BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
The World Wide Web
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 7
Rob: Hello, I'm Rob.
Yvonne: I'm Yvonne.
Rob: And this is 6 Minute English! Today we’re celebrating a very special
anniversary - the 20th anniversary of the World Wide Web.
Yvonne: Ah, the World Wide Web. That’s something that's really changed our lives -
and in such a short space of time.
Rob: Hmm - definitely. Well, we’ll talk more about that in a moment - but first I
have a question for you: on average, how long does someone spend surfing the
net each day in the UK? Is it:
a) 7 minutes
b) 27 minutes or
c) 57 minutes
Yvonne: Umm – I'm going to say 27 minutes Rob, because I think people spend much
more time on things like Facebook.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 7
Rob: Hmm – that's true. Well, I’ll give you the right answer at the end of the
programme. But now, let’s find out more about the World Wide Web – or
'www' for short.
Yvonne: www – that’s an acronym! It was on Christmas Day, 20 years ago, that a
breakthrough was made in the development of the internet.
Rob: Yes, a breakthrough or a discovery. The man most associated with this
discovery is Sir Tim Berners-Lee. He’s been nicknamed ‘The Father of the
Web’.
Yvonne: What an amazing thing to invent - but of course, other people were also
involved.
Rob: Yes, of course. Tim Berners-Lee has been quoted as saying: “the remarkable
progress of the Web today has been quite gratifying to me”. 'Gratifying' – that
really means being satisfied - or pleased.
Yvonne: Mm... so he’s really pleased with what has happened to the web – and rightly
so! Rob, can you tell me a bit more about his achievement?
Rob: Well, Sir Tim Berners-Lee worked on the first web page in his spare time. He
was a computer scientist and a computer programmer.
Yvonne: And what did his groundbreaking web page say?
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 7
Rob: It was just information about the project that he was working on. The web
page had a very catchy address: nxoc01.cern.ch!
Yvonne: Ha ha! Yeah, really catchy!
Rob: C.E.R.N spells CERN, and that’s the European Organisation for Nuclear
Research, which is where he worked. But the page didn't actually go online
until August 1991.
Yvonne: But this really heralded the start of people communicating by computer?
Rob: Yes. It really showed how computers could talk to each other using a language
called Hyper Text Mark up Language.
Yvonne: Ah - that’s HTML for short!
Rob: Very good!
Yvonne: So, HTML is the language that computers use to talk to each other – to
communicate with each other.
Rob: It’s very clever isn’t it?
Yvonne: Hmmm.
Rob: And since then the internet has evolved at a rapid rate. Now, there are believed
to be around one trillion web pages.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 7
Yvonne: Whew! And I’m sure almost everyone uses the internet now – but I wonder
how we'd cope without it?
Rob: Well, we've been asking people just that. Listen to what they said when we
asked: how would you cope without the World Wide Web?
Insert:
Man:
I'd just have to do without it, wouldn't I? If you remember all the scare stories of the
millennium that, you know, all the power stations would shut down and all that – it
didn't happen. As long as my central heating wasn't controlled by the internet, I'd just
have to manage.
Woman:
Probably not very well. Umm - I imagine that most of my social relationships would be a
lot more difficult. And also keeping in contact with people far away would also be
impossible.
Man:
Err – with great difficulty (laughs)! It would be the phone, I imagine, and lots more
writing, lots more paper. Umm – we'd need bigger file cabinets.
Rob: So the first man would cope without the internet, as long as the computers
which help provide power for his central heating – that's the system he uses to
keep warm – isn't affected! He says he'd just have to 'do without it'.
Yvonne: The woman was most worried about her social relationships – keeping in
contact with her friends and family.
Rob: Yes, especially those who are far away. In fact, she thinks keeping in contact
with them would be impossible without the internet. But the last man we heard
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 7
from doesn't agree. Although he says he would cope with great difficulty, he
does have some alternatives – ideas about what we could do instead.
Yvonne: And he has a good point I think, Rob. We could write to each other - like we
used to before we had the internet. It would be lovely to get more hand-written
letters from friends and family rather than just e-mails, I think.
Rob: That's what we call 'snail-mail'. But of course, as that man pointed out, lots
more paper would mean that we'd need bigger file cabinets – the pieces of
furniture that are used to keep all those bits of paper safe.
Yvonne: It’s incredible how the World Wide Web has expanded in twenty years, and
how much we now rely on it. I wonder what it will be like after another twenty
years.
Rob: Well, Sir Tim Berners-Lee has said: “we have only scratched the surface of
what could be realised with deeper scientific investigation into the Web’s
design, operation and impact on society”.
Yvonne: It’s true. We've only just begun to understand how useful the World Wide Web
can really be, especially for people in developing countries.
Rob: So this technological breakthrough, twenty years ago, is something worth
celebrating! Now, Yvonne, earlier I asked you a question. On average, how
long does someone spend surfing the net each day in the UK?
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 6 of 7
Yvonne: And I said 27 minutes.
Rob: And you were wrong.
Yvonne: Oh no!
Rob: The average time people spend on the internet each day is a lot longer than that.
It's 57 minutes.
Yvonne: Oh - and without Sir Tim and his colleagues’ work, it wouldn’t be possible at
all.
Rob: That’s right. Well, we do hope you’ve enjoyed today’s 6 Minute English.
Both: Bye bye.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 7 of 7
Vocabulary and definitions
anniversary a date that is remembered each year because something
special happened
surfing searching, looking at, browsing information on the internet
a breakthrough an important discovery, development or achievement
gratifying satisfying, pleasing
heralded signalled something that was going to arrive or happen in
the future
scare stories news that frightens many people unnecessarily, all or parts
of which may not be true
social relationships connections with family and friends
file cabinets (filing cabinets) furniture that is used to keep documents or papers safe;
usually found in offices
More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/berners_lee_tim.shtml
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2010/12/101223_6min_www_page.shtml
2010年12月25日 星期六
2010年12月17日 星期五
Farming in Africa!
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Farming in Africa
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 6
Alice: Hello, I'm Alice.
Yvonne: And I'm Yvonne.
Alice: And this is 6 Minute English! And in today’s programme we’re talking about
farming in Africa.
Yvonne: The study of farming is called agriculture.
Alice: This is a new look at agriculture in Africa – how one expert – a Harvard
Professor thinks Africa could change from being an importer of food to an
exporter in one generation.
Yvonne: In one generation – that’s usually a period of about 20 to 30 years. The time it
takes for someone to become an adult.
Alice: In his book ‘The New Harvest’, Professor Calestous Juma says Africa could
become self-sufficient in terms of growing food within one generation. But
before we find out more, can you explain what a staple crop is?
Yvonne: Sure. A staple crop is a plant that is grown for food and it’s considered to be
the most important part of a country’s diet.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 6
Alice: So like rice or corn. And my question is about the country Professor Calestous
Juma comes from originally – Kenya. Which of these is a staple crop in Kenya?
a) rice
b) maize
c) wheat
Yvonne: I think I’m going for maize because I know that is something that’s used in
other countries in Africa.
Alice: Well, we’ll find out at the end of the programme. Now let’s see how Professor
Juma thinks Africa could become food secure.
Yvonne: Food secure – that’s self-sufficient in terms of food.
Alice: He believes that leaders in Africa need to make agriculture a top priority. And
he says that the modernisation of agriculture is the responsibility of African
Presidents. Let’s listen to what he says:
Insert 1: Professor Calestous Juma
I think the most important message is for them to recognise that agriculture and the
economy for Africa are one and the same. And that is the responsibility of an African
president to modernise the economy and that means essentially starting with the
modernisation of agriculture. And that they should stick with it and not hand it over to
departmental (government) ministries.
Alice: Agriculture and economy are one and the same.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 6
Yvonne: One and the same – a phrase which means they are identical. They are the
same – here that the economy in Africa is completely dependent on
agriculture.
Alice: The BBC’s Science Reporter Neil Bowdler says Professor Juma is
thinking big.
Yvonne: Thinking big – he has large ambitions.
Alice: He believes it’s a question of political will.
Yvonne: Political will – if politicians want to make something happen, they will.
Insert 2: BBC’s Science Reporter Neil Bowdler
Professor Juma can't be accused of not thinking big. He says that with land and labour
abundant, Africa shouldn't be a hungry importer of food, but a major exporter. He says
it's all a question of political will.
Alice: Juma can’t be accused of not thinking big.
Yvonne: That’s true. He says Africa has abundant land and labour.
Alice: Abundant – lots of, lots of land to grow crops on and lots of labour – lots of
people to work on farms.
Yvonne: But what about the detail of how this can happen? Large areas of Africa’s land
are desert or suffer from drought.
Alice: According to Neil Bowdler, Juma has a wish list.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 6
Yvonne: A wish list – a list of things he would like to happen. What are they?
Alice: He wants to boost investment in roads – to carry crops and machines from
place to place.
Yvonne: Boost investment – increase the amount of money put into
agriculture. What else?
Alice: To boost investment in irrigation.
Yvonne: Irrigation – moving water from one place to another to make sure crops don’t
dry out.
Alice: And to mechanise farms – introduce big machines to help with the harvest and
process crops. He wants people to embrace what science can offer.
Yvonne: To embrace what science can offer – to take advantage of new technology.
Alice: In agriculture this might mean using genetically modified crops.
Yvonne: GM crops – crops that have been developed by scientists to be stronger or to
need less water to grow, so they may be less affected by climate change.
Alice: Let’s hear Neil Bowdler again.
Insert 3: BBC’s Science Reporter Neil Bowdler
The wish list - and some will call it that - is a long one. Boost investment in roads,
irrigation and energy schemes. Mechanise all farms, and build storage and processing
facilities. He's also asking the continent to embrace what science can offer, and that
includes using GM crops to combat climate change.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 6
Alice: So before we go Yvonne. Have you thought about our question from earlier?
Which are staple crops in Kenya? Rice, maize, wheat?
Yvonne: I said maize because that’s a staple in other African countries.
Alice: Well, it was a trick question because all three are grown in staple crops
in Kenya. Apparently rice not as much as wheat and maize but it’s catching up.
And before we go today, Yvonne would you mind reading some of the words
and phrases we’ve heard?
Yvonne: Not at all.
agriculture
self-sufficient
staple crop
food-secure
modernisation
thinking big
political will
abundant
Alice: Thanks very much, Yvonne. Beautifully read. We hope you’ve had fun with us
today on 6 Minute English - and that you’ll join us again next time.
Both: Bye.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 6 of 6
Vocabulary and definitions
agriculture farming
self-sufficient able to provide everything you need, especially food,
without the help of other people
staple crop plant grown for food considered essential part of a
country’s diet
food secure referring to a situation when people could live without
hunger or fear of starvation
modernisation to update something
thinking big having large ambitions
political will how politicians can make something happen if they want
to
abundant more than enough
More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11890702
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2010/12/101216_6min_agriculture_page.shtml
6 Minute English
Farming in Africa
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 6
Alice: Hello, I'm Alice.
Yvonne: And I'm Yvonne.
Alice: And this is 6 Minute English! And in today’s programme we’re talking about
farming in Africa.
Yvonne: The study of farming is called agriculture.
Alice: This is a new look at agriculture in Africa – how one expert – a Harvard
Professor thinks Africa could change from being an importer of food to an
exporter in one generation.
Yvonne: In one generation – that’s usually a period of about 20 to 30 years. The time it
takes for someone to become an adult.
Alice: In his book ‘The New Harvest’, Professor Calestous Juma says Africa could
become self-sufficient in terms of growing food within one generation. But
before we find out more, can you explain what a staple crop is?
Yvonne: Sure. A staple crop is a plant that is grown for food and it’s considered to be
the most important part of a country’s diet.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 6
Alice: So like rice or corn. And my question is about the country Professor Calestous
Juma comes from originally – Kenya. Which of these is a staple crop in Kenya?
a) rice
b) maize
c) wheat
Yvonne: I think I’m going for maize because I know that is something that’s used in
other countries in Africa.
Alice: Well, we’ll find out at the end of the programme. Now let’s see how Professor
Juma thinks Africa could become food secure.
Yvonne: Food secure – that’s self-sufficient in terms of food.
Alice: He believes that leaders in Africa need to make agriculture a top priority. And
he says that the modernisation of agriculture is the responsibility of African
Presidents. Let’s listen to what he says:
Insert 1: Professor Calestous Juma
I think the most important message is for them to recognise that agriculture and the
economy for Africa are one and the same. And that is the responsibility of an African
president to modernise the economy and that means essentially starting with the
modernisation of agriculture. And that they should stick with it and not hand it over to
departmental (government) ministries.
Alice: Agriculture and economy are one and the same.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 6
Yvonne: One and the same – a phrase which means they are identical. They are the
same – here that the economy in Africa is completely dependent on
agriculture.
Alice: The BBC’s Science Reporter Neil Bowdler says Professor Juma is
thinking big.
Yvonne: Thinking big – he has large ambitions.
Alice: He believes it’s a question of political will.
Yvonne: Political will – if politicians want to make something happen, they will.
Insert 2: BBC’s Science Reporter Neil Bowdler
Professor Juma can't be accused of not thinking big. He says that with land and labour
abundant, Africa shouldn't be a hungry importer of food, but a major exporter. He says
it's all a question of political will.
Alice: Juma can’t be accused of not thinking big.
Yvonne: That’s true. He says Africa has abundant land and labour.
Alice: Abundant – lots of, lots of land to grow crops on and lots of labour – lots of
people to work on farms.
Yvonne: But what about the detail of how this can happen? Large areas of Africa’s land
are desert or suffer from drought.
Alice: According to Neil Bowdler, Juma has a wish list.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 6
Yvonne: A wish list – a list of things he would like to happen. What are they?
Alice: He wants to boost investment in roads – to carry crops and machines from
place to place.
Yvonne: Boost investment – increase the amount of money put into
agriculture. What else?
Alice: To boost investment in irrigation.
Yvonne: Irrigation – moving water from one place to another to make sure crops don’t
dry out.
Alice: And to mechanise farms – introduce big machines to help with the harvest and
process crops. He wants people to embrace what science can offer.
Yvonne: To embrace what science can offer – to take advantage of new technology.
Alice: In agriculture this might mean using genetically modified crops.
Yvonne: GM crops – crops that have been developed by scientists to be stronger or to
need less water to grow, so they may be less affected by climate change.
Alice: Let’s hear Neil Bowdler again.
Insert 3: BBC’s Science Reporter Neil Bowdler
The wish list - and some will call it that - is a long one. Boost investment in roads,
irrigation and energy schemes. Mechanise all farms, and build storage and processing
facilities. He's also asking the continent to embrace what science can offer, and that
includes using GM crops to combat climate change.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 6
Alice: So before we go Yvonne. Have you thought about our question from earlier?
Which are staple crops in Kenya? Rice, maize, wheat?
Yvonne: I said maize because that’s a staple in other African countries.
Alice: Well, it was a trick question because all three are grown in staple crops
in Kenya. Apparently rice not as much as wheat and maize but it’s catching up.
And before we go today, Yvonne would you mind reading some of the words
and phrases we’ve heard?
Yvonne: Not at all.
agriculture
self-sufficient
staple crop
food-secure
modernisation
thinking big
political will
abundant
Alice: Thanks very much, Yvonne. Beautifully read. We hope you’ve had fun with us
today on 6 Minute English - and that you’ll join us again next time.
Both: Bye.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 6 of 6
Vocabulary and definitions
agriculture farming
self-sufficient able to provide everything you need, especially food,
without the help of other people
staple crop plant grown for food considered essential part of a
country’s diet
food secure referring to a situation when people could live without
hunger or fear of starvation
modernisation to update something
thinking big having large ambitions
political will how politicians can make something happen if they want
to
abundant more than enough
More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11890702
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2010/12/101216_6min_agriculture_page.shtml
2010年12月11日 星期六
London English: Cockney!
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
London English: Cockney
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 6
Yvonne: Hello, I'm Yvonne Archer.
Alice: I'm Alice.
Yvonne: And this is 6 Minute English! Now, like me, you were born in London, weren't
you Alice?
Alice: Yes I was.
Yvonne: Were you born within the sounds of Bow bells, in the East End of London?
Alice: No, I wasn’t born close enough to hear the bells ringing from a certain church
in Bow.
Yvonne: Ah, so that means officially, you’re not a Cockney. But I imagine like me Alice,
you're probably interested in "Evolving English – One Language, Many
Voices". It’s an exhibition at the British Library which includes a whole
section about London English.
Alice: London English - how interesting!
Yvonne: Hmm, I thought so. Now before we continue, Alice - I've got a tricky little
question for you! Are you ready?
Alice: I am.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 6
Yvonne: OK - in August of 2009, a business decided to officially recognise the Cockney
language by delivering its services using Cockney rhyming slang for three
months. Now can you guess what type of business it was?
a) a hotel
b) a restaurant or
c) a financial business
Alice: Oh, I'm going to guess 'a restaurant', you know, maybe something like a fish
and chips restaurant?
Yvonne: Hmm, that's a nice answer. But as usual, you'll just have to wait until later on to
find out the correct answer! Now the exhibition at the British Library tells us
about the 1500 year history of the English language, as used by people around
the world. And of course, there's information about the Cockney dialect in the
section on London English too.
Alice: Oh that's really good.
Yvonne: Mm. Now if I say, "Hello me ole china" – am I being rude, Alice?
Alice: Oh, no - not at all, that's quite friendly. You're using Cockney rhyming slang to
say: "Hello my old mate - my old friend". So in Cockney rhyming slang, a
word is replaced by another word or phrase that rhymes with it. So here,
"china" from "a china plate" is used instead of "mate". Hello me ole china!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 6
Yvonne: OK, Cockney rhyming slang was, and is still sometimes used in the East End
of London, mainly by working people. It’s changed over the years. So let’s
hear from the exhibition’s curator, Johnny Robinson:
Insert 1: BBC Radio London
In London today, we do still hear that traditional Cockney that's been around for a long
time, but also we get British Asian English speakers, London Jamaican speakers. And so
that's been going on for, you know, a thousand years – people coming into contact with
each other and gradually changing the sounds and the words and the vocabulary that we
hear.
Yvonne: So people of Asian and of Jamaican descent, for example, speak their own
versions of London English, including Cockney. And as they’ve come into
contact with people who speak traditional Cockney, it’s changed.
Alice: That's right - as people immigrate to London, they influence the sounds, the
words, the vocabulary that we hear. But of course, as people who speak
traditional Cockney move out of London, they also take that language with
them.
Yvonne: So, we can also hear it outside the East End of London too. You know what
Alice, I think of Cockney rhyming slang as a sort of code. When I was a child,
adults would speak it around me in Hackney because they didn’t want me to
know what they were saying.
Alice: What a good idea! And it’s said that working-class people in the East End of
London started speaking it because they didn’t want the ruling-class to
understand their conversations.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 6
Yvonne: That's right. Now I’d also say that Cockney rhyming slang gives East Enders a
strong sense of identity, just like any other language.
Alice: That’s true. If we hear someone speaking Cockney or Cockney rhyming slang,
we immediately know they've got roots in the East End.
Yvonne: That's true. OK, here’s a treat! Let’s hear Paul Ross from BBC Radio London’s
Breakfast Show reading out a message from a listener. But, it’s all in Cockney
rhyming slang. How much will we understand?
Insert 2: BBC Radio London
"Morning Gaby and Paul", says Ian on the Dartford Crossing, "Woke up this morning,
had a jimmy, had a dig in the grave, cleaned me corned beef, put on me trousers, put me
wallet in me sky, came down the apples and pears, got in mi jam jar and I'm now on me
way to work - or in my case" says Ian, "shirk".
Yvonne: Ooh, so what have you got for us, Alice?
Alice: Well, Ian from Dartford Crossing said: "had a dig in the grave" – "grave" -
shave. So he shaved when he woke up.
Yvonne: Ian also "cleaned his corned beef". Did you get that one, Alice?
Alice: Yeah – "he cleaned his corned beef" – so that's cleaning his teeth.
Yvonne: Excellent! Shall we hear the last part of that again? It's quite fast.
Alice: Yeah.
Insert 3: BBC Radio London
"… came down the apples and pears, got in me jam jar and I'm now on me way to work
– or in my case" says Ian, "shirk".
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 6
Yvonne: He "came down the apple and pears" – meaning "stairs".
Alice: And then he got into his "jam jar" – his car - he got into his car.
Yvonne: Now before we go, it’s time for the answer to today’s question. Earlier, I told
you that in August of 2009, a business decided to officially recognise the
Cockney language. And it did this by delivering its services using Cockney
rhyming slang for three months. But, what type of business was it, Alice?
Alice: I thought it might be a restaurant selling something like fish and chips.
Yvonne: Good idea. But no, it was actually the financial institution.
Alice: Oh, how bizarre! Why?
Yvonne: Well, they did it via their cash machines and they thought it would be fun if it
asked you: "please enter your Huckleberry Finn".
Alice: Ha, ha, "Huckleberry Finn" – pin!
Yvonne: Exactly. Anyway, we do hope you’ve had fun with us today on "6 Minute
English" and that you’ll join us again soon.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 6 of 6
Vocabulary and definitions
evolving gradually changing, developing and adapting
dialect version of a language spoken by a particular group of
people or in a particular area
curator person in charge of gathering objects for exhibitions in
museums or galleries
descent here, a person’s family background, specifically the
nationality of their family
immigrate to come to live in a country after leaving your own
code here, a secret language or system of replacing words with
others so that only certain people can understand its
meaning
ruling class a group of the most powerful of people in charge of
government
sense of identity special things about a particular group of people which
they share and can be recognised by
roots here, the place where a person comes from
delivering its services making its products and help available to customers
More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11640951
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2010/12/101202_6min_london_english_page.shtml
6 Minute English
London English: Cockney
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 6
Yvonne: Hello, I'm Yvonne Archer.
Alice: I'm Alice.
Yvonne: And this is 6 Minute English! Now, like me, you were born in London, weren't
you Alice?
Alice: Yes I was.
Yvonne: Were you born within the sounds of Bow bells, in the East End of London?
Alice: No, I wasn’t born close enough to hear the bells ringing from a certain church
in Bow.
Yvonne: Ah, so that means officially, you’re not a Cockney. But I imagine like me Alice,
you're probably interested in "Evolving English – One Language, Many
Voices". It’s an exhibition at the British Library which includes a whole
section about London English.
Alice: London English - how interesting!
Yvonne: Hmm, I thought so. Now before we continue, Alice - I've got a tricky little
question for you! Are you ready?
Alice: I am.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 6
Yvonne: OK - in August of 2009, a business decided to officially recognise the Cockney
language by delivering its services using Cockney rhyming slang for three
months. Now can you guess what type of business it was?
a) a hotel
b) a restaurant or
c) a financial business
Alice: Oh, I'm going to guess 'a restaurant', you know, maybe something like a fish
and chips restaurant?
Yvonne: Hmm, that's a nice answer. But as usual, you'll just have to wait until later on to
find out the correct answer! Now the exhibition at the British Library tells us
about the 1500 year history of the English language, as used by people around
the world. And of course, there's information about the Cockney dialect in the
section on London English too.
Alice: Oh that's really good.
Yvonne: Mm. Now if I say, "Hello me ole china" – am I being rude, Alice?
Alice: Oh, no - not at all, that's quite friendly. You're using Cockney rhyming slang to
say: "Hello my old mate - my old friend". So in Cockney rhyming slang, a
word is replaced by another word or phrase that rhymes with it. So here,
"china" from "a china plate" is used instead of "mate". Hello me ole china!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 6
Yvonne: OK, Cockney rhyming slang was, and is still sometimes used in the East End
of London, mainly by working people. It’s changed over the years. So let’s
hear from the exhibition’s curator, Johnny Robinson:
Insert 1: BBC Radio London
In London today, we do still hear that traditional Cockney that's been around for a long
time, but also we get British Asian English speakers, London Jamaican speakers. And so
that's been going on for, you know, a thousand years – people coming into contact with
each other and gradually changing the sounds and the words and the vocabulary that we
hear.
Yvonne: So people of Asian and of Jamaican descent, for example, speak their own
versions of London English, including Cockney. And as they’ve come into
contact with people who speak traditional Cockney, it’s changed.
Alice: That's right - as people immigrate to London, they influence the sounds, the
words, the vocabulary that we hear. But of course, as people who speak
traditional Cockney move out of London, they also take that language with
them.
Yvonne: So, we can also hear it outside the East End of London too. You know what
Alice, I think of Cockney rhyming slang as a sort of code. When I was a child,
adults would speak it around me in Hackney because they didn’t want me to
know what they were saying.
Alice: What a good idea! And it’s said that working-class people in the East End of
London started speaking it because they didn’t want the ruling-class to
understand their conversations.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 6
Yvonne: That's right. Now I’d also say that Cockney rhyming slang gives East Enders a
strong sense of identity, just like any other language.
Alice: That’s true. If we hear someone speaking Cockney or Cockney rhyming slang,
we immediately know they've got roots in the East End.
Yvonne: That's true. OK, here’s a treat! Let’s hear Paul Ross from BBC Radio London’s
Breakfast Show reading out a message from a listener. But, it’s all in Cockney
rhyming slang. How much will we understand?
Insert 2: BBC Radio London
"Morning Gaby and Paul", says Ian on the Dartford Crossing, "Woke up this morning,
had a jimmy, had a dig in the grave, cleaned me corned beef, put on me trousers, put me
wallet in me sky, came down the apples and pears, got in mi jam jar and I'm now on me
way to work - or in my case" says Ian, "shirk".
Yvonne: Ooh, so what have you got for us, Alice?
Alice: Well, Ian from Dartford Crossing said: "had a dig in the grave" – "grave" -
shave. So he shaved when he woke up.
Yvonne: Ian also "cleaned his corned beef". Did you get that one, Alice?
Alice: Yeah – "he cleaned his corned beef" – so that's cleaning his teeth.
Yvonne: Excellent! Shall we hear the last part of that again? It's quite fast.
Alice: Yeah.
Insert 3: BBC Radio London
"… came down the apples and pears, got in me jam jar and I'm now on me way to work
– or in my case" says Ian, "shirk".
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 6
Yvonne: He "came down the apple and pears" – meaning "stairs".
Alice: And then he got into his "jam jar" – his car - he got into his car.
Yvonne: Now before we go, it’s time for the answer to today’s question. Earlier, I told
you that in August of 2009, a business decided to officially recognise the
Cockney language. And it did this by delivering its services using Cockney
rhyming slang for three months. But, what type of business was it, Alice?
Alice: I thought it might be a restaurant selling something like fish and chips.
Yvonne: Good idea. But no, it was actually the financial institution.
Alice: Oh, how bizarre! Why?
Yvonne: Well, they did it via their cash machines and they thought it would be fun if it
asked you: "please enter your Huckleberry Finn".
Alice: Ha, ha, "Huckleberry Finn" – pin!
Yvonne: Exactly. Anyway, we do hope you’ve had fun with us today on "6 Minute
English" and that you’ll join us again soon.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 6 of 6
Vocabulary and definitions
evolving gradually changing, developing and adapting
dialect version of a language spoken by a particular group of
people or in a particular area
curator person in charge of gathering objects for exhibitions in
museums or galleries
descent here, a person’s family background, specifically the
nationality of their family
immigrate to come to live in a country after leaving your own
code here, a secret language or system of replacing words with
others so that only certain people can understand its
meaning
ruling class a group of the most powerful of people in charge of
government
sense of identity special things about a particular group of people which
they share and can be recognised by
roots here, the place where a person comes from
delivering its services making its products and help available to customers
More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11640951
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2010/12/101202_6min_london_english_page.shtml
2010年12月3日 星期五
The London Tube!
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
The London Tube
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 6
Yvonne: This is 6 Minute English, I'm Yvonne Archer and Alice has kindly joined me
for today's programme. Hello Alice.
Alice: Hi Yvonne.
Yvonne: Now Alice, how do you get around London?
Alice: Ooh – by bus, bicycle and usually the Tube.
Yvonne: Aha, and most people would agree that the London Underground – ‘the Tube’ -
is the best way to get around this city. But many people have a love-hate
relationship with the underground – we either love it or hate it.
Insert 1: Tube announcement
(Ladies and gentlemen)…because of earlier signal failure, theMetropolitan Line has
severe delays and Hammersmith & City, Circle and Victoria Lines are all operating
with minor delays. We have a good service and operation on all of our other London
Underground lines (baby crying).
Alice: Oh dear, more delays – that's when the Tube is running late and doesn't come
along when we expect it to. And that makes it unreliable.
Yvonne: And the thing I hate most is that on a crowded carriage – or compartment - I
always have to stand under someone's armpit – and they don't always smell
very nice!
Alice: Oh, Yvonne – you poor thing. It's probably because you're not that tall, right?
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 6
Yvonne: Anyway, there is a lot to love about the Tube as well. It’s reasonably fast, it
covers a wide area and it has a long history. Now, it’s time for today's question,
Alice. During the last financial year, how many kilometres did Tube trains
travel? Was it about equal to:
a) 72 trips to the moon and back
b) 85 trips to the moon and back or
c) 90 trips to the moon and back
Alice: Oh, I've got no idea, so I'm going to guess and go for the big one. 90 trips to
the moon and back.
Yvonne: Mmmm – a very brave guess! But we’ll find out whether you've given us the
right answer or not later on. Now, if you live or work in London, or even if
you’ve only ever used the Tube once as a visitor to Britain, you’ll probably
have an opinion on it.
Alice: Yes, tourists and visitors to London who I’ve spoken to say they find it quite
simple to use and that the map is very good. It's difficult to get lost
underground.
Yvonne: Hmm, it is. When our colleague Natalie first arrived in London from Northern
Ireland, one thing about the Tube really surprised her.
Insert 2: Natalie
Nobody speaks to each other on the Tube; nobody looks at each other either most of the
time. And at first, it was strange being that close to strangers, but you just have to get on
with it or you'll not get on the Tube.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 6
Yvonne: So Natalie found it strange to be standing so close to people she didn't know –
strangers – because the Tube was so crowded.
Alice: She soon realised that if she didn't 'get on with it', squeeze into a carriage and
travel in cramped conditions at rush hour, she might never go anywhere.
Yvonne: Mm, Natalie was most surprised that people don’t really speak to each other on
the Tube. And do you know, it's true. We do avoid eye contact with other
people, but I’m not sure why? But I'm a Londoner, and of course, I think lots
of us are quite friendly.
Alice: I think it happens in all big cities. When there are lots of people in small,
public places, people avoid eye contact or talking to each other.
Yvonne: Now let’s hear from Wang Fei, another of our colleagues. He's from China, but
has a much more romantic view of the Tube. Let’s listen to part of this rather
poetic piece he created about the sounds we hear underground:
Insert 3: Wang Fei
I hear a rumbling noise begin quietly, then grow louder and louder, building up to a
noise explosion as the train comes into the station. (This is South Kensington…). I hear
the beeping sound and the doors open and close. I hear the clacking sound of the
track, a constant soundtrack to people silently reading newspapers and books on the
train.
Yvonne: Aw, Alice, that might certainly make us feel a little differently about the Tube,
don't you think?
Alice: Yes, it often takes fresh eyes to look at something we take for granted.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 6
Yvonne: That’s true. So Wang Fei used quite a few adjectives to describe some of the
sounds we heard there as we travel on the Tube. Alice, remind us of a few
please.
Alice: Sure. Wang Fei describes the sudden, loud sound that we hear as the train
arrives at a station as 'a noise explosion'. But first, the train makes a quiet,
rumbling noise that grows louder and louder.
Yvonne: Mmm, that was lovely, because it's the same word we use to describe the
sound our stomachs make when we're hungry. Our stomachs rumble. They
make a rumbling sound.
Alice: Then there was 'beeping' - that's the sound we hear as the doors open and close
on the carriages. And this beeping's really important for blind or visually
impaired people to know when the doors are open or shut.
Yvonne: Yes, because the beeping sound lets them know when it's safe to get on and off
the train.
Alice: We also heard about the 'clacking' sound – which Wang Fei says is a
continuous sound that we hear in the background. So it's like the music in a
film; he calls it 'a constant soundtrack'.
Yvonne: 'A constant soundtrack'. Well, I hope we'll both think about all those things
next time we're stuck on a Tube train, Alice.
Alice: I hope so.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 6
Yvonne: And before we go, our question! I asked you Alice: during the last financial
year, how many kilometres did Tube trains travel, in terms of trips to the moon
and back? And your answer was?
Alice: I think I said 90.
Yvonne: Yes, 90 trips to the moon and back.
Alice: Amazing!
Yvonne: Thanks Alice, that was fun! Do join us again soon for more "6 Minute English".
Both: Bye!
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 6 of 6
Vocabulary and definitions
get around travel around
the Tube the London Underground train system
a love-hate relationship relationship (often not romantic) where feelings towards
someone or something vary from love to hate
delays when things are later than expected or planned
unreliable cannot be depended on
get on with it hurry up or do something you might find difficult
eye contact to look at someone while they are looking at you
take for granted don't understand the value of
visually impaired not able to see properly
soundtrack music used in or made for a film
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2010/11/101125_6min_tube_page.shtml
6 Minute English
The London Tube
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 6
Yvonne: This is 6 Minute English, I'm Yvonne Archer and Alice has kindly joined me
for today's programme. Hello Alice.
Alice: Hi Yvonne.
Yvonne: Now Alice, how do you get around London?
Alice: Ooh – by bus, bicycle and usually the Tube.
Yvonne: Aha, and most people would agree that the London Underground – ‘the Tube’ -
is the best way to get around this city. But many people have a love-hate
relationship with the underground – we either love it or hate it.
Insert 1: Tube announcement
(Ladies and gentlemen)…because of earlier signal failure, theMetropolitan Line has
severe delays and Hammersmith & City, Circle and Victoria Lines are all operating
with minor delays. We have a good service and operation on all of our other London
Underground lines (baby crying).
Alice: Oh dear, more delays – that's when the Tube is running late and doesn't come
along when we expect it to. And that makes it unreliable.
Yvonne: And the thing I hate most is that on a crowded carriage – or compartment - I
always have to stand under someone's armpit – and they don't always smell
very nice!
Alice: Oh, Yvonne – you poor thing. It's probably because you're not that tall, right?
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 6
Yvonne: Anyway, there is a lot to love about the Tube as well. It’s reasonably fast, it
covers a wide area and it has a long history. Now, it’s time for today's question,
Alice. During the last financial year, how many kilometres did Tube trains
travel? Was it about equal to:
a) 72 trips to the moon and back
b) 85 trips to the moon and back or
c) 90 trips to the moon and back
Alice: Oh, I've got no idea, so I'm going to guess and go for the big one. 90 trips to
the moon and back.
Yvonne: Mmmm – a very brave guess! But we’ll find out whether you've given us the
right answer or not later on. Now, if you live or work in London, or even if
you’ve only ever used the Tube once as a visitor to Britain, you’ll probably
have an opinion on it.
Alice: Yes, tourists and visitors to London who I’ve spoken to say they find it quite
simple to use and that the map is very good. It's difficult to get lost
underground.
Yvonne: Hmm, it is. When our colleague Natalie first arrived in London from Northern
Ireland, one thing about the Tube really surprised her.
Insert 2: Natalie
Nobody speaks to each other on the Tube; nobody looks at each other either most of the
time. And at first, it was strange being that close to strangers, but you just have to get on
with it or you'll not get on the Tube.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 6
Yvonne: So Natalie found it strange to be standing so close to people she didn't know –
strangers – because the Tube was so crowded.
Alice: She soon realised that if she didn't 'get on with it', squeeze into a carriage and
travel in cramped conditions at rush hour, she might never go anywhere.
Yvonne: Mm, Natalie was most surprised that people don’t really speak to each other on
the Tube. And do you know, it's true. We do avoid eye contact with other
people, but I’m not sure why? But I'm a Londoner, and of course, I think lots
of us are quite friendly.
Alice: I think it happens in all big cities. When there are lots of people in small,
public places, people avoid eye contact or talking to each other.
Yvonne: Now let’s hear from Wang Fei, another of our colleagues. He's from China, but
has a much more romantic view of the Tube. Let’s listen to part of this rather
poetic piece he created about the sounds we hear underground:
Insert 3: Wang Fei
I hear a rumbling noise begin quietly, then grow louder and louder, building up to a
noise explosion as the train comes into the station. (This is South Kensington…). I hear
the beeping sound and the doors open and close. I hear the clacking sound of the
track, a constant soundtrack to people silently reading newspapers and books on the
train.
Yvonne: Aw, Alice, that might certainly make us feel a little differently about the Tube,
don't you think?
Alice: Yes, it often takes fresh eyes to look at something we take for granted.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 6
Yvonne: That’s true. So Wang Fei used quite a few adjectives to describe some of the
sounds we heard there as we travel on the Tube. Alice, remind us of a few
please.
Alice: Sure. Wang Fei describes the sudden, loud sound that we hear as the train
arrives at a station as 'a noise explosion'. But first, the train makes a quiet,
rumbling noise that grows louder and louder.
Yvonne: Mmm, that was lovely, because it's the same word we use to describe the
sound our stomachs make when we're hungry. Our stomachs rumble. They
make a rumbling sound.
Alice: Then there was 'beeping' - that's the sound we hear as the doors open and close
on the carriages. And this beeping's really important for blind or visually
impaired people to know when the doors are open or shut.
Yvonne: Yes, because the beeping sound lets them know when it's safe to get on and off
the train.
Alice: We also heard about the 'clacking' sound – which Wang Fei says is a
continuous sound that we hear in the background. So it's like the music in a
film; he calls it 'a constant soundtrack'.
Yvonne: 'A constant soundtrack'. Well, I hope we'll both think about all those things
next time we're stuck on a Tube train, Alice.
Alice: I hope so.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 6
Yvonne: And before we go, our question! I asked you Alice: during the last financial
year, how many kilometres did Tube trains travel, in terms of trips to the moon
and back? And your answer was?
Alice: I think I said 90.
Yvonne: Yes, 90 trips to the moon and back.
Alice: Amazing!
Yvonne: Thanks Alice, that was fun! Do join us again soon for more "6 Minute English".
Both: Bye!
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 6 of 6
Vocabulary and definitions
get around travel around
the Tube the London Underground train system
a love-hate relationship relationship (often not romantic) where feelings towards
someone or something vary from love to hate
delays when things are later than expected or planned
unreliable cannot be depended on
get on with it hurry up or do something you might find difficult
eye contact to look at someone while they are looking at you
take for granted don't understand the value of
visually impaired not able to see properly
soundtrack music used in or made for a film
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2010/11/101125_6min_tube_page.shtml
2010年11月27日 星期六
Estate Agents!
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Estate agents’ language
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 6
Yvonne: Hello, I'm Yvonne Archer and this is 6 Minute English. Today, I've been
joined by Alice. Hi Alice!
Alice: Hi Yvonne!
Yvonne: Now Alice, everyone seems to have something to say about estate agents or as
they’re known in the United States, real-estate agents - the people who help
others to buy or sell houses or flats. But what would you say about the
language they use?
Alice: Oh, it can be very descriptive and often, they make things sound better than
they really are.
Yvonne: Hmm – I have to agree with you on that one. Well, estate agents do seem to
have a language all of their own. For example, if they describe a house as
'characterful' – what would you think they meant by that, Alice?
Alice: Well, 'characterful' – so full of character, perhaps old, unusual and maybe that
there are quite a few things that need fixing.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 6
Yvonne: Mm-hmm, definitely! But before we go any further, let’s have today’s question.
There are lots of old houses in London Alice, but do you know anything about
the smallest house?
Alice: The smallest house? I don't.
Yvonne: Well, the smallest house was built 1805 in central London and it's said that it
was used by people who were watching out for body snatchers – people who
stole bodies from the nearby cemetery for medical examinations. Anyway, can
you guess how wide that house is, Alice?
a) 2.4 metres
b) 5.6 metres or
c) 1 metre
Alice: Oh, I think I'll go for 2.4 metres. I can't imagine anything smaller.
Yvonne: No - but I will tell you what the correct answer is later on. So, we’ve already
heard some language used by real-estate agents, but what about some of the
other things they write in advertisements. In 1968 it became illegal - against
the law – to advertise a house or a flat in a way that might discriminate against
different groups of people or encourage discrimination. Listen to this example:
Insert 1:
Beautiful 3 bedroom house, close to temples.
Yvonne: Alice, why might that language be seen as discriminatory?
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 6
Alice: Well, it said ‘close to temples’. So maybe that might describe the perfect house
for people of a certain religion. But it could also seem like the sellers and the
estate agent won’t sell the house to people of any other religion.
Yvonne: Mmm… so using the words ‘close to temples’ could be used to exclude or
discriminate against people of other religions, or encourage discrimination
against them.
Alice: Hmmm, it's complicated. So estate agents have to be very careful about the
language they use to stay within the law.
Yvonne: Now one of the most interesting uses of language in estate agent adverts are
the synonyms; finding words which mean the same thing. So, for example,
how many ways can you say the word ‘small’ without putting people off?
Here’s Paul Bonnett, an estate agent, who’s said that for the past 30 years, the
vocabulary estate agents use hasn’t changed much.
Insert 2: Paul Bonnett
You’ve got the compact, you've got the bijou, you've got the delightful, you've got
attractive (charming), you've got panoramic…
Yvonne: So there, we heard words that lots of estate agents use. Alice – can you explain
them for us, please?
Alice: Yes – we heard ‘compact’, which means that it’s quite small, but everything
that’s needed can still fit into it. We heard ‘bijou’ – that's more elegant. It
means that the apartment, the flat, is small and elegant.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 6
Yvonne: Mm… and what about ‘panoramic’?
Alice: Well, that means there's a good view of the area. So you can see all around you
from the flat.
Yvonne: Now, Paul Bonnet wanted the adverts from his real-estate agency to stand out
from all the others – to be more noticeable so that they’d attract more
customers. They decided to make their descriptions more poetic – like poetry.
Alice: And of course, while factual descriptions appeal to or satisfy our heads – our
intellect – poetry appeals to our hearts – how we feel.
Yvonne: It does, so here’s a factual description for a flat:
Insert 3:
Two bedroom, first floor balcony flat with some superb sea views towards the Palace
Pier.
Yvonne: Okay, we know there are two bedrooms, but did the description include
anything that appeals to your emotions, Alice?
Alice: Well, not really. I mean 'superb sea views' sounds quite nice, but nothing too
attractive.
Yvonne: No, so let’s hear a more poetic description of the same flat by the poet, Paul
Lyle. He's helping Paul Bonnet write his adverts:
Insert 4: Paul Lyle
The room fills your eyes with air and space. The first thing you see is the sea meeting the
sky. The windows lead out onto the terrace, taking you above and beyond with room to
breathe.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 6
Yvonne: Would you be interested in viewing that flat, Alice?
Alice: It sounds lovely! Filling your eye with air and space.
Yvonne: So adverts that appeal to our emotions but are also accurate and fair seem to
work quite well for us, don't they Alice?
Alice: They do.
Yvonne: Now earlier, I asked you how wide the smallest house in London is and what
you said was…
Alice: I think I went for 2.4 metres.
Yvonne: Oh, it’s actually 1.05 metres wide – really narrow.
Alice: So – compact and bijou!
Yvonne: Well, that’s all for today's "6 Minute English". Join us again.
Both: Bye!
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 6 of 6
Vocabulary and definitions
estate agents people who sell properties including flats and houses
characterful a word used by estate agents to suggest a building is full of
character, perhaps old or unusual
illegal not allowed by the law, against the law
discriminatory unfair; treating some people worse than others
synonyms words that mean the same thing or have a similar meaning
compact small, with just enough space to fit what is needed
bijou small and elegant (in French this means ‘jewel’)
panoramic a good view of the surrounding area
poetic like poetry
intellect idea of what is makes sense
6 Minute English
Estate agents’ language
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 6
Yvonne: Hello, I'm Yvonne Archer and this is 6 Minute English. Today, I've been
joined by Alice. Hi Alice!
Alice: Hi Yvonne!
Yvonne: Now Alice, everyone seems to have something to say about estate agents or as
they’re known in the United States, real-estate agents - the people who help
others to buy or sell houses or flats. But what would you say about the
language they use?
Alice: Oh, it can be very descriptive and often, they make things sound better than
they really are.
Yvonne: Hmm – I have to agree with you on that one. Well, estate agents do seem to
have a language all of their own. For example, if they describe a house as
'characterful' – what would you think they meant by that, Alice?
Alice: Well, 'characterful' – so full of character, perhaps old, unusual and maybe that
there are quite a few things that need fixing.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 6
Yvonne: Mm-hmm, definitely! But before we go any further, let’s have today’s question.
There are lots of old houses in London Alice, but do you know anything about
the smallest house?
Alice: The smallest house? I don't.
Yvonne: Well, the smallest house was built 1805 in central London and it's said that it
was used by people who were watching out for body snatchers – people who
stole bodies from the nearby cemetery for medical examinations. Anyway, can
you guess how wide that house is, Alice?
a) 2.4 metres
b) 5.6 metres or
c) 1 metre
Alice: Oh, I think I'll go for 2.4 metres. I can't imagine anything smaller.
Yvonne: No - but I will tell you what the correct answer is later on. So, we’ve already
heard some language used by real-estate agents, but what about some of the
other things they write in advertisements. In 1968 it became illegal - against
the law – to advertise a house or a flat in a way that might discriminate against
different groups of people or encourage discrimination. Listen to this example:
Insert 1:
Beautiful 3 bedroom house, close to temples.
Yvonne: Alice, why might that language be seen as discriminatory?
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 6
Alice: Well, it said ‘close to temples’. So maybe that might describe the perfect house
for people of a certain religion. But it could also seem like the sellers and the
estate agent won’t sell the house to people of any other religion.
Yvonne: Mmm… so using the words ‘close to temples’ could be used to exclude or
discriminate against people of other religions, or encourage discrimination
against them.
Alice: Hmmm, it's complicated. So estate agents have to be very careful about the
language they use to stay within the law.
Yvonne: Now one of the most interesting uses of language in estate agent adverts are
the synonyms; finding words which mean the same thing. So, for example,
how many ways can you say the word ‘small’ without putting people off?
Here’s Paul Bonnett, an estate agent, who’s said that for the past 30 years, the
vocabulary estate agents use hasn’t changed much.
Insert 2: Paul Bonnett
You’ve got the compact, you've got the bijou, you've got the delightful, you've got
attractive (charming), you've got panoramic…
Yvonne: So there, we heard words that lots of estate agents use. Alice – can you explain
them for us, please?
Alice: Yes – we heard ‘compact’, which means that it’s quite small, but everything
that’s needed can still fit into it. We heard ‘bijou’ – that's more elegant. It
means that the apartment, the flat, is small and elegant.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 6
Yvonne: Mm… and what about ‘panoramic’?
Alice: Well, that means there's a good view of the area. So you can see all around you
from the flat.
Yvonne: Now, Paul Bonnet wanted the adverts from his real-estate agency to stand out
from all the others – to be more noticeable so that they’d attract more
customers. They decided to make their descriptions more poetic – like poetry.
Alice: And of course, while factual descriptions appeal to or satisfy our heads – our
intellect – poetry appeals to our hearts – how we feel.
Yvonne: It does, so here’s a factual description for a flat:
Insert 3:
Two bedroom, first floor balcony flat with some superb sea views towards the Palace
Pier.
Yvonne: Okay, we know there are two bedrooms, but did the description include
anything that appeals to your emotions, Alice?
Alice: Well, not really. I mean 'superb sea views' sounds quite nice, but nothing too
attractive.
Yvonne: No, so let’s hear a more poetic description of the same flat by the poet, Paul
Lyle. He's helping Paul Bonnet write his adverts:
Insert 4: Paul Lyle
The room fills your eyes with air and space. The first thing you see is the sea meeting the
sky. The windows lead out onto the terrace, taking you above and beyond with room to
breathe.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 6
Yvonne: Would you be interested in viewing that flat, Alice?
Alice: It sounds lovely! Filling your eye with air and space.
Yvonne: So adverts that appeal to our emotions but are also accurate and fair seem to
work quite well for us, don't they Alice?
Alice: They do.
Yvonne: Now earlier, I asked you how wide the smallest house in London is and what
you said was…
Alice: I think I went for 2.4 metres.
Yvonne: Oh, it’s actually 1.05 metres wide – really narrow.
Alice: So – compact and bijou!
Yvonne: Well, that’s all for today's "6 Minute English". Join us again.
Both: Bye!
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 6 of 6
Vocabulary and definitions
estate agents people who sell properties including flats and houses
characterful a word used by estate agents to suggest a building is full of
character, perhaps old or unusual
illegal not allowed by the law, against the law
discriminatory unfair; treating some people worse than others
synonyms words that mean the same thing or have a similar meaning
compact small, with just enough space to fit what is needed
bijou small and elegant (in French this means ‘jewel’)
panoramic a good view of the surrounding area
poetic like poetry
intellect idea of what is makes sense
2010年11月19日 星期五
Men are the weaker sex!
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Men are the weaker sex
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 5
Yvonne: This is 6 Minute English, I'm Yvonne Archer - and I’ve been joined by Rob.
Hello Rob!
Rob: Hello Yvonne.
Yvonne: Now Rob, you may not know this, but experts say that men are the weaker sex.
Can you explain that term for us please, ‘the weaker sex’?
Rob: Well I'll try! Now traditionally, women are generally known as ‘the weaker
sex’ – so they’re not as strong as men and need to be protected. But in terms of
health, women are the strong, healthy ones - so, men are supposedly the weaker
sex.
Yvonne: Now it's time for today’s question! Rob, compared with the early 1960s, each
year, the number of men who enter medical schools in the UK has doubled. But
how many women enter medical school each year?
a) About the same number
b) Triple the number - or
c) Ten-fold
Rob: Hmm… that's a tricky one. I would probably say about the same number.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 5
Yvonne: Mmm…as usual, we’ll find out the correct answer later on. So, why are men
the weaker sex in terms of health? Writer, Doug Devaney told the BBC’s
Breakfast television programme how he started taking tablets for angina – a
type of heart condition. But unfortunately, Doug was still getting chest pains
and a few days later, he collapsed in the street.
Extract 1: Doug Devaney
15 minutes later after the fact of the initial attack, I thought: 'Oh well, I've got through
that' and so forth. I went off and carried on my business as usual. But then I realised
after a while that I couldn't run for the bus or anything like that. So I just thought:
'Well - I've already been there; I don't want to be a fuss, I don't want to be a burden.'
Rob: Wow – just 15 minutes later, it was ‘business as usual’ for Doug; he carried
on doing what he usually does. Doug should have gone back to the hospital
when he was still getting pains in his chest - but he didn't. Shocking!
Yvonne: Definitely – and that helps to explain why men are the weaker sex. They find it
difficult to ask for medical help when they need it, which can be dangerous.
For example, Rob, did you know that men are more likely than women to get
cancer and die from it - and they’re more likely to commit suicide?
Rob: Hmm…no, I didn't know that. That's really shocking.
Yvonne: And sad too. So if more men ask for medical attention, more lives could be
saved. But did you catch the reasons Doug Devaney gave for not going back to
the hospital, Rob?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 5
Rob: Yes, he said he ‘didn’t want to be a fuss’ – so he didn’t want to draw any
attention to himself. Or we can also say: ‘he didn’t want to make a fuss’.
Yvonne: He also said he ‘didn’t want to be a burden’.
Rob: No, he didn't want to be a nuisance, a bother – to use up anyone’s time and
make them feel like they were responsible for looking after him. Doug didn’t
want to be ‘a burden’.
Yvonne: Of course, doctors are there to look after us. We’re not a burden to them even
if, like men, many of our illnesses are caused by lifestyle choices. Rob, what
are 'lifestyle choices'?
Rob: Well, these are things we choose to do in life - such as drinking and smoking
too much, an unhealthy diet maybe, or not getting enough exercise. Those are
all 'lifestyle choices'.
Yvonne: Mmm…now, as men tend to work more hours than women, it can be more
difficult – or harder for them to ask for the help they need – and get to doctors'
appointments. But are there other reasons why they don't? Peter Baker is Chief
Executive of the charity, The Men’s Health Forum. And Peter has a possible
answer for us.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 5
Extract 2: Peter Baker, Chief Executive, The Men’s Health Forum
I think men are still stuck in the attitude: they mustn't admit there's something wrong
with them. They mustn't show weakness, admit a vulnerability. And I think this makes
it much harder for them to ask for help from a doctor or another health professional.
Yvonne: So men have an attitude – a way of thinking - that they just won't change.
They're 'stuck' in their attitude which makes it harder for them to ask for
medical help.
Rob: Experts say that we men believe we mustn't let other people know – we mustn't
admit – that there's something wrong with us. And Doug's story shows us how
dangerous it can be.
Yvonne: Exactly. Peter Baker says that men believe they mustn't show weakness or
‘vulnerability’ – but can you explain what is meant by 'vulnerability', Rob?
Rob: Yes, if you're 'vulnerable', you're not at your best. Perhaps you're easily hurt,
either physically because you're ill, or emotionally because, for example, you're
not feeling particularly happy. And men don't like to show that they're
vulnerable – they don't like to show their 'vulnerability'.
Yvonne: So, what can be done to change this situation where men are now the weaker
sex when it comes to health? Here’s Peter Baker again with two suggestions.
Extract 3: Peter Baker, Chief Executive, The Men’s Health Forum
I think we've got to do two things: we've got to educate men, change men's attitudes,
make them more aware. But we've also got to make the system much more accessible.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 5
Yvonne: So, the medical system needs to be easier to use – it needs to be 'more
accessible', and men need to be made more aware.
Rob: Yes, men need help to understand more about when it's really important for
them to get medical help and why, even if the problem was caused by lifestyle
choices.
Yvonne: Absolutely! Now earlier Rob, I asked: since the early 1960s, how many
women enter medical school each year?
Rob: And I said: about the same number.
Yvonne: It's actually ten-fold.
Rob: Wow – that is a lot!
Yvonne: It is… but that's all for today's "6 Minute English".
Both: Goodbye!
6 Minute English
Men are the weaker sex
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 5
Yvonne: This is 6 Minute English, I'm Yvonne Archer - and I’ve been joined by Rob.
Hello Rob!
Rob: Hello Yvonne.
Yvonne: Now Rob, you may not know this, but experts say that men are the weaker sex.
Can you explain that term for us please, ‘the weaker sex’?
Rob: Well I'll try! Now traditionally, women are generally known as ‘the weaker
sex’ – so they’re not as strong as men and need to be protected. But in terms of
health, women are the strong, healthy ones - so, men are supposedly the weaker
sex.
Yvonne: Now it's time for today’s question! Rob, compared with the early 1960s, each
year, the number of men who enter medical schools in the UK has doubled. But
how many women enter medical school each year?
a) About the same number
b) Triple the number - or
c) Ten-fold
Rob: Hmm… that's a tricky one. I would probably say about the same number.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 5
Yvonne: Mmm…as usual, we’ll find out the correct answer later on. So, why are men
the weaker sex in terms of health? Writer, Doug Devaney told the BBC’s
Breakfast television programme how he started taking tablets for angina – a
type of heart condition. But unfortunately, Doug was still getting chest pains
and a few days later, he collapsed in the street.
Extract 1: Doug Devaney
15 minutes later after the fact of the initial attack, I thought: 'Oh well, I've got through
that' and so forth. I went off and carried on my business as usual. But then I realised
after a while that I couldn't run for the bus or anything like that. So I just thought:
'Well - I've already been there; I don't want to be a fuss, I don't want to be a burden.'
Rob: Wow – just 15 minutes later, it was ‘business as usual’ for Doug; he carried
on doing what he usually does. Doug should have gone back to the hospital
when he was still getting pains in his chest - but he didn't. Shocking!
Yvonne: Definitely – and that helps to explain why men are the weaker sex. They find it
difficult to ask for medical help when they need it, which can be dangerous.
For example, Rob, did you know that men are more likely than women to get
cancer and die from it - and they’re more likely to commit suicide?
Rob: Hmm…no, I didn't know that. That's really shocking.
Yvonne: And sad too. So if more men ask for medical attention, more lives could be
saved. But did you catch the reasons Doug Devaney gave for not going back to
the hospital, Rob?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 5
Rob: Yes, he said he ‘didn’t want to be a fuss’ – so he didn’t want to draw any
attention to himself. Or we can also say: ‘he didn’t want to make a fuss’.
Yvonne: He also said he ‘didn’t want to be a burden’.
Rob: No, he didn't want to be a nuisance, a bother – to use up anyone’s time and
make them feel like they were responsible for looking after him. Doug didn’t
want to be ‘a burden’.
Yvonne: Of course, doctors are there to look after us. We’re not a burden to them even
if, like men, many of our illnesses are caused by lifestyle choices. Rob, what
are 'lifestyle choices'?
Rob: Well, these are things we choose to do in life - such as drinking and smoking
too much, an unhealthy diet maybe, or not getting enough exercise. Those are
all 'lifestyle choices'.
Yvonne: Mmm…now, as men tend to work more hours than women, it can be more
difficult – or harder for them to ask for the help they need – and get to doctors'
appointments. But are there other reasons why they don't? Peter Baker is Chief
Executive of the charity, The Men’s Health Forum. And Peter has a possible
answer for us.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 5
Extract 2: Peter Baker, Chief Executive, The Men’s Health Forum
I think men are still stuck in the attitude: they mustn't admit there's something wrong
with them. They mustn't show weakness, admit a vulnerability. And I think this makes
it much harder for them to ask for help from a doctor or another health professional.
Yvonne: So men have an attitude – a way of thinking - that they just won't change.
They're 'stuck' in their attitude which makes it harder for them to ask for
medical help.
Rob: Experts say that we men believe we mustn't let other people know – we mustn't
admit – that there's something wrong with us. And Doug's story shows us how
dangerous it can be.
Yvonne: Exactly. Peter Baker says that men believe they mustn't show weakness or
‘vulnerability’ – but can you explain what is meant by 'vulnerability', Rob?
Rob: Yes, if you're 'vulnerable', you're not at your best. Perhaps you're easily hurt,
either physically because you're ill, or emotionally because, for example, you're
not feeling particularly happy. And men don't like to show that they're
vulnerable – they don't like to show their 'vulnerability'.
Yvonne: So, what can be done to change this situation where men are now the weaker
sex when it comes to health? Here’s Peter Baker again with two suggestions.
Extract 3: Peter Baker, Chief Executive, The Men’s Health Forum
I think we've got to do two things: we've got to educate men, change men's attitudes,
make them more aware. But we've also got to make the system much more accessible.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 5
Yvonne: So, the medical system needs to be easier to use – it needs to be 'more
accessible', and men need to be made more aware.
Rob: Yes, men need help to understand more about when it's really important for
them to get medical help and why, even if the problem was caused by lifestyle
choices.
Yvonne: Absolutely! Now earlier Rob, I asked: since the early 1960s, how many
women enter medical school each year?
Rob: And I said: about the same number.
Yvonne: It's actually ten-fold.
Rob: Wow – that is a lot!
Yvonne: It is… but that's all for today's "6 Minute English".
Both: Goodbye!
The dirtiest lie of the Taekwondo match in the Asian Games 2010
Yang, Shu-chun, an excellent female Taekwondo Athlete. She has been one of the best s of 49-kg level in the world for several years.
Yang was defamed to cheat in the match on 11/17.
THIS IS NOT TRUE AT ALL.
The truth is she didn't violate any rule and used the officially-certificated gear for the match.
The truth is she didn't violate any rule and used the officially-certificated gear for the match.
Three videos which can show the entire process and the keys are available on Youtube.
You can check them carefully if you like.
But you may want to read the pictures and captions below these 3 videos first
This article from this website : https://sites.google.com/site/dirtytaekwondo2010/
Related videos:
1. full and unedited video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdPcXA0AMMc&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdPcXA0AMMc&feature=player_embedded
2. (this one points out controversial issues)
3.English news
The CNN ireport
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-519884
Here are some snapshots captured from the video, which was recorded by a professional sport TV channel, to show the entire process.
These pictures will tell the correct, iron-like truth including how the ridiculous mistakes happened and how unreasonable the whole thing is!!
-----------------------------Here we go---------------------------------
0.(Before the match)All gears and personel had been inspected by the referee and technicians.
(the picture not shown because this is common sense)
1.(Before the match)
Both side were testing the electronic socks.
Someone outside the field told the referee that Yang's electronic socks have problems.
(Before the match)
Yang went downstairs, left the field ,and TOOK OFF 2 sensors from her socks.
4.
(Before the match)
Yang's coach DROPPED OFF those 2 sensors.
(Before the match)
Yang's coach DROPPED OFF those 2 sensors.
(The match was being started by the referee)
This means EVERYTHING IS OK! The match is under a appropriate and FAIR status.
6.
(During the match)
Yang was leading the competitor 9 more points. The Vietnanese was ZERO point at that time.
6 of the 9 points were from twice head kicks which were judged by other 3 side-referees, NOT FROM the electronic gear hits.
Someone outside the field stopped the match and asked Yang to come over.
(During the match)
Yang was leading the competitor 9 more points. The Vietnanese was ZERO point at that time.
6 of the 9 points were from twice head kicks which were judged by other 3 side-referees, NOT FROM the electronic gear hits.
Someone outside the field stopped the match and asked Yang to come over.
7.
(During the match)
Hong inspected yang's socks and DID NOT find anything he wants.
(During the match)
Hong inspected yang's socks and DID NOT find anything he wants.
(During the match)
Hong asked the referee to take the 2 sensors NEAR Yang's coach.
9.
(During the match)
The referee went to Yang's coach and asked him to pick up the sensors and hand in.
(During the match)
The referee went to Yang's coach and asked him to pick up the sensors and hand in.
10.
(During the match)
The referee gave the sensors obtained from Yang's coach to Hong.
(During the match)
The referee gave the sensors obtained from Yang's coach to Hong.
11.
(During the match)
Hong waved the sensors showing to someone.
(During the match)
Hong waved the sensors showing to someone.
12.
(During the match)
Another one with gray suit came to check.
(During the match)
Another one with gray suit came to check.
13.
(During the match)
Hong and Zhao(man with gray suit) were talking and checking the 2 sensors.
(Note:
a. Yang is the biggest obstacle of China's player for the gmae of 49-kg level
b. DO NOT forget the 2 sensors were from Yang's coach, NOT directly from the socks Yang' was wearing!!)
(During the match)
Hong and Zhao(man with gray suit) were talking and checking the 2 sensors.
(Note:
a. Yang is the biggest obstacle of China's player for the gmae of 49-kg level
b. DO NOT forget the 2 sensors were from Yang's coach, NOT directly from the socks Yang' was wearing!!)
14.
(During the match)
These people holding the 2 sensors went to a undertable meeting.
Few minutes after, Yang was disqualified by these people due to the 2 sensors that had never been used !?!?!?!?
(During the match)
These people holding the 2 sensors went to a undertable meeting.
Few minutes after, Yang was disqualified by these people due to the 2 sensors that had never been used !?!?!?!?
Yang could not help crying for the unfair and unreasonable judgement.
If you were Yang, would you accept the ridiculous judgement? would you? would anyone?
!!Latest picture as evidence!!!
VERY CLEAR! VERY SOLID!
The upper panel of the picture shows that sensors were on the heels while gears testing.
The lower panel of the picture shows that no sensor exists while fighting.
Yang DID NOT cheat at all !
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taiwanese are different from Chinese and Korean. We never ever cheat on any international game.
We don't need the gold prize,
WE WANT the JUSTICE and TRUTH.
In order to show how well the Asian Games 2010 is working,
China government uses their medias to broadcast lies and defamation.
As you can see, IT IS NOT AT ALL.
They don't even show any evidence, such as videos or pictures,
to prove what they said.
Lies and evilness have covered everything.
After read this page,
if you agree with the viewpoints which are based on evidences here,
please join the Facebook to support Yang.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Taiwan-athlete-Yang-Shu-Chun-did-NOT-cheat/111708428895555?v=wall
And also tell your friends to clarify the truth.
Henry
*All pictures are from http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=293&t=1867332&last=23974280
*Thanks to CM Wang , joish, and other contributors not shown here.
2010年11月12日 星期五
Media Blackout!
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Media Blackout
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 5
Dan: This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Dan Walker Smith
and today I'm joined by Alice. Hello Alice!
Alice: Hi Dan.
Dan: Alice, you've got some news about a media blackout in an English town, right?
Alice: That's right; a media blackout; that's a ban on all media. It's happening at
Bournemouth University on the south coast of England.
Dan: OK, so there's no media anywhere in Bournemouth?
Alice: Well it's not a complete media blackout; the ban is just affecting hundreds of
university students, as part of an experiment to see how they react without
media.
Dan: Aha! OK, well before you go on, I've got a media question for you: according
to the latest Facebook figures, how many active Facebook users are there in the
world? Is it:
a) 300 million
b) 500 million
c) 800 million
Alice: Oh I've just recently seen that film about Facebook, so I'm going to guess 800
million.
Dan: OK top number there. Well we'll see if you're right later on in the programme.
Now Alice, tell us a bit more about this experiment.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 5
Alice: Absolutely. Well the experiment's called Unplugged, because the people
who've volunteered have been asked to unplug their media devices, such as
laptops, phones and TVs, for 24 hours. And they're not allowed to listen to the
radio or read newspapers either.
Dan: OK, so no access to any media. But 24 hours doesn't seem like a very long
time.
Alice: No it doesn't, but some of the volunteers have found it really difficult, as you
can hear from one of the guinea pigs in the experiment.
By the way, a guinea pig here is a strange term for describing someone who
takes part in a new experiment or test. They're usually little furry animals, a bit
like short-eared rabbits, and make very nice pets. But in this case it means
someone who takes part in an experiment.
This is one of the guinea pigs, Charlotte Gay:
Extract 1: Charlotte Gay
It’s been a real struggle to be honest, even here in the student union here, you have to
literally shut down and try and avoid all contacts with media; it's really difficult.
Dan: So our guinea pig Charlotte there said it was a real struggle to avoid all contact
with the media. She said she had to shut down; basically just stop doing
anything.
Alice: Yeah, the media's everywhere, so not surprisingly Charlotte said it was really
difficult.
Dan: OK, but how has this media ban affected the students' mental well-being,
Alice?
Alice: Well their mental well-being; you'd think 24 hours, how will they feel about
themselves and their emotional health? Well, Doctor Roman Gerodimos, is a
media lecturer at Bournemouth University. He helped with the experiment and
he here is describing some of the students’ symptoms:
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 5
Extract 2: Roman Gerodimos
They are reporting withdrawal symptoms, overeating, feeling nervous, feeling isolated,
disconnected, they don’t know what to do with themselves all the time, just going round
their room or their house in silence and they really hate that!
Dan: Wow, so it sounds like the media ban had a very negative effect on the
students.
Alice: Yeah, Doctor Gerodimos said some students were overeating; they were
eating too much food. And they were also feeling nervous and isolated.
Isolated means lonely or detached from other people. They also felt
disconnected, which is another word meaning detached or cut off.
Dan: Let's have another listen to the clip.
Extract 2: Roman Gerodimos
They are reporting withdrawal symptoms, overeating, feeling nervous, feeling isolated,
disconnected, they don’t know what to do with themselves all the time, just going round
their room or their house in silence and they really hate that!
Dan: So a lot of problems there in just 24 hours. And have there been any long-term
effects?
Alice: Long-term effects – changes that last for a long time. Well, the experiment has
only just finished, so we don’t know the full findings yet. But let’s hear some
thoughts from another student, Caroline Scott, and also afterwards the voice of
BBC correspondent, Rory Cellan-Jones.
Extract 3: Caroline Scott and Rory Cellan-Jones
Caroline: Yeah it is quite nice to be totally separated for about two hours I would say,
maximum. Other than that I would like to have my phone on me, or the internet, or
something.
Rory: As a nation we now spend half our waking hours using the media in some form
and these young people can’t imagine being permanently unplugged.
Dan: So Caroline said it's nice to be separated from the media for two hours
maximum, but after that she wanted her phone or the internet.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 5
Alice: Exactly, as Rory Cellan-Jones concluded, as we spend half our waking hours
– that's half the time we're awake – using media, a lot of young people can’t
imagine being ‘permanently unplugged’.
Dan: Well, there's just time for a reminder of some of the language we've come
across today. Alice, could you help us out with those please.
Alice: Of course; we had:
media blackout
unplugged
guinea pig
mental well-being
overeating
isolated
disconnected
long-term effects
waking hours
Dan: And our question of the week: How many active Facebook users are there in
the world? Is it:
a) 300 million
b) 500 million
c) 800 million
Alice: Well I guessed 800 million.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 5
Dan: Yeah, you're actually a bit too high with 800 million. 500 million users at the
last count, but that is rising by the day, so it could be 800 very very soon.
Alice: Amazing!
Dan: It really is. But I'm afraid that's all we have time for in today's 6 Minute
English. So thanks so much for joining us, and goodbye.
Alice: Bye!
6 Minute English
Media Blackout
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 5
Dan: This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Dan Walker Smith
and today I'm joined by Alice. Hello Alice!
Alice: Hi Dan.
Dan: Alice, you've got some news about a media blackout in an English town, right?
Alice: That's right; a media blackout; that's a ban on all media. It's happening at
Bournemouth University on the south coast of England.
Dan: OK, so there's no media anywhere in Bournemouth?
Alice: Well it's not a complete media blackout; the ban is just affecting hundreds of
university students, as part of an experiment to see how they react without
media.
Dan: Aha! OK, well before you go on, I've got a media question for you: according
to the latest Facebook figures, how many active Facebook users are there in the
world? Is it:
a) 300 million
b) 500 million
c) 800 million
Alice: Oh I've just recently seen that film about Facebook, so I'm going to guess 800
million.
Dan: OK top number there. Well we'll see if you're right later on in the programme.
Now Alice, tell us a bit more about this experiment.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 5
Alice: Absolutely. Well the experiment's called Unplugged, because the people
who've volunteered have been asked to unplug their media devices, such as
laptops, phones and TVs, for 24 hours. And they're not allowed to listen to the
radio or read newspapers either.
Dan: OK, so no access to any media. But 24 hours doesn't seem like a very long
time.
Alice: No it doesn't, but some of the volunteers have found it really difficult, as you
can hear from one of the guinea pigs in the experiment.
By the way, a guinea pig here is a strange term for describing someone who
takes part in a new experiment or test. They're usually little furry animals, a bit
like short-eared rabbits, and make very nice pets. But in this case it means
someone who takes part in an experiment.
This is one of the guinea pigs, Charlotte Gay:
Extract 1: Charlotte Gay
It’s been a real struggle to be honest, even here in the student union here, you have to
literally shut down and try and avoid all contacts with media; it's really difficult.
Dan: So our guinea pig Charlotte there said it was a real struggle to avoid all contact
with the media. She said she had to shut down; basically just stop doing
anything.
Alice: Yeah, the media's everywhere, so not surprisingly Charlotte said it was really
difficult.
Dan: OK, but how has this media ban affected the students' mental well-being,
Alice?
Alice: Well their mental well-being; you'd think 24 hours, how will they feel about
themselves and their emotional health? Well, Doctor Roman Gerodimos, is a
media lecturer at Bournemouth University. He helped with the experiment and
he here is describing some of the students’ symptoms:
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 5
Extract 2: Roman Gerodimos
They are reporting withdrawal symptoms, overeating, feeling nervous, feeling isolated,
disconnected, they don’t know what to do with themselves all the time, just going round
their room or their house in silence and they really hate that!
Dan: Wow, so it sounds like the media ban had a very negative effect on the
students.
Alice: Yeah, Doctor Gerodimos said some students were overeating; they were
eating too much food. And they were also feeling nervous and isolated.
Isolated means lonely or detached from other people. They also felt
disconnected, which is another word meaning detached or cut off.
Dan: Let's have another listen to the clip.
Extract 2: Roman Gerodimos
They are reporting withdrawal symptoms, overeating, feeling nervous, feeling isolated,
disconnected, they don’t know what to do with themselves all the time, just going round
their room or their house in silence and they really hate that!
Dan: So a lot of problems there in just 24 hours. And have there been any long-term
effects?
Alice: Long-term effects – changes that last for a long time. Well, the experiment has
only just finished, so we don’t know the full findings yet. But let’s hear some
thoughts from another student, Caroline Scott, and also afterwards the voice of
BBC correspondent, Rory Cellan-Jones.
Extract 3: Caroline Scott and Rory Cellan-Jones
Caroline: Yeah it is quite nice to be totally separated for about two hours I would say,
maximum. Other than that I would like to have my phone on me, or the internet, or
something.
Rory: As a nation we now spend half our waking hours using the media in some form
and these young people can’t imagine being permanently unplugged.
Dan: So Caroline said it's nice to be separated from the media for two hours
maximum, but after that she wanted her phone or the internet.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 5
Alice: Exactly, as Rory Cellan-Jones concluded, as we spend half our waking hours
– that's half the time we're awake – using media, a lot of young people can’t
imagine being ‘permanently unplugged’.
Dan: Well, there's just time for a reminder of some of the language we've come
across today. Alice, could you help us out with those please.
Alice: Of course; we had:
media blackout
unplugged
guinea pig
mental well-being
overeating
isolated
disconnected
long-term effects
waking hours
Dan: And our question of the week: How many active Facebook users are there in
the world? Is it:
a) 300 million
b) 500 million
c) 800 million
Alice: Well I guessed 800 million.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 5
Dan: Yeah, you're actually a bit too high with 800 million. 500 million users at the
last count, but that is rising by the day, so it could be 800 very very soon.
Alice: Amazing!
Dan: It really is. But I'm afraid that's all we have time for in today's 6 Minute
English. So thanks so much for joining us, and goodbye.
Alice: Bye!
2010年11月5日 星期五
Dress codes: what can you wear?
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Dress codes
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 5
Yvonne: Hello – this is 6 Minute English, I'm Yvonne Archer - and Alice is with me
today. Hello Alice!
Alice: Hello Yvonne!
Yvonne: Now these days, BBC staff no longer wear formal clothes for work - like
dinner jackets and evening dresses.
Alice: What a shame – it would be nice to get really dressed up to go to work
sometimes.
Yvonne: So how would you describe your BBC work wardrobe, Alice – the clothes you
wear to work?
Alice: Well I suppose it's what you call 'smart casual'. So for women, that's quite a
smart skirt and blouse or dress or trousers. And for men - nice shirt, smart
trousers but perhaps no tie or jacket.
Yvonne: So that's 'smart casual'. Now recently – the Ukrainian government decided to
publish a dress code for its workers on the official website. Alice, would you
explain for us what is meant by ‘a dress code’?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 5
Alice: Well here, it’s a set of written guidelines or rules about what people should and
shouldn’t wear to work. In some cases, workers get into trouble if they don’t
follow the dress code.
Yvonne: Thanks, Alice. But before we hear about the details of Ukraine’s dress code,
I’ve a question. Alice, following its independence, an African country banned
its men from wearing the western style suit with shirt and tie. This was done to
show that the country had broken links with its colonial past – but which
country was it?
Zaire, now known as The Democratic Republic of Congo
Rwanda or
Uganda
Alice: Ooh – that's difficult. I'm not sure, so I'm going to guess the second answer –
Rwanda.
Yvonne: As usual, we’ll find whether you're right or wrong later on! As mentioned
earlier, in the Ukraine, government workers now have an official dress code.
So, let’s find out what workers there used to wear - and what they’re being
asked to wear now. Here’s part of a report by the BBC’s David Stern from the
capital, Kiev…
David Stern, BBC reporter, Kiev
Ukrainian government workers have received their wardrobe marching orders. Gone
are the flashy, provocative styles of the country's previous administration. In, are more
subdued fashions and colours.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 5
Yvonne: So, the current government is trying to stop workers from wearing what they
used to by giving their wardrobes ‘marching orders’!
Alice: 'Marching orders' – it's a military term meaning to stop something.
Yvonne: And here, they're giving marching orders to ‘flashy and provocative’ clothes.
Alice, what does that mean?
Alice: Well, ‘flashy’ usually means something that's shiny, bright coloured –
something that attracts a lot of attention. And provocative clothes are those
usually worn to parties or nightclubs to help people look and feel as attractive
as possible.
Yvonne: So, we couldn't be described as 'flashy' dressers then, Alice?
Alice: Not exactly. We're both in grey today!
Yvonne: So we could say that we prefer 'subdued' fashion and colours – just the
opposite. But there were more details about what women should wear – or
rather, not wear…
Extract 2: David Stern, BBC reporter, Kiev
Women were told what perfume to wear - scents with sharp aromas should only be worn
in the afternoon, it suggested. They should also avoid short, tight skirts and outfits that
revealed too much cleavage. Flats were preferred to high heels.
Yvonne: So, no scents with sharp aromas in the mornings.
Alice: That's - no strong perfumes.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 5
Yvonne: Well, I can understand how women showing a lot of their chest area –
revealing too much cleavage – isn’t appropriate for work, but I don't think I
like the rule about shoes!
Alice: It says it prefers women to wear ‘flats’ rather than ‘high heels’. Maybe that's
for safety.
Yvonne: That's true – could be. Well, you’ll probably be pleased to hear that men have a
few rules too…
Extract 3: David Stern, BBC Reporter, Kieve
As for men, the advice was more basic. They should dress in trousers that break across
their shoe fronts and their suit sleeves should reach the top of their palms. They should
also not wear the same outfit two days in a row, the dress code suggested.
Yvonne: Men shouldn't wear suits that are too small for them and, they should wear a
different outfit each day. So Alice, what’s your reaction to that one?
Alice: I think that's difficult for me because suits can be very expensive. It is true men
don't look so good in suits that are too small - but I think I'd just say wear a
clean shirt and a different tie and you'll look different.
Yvonne: Good point. Now earlier, I asked which African country, following
independence, banned its men from wearing the western style suit with shirt
and tie to show it had broken links with the colonial past.
Alice: And I said 'Rwanda'?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 5
Yvonne: Hmm – good guess but it was actually Zaire, now known as the Democratic
Republic of Congo. And there's just time now for a reminder of some of the
language we came across in today's programme.
Alice: Dinner jacket
Wardrobe
Dress Code
Flashy
Provocative
Subdued fashion
Flats
High heels
Yvonne: That's all for today's “6 Minute English”. Do join us again for more!
Both: Goodbye!
6 Minute English
Dress codes
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 5
Yvonne: Hello – this is 6 Minute English, I'm Yvonne Archer - and Alice is with me
today. Hello Alice!
Alice: Hello Yvonne!
Yvonne: Now these days, BBC staff no longer wear formal clothes for work - like
dinner jackets and evening dresses.
Alice: What a shame – it would be nice to get really dressed up to go to work
sometimes.
Yvonne: So how would you describe your BBC work wardrobe, Alice – the clothes you
wear to work?
Alice: Well I suppose it's what you call 'smart casual'. So for women, that's quite a
smart skirt and blouse or dress or trousers. And for men - nice shirt, smart
trousers but perhaps no tie or jacket.
Yvonne: So that's 'smart casual'. Now recently – the Ukrainian government decided to
publish a dress code for its workers on the official website. Alice, would you
explain for us what is meant by ‘a dress code’?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 5
Alice: Well here, it’s a set of written guidelines or rules about what people should and
shouldn’t wear to work. In some cases, workers get into trouble if they don’t
follow the dress code.
Yvonne: Thanks, Alice. But before we hear about the details of Ukraine’s dress code,
I’ve a question. Alice, following its independence, an African country banned
its men from wearing the western style suit with shirt and tie. This was done to
show that the country had broken links with its colonial past – but which
country was it?
Zaire, now known as The Democratic Republic of Congo
Rwanda or
Uganda
Alice: Ooh – that's difficult. I'm not sure, so I'm going to guess the second answer –
Rwanda.
Yvonne: As usual, we’ll find whether you're right or wrong later on! As mentioned
earlier, in the Ukraine, government workers now have an official dress code.
So, let’s find out what workers there used to wear - and what they’re being
asked to wear now. Here’s part of a report by the BBC’s David Stern from the
capital, Kiev…
David Stern, BBC reporter, Kiev
Ukrainian government workers have received their wardrobe marching orders. Gone
are the flashy, provocative styles of the country's previous administration. In, are more
subdued fashions and colours.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 5
Yvonne: So, the current government is trying to stop workers from wearing what they
used to by giving their wardrobes ‘marching orders’!
Alice: 'Marching orders' – it's a military term meaning to stop something.
Yvonne: And here, they're giving marching orders to ‘flashy and provocative’ clothes.
Alice, what does that mean?
Alice: Well, ‘flashy’ usually means something that's shiny, bright coloured –
something that attracts a lot of attention. And provocative clothes are those
usually worn to parties or nightclubs to help people look and feel as attractive
as possible.
Yvonne: So, we couldn't be described as 'flashy' dressers then, Alice?
Alice: Not exactly. We're both in grey today!
Yvonne: So we could say that we prefer 'subdued' fashion and colours – just the
opposite. But there were more details about what women should wear – or
rather, not wear…
Extract 2: David Stern, BBC reporter, Kiev
Women were told what perfume to wear - scents with sharp aromas should only be worn
in the afternoon, it suggested. They should also avoid short, tight skirts and outfits that
revealed too much cleavage. Flats were preferred to high heels.
Yvonne: So, no scents with sharp aromas in the mornings.
Alice: That's - no strong perfumes.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 5
Yvonne: Well, I can understand how women showing a lot of their chest area –
revealing too much cleavage – isn’t appropriate for work, but I don't think I
like the rule about shoes!
Alice: It says it prefers women to wear ‘flats’ rather than ‘high heels’. Maybe that's
for safety.
Yvonne: That's true – could be. Well, you’ll probably be pleased to hear that men have a
few rules too…
Extract 3: David Stern, BBC Reporter, Kieve
As for men, the advice was more basic. They should dress in trousers that break across
their shoe fronts and their suit sleeves should reach the top of their palms. They should
also not wear the same outfit two days in a row, the dress code suggested.
Yvonne: Men shouldn't wear suits that are too small for them and, they should wear a
different outfit each day. So Alice, what’s your reaction to that one?
Alice: I think that's difficult for me because suits can be very expensive. It is true men
don't look so good in suits that are too small - but I think I'd just say wear a
clean shirt and a different tie and you'll look different.
Yvonne: Good point. Now earlier, I asked which African country, following
independence, banned its men from wearing the western style suit with shirt
and tie to show it had broken links with the colonial past.
Alice: And I said 'Rwanda'?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 5
Yvonne: Hmm – good guess but it was actually Zaire, now known as the Democratic
Republic of Congo. And there's just time now for a reminder of some of the
language we came across in today's programme.
Alice: Dinner jacket
Wardrobe
Dress Code
Flashy
Provocative
Subdued fashion
Flats
High heels
Yvonne: That's all for today's “6 Minute English”. Do join us again for more!
Both: Goodbye!
2010年10月29日 星期五
Black history month!
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Black history month
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 5
Yvonne: This is 6 Minute English, I'm Yvonne and today, I'm joined by
Rob. Hello, Rob!
Rob: Hello, Yvonne.
Yvonne: In the UK, we celebrate Black HistoryMonth each year. It's a time when
people from all cultures and backgrounds get a chance to learn about, share in
and celebrate the contributions that black people have made to UK and world
history. Well before we find out more about this annual or yearly event, I've a
question for you, Rob. How long has Black History Month been celebrated
here in the UK? Is it:
23 years
50 years or
52 years
Rob: Ummm – that's a tricky one. I think I'll say 23 years.
Yvonne: Hmmm - we'll find out whether you're right or wrong later on!
Rob: Okay.
Yvonne: Now every year, there's a rather heated debate about whether we should or
shouldn't spend an entire month on black history - something that's a part of
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 5
British history. Mia Morris is the owner of the UK's Black HistoryMonth
website and she shared her opinion on this:
Extract 1: MiaMorris
Ideally, we wouldn't need it; ideally, it would be all year round. But then say to people:
use the opportunity to explore more of your family and spend more time with your
family, finding out more about our very rich history.
Yvonne: Mia would prefer black history to be made available to everyone in Britain
throughout the year. As she put it, ideally, black history would last 'all year
round' - but as it doesn't…
Rob: …Mia thinks we should all see October as an opportunity, or a chance, to
spend more time with family, exploring, or finding out, more about our very
rich history, one that we all share, as it's British.
Yvonne: Unfortunately, some Black HistoryMonth events and schools still choose to
focus on negative events from history, for example, slavery. But now, there's a
wider variety of events available, including living history. Rob, can you tell us
what 'living history' is please?
Rob: Yes, of course. It's a more interactive way of learning about a specific event or
period of time in history than say, for example, simply looking at items in a
museum. That's a bit boring sometimes.
Yvonne: It is, isn't it? Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held as a prisoner, is
now a living museum, isn't it, Rob?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 5
Rob: That's right. I've actually been there and it really is an amazing place. So we
can find out what everyday life was like for Nelson Mandela by going on a
guided tour of Robben Island that's led by an ex-political prisoner, who was
also held there.
Yvonne: Of course, living history is happening all around us, wherever we are. And
recently, at a Black HistoryMonth event, I spent the morning speaking with a
wonderful lady, who's a great example of living history. Irene Sinclair was
born in 1908 in Guyana, South America, which was then called British Guyana.
And she came to live in London in 1957.
Rob: My goodness. So Irene is 102 years old! Wow, you must have had so many
questions to ask her, Yvonne.
Yvonne: Too many, Rob, way too many, including questions about her working life. I
asked Aunty Rene how much she was paid in Guyana in 1957 where she
worked as an English and History teacher, before she came to London.
Extract 2: Irene Sinclair
It must have been about £10 a year. Yes, because when I came over here, I was working
for 4.99. I was 49 when I came over, nearly 50. 4.99 a week, £4.99 in 1958!
Rob: Irene would have been paid in pounds, shillings and pence, so she was telling
us what her pay would be worth today, £4.99. Now that doesn't sound like very
much money, but compared to the £10 a year she got as a teacher, it was.
Yvonne: £10 a year! She was an assistant cook at a school until age 62 and she became
a famous model at the age of 96!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 5
Rob: Amazing!
Yvonne: You can look her up on the internet.
Rob: Okay.
Yvonne: And of course, she's got a great love of children which lead her to another job.
Extract 3: Irene Sinclair
Six years ago, I looked after a baby six days old for about three weeks, because the
woman, she wasn't quite well after having the baby. And the doctor said she must have
someone in at nights so she could sleep. “Aunty Rene, would you?” Of course, they gave
me some money, but I wouldn’t take it as they would have had to pay someone £50 a
night – you know, a proper nurse.
Yvonne: So, at 96 years old, she was not only a model, but she also looked after a newborn
baby for friends at night for six weeks. And she didn't even take the
money they wanted to pay her.
Rob: Wow, Rene Sinclair really does sound like a wonderful piece of living black
history for the UK.
Yvonne: She does and Aunty Rene proves that Black History Month can be an amazing
experience simply based on the people you meet. Now earlier Rob, I asked you
how long ago did Black HistoryMonth in the UK start?
Rob: And I said 23 years. Was I right?
Yvonne: You were – ding-ding!!
Rob: Great!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 5
Yvonne: Fantastic! But that's all for today's "6 Minute English".
Both: Goodbye!
6 Minute English
Black history month
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 5
Yvonne: This is 6 Minute English, I'm Yvonne and today, I'm joined by
Rob. Hello, Rob!
Rob: Hello, Yvonne.
Yvonne: In the UK, we celebrate Black HistoryMonth each year. It's a time when
people from all cultures and backgrounds get a chance to learn about, share in
and celebrate the contributions that black people have made to UK and world
history. Well before we find out more about this annual or yearly event, I've a
question for you, Rob. How long has Black History Month been celebrated
here in the UK? Is it:
23 years
50 years or
52 years
Rob: Ummm – that's a tricky one. I think I'll say 23 years.
Yvonne: Hmmm - we'll find out whether you're right or wrong later on!
Rob: Okay.
Yvonne: Now every year, there's a rather heated debate about whether we should or
shouldn't spend an entire month on black history - something that's a part of
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 5
British history. Mia Morris is the owner of the UK's Black HistoryMonth
website and she shared her opinion on this:
Extract 1: MiaMorris
Ideally, we wouldn't need it; ideally, it would be all year round. But then say to people:
use the opportunity to explore more of your family and spend more time with your
family, finding out more about our very rich history.
Yvonne: Mia would prefer black history to be made available to everyone in Britain
throughout the year. As she put it, ideally, black history would last 'all year
round' - but as it doesn't…
Rob: …Mia thinks we should all see October as an opportunity, or a chance, to
spend more time with family, exploring, or finding out, more about our very
rich history, one that we all share, as it's British.
Yvonne: Unfortunately, some Black HistoryMonth events and schools still choose to
focus on negative events from history, for example, slavery. But now, there's a
wider variety of events available, including living history. Rob, can you tell us
what 'living history' is please?
Rob: Yes, of course. It's a more interactive way of learning about a specific event or
period of time in history than say, for example, simply looking at items in a
museum. That's a bit boring sometimes.
Yvonne: It is, isn't it? Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held as a prisoner, is
now a living museum, isn't it, Rob?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 5
Rob: That's right. I've actually been there and it really is an amazing place. So we
can find out what everyday life was like for Nelson Mandela by going on a
guided tour of Robben Island that's led by an ex-political prisoner, who was
also held there.
Yvonne: Of course, living history is happening all around us, wherever we are. And
recently, at a Black HistoryMonth event, I spent the morning speaking with a
wonderful lady, who's a great example of living history. Irene Sinclair was
born in 1908 in Guyana, South America, which was then called British Guyana.
And she came to live in London in 1957.
Rob: My goodness. So Irene is 102 years old! Wow, you must have had so many
questions to ask her, Yvonne.
Yvonne: Too many, Rob, way too many, including questions about her working life. I
asked Aunty Rene how much she was paid in Guyana in 1957 where she
worked as an English and History teacher, before she came to London.
Extract 2: Irene Sinclair
It must have been about £10 a year. Yes, because when I came over here, I was working
for 4.99. I was 49 when I came over, nearly 50. 4.99 a week, £4.99 in 1958!
Rob: Irene would have been paid in pounds, shillings and pence, so she was telling
us what her pay would be worth today, £4.99. Now that doesn't sound like very
much money, but compared to the £10 a year she got as a teacher, it was.
Yvonne: £10 a year! She was an assistant cook at a school until age 62 and she became
a famous model at the age of 96!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 5
Rob: Amazing!
Yvonne: You can look her up on the internet.
Rob: Okay.
Yvonne: And of course, she's got a great love of children which lead her to another job.
Extract 3: Irene Sinclair
Six years ago, I looked after a baby six days old for about three weeks, because the
woman, she wasn't quite well after having the baby. And the doctor said she must have
someone in at nights so she could sleep. “Aunty Rene, would you?” Of course, they gave
me some money, but I wouldn’t take it as they would have had to pay someone £50 a
night – you know, a proper nurse.
Yvonne: So, at 96 years old, she was not only a model, but she also looked after a newborn
baby for friends at night for six weeks. And she didn't even take the
money they wanted to pay her.
Rob: Wow, Rene Sinclair really does sound like a wonderful piece of living black
history for the UK.
Yvonne: She does and Aunty Rene proves that Black History Month can be an amazing
experience simply based on the people you meet. Now earlier Rob, I asked you
how long ago did Black HistoryMonth in the UK start?
Rob: And I said 23 years. Was I right?
Yvonne: You were – ding-ding!!
Rob: Great!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 5
Yvonne: Fantastic! But that's all for today's "6 Minute English".
Both: Goodbye!
Reading the classics!
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Reading the classics
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 6
Alice: Hello – this is 6 Minute English, I'm Alice and today, I'm joined by
Yvonne. Hello, Yvonne!
Yvonne: Hello Alice!
Alice: Now Yvonne, if I said Don Quixote, what would you say?
Yvonne: Oh, it's a famous classic Spanish novel – but that's all, because sadly, I've
never read it.
Alice: Oh well, don't worry - because you're not the only one! In fact, Don Quixote
has been described as Spain's best-known, but least read book.
Yvonne: So like me, most people have heard of it, but not many people have actually
read it.
Alice: Exactly. But before we find out what the Royal Spanish Academy is doing
about that, here's today's question: in 2005, the BBC announced the UK's bestloved
- or favourite book. What was it?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 6
a) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
b) The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien or
c) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Yvonne, what was your guess before you looked up the answer?
Yvonne: Well, I said Harry Potter - because I must be the only person on earth who’s
never read it!
Alice: Oh, me neither! Isn’t that terrible? Well we'll find out what the UK's best-loved
book is later on. Now people say that most Spaniards have never managed to
finish reading Don Quixote, even though it's a classic. What do you think
makes a classic novel or book, Yvonne?
Yvonne: Well, excellent writing that people want to continue reading into the future, but,
it doesn't have to be old - although Miguel De Cervantes finished writing Don
Quixote way back in 1615.
Alice: No, I suppose you can have modern classics. But the Royal Spanish Academy
has been trying to get people to feel more passionate, more excited, about this
old book by using new technology. And what they're doing seems to be
working, as the BBC's Nkem Ifejika reports:
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 6
Extract 1: Nkem Ifejika, BBC reporter
Byte size chunks for a sound bite culture - the novel was divided into 2,149 short
passages. Any Spanish speaker can then pick a passage, record themselves reading it
and upload to the internet. A quick search for video of Don Quixote shows they've
already done so; the novel being read aloud by people across the globe - the exact
manner in which young servants used to read it when it was written, never all at once.
Alice: So the novel was divided up into 2,149 short passages or sections – what
Nkem Ifejika describes as 'bite size chunks for a sound bite culture'. Yvonne,
can you help us out with that phrase, please?
Yvonne: I'll try, Alice. Now, lots of people can't or don't like to concentrate – or focus
on one thing for a long period of time, so they're happier with things they can
do quickly – with 'bite size chunks' of information, for example.
Alice: And what would you say is 'a sound bite culture'?
Yvonne: Well, lots of us like to listen to a short piece about something rather than read
about it, so we're 'a sound bite culture'. For example, we seem to enjoy short,
snappy advertisements that get messages across really quickly.
Alice: Yes - and more and more people on trains are listening to a chapter of a book
on their iPods rather than reading it. As we heard, it's all about 'bite size
chunks for a sound bite culture!'
Yvonne: It certainly is!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 6
Alice: Now the Royal Spanish Academy is asking people to read passages of Don
Quixote out loud, just as people used to when the book was first written in the
1600s. People never read the entire book all at once.
Yvonne: And most people don't do that today either.
Alice: No, they don't - but Spanish speakers from all over the world are recording
themselves reading Don Quixote out loud, which means more people are
learning about and can listen to this classic.
Yvonne: And that's a good thing – plus, I think it must be fun listening to all those
different voices reading it.
Alice: And lots of different accents.
Yvonne: Hmmm – really nice.
Alice: What about other classics? Here's what a few of our colleagues had to say
about what they've read – or rather, what they haven't!
Extract 2: BBC Learning English colleagues
MAN: I read a lot of Dickens and I even read Moby Dick when I was at school -
and I think I am one of the few people who's ever read Don Quixote.
WOMAN: Well, I’ve read quite a few classics, mainly English classics like Thomas
Hardy and Jane Austen. However I did try to read James Joyce’s Ulysses
and actually carried it around on holiday with me for 6 weeks once - and I
still didn’t manage to get through it!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 6
Alice: Ah-ha – so we've found someone who's read lots of classics and has even read
Don Quixote!
Yvonne: Good – the Royal Spanish Academy will be extremely pleased.
Alice: They certainly will, although he read the translation of it in English. He's also
read Moby Dick, an American classic about a whale.
Yvonne: Now I've never been able to finish reading that!
Alice: Well, unlike many of us, our other colleague has done rather well - although
she hasn't managed to finish the Irish classic, Ulysses.
Yvonne: Well, that's not exactly relaxing reading, is it?
Alice: No, it’s not really holiday reading I think. Now earlier on, Yvonne, I asked:
which is the UK's favourite book? You thought it was Harry Potter and the
Goblet of Fire – which is a good guess, but it's Lord of the Rings by JRR
Tolkien. He wrote the book between 1937 and 1949 - mainly during the
Second World War.
Yvonne: Now that is amazing. I couldn't concentrate long enough to write a book -
during a war. No way!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 6 of 6
Alice: No, it’s probably because now, we live in ‘a sound bite culture’ and need ‘bite
size chunks’! Well, that's all for today's 6 Minute English. Join us again soon
for more.
Both: Goodbye!
6 Minute English
Reading the classics
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 6
Alice: Hello – this is 6 Minute English, I'm Alice and today, I'm joined by
Yvonne. Hello, Yvonne!
Yvonne: Hello Alice!
Alice: Now Yvonne, if I said Don Quixote, what would you say?
Yvonne: Oh, it's a famous classic Spanish novel – but that's all, because sadly, I've
never read it.
Alice: Oh well, don't worry - because you're not the only one! In fact, Don Quixote
has been described as Spain's best-known, but least read book.
Yvonne: So like me, most people have heard of it, but not many people have actually
read it.
Alice: Exactly. But before we find out what the Royal Spanish Academy is doing
about that, here's today's question: in 2005, the BBC announced the UK's bestloved
- or favourite book. What was it?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 6
a) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
b) The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien or
c) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Yvonne, what was your guess before you looked up the answer?
Yvonne: Well, I said Harry Potter - because I must be the only person on earth who’s
never read it!
Alice: Oh, me neither! Isn’t that terrible? Well we'll find out what the UK's best-loved
book is later on. Now people say that most Spaniards have never managed to
finish reading Don Quixote, even though it's a classic. What do you think
makes a classic novel or book, Yvonne?
Yvonne: Well, excellent writing that people want to continue reading into the future, but,
it doesn't have to be old - although Miguel De Cervantes finished writing Don
Quixote way back in 1615.
Alice: No, I suppose you can have modern classics. But the Royal Spanish Academy
has been trying to get people to feel more passionate, more excited, about this
old book by using new technology. And what they're doing seems to be
working, as the BBC's Nkem Ifejika reports:
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 6
Extract 1: Nkem Ifejika, BBC reporter
Byte size chunks for a sound bite culture - the novel was divided into 2,149 short
passages. Any Spanish speaker can then pick a passage, record themselves reading it
and upload to the internet. A quick search for video of Don Quixote shows they've
already done so; the novel being read aloud by people across the globe - the exact
manner in which young servants used to read it when it was written, never all at once.
Alice: So the novel was divided up into 2,149 short passages or sections – what
Nkem Ifejika describes as 'bite size chunks for a sound bite culture'. Yvonne,
can you help us out with that phrase, please?
Yvonne: I'll try, Alice. Now, lots of people can't or don't like to concentrate – or focus
on one thing for a long period of time, so they're happier with things they can
do quickly – with 'bite size chunks' of information, for example.
Alice: And what would you say is 'a sound bite culture'?
Yvonne: Well, lots of us like to listen to a short piece about something rather than read
about it, so we're 'a sound bite culture'. For example, we seem to enjoy short,
snappy advertisements that get messages across really quickly.
Alice: Yes - and more and more people on trains are listening to a chapter of a book
on their iPods rather than reading it. As we heard, it's all about 'bite size
chunks for a sound bite culture!'
Yvonne: It certainly is!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 6
Alice: Now the Royal Spanish Academy is asking people to read passages of Don
Quixote out loud, just as people used to when the book was first written in the
1600s. People never read the entire book all at once.
Yvonne: And most people don't do that today either.
Alice: No, they don't - but Spanish speakers from all over the world are recording
themselves reading Don Quixote out loud, which means more people are
learning about and can listen to this classic.
Yvonne: And that's a good thing – plus, I think it must be fun listening to all those
different voices reading it.
Alice: And lots of different accents.
Yvonne: Hmmm – really nice.
Alice: What about other classics? Here's what a few of our colleagues had to say
about what they've read – or rather, what they haven't!
Extract 2: BBC Learning English colleagues
MAN: I read a lot of Dickens and I even read Moby Dick when I was at school -
and I think I am one of the few people who's ever read Don Quixote.
WOMAN: Well, I’ve read quite a few classics, mainly English classics like Thomas
Hardy and Jane Austen. However I did try to read James Joyce’s Ulysses
and actually carried it around on holiday with me for 6 weeks once - and I
still didn’t manage to get through it!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 6
Alice: Ah-ha – so we've found someone who's read lots of classics and has even read
Don Quixote!
Yvonne: Good – the Royal Spanish Academy will be extremely pleased.
Alice: They certainly will, although he read the translation of it in English. He's also
read Moby Dick, an American classic about a whale.
Yvonne: Now I've never been able to finish reading that!
Alice: Well, unlike many of us, our other colleague has done rather well - although
she hasn't managed to finish the Irish classic, Ulysses.
Yvonne: Well, that's not exactly relaxing reading, is it?
Alice: No, it’s not really holiday reading I think. Now earlier on, Yvonne, I asked:
which is the UK's favourite book? You thought it was Harry Potter and the
Goblet of Fire – which is a good guess, but it's Lord of the Rings by JRR
Tolkien. He wrote the book between 1937 and 1949 - mainly during the
Second World War.
Yvonne: Now that is amazing. I couldn't concentrate long enough to write a book -
during a war. No way!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 6 of 6
Alice: No, it’s probably because now, we live in ‘a sound bite culture’ and need ‘bite
size chunks’! Well, that's all for today's 6 Minute English. Join us again soon
for more.
Both: Goodbye!
2010年10月16日 星期六
2010年10月15日 星期五
Top international universities!
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Top international universities
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 6
Rob: Hello! I’m Rob and this is 6 Minute English. I’m joined today by
Alice. Hi Alice.
Alice: Hi Rob.
Rob: Today, we’re talking about universities around the world, and a new list that
shows the top two hundred. I’m going to start by asking you a question Alice
– which university has come number one in this list?
Alice: There are so many famous universities around the World – let me guess – is it
Cambridge?
Rob: Well, Cambridge University, in England, is certainly on the list but you’ll have
to wait until the end of the programme to see if you are right.
Alice: OK.
Rob: This new list is called the London Times Higher Education List. It ranks
universities on a number of factors. These include its quality of teaching, the
influence of its research and the income it gets for research.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 6
Alice: So, if these factors are higher, the university gets a higher ranking.
Rob: That’s right. Of course, funding is very important.
Alice: Funding…that’s money in other words. Is a university more successful if it
gets more funding?
Rob: Well, that is what Professor Steve Smith thinks. He is President of Universities
UK which represents all British universities. He says the US puts two-and-ahalf
times the amount of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) into its universities
than we do in the UK.
Extract 1:
The US puts two-and-a-half times the amount of GDP into its universities than we do
and therefore, surprisingly, they get two-and-a-half times the number of universities in
the top two hundred. I think this is all about the investment that countries put in the
future - all about the investment they put in their universities.
Rob: Professor Steve Smith says it’s all about the investment the country puts into
their universities that makes them successful.
Alice: OK. So he says the US invests more money in universities than the UK so they
have more of them on this list. Can I change my answer now?!
Rob: No Alice. You may still be right. Fourteen British institutions are on the list
including Oxford and Cambridge.
It’s interesting that the institutions which dominate the top of the list are
English speaking ones as BBC reporter Jonny Hogg explains….
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 6
Extract 2:
It's English speaking universities, and particularly those in America, that dominate the
top spots in this list. You have to go down to number fifteen to find the first non
Anglophone establishment, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, and surprisingly,
France's renowned Ecole Polytechnique only comes in thirty ninth.
Alice: Ah, so American universities dominate the top of the list, but what does he
mean about the first non-Anglophone establishment being at number fifteen?
Rob: Well, Anglophone means English speaking. So the first non-Anglophone
university in the list was?
Alice: The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. But come on Rob, who was
number one?
Rob: Wait and see Alice! Let’s find out about some of the other countries in the list.
Here’s Jonny Hogg again…
Extract 3:
Elsewhere, Asia has done well, with Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and China all
having universities in the top forty. Only two African institutions, one, the university of
Capetown in South Africa, the other, the University of Alexandria in Egypt, make the
top two hundred.
Rob: So Jonny Hogg said universities in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and
China were in the top forty.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 6
Alice: Yes, mainland China has six universities on the list and there are two in
Africa.
Rob: OK here’s another question – when you choose a university does it really
matter if it has a good ranking?
Alice: Hmmm, the reasons for choosing a university? I suppose its reputation is
important.
Rob: Of course, although the authors of this new list say reputation is not as
important as it used to be. I choose my university because it offered the subject
I wanted to do.
Alice: Really? I chose mine because it was close to home and it had a lively social
scene.
Rob: A good reason! Let’s hear the reasons why Kate and Kaz chose their places to
study.
Extract 4:
Well I went to Edinburgh University, and I chose Edinburgh because I love the city, the
university had a very good reputation, and it was close enough to my home town without
actually being my hometown so it was only about an hour away, so I could go home at
weekends if I wanted to.
I went to Sussex University in the 1970s, and I chose Sussex above other universities,
because it had an excellent reputation in biology which was the subject I studied.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 6
Alice: So Kate is like me. She chose somewhere that was not too far from home. She
could go home at weekends.
Rob: And the university in Edinburgh had a good reputation. And what about Kaz?
Alice: For him, it had an excellent reputation for teaching biology. So it seems
reputation does actually count.
Rob: OK Alice, it’s time to tell you what was the top university in the London
Times Higher Education List. You thought it was….?
Alice: Cambridge? Am I right?
Rob: Well Cambridge and Oxford in the UK are in the top ten, but the number one
university is…Harvard in the USA.
Alice: Of course! Harvard was going to be my second choice.
Rob: I think you need to go back to university to do some more learning! But before
you do Alice, could you tell us some of the words we have learnt today?
Alice: Research
Income
Funding
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 6 of 6
Gross domestic product
Investment
Institutions
Anglophone
Ranking
Reputation
Rob: That’s all we’ve got time for today. Thanks for joining us and see you next
time.
Rob/Alice: Bye.
6 Minute English
Top international universities
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 6
Rob: Hello! I’m Rob and this is 6 Minute English. I’m joined today by
Alice. Hi Alice.
Alice: Hi Rob.
Rob: Today, we’re talking about universities around the world, and a new list that
shows the top two hundred. I’m going to start by asking you a question Alice
– which university has come number one in this list?
Alice: There are so many famous universities around the World – let me guess – is it
Cambridge?
Rob: Well, Cambridge University, in England, is certainly on the list but you’ll have
to wait until the end of the programme to see if you are right.
Alice: OK.
Rob: This new list is called the London Times Higher Education List. It ranks
universities on a number of factors. These include its quality of teaching, the
influence of its research and the income it gets for research.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 6
Alice: So, if these factors are higher, the university gets a higher ranking.
Rob: That’s right. Of course, funding is very important.
Alice: Funding…that’s money in other words. Is a university more successful if it
gets more funding?
Rob: Well, that is what Professor Steve Smith thinks. He is President of Universities
UK which represents all British universities. He says the US puts two-and-ahalf
times the amount of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) into its universities
than we do in the UK.
Extract 1:
The US puts two-and-a-half times the amount of GDP into its universities than we do
and therefore, surprisingly, they get two-and-a-half times the number of universities in
the top two hundred. I think this is all about the investment that countries put in the
future - all about the investment they put in their universities.
Rob: Professor Steve Smith says it’s all about the investment the country puts into
their universities that makes them successful.
Alice: OK. So he says the US invests more money in universities than the UK so they
have more of them on this list. Can I change my answer now?!
Rob: No Alice. You may still be right. Fourteen British institutions are on the list
including Oxford and Cambridge.
It’s interesting that the institutions which dominate the top of the list are
English speaking ones as BBC reporter Jonny Hogg explains….
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 6
Extract 2:
It's English speaking universities, and particularly those in America, that dominate the
top spots in this list. You have to go down to number fifteen to find the first non
Anglophone establishment, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, and surprisingly,
France's renowned Ecole Polytechnique only comes in thirty ninth.
Alice: Ah, so American universities dominate the top of the list, but what does he
mean about the first non-Anglophone establishment being at number fifteen?
Rob: Well, Anglophone means English speaking. So the first non-Anglophone
university in the list was?
Alice: The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. But come on Rob, who was
number one?
Rob: Wait and see Alice! Let’s find out about some of the other countries in the list.
Here’s Jonny Hogg again…
Extract 3:
Elsewhere, Asia has done well, with Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and China all
having universities in the top forty. Only two African institutions, one, the university of
Capetown in South Africa, the other, the University of Alexandria in Egypt, make the
top two hundred.
Rob: So Jonny Hogg said universities in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and
China were in the top forty.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 6
Alice: Yes, mainland China has six universities on the list and there are two in
Africa.
Rob: OK here’s another question – when you choose a university does it really
matter if it has a good ranking?
Alice: Hmmm, the reasons for choosing a university? I suppose its reputation is
important.
Rob: Of course, although the authors of this new list say reputation is not as
important as it used to be. I choose my university because it offered the subject
I wanted to do.
Alice: Really? I chose mine because it was close to home and it had a lively social
scene.
Rob: A good reason! Let’s hear the reasons why Kate and Kaz chose their places to
study.
Extract 4:
Well I went to Edinburgh University, and I chose Edinburgh because I love the city, the
university had a very good reputation, and it was close enough to my home town without
actually being my hometown so it was only about an hour away, so I could go home at
weekends if I wanted to.
I went to Sussex University in the 1970s, and I chose Sussex above other universities,
because it had an excellent reputation in biology which was the subject I studied.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 6
Alice: So Kate is like me. She chose somewhere that was not too far from home. She
could go home at weekends.
Rob: And the university in Edinburgh had a good reputation. And what about Kaz?
Alice: For him, it had an excellent reputation for teaching biology. So it seems
reputation does actually count.
Rob: OK Alice, it’s time to tell you what was the top university in the London
Times Higher Education List. You thought it was….?
Alice: Cambridge? Am I right?
Rob: Well Cambridge and Oxford in the UK are in the top ten, but the number one
university is…Harvard in the USA.
Alice: Of course! Harvard was going to be my second choice.
Rob: I think you need to go back to university to do some more learning! But before
you do Alice, could you tell us some of the words we have learnt today?
Alice: Research
Income
Funding
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 6 of 6
Gross domestic product
Investment
Institutions
Anglophone
Ranking
Reputation
Rob: That’s all we’ve got time for today. Thanks for joining us and see you next
time.
Rob/Alice: Bye.
Seeds!
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Seeds
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 6
Rob: Hello! I’m Rob, this is 6 Minute English - and today, I'm joined by
Yvonne. Hello, Yvonne.
Yvonne: Hi Rob!
Rob: Today, we’re talking about seed banks – a place where the seeds from all kinds
of plants are carefully stored. Unfortunately, researchers are warning that about
one fifth of the world's plants are at risk of becoming extinct.
Yvonne: Wow – so there's a danger that they might disappear altogether. That's really
worrying, Rob.
Rob: Yes it is, but the seed bank is also showing people how to grow plants from
those seeds again in the future. But, before we find out more about protecting
the world's plants from extinction, here's today's question: The Youtan Poluo is
one of the world's rarest flowers and was recently found in China.
Yvonne: Yes, by a farmer!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 6
Rob: That's right, but how often does it bloom - so, when will the farmer see it in
flower again? Is it:
a) in 1000 years
b) another 3000 years or
c) in another 5000 years? Yvonne, what did you say when you were looking at
this story yesterday?
Yvonne: Well, I went for the lowest number, Rob – once every one thousand years. But
even that seemed far too long for another flower to appear!
Rob: Yes, I know what you mean – so we'll find out how long the Youtan Poluo
actually does take to bloom later on. Now, the Millennium Seed Bank is a
project based just outside London and it was set up in the year 2000.
Yvonne: But I've heard that there are other seed banks in other countries which are also
a part of that project.
Rob: That's true, so seeds are sent in from all over the world. But the big question is:
why are so many plants dying out in the world?
Yvonne: And how does the bank decide which seeds should be stored?
Rob: Well, Paul Smith is head of the Millennium Seed Bank - he has some answers
for us.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 6
Extract 1:
It’s absolutely essential that we get the right species – those which are most threatened,
those which are most useful, because we know that there's a good chance that many
plant species will become extinct over the next few decades. And it’s largely land-use
change; it’s development for agriculture, it's development for urban centres and so on.
Rob: Paul Smith says that many 'plant species' – that’s different types of plants – are
dying out because of 'land use change' – so we no longer use our land in the
same way. For example, it's used for 'development for agriculture'. Yvonne,
tell us what Paul Smith means by that, please?
Yvonne: Well, land where lots of plant species used to grow is being cleared for farming
- to grow crops and to raise animals.
Rob: And what about 'development for urban centres'?
Yvonne: Land is also being used to build new cities – places where people live, work
and shop.
Rob: So it's essential or absolutely necessary – for the bank to store the seeds of
plants which are 'most threatened' – or at the greatest risk or danger of
becoming extinct. But the bank must also store the seeds which are the most
useful to us.
Yvonne: For example, the seeds of food plants or plants that can be used to develop new
medicines.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 6
Rob: Now, it's also interesting how the bank stores seeds so that they can be used to
grow plants in the future. Here's what the BBC's David Shukman found out
when he visited the Millennium Seed Bank.
Extract 2:
And this is where all those seeds end up - 1.8 billion of them in one of these cold stores
kept at minus 20. That's why you have to wear the cold weather equipment. Jar after jar,
tube after tube, of these seeds, from more than 160 countries. The whole point of this
Millennium Seed bank is to try to build up a store of the planet’s plant biodiversity.
Rob: The 1.8 billion seeds have come from more than one hundred and sixty
countries and the seeds are stored at minus twenty degrees centigrade – much,
much colder than the freezing point for water.
Yvonne: So David Shukman definitely needed to wear 'cold weather equipment' to
protect him from the extreme cold.
Rob: Absolutely. Now ideally, the bank would like to have seeds from all the plants
in the world – seeds from 'the planet's plant biodiversity'. By the end of last
year, the bank had 10% of the world's plant biodiversity.
Yvonne: And by 2020, the Millennium Seed Bank hopes to have seeds from about 25%
of the world's plants. So there's lots of work to do.
Rob: Now speaking of plant biodiversity - earlier, I asked how often the Youtan
Poluo blooms. Was it every 1,000 years, 3,000 years or every 5,000 years?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 6
Yvonne: And yesterday, I thought – surely it can't take longer than a thousand years to
bloom? But even that wasn't long enough for the plant to flower, was it?
Rob: No, that’s right. According to botanical experts – the people who know the
most about plants - the Youtan Poluo only blooms once every three thousand
years. In fact, the flower is so rare that people thought it only existed in sacred
Buddhist writings.
Yvonne: So the farmer who found it only has to wait for roughly another three thousand
years to see the flower again, if he can keep the plant alive!
Rob: And if he stays alive that long! Okay, there's just time now for a reminder of
some of the language we have came across in today's programme. Yvonne, can
you help us with those please?
Yvonne: Certainly, Rob. We heard:
Extinct
Bloom
Species
Agriculture
Urban centres
Plant biodiversity
Botanical experts
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 6 of 6
Rob: Thank you. Well, we hope you've enjoyed today's "6 Minute English" – and do
join us again soon for more.
Rob/Yvonne: Goodbye!
Upload Music
6 Minute English
Seeds
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 1 of 6
Rob: Hello! I’m Rob, this is 6 Minute English - and today, I'm joined by
Yvonne. Hello, Yvonne.
Yvonne: Hi Rob!
Rob: Today, we’re talking about seed banks – a place where the seeds from all kinds
of plants are carefully stored. Unfortunately, researchers are warning that about
one fifth of the world's plants are at risk of becoming extinct.
Yvonne: Wow – so there's a danger that they might disappear altogether. That's really
worrying, Rob.
Rob: Yes it is, but the seed bank is also showing people how to grow plants from
those seeds again in the future. But, before we find out more about protecting
the world's plants from extinction, here's today's question: The Youtan Poluo is
one of the world's rarest flowers and was recently found in China.
Yvonne: Yes, by a farmer!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 6
Rob: That's right, but how often does it bloom - so, when will the farmer see it in
flower again? Is it:
a) in 1000 years
b) another 3000 years or
c) in another 5000 years? Yvonne, what did you say when you were looking at
this story yesterday?
Yvonne: Well, I went for the lowest number, Rob – once every one thousand years. But
even that seemed far too long for another flower to appear!
Rob: Yes, I know what you mean – so we'll find out how long the Youtan Poluo
actually does take to bloom later on. Now, the Millennium Seed Bank is a
project based just outside London and it was set up in the year 2000.
Yvonne: But I've heard that there are other seed banks in other countries which are also
a part of that project.
Rob: That's true, so seeds are sent in from all over the world. But the big question is:
why are so many plants dying out in the world?
Yvonne: And how does the bank decide which seeds should be stored?
Rob: Well, Paul Smith is head of the Millennium Seed Bank - he has some answers
for us.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 6
Extract 1:
It’s absolutely essential that we get the right species – those which are most threatened,
those which are most useful, because we know that there's a good chance that many
plant species will become extinct over the next few decades. And it’s largely land-use
change; it’s development for agriculture, it's development for urban centres and so on.
Rob: Paul Smith says that many 'plant species' – that’s different types of plants – are
dying out because of 'land use change' – so we no longer use our land in the
same way. For example, it's used for 'development for agriculture'. Yvonne,
tell us what Paul Smith means by that, please?
Yvonne: Well, land where lots of plant species used to grow is being cleared for farming
- to grow crops and to raise animals.
Rob: And what about 'development for urban centres'?
Yvonne: Land is also being used to build new cities – places where people live, work
and shop.
Rob: So it's essential or absolutely necessary – for the bank to store the seeds of
plants which are 'most threatened' – or at the greatest risk or danger of
becoming extinct. But the bank must also store the seeds which are the most
useful to us.
Yvonne: For example, the seeds of food plants or plants that can be used to develop new
medicines.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 6
Rob: Now, it's also interesting how the bank stores seeds so that they can be used to
grow plants in the future. Here's what the BBC's David Shukman found out
when he visited the Millennium Seed Bank.
Extract 2:
And this is where all those seeds end up - 1.8 billion of them in one of these cold stores
kept at minus 20. That's why you have to wear the cold weather equipment. Jar after jar,
tube after tube, of these seeds, from more than 160 countries. The whole point of this
Millennium Seed bank is to try to build up a store of the planet’s plant biodiversity.
Rob: The 1.8 billion seeds have come from more than one hundred and sixty
countries and the seeds are stored at minus twenty degrees centigrade – much,
much colder than the freezing point for water.
Yvonne: So David Shukman definitely needed to wear 'cold weather equipment' to
protect him from the extreme cold.
Rob: Absolutely. Now ideally, the bank would like to have seeds from all the plants
in the world – seeds from 'the planet's plant biodiversity'. By the end of last
year, the bank had 10% of the world's plant biodiversity.
Yvonne: And by 2020, the Millennium Seed Bank hopes to have seeds from about 25%
of the world's plants. So there's lots of work to do.
Rob: Now speaking of plant biodiversity - earlier, I asked how often the Youtan
Poluo blooms. Was it every 1,000 years, 3,000 years or every 5,000 years?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 6
Yvonne: And yesterday, I thought – surely it can't take longer than a thousand years to
bloom? But even that wasn't long enough for the plant to flower, was it?
Rob: No, that’s right. According to botanical experts – the people who know the
most about plants - the Youtan Poluo only blooms once every three thousand
years. In fact, the flower is so rare that people thought it only existed in sacred
Buddhist writings.
Yvonne: So the farmer who found it only has to wait for roughly another three thousand
years to see the flower again, if he can keep the plant alive!
Rob: And if he stays alive that long! Okay, there's just time now for a reminder of
some of the language we have came across in today's programme. Yvonne, can
you help us with those please?
Yvonne: Certainly, Rob. We heard:
Extinct
Bloom
Species
Agriculture
Urban centres
Plant biodiversity
Botanical experts
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 6 of 6
Rob: Thank you. Well, we hope you've enjoyed today's "6 Minute English" – and do
join us again soon for more.
Rob/Yvonne: Goodbye!
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