BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Watt’s workshop
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 1 of 6
Alice: Hello, I'm Alice.
Stephen: And I'm Stephen.
Alice: And this is 6 Minute English! This week we’re talking about an inventor’s
workshop which has been reassembled after almost 200 years.
Stephen: Reassembled – reconstructed or rebuilt.
Alice: This is the workshop of James Watt, an inventor born in Scotland in 1736. He’s
often credited with inventing the steam engine – though in actual fact, he
improved on one which had already been developed. He’s seen as a key figure
in the Industrial Revolution. But anyway Stephen, before we find out more I’ve
got a question for you.
Stephen: Ok – I’m feeling clever today!
Alice: Oh, well, in that case here’s a difficult one. Can you put these four inventions
in chronological order - that’s the oldest one first? Ready?
Stephen: Ok.
Alice: The hot air balloon, Morse code, the vacuum cleaner and the typewriter.
Stephen: That’s hard. I’m going to have to think about that and get back to you!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 2 of 6
Alice: Ok, good. So, let’s talk about today’s topic. Curators at the Science Museum in
London have reassembled the workshop of 18th century inventor James Watt,
so people can see what it was like. Here’s the BBC’s science correspondent,
Tom Fielden:
Insert 1: Tom Fielden
When Watt died in 1819, this workshop was locked up and its contents left pretty much
undisturbed until the 1920s when it was more or less picked up lock, stock and barrel by
the Science Museum and put into storage. It’s been a long wait, but the contents, a
regular cornucopia of gadgets, tools, contraptions, you name it, have all been
painstakingly reassembled here in the main hall of the Science Museum. I think, really,
it’s its spiritual home if nowhere else.
Alice: Watt’s workshop was locked up after his death in 1819 but curators from the
Science Museum in London collected all the things they found there, lock,
stock and barrel.
Stephen: Lock, stock and barrel – those are the three parts of an old-fashioned gun. It’s a
term that’s used in English to mean everything. They took everything in the
workshop and put it in storage.
Alice: Tom Fielden says Watt’s workshop was a relative cornucopia of gadgets, tools
and contraptions.
Stephen: A relative cornucopia – a cornucopia in classical mythology is a horn full of
food and drink. But in modern English it’s often used to mean a collection of
wonderful things.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 3 of 6
Alice: In this case, a cornucopia of gadgets, tools and scientific contraptions. Tom
Fielden says that Watt’s workshop has found its spiritual home at London’s
Science Museum.
Stephen: Its spiritual home – a place where it feels very comfortable.
Alice: The Curator of Mechanical Engineering at the Science Museum, Ben Russell,
says the workshop is full of inventions and interesting objects – bits of
machinery, engines, sculptures and musical instruments. He says it is a
treasure trove.
Stephen: A treasure trove – full of wonderful, valuable things.
Insert 2: Ben Russell
It’s an absolutely astonishing… it’s a treasure trove, really. We actually counted 8,430
objects, and it’s a complete physical record of Watt’s entire working life and interests,
going back to the 1750s. So it’s unparalleled anywhere. But really what the workshop
does, it shows the engine, and there are some fragments about the engine, but it shows a
lot of his other projects as well, from chemistry to pottery, instrument making, even
musical instrument making. So it shows how diverse a bloke he was.
Alice: Curator Ben Russell says the workshop is unparalleled anywhere. It’s unique.
It shows that Watt was interested in lots of different things – not only steam
engines but other inventions. The workshop shows what a diverse bloke he was.
Stephen: A diverse bloke indeed – that’s a conversational way of saying he was a wellrounded
man. He had lots of interests.
Alice: Here’s Andrew Nahum, the Curator of Innovation Curator at London’s Science
Museum:
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 4 of 6
Insert 3: Andrew Nahum
He didn’t just do steam, as Ben said, he was a chemist, he was a potter, he built bridges
and harbours and canals. He was, if you like, a one man innovation centre.
Alice: Andrew Nahum says James Watt didn’t just ‘do steam’.
Stephen: He wasn’t interested in just one thing - steam - but lots of other things.
Alice: He was a chemist, a potter and he built bridges, harbours and canals. Andrew
Nahum uses a nice phrase to describe him - he was a one man innovation
centre.
Stephen: A one man innovation centre – a man full of ideas and inventions.
Alice: And the improvements he made to the steam engine led the way to developing
sophisticated machinery. OK, Stephen, have you had a chance to think about
my invention question?
Stephen : OK, this is very hard, so I’m going to try: hot air balloon, typewriter, Morse
code and then vacuum cleaner.
Alice: Stephen, you’re brilliant! (Alice and Stephen laugh) Hot air balloon, developed
in the 1780s, typewriter, 1830, Morse code, 1832 and the vacuum cleaner in
1860. Though the one on 1860 wasn’t electronic – that came a bit later. So,
you’ve done so well – will you read the words and phrases we’ve had today?
Stephen: Sure:
inventor
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 5 of 6
workshop
credited
chronological order
cornucopia
treasure trove
Alice: Thanks very much, Stephen.
Stephen: You’re welcome.
Alice: Well, that’s all we have time for today, and we’ll have more 6 Minute English
next time.
Both: Bye!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 6 of 6
Vocabulary and definitions
inventor
person who makes items which have not been made before
workshop room or area where things are built or designed
credited
given recognition, or believed to be responsible for
chronological order
the order in which things happened
cornucopia
large, varied and magnificent collection
treasure trove
a collection of wonderful, valuable objects
More on this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9432000/9432194.stm
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/03/110331_6min_english_watt_page.shtml
2011年4月23日 星期六
Satellite Navigation Systems!
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Satellite navigation systems
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 1 of 6
Alice: Hello, I'm Alice.
Stephen: And I'm Stephen.
Alice: And this is 6 Minute English! This week we’re talking about sat navs.
Stephen: Sat navs – that’s short for satellite navigation systems.
Alice: They’re the gadgets people put in their cars to help give them directions.
Engineers have been asking if we’re becoming too reliant on them. Before we
find out more, here’s a question for you, Stephen:
Stephen: Ok – I’m ready and waiting.
Alice: When we talk about ‘satellite navigation’ in English, there is an abbreviation
we use called GPS. Do you know what it stands for? I’ll give you some choices.
Is it:
a) greater place signal
b) global positioning signal, or
c) global positioning system
Stephen: I’m pretty sure I know the answer – but I won’t spoil it for everyone else. I’ll
tell you at the end of the programme.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 2 of 6
Alice: That’s fine. Sat navs using GPS have become very popular in recent years. But
they can sometimes get people into trouble. The BBC News website has lots of
examples about people driving into rivers or getting stuck on roads which are
too narrow. This woman is talking about the lorries which keep getting stuck
under a 15th century stone archway in her town because they’re following
directions on their sat navs.
Insert 1: Woman
The amount of lorries that we see nearly every day - they get to that point and there’s no
signs anywhere. At the bottom of the road, it doesn’t say: “Don’t go down there - there’s
a bridge.” And they get to this point here and every one of them have to reverse - and
there’s cars everywhere. It’s just absolute mayhem.
Alice: Oh dear – she says it’s mayhem. Lorries either get stuck under the bridge or
they cause lots of problems trying to turn around - or to go backwards, to
reverse - on a very narrow road. She says it’s absolute mayhem.
Stephen: Mayhem – chaos.
Alice: In another incident, a car got stuck on the edge of a steep hill when its sat nav
directed it down a path which wasn’t suitable for vehicles any more. Antony
Chmarny, who works for a satellite navigation manufacturer, says the gadgets
should only be used as an aid to driving:
Insert 2:
Sat nav voice: Turn around when possible – then turn right.
Antony Chmarny: If it doesn’t look suitable, don’t drive down it, don’t drive down a
one-way street the wrong way if a sat nav tells you to do that.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 3 of 6
Alice: I think he means, use your common sense – don’t drive down a one-way street
the wrong way even if a sat nav tells you to do it!
Stephen: I like the sat navs which you can programme with different voices – so you can
have your favourite singer or actor with you in the car as your navigator!
Alice: What a good idea! Let’s hear now from an engineer who is worried that we’re
becoming too reliant on sat nav and GPS technology. Professor Martyn
Thomas from the Royal Academy of Engineering says the weak radio signal it
uses can easily be messed up.
Stephen: Messed up – that’s interfered with, or destroyed.
Insert 3:
Professor Martyn Thomas: You can get interference – either deliberate or accidental
interference, because it is a very weak radio signal.
BBC interviewer Justin Webb: Yes, it’s quite easy, isn’t it, to mess it up?
Professor Martyn Thomas: Oh, extremely, yes. The radio signal is about the strength…
in light terms, it’s like looking at a 100 watt bulb from 12,000 miles away.
Justin Webb: So someone who really wanted to put out a large area – satellite
navigation systems, could do so?
Professor Martyn Thomas: Yes, you could. It would essentially have to be
jammed line-of-sight, so you’d have to do it from high ground.
Alice: Researchers were able to interfere with GPS signals on a ship using a
transmitter on high ground.
Stephen: A transmitter produces radio signals or interference - signals which, if strong
enough, can block other signals.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 4 of 6
Alice: Professor Martyn Thomas said all kinds of things went wrong with the onboard
equipment on the ship.
Stephen: Without saying anything was wrong – incorrect – the ship reported that it was
travelling ten miles inland and moving faster than the speed of sound:
Insert 4: Professor Martyn Thomas
All kinds of things went wrong. The onboard equipment, that was reporting where they
were, at one point said that they were ten miles inland and moving faster than the speed
of sound. But more alarmingly, quite often the onboard systems, without saying
anything was wrong, was reporting their position as being just subtly wrong. And of
course, the onboard systems would broadcast that position and information to other
ships.
Alice: Professor Martyn Thomas from the Royal Academy of Engineering who thinks
we should be careful about becoming too reliant on GPS and sat navs, because
they can be interfered with. Apparently some people buy blocking gadgets to
put on their sat navs in company cars, so their employers won’t know where
they’ve been! Well, before we go, Stephen, can you tell us about the
abbreviation ‘GPS’?
Stephen: So, does it stand for global positioning system?
Alice: Yes, well done. So, before we go - a chance to hear some of the words and
phrases we’ve heard in the programme today: would you mind, Stephen?
Stephen: Sure.
satellite navigation systems
gadgets
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 5 of 6
abbreviation
mayhem
to reverse
aid
common sense
navigator
messed up
interfere with
Alice: Thanks, Stephen.
Stephen: You’re welcome.
Alice: Well, that’s all we have time for today. We’ll have more 6 Minute English next
time.
Both: Bye!
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 6 of 6
Vocabulary and definitions
satellite navigation systems computer systems that are installed in some vehicles which
tell you the best way to get to a place
gadgets pieces of technology which are used for everyday tasks,
e.g. mobile phones
abbreviation shortening of a phrase, often to just one letter of each
word, e.g. NHS – National Health Service; words can also
be abbreviated to fewer letters, e.g. Dr – doctor
mayhem chaos, confusion
to reverse to move backwards
aid help, assistance
common sense natural ability to think clearly and make sensible decisions
navigator something or someone which tells you which way to go
during a journey
messed up spoiled or damaged
interfere with get involved with in a damaging or unhelpful way
More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12668230
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/03/110324_6min_english_sat_nav_page.shtml
6 Minute English
Satellite navigation systems
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 1 of 6
Alice: Hello, I'm Alice.
Stephen: And I'm Stephen.
Alice: And this is 6 Minute English! This week we’re talking about sat navs.
Stephen: Sat navs – that’s short for satellite navigation systems.
Alice: They’re the gadgets people put in their cars to help give them directions.
Engineers have been asking if we’re becoming too reliant on them. Before we
find out more, here’s a question for you, Stephen:
Stephen: Ok – I’m ready and waiting.
Alice: When we talk about ‘satellite navigation’ in English, there is an abbreviation
we use called GPS. Do you know what it stands for? I’ll give you some choices.
Is it:
a) greater place signal
b) global positioning signal, or
c) global positioning system
Stephen: I’m pretty sure I know the answer – but I won’t spoil it for everyone else. I’ll
tell you at the end of the programme.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 2 of 6
Alice: That’s fine. Sat navs using GPS have become very popular in recent years. But
they can sometimes get people into trouble. The BBC News website has lots of
examples about people driving into rivers or getting stuck on roads which are
too narrow. This woman is talking about the lorries which keep getting stuck
under a 15th century stone archway in her town because they’re following
directions on their sat navs.
Insert 1: Woman
The amount of lorries that we see nearly every day - they get to that point and there’s no
signs anywhere. At the bottom of the road, it doesn’t say: “Don’t go down there - there’s
a bridge.” And they get to this point here and every one of them have to reverse - and
there’s cars everywhere. It’s just absolute mayhem.
Alice: Oh dear – she says it’s mayhem. Lorries either get stuck under the bridge or
they cause lots of problems trying to turn around - or to go backwards, to
reverse - on a very narrow road. She says it’s absolute mayhem.
Stephen: Mayhem – chaos.
Alice: In another incident, a car got stuck on the edge of a steep hill when its sat nav
directed it down a path which wasn’t suitable for vehicles any more. Antony
Chmarny, who works for a satellite navigation manufacturer, says the gadgets
should only be used as an aid to driving:
Insert 2:
Sat nav voice: Turn around when possible – then turn right.
Antony Chmarny: If it doesn’t look suitable, don’t drive down it, don’t drive down a
one-way street the wrong way if a sat nav tells you to do that.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 3 of 6
Alice: I think he means, use your common sense – don’t drive down a one-way street
the wrong way even if a sat nav tells you to do it!
Stephen: I like the sat navs which you can programme with different voices – so you can
have your favourite singer or actor with you in the car as your navigator!
Alice: What a good idea! Let’s hear now from an engineer who is worried that we’re
becoming too reliant on sat nav and GPS technology. Professor Martyn
Thomas from the Royal Academy of Engineering says the weak radio signal it
uses can easily be messed up.
Stephen: Messed up – that’s interfered with, or destroyed.
Insert 3:
Professor Martyn Thomas: You can get interference – either deliberate or accidental
interference, because it is a very weak radio signal.
BBC interviewer Justin Webb: Yes, it’s quite easy, isn’t it, to mess it up?
Professor Martyn Thomas: Oh, extremely, yes. The radio signal is about the strength…
in light terms, it’s like looking at a 100 watt bulb from 12,000 miles away.
Justin Webb: So someone who really wanted to put out a large area – satellite
navigation systems, could do so?
Professor Martyn Thomas: Yes, you could. It would essentially have to be
jammed line-of-sight, so you’d have to do it from high ground.
Alice: Researchers were able to interfere with GPS signals on a ship using a
transmitter on high ground.
Stephen: A transmitter produces radio signals or interference - signals which, if strong
enough, can block other signals.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 4 of 6
Alice: Professor Martyn Thomas said all kinds of things went wrong with the onboard
equipment on the ship.
Stephen: Without saying anything was wrong – incorrect – the ship reported that it was
travelling ten miles inland and moving faster than the speed of sound:
Insert 4: Professor Martyn Thomas
All kinds of things went wrong. The onboard equipment, that was reporting where they
were, at one point said that they were ten miles inland and moving faster than the speed
of sound. But more alarmingly, quite often the onboard systems, without saying
anything was wrong, was reporting their position as being just subtly wrong. And of
course, the onboard systems would broadcast that position and information to other
ships.
Alice: Professor Martyn Thomas from the Royal Academy of Engineering who thinks
we should be careful about becoming too reliant on GPS and sat navs, because
they can be interfered with. Apparently some people buy blocking gadgets to
put on their sat navs in company cars, so their employers won’t know where
they’ve been! Well, before we go, Stephen, can you tell us about the
abbreviation ‘GPS’?
Stephen: So, does it stand for global positioning system?
Alice: Yes, well done. So, before we go - a chance to hear some of the words and
phrases we’ve heard in the programme today: would you mind, Stephen?
Stephen: Sure.
satellite navigation systems
gadgets
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 5 of 6
abbreviation
mayhem
to reverse
aid
common sense
navigator
messed up
interfere with
Alice: Thanks, Stephen.
Stephen: You’re welcome.
Alice: Well, that’s all we have time for today. We’ll have more 6 Minute English next
time.
Both: Bye!
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 6 of 6
Vocabulary and definitions
satellite navigation systems computer systems that are installed in some vehicles which
tell you the best way to get to a place
gadgets pieces of technology which are used for everyday tasks,
e.g. mobile phones
abbreviation shortening of a phrase, often to just one letter of each
word, e.g. NHS – National Health Service; words can also
be abbreviated to fewer letters, e.g. Dr – doctor
mayhem chaos, confusion
to reverse to move backwards
aid help, assistance
common sense natural ability to think clearly and make sensible decisions
navigator something or someone which tells you which way to go
during a journey
messed up spoiled or damaged
interfere with get involved with in a damaging or unhelpful way
More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12668230
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/03/110324_6min_english_sat_nav_page.shtml
Football Rivalries!
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Football rivalries
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 1 of 6
Alice: Hello, I'm Alice.
Stephen: And I'm Stephen.
Alice: And this is 6 Minute English! This week, we’re talking about rivalries
between football teams.
Stephen: Football rivalries - supporters of one football team often have one or two other
teams that they really dislike.
Alice: A bit of friendly rivalry probably doesn’t hurt anybody, but sometimes football
rivalries spill over into violence.
Stephen: Spill over into violence - when rivalry between fans leads to fighting.
Alice: First, a question for you Stephen: can you tell me which city these two football
teams come from? Al Ahly and Zamalek. Is it:
a) Cairo
b) Beirut, or
c) Damascus
Stephen: Well, my youngest brother would probably know the answer. I'm going to
guess Cairo.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 2 of 6
Alice: Well, I won’t tell you the answer just yet. We'll find out at the end of the
programme. Now, let’s talk a bit more about football rivalries. Here’s a word
that gets used in British English: can you explain what a derby is?
Stephen: Sure. A derby, in the context of football, is a match played between two
football teams from the same city, or near each other. It’s thought the word
comes from a rugby-like game played by two teams in a town in Derbyshire, in
central England.
Alice: In Britain, famous derbies are games played between Arsenal and Tottenham
Hotspur, which are both in north London, Liverpool and Everton, or Celtic and
Rangers - two football teams in Glasgow in Scotland. They have a bitter rivalry
- and matches between the two often involve heated exchanges.
Stephen: Heated exchanges – lots of passion and anger.
Alice: Here’s BBC sports reporter Alex Capstick, reporting on a recent match
between Celtic and Rangers, which turned into mayhem - chaos:
Insert 1: Alex Capstick, BBC sports reporter
Matches between the Glasgow neighbours Rangers and Celtic usually involve heated
exchanges, but the mayhem during the latest clash has been described as an
embarrassment to Scottish football. Rangers had three players sent off. Celtic's manager,
Neil Lennon, and Rangers' assistant coach, Ally McCoist, had to be dragged apart
following an ugly confrontation after the final whistle.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 3 of 6
Alice: BBC sports reporter Alex Capstick, who says that players were sent off and
that managers and coaches got involved in an ugly confrontation after the
final whistle.
Stephen: An ugly confrontation after the final whistle – angry fighting after the match
had ended.
Alice: The First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, is setting up a summit to deal
with the violence. He says the players are role models for society.
Stephen: Supporters will follow their example.
Insert 2: Alex Salmond, First Minister, Scotland
The fans at football matches are representatives of their clubs, the players at football
matches are role models for society, and the management of football clubs have a
particular responsibility and they must, absolutely must, behave responsibly.
Alice: The First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, says the football clubs have a
particular responsibility, and they absolutely must behave responsibly.
Stephen: They must set a good example to fans watching the matches.
Alice: Policemen in Scotland say that even cases of domestic violence increase when
the two Glaswegian clubs play each other.
Stephen: People watching the match at home are more likely to become violent towards
their families during or after the matches.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 4 of 6
Alice: Les Grey from the Scottish Police Federation says attention needs to be given
to future fixtures – the times when games are played. For example, there's less
violence if games are played midweek, in the evening, rather than at the
weekend. He says changing licensing laws - the sale of alcohol - might help
prevent people becoming violent.
Insert 3: Les Grey, Scottish Police Federation
If that game hadn’t been on a Wednesday night, we’d have seen a lot more trouble had
that been a Sunday lunchtime game or even a Saturday afternoon game. So we’ll be
looking at when to play these games. We need to look at the licensing laws. We need to
look at the coverage of the games, and by that I’m going to upset a lot people and say
perhaps we need to stop televising one or two of them. There’s a direct correlation
between what happens during the game and what happens after the game. If I tell you
the latest figures just in - I was informed last night that domestic violence incidents
jumped 70% on Wednesday evening after the game. That’s a huge jump.
Alice: Les Grey from the Scottish Police Federation, who says that incidents of
domestic violence jumped by 70% after the last Celtic versus Rangers match.
He said there’s a direct correlation between what happens during the game and
what happens afterwards.
Stephen: A direct correlation – a clear link or relationship
Alice: And he even proposes a very unpopular idea: to stop televising some of the
games. Well, before we go, Stephen, any ideas about the city the two teams Al
Ahly and Zamalek come from?
Stephen: Well, I guessed Cairo, and…
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 5 of 6
Alice: You're correct – well done! So, a chance to hear some of the words and phrases
we heard in the programme today. Would you mind, Stephen?
Stephen: rivalries
spill over
derby
heated exchanges
mayhem
ugly confrontation
role models
domestic violence
licensing laws
Alice: Thanks for that, Stephen.
Stephen: You’re welcome.
Alice: Well that’s all we have time for today. We’ll have more 6 Minute English next
time. Bye!
Stephen: Bye for now!
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 6 of 6
Vocabulary and definitions
rivalries competition between people, often based on their political
views or support for a sports team
spill over here, influencing or causing something else to start, or
become more serious
derby here, a football match between two football teams based in
the same town, city or region
heated exchanges passionate or angry discussions
mayhem uncontrolled, chaotic situation
ugly confrontation
argument or fight between people, possibly involving
violent behaviour or insulting language
role models
people who are well-known to the public, and shown as
positive examples of how to live your life
domestic violence
physical abuse in the home, usually where one family
member attacks another
licensing laws regulations or rules laws about where and when alcoholic
drinks can be sold
More on this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/9419232.stm
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/03/110317_6min_english_football_rivalries_page.shtml
6 Minute English
Football rivalries
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 1 of 6
Alice: Hello, I'm Alice.
Stephen: And I'm Stephen.
Alice: And this is 6 Minute English! This week, we’re talking about rivalries
between football teams.
Stephen: Football rivalries - supporters of one football team often have one or two other
teams that they really dislike.
Alice: A bit of friendly rivalry probably doesn’t hurt anybody, but sometimes football
rivalries spill over into violence.
Stephen: Spill over into violence - when rivalry between fans leads to fighting.
Alice: First, a question for you Stephen: can you tell me which city these two football
teams come from? Al Ahly and Zamalek. Is it:
a) Cairo
b) Beirut, or
c) Damascus
Stephen: Well, my youngest brother would probably know the answer. I'm going to
guess Cairo.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 2 of 6
Alice: Well, I won’t tell you the answer just yet. We'll find out at the end of the
programme. Now, let’s talk a bit more about football rivalries. Here’s a word
that gets used in British English: can you explain what a derby is?
Stephen: Sure. A derby, in the context of football, is a match played between two
football teams from the same city, or near each other. It’s thought the word
comes from a rugby-like game played by two teams in a town in Derbyshire, in
central England.
Alice: In Britain, famous derbies are games played between Arsenal and Tottenham
Hotspur, which are both in north London, Liverpool and Everton, or Celtic and
Rangers - two football teams in Glasgow in Scotland. They have a bitter rivalry
- and matches between the two often involve heated exchanges.
Stephen: Heated exchanges – lots of passion and anger.
Alice: Here’s BBC sports reporter Alex Capstick, reporting on a recent match
between Celtic and Rangers, which turned into mayhem - chaos:
Insert 1: Alex Capstick, BBC sports reporter
Matches between the Glasgow neighbours Rangers and Celtic usually involve heated
exchanges, but the mayhem during the latest clash has been described as an
embarrassment to Scottish football. Rangers had three players sent off. Celtic's manager,
Neil Lennon, and Rangers' assistant coach, Ally McCoist, had to be dragged apart
following an ugly confrontation after the final whistle.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 3 of 6
Alice: BBC sports reporter Alex Capstick, who says that players were sent off and
that managers and coaches got involved in an ugly confrontation after the
final whistle.
Stephen: An ugly confrontation after the final whistle – angry fighting after the match
had ended.
Alice: The First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, is setting up a summit to deal
with the violence. He says the players are role models for society.
Stephen: Supporters will follow their example.
Insert 2: Alex Salmond, First Minister, Scotland
The fans at football matches are representatives of their clubs, the players at football
matches are role models for society, and the management of football clubs have a
particular responsibility and they must, absolutely must, behave responsibly.
Alice: The First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, says the football clubs have a
particular responsibility, and they absolutely must behave responsibly.
Stephen: They must set a good example to fans watching the matches.
Alice: Policemen in Scotland say that even cases of domestic violence increase when
the two Glaswegian clubs play each other.
Stephen: People watching the match at home are more likely to become violent towards
their families during or after the matches.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 4 of 6
Alice: Les Grey from the Scottish Police Federation says attention needs to be given
to future fixtures – the times when games are played. For example, there's less
violence if games are played midweek, in the evening, rather than at the
weekend. He says changing licensing laws - the sale of alcohol - might help
prevent people becoming violent.
Insert 3: Les Grey, Scottish Police Federation
If that game hadn’t been on a Wednesday night, we’d have seen a lot more trouble had
that been a Sunday lunchtime game or even a Saturday afternoon game. So we’ll be
looking at when to play these games. We need to look at the licensing laws. We need to
look at the coverage of the games, and by that I’m going to upset a lot people and say
perhaps we need to stop televising one or two of them. There’s a direct correlation
between what happens during the game and what happens after the game. If I tell you
the latest figures just in - I was informed last night that domestic violence incidents
jumped 70% on Wednesday evening after the game. That’s a huge jump.
Alice: Les Grey from the Scottish Police Federation, who says that incidents of
domestic violence jumped by 70% after the last Celtic versus Rangers match.
He said there’s a direct correlation between what happens during the game and
what happens afterwards.
Stephen: A direct correlation – a clear link or relationship
Alice: And he even proposes a very unpopular idea: to stop televising some of the
games. Well, before we go, Stephen, any ideas about the city the two teams Al
Ahly and Zamalek come from?
Stephen: Well, I guessed Cairo, and…
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 5 of 6
Alice: You're correct – well done! So, a chance to hear some of the words and phrases
we heard in the programme today. Would you mind, Stephen?
Stephen: rivalries
spill over
derby
heated exchanges
mayhem
ugly confrontation
role models
domestic violence
licensing laws
Alice: Thanks for that, Stephen.
Stephen: You’re welcome.
Alice: Well that’s all we have time for today. We’ll have more 6 Minute English next
time. Bye!
Stephen: Bye for now!
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 6 of 6
Vocabulary and definitions
rivalries competition between people, often based on their political
views or support for a sports team
spill over here, influencing or causing something else to start, or
become more serious
derby here, a football match between two football teams based in
the same town, city or region
heated exchanges passionate or angry discussions
mayhem uncontrolled, chaotic situation
ugly confrontation
argument or fight between people, possibly involving
violent behaviour or insulting language
role models
people who are well-known to the public, and shown as
positive examples of how to live your life
domestic violence
physical abuse in the home, usually where one family
member attacks another
licensing laws regulations or rules laws about where and when alcoholic
drinks can be sold
More on this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/9419232.stm
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/03/110317_6min_english_football_rivalries_page.shtml
2011年4月16日 星期六
Citizen Journalism!
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Citizen Journalism
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 1 of 6
Stephen: Hello, I'm Stephen.
Rob: And I'm Rob.
Stephen: And this is 6 Minute English! This week we’re talking about citizen
journalism.
Rob: Citizen journalism – that’s when people who aren’t trained journalists write or
report about their experiences or use social media, like Facebook or Twitter, to
broadcast their messages.
Stephen: Over the last few weeks, media companies have published a large number of
videos, photos, phone calls and blogs from citizen journalists in countries
where protests have been taking place, and there aren’t many – or any -
traditional journalists. But as usual, I’m going to start with a question for you,
Rob.
Rob: OK, I’m ready.
Stephen: Which of these six countries, according to figures from internet world stats, has
the largest percentage of people using the internet?
Rob: The largest percentage of people who use the internet. OK. Have got you any
clues?
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 2 of 6
Stephen: Well, your six countries are South Korea, Japan, the US, the UK, India or
China.
Rob: Hmm…let me think. I would say South Korea.
Stephen: Well, I won’t tell you the answer just yet. We can find out at the end of the
programme. So let’s talk about citizen journalism. Could citizen journalists
ever replace traditional journalists? Peter Barron, the Director of External
Relations at Google, says there has been a massive democratisation in access
to information.
Rob: A massive democratisation – that's when people all over the world can access
information on the internet, and use the same tools to publish information
themselves.
Insert 1: Peter Barron, Director of External Relations, Google
The point here is that there has been a massive democratisation in access to information
and the ability to publish information – so everybody these days can be a publisher.
What you’ve seen time and time again, is that the very high quality material rises to the
top and becomes a trusted brand, alongside the trusted brands that already exist.
Stephen: Peter Barron from Google believes that the best quality blogs will become as
trusted as media companies - media brands - which already have a good
reputation.
Rob: Very high quality material rises to the top – the best blogs will become as
popular as traditional broadcasters or newspapers.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 3 of 6
Stephen: Alan Rusbridger is the editor of the Guardian newspaper in the UK. He says
that traditional journalists will always be needed to make sense of large
amounts of information, something which citizen journalists might not be able
to do. He uses the example of Wikileaks.
Insert 1: Alan Rusbridger, Editor, The Guardian
The case of Wikilieaks was an excellent one; 300 million words would have been
completely meaningless if it had been dumped on the internet, as well as being
completely unsafe. It took months of Guardian, New York Times, Der Spiegel
journalists going through and finding the stories, redacting them and making sense of
them. So the journalist still has a valuable role as mediator, analyser and finder and
verifier of stories.
Stephen: Alan Rusbridger, editor of the Guardian newspaper, who gives the example of
Wikileaks, where he says 300 million words, dumped on the internet, would
have been completely meaningless if journalists hadn’t been able to go
through them.
Rob: To go through them – finding stories and checking them. He says the journalist
has a valuable role as mediator, analyser, finder and verifier of stories.
Stephen: Journalists need to check stories – to verify them, to check they are safe to
publish and that they are true. Anne McElvoy from the Economist magazine
says that citizen journalism hasn’t really been tested yet. It’s a very valuable
source when the story is on the street, but not when we, the readers, listeners or
viewers, aren’t sure which side we should be on.
Rob: Whose side we should be on - who we support. When it is clear whose side
we should be on, citizen journalists are very valuable, but when we don’t
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 4 of 6
really know what’s going on, we need the traditional skills of journalists to
analyse material to help us understand. She says ‘we rely on the trade’ -
meaning the trade of the traditional journalist.
Insert 3: Anne McElvoy
Citizen journalism hasn’t really been tested yet; we’re writing a lot about it and
reflecting on it. But really, what we’ve seen is it being very active and also being a very
valuable source, I should say, but in situations where we kind of know, generally, which
side we are on. We know that the story is on the street. I think citizen journalism will
have a much tougher time when we have situations - which will arise - when we’re really
not sure which side should have the upper hand, or, indeed, what’s really going on. And
that’s an area where I think you do rely a bit on the old trade to have analysis skills and
to help you out there.
Stephen: Anne McElvoy talking about citizen journalists. So, before we go today, Rob –
which of those six countries did you guess has the highest internet penetration?
That’s the highest percentage of population who are online.
Rob: OK. Well, I said South Korea. Am I right?
Stephen: Actually it’s the UK – followed by South Korea, then Germany, Japan, the US,
China and finally India.
Rob: Well I never!
Stephen: And a chance to hear some of the words and phrases we heard in the
programme today. Would you mind, Rob?
Rob: OK, we heard:
citizen journalism
trained
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 5 of 6
social media
democratisation
to publish
media brands
to go through them
verify
hasn’t really been tested yet
valuable source
Stephen: Thanks for that, Rob.
Rob: You’re welcome.
Stephen: Well, that’s all we have time for today - we’ll have more "6 Minute English"
next time.
Rob: Bye for now!
Stephen: Bye!
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 6 of 6
Vocabulary and definitions
citizen journalism information collected by people who are not formally
employed as journalists; their material is not always edited
and published by recognised media sources
trained learned how to be a reporter through courses or lessons
social media websites where people interact socially via different types
of technology and software
democratisation
a process which makes it easier for people to find out
about and contribute to the information available
to publish
to make your work available to the public through printed
or electronic media (e.g. books, newspapers, the internet)
media brands well known companies or corporations which produce
media content (e.g. the BBC)
to go through them to read, analyse and organise them
verify confirm something is true
hasn’t really been tested yet
not yet known if it works well in really challenging
situations
valuable source place where useful and trusted information can be found
More on this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/9405719.stm
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/03/110310_6min_english_citizen_journalism_page.shtml
6 Minute English
Citizen Journalism
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 1 of 6
Stephen: Hello, I'm Stephen.
Rob: And I'm Rob.
Stephen: And this is 6 Minute English! This week we’re talking about citizen
journalism.
Rob: Citizen journalism – that’s when people who aren’t trained journalists write or
report about their experiences or use social media, like Facebook or Twitter, to
broadcast their messages.
Stephen: Over the last few weeks, media companies have published a large number of
videos, photos, phone calls and blogs from citizen journalists in countries
where protests have been taking place, and there aren’t many – or any -
traditional journalists. But as usual, I’m going to start with a question for you,
Rob.
Rob: OK, I’m ready.
Stephen: Which of these six countries, according to figures from internet world stats, has
the largest percentage of people using the internet?
Rob: The largest percentage of people who use the internet. OK. Have got you any
clues?
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 2 of 6
Stephen: Well, your six countries are South Korea, Japan, the US, the UK, India or
China.
Rob: Hmm…let me think. I would say South Korea.
Stephen: Well, I won’t tell you the answer just yet. We can find out at the end of the
programme. So let’s talk about citizen journalism. Could citizen journalists
ever replace traditional journalists? Peter Barron, the Director of External
Relations at Google, says there has been a massive democratisation in access
to information.
Rob: A massive democratisation – that's when people all over the world can access
information on the internet, and use the same tools to publish information
themselves.
Insert 1: Peter Barron, Director of External Relations, Google
The point here is that there has been a massive democratisation in access to information
and the ability to publish information – so everybody these days can be a publisher.
What you’ve seen time and time again, is that the very high quality material rises to the
top and becomes a trusted brand, alongside the trusted brands that already exist.
Stephen: Peter Barron from Google believes that the best quality blogs will become as
trusted as media companies - media brands - which already have a good
reputation.
Rob: Very high quality material rises to the top – the best blogs will become as
popular as traditional broadcasters or newspapers.
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 3 of 6
Stephen: Alan Rusbridger is the editor of the Guardian newspaper in the UK. He says
that traditional journalists will always be needed to make sense of large
amounts of information, something which citizen journalists might not be able
to do. He uses the example of Wikileaks.
Insert 1: Alan Rusbridger, Editor, The Guardian
The case of Wikilieaks was an excellent one; 300 million words would have been
completely meaningless if it had been dumped on the internet, as well as being
completely unsafe. It took months of Guardian, New York Times, Der Spiegel
journalists going through and finding the stories, redacting them and making sense of
them. So the journalist still has a valuable role as mediator, analyser and finder and
verifier of stories.
Stephen: Alan Rusbridger, editor of the Guardian newspaper, who gives the example of
Wikileaks, where he says 300 million words, dumped on the internet, would
have been completely meaningless if journalists hadn’t been able to go
through them.
Rob: To go through them – finding stories and checking them. He says the journalist
has a valuable role as mediator, analyser, finder and verifier of stories.
Stephen: Journalists need to check stories – to verify them, to check they are safe to
publish and that they are true. Anne McElvoy from the Economist magazine
says that citizen journalism hasn’t really been tested yet. It’s a very valuable
source when the story is on the street, but not when we, the readers, listeners or
viewers, aren’t sure which side we should be on.
Rob: Whose side we should be on - who we support. When it is clear whose side
we should be on, citizen journalists are very valuable, but when we don’t
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 4 of 6
really know what’s going on, we need the traditional skills of journalists to
analyse material to help us understand. She says ‘we rely on the trade’ -
meaning the trade of the traditional journalist.
Insert 3: Anne McElvoy
Citizen journalism hasn’t really been tested yet; we’re writing a lot about it and
reflecting on it. But really, what we’ve seen is it being very active and also being a very
valuable source, I should say, but in situations where we kind of know, generally, which
side we are on. We know that the story is on the street. I think citizen journalism will
have a much tougher time when we have situations - which will arise - when we’re really
not sure which side should have the upper hand, or, indeed, what’s really going on. And
that’s an area where I think you do rely a bit on the old trade to have analysis skills and
to help you out there.
Stephen: Anne McElvoy talking about citizen journalists. So, before we go today, Rob –
which of those six countries did you guess has the highest internet penetration?
That’s the highest percentage of population who are online.
Rob: OK. Well, I said South Korea. Am I right?
Stephen: Actually it’s the UK – followed by South Korea, then Germany, Japan, the US,
China and finally India.
Rob: Well I never!
Stephen: And a chance to hear some of the words and phrases we heard in the
programme today. Would you mind, Rob?
Rob: OK, we heard:
citizen journalism
trained
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 5 of 6
social media
democratisation
to publish
media brands
to go through them
verify
hasn’t really been tested yet
valuable source
Stephen: Thanks for that, Rob.
Rob: You’re welcome.
Stephen: Well, that’s all we have time for today - we’ll have more "6 Minute English"
next time.
Rob: Bye for now!
Stephen: Bye!
6 Minute English c bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 6 of 6
Vocabulary and definitions
citizen journalism information collected by people who are not formally
employed as journalists; their material is not always edited
and published by recognised media sources
trained learned how to be a reporter through courses or lessons
social media websites where people interact socially via different types
of technology and software
democratisation
a process which makes it easier for people to find out
about and contribute to the information available
to publish
to make your work available to the public through printed
or electronic media (e.g. books, newspapers, the internet)
media brands well known companies or corporations which produce
media content (e.g. the BBC)
to go through them to read, analyse and organise them
verify confirm something is true
hasn’t really been tested yet
not yet known if it works well in really challenging
situations
valuable source place where useful and trusted information can be found
More on this story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/9405719.stm
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/03/110310_6min_english_citizen_journalism_page.shtml
2011年3月5日 星期六
A New Lease of Life!
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
A new lease of life
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 1 of 7
Alice: Hello, I'm Alice.
Finn: And I'm Finn.
Alice: And this is 6 Minute English! This week we’re talking about an amazing
scientific achievement – it’s called a total artificial heart.
Finn: That’s a heart that’s made completely artificially – in fact it’s made of plastic.
Something artificial is something that isn’t real.
Alice: This total artificial heart has given a new lease of life to a patient in the United
States – so before we find out more, Finn, I have a question for you. Which of
these creatures has the slowest heartbeat? Ready?
Finn: OK, I’m ready!
Alice: A, an elephant, b, a human being or c, a dog.
Finn: Hmm – I’m really not sure about that. Do different size dogs have different
heartbeats I wonder, Alice?
Alice: I don’t know! I only know which of them has the slowest heartbeat and I’ll
give you the answer at the end of the programme. So let’s find out more about
this total artificial heart. Here’s heart doctor, cardiologist Dr Doug
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 2 of 7
Horstmanshof talking about his patient, Troy Golden, a pastor from the United
States who was born with a serious heart condition.
Insert 1: Dr Doug Horstmanshof
He suffers from a disease called Marfan's syndrome that he was born with. Physically,
He wasn't even able to get out of bed anymore, could barely bear weights, could barely
breathe comfortably. Emotionally, mentally, spiritually - he had reached a point so low
that most of us can't even imagine.
Alice: Dr Doug Horstmanshof says his patient suffered badly from his disease. He
had reached a point so low that most of us can’t even imagine.
Finn: A point so low – a condition that is so bad you can’t imagine things getting any
worse.
Alice: Troy Golden was physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally exhausted.
He had been put on a list for a heart transplant in January 2010 but couldn’t
find a donor.
Finn: A donor – somebody who gives you something, in this case a human heart.
Somebody who donates a heart or a liver or kidney is called an organ donor.
Alice: And Troy’s heart was in such a bad condition a normal heart pump wouldn’t
work for him, so Dr Horstmanshof decided to do something incredible in
September 2010. He removed his patient’s heart completely and replaced it
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 3 of 7
with a plastic heart – the total artificial heart. It contains valves, a pump and
also batteries to keep it powered.
Finn: So that was September 2010 – Troy Golden has had his new heart for several
months now. How has it been functioning?
Alice: Let’s hear what he says.
Insert 2: Troy Golden
Yeah, I really have got to the point that I don't even really notice it, other than it's loud.
So... I think for my wife it feels, to her, she can hear it beating so she knows I'm alive, so
it's very comforting to her.
Alice: Troy Golden says his wife can hear the heart beating, and she finds the sound
very comforting.
Finn: Comforting – it makes her feel safe and secure.
Alice: And Troy Golden says he’s got to a point where he doesn’t really notice his
new heart.
Finn: He’s got to a point where he doesn’t notice his new heart, which means he’s
got used to it.
Alice: Another doctor, Dr Kevin Fong, a Consultant Anaesthetist at University
College Hospital in London, says the total artificial heart is almost
unbelievable – he calls it mind-blowing.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 4 of 7
Insert 3: Dr Kevin Fong
It's mind-blowing to think that where he once had a heart, there's now a mechanical
device; that it's been replaced with plastic and tubes attached to a pneumatic pump
inside the rucksack on his back.
Alice: Dr Kevin Fong, a Consultant Anaesthetist from University College Hospital in
London, describing the mechanical device which is keeping Troy Golden alive.
Finn: A pneumatic pump – now, a pneumatic pump is an air pump, and this one is
kept in a rucksack on the patient’s back.
Alice: Troy Golden carries the rucksack on his back, and he says it’s great to know
his heart is pumping. He says it’s wonderful to feel alive again.
Insert 4: Troy Golden
It is great to know that my… that the heart is pumping, that my heart is pumping. I
guess it's not mine, but it is wonderful to feel alive again.
Alice: Troy Golden who has been given a new lease of life with his total artificial
heart.
Finn: A new lease of life – that’s new energy and a new sense of happiness.
Alice: So, before we go today, Finn – have you had a chance to think about my
question about the heart rates of different creatures.
Finn: Well, I think the bigger the animal the slower the heartbeat, so I’m going to go
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 5 of 7
for elephant.
Alice: Ah, well done – very good! Apparently an elephant’s heart beats only 25 times
a minute, a human being, usually between about 60 and 90 times a minute, and
a dog, between 100 and 150 heartbeats every minute!
Finn: There you go.
Alice: Yes. So, a chance to hear some of the words and phrases. Finn, would you
mind?
Finn: artificial
a new lease of life
heartbeat
comforting
got to a point
mind-blowing
pneumatic
rucksack
Alice: Thanks for that, Finn.
Finn: You’re welcome.
Alice: Well that’s all we have time for today, and we’ll have more "6 Minute
English" next time.
Finn: Bye for now!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 6 of 7
Alice: Bye!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 7 of 7
Vocabulary and definitions
artificial objects or materials which do not occur naturally, and are
made by people
a new lease of life a new, positive stage in your life
heartbeat the regular movement of the heart as it pumps blood
around the body
comforting reassuring
got to a point reached a position or time
mind-blowing extraordinary or amazing
pneumatic powered by compressed or pressurised air
rucksack large bag for carrying personal belongings, which is
carried on the back
More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12422348
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/03/110303_6min_english_heart_page.shtml
6 Minute English
A new lease of life
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 1 of 7
Alice: Hello, I'm Alice.
Finn: And I'm Finn.
Alice: And this is 6 Minute English! This week we’re talking about an amazing
scientific achievement – it’s called a total artificial heart.
Finn: That’s a heart that’s made completely artificially – in fact it’s made of plastic.
Something artificial is something that isn’t real.
Alice: This total artificial heart has given a new lease of life to a patient in the United
States – so before we find out more, Finn, I have a question for you. Which of
these creatures has the slowest heartbeat? Ready?
Finn: OK, I’m ready!
Alice: A, an elephant, b, a human being or c, a dog.
Finn: Hmm – I’m really not sure about that. Do different size dogs have different
heartbeats I wonder, Alice?
Alice: I don’t know! I only know which of them has the slowest heartbeat and I’ll
give you the answer at the end of the programme. So let’s find out more about
this total artificial heart. Here’s heart doctor, cardiologist Dr Doug
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 2 of 7
Horstmanshof talking about his patient, Troy Golden, a pastor from the United
States who was born with a serious heart condition.
Insert 1: Dr Doug Horstmanshof
He suffers from a disease called Marfan's syndrome that he was born with. Physically,
He wasn't even able to get out of bed anymore, could barely bear weights, could barely
breathe comfortably. Emotionally, mentally, spiritually - he had reached a point so low
that most of us can't even imagine.
Alice: Dr Doug Horstmanshof says his patient suffered badly from his disease. He
had reached a point so low that most of us can’t even imagine.
Finn: A point so low – a condition that is so bad you can’t imagine things getting any
worse.
Alice: Troy Golden was physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally exhausted.
He had been put on a list for a heart transplant in January 2010 but couldn’t
find a donor.
Finn: A donor – somebody who gives you something, in this case a human heart.
Somebody who donates a heart or a liver or kidney is called an organ donor.
Alice: And Troy’s heart was in such a bad condition a normal heart pump wouldn’t
work for him, so Dr Horstmanshof decided to do something incredible in
September 2010. He removed his patient’s heart completely and replaced it
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 3 of 7
with a plastic heart – the total artificial heart. It contains valves, a pump and
also batteries to keep it powered.
Finn: So that was September 2010 – Troy Golden has had his new heart for several
months now. How has it been functioning?
Alice: Let’s hear what he says.
Insert 2: Troy Golden
Yeah, I really have got to the point that I don't even really notice it, other than it's loud.
So... I think for my wife it feels, to her, she can hear it beating so she knows I'm alive, so
it's very comforting to her.
Alice: Troy Golden says his wife can hear the heart beating, and she finds the sound
very comforting.
Finn: Comforting – it makes her feel safe and secure.
Alice: And Troy Golden says he’s got to a point where he doesn’t really notice his
new heart.
Finn: He’s got to a point where he doesn’t notice his new heart, which means he’s
got used to it.
Alice: Another doctor, Dr Kevin Fong, a Consultant Anaesthetist at University
College Hospital in London, says the total artificial heart is almost
unbelievable – he calls it mind-blowing.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 4 of 7
Insert 3: Dr Kevin Fong
It's mind-blowing to think that where he once had a heart, there's now a mechanical
device; that it's been replaced with plastic and tubes attached to a pneumatic pump
inside the rucksack on his back.
Alice: Dr Kevin Fong, a Consultant Anaesthetist from University College Hospital in
London, describing the mechanical device which is keeping Troy Golden alive.
Finn: A pneumatic pump – now, a pneumatic pump is an air pump, and this one is
kept in a rucksack on the patient’s back.
Alice: Troy Golden carries the rucksack on his back, and he says it’s great to know
his heart is pumping. He says it’s wonderful to feel alive again.
Insert 4: Troy Golden
It is great to know that my… that the heart is pumping, that my heart is pumping. I
guess it's not mine, but it is wonderful to feel alive again.
Alice: Troy Golden who has been given a new lease of life with his total artificial
heart.
Finn: A new lease of life – that’s new energy and a new sense of happiness.
Alice: So, before we go today, Finn – have you had a chance to think about my
question about the heart rates of different creatures.
Finn: Well, I think the bigger the animal the slower the heartbeat, so I’m going to go
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 5 of 7
for elephant.
Alice: Ah, well done – very good! Apparently an elephant’s heart beats only 25 times
a minute, a human being, usually between about 60 and 90 times a minute, and
a dog, between 100 and 150 heartbeats every minute!
Finn: There you go.
Alice: Yes. So, a chance to hear some of the words and phrases. Finn, would you
mind?
Finn: artificial
a new lease of life
heartbeat
comforting
got to a point
mind-blowing
pneumatic
rucksack
Alice: Thanks for that, Finn.
Finn: You’re welcome.
Alice: Well that’s all we have time for today, and we’ll have more "6 Minute
English" next time.
Finn: Bye for now!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 6 of 7
Alice: Bye!
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 7 of 7
Vocabulary and definitions
artificial objects or materials which do not occur naturally, and are
made by people
a new lease of life a new, positive stage in your life
heartbeat the regular movement of the heart as it pumps blood
around the body
comforting reassuring
got to a point reached a position or time
mind-blowing extraordinary or amazing
pneumatic powered by compressed or pressurised air
rucksack large bag for carrying personal belongings, which is
carried on the back
More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12422348
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/03/110303_6min_english_heart_page.shtml
2011年2月27日 星期日
Sleepwalking!
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Sleepwalking
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 1 of 6
Alice: Hello, I'm Alice…
Stephen: And I'm Stephen.
Alice: And this is 6 Minute English! This week we’re talking about sleepwalking.
Have you ever walked in your sleep, Stephen?
Stephen: I don’t think so, but I’ve been known to tell stories in my sleep.
Alice: Oh, fascinating. This is a new development by scientists in the United States
that shows that sleepwalking is genetic – it’s passed on from parent to child.
They’ve been looking at the genes of four generations of a family who have a
lot of sleepwalkers. But before we find out more, I have a question for you,
Stephen. What do the letters REM stand for? And it’s not just the name of an
American pop group….
Stephen: REM – that’s something to do with sleep?
Alice: It is – does it stand for:
a) rapid eye movement
b) random eye movement or
c) relative eye movement
Stephen: I’m going to guess a) rapid eye movement.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 2 of 6
Alice: As usual, I won’t tell you the answer now – we’ll find out at the end of the
programme! So let’s hear more about what it’s like to be a sleepwalker. Here’s
Margaret Brand, a woman who often spends several hours a night sleepwalking:
Insert 1: Margaret Brand
Sometimes I was just back in bed and didn’t know that I’d sleepwalked. But I’d wake
up in the morning and find that things had been moved or eaten or forgotten – and it
had to be me because I was the only person in the flat. Other times I would wake up,
usually in the kitchen. I took medication – on one occasion, three 20ml doses of
morphine.
Alice: Margaret Brand said that she moves or eats things when she’s sleepwalking,
and she once took medication – drugs - while she was asleep.
Stephen: She says on one occasion, she took doses of morphine.
Alice: That’s dangerous. There are also other instances when sleepwalking can put the
person or other people in danger. Dr Dev Banerjee is a sleep expert at the
Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham, in the UK. He says that there have been
occasions when sleepwalkers have injured themselves, or even got into their
cars to drive:
Insert 2: Dr Dev Banerjee
I think (for) the majority of those that sleepwalk (it) is fairly harmless and quite novel
actually, but there are a proportion who do injure themselves, fall down the stairs. I’ve
got someone from Bristol who put his hand through a glass window and severed his
radial artery. Not only just injuries, but risks of injuries such as getting out the house,
onto the street. There have been cases, I think in America, where people have got into
their car and drove down a freeway.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 3 of 6
Alice: Dr Dev Banerjee, who says that usually sleepwalking is harmless – even novel
– unique and quite amusing.
Stephen: What else do scientists know about sleepwalking, Alice?
Alice: They know it’s pretty common. One in five children sleepwalk and one in ten
adults. And there’s a new development by scientists in the United States that
shows it runs in families – it’s genetic.
Stephen: It is passed on from parent to child in a person’s genes. Genes control which
features identify a person.
Alice: Scientists examined the DNA – the genetic code of a family of four generations
who suffer from sleepwalking, and found that they carried a defective gene,
chromosome 20.
Stephen: A defective gene – that’s a gene which has a fault. DNA is the complicated
code that makes a human unique and is carried from generation to generation.
Alice: Once the defective gene has been identified it means it could be easier to find
treatments and tests for sleepwalkers. People that carry the defective gene have
a 50-50 chance of passing it onto their children.
Stephen: 50–50 - that means they have an equal chance of either inheriting the gene or
not inheriting it! 50 per cent vs per cent.
Alice: Here’s the BBC’s Health Reporter, Michelle Roberts:
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 4 of 6
Insert 2: Michelle Roberts
DNA analysis of the 22 relatives, from the great-grandparents downwards, located the
chromosome where the fault lies. Sleepwalkers with these genes on chromosome 20, had
a 50-50 chance of passing them onto their children. More work is needed to see if the
discovery will explain all cases of sleepwalking, but in the meantime, the researchers say
it should help them to develop tests and treatments.
Alice: The BBC’s Health Reporter, Michelle Roberts, who says more work is needed
to see if the discovery of the sleepwalking gene will help explain all cases of
sleepwalking. Well, that’s all we have time for today, Stephen – but before we
go, what did you think about REM?
Stephen: I guessed that it stands for ‘rapid eye movement’.
Alice: And you’re right. It’s the stage of sleep where your eyes move around a lot –
and it’s about 20-25% of your total sleep apparently.
Stephen: Well, don’t say you don’t learn anything new on 6 Minute English!
Alice: Exactly, Stephen. And before we go, because you did so well answering the
question, would you mind reading some of the words and phrases we’ve heard
today?
Stephen: Yes of course:
sleepwalk
genetic
genes
doses of medication
harmless
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 5 of 6
it runs in families
generations
defective
50-50
Alice: Thanks so much for that, Stephen. We hope you’ll join us next time on "6
Minute English".
Both: Bye.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 6 of 6
Vocabulary and definitions
sleepwalk do things while asleep, e.g. walk around
genetic inherited; a feature that someone was born with that was
passed on by their parents or grandparents
genes parts of living cells which carry information about physical
characteristics, e.g. a person’s appearance and health
doses of medication
specific amounts of medicines taken at regular times, as
instructed by a doctor
harmless not dangerous
it runs in families it is a feature or condition that affects several people who
are related
generations here, members of a family who are directly related through
their parents, grandparents, great grandparents etc
defective faulty, imperfect
50-50 two equal possibilities
More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12394009
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/02/110224_6min_english_sleep_page.shtml
6 Minute English
Sleepwalking
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 1 of 6
Alice: Hello, I'm Alice…
Stephen: And I'm Stephen.
Alice: And this is 6 Minute English! This week we’re talking about sleepwalking.
Have you ever walked in your sleep, Stephen?
Stephen: I don’t think so, but I’ve been known to tell stories in my sleep.
Alice: Oh, fascinating. This is a new development by scientists in the United States
that shows that sleepwalking is genetic – it’s passed on from parent to child.
They’ve been looking at the genes of four generations of a family who have a
lot of sleepwalkers. But before we find out more, I have a question for you,
Stephen. What do the letters REM stand for? And it’s not just the name of an
American pop group….
Stephen: REM – that’s something to do with sleep?
Alice: It is – does it stand for:
a) rapid eye movement
b) random eye movement or
c) relative eye movement
Stephen: I’m going to guess a) rapid eye movement.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 2 of 6
Alice: As usual, I won’t tell you the answer now – we’ll find out at the end of the
programme! So let’s hear more about what it’s like to be a sleepwalker. Here’s
Margaret Brand, a woman who often spends several hours a night sleepwalking:
Insert 1: Margaret Brand
Sometimes I was just back in bed and didn’t know that I’d sleepwalked. But I’d wake
up in the morning and find that things had been moved or eaten or forgotten – and it
had to be me because I was the only person in the flat. Other times I would wake up,
usually in the kitchen. I took medication – on one occasion, three 20ml doses of
morphine.
Alice: Margaret Brand said that she moves or eats things when she’s sleepwalking,
and she once took medication – drugs - while she was asleep.
Stephen: She says on one occasion, she took doses of morphine.
Alice: That’s dangerous. There are also other instances when sleepwalking can put the
person or other people in danger. Dr Dev Banerjee is a sleep expert at the
Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham, in the UK. He says that there have been
occasions when sleepwalkers have injured themselves, or even got into their
cars to drive:
Insert 2: Dr Dev Banerjee
I think (for) the majority of those that sleepwalk (it) is fairly harmless and quite novel
actually, but there are a proportion who do injure themselves, fall down the stairs. I’ve
got someone from Bristol who put his hand through a glass window and severed his
radial artery. Not only just injuries, but risks of injuries such as getting out the house,
onto the street. There have been cases, I think in America, where people have got into
their car and drove down a freeway.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 3 of 6
Alice: Dr Dev Banerjee, who says that usually sleepwalking is harmless – even novel
– unique and quite amusing.
Stephen: What else do scientists know about sleepwalking, Alice?
Alice: They know it’s pretty common. One in five children sleepwalk and one in ten
adults. And there’s a new development by scientists in the United States that
shows it runs in families – it’s genetic.
Stephen: It is passed on from parent to child in a person’s genes. Genes control which
features identify a person.
Alice: Scientists examined the DNA – the genetic code of a family of four generations
who suffer from sleepwalking, and found that they carried a defective gene,
chromosome 20.
Stephen: A defective gene – that’s a gene which has a fault. DNA is the complicated
code that makes a human unique and is carried from generation to generation.
Alice: Once the defective gene has been identified it means it could be easier to find
treatments and tests for sleepwalkers. People that carry the defective gene have
a 50-50 chance of passing it onto their children.
Stephen: 50–50 - that means they have an equal chance of either inheriting the gene or
not inheriting it! 50 per cent vs per cent.
Alice: Here’s the BBC’s Health Reporter, Michelle Roberts:
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 4 of 6
Insert 2: Michelle Roberts
DNA analysis of the 22 relatives, from the great-grandparents downwards, located the
chromosome where the fault lies. Sleepwalkers with these genes on chromosome 20, had
a 50-50 chance of passing them onto their children. More work is needed to see if the
discovery will explain all cases of sleepwalking, but in the meantime, the researchers say
it should help them to develop tests and treatments.
Alice: The BBC’s Health Reporter, Michelle Roberts, who says more work is needed
to see if the discovery of the sleepwalking gene will help explain all cases of
sleepwalking. Well, that’s all we have time for today, Stephen – but before we
go, what did you think about REM?
Stephen: I guessed that it stands for ‘rapid eye movement’.
Alice: And you’re right. It’s the stage of sleep where your eyes move around a lot –
and it’s about 20-25% of your total sleep apparently.
Stephen: Well, don’t say you don’t learn anything new on 6 Minute English!
Alice: Exactly, Stephen. And before we go, because you did so well answering the
question, would you mind reading some of the words and phrases we’ve heard
today?
Stephen: Yes of course:
sleepwalk
genetic
genes
doses of medication
harmless
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 5 of 6
it runs in families
generations
defective
50-50
Alice: Thanks so much for that, Stephen. We hope you’ll join us next time on "6
Minute English".
Both: Bye.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 6 of 6
Vocabulary and definitions
sleepwalk do things while asleep, e.g. walk around
genetic inherited; a feature that someone was born with that was
passed on by their parents or grandparents
genes parts of living cells which carry information about physical
characteristics, e.g. a person’s appearance and health
doses of medication
specific amounts of medicines taken at regular times, as
instructed by a doctor
harmless not dangerous
it runs in families it is a feature or condition that affects several people who
are related
generations here, members of a family who are directly related through
their parents, grandparents, great grandparents etc
defective faulty, imperfect
50-50 two equal possibilities
More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12394009
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/02/110224_6min_english_sleep_page.shtml
2011年2月14日 星期一
Love letters!
BBC Learning English
6 Minute English
Love letters
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 1 of 7
Yvonne: Hello, I'm Yvonne Archer and Rob has joined me for today's 6 Minute English.
Now Rob, put your romantic hat on and tell us, have you ever sent or received
a love letter?
Rob: Mm – both actually. I have sent one and I've received one as well.
Yvonne: And why don't you write love letters any more?
Rob: Because there's not enough time.
Yvonne: Well, today we're going to make time for love, because we're talking about
‘Wives and Sweethearts’. It’s an exhibition at London's National Army
Museum. The exhibition includes letters from soldiers on the front line to their
loved ones which date back over the last 200 years. But before we find out
more – here's today's question, Rob.
Rob: OK!
Yvonne: In which year was The Royal Mail – Britain's postal service – founded?
a) 1516
b) 1710 or
c) 1780
Rob: I would say, quite a long time ago – probably 1710.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 7
Yvonne: OK, we'll find out whether you're right or wrong later on! Now, back to "Wives
and Sweethearts" – the collection of letters at the National Army Museum. It
aims to show us how army life affected personal relationships between soldiers
and their wives, sweethearts and families. But Rob – what would you say is 'a
sweetheart'?
Rob: It's a nice word, isn't it? And 'sweetheart' is quite an old-fashioned noun – so
now, we usually say 'girlfriend' or 'boyfriend'. But basically, a sweetheart is
someone we're sweet on – someone we like a lot and hold dear to our heart.
We're very fond of them.
Yvonne: So we might call a child 'a sweetheart' - or even a colleague who we really
appreciate. So, thanks for that explanation Rob - you're a sweetheart!
Rob: And so are you!
Yvonne: Now, the letters in the exhibition were sent during the Napoleonic War, the
Crimean War, World Wars I and II and even during the conflicts we're
experiencing today. So they go back as far as 200 years. Let's listen to some
excerpts…
.
Insert 1: Excerpt from love letters
1. I do miss you so very much…
2. Shall we become engaged in a sort of distant way?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 7
Yvonne: The number of words used in the first excerpt gives the impression that the
letter was written a long time ago, doesn't it, Rob?
Rob: Yes, it does. And today, we'd probably be more direct and simply say: "I miss
you very much", but instead, we heard "I do miss you so very much".
Yvonne: Now the second writer seems quite shy or unsure of how the young lady feels,
because instead of simply asking his sweetheart to marry him, he suggests that
they become engaged while he's still away.
Rob: He suggests that they get engaged 'in a sort of distant way' because he's far
from home and can't propose marriage in person.
Yvonne: OK, well let's hope she accepted his proposal and that they got married after
the war. But of course, not all the letter writers were reunited, as Dr Frances
Parton, organiser of the exhibition, explains:
Insert 2: Dr Frances Parton, Exhibit Organiser
Some of them are very moving and quite distressing. Obviously, we've looked at all the
aspects of a soldier's relationship and sometimes that can be very, very difficult when it
involves separation and obviously, in worst case scenarios, bereavement.
Yvonne: Rob, Dr Parton describes some of the letters as 'very moving'. What does she
mean by that?
Rob: Well basically, when we read them, they make us feel very emotional –
perhaps even tearful.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 7
Yvonne: And some aspects – areas – of a soldier's relationship can involve 'worst case
scenarios'.
Rob: 'Worst case scenarios' are situations that couldn't possibly be sadder or more
dangerous, for example. And here, Dr Parton is talking about the fact that in
some cases, soldiers and their loved ones died.
Yvonne: Mm - well luckily, Caroline Flynn-MacCloud's husband recently returned
safely from a seven month deployment in Afghanistan. They have a wonderful
collection of love letters as a result, which are included in the exhibition at the
National Army Museum.
Rob: Wow – they must be very different from the love letters written by soldiers
hundreds of years ago.
Yvonne: Well funnily enough, Caroline says that they're not!
Insert 3: Caroline Flynn-MacCloud, wife of a soldier
Letters begin with the declaration of love and how much one is missing someone and end
pretty much the same way, and also saying not to worry. And in the middle, you have a
whole sort of section about quite banal things. When I wrote to him, sort of everyday
things to show life was going on as normal without him. And he wrote a bit about what
he was doing, but frustratingly, very little about what he was doing.
Yvonne: So letters start by saying how much people love and miss each other and they
end by asking each other not to worry. But the middle of the letters are quite
interesting, aren't they?
Rob: Yes, they are. That's where the banal things are written – the most ordinary or
even boring information about everyday life. But Caroline's husband didn't tell
her much about what he was doing out in Afghanistan.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 7
Yvonne: No, perhaps soldiers aren't allowed to send too many details home because of
security issues and of course, they don't want to worry their loved ones at
home, do they?
Rob: No.
Yvonne: Well I don't know about you Rob, but I think I'm going to try to get to that
exhibition – and perhaps write a few more love letters of my own!
Rob: A good idea, actually. It'll be good to get pen to paper again and not rely on email.
Yvonne: Exactly. Right Rob, earlier, I asked: in which year was the Royal Mail founded?
And you said…
Rob: I said 1710.
Yvonne: And you were….wrong!
Rob: Oh dear!
Yvonne: It was in 1516.
Rob: I am surprised. That is a long time ago so think of how many letters have been
sent since then.
Yvonne: Especially love letters.
Rob: Yes.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 6 of 7
Yvonne: Do join us again soon for more "6 Minute English".
Both: Goodbye!
Vocabulary and definitions
romantic someone who has a lot of positive and sometimes
unrealistic ideas, particularly about love
the front line place where soldiers are directly fighting their enemy in a
war, and in danger of being killed
a sweetheart A term used to express fondness for someone else,
sometimes in a romantic way
shy person who is quiet, nervous and uncomfortable with other
people
engaged two people who have promised to get married to each
other
distant far away
very moving something which makes you emotional
worst case scenarios the most unpleasant or unsatisfactory situations you can
imagine
deployment movement of army troops to a place
banal something that is very ordinary and not interesting
More on this story: http://www.national-army-museum.ac.uk/exhibitions/special-displays/wivessweethearts
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 7 of 7
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/110214_6min_english_love_page.shtml
6 Minute English
Love letters
NB: This is not a word for word transcript
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2011
Page 1 of 7
Yvonne: Hello, I'm Yvonne Archer and Rob has joined me for today's 6 Minute English.
Now Rob, put your romantic hat on and tell us, have you ever sent or received
a love letter?
Rob: Mm – both actually. I have sent one and I've received one as well.
Yvonne: And why don't you write love letters any more?
Rob: Because there's not enough time.
Yvonne: Well, today we're going to make time for love, because we're talking about
‘Wives and Sweethearts’. It’s an exhibition at London's National Army
Museum. The exhibition includes letters from soldiers on the front line to their
loved ones which date back over the last 200 years. But before we find out
more – here's today's question, Rob.
Rob: OK!
Yvonne: In which year was The Royal Mail – Britain's postal service – founded?
a) 1516
b) 1710 or
c) 1780
Rob: I would say, quite a long time ago – probably 1710.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 2 of 7
Yvonne: OK, we'll find out whether you're right or wrong later on! Now, back to "Wives
and Sweethearts" – the collection of letters at the National Army Museum. It
aims to show us how army life affected personal relationships between soldiers
and their wives, sweethearts and families. But Rob – what would you say is 'a
sweetheart'?
Rob: It's a nice word, isn't it? And 'sweetheart' is quite an old-fashioned noun – so
now, we usually say 'girlfriend' or 'boyfriend'. But basically, a sweetheart is
someone we're sweet on – someone we like a lot and hold dear to our heart.
We're very fond of them.
Yvonne: So we might call a child 'a sweetheart' - or even a colleague who we really
appreciate. So, thanks for that explanation Rob - you're a sweetheart!
Rob: And so are you!
Yvonne: Now, the letters in the exhibition were sent during the Napoleonic War, the
Crimean War, World Wars I and II and even during the conflicts we're
experiencing today. So they go back as far as 200 years. Let's listen to some
excerpts…
.
Insert 1: Excerpt from love letters
1. I do miss you so very much…
2. Shall we become engaged in a sort of distant way?
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 3 of 7
Yvonne: The number of words used in the first excerpt gives the impression that the
letter was written a long time ago, doesn't it, Rob?
Rob: Yes, it does. And today, we'd probably be more direct and simply say: "I miss
you very much", but instead, we heard "I do miss you so very much".
Yvonne: Now the second writer seems quite shy or unsure of how the young lady feels,
because instead of simply asking his sweetheart to marry him, he suggests that
they become engaged while he's still away.
Rob: He suggests that they get engaged 'in a sort of distant way' because he's far
from home and can't propose marriage in person.
Yvonne: OK, well let's hope she accepted his proposal and that they got married after
the war. But of course, not all the letter writers were reunited, as Dr Frances
Parton, organiser of the exhibition, explains:
Insert 2: Dr Frances Parton, Exhibit Organiser
Some of them are very moving and quite distressing. Obviously, we've looked at all the
aspects of a soldier's relationship and sometimes that can be very, very difficult when it
involves separation and obviously, in worst case scenarios, bereavement.
Yvonne: Rob, Dr Parton describes some of the letters as 'very moving'. What does she
mean by that?
Rob: Well basically, when we read them, they make us feel very emotional –
perhaps even tearful.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 4 of 7
Yvonne: And some aspects – areas – of a soldier's relationship can involve 'worst case
scenarios'.
Rob: 'Worst case scenarios' are situations that couldn't possibly be sadder or more
dangerous, for example. And here, Dr Parton is talking about the fact that in
some cases, soldiers and their loved ones died.
Yvonne: Mm - well luckily, Caroline Flynn-MacCloud's husband recently returned
safely from a seven month deployment in Afghanistan. They have a wonderful
collection of love letters as a result, which are included in the exhibition at the
National Army Museum.
Rob: Wow – they must be very different from the love letters written by soldiers
hundreds of years ago.
Yvonne: Well funnily enough, Caroline says that they're not!
Insert 3: Caroline Flynn-MacCloud, wife of a soldier
Letters begin with the declaration of love and how much one is missing someone and end
pretty much the same way, and also saying not to worry. And in the middle, you have a
whole sort of section about quite banal things. When I wrote to him, sort of everyday
things to show life was going on as normal without him. And he wrote a bit about what
he was doing, but frustratingly, very little about what he was doing.
Yvonne: So letters start by saying how much people love and miss each other and they
end by asking each other not to worry. But the middle of the letters are quite
interesting, aren't they?
Rob: Yes, they are. That's where the banal things are written – the most ordinary or
even boring information about everyday life. But Caroline's husband didn't tell
her much about what he was doing out in Afghanistan.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 5 of 7
Yvonne: No, perhaps soldiers aren't allowed to send too many details home because of
security issues and of course, they don't want to worry their loved ones at
home, do they?
Rob: No.
Yvonne: Well I don't know about you Rob, but I think I'm going to try to get to that
exhibition – and perhaps write a few more love letters of my own!
Rob: A good idea, actually. It'll be good to get pen to paper again and not rely on email.
Yvonne: Exactly. Right Rob, earlier, I asked: in which year was the Royal Mail founded?
And you said…
Rob: I said 1710.
Yvonne: And you were….wrong!
Rob: Oh dear!
Yvonne: It was in 1516.
Rob: I am surprised. That is a long time ago so think of how many letters have been
sent since then.
Yvonne: Especially love letters.
Rob: Yes.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 6 of 7
Yvonne: Do join us again soon for more "6 Minute English".
Both: Goodbye!
Vocabulary and definitions
romantic someone who has a lot of positive and sometimes
unrealistic ideas, particularly about love
the front line place where soldiers are directly fighting their enemy in a
war, and in danger of being killed
a sweetheart A term used to express fondness for someone else,
sometimes in a romantic way
shy person who is quiet, nervous and uncomfortable with other
people
engaged two people who have promised to get married to each
other
distant far away
very moving something which makes you emotional
worst case scenarios the most unpleasant or unsatisfactory situations you can
imagine
deployment movement of army troops to a place
banal something that is very ordinary and not interesting
More on this story: http://www.national-army-museum.ac.uk/exhibitions/special-displays/wivessweethearts
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
Page 7 of 7
Read and listen to the story online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2011/110214_6min_english_love_page.shtml
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