英音听力｜BBC & 经济学人等 - 节目列表

Can apps teach you a language? Neil Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil. Pippa And I'm Pippa. Apps like Duolingo, Babbel and Busuu all aim to help you learn a language, but do they really help? We'll be trying to answer that question in today's episode of 6 Minute English, and as usual we'll be learning some useful new vocabulary too. Neil Yes, and don't forget to head to our website for a transcript of this episode and a free worksheet to test what you've learnt. It's all at bbclearningenglish.com. Pippa OK. Neil, let's start with a quiz question. Which of these is not a language you can learn using Duolingo? Is it: a) Latin, b) Klingon, or c) Elvish? Neil I'm going to say c) Elvish. Pippa Well, we'll find out at the end of the programme. Now, people might be familiar with the app Duolingo. And then there are other apps which say they can help you learn a language quickly – Bussuu and Babbel, for example. Neil And listeners might be familiar with how they tend to work. You get short lessons which test you on a repeated set of words. Pippa Right. And many of these apps say they focus on teaching language for situations and implicit learning, rather than directly teaching language rules such as grammar. If something is implicit, it's suggested but not communicated directly. Neil Yes. So, if you think about how children learn to speak their first language, it's mostly implicit – they don't have lessons. But can this work for adults? Pippa BBC Radio 4 programme Sliced Bread has been investigating the evidence behind language learning apps. Presenter Greg Foot spoke to language learning expert Professor Elizabeth Wonnacott, or Liz, about implicit learning. Professor Elizabeth Wonnacott There is a very big difference between being a child who gets constantly exposed to this world of language, compared with trying to learn a language a few hours a week. There is quite a bit of evidence that some explicit teaching of, for example, grammar and vocabulary is helpful. Greg Foot Got you. So, it would be helpful to try to mimic what children do, which is full immersion, but realistically you're not going to get to those levels. Neil Liz says that while children learn their first language implicitly by being constantly surrounded by the language, adults are often learning for only a few hours a week. Pippa Yes. So, for adults trying to learn a new language, research has shown that some explicit teaching is helpful. Explicit is the opposite of implicit. So, for example, explicit grammar teaching would be somebody explaining a grammar rule to you. Neil Right. So, adults can't realistically achieve full immersion in a language like children do. Immersion means being completely surrounded by something. Pippa OK. So, a mixture of the implicit teaching of the apps and some explicit teaching – for example, learning grammar rules – is useful. But Neil, there's limited research about just how effective these apps can be at teaching you a language. Neil Indeed, Liz Wonnacott has seen one study she thinks could be interesting though, which compares two groups of Spanish speakers learning English – one using an app and one attending classes – for a similar amount of time. She explains more to BBC Radio 4 programme Sliced Bread. Professor Elizabeth Wonnacott The key finding was that in some of the tests, written grammar tests, the Duolingo learners actually improved a bit more, while actually in a test where they were looking at listening the classroom learners appeared to improve more. So, it's really promising, but of course it's one particular language, in one particular app, against one particular school. Pippa Liz says the key finding from the research is that the app users improved more on written tests, but the classroom learners improved more on listening tests. A key finding is the most important conclusion of a piece of research. Neil Liz says the study is promising, which means it shows signs of being positive. Pippa Yes. However, Liz points out the limits of the study. It's only looking at one particular language, one particular app and one particular language school. The repetition of one particular here means specific or individual, and Liz would like to see research on more apps, more types of teaching and also more different languages. Neil Apps can help us learn some parts of a language, but in this study they weren't as successful at improving listening skills, and so Liz concludes that combining learning in apps with some other ways of studying is the best way to try to improve your language skills. Professor Elizabeth Wonnacott Probably moving forwards, some combination of human teaching and these platforms to give us that repetition is probably going to be the right direction. Neil As teachers, we'd also suggest doing things that help you improve different skills – speaking, listening, reading and writing. So, listening to podcasts or trying to practise speaking with a language exchange partner could be things to combine with learning in apps. Find what works for you. Pippa I think it's time to find out the answer to the quiz question, Neil. I asked you which language you can't learn on Duolingo... and you were right. It's c) Elvish, but you can learn Latin and Klingon, the fictional language from the TV series Star Trek, on Duolingo. And if you did want to improve your Elvish, we did find an app specifically for that. Neil Right. Let's recap the vocabulary we learned in this episode. Implicit means suggested but not communicated directly. Pippa Explicit is the opposite of implicit. It means something is communicated directly. Neil Immersion is the state of being fully surrounded by something. Pippa The key finding of a research study is the most important conclusion of the research. Neil And the phrase one particular means specific or individual. 词汇表 implicit [ɪmˈplɪsɪt] adj. 隐性的，含蓄的，暗示的 explicit [ɪkˈsplɪsɪt] adj. 显性的，明确的，清楚的 immersion [ɪˈmɜː(r)ʃn] n. 沉浸，沉浸式学习 key finding 关键发现，主要发现 one particular 某一个特定的，某一种特定的 Duolingo [ˌdjuːəʊˈlɪŋɡəʊ] n. 多邻国（语言学习应用） Babbel [ˈbæbəl] n. 巴贝尔（语言学习应用） Busuu [buːsuː] n. 博树（语言学习应用） Latin [ˈlætɪn] n. 拉丁语 Klingon [ˈklɪŋɒn] n. 克林贡语（《星际迷航》中的虚构语言） Elvish [ˈelvɪʃ] n. 精灵语（《指环王》等作品中的虚构语言） mimic [ˈmɪmɪk] vt. 模仿，模拟 promising [ˈprɒmɪsɪŋ] adj. 有前景的，有希望的 📝 翻译及pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

Australia bans chart music made mostly by artificial intelligence Host: The Australian Recording Industry Association says it's banning music primarily made by artificial intelligence from Australia's official charts. The decision comes after a cover by Josh Fawaz of Madonna's Like a Prayer, which soared towards the top of the charts last month, was revealed to have used AI-generated vocals and drums. Our correspondent in Sydney, Simon Atkinson, told us more about the new rules. Simon: It has been very, very, very, very popular indeed. I mean, it topped the dance singles chart here, it peaked at number two in the overall chart. It's been in the charts for over four months. So it is hugely popular here. The producer is an Australian DJ. But it's probably the one song in this world of AI slop, as people call it, that's really got people talking about how valid it should be that we have this kind of music in the charts. It's a very fast-changing industry. And what this band is seeking to do, it's not saying you can't use any AI in music. I mean, AI has been used in various forms for a long time. We think of auto-tune, perhaps that lyric in the Cher song Believe, perhaps the most famous example in the recent, not even that recent years, is it? But it's talking specifically about when it changes the nature of music. And what it's saying is that all songs now, they must be substantially human-made to be eligible for the charts. It can still be used for things like drum machines and that kind of thing, but the vocals, the songs must be written by a human, the vocals must be human, the lead instruments must be performed by humans. And if that's not the case, then they won't be eligible for the charts. I think one of the interesting comments we've had already from one of the leading Australian electronic dance groups called Peking Duck, they actually remixed one of their songs quite recently on social media and gave it a kind of an over-the-top AI version and kind of captioned it, this is what happens when you re-record your own song with AI so the Australian radio will play it again. Because, you know, people have latched onto it. But one of the band members speaking to local media today, they talked about AI-generated music removing the human experience from life. And in Australia, you know, it's kind of trying to lead the way in a lot of these things. It, of course, brought in a social media ban, which has been copied in many parts of the world. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised a lot more protection from AI for Australian creatives. But, yeah, look, you can see why musicians might be leaning in on it. And, of course, there's nothing to stop them still doing that. It just means that they wouldn't be eligible to be in those charts. It's going to be up to the artists, by the way, to declare when they've used AI. So they submit it to be considered for the charts, and they're supposed to list what kind of artificial intelligence has gone into it. But the organization which runs the charts has said that if down the line they find that AI was used and it hadn't been declared, they would recalculate the charts. And if it happened to get to number one, well, they might well ask for the little trophy that you get to be given back. 词汇表 primarily [ˈpraɪmərəli] adv. 主要地，首要地 official chart [əˈfɪʃl tʃɑːt] 官方排行榜 soar towards [sɔː(r)] 迅速攀升至，飙升至 top vt. 登顶，位居…之首 AI slop [slɒp] （尤指大量生产的）低质AI内容，AI垃圾 valid [ˈvælɪd] adj. 有效的，合理的，正当的 auto-tune [ˈɔːtəʊ tjuːn] n. 自动调音（一种音频处理技术） substantially [səbˈstænʃəli] adv. 大体上，基本上，实质上 human-made adj. 人类制作的，人工创作的 eligible [ˈelɪdʒəbl] adj. 有资格的，符合条件的 drum machine 鼓机（电子打击乐器） vocal [ˈvəʊkl] n. 人声，歌声 remix [ˌriːˈmɪks] vt. 重新混音，混音改编 over-the-top adj. 过分的，夸张的 caption [ˈkæpʃn] vt. 给…加说明文字，配文，加标题 latch onto [lætʃ] 抓住，盯住，紧紧把握 lean in on [liːn] 支持，赞成，靠向 declare [dɪˈkleə(r)] vt. 申报，声明 submit [səbˈmɪt] vt. 提交，呈交 down the line 以后，将来 trophy [ˈtrəʊfi] n. 奖杯，奖品 🌟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】

Does music really make us more productive? The music you're listening to is lofi, short for low fidelity. It blends elements of jazz with hip hop rhythms, creating a relaxing soundscape. This genre has gained immense popularity, in part due to the YouTube channel Lofi Girl, which, as of October 2024, boasts over 14 million subscribers. The channel offers a 24/7 live stream of lofi tracks designed to serve as ambient background music. The visual aesthetic of Lofi Girl features Japanese-style 2D animations, portraying a young woman studying with her cat nearby. The stream caters to listeners seeking music for relaxation, study, or work. But does it actually help with productivity? Research on this topic offers mixed insights, according to BBC Science Focus, one study conducted in a textile factory, found that slow tempo music can actually decrease productivity by slowing workers' pace. The study suggested that more upbeat music might be more effective in maintaining productivity. In another setting, surgeons have been found to work more quickly and accurately when listening to classical music, as long as it's not too fast or intrusive. These examples highlight that the effectiveness of music on productivity can vary based on the tempo, genre, and task. So how should you choose music for work? A 2023 study by the University of Turin examined how music impacts our emotions and productivity. The research concluded that music that boosts your mood is more likely to make you productive. Therefore, it's best to choose music that you personally enjoy. However, the type of music matters. In 2021, researchers from the Taipei facility of medicine found that music with lyrics can be distracting and may hinder focus. There is, however, a small caveat. If instrumental music feels dull, music with lyrics might be a better fit for you. Does personality influence how music affects productivity? Yes, personality plays a significant role, the same Taipei study noted that extroverts tend to experience a productive boost from listening to music, whereas introverts may find it distracting. Ultimately, the choice should reflect your personality and the nature of your work. So, while music can indeed help, the key is to choose the tracks that match your preferences, suit your work style, and keeps you in a good mood. There you have it. 词汇表 lofi [ˈləʊfiː] n. 低保真音乐（low fidelity [fɪ'deləti] 的简称，一种融合爵士乐元素与嘻哈节奏的放松型音乐风格） soundscape [ˈsaʊndskeɪp] n. 音景，声音景观（指特定环境中的整体声音氛围） immense popularity [ɪˈmens] 极高的人气，广受欢迎 boast [bəʊst] vt. 拥有，自夸，吹嘘 24/7 adv. 全天候地，一天24小时、一周7天地 ambient [ˈæmbiənt] adj. 环境的，周围的；营造氛围的 visual aesthetic [ˈvɪʒuəl iːsˈθetɪk] 视觉美学，视觉审美 animation [ˌænɪˈmeɪʃn] n. 动画，动画片 cater (to) [ˈkeɪtə(r)] vi. 迎合，满足需求 textile factory [ˈtekstaɪl] 纺织厂 tempo [ˈtempəʊ] n. （音乐的）节奏，速度，拍子 upbeat [ˈʌpbiːt] adj. 乐观的，欢快的，节奏明快的 surgeon [ˈsɜːdʒən] n. 外科医生 intrusive [ɪnˈtruːsɪv] adj. 侵扰的，打扰的，突兀的 genre [ˈʒɒnrə] n. （文学、艺术、音乐的）类型，体裁，流派，曲风 hinder [ˈhɪndə(r)] vt. 阻碍，妨碍 caveat [ˈkæviæt] n. 警告，注意事项，附加说明 dull [dʌl] adj. 单调的，乏味的；迟钝的 extrovert [ˈekstrəvɜːt] n. 性格外向的人 introvert [ˈɪntrəvɜːt] n. 性格内向的人 track [træk] n. 音轨，曲目，歌曲 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

Why overconfidence can be good for you Do you know anyone who is more confident in their own abilities than their actual performance suggests they should be? Perhaps they think they are an incredible singer, but they're actually tone-deaf. Most people believe that they are more intelligent and skilful than the average person, according to a 2020 meta-analysis by Zell and colleagues. Obviously, this cannot be the case. Overconfidence has a cost – it can lead to things like poor financial decisions and dangerous driving. So why do we have such a tendency to overestimate our abilities? Excessive self-belief requires self-deception – believing your own falsehoods. An evolutionary perspective argues that humans evolved self-deception so that we could deceive others more easily. The theory goes that if you believe your own lies about your abilities, you're less likely to display behaviours which will give it away, such as nervousness or hesitation. Deceiving others about your abilities may enable you to open doors, but it is when you have to prove yourself that overconfidence can lead to costly mistakes. For those who have a greater underlying ability, though, overconfidence can be highly beneficial. This is what researchers are calling the 'peacock's tail for people'. Peacocks have long and brightly coloured feathers to attract females, but they are extremely burdensome. The feathers are heavy and highly visible to predators, so only the healthiest peacocks can afford to carry such elaborate plumage. In other words, their feathers are a reliable indicator of their suitability for potential mates. Authors of a 2026 study, published in the Psychological Review compare this phenomenon with human overconfidence. They argue that only the most capable people can keep a high self-belief without suffering severe consequences. In other words, overconfidence may actually be a useful signal of ability. So, what lessons can be learnt from all this? If you have a high ability in a particular skill, make sure you have the confidence to match it. Ability can bring success, but remember, it is confidence which opens the doors in the first place. 词汇表 tone-deaf [ˈtəʊn def] adj. 音盲的，五音不全的 meta-analysis [ˈmetə əˌnæləsɪs] n. 元分析（对多项研究结果进行综合分析的统计方法） overconfidence [ˌəʊvəˈkɒnfɪdəns] n. 过度自信，自负 overestimate [ˌəʊvərˈestɪmeɪt] vt. 高估，过高估计 self-belief [self bɪˈliːf] n. 自信，自我信念 self-deception [self dɪˈsepʃn] n. 自我欺骗 falsehood [ˈfɔːlshʊd] n. 虚假，谎言，谬误 give something away 泄露，暴露，露马脚 deceive [dɪˈsiːv] vt. 欺骗，蒙蔽 open doors 创造机会，获得机会，打开门路 underlying [ˌʌndəˈlaɪɪŋ] adj. 潜在的，根本的，基础的 peacock's tail for people [ˈpiːkɒks teɪl] 人类的孔雀尾巴（指用来展示自身优势的信号） burdensome [ˈbɜːdnsəm] adj. 繁重的，累赘的，成为负担的 predator [ˈpredətə(r)] n. 捕食者，食肉动物 elaborate [ɪˈlæbərət] adj. 精心制作的，复杂精美的 plumage [ˈpluːmɪdʒ] n. 羽饰，羽毛，羽衣 indicator [ˈɪndɪkeɪtə(r)] n. 指标，指示物，标志 suitability [ˌsuːtəˈbɪləti] n. 合适，适宜，相配 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

Are you a time optimist? A time optimist is someone who's overly optimistic about how much time they have to do something, and therefore often ends up being late or missing deadlines. They tend to underestimate how long tasks will take, overestimate how much they can accomplish in a given period, and ignore potential delays or interruptions. They may also have a distorted perception of time, losing track of how fast it passes or how much is left. Why are some people like this? Time optimists are not necessarily lazy or irresponsible. They may have good intentions and high ambitions, but they lack realistic planning and prioritization skills. They may also suffer from procrastination, perfectionism, or fear of failure, which prevents them from starting or finishing tasks on time. But being a time optimist can have negative consequences for both oneself and for others. It can cause stress, anxiety, guilt, and frustration as well as damage one's reputation, relationships, and career. It can also affect the people who depend on you or work with the time optimist, causing them to feel annoyed, disappointed, or resentful. Any benefits to being a time optimist? According to Grace Pacey, author of late, a Timebender's guide of why we're late, and how we can change. She's quoted in The Guardian as saying, "latecomers see time as flexible and can speed up when needed. We get energized by deadlines. We often feel we produce our most creative work when we are under time pressure. Timebenders typically do 80% of their work in the last 20% of the time before a deadline. We enjoy the adrenaline and buzz we get from working under time pressure." So how can you become more punctual and productive if you are a time optimist? Here are some tips. Start by keeping track of how long tasks actually take and compare them with your estimates. This will help you calibrate your sense of time and adjust your expectations accordingly. Try using a calendar, a planner, or an app to schedule your tasks and activities and set reminders or alarms to keep on track. Make sure to include buffer time for unexpected events or emergencies. Break down large or complex tasks into smaller and simpler ones and assign deadlines for each subtask. This will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed or procrastinating until the last minute. Prioritize your tasks according to their importance and urgency, and focus on the most critical ones first. Learn to say no to unnecessary or irrelevant requests or distractions that may interfere with your schedule. Finally, reward yourself for completing tasks on time or ahead of schedule. This will help you to reinforce positive habits and improve your performance. There you have it. 词汇表 time optimist [ˈɒptɪmɪst] 时间乐观主义者（对自己的可用时间过度乐观的人） underestimate [ˌʌndərˈestɪmeɪt] vt. 低估，对…估计不足 overestimate [ˌəʊvərˈestɪmeɪt] vt. 高估，对…估计过高 distorted perception [dɪˈstɔːtɪd pəˈsepʃn] 扭曲的感知，偏差的认知 prioritization [praɪˌɒrətaɪˈzeɪʃn] n. 优先级排序，确定优先顺序 resentful [rɪˈzentfl] adj. 愤恨的，不满的，憎恨的 timebender [taɪm ˈbendə(r)] n. 时间扭曲者（指打破常规时间观念的人） latecomer [ˈleɪtkʌmə(r)] n. 迟到者，来晚的人 adrenaline [əˈdrenəlɪn] n. 肾上腺素 buzz [bʌz] n. 兴奋感，刺激感，快感 punctual [ˈpʌŋktʃuəl] adj. 守时的，准时的 calibrate [ˈkælɪbreɪt] vt. 校准，校正，调整 planner [ˈplænə(r)] n. 计划表，规划本 buffer time [ˈbʌfə(r)] 缓冲时间（为意外情况预留的时间） subtask [ˈsʌbtɑːsk] n. 子任务，次级任务 interfere with [ˌɪntəˈfɪə(r) wɪð] 干扰，妨碍，干涉 reinforce [ˌriːɪnˈfɔːs] vt. 强化，加强，巩固 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

Climate change and extreme weather Phil Hello, this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Phil. It seems that we're hearing about more and more terrible weather events, but how exactly is climate change affecting extreme weather? I'm lucky today to be joined by BBC Weather forecaster, meteorologist and presenter, Sarah Keith-Lucas. Hi Sarah. Sarah Keith-Lucas Hi Phil. It's great to be here. Phil Sarah's here to help us understand what's happening with extreme weather. She'll also help explain some of the words and expressions used in a new series of BBC Learning English videos all about weather and climate and the language we use to talk about them. You can find the link to them on our webpage, or in the show notes for this podcast. Sarah, let's start with a really important question: what's the difference between climate and weather? Sarah Keith-Lucas That's a great question, Phil. The weather is what you see and feel every day. Climate is more long-term. Today I'll explain how a change in the climate over the long term can be seen in the weather that we experience. Phil As always, we will also be learning some key vocabulary to talk about the topic. And, Sarah, it's traditional for us to set a quiz question. Have you got one for us? Sarah Keith-Lucas Yes, I have! By how much has Earth's temperature increased since 1970. Is it? a) Around 0.5C b) Around 1C c) Around 2C Phil Around 2 celsius? Sarah Keith-Lucas I'll give the answer at the end of the programme, so listen to the end to find out. Phil Now, we're going to talk about tropical storms. What do we mean by 'tropical storms', Sarah? Sarah Well, those are hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons. They're large rotating storm systems formed over warm tropical waters. These are actually the same, we just use different names depending on where in the world they form. Hurricanes are found in the Atlantic, Cyclones in the Indian Ocean and Typhoons in the West Pacific. As the world warms, climate scientists think that these storms will get more destructive. Phil In one of our new Learning English for weather videos, meteorologist Darren Bett tells us about another worrying change. Darren Bett Scientists also think storms are slowing down. They're not moving across as quickly, and that means if a storm is in the same area for longer, the winds will be stronger for longer, and the rain will last for longer producing more flooding and more likelihood of flooding and landslides and also mudslides. Phil Darren said that if a storm moves more slowly, there will be more likelihood of flooding. Likelihood is the noun that we use to say how probable, or how likely something is to happen. Darren also told us about landslides and mudslides. Sarah Keith-Lucas Yes, landslides are where a large amount of earth or rock moves down a slope quickly. Mudslides tend to be faster and more liquid. Both of these things can happen after particularly heavy rain and can cause damage to buildings. People can also be killed or injured by them. Phil What else causes loss of life in a hurricane, typhoon or cyclone? Sarah Keith-Lucas Well, something else that is very dangerous is a storm surge. Let's hear again from my colleague Darren Bett. Darren Bett Storm surge, that's that body of water that gets swept inland and produces widespread flooding. Climate change is warming our seas, and the sea levels are rising. That potentially could mean that a storm surge which is one element of a storm that produces more casualties than any other, those storm surges could become even more dangerous. Phil So, we had the word casualty, and this is used to talk about people killed or injured by an accident, a military attack, or in this case an extreme weather event. Sarah Keith-Lucas Darren talked about storm surges. A storm surge is where the sea level rises quickly pushed by the strong winds caused by a storm. This water comes onto land with an enormous amount lot of force, and storm surges can be up to 10 metres high. Buildings get destroyed, people can drown. Phil We heard about the storm sweeping inland. Something sweeping in is moving quickly and powerfully. And you can hear more from Darren in the videos on our website. Sarah, how about the answer to the quiz question you asked earlier? Sarah Keith-Lucas OK, Phil. So, I asked by how much has the world's average temperature increased since 1970. Phil And I thought that it was around two celsius. Sarah Keith-Lucas It's actually around one degree celsius. 1C is just an average across all of earth's land and ocean surface. Some places are warming much quicker than this such as the Arctic that's warming 3 times faster than the average rate. Just a small increase in average temperature can lead to a much bigger increase in extreme events such as heatwaves, wildfires and floods. Phil Oh wow, so that is an important difference. OK, let's recap the vocabulary we've learned, starting with likelihood, which is noun that we use to talk how probable or how likely something is to happen. Sarah Keith-Lucas Landslides and mudslides which can occur after heavy rainfall make earth or mud move downhill very fast. Phil A storm surge is a sudden rise in the sea level, that can move inland causing destruction. Sarah Keith-Lucas If something sweeps in, it moves in very fast and very powerfully. Phil And finally, a casualty is someone who is injured or killed by an accident, attack, or something like an extreme weather event. 词汇表 likelihood [ˈlaɪklɪhʊd] n. 可能，可能性 landslides [ˈlændslaɪdz] n. 山体滑坡，崩塌 mudslides [ˈmʌdslaɪdz] n. 泥石流 storm surge [sɜːdʒ] 风暴潮（由风暴强风推动海面快速上升并涌向内陆的现象） sweep in [swiːp] 席卷而来，快速有力地移动 casualty [ˈkæʒuəlti] n. 伤亡人员，死伤者 meteorologist [ˌmiːtiəˈrɒlədʒɪst] n. 气象学家 tropical storms [ˈtrɒpɪkl stɔːmz] 热带风暴 hurricane [ˈhʌrɪkən] n. 飓风（大西洋及东北太平洋地区的热带气旋） cyclone [ˈsaɪkləʊn] n. 气旋（印度洋及南太平洋地区的热带气旋） typhoon [taɪˈfuːn] n. 台风（西北太平洋地区的热带气旋） probable [ˈprɒbəbl] adj. 很可能的，大概的 liquid [ˈlɪkwɪd] adj. 液体的，液态的，流动的 sweep inland [swiːp ˈɪnlənd] 席卷内陆，涌向内陆 downhill [ˌdaʊnˈhɪl] adv. 向下坡，往山下 📝 翻译及pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

How can you shop in a more eco-friendly way? From overbuying and unnecessary packaging to food waste. The way we shop can have a bigger environmental impact than we realize. In the UK, food and drink account for around a quarter of the average household's carbon footprint according to the Carbon Trust. UK households throw away around six million tons of edible food every year, according to estimates from the UK's leading waste reduction charity. But there is good news. A few simple changes to the way you shop can make a real difference. So where should we start? One of the easiest wins is cutting back on single use plastic. Swop disposable carrier bags for reusable shopping bags, a basket or a trolley. It won't solve the plastic crisis, but it helps reduce the amount of plastic ending up in landfill, rivers, and the sea. You can also bring your own containers when you shop, many zero waste and refill stores, let you fill reusable jars with staples like rice, pasta, or cereal, and some cafes and takeaways will accept your own container for food. Buying only what you need also helps cut food waste. Another simple switch is to drink tap water instead of bottled water. Is food the only area where we can shop more sustainably? Not at all. The same principles apply to almost everything we buy, before replacing something, ask yourself whether it can be repaired, extending the life of everyday items reduces waste, and cuts the demand for new products. And if you're not confident fixing things yourself, there are plenty of online tutorials and local repair cafes that can help. Buying secondhand is another easy way to reduce your impact, whether it's clothes, furniture, or homeware, choosing pre-owned saves resources, and often saves money too. If you're after a new pair of denim shorts, for example, buying them secondhand avoids the environmental cost of producing a brand new item, especially compared with fast fashion. The same goes for electronics, where refurbished devices are often a smart alternative to buying new. You can also reduce waste in the bathroom and around the house, swopping shower gel for a bar of soap, using shaving soap instead of foam, or choosing refillable or solid toiletries can all help cut plastic packaging. Toothbrushes with replaceable heads and toothpaste tablets are becoming increasingly common too. Finally, think about switching to reusable products wherever you can, refillable coffee pods, washable makeup remover pads, and reusable period products, such as menstrual cups, period pants, or washable pads can all reduce waste over time. There you have it. 词汇表 carbon footprint [ˈkɑːbən ˈfʊtprɪnt] 碳足迹（个人或活动产生的二氧化碳排放量） edible [ˈedəbl] adj. 可食用的，可以吃的 easy wins 容易做到的事，轻松获得的成果 disposable carrier bags [dɪˈspəʊzəbl ˈkæriə bæɡz] 一次性购物袋 trolley [ˈtrɒli] n. （英）手推车，购物车 landfill [ˈlændfɪl] n. 垃圾填埋场 refill stores [ˌriːˈfɪl stɔːz] 散装补充式商店（允许顾客自带容器购买商品） reusable jars [dʒɑːz] 可重复使用的罐子 staple [ˈsteɪpl] n. 主食，基本食品 pasta [ˈpæstə] n. 意大利面（通心粉、面条等） cereal [ˈsɪəriəl] n. 麦片，谷物早餐 tap water 自来水 tutorial [tjuːˈtɔːriəl] n. 教程，辅导课 repair cafes [kæfeɪz] 维修咖啡馆（社区中提供免费维修帮助的场所） homeware [ˈhəʊmweə(r)] n. 家居用品，家庭器具 pre-owned [ˌpriːˈəʊnd] adj. 二手的，先前使用过的 denim shorts [ˈdenɪm] 牛仔短裤 fast fashion 快时尚（低成本、快速更新的服装零售模式） refurbished devices [rɪˈfɜːbɪʃt] 翻新设备，整修过的电子产品 shower gel [dʒel] 沐浴露，淋浴凝胶 shaving soap [ˈʃeɪvɪŋ səʊp] 剃须皂 foam [fəʊm] n. 泡沫；剃须泡沫 refillable [riːˈfɪləbl] adj. 可补充的，可再填充的 solid toiletries [ˈtɔɪlətriz] 固体洗漱用品 toothpaste tablets [ˈtæbləts] 牙膏片（固体咀嚼式牙膏） coffee pods [pɒdz] 咖啡胶囊（单次用咖啡粉密封容器） makeup remover pads [pædz] 卸妆棉，卸妆垫 menstrual cups [ˈmenstruəl] 月经杯（可重复使用的经期收集杯） period pants 经期内裤（可吸收经血的可水洗内裤） washable pads 可清洗的卫生巾，可水洗的护垫 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

Is willpower enough to form habits? Have you ever made a promise to yourself that you didn't keep? Commonly, when the new year ticks over, we make resolutions: going to the gym, studying harder or giving up a bad habit. Sadly, not long after we've made the promise, we often end up breaking them. But what if you want to create a new good habit? Well, it's possible, but willpower might not be the only thing you need. The basic idea of a habit is something we do almost unconsciously, as if you're on autopilot. An example of this would be having breakfast or saying 'please' and 'thank you'. Good habits can be part of your daily routine. But if we don't have those habits, how can we create them? According to a study published by the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes an average of 66 days to form a new habit. However, relying only on determination may not be the answer. Questioning why you want something to be the norm rather than relying on your resolve could be the key. Do you want to lose weight because you want to be healthier or feel more attractive? The issue is, willpower could be subject to your mood – a bad mood may mean you don't want to do something. You should also avoid trying to change too much at once – remember that it's a case of baby steps. Giving up all your favourite foods, going to the gym, and stopping drinking at the same time will probably result in failure rather than sustainable practice. And don't worry about failing – just start again! Finally, don't do things outside your comfort zone. If you hate mushrooms, don't persevere and try to add them to your diet just to be healthier. Eat something you like! It might not be quick, but if you follow these tips, you may be able to change something for the better or kick a bad habit. 词汇表 tick over（钟表等）滴答作响；（机器）缓慢运转；此处指新年钟声敲响，时间更替 resolution [ˌrezəˈluːʃn] n. 决心，决定 willpower [ˈwɪlpaʊə(r)] n. 意志力，毅力 unconsciously [ʌnˈkɒnʃəsli] adv. 无意识地，不知不觉地 on autopilot [ˈɔːtəʊpaɪlət] （像开启自动驾驶模式一样）习惯性地，无意识地，处于自动运行状态 be subject to 受…支配，易受…影响 baby steps 循序渐进，小步前进 persevere [ˌpɜːsɪˈvɪə(r)] vi. 坚持不懈，锲而不舍 change something for the better 使某事变得更好，改善某事 kick [kɪk] vt. 改掉，戒除（坏习惯） 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】