus near Athens.

Answer

The correct answer is: b) Germany will build homes for new migrants arriving in the country.

This bulletin comes from BBC World Service Radio.