英音听力｜BBC & 经济学人等 - 节目列表

Rethinking dyslexia Phil Hello, this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Phil. Pippa And I'm Pippa. Are you a big reader, Phil? Phil Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Sometimes I go a while without reading anything. What about you? Pippa Well, I really love to read. I read on the train to work all the time. Phil Ah, well, that is a great way to get some reading in, I guess. Pippa Yes and reading, of course, is a life skill – an essential skill which is useful or important in everyone's life. But reading can be a struggle for people with dyslexia – a learning difficulty making it hard for people to read, write or spell. Phil It's thought that around one in ten people in the UK are dyslexic, and many dyslexic children struggle at school, where the focus is on reading and writing. But in this episode, we'll be hearing how dyslexics have other skills which allow them to excel in the workplace. Pippa But first, I have a question for you, Phil. Studies have shown that people with dyslexia have enhanced abilities in certain areas and can excel in creative thinking, problem solving and inventiveness. So, which famous scientist was dyslexic? Was it: a) Stephen Hawking, b) Albert Einstein, or c) Marie Curie? Phil Oh, I think... I think it's b) – I think it's Albert Einstein. Pippa Well, we'll find out the answer at the end of the programme. Now, the British charity Made By Dyslexia shares online learning tools and works with schools and teachers to raise awareness about the condition. The charity recently collaborated with British celebrities who have dyslexia for this promotional video: Orlando Bloom If you're dyslexic, it's kind of your superpower. It's, like, the way that you think. Richard Branson Our brains – they're wired to, I think, process information differently. Keira Knightley The way I see the world might be different from somebody else, but that's valid. In fact, it's vital. Phil You might recognise some of those voices, including actors Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley and businessman Richard Branson. The message is that, far from being a disability, dyslexia is their superpower – the ability to do something other people can't. Pippa Made By Dyslexia was founded by social entrepreneur Kate Griggs, and Kate co-authored a report showing that empowering dyslexic workers could boost the global economy by billions. BBC World Service programme People Fixing the World met Kate at the report's London launch event, where she explained why being dyslexic can actually give advantages in life, including some exciting job prospects. Kate Griggs If you think about what you have to do as a spy, you have to be reading people really quickly, spotting complex patterns and solving problems really quickly, so you can see whether there's a terror threat. It's natural that dyslexics are brilliant spies. Phil Kate thinks dyslexics make good spies – people who secretly collect information about another country's government or organisations. Why? Because they're good at reading people. To read people means to be able to understand someone's true intentions through their body language and behaviour, rather than their words. Pippa Also present at the London charity event was space scientist and dyslexic herself, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock. Here, Maggie tells BBC World Service's People Fixing the World how being dyslexic contributes different skills and ideas to her project teams: Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock Well, I think it's recognising people's skills and differences. It's about teamwork and collaboration. We do it in science and that's when we reach for the stars, but to do that, we need to know our skills and value all the skills. Phil Maggie thinks that everyone's skills should be valued – or considered important. Dyslexics may struggle to read or spell, but their skills in problem-solving and communication, for example, can be essential for scientific success. Pippa By valuing everyone's contribution, business and science teams can reach for the stars – an idiom meaning to be ambitious and try to achieve something difficult, even if it seems impossible. Phil And talking of reaching for the stars, Pippa, I think it's time you revealed the answer to your question about successful scientists. Pippa Yes, I asked you which famous scientist was dyslexic. Was it a) Stephen Hawking, b) Albert Einstein, or c) Marie Curie? And you were right, Phil. It was Albert Einstein. OK. Let's recap the vocabulary we've learned, starting with life skill – an essential skill, such as reading or problem-solving, which is useful in everyone's life. Phil A superpower is the ability to do something that other people can't. Pippa A spy is someone who secretly collects information about other countries' governments or organisations. 📝 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】

Sweet tooth hazards Sweet or savoury? What kind of tastes do you like? If like me, you have a sweet tooth, you probably can't resist eating cakes, biscuits or chocolate and will sweeten your tea or coffee with spoonfuls of sugar – delicious! But the taste makes it very easy to ignore the warnings that too much of the white stuff is bad for our health. Consuming sugar is an addiction – the more we eat, the more we want. Today's processed food, like ready meals, is laced with the stuff and many fizzy drinks contain seven teaspoons of sugar in just one can. In the UK, statistics show that sugar consumption is at its highest level in history and the government is trying to get the food industry to cut the amount of sugar in popular products like chocolate bars by 20% by 2020. Of course, sugary food tastes nice, it can help lift our mood, and the glucose in it can give us an energy boost. But there are dangers too: a high-sugar diet is linked to obesity, and being overweight can increase the risk of getting type 2 diabetes. With these warning signs, I have considered changing my diet by replacing sugary snacks with fruit and savoury biscuits – but that's boring, I need my sugar fix! I'm not alone. BBC journalist Radhika Shanghani, has gone one step further. Encouraged by some celebrities and nutritionists promoting a 'zero tolerance' approach to sugar, she gave it up altogether, thinking it would make her healthier. Initially she says, "My first fortnight involves mood swings worse than puberty. I have agonising headaches and feel permanently hungover." These symptoms disappeared but she still found food shopping hard as she was stressing about buying the right things. Her experiment wasn't a success. She eventually sought advice from Susan Jebb, professor of diet and population health at Oxford University who said: "Lots of people enjoy sugar and gain pleasure from it, so one has to find a balance between enjoyment and eating the right amount." There are health benefits of cutting down sugar, such as improving dental care and reducing weight gain, but there's no need to be obsessive about it. Eating some sugar as part of a balanced diet is fine and exercising will help burn it off. So rather than dealing with your sugar cravings by cutting it out of your diet altogether, why not work on your willpower and learn to say 'no' to a second serving of chocolate fudge cheesecake. 词汇表 hazard [ˈhæzəd] n. 危害，风险，隐患 savoury [ˈseɪvəri] adj. 咸味的，可口的；n. 咸味小吃 sweet tooth 嗜甜，喜好甜食 sweeten [ˈswiːt(ə)n] vt. 使变甜，加糖于 spoonful [ˈspuːnfʊl] n. 一匙，一勺（的量） ready meal 即食食品，速食餐 be laced with [ˈleɪst] 掺有，含有，被混入 fizzy drink [ˈfɪzi] 碳酸饮料，汽水 teaspoon [ˈtiːspuːn] n. 茶匙，一茶匙的量 lift one's mood 改善情绪，提振心情 glucose [ˈɡluːkəʊs] n. 葡萄糖 obesity [əʊˈbiːsəti] n. 肥胖，肥胖症 type 2 diabetes [ˌdaɪəˈbiːtiːz] 2型糖尿病 sugar fix 解糖瘾，糖分补充，来点甜的 nutritionist [njuˈtrɪʃənɪst] n. 营养学家，营养师 zero tolerance [ˈtɒlərəns] 零容忍政策 mood swings [ˈmuːd swɪŋz] 情绪波动，情绪起伏 puberty [ˈpjuːbəti] n. 青春期 agonising [ˈæɡənaɪzɪŋ] adj. 折磨人的，使人十分痛苦的 permanently [ˈpɜːmənəntli] adv. 永久地，长期地，总是 hungover [ˌhʌŋˈəʊvə(r)] adj. 宿醉的，酒后难受的 dental care [ˈdent(ə)l] 牙齿护理，口腔保健 be obsessive about [əbˈsesɪv] 对…过分执着，痴迷于，沉迷于 craving [ˈkreɪvɪŋ] n. 渴望，迫切需要，瘾 willpower [ˈwɪlpaʊə(r)] n. 意志力，毅力 serving [ˈsɜːvɪŋ] n. （食物的）一份，一客 chocolate fudge cheesecake [ˌtʃɒklət ˈfʌdʒ ˈtʃiːzkeɪk] 巧克力软糖芝士蛋糕 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

At what age are we at our smartest? When you reach a certain age, it often feels as though everything is in decline. Your body, your memory, your energy. But what if getting older didn't have to be a purely downward slope? Research has shown that that idea may in fact be a misconception. That's right, your intellectual peak may end up coming much later than you expect. Surely, our most significant intellectual performances happen when we're young, don't they? Well, there's certainly some evidence that suggests our intellectual abilities peak in our 20s. For example, mathematicians are sometimes already seen as being past their prime once they reach their 30s, while various sources suggest that chess players rarely remain at the top of their game after 40. But there is an important catch. That general rule mainly applies to what are known as raw cognitive skills. We're talking about the ability to think quickly, memorize efficiently, and process information at speed. But really, intelligence goes well beyond just that. Two psychology researchers, Giorginiak and Marcin Zajenkowski, chose to take a much broader view of what intelligence really encompasses. They actually examined 16 different psychological dimensions, including reasoning and memory, of course, but also leadership, emotional stability, and organisational skills, traits that had rarely been considered in earlier studies. Jignak was the study's lead author, and writing in the conversation, he said, several of the traits we measured reached their peak much later in life. For example, conscientiousness peaked around age 65. Emotional stability peaked around age 75. So it's fair to say that there's not one single time in our lives when intelligence peaks, but a series of peaks across our lifespan. Overall cognitive ability reaches its highest level between the ages of 55 and 60, far later than most of us would expect. Now, we may not be the quickest at 60, but we're often significantly more organised and emotionally balanced. After 65, cognitive ability begins to decline gradually and more sharply after 75. Why do older people tend to face discrimination in the world of work then? That's not necessarily because older people are less capable, but because of age bias, which can lead to concerns about outdated skills and them effectively being shut out of the recruitment process. There's also the belief among some employers that someone over 55 will not stay with their company long enough to justify recruiting them. There you have it. 词汇表 be in decline [dɪˈklaɪn] 处于衰退中，在下降 downward slope [ˈdaʊnwəd sləʊp] 下坡路，下降趋势 misconception [ˌmɪskənˈsepʃn] n. 误解，错误看法 intellectual peak [ˌɪntəˈlektʃuəl piːk] 智力巅峰，智力顶峰 peak [piːk] n. 巅峰，顶峰；vi. 达到顶峰 mathematician [ˌmæθəməˈtɪʃn] n. 数学家 past one's prime [praɪm] 过了巅峰期，过了黄金时期 chess player 棋手，国际象棋选手 catch n. 隐患，不利条件，限制条件 raw cognitive skills [rɔː ˈkɒɡnətɪv skɪlz] 原始认知能力（快速思考、高效记忆以及迅速处理信息的能力） encompass [ɪnˈkʌmpəs] vt. 包含，涵盖，包括 emotional stability [stəˈbɪləti] 情绪稳定性 conscientiousness [ˌkɒnʃiˈenʃəsnəs] n. 尽责性，认真，责任心 lifespan [ˈlaɪfspæn] n. 寿命，生命周期，使用期限 overall cognitive ability [ˌəʊvərɔːl ˈkɒɡnətɪv] 整体认知能力 emotionally balanced [ɪˈməʊʃənəli ˈbælənst] adj. 情绪平稳的，心态平衡的 discrimination [dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃn] n. 歧视，区别对待 age bias [ˈbaɪəs] 年龄偏见，年龄歧视 outdated [aʊtˈdeɪtɪd] adj. 过时的，陈旧的 effectively [ɪˈfektɪvli] adv. 实际上，事实地 be shut out of 被排斥在…之外，被挡在…门外 recruitment process [rɪˈkruːtmənt] 招聘流程 justify [ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ] vt. 值得，证明…是合理的，为…辩解 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

Why are billionaires building bunkers? Neil Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil, and today we're joined by Hannah from the What in the World podcast. Hannah Hey Neil! It's great to be back. So, Neil, do you think you're good at preparing for the future or for unexpected events? Neil Hmm... Reasonably good, I suppose. It depends what kind of event we're talking about. Hannah All kinds of events. Now, I think I'm pretty organised, but I only have enough food to last me about a week. And today we're talking all about preppers. A prepper is someone who believes that disaster is likely to happen soon, and so they prepare for it. A prepper might learn survival skills or they might build a bunker – an underground shelter. Neil Yes, and recently, many famous billionaires from the tech industry have made the news for building luxury bunkers. So, what these bunkers need to do is to keep you safe from danger, but they're also like something out of a spy film. They're huge and they've got cool features, like gyms or home cinemas. They allow someone to live a comfortable life while staying safe from danger. Hannah A very comfortable life. We're going to be talking about these luxury bunkers, the people building them and what they're so afraid of. But first, Neil, I've got a question for you. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, is building a property in Hawaii which is reported to include a huge underground bunker. So, Neil, how much is he reportedly spending on the project? Is it: a) $10 million, b) $50 million, or c) $100 million? Neil Well, Hannah, I don't know, but he's a pretty rich guy so I think 100 million. Hannah Well, I will reveal the answer at the end of the programme. Neil Hannah, you've been looking into these luxury bunkers, like the one Mark Zuckerberg is reported to be building, on What in the World. What have you discovered? Hannah Well, I was joined by BBC reporter Nathalie Jimenez to talk about preppers, and I started off by asking whether she had ever considered building a bunker and preparing for disaster. Nathalie Jimenez I love this question because I've actually been thinking about it for a while. Fun fact... Hannah Have you? You're a prepper! Nathalie Jimenez Yes! When you watch TV in the US – when you turn on a, kind of, US TV channel – what happens is that there's usually some ads about freeze-dried food. I'm not kidding. They pop up quite regularly and it's all about, kind of, the prepper mentality. What are you going to do when the apocalypse happens? Neil Nathalie has thought about building a bunker and getting prepared because she sees adverts for freeze-dried food that would last a long time, on TV in the US. When she talks about the adverts, she says, "I'm not kidding," which means, "I'm not joking." Hannah Nathalie says that these adverts are part of the prepper mentality. A mentality is a person's way of thinking about things. So, the prepper mentality would mean thinking about things like a prepper. Neil Part of the prepper mentality is to question what you would do if the apocalypse happens. An apocalypse refers to a serious event which causes destruction and change. Hannah So, lots of people do think about preparing for bad things. Nathalie's thought about it, and for tech billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg, they're able to spend a lot of money preparing for disaster. So, do you think they know something we don't? What are they preparing for? Let's hear from Nathalie again, speaking to me on What in the World. Nathalie Jimenez So, the reasons include nuclear tensions, AI risk, climate disaster – essentially any world-ending event. But secondly, it's also a mark of societal status. So, no matter what happens, no matter what comes our way, if you're a tech billionaire, you're going to be able to live through that comfortably without compromising your lifestyle, without compromising the standard that you have. So, because these tech billionaires are essentially building the future, the fact that they're so afraid of it, quote-unquote, is telling within itself. Neil So, while tech billionaires are worried about things like climate disaster or AI, Nathalie says that luxury bunkers are also a mark of social status, or status, as we would say in the UK. Someone's status is the amount of respect or importance given to them by other people. Hannah With their bunkers, tech billionaires would be able to survive without compromising their luxury lifestyle. That means without lowering their standard of living. Neil OK. So, now I need to know the answer to that quiz question you gave me, Hannah. Hannah Yes, Neil. So, my question was: Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, is building a property in Hawaii, which is said to include a huge underground bunker – how much is he reported to be spending on the project? 📝 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】

Are we all secret hedonists ?​ Hedonism is the philosophy of living your life to experience pleasure and avoid pain, so, if you're watching this while lying on a chaise longue and eating sweets, you're probably a hedonist. Oh, unless you hate sugar, in which case, you're probably a masochist, and that is another film. The word hedonism comes from the ancient Greek hedone, meaning pleasure and some of the earliest recorded hedonists were Greek: Democritus, Aristippus, and most famously, the 4th century BCE philosopher Epicurus. Although Epicurus was less of a thrill-seeker than his hedonism implies. For Epicurus the best human condition was a state which he called ataraxia, meaning tranquility. Epicurus believed that small pleasures were more likely to bring us tranquility than earth-shattering pleasures, and it's easy to see his point. If you find pleasure in a glass of wine with friends at the end of a day, that will be relatively easy to achieve. Crucially for the epicurean thinker, that means it will also be easy to avoid the pain of not being able to have something you desire, a pain which would upset your state of ataraxia. But if you are only satisfied with vintage champagne, that might not be so easily found. You might not be able to afford it, or the bar where your friends are meeting might not serve it, or the vintage might have run out, because you have drunk it all on previous hedonistic nights out. Your likelihood of experiencing pain goes up as you become more exacting in your standards of what you need to bring deep pleasure. So, although hedonism assumes that we seek out pleasure and avoid pain at all times, it might, be worth remembering that more modest pleasures can be easier to find and that might bring you less pain in the long term, the true hedonist score. And while we might not always think of ourselves as pleasure seekers every time we sit on a comfy chair rather than a bed of nails, we are making a hedonistic choice. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must get back to my sweets. 词汇表 hedonism [ˈhiːdənɪzəm] n. 享乐主义，快乐主义（以追求快乐、避免痛苦为核心的人生哲学） chaise longue [ˌʃeɪz ˈlɒŋ] 躺椅，贵妃椅，长靠椅 hedonist [ˈhiːdənɪst] n. 享乐主义者，快乐主义者 masochist [ˈmæsəkɪst] n. 受虐狂（从痛苦中获得快感的人） hedone [hɪˈdəʊni] n. 愉悦，快乐（古希腊语源） Democritus [dɪˈmɒkrɪtəs] n. 德谟克利特（古希腊哲学家） Aristippus [ˌærɪˈstɪpəs] n. 亚里斯提卜（古希腊哲学家） Epicurus [ˌepɪˈkjʊərəs] n. 伊壁鸠鲁（古希腊哲学家） thrill-seeker [ˈθrɪl siːkə(r)] n. 追求刺激者 ataraxia [ˌætəˈræksiə] n. 心平气和，心神安定，平静（古希腊哲学概念） tranquility [træŋˈkwɪləti] n. 安宁，平静，宁静 earth-shattering [ˈɜːθ ˌʃætərɪŋ] adj. 惊天动地的，震撼性的，极其重大的 epicurean [ˌepɪkjʊˈriːən] adj. 伊壁鸠鲁（学派）的，享乐主义的 vintage champagne [ˈvɪntɪdʒ ʃæmˈpeɪn] 年份香槟（单一年份采收的葡萄酿造的香槟） hedonistic [ˌhiːdəˈnɪstɪk] adj. 享乐主义的，快乐主义的，纵情享乐的 likelihood [ˈlaɪklihʊd] n. 可能，可能性 exacting [ɪɡˈzæktɪŋ] adj. 严苛的，苛求的，费力的 modest [ˈmɒdɪst] adj. 质朴的，朴素的，适度的 score [skɔː(r)] n. 门道，真相，实情 comfy chair [ˈkʌmfi] 舒适的椅子 a bed of nails [neɪlz] 钉床（比喻艰难痛苦的处境） 💡 视频、翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

Can money make you happy? What would make you happy? Really happy? A nice holiday, lazing on a tropical beach? Maybe a blowout meal with friends at a swanky restaurant? Or possibly splashing out on a pair of the latest designer jeans? All these pleasures cost money, so does that mean we need lots of cash to feel good, or does the old saying 'money can't buy happiness' still ring true? This well-worn adage has been put to the test by scientists in Canada. They found that when used in the right way, money can bring us happiness. They discovered that when you use money to free up time, by paying someone to do your chores for example, you are happier. In an experiment, individuals reported greater higher life satisfaction if they used $40 to save time rather than spend it on material goods such as a new pair of shoes. But surprisingly, the researchers found that fewer than a third of individuals spent money to buy themselves time each month. In our hectic lives, time is one thing we seem to be short of. People are reporting a 'time famine', where they get stressed over the daily demands on their time. Psychologists say stress over lack of time causes lower well-being and contributes to anxiety and insomnia. But in many countries now, as incomes are rising, there is an option to buy more time. This can be through hiring a cleaner to clean your house or outsourcing your ironing to someone else – giving us valuable extra hours to do the things we want to do. And in many forward-thinking companies, staff are given the opportunity to buy more time off or work flexibly. Professor Dunn, who worked with colleagues at Harvard Business School, Maastricht University and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, says that "money can in fact buy time. And it buys time pretty effectively… and so my take home message is, 'think about it, is there something you hate doing that fills you with dread and could you pay somebody else to do that for you?' If so, then science says that's a pretty good use of money.'' I would agree that buying more time makes me feel happier and more relaxed. But making time a priority over making money does come at a price; you have less cash to spend on the things you now have time to do. However there's another old saying that 'life is short and time is swift' so there's no time to waste and there's more to life than doing tedious housework! 词汇表 laze [leɪz] vi. 懒洋洋地躺卧；享受，消磨（时光） blowout [ˈbləʊaʊt] n. 盛宴，大餐 swanky [ˈswæŋki] adj. 豪华的，奢华的，时髦的 splash out [splæʃ] 挥霍，花大笔钱 designer [dɪˈzaɪnə(r)] adj. 名师设计的，名牌的 ring true 听起来是真的，令人信服，言之有理 well-worn [ˌwel ˈwɔːn] adj. 老生常谈的；用旧的 adage [ˈædɪdʒ] n. 谚语，格言 put to the test 使受考验，验证，检验 free up 释放，腾出（空间或时间） chore [tʃɔː(r)] n. 琐事，家务，杂活 material goods [məˈtɪəriəl ɡʊdz] 物质商品， 实物商品 hectic [ˈhektɪk] adj. 忙碌的，繁忙的 time famine [ˈfæmɪn] 时间荒，时间匮乏（长期感觉时间紧迫、不够用的状态） insomnia [ɪnˈsɒmniə] n. 失眠，失眠症 cleaner [ˈkliːnə(r)] n. 保洁员，清洁工 outsource [ˈaʊtsɔːs] vt. 把（工作）外包，将…交给他人处理 ironing [ˈaɪənɪŋ] n. 熨烫，要熨烫的衣物 forward-thinking [ˈfɔːwəd ˈθɪŋkɪŋ] adj. 前瞻性的，思想超前的，有远见的 work flexibly [ˈfleksəbli] 弹性工作，灵活工作 take home message 核心要点，关键信息 dread [dred] n. 畏惧，恐惧，忧虑 making sth. a priority over [praɪˈɒrəti] 将置于…之上，优先考虑某事 come at a price 需要付出代价，是有代价的 life is short and time is swift 人生苦短，光阴易逝；生命短暂，时光飞逝 tedious [ˈtiːdiəs] adj. 繁琐的，单调乏味的 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

What is orthosomnia? Nearly one in three adults in the UK experience symptoms of insomnia. On average, adults in the UK get around 7.6 hours sleep per night. In recent years, the popularity of gadgets designed to track and improve your sleep has surged. However, this growing focus on achieving perfect sleep has given rise to a new issue, orthosomnia. What is orthosomnia? It's an obsession with achieving perfect sleep. Derived from the Greek words for correct, ortho and sleep, somnus. Smart watches, fitness trackers and more advanced gadgets like connected sleep masks or mattress sensors track sleep patterns and stages such as REM and deep sleep. According to The Guardian in October 2024, the sleep monitor industry was valued at £270 million annually, reflecting the growing fascination with these detailed sleep metrics. But isn't that a good thing? Well, it can be. Tracking your sleep can encourage better habits, but it's a slippery slope into obsession. The data from these trackers isn't always accurate. It's based on algorithms, after all. In fact, constantly chasing those sleep goals can backfire. Research published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that people dissatisfied with their tracker's data could become irritable or even experience memory and attention issues. It's not the actual sleep that's the problem. It is the stress over the numbers. Why do we think we need eight hours of sleep? Many people fixate on getting exactly eight hours of sleep, but that's just an average. It's not a one-size-fits-all rule. Some people naturally need more or less. According to sleep experts, the real key is paying attention to how you feel during the day. Are you in a good mood? Do you have enough energy? Are you healthy? These are better indicators than any app or tracker. Most adults need somewhere between 7 and 9 hours of sleep. The exact number depends on the individual. So instead of stressing over your sleep tracker's report, listen to your body. It knows best. There you have it. 词汇表 insomnia [ɪnˈsɒmniə] n. 失眠，失眠症 gadget [ˈɡædʒɪt] n. 小器具，小装置，智能设备 surge [sɜːdʒ] vi. 激增，急剧上升 orthosomnia [ˌɔːθəʊˈsɒmniə] n. 睡眠完美主义，完美睡眠症（对实现完美睡眠的痴迷） obsession [əbˈseʃn] n. 痴迷，执念，强迫观念 be derived from [dɪ'raɪvd] 源自，来源于 ortho- [ˈɔːθəʊ] （前缀）正确的，直的 somnus [ˈsɒmnəs] n. （拉丁语）睡眠 smart watch 智能手表 fitness tracker [ˈfɪtnəs ˈtrækə(r)] 健身追踪器，运动监测设备 connected sleep mask 智能睡眠眼罩，联网睡眠眼罩 mattress sensor [ˈmætrəs ˈsensə(r)] 床垫传感器 REM 快速眼动睡眠（Rapid Eye Movement） fascination [ˌfæsɪˈneɪʃn] n. 着迷，入迷，魅力 detailed sleep metrics [ˈmetrɪks] 精细睡眠指标 slippery slope [ˈslɪpəri sləʊp] 滑坡效应，一发不可收拾，越陷越深 algorithm [ˈælɡərɪðəm] n. 算法 backfire [ˌbækˈfaɪə(r)] vi. 产生事与愿违的结果，适得其反 irritable [ˈɪrɪtəbl] adj. 易怒的，暴躁的 fixate on [fɪkˈseɪt] 执着于，专注于 one-size-fits-all [ˌwʌn saɪz ˈfɪts ɔːl] adj. 通用的，一刀切的，一体适用的 indicator [ˈɪndɪkeɪtə(r)] n. 指标，标志，迹象 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

Why do we love comfort food in winter? Warning! This article could be bad for your health! As many of us endure the long, cold winter, we are tempted to tuck into some filling and fattening foods. This is sometimes because it helps us to keep warm and to give us energy, but often it's because we need something to cheer us up. And, for a short while at least, it makes us feel better – which is why we call it 'comfort food'. The type of food that makes us feel good varies from person to person – it depends on your palate and the association you have with particular tastes, textures and smells. But probably the most universally popular edible comforter is the biscuit. It's thought this go-to snack often brings back happy memories of childhood and family, as well as giving us that all-important sugary pick-me-up. Moving on from the sweet and sugary snacks, famous chef and food writer Mary Berry knows about the kind of meals that warm us up and give us comfort in the winter. She told BBC Food magazine: "I think it becomes natural to think about comfort food as soon as the weather chills and the nights become darker." She suggests soup and warming foods as feel-good winter treats. The other thing about comforting dishes like mac and cheese, noodles or pizza is they don't require culinary skills in the kitchen; they are easy to make so you can get your fix of feel-good food quickly. However, we often feel so good that we eat too much, and even though we know the ingredients are high in carbohydrates, sugar or salt, we continue to pig out. Psychologist Shira Gabriel told the BBC: "We feel guilty because we don't realise that what's happening is our minds are finding a way to trigger a really positive emotion and they're making us eat that food to do so." Maybe we should take comfort from the fact that eating certain food just makes us feel happy. But, for some people, eating any kind of food brings joy, warmth, happiness and comfort. 词汇表 endure [ɪnˈdjʊə(r)] vt. 忍受，忍耐 be tempted to [ˈtemptɪd] 禁不住，忍不住（做某事） tuck into [tʌk] 痛快地吃，尽情享用 filling [ˈfɪlɪŋ] adj. 能填饱肚子的，饱腹感强的 fattening [ˈfætnɪŋ] adj. 使人发胖的，增肥的 comfort food 慰藉食物，暖心食物，治愈系食物 palate [ˈpælət] n. 味觉，品味，品尝力 texture [ˈtekstʃə(r)] n. 口感，质地 edible comforter [ˈedəbl ˈkʌmfətə(r)] 可食用的慰藉物，慰藉食物 go-to snack [ˈɡəʊ tuː snæk] 首选零食，常备零食 all-important [ˌɔːl ɪmˈpɔːtnt] adj. 至关重要的，极重要的 pick-me-up [ˈpɪk miː ʌp] n. 令人振奋的东西，提神物（尤指食物、饮料或活动） chill [tʃɪl] v. （使）变冷，冷却 feel-good [ˈfiːl ɡʊd] adj. 令人愉悦的，使人感觉良好的 mac and cheese [ˌmæk ən ˈtʃiːz] 芝士通心粉 culinary skills [ˈkʌlɪnəri] 烹饪技巧，厨艺 get your fix 获得满足，过把瘾，解馋 carbohydrate [ˌkɑːbəˈhaɪdreɪt] n. 碳水化合物，糖类 pig out 狼吞虎咽，大吃特吃 take comfort from 从…中获得慰藉，从…中感到欣慰 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

Study: Deep-sea mining cuts ocean life by 37% At the heart of the deep-sea mining controversy is a difficult problem. The world needs critical minerals to tackle climate change but extracting them from the sea floor could cause serious environmental harm. This research by the Natural History Museum and National Oceanography Centre analysed the impact of trial mining in the Pacific Ocean. It found that where the mining vehicle had harvested minerals, the number of animals living in the area was reduced by 37%. The deep ocean is barely explored, and many scientists worry it harbours vital life that could be lost if mining goes ahead. The mining firm The Metals Company commissioned the research. A spokesperson said they were encouraged by findings that animals outside of the directly mined areas were not affected. 词汇表 heart n. 核心，重点，中心 deep-sea mining [ˌdiːp ˈsiː ˈmaɪnɪŋ] 深海采矿 controversy [ˈkɒntrəvɜːsi] n. 争议，争论 critical minerals [ˈkrɪtɪkl ˈmɪnərəlz] 关键矿物，重要矿产 tackle [ˈtækl] vt. 应对，处理，解决 extract [ɪkˈstrækt] vt. 提取，开采 sea floor 海底，海床 oceanography [ˌəʊʃəˈnɒɡrəfi] n. 海洋学 trial mining [ˈtraɪəl ˈmaɪnɪŋ] 试验性采矿，试采 Pacific Ocean [pəˈsɪfɪk ˈəʊʃn] 太平洋 harvest [ˈhɑːvɪst] vt. 采集，收获，收割 harbour [ˈhɑːbə(r)] vt. 蕴藏，藏有，为…提供栖息地 commission [kəˈmɪʃn] vt. 委托，委任 spokesperson [ˈspəʊkspɜːsn] n. 发言人，代言人 🗒️翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

The Barnum effect: Why horoscopes feel so personal? Have you ever felt like your horoscope was written just for you? Or a fortune cookie's advice seemed incredibly relevant? You may be surprised, but it's actually not such a coincidence after all. This psychological phenomenon is known as the Barnum effect. It's a cognitive bias that occurs when people believe that generic personality descriptions and statements apply specifically to them. It may explain how practices such as astrology, fortune telling and personality tests have become relatively accepted despite lacking any basis in fact. Of course, people offering such services may not be aware of the Barnum effect label, but many understand how it works and seek to exploit it for their gain. Where does the name come from? P.T. Barnum was an American entertainer and entrepreneur who founded the Barnum Circus in 1871. According to explorepsychology.com, Barnum used the formula, always have a little something for everybody, to explain his success. But it was only in 1956 that the term Barnum Effect was coined, with psychologist Paul Meehl putting it forward in an essay to express his frustration at patients being told statements that could apply to anyone. In academic fields, the Barnum effect is more often referred to as the Forer effect, or subjective validation. In 1948, Bertrand Forer asked his psychology students to complete a personality test. A week later, he handed out their personalized assessments. In reality though, there was nothing personalised about them. Regardless of what they had answered, all students received the exact same 13 statements on their personality vignette. These included, you have a great need for other people to like and admire you, and, while you have some personality weaknesses, you are generally able to compensate for them. So the professor was slacking rather than the students on that occasion, then? Well, actually, Forer proceeded to ask each student to rate how well their assessment could apply to their personality. On a scale from 0 to 5, the result was an average of 4.3, meaning for the most part the students saw their vague assessments as accurate. Only afterwards did he reveal the real reason behind the test. He would go on to publish his findings in the Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology under the title, The Fallacy of Personal Validation, A Classroom Demonstration of Gullibility. Forer's test was in the interest of academia, but unfortunately some people do use the Barnum effect to trick others. Like who, for example? Well, aside from the fortune tellers and astrology gurus we alluded to earlier, you've also got brands and their marketing teams who are constantly looking for ways to get their customers spending more. They want consumers to feel like they are being spoken to directly, thus creating a false sense of exclusivity. When customers are made to believe they have been selected to receive special deals or ads, they may feel that the brand resonates with them personally. This kind of supposedly personalized content may take the form of emails, recommendations, and invitations to register an account. It's definitely important to be aware that the Barnum effect exists, and that it distorts the way we perceive information. There you have it. 词汇表 horoscope [ˈhɒrəskəʊp] n. 星座运势，占星术 fortune cookie [ˈfɔːtʃuːn ˈkʊki] 幸运饼干，签饼（内含预测运气小纸条的中餐馆饼干） Barnum effect [ˈbɑːnəm ɪˈfekt] 巴纳姆效应（认为普遍适用的描述与自己特别贴切的心理现象） cognitive bias [ˈkɒɡnətɪv ˈbaɪəs] 认知偏差 generic [dʒəˈnerɪk] adj. 通用的，泛泛的，普遍的 astrology [əˈstrɒlədʒi] n. 占星术，占星学 fortune telling [ˈfɔːtʃuːn ˈtelɪŋ] 算命，占卜 exploit [ɪkˈsplɔɪt] vt. 利用，开发，剥削 formula [ˈfɔːmjələ] n. 法则，公式，配方 coin [kɔɪn] vt. 创造，提出（新词） Forer effect / subjective validation [ˈfɔːrə][ˌvælɪˈdeɪʃn] 福勒效应，主观验证（巴纳姆效应的学术名称） vignette [vɪnˈjet] n. 简介，简述，简评 slack [slæk] vi. 偷懒，懈怠 proceed to [prəˈsiːd] 继续做，着手进行 vague [veɪɡ] adj. 模糊的，含糊的，不明确的 fallacy [ˈfæləsi] n. 谬误，谬论，错误见解 gullibility [ˌɡʌləˈbɪləti] n. 轻信，易受骗 academia [ˌækəˈdiːmiə] n. 学术界，学术工作 fortune teller [ˈfɔːtʃuːn ˈtelə(r)] 算命先生，占卜师 guru [ˈɡʊruː] n. 大师，专家，权威 allude to [əˈluːd] 暗指，提及，间接提到 exclusivity [ˌekskluːˈsɪvəti] n. 独有性，排他性，专属感 resonate with [ˈrezəneɪt] 与…产生共鸣，契合 supposedly [səˈpəʊzɪdli] adv. 据说，据称，所谓地 distort [dɪˈstɔːt] vt. 扭曲，歪曲，使变形 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

Scared of speaking English? Pippa Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Pippa. Beth And I'm Beth. Have you ever been scared of speaking in English? In this episode, we're talking about why speaking in a foreign language can be so stressful. So, Pippa, do you ever get nervous speaking in a different language? Pippa Yes, I learnt French when I was younger and I was actually quite good at it, I think, but I was really nervous when I was speaking French. How about you? Beth Yeah, I've always felt like that with Spanish. I am scared to speak because I don't want to make mistakes, even though I know it's OK to make mistakes. Pippa Well, in this episode, we'll be hearing about how to feel less nervous when you speak English. Beth But first I have a question for you, Pippa. So, English has around one million words, but on average, how many words does a typical English speaker use in daily conversation? Is it a) between 2000 and 3000? b) between 20000 and 30000. Or c) between 200000 and 300000. Pippa I'm going to say a) 2000 to 3000. Beth OK. Well, we will find out later in the programme. Now, Pippa, you said you found it stressful speaking in French, even though you are quite good at it. Now, someone else who has had this experience is Hanan Razek. Hanan is a journalist at BBC Arabic and also host of the podcast Beating Speaking Anxiety. Here she is telling BBC Learning English presenter Georgie about speaking English. Hanan My English was actually pretty good but having conversations with people, I found it really difficult. So when I first joined the BBC, the Learning English team made an assessment of my English level, which they used to do for all new joiners to see if they need any help or courses. My results were pretty good and I was fluent. But on that very same day, leaving the building and going to get some coffee, I couldn't really understand what the barista was saying, and I felt pretty nervous to order coffee and was trying to stress every single word, hoping that my grammar is correct and I am pronouncing the words right. Georgie Yeah, I'm sure that's a situation lots of people can relate to. Pippa Hanan's results on her English assessment were pretty good, but she was still pretty nervous to speak in English, for example when ordering a coffee in English. The modifier pretty means quite or a bit. Beth Georgie says that Hanan's experience is something that lots of people can relate to. If you relate to a situation, you know what it feels like, usually because a similar thing has happened to you. Pippa So lots of people feel nervous speaking another language, even if they're good at it, like Hanan We can call this speaking anxiety. Anxiety means an uncomfortable feeling or worry about something that is happening or could happen in the future. Beth So why do so many people have anxiety about speaking a foreign language? Experts think it's connected to the beliefs we have about ourselves. Han Luo, professor of Chinese at Lafayette College in the United States, explains more to BBC Learning English presenter Georgie. Han Luo You know, usually the beliefs that cause anxiety, especially severe anxiety, are, we call it irrational beliefs. And also like, uh, some low self-perceptions, um, fear of negative evaluation, all those learner internal, you know, factors. Georgie And Han says that learners worry about mistakes because they're scared of negative evaluation. In other words, that people will judge them for their mistakes and think badly of them. Pippa Han argues that irrational beliefs can make us anxious. Irrational beliefs are beliefs that aren't based on things that are true. They're not logical. Beth Han says some people who have speaking anxiety have low self-perceptions. Your self-perception is what you think about yourself. Pippa Self-perception and irrational beliefs are both internal factors. They come from inside your head, not from the people around you. Beth So, for example, when you speak your first language, you might feel confident and intelligent, but when you speak in a new language, you make mistakes and feel less confident. You can't show people what you're really like, and this is frustrating. Pippa But as we tell people all the time at BBC Learning English, mistakes are normal. You have to try to speak, even though you make mistakes, and mistakes can be a good thing. They can help us learn. But Beth, I think it's time for the answer to your quiz question. Beth Yes, I asked you how many words does the average English speaker use in daily communication? The answer is 20000 to 30000. 📝 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】

How does suffering teach us to appreciate small joys? There's an apparent paradox in the way that the longer we have lived, the more appreciation we tend to develop for very small and rather undramatic things: a moment in the kitchen with a square of dark chocolate, a walk to work, the first shoots in the garden in January, a weekend with no obligations, a very hot bath, conspiratorial laughter with a friend, a new book. These things matter more rather than less even as our experience of the outer world and its people and places keeps increasing. Relentless appetites for scale and outward excitement. We want to bestride the world, leave a mark and meet soulmates. We get bored in minutes in the most majestic settings. We take the greatest mysteries in our stride. We seldom stop by the side of the road to think or look. But at some point, the direction of ambition reverses – and what tends to initiate the change is pain. The more challenging existence as a whole becomes, the more we get to know about love, sickness, infighting, intransigence, career reversal and political turmoil, the more we may appreciate what remains pure and hopeful, despite its modest appearance or lack of obvious glamour. Our respect for a fig, a moment of calm and a kind but unexciting friend is underpinned by memories of nights of crying, months lost to argument and instances of untrammelled despair in the bathroom in the darkness. It is difficulty that catalyses our interest in and respect for gardening or a painting of a lake in autumn, the lifecycles of ducks or an article on the moons of Jupiter. It's people who have known far more than they ever wanted about dementia, cancer, employment law, divorce and mental institutions, who are the great appreciators of blossom, empty days, train journeys and the moon above the house on warm evenings. To a five-year-old, it's just another ice cream and another sunny day. To the grandparent sitting with them, everything is close to supernatural: the tiny fingers, the small plump body, their child who is now a parent loading up the car, the sound of a House Finch somewhere in a tree. The child – if they are fortunate – has no sense of the fragility of everything and of the cruelty waiting in the wings. Who can properly delight in another scoop of vanilla and melted chocolate until they have – at best – three summers left. The simple wonders of the world are constantly being rediscovered; those at the vanguard of doing so are those who have first had to walk the corridors of hell. 词汇表 paradox [ˈpærədɒks] n. 悖论，自相矛盾的话 undramatic [ˌʌndrəˈmætɪk] adj. 不引人注目的，平淡的 a square of 一块，一片（巧克力，纸，布等） shoot [ʃuːt] n. 嫩芽，幼苗，新枝 obligation [ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃn] n. 责任，职责；必须要做的事情 conspiratorial laughter [kənˌspɪrətɔːriəl] 会心一笑，心照不宣的笑 relentless appetites [rɪˈlentləs ˈæpətaɪts] 无尽的欲望，难以满足的渴望 bestride [bɪˈstraɪd] vt. 跨骑，驾驭；支配，主宰 majestic [məˈdʒestɪk] adj. 壮丽的，宏伟的，庄严的 take something in one's stride [straɪd] 习以为常，从容应对，泰然处之 infighting [ˈɪnfaɪtɪŋ] n. 内斗，内讧，暗斗 intransigence [ɪnˈtrænzɪdʒəns] n. 不妥协，顽固 reversal [rɪˈvɜːsl] n. 逆转，反转；挫折，失败 turmoil [ˈtɜːmɔɪl] n. 动荡，混乱，骚乱 modest [ˈmɒdɪst] adj. 朴素的，不张扬的，适度的 glamour [ˈɡlæmə(r)] n. 魅力，诱惑力，吸引力 fig [fɪɡ] n. 无花果；无价值的东西 be underpinned by [ˌʌndəˈpɪnd] 以…为基础/支撑，基于 untrammelled despair [ʌnˈtræmld dɪˈspeə(r)] 无边无际的绝望，无尽的绝望 catalyse [ˈkætəlaɪz] vt. 催化，促成，激发 moons of Jupiter [ˈdʒuːpɪtə(r)] 木星的卫星 dementia [dɪˈmenʃə] n. 痴呆症 mental institution [ˈmentl ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃn] 精神病院，精神卫生机构 appreciator [əˈpriːʃieɪtə(r)] n. 欣赏者，鉴赏者 blossom [ˈblɒsəm] n. 花，花朵；开花期 supernatural [ˌsuːpəˈnætʃrəl] adj. 超自然的，神奇的，不可思议的 plump [plʌmp] adj. 胖乎乎的，丰满的 load up the car 把东西装进车里 House Finch [fɪntʃ] （北美）家朱雀 fragility [frəˈdʒɪləti] n. 脆弱，易碎性 wait in the wings [wɪŋz] 潜伏在侧，伺机而动，准备就绪 a scoop of vanilla [skuːp vəˈnɪlə] 一勺香草（冰淇淋） vanguard [ˈvænɡɑːd] n. 先锋，先驱，前沿 corridors of hell [ˈkɒrɪdɔːz] 地狱的走廊，地狱般磨难（比喻极度痛苦、艰难的经历或环境） 🏫翻译，视频和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】