Breaking News English

A Syrian refugee who could [hardly / hardest] speak a word of English two years ago has just passed his high school exams in Australia with [flying / sailing] colours. Saad Al-Kaab, 19, has just graduated with the top [markings / marks] at one of Australia's biggest high schools. His outstanding [overall / overalls] grades put him in the top 4 per cent of all [graduation / graduates] in Melbourne. Saad fled the [civil / civility] war in Syria to start a new life in Australia. He said: "[Coming / Come] to a place where you don't know how to speak, where you don't understand people - it was really hard…because it just felt [unreal / reality] ." He added: "It really makes me sad to think that I have friends in my school [back / backed] in Syria who were as good as me, but who didn't have the [opportune / opportunity] that I've had."

Saad said that he tried to learn English from his cousins for his first two months in Australia. Then he started to watch a [popularity / popular] political programme on television. It is a [live / lived] broadcast of Australia's politicians questioning their prime minister about the [issues / issuances] of the day. He explained how the [show / showing] helped his English. He said: "They use the best, [persuasive / pervasive] language in parliament. They speak slowly and you can find the words." He said it was very [difference / different] to Syrian politicians and parliament, where "all they do is [clap / chap] ". Saad is very [appreciative / appreciation] of his new beginning. He said: "I just want to say thank you so much to Australia for giving me the opportunity. It's [revived / revival] me and given me a new [live / life] ."