#7:BBC Learning English ( Ask a question)

Message1. by Sarah
Hello,
I have a question about the difference between of scene and site?
ex: Until 1972, all efforts by the two nations to curb the nuclear-arms race had foundered on one point: US insistence on the right to make on-site inspections of the Soviet strategic arsenal and Russia's refusal.

( From BBC teacher)

A 'site' is a specific place. This could be the site occupied by a building, or something much larger or smaller.

The word 'scene' is used to mean 'location'. In this sense it is not the place, but the location where some event takes place.

For example, in the theatre the actors 'act' on the stage. The stage is the 'site' where the 'scene' takes place. The stage is the location of the scene.

In other contexts, the 'scene' is the general location of the action or event - this may be restricted to only part of any specific 'site'. For example, if someone is murdered in the bedroom of their home the 'site' of the murder is the bedroom - but the 'scene' of the crime will probably be considered to be much larger by the police. They will define a much larger area as the 'scene of the crime' because they want to include all the area that could contain 'clues'. The scene could be the whole house, its garden and any other buildings, and an area around the house.

The point being made in your example text is that the US insists on actually going to the 'site' to make the inspection. There cannot be an inspection of, for example, documents relating to activity at the site, or remote sensing of the site. Going to the site means, of course, going into the country - and in the 70s there was simply too much suspicion of the 'real' motive.

In my option, the BBC  is good website, I able to solve my English question.
To me,  post on some question, the bbc teacher give meaning and example.
It's convenient and helpful.