英音听力｜BBC & 经济学人等 - 节目列表

Megatrends in education We all know the importance of education. Everyone aspires to have a good one, but its quality and availability is not the same for all. This situation changes as social, economic and political conditions change and technological development provides new benefits and threats. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which promotes policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world, has been looking at the future of global education. Its head of education, Andreas Schleicher, has been talking to the BBC about some major international trends affecting education systems around the world. One threat is the widening gap between rich and poor, with more intense pockets of extreme privilege and deprivation. In OECD countries, the richest 10% have incomes 10 times greater than the poorest 10%. This inequality is a challenge for schools who want to offer equal and fair access to education for everyone. Another trend is the rising affluence in Asia. It's suggested that a large rise in the middle-classes in China and India will increase demand for university places. Andreas Schleicher asks the question "What values will these newly wealthy consumers want from their schools?" Increasing migration will also have an impact on education systems. Mobility results in more culturally diverse students eager to learn and develop a good life for themselves. But that can be a challenge, too, as Andreas Schleicher asks: "How should schools support pupils arriving from around the world? What questions does it raise about identity and integration? Will schools have a bigger role in teaching about shared values?" Funding pressure is another issue: as our demand and expectation for education rises and more people go to university, who's going to pay for it all? The rise in dependency on technology is another concern. What should students learn when many of their talents can be replicated by machines? And how reliant should we be on learning from the internet? These are just some of the issues the OECD is highlighting. But they remain irrelevant for hundreds of millions of the world's poorest children who don't even have access to school places or receive such low-quality education that they leave without the most basic literacy or numeracy. 词汇表 megatrend [ˈmeɡətrend] n. 巨大潮流，重大趋势 aspire to [əˈspaɪə(r)] 渴望，追求，向往 availability [əˌveɪləˈbɪləti] n. 可获得性，可用性 OECD 经济合作与发展组织，经合组织（Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development） widening gap [ˈwaɪdənɪŋ ɡæp] 日益扩大的差距 intense pockets of 高度集中的…（区域或群体） deprivation [ˌdeprɪˈveɪʃn] n. 贫困，匮乏，剥夺 affluence [ˈæfluəns] n. 富裕，富足 middle-class n./adj. 中产阶级（的） mobility [məʊˈbɪləti] n. （社会）流动性，移动性 pupil [ˈpjuːpl] n. 学生，（尤指）小学生 integration [ˌɪntɪˈɡreɪʃn] n. 融合，整合，一体化 funding [ˈfʌndɪŋ] n. 资金，资助 replicate [ˈreplɪkeɪt] vt. 复制，复刻 reliant [rɪˈlaɪənt] adj. 依赖的，依靠的 irrelevant [ɪˈreləvənt] adj. 无关的，不相干的 literacy [ˈlɪtərəsi] n. 读写能力，识字 numeracy [ˈnjuːmərəsi] n. 计算能力，识数 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

Can London Zoo's biggest donation truly help animals? The new Wildlife Health Centre is due to be built as the Zoological Society of London, which runs the zoo, celebrates its 200th anniversary. The development is being made possible by a £20m donation from a mystery benefactor, the largest in the zoo's history. Critics say the zoo's plans are more about monetising public curiosity than benefiting the wildlife, a suggestion the zoo denies. It says as well as letting visitors view medical procedures as they happen, the new facility will allow research into animal health and will become a training hub for wildlife vets across the world. 词汇表 Wildlife Health Centre 野生动物医疗中心 Zoological Society of London [ˌzuːəˈlɒdʒɪkl] 伦敦动物学会（ZSL） anniversary [ˌænɪˈvɜːsəri] n. 周年纪念（日） benefactor [ˈbenɪfæktə(r)] n. 捐助人，资助者 critic [ˈkrɪtɪk] n. 批评家，评论家 monetise [ˈmʌnɪtaɪz] vt. 利用…盈利，变现 medical procedures [ˈmedɪkl prəˈsiːdʒəz] 医疗程序，医疗操作 training hub [hʌb] 培训中心，培训枢纽 vet [vet] n. 兽医（veterinarian 的缩写） 🗒️翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

Can language influence how we see time? Close your eyes and think about the future. Do you imagine it to be in front of you or behind you? Maybe your timeline is vertical, with the future below, and the past above? Linguists such as Lera Boroditsky believe that the language you speak might influence your perception of time. She highlighted that in English, we see time on a horizontal line. The past is behind us, and the future is ahead. We can see this in phrases like 'forward thinking', and 'ahead of schedule' that we use for the future, and 'back in the day' and 'behind the times' for the past. However, not all languages reflect this perspective. For the Aymara people in the Andes mountains, the word for future means 'behind time'. Work by Nuñez and Sweetser revealed that when gesturing, the Aymara people point backwards when talking about the future, while English speakers gesture forwards. It has also been suggested that if you speak Chinese, you might see the timeline more vertically due to the use of 'down' to talk about future events, and 'up' for past events. What happens if you speak two languages? In a study called 'Can a mind have two time lines?' English-Chinese bilinguals were asked to place photos of actors in chronological order by age. Interestingly, they chose to put photos of an English-speaking actor in a horizontal sequence, but photos of a Chinese-speaking actor in a vertical sequence. So, it seems like one person can have multiple time perceptions, and that your timeline can rotate depending on which language is in focus. The debate about how much language shapes our thoughts and perceptions is ongoing. It has intrigued linguists for decades and will for ages to come. So, next time you plan your day or tell a story, notice how you visualise the timeline of events, and remember that not everyone sees time through the same lens! 词汇表 timeline [ˈtaɪmlaɪn] n. 时间线，时间轴 vertical [ˈvɜːtɪkl] adj. 垂直的，竖直的，纵向的 linguist [ˈlɪŋɡwɪst] n. 语言学家，语言学者 horizontal [ˌhɒrɪˈzɒntl] adj. 水平的，横的 forward thinking 前瞻性思维，高瞻远瞩 ahead of schedule 提前，早于预定时间 back in the day 从前，想当年，曾几何时 behind the times 落伍，过时，跟不上时代 Aymara [ˌaɪməˈrɑː] n. 艾马拉人（南美洲安第斯山脉地区的原住民） Andes mountains [ˌændiːz] 安第斯山脉 vertically [ˈvɜːtɪkli] adv. 垂直地，竖直地，纵向地 English-Chinese bilinguals [ˌbaɪˈlɪŋɡwəlz] 英汉双语者 in chronological order [ˌkrɒnəˈlɒdʒɪkl] 按时间顺序排列 sequence [ˈsiːkwəns] n. 顺序，序列 rotate [rəʊˈteɪt] v. （使）旋转，转动 ongoing [ˈɒnɡəʊɪŋ] adj. 持续存在的，仍在进行的 intrigue [ɪnˈtriːɡ] vt. 激起……的兴趣，使着迷，使好奇 visualise [ˈvɪʒuəlaɪz] vt. 使形象化，想象，可视化 lens [lenz] n. （看待事物的）视角，角度 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

What is Ecological Debt? Discussions around ecological debt are closely linked to those of overshoot and the overuse of planet Earth's resources. Humans have now long been depleting Earth's resources far quicker than the planet is able to generate them. Every year we continue to consume too many resources and pollute the planets. If we consider that as mounting ecological debt, let's say we're now paying interest. It takes the form of extreme weather event, food shortages, the disappearance of other species, unremedied environmental degradation, and the buildup of CO2 in the atmosphere. All this ecological debt is carried forward to future generations. Is there another definition of ecological debts then? Indeed, and it's worked its way into international debate since the 1990s when the climate crisis started gaining increased attention. It's to do with the imbalance between industrialized countries in the northern hemisphere and developing ones in the southern hemisphere. If you look back at history, many wealthier countries actually built themselves up at the expense of poorer ones, often including their former colonies. That has taken the form of outsourcing production, depositing waste, and pillaging resources, for example, thereby forcing the ecological burden of their development onto other countries. How big of a north-south divide are we looking at? A recent groundbreaking study published in Lancet planetary health sought to assign responsibility for environmental damage over the last 50 years. It found that high income countries were overwhelmingly responsible for the majority of global ecological damage. The US was the worst culprit, accounting for 27% of all excess material use. The EU wasn't far behind, with a combined 25% among its member countries. That included the UK as the analysis period was before Brexit. Other wealthy countries like Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Japan also contributed significantly, but southern hemisphere countries were only responsible for 8% in total, highlighting the stark difference. The study's authors insisted that high-income countries drastically need to reduce their resource consumption to sustainable levels. You could say they owe it to the rest of the world because of their ecological debt. It's a wrong that needs to be put right. Northern Hemisphere countries developed more quickly with others in poorer parts of the world paying the price. But the definition of ecological debt is somewhat abstract, so it's hard to put any precise figure on the damage done. That has also made it challenging to get on the political agenda with concrete measures. There you have it. 词汇表 ecological debt [ˌiːkəˈlɒdʒɪkəl det] 生态债务（指人类对资源消耗超过地球再生能力，所欠下的“环境账”） overshoot [ˌəʊvəˈʃuːt] n. 生态超载，过度消耗（资源消耗超过地球再生能力） deplete [dɪˈpliːt] vt. 耗尽，使枯竭 mounting [ˈmaʊntɪŋ] adj. 不断增加的，加剧的 unremedied [ʌnˈremədid] adj. 未补救的，未纠正的 degradation [ˌdeɡrəˈdeɪʃn] n. 退化，恶化，降级 buildup [ˈbɪldʌp] n. 累积，积聚，增加 work its way into 逐渐进入，慢慢渗透 industrialized [ɪnˈdʌstriəlaɪzd] adj. 工业化的 hemisphere [ˈhemɪsfɪə(r)] n. （地球或天体的）半球 colony [ˈkɒləni] n. 殖民地 outsource [ˈaʊtsɔːs] vt. 外包，交外办理 deposit [dɪˈpɒzɪt] vt. 放置，倾倒（废弃物） pillage [ˈpɪlɪdʒ] v. 掠夺，抢劫 north-south divide 南北差距，南北鸿沟 groundbreaking [ˈɡraʊndbreɪkɪŋ] adj. 开创性的，突破性的 assign…for [əˈsaɪn] 将…归因于，确定…的责任 overwhelmingly [ˌəʊvəˈwelmɪŋli] adv. 压倒性地，绝大多数地 culprit [ˈkʌlprɪt] n. 罪魁祸首，责任人 Brexit [ˈbreksɪt] n. 英国脱欧（British exit的混成词） stark [stɑː(r)k] adj. 明显的，鲜明的 drastically [ˈdræstɪkli] adv. 迫切地，极其，非常 political agenda [əˈdʒendə] 政治议程 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

Searching for life on another planet Neil Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil. Becca And I'm Becca. Neil, do you believe that life exists away from planet Earth? Neil Well, I'm not sure about the kind of little green men that you see in science fiction movies, but also, I think we cannot be alone in the universe. What about you, Becca? What do you think? Becca I agree, I think that maybe life does exist beyond our planet, but maybe not as we see in alien movies. Neil Well, in this episode, we'll be learning from science and space experts about whether the conditions for life exist on a planet 40 light years away. OK, a quiz question for you, Becca. How long would it take to drive a car to the Sun at 100km an hour? Is it: a) 70 years, b) 170 years, or c) 1,700 years? Becca Well, Neil, the Sun seems very far away so I'll go for c) 1,700 years. Neil I hope you have enough petrol for that. Well, we'll find out the answer to the question later. Now, though, some science and space experts are excited about a planet in a different solar system from our own. Science journalist, Caroline Steele, talks about this discovery on the BBC World Service programme What in the World. Caroline Steele So, scientists have been looking at an exoplanet. So, that's a planet that exists in a solar system that isn't our own, called TRAPPIST-1e, um, and it's a rocky planet like Earth. It's a similar size to Earth, and it exists in the habitable zone around its sun, and its sun is called TRAPPIST-1. Becca Caroline explains that scientists have discovered that the planet, TRAPPIST-1e, exists in the habitable zone around its sun. The adjective habitable describes a place or habitat that is suitable for something to live. Neil Yes, and a zone is an area with a particular feature. For example, people who live in earthquake zones have to be prepared for danger. Becca So, a habitable zone is an area where something could live. Caroline goes on to explain why they think TRAPPIST-1e may be habitable. Caroline Steele Scientists have been looking at the potential atmosphere around TRAPPIST-1e and they've ruled out that it's really full of hydrogen or carbon dioxide, which is a great thing because they're greenhouse gases, which would make the planet really hot. And there are some small clues that it might be a nitrogen-dominated atmosphere, which, again, is another sort of clue that there could be life there. Neil Caroline Steele says that scientists are looking at the potential atmosphere around TRAPPIST-1e. That is, that they want to find out if the atmosphere is capable or likely to become able to host life. If something has potential, it already has the qualities or abilities to do something. The adjective potential has a similar meaning but refers to future capability. Becca Exactly. We could say the data has potential in that it shows signs of helping the research. But when we talk about potential data, we're referring to data that could help us with future research. Neil She also mentions how scientists have ruled out that TRAPPIST-1e is full of hydrogen or carbon dioxide. The phrasal verb rule out means to dismiss the possibility or idea of something. Scientists have found that TRAPPIST-1e is not full of those greenhouse gases, they've ruled it out. Becca Indeed. And Caroline goes on to say how the atmosphere of TRAPPIST-1e is dominated by nitrogen. If something is dominated by something else, it is controlled by it or is the most significant element of it. TRAPPIST-1e is full of nitrogen, which is exciting because nitrogen is a sign of life and habitability. Neil So, what if nitrogen is actually found on this planet? Caroline Steele has more. Caroline Steele My guess is what we'll do is try and see what other gases are in the atmosphere and use models to work out how warm the planet could be and whether or not it's a temperature that basically could support life, or maybe it's too hot or too cold, but fingers crossed it has nitrogen. There's enough of it to keep the planet a decent temperature. And then that's one step closer to finding life. Becca Caroline guesses that scientists will focus on the planet's temperature and whether it could support life. She uses the expression fingers crossed to express hope for a positive outcome. Neil Yes. We often make the physical gesture of crossing our fingers for good luck. Becca We do. That reminds me Neil, the answer to your question! Fingers crossed that I answered correctly. Neil I see what you've done there, Becca. Yes, I asked you how long it would take to drive to the Sun at 100km an hour, and you answered c) 1,700 years. Well, the Sun is very far away, but the answer was b) only 170 years. Becca Oh well, that's still longer than my lifetime! Now let's have a recap of the language we've learnt in this episode, starting with habitable, which describes a place or habitat that is suitable for something to live. Neil A zone is an area with a particular feature. Becca Potential describes possibly having qualities or abilities to do something. Neil The phrasal verb rule out means to dismiss the possibility or idea of something. Becca We also had dominated. If something is dominated by something else, it is controlled by it or is the most significant element of it. Neil And finally, the expression fingers crossed is used to wish for hope or luck. Once again, our six minutes are up. See you soon. Goodbye for now. Becca Bye! 词汇表 habitable zone [ˈhæbɪtəbl zəʊn] 宜居带（恒星周围适合生命存在的区域） habitable [ˈhæbɪtəbəl] adj. 宜居的，适合居住的 zone [zəʊn] n. 区域，地带 potential [pəˈtenʃl] adj. 潜在的；n. 潜力 rule out 排除，不予考虑 dominate [ˈdɒmɪneɪt] vt. 主导，支配，控制 fingers crossed [ˈfɪŋɡəz krɒst] 祈求好运，希望成功，但愿 science fiction movies 科幻电影 alien [ˈeɪliən] n. 外星人；adj. 外星球的 light years 光年（距离单位） petrol [ˈpetrəl] n. 汽油（英式英语） solar system [ˈsəʊlə] 太阳系 exoplanet [ˈeksəʊplænɪt] n. 系外行星（太阳系外的行星） TRAPPIST-1e [ˈtræpɪst wʌn iː] n. TRAPPIST-1e（一颗系外行星名称） TRAPPIST-1 [ˈtræpɪst wʌn] n. TRAPPIST-1（一颗红矮星名称） rocky planet 岩石行星，类地行星（如地球、火星、金星和水星） hydrogen [ˈhaɪdrədʒən] n. 氢，氢气 carbon dioxide [ˌkɑːbən daɪˈɒksaɪd] 二氧化碳 nitrogen-dominated atmosphere [ˈnaɪtrədʒən ˈdɒmɪneɪtɪd] 以氮气为主的大气层 dismiss [dɪsˈmɪs] vt. 不考虑，不理会，摒弃 habitability [ˌhæbɪtəˈbɪləti] n. 宜居性，可居住性 📝翻译及pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

Beyond paper — The culture of giving cards The tradition of sending greeting cards has withstood the rise of digital communication. Though often inexpensive, cards can convey our thoughts and emotions. Their rich history spreads over centuries of civilisations across the world, building a culture of card giving along its way. It was written in a 2011 edition of Souvenirs, Gifts, & Novelties that since the earliest days of written interaction, special occasions such as birthdays and seasonal celebrations have been recognised through handwritten notes and letters. Ancient Egyptians wrote scrolls. In China, wishes of good fortune were sent in decorative red envelopes around Chinese New Year. And similarly, cards featuring classical Persian poetic verse written in calligraphy were exchanged. These gestures paved the way for the culture of greeting cards. Before the printing revolution of the 15th century, only those with lots of money would write cards. Since then, they have become more accessible, meaning more people could communicate from a distance. As industrialisation continued to sweep through the 19th century, sending cards became a widespread practice. During the Victorian period, greeting cards became quite elaborate in design. They were adorned with lace, ribbon, and intricate illustrations. The cards themselves became keepsakes, treasured for their beauty and sentiment. Nowadays, we see a variety of designs. Most cards still leave a blank space inside for a handwritten message. Some cards can even be designed online to include pictures of loved ones, adding a more personal touch. According to Ken Research, from 2024 the global greeting card market was valued at around $19 billion. With that, and increasing concerns about the environment, many manufacturers are changing how they make their cards. They're using recycled and other environmentally friendly materials, like bio-degradable glitter and paper made from sustainable plant fibres like bamboo. So, we can continue our kind tradition of card giving without harming the planet. 词汇表 greeting cards [ˈɡriːtɪŋ kɑːdz] 贺卡 withstand [wɪðˈstænd] vt. 经受住，承受，顶住 souvenir [ˌsuːvəˈnɪə(r)] n. 纪念品，纪念物 novelty [ˈnɒvlti] n. 新奇事物，新奇小玩意儿 scroll [skrəʊl] n. 卷轴，长卷纸 decorative [ˈdekərətɪv] adj. 装饰性的，作装饰用的 Persian [ˈpɜːʃn] adj. 波斯的，波斯人的 poetic verse [pəʊˈetɪk vɜːs] 诗行，诗句；诗体、韵文 calligraphy [kəˈlɪɡrəfi] n. 书法，笔迹 pave the way for 为…铺平道路，做好准备 accessible [əkˈsesəbl] adj. 易得到的，易使用的，普及的 industrialisation [ɪnˌdʌstriəlaɪˈzeɪʃn] n. 工业化 sweep through [swiːp] 席卷，横扫，迅速蔓延 elaborate [ɪˈlæbərət] adj. 精心制作的，复杂的，精致的 be adorned with [əˈdɔːnd] 装饰有，点缀着，佩戴有 lace [leɪs] n. 蕾丝，花边 ribbon [ˈrɪbən] n. 丝带，缎带 intricate [ˈɪntrɪkət] adj. 精细复杂的，精美的 illustration [ˌɪləˈstreɪʃn] n. 插画，插图 keepsake [ˈkiːpseɪk] n. 纪念品，珍藏物，信物 sentiment [ˈsentɪmənt] n. 情感，情意 personal touch 个性化色彩，个人风格 manufacturer [ˌmænjuˈfæktʃərə(r)] n. 制造商，生产商 bio-degradable glitter [ˌbaɪəʊ dɪˈɡreɪdəbl ˈɡlɪtə(r)] 可生物降解的闪粉 sustainable plant fibres [səˈsteɪnəbl plɑːnt ˈfaɪbəz] 可持续植物纤维 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

UNESCO: Progress seen in protected areas, yet climate crisis calls for faster action The report highlights how people and nature can thrive together, with wildlife across more than 5,000,000 square miles of protected land remaining on average stable, despite a 73% global decline in monitored population since 1970. But the research says many of these areas are increasingly under pressure from rising temperatures, extreme weather and habitat loss. UNESCO says a quarter of the sites could reach critical tipping points by 2050, with the loss of glaciers, forests and coral reefs. It says this progress shows what's possible with long-term protection and community support and is calling for greater investment and faster action to safeguard them. 词汇表 thrive together [θraɪv] 共同繁荣，和谐共生 protected land 受保护土地，保护区 monitored population [ˈmɒnɪtəd] 受监测的种群数量 habitat loss [ˈhæbɪtæt lɒs] 栖息地丧失 UNESCO [juːˈneskəʊ] abbr. 联合国教科文组织（United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization） site [saɪt] n. 遗址，地点，场所 tipping point [ˈtɪpɪŋ] 临界点，转折点 glacier [ˈɡlæsiə(r)] n. 冰河，冰川 coral reef [ˈkɒrəl riːf] 珊瑚礁 safeguard [ˈseɪfɡɑːd] vt. 保护，保卫，维护 🗒️翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

How can you stop giving in to impulse buying? Have you ever picked up clothes or random items on a whim because you were stressed, bored, or just felt like celebrating? That's what experts call impulse buying. It feels good in the moment, but it often leaves you with regret and a lighter bank account. On top of that, it fuels overconsumption and harms the environment. So how do you actually resist this urge? It starts with understanding why it happens. Impulse buying is often tied to emotional triggers like stress, anxiety or even a sense of emptiness. Psychologists point out that it can work a lot like other addictive behaviours, activating the brain's reward system to deliver quick relief. In some cases, it overlaps with issues like substance dependence or disordered eating. But even without that, it can simply be a way to cope or escape. Are there any simple ways to stay in control? One of the most effective is setting a clear monthly budget and sticking to it. Having defined limits makes it easier to avoid unnecessary spending and stay on track. Another tip, always shop with a list. Going in without a plan makes it far more likely to fall for discounts or clever marketing. And if something catches your eye that you really don't need, wait 24 hours. That pause helps you decide if it's actually worth it and gives you time to compare prices too. What about the bigger picture? Shifting towards a more minimalist mindset can help, not just your wallet, but the planet as well. Encouragingly, recent surveys show that a large majority of people are becoming more critical of consumer culture and are open to changing their habits. But let's be honest, temptation is everywhere. So how do you deal with it? Reduce exposure where you can. Unsubscribe from brand mails. Turn off shopping notifications. And avoid browsing online stores just for fun. You can even add friction by removing your saved payment details from devices. And remember, you're definitely not alone in this. Studies show that compulsive shopping is widespread and growing, especially in countries like the US and the UK. There you have it. 词汇表 on a whim [wɪm] 一时冲动，心血来潮 impulse buying [ˈɪmpʌls] 冲动消费，冲动购买 fuel [ˈfjuːəl] vt. 加剧，助长，刺激 overconsumption [ˌəʊvəkənˈsʌmpʃn] n. 过度消费 emotional triggers [ˈtrɪɡəz] 情绪触发因素，情绪诱因 emptiness [ˈemptinəs] n. 空虚，无意义 reward system [rɪˈwɔːd] （大脑的）奖励系统 overlap [ˌəʊvəˈlæp] vi. 重叠，有共同之处 substance dependence [ˈsʌbstəns dɪˈpendəns] 物质依赖，药物依赖 disordered eating [dɪsˈɔːdəd] 饮食失调，进食障碍 defined [dɪˈfaɪnd] adj. 明确的，清晰的 stay on track 保持在正轨上，不偏离目标 fall for 被…所诱惑，上当，听信 clever marketing 精明/巧妙的营销手段 the bigger picture 全局，更宏观的视角 minimalist [ˈmɪnɪməlɪst] 极简主义的，尽量少的 temptation [tempˈteɪʃn] n. 诱惑，引诱 unsubscribe [ˌʌnsəbˈskraɪb] v. 取消订阅，注销 friction [ˈfrɪkʃn] n. 摩擦，阻力，障碍 saved payment details 已保存的付款信息 compulsive [kəmˈpʌlsɪv] adj. 强迫性的，冲动的 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

How reading shapes your brain Becca Hello. Welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Becca. Georgie And I'm Georgie. Now, Becca, do you read a lot? Becca Hmm, I don't read often. I just feel like I don't have the time, Georgie. How about yourself? Georgie I would love to read more, but I don't read very much at the moment. I read mostly before bed because I feel like it helps me relax and go to sleep. And today we're talking all about reading. We'll be hearing from some experts about how reading can change our brains, and as usual we'll be learning some useful new words and phrases. Becca Let's start with a quiz question. The longest novel in the world is widely thought to be by French author Marcel Proust, a book which, when translated into English, means Remembrance of Things Past. But how many words does the book contain? Is it: a) 130,000, b) 1.3 million, or c) 13 million? Georgie OK. The longest novel in the world. I still think 13 million words sounds too many, so I'm going to go with b) 1.3 million. Becca Alright. We'll find out at the end of the programme. Now, we might think of reading as like speaking. We're born with the potential to do it and then we learn. It's natural. If something is natural, it's something you were born with or that comes from nature. Georgie But Maryanne Wolf, author of the book Reader Come Home, says that this isn't true. Maryanne Wolf We think of language as natural, and reading is written language so it must be natural. But it isn't. It isn't natural at all. Becca Scientific studies suggest that when we're born, our brains already have the networks that allow our eyes to see and our vocal cords to produce sounds, but not with the pathways we need to read. Georgie Let's hear more from psychologist and neuroscientist Rebecca Gotlieb, speaking to the BBC World Service. Rebecca Gotlieb From an evolutionary timescale, our brain hasn't had enough time to develop a dedicated reading brain. And so, to build a reading brain network, we co-opt parts of the brain involved in vision and auditory processing, and language, and attention and affect. Reading is really a whole brain process. It involves activation in all four lobes of the cortex. The process of developing a reading brain alters everything, from brain activity to brain structure and brain connectivity. The power of deep reading is really fundamental to our humanity. When we read deeply, we change our brains and we change who we are. Becca Rebecca says that our brains haven't evolved to include a dedicated reading brain. Dedicated here means designed and used for one particular purpose. Georgie So, because we don't have a part of the brain designed specifically for reading, when we learn to read, we co-opt other parts of the brain. Co-opt here means to include someone or something, often against their will. Becca Right. Learning to read means using lots of different parts of the brain that are designed for other things, and this changes our brain structure compared to someone who hasn't learned to read. Georgie And the language we read also shapes our brain. Chinese characters, for example, use symbols instead of letters of the alphabet to represent words and ideas. Becca Research suggests that learning to read these symbols activates different areas of the brain to reading an alphabet-based system. Georgie Scientists studied a bilingual man who could read and speak Chinese and English. The man suffered a stroke, which affected parts of his brain, including his ability to read Chinese. But amazingly, he was still able to read English. Becca Maryanne Wolf explains more to the BBC World Service. Maryanne Wolf It's a beautiful example of how the brain's circuit reflects the requirements of Chinese, which inevitably means more visual memory and visual processing of those beautifully intricate symbols or characters. Georgie Maryanne says that the brain's circuit is shaped by learning to read Chinese. A circuit is a system of connections. Becca The visual qualities of Chinese symbols inevitably mean more visual areas of the brain are developed. Inevitably means in a way that cannot be stopped or avoided. Georgie Maryanne describes the symbolic Chinese characters as beautifully intricate. If something is intricate, it has lots of detail. Becca And something which also has lots of detail, or certainly lots of words – I asked you, Georgie, how many words are in Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past. Georgie I said 1.3 million. Becca And you were correct! Georgie Yay! Becca The book also contains lots of very long sentences, including one with over 900 words. Georgie One sentence with 900 words? That is a lot. OK. It's time to recap the language we learned during this programme, starting with natural, which describes something you were born with or that comes from nature. Becca Dedicated can describe something that is designed and used for one particular purpose. Georgie If you co-opt someone or something, you involve them, sometimes against their will. Becca A circuit is a system of connections – for example, in the brain. Georgie Inevitably means in a way that cannot be stopped or avoided. Becca And intricate describes something which has lots of detail. Georgie That's it for this episode of 6 Minute English. Becca Thanks for joining us. Goodbye! Georgie Bye. 词汇表 natural [ˈnætʃrəl] adj. 天生的，本能的，固有的 dedicated [ˈdedɪkeɪtɪd] adj. 专门的，专用的 co-opt [kəʊˈɒpt] vt. 借用，挪用；拉拢，笼络 circuit [ˈsɜːkɪt] n. （大脑）回路，电路 inevitably [ɪnˈevɪtəbli] adv. 不可避免地，必然地 intricate [ˈɪntrɪkət] adj. 复杂的，错综复杂的 network [ˈnetwɜːk] n. 神经网络，网络 vocal cord [ˈvəʊkl kɔːd] 声带 pathway [ˈpɑːθweɪ] n. 神经通路，路径 neuroscientist [ˈnjʊərəʊsaɪəntɪst] n. 神经科学家，神经学家 evolutionary timescale [ˌiːvəˈluːʃənəri ˈtaɪmskeɪl] 进化时间尺度 auditory [ˈɔːdɪtəri] adj. 听的，听觉的 lobe [ləʊb] n. （脑等器官的）叶 cortex [ˈkɔːteks] n. 大脑皮层 connectivity [ˌkɒnekˈtɪvəti] n. 连接性，连通性 against one's will 违背某人的意愿 Chinese characters 汉字 alphabet-based [ˈælfəbet beɪst] adj. 基于字母的 bilingual [baɪˈlɪŋɡwəl] adj. 双语的，两种语言的 stroke [strəʊk] n. 中风 📝 字数限制，完整文本、词汇表、翻译及pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

The best time to exercise depends on your body clock, study finds This new study from Pakistan suggests synchronising exercise to match people's natural sleep-wake cycles or internal body clock could offer the greatest health benefits. Volunteers who tried it had better sleep, lower blood pressure and healthier blood sugar levels overall. In the study, a group of 40 to 60-year-olds with at least one heart risk were categorised: 70 as morning larks and 64 as night owls. Over three months, some did almost daily exercises at times that matched their body clock, while others did the opposite. The findings suggested that forcing a 5am workout on a night owl didn't give great results. Why? The researchers say because the body clock affects hormone and energy levels across the day, which in turn, could influence exercise performance and adherence. 词汇表 synchronise [ˈsɪŋkrənaɪz] v. （使）同步，（使）同时发生 sleep-wake cycles 睡眠觉醒周期 body clock 生物钟 blood pressure 血压 blood sugar levels 血糖水平 morning lark [lɑːk] 早起的人，百灵鸟型人 night owl [ˈaʊl] 夜猫子，晚睡的人 hormone [ˈhɔːməʊn] n. 激素，荷尔蒙 adherence [ədˈhɪərəns] n. 坚持，遵守 🗒️翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

What does effortless exercise look like? "No pain no gain!" That's a mindset applied to many things – from working long hours when starting a new business, to studying hard for an important exam. And gym culture often encourages people to push themselves to their limits, leading people to have an all or nothing attitude, where they feel they must either have an extremely tough fitness regime, or do nothing at all. But what if it doesn't have to be this way? What if you can improve your fitness and wellbeing with minimal effort? Meet the new trend gaining traction: zone zero exercise. Zone training is about your heart rate. For example, zone 1 exercise requires 50% of your maximum heart rate, up to zone 5 which is 100% effort. Activities range from a dog walk or easy warm-up in zone 1, to a sprint up the stairs at zone 5. Think of zone zero as any kind of movement that keeps your heart rate below 50%. This could be a gentle stroll, a few stretches in between long stints of sitting at your desk, even gardening or light housework. Terry Tateossian, a personal trainer and nutritionist, said that for many of her clients, "zone zero is the bridge between sedentary and sustainable". It is exercise that feels effortless. One major benefit of zone zero activity is accessibility. For those unable to do high-intensity workouts, such as those recovering from injury, light exercise may feel like a smaller mountain to climb. And with this comes another benefit – consistency. A routine based on zone zero activity is easier to sustain, meaning the long-term benefits are easier to achieve. A 2018 review of research, published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, found that zone zero activity can support mental wellbeing, help regulate blood sugar and improve circulation. It can even lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Of course, if you're gunning for a personal best, or wanting to significantly improve your fitness, you shouldn't stop at zone zero activities. You'll need to do challenging, high-intensity workouts to grow stronger. But even top athletes must embrace gentle movement. Endurance coach Stephanie Holbrook says, "it's often the missing piece that unlocks breakthrough performances because it facilitates genuine recovery." Maybe slowing down is the best way to move forward. 词汇表 no pain no gain 没有付出就没有收获，不劳无获 push oneself to their limits 挑战自身极限，把自己逼到极限 all or nothing 要么全力以赴，要么彻底放弃；走极端，全有或全无，孤注一掷 fitness regime [reɪˈʒiːm] 健身计划，健康养生法 gain traction [ˈtrækʃn] 获得关注，开始流行，逐渐兴起 zone zero exercise 零区运动（最大心率的50%以下的不费力活动，如悠闲散步、简单拉伸、园艺或轻度家务） sprint [sprɪnt] n. 冲刺，短跑，快跑 stroll [strəʊl] n. 散步，闲逛，溜达 stint [stɪnt] n. （从事某项活动的）一段时间 nutritionist [njuːˈtrɪʃənɪst] n. 营养师，营养学家 sedentary [ˈsedntri] adj. 久坐不动的，缺乏锻炼的 effortless [ˈefətləs] adj. 不费力的，轻松的 accessibility [əkˌsesəˈbɪləti] n. 可及性，易获得性，门槛低 high-intensity workouts [ɪnˈtensəti ˈwɜːkaʊts] 高强度锻炼/训练 a smaller mountain to climb 更容易实现的目标，较小的挑战 consistency [kənˈsɪstənsi] n. 持续性，连贯性 cardiovascular disease [ˌkɑːdiəʊˈvæskjələ(r)] 心血管疾病 be gunning for [ˈɡʌnɪŋ] 极力争取，冲击，追求 the missing piece 缺失的环节，关键一环 facilitate [fəˈsɪlɪteɪt] vt. 促进，推动，使便利 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

Research suggests participating in the arts slows the ageing process Host: Want to slow the pace of ageing? Don't fancy exercising or improving your diet? Well, why not try a bit of culture? New research suggests that participation in the arts is not just good for your soul, but actually slows down your body's biological clock. The lead researcher is Daisy Fancourt, who's Professor of Psychobiology and Epidemiology at University College London. She spoke to my colleague Nick Robinson. Nick Daisy: We've been looking at a particular way of measuring biological ageing called epigenetic clocks. So essentially, we're all born with our set of DNA, but our lifestyles can decide which parts of our DNA get read out. So a bit like a recipe book, the recipes are there when it's printed, but we only choose to make some of them. And we've been looking at a process called DNA methylation, which is when a molecule called methyl attaches to our DNA, making it hard to read out, a bit like sticky pages in that recipe book. And as we get older, there are particular patterns of DNA methylation that tend to occur. So we can look at these patterns to see if someone is older or younger than the number of birthdays they've had. And we found that people who engage more in the arts have got this younger epigenetic age. Nick: And the problem with these sorts of studies is always you've got to try and screen out everything else that could have an impact. Lifestyle, age, geography and so on. You've done that, have you? Daisy: Exactly. That's been a big part of this study is considering the demographic and socioeconomic factors that could actually explain this relationship, but also disentangling this from the other kinds of lifestyle and behavioural factors that we already know influence epigenetic ageing. But interestingly, the relationship is there independent of those. And it's actually the same effect size for arts engagement that we see for physical activity. Nick: That's fascinating. Well, let's drill down a bit on what you mean by engagement. Do you literally mean if I read 10 pages before going to sleep or have the radio on or do you mean that I have to go and sing in a choir? Daisy: We've looked at a really broad range of activities within the index. So we looked at performing arts, so making things, crafts, music, dance as well as people going to cultural events whether that's museums or libraries or carnivals, gigs, festivals. We used a very broad inclusive index that captured a lot of modern and digital participation as well, but we found it's not just about frequency of engagement, diversity of engagement also appears really important. Nick: So doing different things, not just the one thing that obsesses you. And if people want some advice, really, I know you're not there to give advice, what would you say? Daisy: We're all used to the kind of advice we have for diet and physical activity, like get your five a day of vegetables and fruit or get your 10,000 steps. And I think it can be helpful if we start to frame arts engagement in a similar way, behaviourally. So trying to find a rule for ourselves that tries to prioritise even small amounts of engagement, but on that regular basis, ideally on a day-to-day basis. 🌟翻译，pdf及更多文本内容见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可加入【打卡交流群】