Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question from Shenchuan in China.
Question.
I really want to know the meaning of will ever be able to.
Thanks,
Shenchuan from China
Answer.
Thank you for writing, Shenchuan. I am happy to answer this question.
“Will ever be able to” is a verb phrase. “Will be able to” refers to possibility at a future time. “Ever” is an adverb. In an Ask a Teacher years ago, we explained several meanings of “ever.” One meaning is “at any time.”
The word often appears in the phrase when someone is asking a question. For example,
Have you ever been to Zanzibar?
What is the best movie you have ever seen?
The difference in usage of “ever” in a question is so small that you might not even notice at first. But it is important to fully understand the meaning of “will ever be able to.”
Often, we use “ever” in questions such as “have you ever” to add emphasis, or strength, to a sentence. We might use “ever” if we expect people to agree with us, or have the same answer. For example,
Have you ever heard a better definition?
Have you ever been yelled at for just asking a question?
In these examples, “ever” shows a strong feeling.
We can also use “ever” with a question we believe will have a negative answer or feeling. And, we might not even expect an answer. For example,
Did you ever think about me?
Will I ever be able to climb Mount Everest?
In these examples, we use “ever” because we think the answer is no. And we may not expect anyone to actually answer the question.
We hope this explanation has helped you fully understand the meaning of “will ever be able to,” Shenchuan.
Do you have a question about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com.
And that’s Ask a Teacher.
I’m Gena Bennett.
Gena Bennett wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English.
Everyone knows that tea is the most popular drink in Britain. It's even more popular than coffee, which is favoured throughout Europe and America. The Dutch brought the first tea to Europe in 1610. But it was not until 1658 that the first advertisement for tea appeared in a London newspaper. At that time a pound of the cheapest tea cost about one-third of a skilled worker's weekly wages. Tea was guarded by the lady of the house and kept in special containers, often with a lock and carefully doled out by the teaspoon. By 1750 tea had become the principal drink of all the classes in Britain. Later, tea-drinking developed into a fashionable social ritual. Tea parties were popular at home and soon the ritual of "afternoon tea" was firmly established.
Nowadays, throughout the homes, tea shops and hotels of Britain, the custom of tea-time continues. Tea in Britain is brewed in a teapot. Then the one spoonful of tea per person and one for the pot is added. Most people in Britain prefer a rich, strong cup of tea with milk, and sugar is sometimes added to taste.
Questions:
1. What is the most popular drink in Britain?
2. When did the Dutch bring first tea to Europe?
3. When did tea become the principal drink in Britain?
4. What is the way to brew tea in Britain?
5. And what drink do you like?
Vocabulary:
the Dutch — голландцы
advertisement — реклама
ritual — ритуал
custom — обычай
to brew — заваривать
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Чай — самый популярный напиток в Британии.
Все знают, что чай — самый популярный напиток в Британии. Он даже популярнее кофе, который предпочитают во всей Европе и Америке. Голландцы привезли первый чай в Европу в 1610 году. Но только в 1658 году первая реклама чая появилась в лондонской газете. В то время фунт чая стоил 1/3 недельной зарплаты хорошего рабочего! Чай хранился у хозяйки дома, находился в специальных коробочках, часто с замком, и аккуратно отмерялся чайной ложкой. К 1750 году чай стал главным напитком всех классов в Британии. Позже чаепитие стало модной общественной традицией. Чаепития были популярны дома, и вскоре ритуал дневного чая стал широко распространен.
Сегодня во всех домах, чайных, магазинах и гостиницах обряд чаепития продолжается. Чай в Британии заваривается в чайничке для заварки. Затем кладутся одна полная ложка чая на каждую персону и одна — для чайничка. Большинство англичан предпочитает чашку ароматного и крепкого чая с молоком, иногда по вкусу добавляютсахар.
English legal dress has a long history. The introduction of wigs into polite society in the reign of Charles II (1660— 85) was an innovation which could not be resisted. After a period of disapproval, wigs were generally assumed by lawyers in 1680's. Before the 17th century lawyers did not wear wigs. But professional discipline required that their hair and beards should be moderately short. By the middle of the 17th century wigs of powdered white or grey hair were the universal custom. But during George Ill's reign (1760—1820) wigs went rapidly out of general use.
Although bishops were given royal permission to abandon their wigs in 1830, this was not necessarily true of other officials. There is a story that one Lord was refused permission to leave off his wig at court. In 1860 the council were permitted to remove their wigs during a heatwave. This attracted some comment in the press and it was suggested that wigs were abandoned altogether by the legal profession. However, the proposal met with little support, though it has been a common occurrence ever since for judges to allow wigs to be left off in very hot weather, and sometimes turbans are allowed to be worn instead of wigs on religious grounds. Early wigs are difficult to identify in portraits of the period because they were of a natural colour and were sometimes combined with a lock of growing hair at the forehead. However, wigs soon became large and increasingly stylized.
Questions:
1. When did the introduction of wigs take place?
2. In the middle of 17th century wigs have already been the universal custom, haven't they?
3. Who was given royal permission to abandon wigs in 1830?
4. Are the lawyers allowed not to wear wigs in heatwave?
5. What can you tell about early wigs?
Vocabulary:
introduction — введение
wig — парик
lawyer — адвокат
beard — борода
bishop — епископ
court — суд
judge — судья
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Парики и адвокаты.
Английское юридическое платье имеет долгую историю. Введение париков в высший свет в правлении Карла II (1660—1685) было новшеством, которому не могли сопротивляться. После периода неодобрения парики были признаны адвокатами в 1680-х годах. Перед XVII столетием адвокаты не носили париков. Но профессиональная дисциплина требовала, чтобы их волосы и бороды были умеренно короткими. К середине XVII столетия напудренные белые или серые парики были обычным явлением. Но во время правления Георга III (1760—1820) парики быстро вышли из общего употребления.
Хотя епископам в 1830 году было дано королевское разрешение не носить парики, это не касалось других должностных лиц. Одна история рассказывает, что лорду было отказано снять парик в суде. В 1860 году адвокатам было разрешено снимать парики во время жары. Это повлекло комментарии в прессе, и было выдвинуто предложение, чтобы парики были запрещены вообще для служителей закона. Однако предложение мало кто поддержал, хотя событием для всех стало с тех пор разрешать судьям снимать парики в жаркую погоду или иногда, по религиозным убеждениям, носить тюрбаны вместо париков. Первые парики трудно было изобразить на портретах, потому что они были натурального цвета и иногда совпадали с прядью настоящих волос на лбу. Однако вскоре парики стали больше и изящнее.
The Irish have their own language It comes from their Celtic history. But today nearly all Irish people speak English. The Irish speak English in their own special way. Foreigners don't easily understand an Irish accent, but it is strong and musical, and many people think that it is very attractive. Many fine writers have come from Ireland. Some, like James Joyce, have helped the world to know Ireland better. This writer was writing at the beginning of 19th century, when Ireland was on the road to independence. James Joyce was the first of ten children. He went to school and college in Dublin, but when he was still a young man he went to live in Paris. For many years of his life he was in Paris, Italy and Switzerland. In his first book he wrote short stories about his time as a boy in Dublin. But there are some famous Irish writers like Oscar Wilde and G. B. Shaw who didn't write about Ireland. G. B. Shaw was also born in Dublin and also wrote palys. Shaw was a very witty man, but he was above all a thinker. He wanted to change the things that were wrong in the world. He disliked the things that were false. At one time people thought that Shaw was a second William Shakespeare. Today not many people think that but a lot of people go to see his plays. Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin. He went to Trinity College and later to Oxford University. Wilde wrote novels and poetry but people remember his plays. Most of his plays are comedies.
Questions:
1. Have the Irish their own language?
2. The Irish have an accent, haven't they?
3. Who was James Joyce?
4. Did G. B. Shaw write about Ireland?
5. Who was a second William Shakespeare?
Vocabulary:
witty — остроумный
thinker — мыслитель
false — ложь
nearly — приблизительно
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Ирландский язык и литература.
В Ирландии есть свой собственный язык. Он берет начало из кельтской истории. Но сегодня почти все ирландцы говорят на английском языке. Ирландцы говорят поанглийски по-особенному. Иностранцам трудно понять ирландский акцент, но он сильный и музыкальный, и многие находят его привлекательным. Многие прекрасные писатели родом из Ирландии. Некоторые из них, например, Джеймс Джойс, помогли миру узнать Ирландию лучше. Зтот писатель творил в начале XIX века, когда Ирландия была на пути к независимости. Джеймс Джойс был первенцем в семье из десяти детей. Он ходил в школу и колледж в Дублине, совсем юным переехал в Париж. Много лет своей жизни он провел в Париже, Италии и Швейцарии. В своей первой книге он написал короткие рассказы о своей жизни в Дублине еще мальчиком. Но такие знаменитые писатели, как Оскар Уайльд и Дж. Б. Шоу не писали об Ирландии. Дж. Б. Шоу также родился в Дублине и писал пьесы. Шоу был очень остроумным человеком, но прежде всего он был мыслителем. Он не любил фальши. Одно время Шоу считали вторым Уильямом Шекспиром. Сегодня немногие так думают, но многие ходят смотреть его пьесы. Оскар Уайльд родился в Дублине. Он посещал Тринити колледж, а позже Оксфордский университет. Уайльд писал романы и стихи, но люди помнят его пьесы. Оскар Уайльд был очень остроумным человеком. Он мог заставить людей смеяться. Большинство его пьес — комедии.
People have left Ireland for lots of different reasons. After Ireland became Christian in the fifth century, Irish monks left the country to teach the word of God. They went particularly to the cities of Europe — to Russia, to Italy, Scotland. Since then Ireland has continued to send missionaries round the world. Very many people have left Ireland to look for work. Often there are not enough jobs for everyone.
From the beginning of the 17th century the English Protestants made life very difficult for the Irish Catholics. They could not do any of the public jobs. They could not become soldiers. They went to start a new life in some other country. Today over forty million people in the USA say that they have some Irish blood. The families of President Kennedy, President Richard Nixon and President Ronald Reagan were once Irish. President Kennedy was the first Catholic President of the USA. The first prime minister of New Zealand, John Edward Fitzgerald, was born in Ireland. Today 15 per cent of New Zealanders have some Irish blood.
Nearly 30 per cent of Australians have Irish blood. Between 1929 and 1949 six of the seven Australian prime ministers were from Irish families. The people who leave Ireland do not forget it. Their children and their children's children do not forget it either. All over the world today there are people who came from Ireland. Very many people are glad to say: "My family once came from Ireland". Their parents, grandparents or their great-grandparents were Irish.
Questions:
1. Why did people leave Ireland?
2. What did Irish monks do all over the world?
3. Today over forty million people have Irish blood, haven't they?
4. Who was the first Catholic President of the USA?
5. Do the Irish forget their Motherland?
Vocabulary:
reason — причина
monk — монах
God — Бог
soldier — солдат
missionary — миссионер
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Ирландцы за границей.
Люди покидали Ирландию по многим причинам. Пос ле того как Ирландия приняла христианство в V столе тии, ирландские монахи покинули страну, чтобы проповедовать слово Божье. Особенно много их поехало в страны Европы — Россию, Италию, Шотландию. С тех пор Ирландия продолжает посылать миссионеров по всему миру. Много людей покинуло Ирландию в поисках работы. Как правило, здесь не хватает рабочих мест.
С начала XVII века английские протестанты осложнили жизнь ирландским католикам. Они не могли выполнять общественные работы. Они не могли быть солдатами. И они уехали, чтобы начать жизнь в других странах. Сегодня более сорока миллионов людей в США могут сказать, что в них течет ирландская кровь. Семьи президентов Кеннеди, Ричарда Никсона и Рональда Рейгана имели в роду ирландцев. Президент Кеннеди был первым президентом-католиком в США. Первый премьер-министр Новой Зеландии Джон Эдвард Фицджеральд родился в Ирландии. Сегодня 15% жителей Новой Зеландии имеют ирландскую кровь.
Около 30% австралийцев имеют ирландские корни. Между 1929 и 1949 годами шесть из семи австралийских премьер-министров были из ирландских семей. Люди, покидающие Ирландию, не забывают ее. Их дети и дети их детей также не забывают ее. По всему миру сегодня есть люди, которые приехали из Ирландии. Очень многие рады сказать: "Моя семья однажды приехала из Ирландии". Их родители, дедушки и бабушки, прародители были ирландцами.
There are many superstitions in Britain. But one of the most widely-held is that it is unlucky to open an umbrella in the house. It will either bring misfortune to the person that Opened it or to the household. The person who opens an umbrella in fine weather is very unpopular. It's very unlucky to walk under a ladder. If you must pass under a ladder you can avoid bad luck by crossing your finger and keeping them crossed until you've seen a dog.
The number 13 is said to be unlucky for some. And when the 13th day of the month falls on a Friday, most of the people prefer to stay at home.
The worst misfortune that can befall you is breaking a mirror. That will bring you seven years of bad luck. This superstition is supposed to have originated in ancient times. Because mirrors were considered to be tools of the gods. And at last there is a superstition of touching wood for luck. This measure is most often taken if you have said or done something wrong or stupid.
Questions:
1. Are there many superstitions in Britain?
2. What is the most widely-held superstition?
3. Is number 13 unlucky for people in Britain?
4. Why is it dangerous to break a mirror?
5. Why do British people touch wood?
Vocabulary:
superstition — суеверие
ladder — лестница
misfortune — неудача
mirror — зеркало
measure — мера
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Суеверия в Британи.
В Британии существует много суеверий. Но одно из самых распространенных: открывать зонтик в доме — к несчастью. Это принесет неудачу человеку, который открыл зонт, или семье. Человека, открывающего зонтик в хорошую погоду, сторонятся. К несчастью — ходить под лестницей. Если вам придется пройти под лестницей, вы можете избежать неудачи, скрестив пальцы и держа их так, пока не встретится собака.
Некоторые считают число 13 неудачным. И когда 13-й день месяца попадает на пятницу, большинство людей предпочитает оставаться дома.
Но самая большая неудача постигнет тебя, когда ты разобьешь зеркало. Это принесет тебе 7 лет неудач. Предполагается, что это суеверие пришло из давних времен, потому что зеркала считались принадлежностью богов. И последнее: существует привычка касаться дерева на удачу. К этому часто прибегают после того, как сказали или сделали что-нибудь плохое или глупое.
Officials closed schools and issued health warnings as a deadly heat wave has spread across Southeast Asia.
In the Philippines, the education ministry announced on Sunday that in-person classes at public schools would be canceled for two days.
Benjo Basas is chairperson of Teachers' Dignity Coalition, a group of educators. Basas told DWPM radio station, "We already have reports of high blood pressure and dizziness, and fainting for pupils and teachers in the past days,”
Temperatures in the Philippines are expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius in the next three days, with many classrooms crowded and without air conditioning.
The country's weather agency said the heat index made the weather feel as though the temperature was 45 degrees Celsius. That heat level is considered “dangerous” and might lead to heat stroke.
The heat wave is also putting pressure on power supplies on Luzon, the country’s largest island. Officials closed 13 power plants on the island earlier in the month.
In Thailand, temperatures are expected to reach 40 degrees or more in the capital city of Bangkok and the country's central and northern areas. The weather agency advised people to avoid being outdoors for extended periods.
In the northern city of Lampang, temperatures reached 44.2 degrees Celsius on April 22. And officials expect the extreme heat to continue this week.
In the past month, 30 people have died from heat stroke, data from Thailand's health ministry showed.
Dehydration, heat stroke
State media reported that people in Vietnam are heading to air-conditioned shopping centers to escape the heat in Ho Chi Minh City. The country's national weather agency warns of forest fires and the risk of dehydration and “heat shock.”
On Sunday, the agency reported temperatures as high as 44 degrees Celsius in parts of northern and central Vietnam. The heat is expected to last until Wednesday.
Vietnam's state electricity company has also urged people not to overuse their air conditioning. The company warned that electricity usage has reached record highs in recent days.
Malaysia officials issued hot weather warnings on Sunday for 16 areas that have recorded temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees for three straight days.
Earlier in the month, Malaysia’s health ministry said 45 cases of heat-related illnesses had been reported through April 13. The ministry reported two deaths from heat stroke.
In neighboring Singapore, the weather service said the country's temperature could reach higher in 2024 than last year.
Since last month, some schools in Singapore have eased rules for wearing uniforms. Students are being permitted to wear exercise clothing because of the heat.
Warm temperatures in Indonesia are being blamed for an outbreak of dengue fever. The health ministry reported that cases of the mosquito-borne disease more than doubled to 35,000 from 15,000 a year earlier.
A health ministry spokesman added that the warm El Niño ocean current has extended the dry season. The ministry said the warmer temperatures have sped up the mosquitoes’ lifecycle.
I’m Dorothy Gundy.
Neil Morales reported this story for Reuters news agency. Hai Do adapted it for VOA Learning English.
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Words in This Story.
dizziness –n. being unable to keep one’s balance or being unable to stand;
faint –v. to lose consciousness;
pupil –n. a student;
heat index –n. an index that combines several different conditions that aims to express what the weather “feels like” rather than what the reading is from a thermometer;
heat stroke –n. any of a number of bad effects that come from the body getting too hot;
dehydration –n. a condition in which the body does not have enough water causing several dangerous health problems;
uniform –n. clothing worn by all members of a group, such as in schools or in the military, that is the same for everyone;
lifecycle –n. all the different stages in the life of a living thing;
Less than half of Americans say they are getting enough sleep, according to a recent opinion study by the Gallup organization.
The poll found that 57 percent of Americans say they would feel better if they could get more sleep. Only 42 percent say they are getting as much sleep as they need.
Gallup carried out the same kind of study in 2013. That time, the results were different. Fifty-six percent said they got enough sleep, while 43 percent said they did not get enough sleep.
Women under the age of 50 were the most likely to report they are not getting enough rest. Only 27 percent of women in that group said they usually get all the sleep they need.
The poll also asked people to report how many hours of sleep they usually get each night. Only 26 percent said they got eight or more hours. Many sleep experts say adults should aim for eight hours of sleep a night.
Just over half of the respondents reported getting between six and seven hours of sleep a night. And 20 percent said they got five hours or less. That number increased from 2013, when 14 percent of respondents reported getting five hours or less.
Justine Broughal is a self-employed event planner with two small children. She is 31 years old. Her 4-month-old son still wakes up throughout the night. After her 3-year-old daughter goes to bed, she still needs to do some work in the house. That makes it difficult for her to get the sleep she needs.
“I really treasure being able to spend time with (my children),” Broughal says. However, she added that it can reduce the amount of time for her to rest and take care of herself.
Claude Fischer is a professor of sociology at the University of California, Berkeley. He said that American culture has valued hard work and productivity since the first European immigrants arrived. He added that the religious beliefs of some groups connected hard work with approval from God.
Working hard, he said, “has been a core part of American culture for centuries.”
Late-night relaxing
Some Americans also say their busy workdays make them want to stay up late. After a long day of work, spending time at night on social media or watching television can help them lower stress or have some time to themselves. But this reduces the number of hours they can sleep.
Liz Meshel has experienced this. The 30-year-old American is temporarily living and doing research in Bulgaria. But she also works a part-time job on U.S. hours to help pay her bills. That means she sometimes works until 10 at night local time.
When it is close to her bedtime, she said she thinks about the time she did not have for herself during the day. So, she decides to watch television and look at social media instead of getting to sleep earlier.
That, Meshel said, “will always make the problem worse.”
I’m Andrew Smith.
Deepti Hajela and Linley Sanders wrote this story for The Associated Press. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English.
Words in This Story.
respondent -n. a person who answers one or more questions;
treasure -v. to value highly;
sociology -n. the study of society or the way it is organized;
core -n. the center or most important part of something;
American researchers have developed a new model of what they say is the largest 3D printer in the world.
The device is designed to build full-sized homes faster and for less money than traditional methods.
A team at the University of Maine said the printer is four times larger than the last one the university built in 2019. That device was named the world’s largest polymer 3D printer by the Guinness World Records organization.
Developers of the new printer said it can create objects up to 29 meters long, 10 meters wide and 5.5 meters high. The machine can use up to 227 kilograms of printing materials per hour.
It was recently introduced to the public during an event at the university in the town of Orono. The latest model received new robotic abilities, additional sensors and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, said Habib Dagher. He leads the project for the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures & Composite Center.
Dagher noted his team could build even larger printers in the future after the university opens a new building this summer. “We’re learning from this to design the next one,” he said.
The old 3D printer was used in 2022 to build a 55-square-meter model home made from a mixture of wood fibers and a plant-based plastic material. The home, called BioHome3D, was first printed in four parts before the pieces were moved to a permanent spot at the university. A team then connected the pieces and completed the building in just a few hours.
Officials in Maine said such large 3D printers might be able to help the state meet a growing demand for housing. State housing officials have suggested Maine will need to build another 80,000 homes over the next six years to keep up with demand.
The university aims to demonstrate that homes can be built almost completely with printers that do not harm the environment. The United Nations Environment Programme estimates that building-related industries produce about 37 percent of greenhouse gases. The gases come from the production and use of materials including cement, steel and aluminum.
3D printed buildings can also be recycled, which is unusual in the building industry. “You can basically deconstruct it,” Dagher said. “You can grind it up if you wish, the 3D printed parts, and reprint with them, do it again.”
Dagher added that in addition to cutting down on building time and costs, the 3D printer was designed to make homes that look nice. “We wanted to build a house that people would say, ‘Wow, I really want to live there.’”
The team said it plans next to experiment with different printing materials. The researchers would like to use more wood found locally since Maine is the most heavily forested state in the U.S.
The machine can also be used to print other objects, such as boats or government structures, the developers say. Dagher said upcoming projects with the new printer will include a large boat and small homes to serve the area’s homeless population.
University of Maine Chancellor Dannel Malloy said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provided most of the money for the printer, which cost several million dollars.
I’m Bryan Lynn
The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English.
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Words in This Story.
polymer – n. a chemical substance of large molecules that is made from many smaller and simpler molecules;
fiber – n. a structure that is similar to a thread in the body;
greenhouse gas – n. a gas in the Earth’s atmosphere that can trap heat;
cement – n. a powder substance used in building that is mixed with water and sand to make a hard substance;
deconstruct – v. to break something down into parts;
grind – v. to crush something into small pieces or a powder;
A "typical" British family used to consist of mother, father and two children. But in recent years there have been many changes in family life. For example, since the law made it easier to get a divorce, the number of divorces has increased. That's why 24% of British children live with only one parent, usually their mother.
The contemporary British child doesn't have a lot of companionship from brothers and sisters, because the average family has only one or two children. Most British children live with their parents at least until they finish school at the age of 17 or 18. Then many go away to college, leaving some parents sad and lonely in their empty nest and others enjoying their release from parental responsibilities. But many adults stay with their parents during their college years or return home after graduation. Today's parents cannot even be sure that their married children have moved out forever. After a divorce they may return to the parental home temporarily or even on a long-term basis.
Older people take pride in their independence, enjoy their freedom and don't want to be a burden to their children. The telephone, the car and the airplane keep them in close contact even when they live in different parts of the country.
Members of family — grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousinskeep in touch, but they see less of each other than they used to. This is because people often move away from home town to work and so the family becomes scattered. Christmas is the traditional season for reunions. Although the family group is smaller nowadays than it used to be, relatives often travel many miles in order to spend the holiday together. Family parties may be all the more joyous when they bring together relatives who haven't seen each other for a while.
Questions:
1. Why do a lot of British children live with only one parent?
2. What can you tell about the contemporary British child?
3. Are there many adults staying at their parents' place?
4. Older people take pride in their independence, don't they?
5. What is the traditional season for reunions?
Vocabulary:
divorce — развод
to increase — увеличиваться
contemporary — современный
responsibility — ответственность
temporarily — временно
------------
Семейная жизнь в Британии.
Типичная британская семья всегда состояла из матери, отца и двух детей. Но в последние годы в семейной жизни произошло много перемен. Например, с тех пор как закон упростил процедуру развода, количество разводов увеличилось. Поэтому 24% британских детей живут только с одним родителем, обычно с мамой.
Современный британский ребенок не ощущает большой поддержки братьев и сестер, потому что средняя семья имеет одного или двух детей. Большинство британских детей живут с родителями самое меньшее до тех пор, пока не закончат школу в возрасте 17 или 18 лет. Затем многие отправляются в колледж, оставляя одних родителей печальными и одинокими в опустевшем гнезде, а других наслаждающимися освобождением от родительских обязанностей. Но многие совершеннолетние дети остаются с родителями во время обучения в колледже или возвращаются домой после окончания. Сегодняшние родители отнюдь не могут быть уверены, что их женатые дети уехали навсегда. После развода они могут вернуться в родительский дом временно или на долгое время.
Старые люди гордятся своей независимостью, наслаждаются ею и не хотят быть обузой своим детям. Телефон, машина и самолет помогают им поддерживать контакт, даже если они живут в разных частях страны.
Члены семьи — бабушки, дедушки, тети, дяди, кузины — общаются между собой, но они реже, чем раньше, видят друг друга. Происходит это потому, что люди часто уезжают из дома на работу, и поэтому семья оказывается разобщенной. Рождество — традиционный период для воссоединения. Хотя семьи сейчас меньше, чем раньше, родственники преодолевают сотни миль, чтобы провести праздник вместе. Семейные вечера становятся веселее, когда они собирают вместе родственников, которые долго не виделись.
Farmers in Vietnam are growing rice using a new method thought to reduce emissions of methane gas and labor costs.
The method is called alternate wetting and drying, or AWD. It uses about 30 percent less water than traditional ways of growing rice. It also uses small flying vehicles called drones to put nutrients in the soil.
Traditional rice farming methods flood fields with water. The water stops oxygen from entering the soil. Low amounts of oxygen permit more methane-producing bacteria to grow.
Scientists say methane can trap 80 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide over a short period of time. Climate scientists say releasing methane into the atmosphere increases the warming of the earth. A 2023 United Nations report said rice farming makes up about eight percent of all human-made methane in the atmosphere.
Vietnam is the world’s third-largest rice exporter. Boats carry rice up and down the Mekong River, and the grain is an important food in Vietnam.
Vo Van Van is a 60-year-old rice farmer who lives along the Mekong River. For the past two years, he has been using the AWD method with support from one of Vietnam’s largest rice exporters, the Loc Troi Group.
Van said using the drone to add organic fertilizer saves on labor costs. He says it is becoming harder to find people to work on the rice farms because more people are moving to the cities. The drone also puts the exact amount of fertilizer needed. Too much fertilizer causes the soil to release nitrogen gas. Nitrogen also traps heat in the atmosphere.
After the harvest, Van does not burn the remains of the rice plants. Instead, the Loc Troi Group collects the extra plant material. It then sells it to other companies. These companies can use the remains to feed livestock and grow mushrooms.
Van said the AWD method helps him in several ways. It lowers his costs while the amount of rice he produces is the same. Using organic fertilizer helps him sell for a higher price in European markets. He also has more time to take care of his own garden. “I am growing jackfruit and coconut,” he said.
Nguyen Duy Thuan is the chief of the Loc Troi Group. He said the AWD method uses 40 percent less seed and 30 percent less water. The Loc Troi Group said the method is used on 100 hectares of rice farms. Thuan said the company wants to expand AWD farming to 300,000 hectares.
The Vietnamese government aims to grow low-emissions rice on 1 million hectares by 2030. Vietnamese state media reported that officials said the method could reduce production costs by about 20 percent and increase profits by more than $600 million.
Effects of a changing environment
In recent years, the Mekong River’s water quality has changed. Dams in China and Laos have reduced water flow. Building projects cause problems because they use a lot of water and sand from the river. And rising sea levels have increased the amount of salt in the river’s large delta.
A recent study by Vietnam’s Water Resources Institute estimates rice farmers lost millions of dollars every year because of salty water.
Lewis H. Ziska is a professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University in New York City. He said that using different methods of farming can improve water use. Growing more kinds of rice would also help. Some kinds can better resist hot weather or need less water, Ziska said.
Some rice farmers in Vietnam are already growing different kinds of rice. Nguyen Van Nhat is director of a rice export company. He said growers are using rice that can grow in salty water and in hot weather.
Two employees work in a warehouse packed with bags of rice packaged for shipment at Hoang Minh Nhat, a rice export company in Can Tho, Vietnam, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Two employees work in a warehouse packed with bags of rice packaged for shipment at Hoang Minh Nhat, a rice export company in Can Tho, Vietnam, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
He also said the export company is using different methods to dry the rice because of changes in the weather. He said unseasonal rains are making it harder to dry the rice in the sun. As a result, the company has built places to dry it in their factory. The company will also put machines to dry the grain closer to the rice fields.
“We don’t know which month is the rainy season, like we did before,” Nhat said.
I’m Andrew Smith. And I’m Jill Robbins.
Aniruddha Ghosal reported this story for the Associated Press. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English.
______________________________________________
Words in This Story.
emissions –n. gases released by a process;
alternate –adj. something that happens for a period and does not happen for the following period, repeating the pattern over time;
organic fertilizer –n. nutrients for plants that are considered organic, meaning they do not have man-made materials in them;
delta –n. a triangular area where a river flows into the sea and that has rich soil;
Human experts spend years roasting and tasting coffee from many places to learn about the beans. They might then combine a coffee bean from Africa with another one from South America to come up with a new blend.
But, a coffee roasting company in Helsinki, Finland is hoping that artificial intelligence, or AI, can help ease the workload.
Kaffa Roastery recently launched its “AI-conic” blend at the Helsinki Coffee Festival. The blend is a mixture of four kinds of beans, including Fazenda Pinhal from Brazil. It is the result of a joint project by Kaffa and Elev, a local AI business.
Elev told The Associated Press that its computer models, similar to ChatGPT and Copilot, created a blend that would “push the boundaries of conventional flavor combinations.”
Svante Hampf is the founder of Kaffa Roastery. He and his partners wanted to do an experiment to see what blend the computer would produce.
“We basically gave descriptions of all our coffee types and their flavors to AI and instructed it to create a new exciting blend,” Hampf said.
The “AI-conic” blend combined beans from Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia and Guatemala. It is described as “a well-balanced blend of sweetness and ripe fruit.”
Hampf said he thought the combination was “somewhat weird.” He was surprised that the AI program chose to make the blend out of four different kinds of beans. Most humans choose only two or three beans.
However, after the first blind test of the new blend, Kaffa’s coffee experts agreed that the AI-assisted blend was perfect. There was no need to change.
Elev’s Antti Merilehto said “AI-conic” is an example of “how AI can introduce new perspectives to seasoned professionals.”
The International Coffee Organization says that the 5.6 million people in Finland drink the most coffee per person in the world. And the roasters at Kaffa said they hope the AI project will help to bring more things to the strong coffee culture in the country.
Hampf called it a “first step,” adding, “I think AI has plenty to offer us in the long run. We are particularly impressed of the coffee taste descriptions it created.”
I’m Dan Friedell.
Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by The Associated Press.
________________________________________________
Words in This Story.
roast –v. to cook something over heat;
blend –v. to combine multiple flavors to come up with something new, for example, mixing three kinds of red wine;
conventional –adj. common, usual, traditional;
type –n. a categorization that shows the differences among one kind of thing, for example different grapes, or coffee beans;
flavor –n. how something tastes;
ripe –adj. ready to be picked and eaten or put to use;
weird –adj. strange, unusual;
perspective –n. a way of looking at things;
seasoned –adj. experienced;
We want to hear from you. Would you leave your morning coffee up to AI?
A new, small robotic camera designed to be swallowed for use in medical examinations was recently demonstrated at a conference in Canada. The device called PillBot can be guided through a body remotely, meaning electronically from outside. Its creators hope the device will replace traditional endoscopies. An endoscopy is when a camera attached to a wire is directed down the throat and into a sleeping patient’s stomach.
The company Endiatx based in Hayward, California, developed the device. The research hospital, Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota, is a partner in the project.
The PillBot is designed to be the first motorized endoscopic camera. Here is how developers say it works: A patient does not eat for one day, then swallows the PillBot with lots of water. The PillBot acts like a small submarine controlled by a wireless remote control. When the exam is complete, the body will expel the PillBot in the same way it expels other solid waste.
Dr. Vivek Kumbhari is co-founder of the company. He is professor of medicine and chairman of gastroenterology and hepatology at the Mayo Clinic. It is the latest step toward his larger goal of making complex medicine more accessible.
If endoscopies can be moved from a hospital setting to a patient’s home, he said, "then I think we have achieved that goal." Use of the device would require fewer medical workers and no anesthesia, he said. The device provides "a safer, more comfortable approach,” he added.
Kumbhari also said the technology is more efficient and permits people to get treatment earlier in the progress of a disease.
Alex Luebke is the co-founder of Endiatx. He said the PillBot can help people in rural areas where medical centers and treatment are lacking.
"Especially in developing countries, there is no access" to complex medical care, he said. "So being able to have the technology, gather all that information and provide you the solution, even in remote areas - that's the way to do it.”
The micro-robotic pill is undergoing testing. It could come before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for consideration in the coming months. If approved, the PillBot could be available by 2026.
Kumbhari hopes the technology can be expanded to the bowels, vascular system, heart, liver, brain and other parts of the body.
I’m Dan Novak.
Craig McCulloch reported this story for Voice of America. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English.
_______________________________________
Words in This Story.
accessible — adj. able to be reached or approached;
achieve — v. to get or reach by working hard;
anesthesia — n. loss of feeling in a person's body or part of the body through the use of drugs;
comfortable — n. not causing any physically unpleasant feelings;
approach — n. to begin to deal with or think about;
bowel — n. the long tube in the body that helps digest food and carries solid waste out of the body;
vascular — n. of or relating to the veins, arteries, etc., that carry fluids through the body;
Scientists are seeking to find out what is producing the slow release of methane gas on Mars.
Methane often results from biological processes. On Earth, most of the gas comes from living creatures. For this reason, the American space agency NASA has been investigating methane levels on Mars in a search for signs of current or past life. So far, no evidence has been found.
But a new study is providing fresh details about methane on Mars. NASA’s Curiosity explorer, or rover, has repeatedly measured methane levels on the Martian surface. The rover arrived on Mars in 2012 and has been exploring areas around Gale Crater. This area is believed to have contained a lake at one time and has also shown other evidence of flowing water in the past.
NASA says Gale Crater is the only place where methane has been discovered. Even a spacecraft sent to collect data on the Martian atmosphere has not identified the presence of methane. That spacecraft, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, is operated by the European Space Agency.
In addition to only being discovered, or detected, around Gale Crater, the observations of methane happen only at night, NASA researchers recently reported. Levels also go up and down during different seasons and at times, rise sharply for short periods.
The mysterious methane releases leave scientists considering “a lot of plot twists,” said Curiosity project leader Ashwin Vasavada. But a NASA research group recently proposed a possible explanation for how the gas behaves on Mars.
The researchers theorize that all detected methane could be trapped, or sealed, underneath hardened pieces of salt in Martian regolith. Regolith describes soil that contains rock and dust that sits on or below the surface.
The scientists say increases in temperature might explain the differences in gas release. During certain seasons or times of day warmer temperatures could weaken the seal on the methane, causing gas to be released.
NASA said the research was led by Alexander Pavlov, a planetary scientist at the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. He said small amounts of methane could also be released when the regolith seal is broken by weight from above, for example, when the Curiosity rover drives over the area.
Pavlov said this theory could help explain why methane levels have only been discovered in the Gale Crater area. It is the only place on Mars where NASA’s Curiosity rover is currently active.
NASA has another rover working on Mars, Perseverance. But it has been exploring the Jezero Crater area on another part of the planet. Jezero Crater is also believed to have contained large water bodies in the distant past. But Perseverance is not equipped with a methane-detecting instrument.
Pavlov noted that the latest theory came from his memories of an unrelated experiment carried out in 2017. The experiment involved growing microorganisms in a simulated Martian environment that included frozen soil that contained salt.
During that experiment, researchers observed that the collection of soil on top formed an icy, salty crust. Changes in conditions caused the ice to melt, turning the solid material into a gas and leaving the salt behind.
Pavlov’s team tested five samples of frozen soil containing different kinds of salt material commonly found on Mars. A new set of Earth-based experiments was carried out in which the frozen material was exposed to different temperatures and air pressures inside an environment at Goddard that was designed to be like Mars.
The team was able to repeatedly copy the salt sealing process in Mars-like conditions during laboratory testing. The researchers said they plan to keep carrying out experiments under different conditions and using salt minerals to confirm their theory.
But the researchers noted that to carry out more detailed methane investigations, they will likely need a whole new generation of sensitive instruments. These would be designed to measure methane continuously from many places on Mars.
I’m Bryan Lynn.
Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from NASA and the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
Words in This Story.
plot twist – n. an unexpected development that happens in a play, movie, etc.;
simulate – v. to do or make something that behaves or looks like something real, but which is not;
crust – n. the hard, dry layer on the surface of something;
expose – v. to remove what is covering something so that it can be seen;
What makes a library a library? Neil and Beth discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.
This week's question:
Founded in 1973 in central London, the British Library is one of the largest libraries in the world, containing around 200 million books. But which of the following can be found on its shelves. Is it:
a) the earliest known printing of the Bible?
b) the first edition of The Times’ newspaper from 1788? or,
c) the original manuscripts of the Harry Potter books?
Listen to the programme to hear the answer.
Vocabulary.
shhh! -
exclamation used to ask for silence or quiet;
paperback -
book with a cover made of thick paper and sold relatively cheaply, compared to a hardback book;
painstakingly (or painfully) -
in a way that shows you have taken a lot of care, or made a lot of effort;
harmony -
situation where people are peaceful and cooperate with each other;
knowledge equals power -
(idiom) the more a person knows, the more they will be able to control events;
soft power -
using political or cultural means rather than military power to influence events;
TRANSCRIPT.
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.
Neil:
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Neil.
Beth:
And I’m Beth.
Neil:
Shhh! Quiet please! I’m trying to read here, Beth!
Beth:
Oh, excuse me! I didn’t know this was a library.
Neil:
Well, what exactly is a library? Have you ever thought about that?
Beth:
Well, somewhere with lots of books I suppose, where you go to read or study.
Neil:
A symbol of knowledge and learning, a place to keep warm in the winter, or somewhere to murder victims in a crime novel: libraries can be all of these things, and more.
Beth:
In this programme, we’ll be looking into the hidden life of the library, including one of the most famous, the Great Library of Alexandria, founded in ancient Egypt in around 285 BCE. And as usual, we’ll be learning some useful new vocabulary, and doing it all in a whisper so as not to disturb anyone!
Neil:
Glad to hear it! But before we get out our library cards, I have a question for you, Beth. Founded in 1973 in central London, the British Library is one of the largest libraries in the world, containing around 200 million books. But which of the following can be found on its shelves. Is it:
a) the earliest known printing of the Bible?
b) the first edition of The Times’ newspaper from 1788? or,
c) the original manuscripts of the Harry Potter books?
Beth:
I’ll guess it’s the first edition of the famous British newspaper, 'The Times’.
Neil:
OK, Beth, I’ll reveal the answer at the end of the programme. Libraries mean different things to different people, so who better to ask than someone who has written the book on it, literally. Professor Andrew Pettegree is the author of a new book, 'A Fragile History of the Library'. Here he explains what a library means to him to BBC Radio 3 programme, Art & Ideas:
Andrew Pettegree
Well, in my view, a library is any collection of books which is deliberately put together by its owner or patron. So, in the 15th century a library can be 30 manuscripts painfully put together during the course of a lifetime, or it can be two shelves of paperbacks in your home.
Beth:
Andrew defines a library as any collection of books someone has intentionally built up. This could be as simple as a few paperbacks, cheap books with a cover made of thick paper.
Neil:
Today, books are available everywhere from supermarkets to train stations, but back in history that wasn’t the case. In earlier centuries, printed books or manuscripts were rare and may have been painfully collected over many years. Andrew uses the adverb painfully, or painstakingly, to describe something which took a lot of care and effort to do.
Beth:
But paperback books and private collections are only part of the story. You may not believe it, but libraries are places of power! To find out why we have to go back in time to the ancient Egyptian port of Alexandria in the third century BCE.
Neil:
The Great Library of Alexandria held the largest collection of books in the ancient world. Founded in the city built by Alexander the Great, the library’s mission was to bring together a copy of every book then in existence. According to history professor, Islam Issa, there were two reasons why the Great Library made Alexandria so powerful, as he explained to BBC Radio 3 programme, Art & Ideas:
Islam Issa:
The first is being in a location at the intersection of the continents and bringing a diverse set of people together to live in harmony, or relative harmony, can bring about economic prosperity. And the second is, quite simply, that knowledge equals power, and so the library is a form of soft power, it's a way of saying that Alexandria is an important centre of knowledge, a regional capital by being the guardians of knowledge…
Beth:
Alexandria was the meeting point of different cultures where different ideas and philosophies were exchanged. This atmosphere encouraged people to live in harmony, peacefully and cooperatively with each other.
Neil:
But the main reason for the Great Library’s importance is that knowledge equals power, a saying meaning that the more someone knows, the more they will be able to control events. Alexandria became the capital of soft power, the use of political and cultural knowledge, rather than military power, to influence events.
Beth:
Now, maybe it’s time to reveal the answer to your question, Neil?
Neil:
Sure, I asked you which famous text could be found in The British Library.
Beth:
I guessed it was the first edition of 'The Times’ newspaper. So, was I right?
Neil:
That was… the correct answer! In the British Library you’ll find the first copy of 'The Times’, along with the first editions of many famous books. OK, let’s recap the vocabulary we've learned in this programme starting with shhh!, an exclamation used to ask someone to be quiet.
Beth:
A paperback is a type of book with a cover made of thick paper and sold relatively cheaply.
Neil:
Doing something painstakingly or painfully means doing it in a way showing that lots of care and effort has been taken.
Beth:
Harmony is a situation where people cooperate peacefully with each other.
Neil:
According to the expression, knowledge equals power, the more you know, the more you’re able to control events.
Beth:
And finally, soft power involves using political or cultural means, rather than military power, to get what you want. Once again our six minutes are up! Goodbye for now!
Disability in music and theatr (ISODE 240321 / 21 MAR 2024)
Introduction
The UK's Equality Act of 2010 guaranteed the rights of disabled people to equal access to education, employment, and services, including music, theatre and the arts. Despite this, it's still difficult for disabled musicians and music fans to perform and see live music. Neil and Georgie introduce you to some ways people are trying to change this, while teaching you some useful vocabulary.
This week's question
A study by disabled musicians’ group, Attitude is Everything, found that one third of music venues provided no disabled access information at all. But which London music venue was recently given a Gold award for accessibility for disabled musicians and audiences? Was it:
a) The Royal Albert Hall?
b) The Southbank Centre? or,
c) Brixton Academy?
Listen to the programme to hear the answer.
Vocabulary
lived experience -
the things that someone has directly experienced themselves, especially when these give the person understanding that people who have only heard about such experiences do not have
accessible -
enabling a person with a disability to engage in the same interactions, acquire the same information, and enjoy the same services as a person without a disability;
mass-produce -
produce a lot of the same product cheaply in a factory;
bespoke -
made specially for one person in particular;
dyslexic -
having dyslexia, a condition which makes it difficult for someone to spell, read or write;
colour-coded -
using different colours to represent different parts or functions of something;
TRANSCRIPT
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.
Neil:
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Neil.
Georgie:
And I’m Georgie. Many people love watching movies at the cinema or going to the theatre to see a play. But have you ever imagined what an art gallery would be like if you were blind, or how a deaf person might feel at a music concert?
Neil:
In the UK, The Equality Act of 2010 guaranteed the rights of disabled people to equal access to education, employment, and services, including music, theatre and the arts. Since then, the Disability Rights movement has worked hard to break down barriers for disabled artists and performers, and their audiences.
Georgie:
In this programme, we’ll be hearing from a musical composer whose work using ‘new instruments’ allows disabled musicians to express their lived experience through music. The phrase lived experience emphasises the unique experience of disabled people, plus the fact that this gives them knowledge and understanding that others do not have. And, as usual, we’ll be learning some useful new vocabulary as well.
Neil:
Great. But first I have a question for you, Georgie. Despite 2010’s Equality Act, it’s still difficult for disabled musicians and music fans in the UK to perform and see live music. A study by disabled musicians’ group, Attitude is Everything, found that one third of music venues provided no disabled access information at all. But which London music venue was recently given a Gold award for accessibility for disabled musicians and audiences? Was it:
a) The Royal Albert Hall?
b) The Southbank Centre? or,
c) Brixton Academy?
Georgie:
Hmmm, I’ll guess it was The Royal Albert Hall.
Neil:
OK, Georgie, I’ll reveal the answer later in the programme. Megan Steinberg is a music composer at Royal Northern College of Music, where she collaborates with Drake Music, a leading national organisation working in music disability and technology. Megan composes music to be played by ‘new instruments’. Here she explains what a ‘new instrument’ is, to BBC Radio 3 programme, Arts & Ideas:
Megan Steinberg:
So, they may have been mass-produced, or semi mass-produced, or they may have been designed and built by the musician themselves, just like a bespoke instrument for themselves. And they’re designed to be accessible to maybe just that one individual performer, or maybe also to lots of different performers with disabilities or differences.
Georgie:
Megan’s new instruments are designed to be accessible, to be used by someone with a disability. More generally,the word accessible means enabling someone with a disability the opportunity to engage in the same interactions and enjoy the same experiences as people without a disability.
Neil:
New instruments are both electronic and acoustic. They might be mass-produced, that’s when a factory makes a lot of the same thing, or bespoke, made specially for one person in particular. So, what are these new instruments like? Listen as Megan introduces the Rainbow Harp, a new instrument which was designed for harpist, Morwenna Louttit-Vermaat, to BBC Radio Programme, Arts & Ideas:
Megan Steinberg:
And the Rainbow Harp is a harp that has colour-coded strings, and each string colour corresponds to a different pitch. So, Morwenna is dyslexic, and she really found that traditional black and white musical notation was quite an obstacle for her in learning and teaching music, so she and her husband made these harps and they're, like, really colourful, as she uses colour in music…
Georgie:
Morwenna is dyslexic. She has dyslexia, a condition which makes it difficult for her to spell, read and write. So, when Morwenna’s harp teacher wanted her to play from written down sheet music, her brain froze. And that’s how the Rainbow Harp was invented.
Neil:
The strings of a Rainbow Harp are colour-coded: different colours are used to represent and separate out different strings and to produce different notes. It’s a great idea, and an inclusive way for disabled musicians to share their talent with music fans across the UK. Which reminds me of my question, Georgie…
Georgie:
Right, you asked me which London music venue was awarded top marks for making music accessible for disabled musicians and audiences. I guessed it was The Royal Albert Hall. So, was I right?
Neil:
Good guess, Georgie, but that was… the wrong answer, I’m afraid. The good news for all music fans living in London is that The Southbank Centre is accessible, ready and waiting! OK, let's recap the vocabulary we've learned in this programme starting with lived experience, the things that someone has experienced personally for themselves, rather than heard or read about.
Georgie:
If something is accessible, it enables everyone to have equal opportunities and experiences, regardless of their abilities.
Neil:
To mass-produce something means to make many copies of it cheaply in a factory, whereas a bespoke product has been made specially for one person in particular.
Georgie:
A dyslexic person has dyslexia, a condition making it difficult for them to spell, read or write.
Neil:
And finally, things which are colour-coded use different colours to represent different parts or functions. Once again, our six minutes are up, but remember to join us again next time, here at 6 Minute English. Goodbye for now!
Could being the underdog help you succeed? Neil and Georgie discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.
This week's question:
Which club overcame odds of 5000-1 to be beat top clubs to win the 2015-16 English Premier League title. Was it:
a) Charlton Athletic?
b) Leicester City? or,
c) Crystal Palace?
Listen to the programme to hear the answer.
Vocabulary
underdog -
person or team in a competition or situation who seems least likely to win;
look down your nose at (someone) -
think you are better than or superior to (someone);
choking -
failure of a sports player or team to perform their best due to psychological pressure or social expectation;
top dog -
(informal) most successful, powerful or authoritative person in a group;
on the flip side -
the opposite, less positive, or less popular side of something;
underperform -
perform worse than expected;
TRANSCRIPT
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.
Neil:
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Neil.
Georgie:
And I’m Georgie. Whether it’s Cinderella, David and Goliath, or the Rocky movies, we all love an underdog story. The underdog in a situation is the person who seems least likely to win. Nevertheless, with some luck and plenty of hard work, the underdog sometimes ends up the winner.
Neil:
Sport is full of underdog stories, minor teams and sportspeople who play with courage and end up beating the superstars and multi-million pound clubs. But if you were given a choice between your team being the favourite to win or being the underdog, it’s pretty obvious you’d want to be the favourite, right?
Georgie:
Well yes, being the favourite gives a team confidence. But maybe the fact that no-one expects the underdog to win is actually an advantage which could help them to a surprise victory. In this programme, we’ll be hearing about an underdog football club doing just that, and, as usual, we’ll be learning some useful new vocabulary too.
Neil:
Great. But first I have a question for you, Georgie. One of the biggest underdog stories in sports history happened in the 2015-16 English football season when a little known club beat top clubs like Manchester City and Liverpool, overcoming odds of 5000-1 to win the Premier League. But which club? Was it?
a) Charlton Athletic?
b) Leicester City? or,
c) Crystal Palace?
Georgie:
I’ll guess it was Crystal Palace.
Neil:
OK, Georgie, I’ll reveal the correct answer at the end of the programme. The English football Premier League is a good place to find underdogs. Each season the three best clubs in the second league are promoted up, while the three weakest Premier clubs are relegated down. One club that knows all about relegation is Luton Town FC.
Georgie:
In 2009, Luton Town were relegated entirely from the English League. Slowly their fortunes improved however, and they've now become the first English team to progress from non-league to the Premier League. Here’s Luton fan, Alex, talking about his team’s chances to BBC Radio programme, Mental Muscle:
Alex:
…But some of these elite Premier League clubs will look down their nose at us and just think we shouldn't be there, and we are there on merit and we’ve just gotta prove it this season. So we are the underdog, certainly financially, but on the pitch I don't think we will be.
Neil:
Alex thinks some of the rich Premier League clubs look down their noses at Luton. If you look down your nose at someone, you think you’re better than them. But underdogs, Luton, have done better than expected, even beating some of the big clubs like Newcastle United.
Georgie:
The question is how? Is there something about being the underdog that improves a team’s chances of winning? To answer that, sports psychologist, Gillian Cook, spoke to BBC Radio programme, Mental Muscle:
Gillian Cook:
So, you can find that when the newly promoted team comes up they've got high confidence 'cause they just come from a season of winning - so they've got the belief that they can do it. But on the flip side it's just as important to look at the top dog’s performance who… everyone expects them to win, they’re playing the newly promoted team. So we might think of Man City who might be about to come up against Luton Town… So what we can see from that is what in psychology literature is known as choking, and that's when pressure gets to an individual or a team and they underperform.
Neil:
Clubs newly promoted to the Premier League are used to winning and start the season confidently. On the flip side, they have to play much stronger teams than before. The phrase, on the flip side, is used to show the opposite, less positive side of something.
Georgie:
Of course it’s not just the underdog playing, there are also top dogs, the most successful or powerful person or team. No-one expects underdogs to win and this gives them freedom to relax and play naturally. Top dogs, on the other hand, experience a lot of expectation, and this sometimes leads to choking, a sports term which describes the failure of a player to perform their best because of psychological pressure or social expectation.
Neil:
Choking causes teams and players to underperform, to perform worse than expected. It’s also true that neutral fans - people watching a match when their team isn’t playing - tend to support the underdog as well. In football, it’s tough at the top!
Georgie:
I think it’s time you reveal the answer to your question, Neil. You asked me about the famous Premier League winning underdogs of the 2015-16 football season, and I guessed it was Crystal Palace…
Neil:
Which was… the wrong answer, I’m afraid, Georgie. In fact it was Leicester City, nicknamed the Foxes, who became the unexpected champions of the Premier League. OK, let’s recap the vocabulary we’ve learned from this programme about the underdog, the person in a competition or situation who seems least likely to win.
Georgie:
If you look down your nose at someone, you think you are superior to them.
Neil:
The phrase, on the flip side, is used to show the opposite, less positive, or less popular side of something.
Georgie:
The top dog is an informal way of saying the most successful or powerful person in a group.
Neil:
In sports, choking happens when a player or team fail to perform their best because of psychological pressure or social expectation.
Georgie:
And finally, the verb to underperform means to perform worse than expected. Once again, our six minutes are up! Remember to join us again next time for more topical discussion and useful vocabulary, here at 6 Minute English. Goodbye for now!
Could sitting be damaging to our health? Phil and Georgie discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.
This week's question
On average, how many hours a day do British adults spend sitting down? Is it:
a) 7 hours?
b) 9 hours? or,
c) 12 hours?
Listen to the programme to hear the answer.
Vocabulary:
engineer (something) out -
design or plan in such a way that something is not required;
this/so much -
in such large amounts;
blood circulation -
the flow of blood through the heart and blood vessels which carries oxygen around the body;
geared around -
organised and prepared towards a certain activity or purpose;
swim against the tide -
not follow what most people are doing; do the opposite of most people;
drive (someone) towards -
push someone towards accepting a new condition or situation;
TRANSCRIPT.
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.
Phil:
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Phil.
Georgie:
And I’m Georgie. We all know how important exercise is to stay fit and reduce the risk of heart disease. Do you exercise much, Phil?
Phil:
I try to. I ride my bike at the weekend. But to be honest I do spend a lot of time sitting down.
Georgie:
Sitting too much is becoming an increasing problem in the modern world. Maybe you take the bus or train to work, then sit at a desk all day, then go home feeling tired and just sit in front of the television all evening as well. Added together, that’s hours of sitting every single day.
Phil:
In this programme, we’ll be finding out exactly how much sitting is too much. And, of course, we’ll be learning some useful new vocabulary.
Georgie:
But first, are you sitting comfortably, Phil? Because I have a question for you. On average, how many hours a day do British adults spend sitting down? Is it:
a) 7 hours?
b) 9 hours? or,
c) 12 hours?
Phil:
I’ll guess it’s 7 hours.
Georgie:
OK, Phil, I’ll reveal the correct answer later. Charlotte Edwardson is a professor of health and behaviour studies who has investigated the link between sitting and health problems in her lab at Leicester University. Here, she talks to BBC Radio 4 programme, Inside Health:
Professor Charlotte Edwardson
If we think about our daily activities, a lot of activities are done sitting down. Movement in our everyday lives has really been engineered out with advances in technology, and our bodies just weren't designed to sit this much, so it's going to cause problems with our health.
[...]
So when you sit down you're not using the largest muscles in your body. So, these are the ones in your legs and your bum. So, that means that your muscle activity goes down. When your muscle activity goes down, your blood circulation reduces.
Georgie:
Throughout history, humans have always walked and moved their bodies. Now, modern technologies like motorised vehicles and office jobs, mean we spend more and more time sitting. Modern life has engineered out the need for us to move. When you engineer something out, you design things in such a way that it is no longer required. For example, CD drives have been engineered out of laptops because downloads are more popular.
Phil:
Charlotte says humans are not used to sitting this much. Here, the words this much mean in such large amounts. It’s a negative thing, one negative being the harm to blood circulation, the flow of blood through the heart and blood vessels which carries oxygen around the body.
Georgie:
When we sit, we stop using important muscles. This reduces blood circulation and causes a range of other effects like increased levels of glucose and fat, and decreased energy levels. The body uses 20% more energy when simply standing than when sitting down, and walking uses 92% more energy. And that’s not to mention the damage sitting too much causes to muscle movement and blood pressure.
Phil:
But the hard truth is that sitting is a big part of modern life. Everything is geared around sitting, it’s organised towards that particular activity, and that makes it hard to stop. Here’s Professor Edwardson again, talking with James Gallagher, presenter of BBC Radio 4 programme, Inside Health:
James Gallagher:
How much do you feel like you're just swimming against the tide with all of this? Like the whole of society is like driving us more and more towards, you know, sitting down all the time, and you're like, ‘please don't!’
Professor Charlotte Edwardson
Sitting is so much part of our everyday activities. You know, you go into a meeting and someone’s, ‘Come and take a seat’, you're going to your GP surgery, ‘Come and take a seat’. Everything's geared around sitting, and as technology advances and it tries to make our life easier, it then leads to us sitting even more.
Georgie:
James asks if Charlotte is swimming against the tide of modern life. If you’re swimming against the tide, you’re doing the opposite of what most people are doing. He also says that society is driving us towards sitting more. To drive someone towards something means pushing them to accept a new situation, even when the situation isn’t so good.
Phil:
Luckily, there’s some simple advice to help. Break up periods of sitting 30 minutes or more with a few minutes of walking or moving your arms. Also try to spend less than half of your waking hours sitting down. Good to know. Now how about your question, Georgie.
Georgie:
Right, my question was how long does the average British adult spend sitting each day. Phil guessed it was 7 hours which was…close, but not right, I’m afraid. In fact, on average we spend 9 hours per day sitting down, that’s about 60% of our waking life. So, remember to take regular breaks, even just a minute or two.
Phil:
OK, let’s recap the vocabulary we’ve learned, starting with, to engineer something out, meaning to design or plan in such a way that something is no longer needed.
Georgie:
The phrase this much or so much means in such large amounts.
Phil:
Blood circulation is the movement of blood through the heart and blood vessels which carries oxygen around the body.
Georgie:
If things are geared around a certain activity or purpose, they’re organised to support it.
Phil:
The idiom to swim against the tide means to not follow what most people are doing.
Georgie:
And finally, to drive someone towards a new situation means to push them towards accepting it. Once again, our six minutes are up! Remember to join us again next time for more topical discussion and useful vocabulary, here at 6 Minute English. Goodbye for now!
Nudges are something that governments and other companies use to persuade us and influence our behaviour, but are they good or bad? Beth and Neil discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.
This week's question:
In 2011, what did the local authority in Woolwich, London decide to paint pictures of on shop windows to stop antisocial behaviour?
a) cute kittens?
b) babies’ faces? or,
c) barking dogs?
Listen to the programme to hear the answer.
Vocabulary
profitable -
making (or likely to make) a profit; money-making
manky -
(slang) dirty; filthy; unattractive; used up;
in (someone’s) best interests -
the most advantageous, helpful and beneficial thing for someone
;
paternalistic -
making decisions for other people, rather than letting them take responsibility for their own lives;
infantilize -
treat someone as if they were a child;
autonomy -
the ability to make your own decisions about what to do, rather than being influenced by someone else or told what to do;
TRANSCRIPT.
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.
Neil:
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Neil.
Beth:
And I’m Beth.
Neil:
Have you ever been sent a text reminding you about a doctor’s appointment? Or impulsively bought something on the internet because there was “only one left”? If any of these have happened to you, then you’ve been nudged.
Beth:
A nudge is a subtle way of altering human behaviour. It’s a powerful way for governments, advertisers and social media companies to encourage, or nudge, people into making choices that benefit themselves and society as a whole.
Neil:
Imagine the government want people to eat better. It might encourage supermarkets to put healthy snacks in easy-to-reach shelves near the checkout, and hide the chocolate bars out of sight on the top shelf. Shoppers are being nudged to eat better.
Beth:
Well… that’s the idea, anyway. But often nudging is used less to benefit society, and more to make money for big business. And it happens more often than people realise. So in this programme, we’ll be asking whether the idea behind nudging - to influence human behaviour for good - is still true today. And, as usual, we’ll be learning some useful new vocabulary as well.
Neil:
But first I have a question for you, Beth. Another example of nudging happened in Woolwich, an area of London which in 2011 had a problem with anti-social behaviour, and particularly with shop windows being smashed. The local authority decided to use nudging to fix the problem by painting pictures on the shop windows, but what did they paint? Was it:
a) cute kittens?
b) babies’ faces? or,
c) barking dogs?
Beth:
I guess barking dogs would keep the window breakers away.
Neil:
OK, Beth, I’ll reveal the correct answer later in the programme. Nudging started in 2008 with the publication of a book by Nobel Prize winning economist, Professor Richard Thaler.
Beth:
Professor Thaler’s ideas about how to gently persuade people into making good decisions became known as ‘nudge theory’. Advertising executive, Rory Sutherland, introduced nudge theory to his agency, Ogilvy. Here’s Rory explaining more to BBC Radio 4 programme, Analysis:
Rory Sutherland:
Let's say you make the profitable option button green and highly attractive, the less profitable option, you make it kind of grey, and kind of manky looking, okay… That would be an example of something which is, you know, a nudge not necessarily used in the best interests of the consumer.
Neil:
Advertisers use colours to nudge customers towards the profitable option, the one which is most likely to make money. These appear brightly coloured and attractive on the screen, whereas less profitable options are made to look manky, a slang word meaning dirty and unattractive.
Beth:
Here, nudging isn’t being used for the public good. These ‘dark nudges’, also called ‘sludge’, make money for a company, but are not always in the best interests of the consumer. If something is in your best interests, it’s the most advantageous and beneficial thing for you to do.
Neil:
Dark nudges have caused many to question the morality of nudging, including Neil Levy, professor of ethics at Oxford University, speaking here to BBC Radio 4 programme, Analysis:
Professor Neil Levy:
The big one, the one people have concentrated on, is that it's paternalistic - that is that nudge might be in our interests but we want to make our own decisions. People worry that nudges infantilize us, it’s undermining our autonomy.
Beth:
Critics of nudging call it paternalistic, meaning it wants to make decisions for people, rather than letting them take responsibility for themselves. They also claim nudging infantilizes people, it treats them like children, and, as a result, people lose autonomy, the ability to make your own decisions about what to do, rather than being told by someone else.
Neil:
I guess nudging itself is neither good nor bad, it just depends how you use it.
Beth:
Well, let’s look on the positive side by revealing the answer to your question, Neil.
Neil:
Right, I asked you how authorities in Woolwich, in south-east London, nudged anti-social window breakers to behave nicely.
Beth:
I guessed it was by painting pictures of scary barking dogs on the windows…
Neil:
Which was… the wrong answer, I’m afraid, Beth! In fact, Woolwich council hired graffiti artists to paint pictures of local babies' faces onto the window shutters. Not even the most hard-hearted criminal smashed those windows, and anti-social behaviour fell by 18% in one year! OK, let's recap the vocabulary we've learned in this programme about nudging, ways of gently persuading or encouraging someone to take decisions.
Beth:
Something which is profitable makes a profit, or is likely to make money.
Neil:
Manky is slang for dirty and unattractive.
Beth:
If something is in your best interests, it’s the most advantageous, beneficial thing for you to do.
Neil:
A paternalistic person prefers making decisions for other people, rather than letting them take responsibility for their own lives.
Beth:
To infantilize someone means to treat them as if they were a child.
Neil:
And finally, autonomy is the ability to make your own decisions about what to do, rather than being told by someone else. Once again our six minutes are up! Remember to join us again next time for more topical discussion and useful vocabulary, here at 6 Minute English. Goodbye for now!
Not a dancer? You might change your mind once you hear the benefits! Beth and Neil discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.
This week's question:
What is the name of a traditional English folk dance where performers wear black hats and colourful waistcoats and hit sticks together while moving in patterns?
a) The Highland fling?
b) Flamenco? or,
c) Morris dancing?
Listen to the programme to hear the answer.
Vocabulary:
boogie / strut your stuff / throw shapes / hit the dance floor -
(modern idioms) to dance;
like nobody's business -
(idiom) very well, or very quickly, or in very large amounts;
a release -
a process of freeing emotions, feelings or tension from the body;
at all costs -
whatever happens used to emphasise that something must (not) be done, even if this requires a lot of effort, time, money etc.
sit on the fence -
(idiom) delay making a decision; avoid deciding in favour of one action over another;
twitch -
sudden small jerky movement or spasm in a part of your body;
TRANSCRIPT:
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.
Neil:
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Neil.
Beth:
And I’m Beth.
Neil:
Do you love to boogie on down, strut your stuff and throw shapes, Beth? What I mean is: do you like dancing?
Beth:
Yes! I love to dance, just listening to the music and letting it move my body. What about you, Neil, do you often hit the dance floor?
Neil:
Sometimes, but I’m not a great dancer. To be honest, I get a bit embarrassed. But maybe I shouldn’t, because it’s been proved that dancing has many physical and mental health benefits, including releasing stress, boosting your mood, or just enjoying a fun night out.
Beth:
In this programme, we’ll be hearing how dancing can benefit our brains and emotions at every stage of life. And, as usual, we'll be learning some useful new vocabulary as well.
Neil:
Of course, another great thing about dance is that there are so many different styles, from ballet and ballroom dancing to tap, hip hop and jazz. But my question is about a very unusual style, a traditional English folk dance where performers wearing black hats and colourful waistcoats hit sticks together while moving in patterns. But do you know the name of this unusual dance, Beth? Is it:
a) The Highland fling?
b) Flamenco? or,
c) Morris dancing?
Beth:
I think the answer is Morris dancing.
Neil:
OK, we’ll find out later in the programme. Besides Beth, someone else who loves to dance is Julia Ravey, presenter of BBC Radio programme, Mental Muscle. Here, Julia tells us exactly why she loves dancing so much:
Julia Ravey:
I love nothing more than a night or a day out where I can just dance like no one's business. To me, it's just such a release and it's something that I definitely rely on to get the stress out of my body. And I now absolutely love to move. Any chance I get, I'll dance. Now, I know everyone is not a fan, 'cause some people can find dancing to be awkward or uncomfortable… and I've seen people who just avoid the dance floor at all costs, but dancing is so good for us and potentially our brains.
Beth:
Julia can dance like nobody’s business, an idiom meaning very well, or very quickly. For her, dancing is a release, a way of freeing emotions, feelings or tension from her body.
Neil:
Not everyone is the same as Julia though, and if, like me, the thought of dancing makes you uncomfortable, you might avoid the dance floor at all costs, no matter what happens.
Beth:
That’s a pity, Neil, because the benefits of dancing are huge – just ask Dr Peter Lovatt, also known as, Dr Dance. Over four decades he’s studied how dancing helps improve brain function in everyone from children and adults to older people living with diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Dr Lovatt’s dance therapy involves spontaneous movements, closing your eyes and letting the music move you. It promotes divergent thinking leading to happier, more creative brains.
Neil:
So how can we get more people dancing? That’s exactly what Julia Ravey asked Dr Lovatt for BBC Radio programme, Mental Muscle:
Julia Ravey:
What would you say to the person listening who maybe doesn't dance at all right now, maybe would like to dance a bit more, maybe for them they're still a little bit on the fence about whether they want to dance? How can everyone get a little bit more movement into their daily life?
Dr Lovatt:
OK, so the very first thing to do, I would suggest, is to lay on your bed with your eyes closed, and to find a piece of music that you like… close your eyes and then just hear the beat and feel the rhythm, so think about where in your body do you feel a twitch?
Neil:
Julia mentions people who are sitting on the fence, who still haven’t decided if they will do something or not, in this case, dance. Dr Lovatt’s advice is simple – get comfortable, close your eyes and listen to some music. Soon, you’ll feel a twitch, a small sudden and involuntary movement somewhere in your body. From there, it’s only a few steps to dancing!
Beth:
It seems a dance a day keeps the doctor away! So what do you reckon, Neil, are you ready to give it a go.
Neil:
Hmm, maybe after I’ve revealed the answer to my question.
Beth:
Right. You asked for the name of the traditional English folk dance where dancers wear colourful waistcoats and hit sticks, and I guessed it was Morris dancing…
Neil:
Well, that was… the correct answer, Beth! Morris dancing is the name of the unusual English folk dance, not flamenco which of course is Spanish, or the Highland fling which comes from Scotland. OK, let's recap the vocabulary we've learned starting with boogie, strut your stuff, throw shapes and hit the dance floor, all modern idioms meaning to dance.
Beth:
If you do something like nobody's business, you do it very well, or very quickly.
Neil:
A release is the act of freeing emotions, feelings or tension from the body.
Beth:
If something must be done at all costs, it must be done whatever happens, even if it involves a lot of difficulty, time or effort.
Neil:
Someone who sits on the fence, delays making a decision or choosing one course of action over another.
Beth:
And finally, a twitch is a sudden jerky movement or spasm in your body, often involuntary. Once again our six minutes are up! Join us again soon for more trending topics and useful vocabulary, here at 6 Minute English. Goodbye for now!
Mums-to-be often feel guilty about the food they crave in pregnancy. Georgie and Phil discuss this and teach you some useful vocabulary.
This week's question.
According to NHS recommendations, which of these foods should pregnant women NOT eat? Is it:
a) chips?
b) oily fish? or,
c) smoked salmon?
Listen to the programme to hear the answer.
Vocabulary:
(to be) eating for two-
(idiom) to be pregnant;
go haywire-
stop working properly;
could count (something) on one hand-
used to emphasise that something does not happen very often, or that there are only a few such things;
binge-
occasion when you do something to excess, for example eat, drink, or spend money;
cat-o’-nine-tails -
(in the past) a whip made of nine strings used to punish prisoners (now) means by which someone criticises themselves as a form of self-punishment or because they feel guilty;
give (yourself) a hard time-
treat (yourself) badly by criticising or blaming yourself;
TRANSCRIPT:
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.
Phil:
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Phil.
Georgie:
And I’m Georgie.
Phil:
If you ask a woman, ‘Are you eating for two?’, the phrase has a very specific meaning. You’re asking, ‘Are you pregnant?’ And like many of the idioms we commonly use in English, this phrase contains a little bit of truth. A pregnant woman really is eating for two – herself and the baby growing inside her.
Georgie:
The female human body is amazing. During pregnancy, it protects the growing baby by allowing it to take whatever nutrients it needs from the mother. This means it’s the mum-to-be, not the baby, who experiences any nutritional problems. It’s also the reason why it’s so important that pregnant women eat well.
Phil:
In this programme, we’ll be finding out how a woman’s relationship to food changes during pregnancy. And, as usual, we’ll be learning some useful new vocabulary too.
Georgie:
But first I have a question for you, Phil. For some pregnant women, finding reliable information on what food to eat can be hard. Finding out about harmful foods to avoid, on the other hand, is much easier. So, according to NHS recommendations, which of these foods should pregnant women NOT eat:
a) chips?
b) oily fish? or,
c) smoked salmon?
Phil:
I think the answer is c) smoked salmon.
Georgie:
OK, Phil. We’ll find out the correct answer at the end of the programme. Although eating healthy and nutritious food is important for mums and babies, the story gets complicated because of the changes a woman’s body goes through during pregnancy. Here’s Jaega Wise, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s, The Food Programme, reporting on her experience of pregnancy:
Jaega Wise:
I feel like throughout this pregnancy my body has just gone a bit haywire, and there are things that my body is doing [laughs] that are frankly weird… Nosebleeds is a really good example. I can count the amount of nosebleeds prepregnancy I’ve had on one hand and now I seem to get them all the time.
Phil:
Jaega says that during pregnancy, her body went haywire – it stopped working properly. For example, she had lots of nosebleeds whereas before being pregnant, she could count the number of nosebleeds she had on one hand. The idiom to count the number of something on one hand emphasises that this does not happen very often, or that there’s a small number of something – after all, you can only count to five on one hand!
Georgie:
Many pregnant women experience cravings, the strong desire for some particular food, anything from ice cream to sardines. When these cravings are for food that’s not so healthy, some women feel guilty, thinking “I know I should be eating healthily, but all I want is chips!” Here’s Jaega Wise again speaking with nutritional therapist, Henrietta Wilson, on the best way to deal with guilty feelings:
Jaega Wise:
How guilty should you feel…is more the question for that late night chocolate binge when your body is telling you, ‘I need cake!’
Henrietta Norton:
Listen, I think the most important thing is to not get out the cat-o’-nine-tails, is to absolutely be kind to yourself, particularly that first trimester. It is a very critical window, but at the same time it can be the time when all you want to do is to eat chips because your body is going through what it perceives to be physiological stress. So it's doing the best that you can, and it's absolutely not about giving yourself a hard time.
Phil:
Jaega’s food cravings led to a chocolate binge. A binge is an occasion when you do something in an extreme way, like eating or drinking too much.
Georgie:
Henrietta’s advice is to not use the cat-o’-nine-tails. In the past, the cat-o’-ninetails was a whip made of nine strings which was used to punish prisoners. Nowadays when someone talks about the cat-o’-nine-tails, they are probably talking about the ways people sometimes use to punish themselves if they feel guilty.
Phil:
But, says Henrietta, pregnancy isn’t about giving yourself a hard time, treating yourself badly or criticising yourself. Pregnancy is a special time of life, and all a baby can ask is that mum does her best. And, of course, avoids some foods, which reminds me of your question, Georgie – which food does the NHS recommend pregnant woman do not eat? I guessed it was smoked salmon…
Georgie:
Which was… the correct answer! Smoked salmon is best avoided because of the risk of bacteria, but oily fish is good, and even a bowl of chips now and then are fine. Right, let's recap the vocabulary we've learned in the programme, starting with the idiom eating for two which means to be pregnant.
Phil:
If something goes haywire it stops working properly or becomes difficult to control.
Georgie:
If you say you could count something on one hand, you’re emphasising that something does not happen very often, or that there are only a few of those things.
Phil:
A binge is an occasion when you do something to excess, for example eat, drink, or spend money.
Georgie:
In the past, the cat-o’-nine-tails was a whip used to punish prisoners, but nowadays it usually refers to the ways in which someone criticises themselves as a form of self-punishment.
Phil:
And finally, to give yourself a hard time means to treat yourself badly by criticising or blaming yourself. Once again our six minutes are up! Remember to join us again next time for more topical discussion and useful vocabulary, here at 6 Minute English. Goodbye for now!