Topical News Lessons

part of their way of life” he said. There are
other people who feel equally strongly that
fox-hunting is barbaric and cruel."
There is now the possibility of a conflict
between police, hunters and landowners
before the next UK general election. One
government minister said pro-hunt supporters
must accept the decision of Parliament.
"People who support fox-hunting say they
respect the law, so we expect them to stop
hunting foxes when the law says they must
stop," he said.
The chief executive of the Countryside
Alliance was angry about the ban on fox-
hunting. Within 24 hours the group began a
legal action against the ban, saying the 1949
Parliament Act was illegal, so the vote in
Parliament was not valid.
Meanwhile there was more confusion last
weekend when the Home Secretary said
police need more time to gather information
about pro-hunt protestors. He also said that
killing foxes would not be illegal if
foxhunters did not mean to kill them.
Police say that opposition to the new law will
mean a large amount of work for small police
forces in the countryside.
The Guardian Weekly
26-11-2004, page 11

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©
Macmillan Publishers Ltd 2004

Taken from the news section in
www.onestopenglish.com

Choose the best answer: 
1. When did fox-hunting begin in England and Wales?
a. 70
years
ago.
b. 700
years
ago.
c.
7,000 years ago.
2. When will the ban on hunting begin?
a.
early next year.
b.
in the middle of next year.
c. late
next
year.
3. Why did Tony Blair want to find a middle way?
a. because
he
is
against fox-hunting.
b. because
most
people support fox-hunting.
c.
because there are strong opinions on both sides.
4. What will the new law mean for the police?
a.
a lot of work.
b.
more respect for the law.
c.
more time to gather information about pro-hunt protestors.