6 minute English archive script videos part 1

Dieting

Today Doug and Jackie talk about going on a diet. Many people go on a diet to try to lose weight. One type of diet that became popular a few years ago was the ‘low-carb’ diet – what does that mean?

This week’s question: There are lots of different diets. On of them is called the low-carb diet. If you were on a low-carb diet you would eat…

a) less fish
b) less pasta
c) less roughage

Vocabulary from the programme

to lose weight
to become less heavy (opposite: to gain weight)
Example: I lost weight when I stopped eating chips.

to go on a diet
to eat to only certain food types or less food in an effort to lose weight
Example: She went on a diet but she hardly lost any weight at all.

carbohydrate
a food group, carbohydrates usually contain quite high levels of sugar or starches (protein and roughage are example of other food groups)
Example: Rice and pasta are carbohydrates.

it worked
it was successful or it did what you thought it would do.
Example: Someone told me that you can learn English by reading lots of books. I tried that and it worked!

to put it back on
to gain back the weight that you lost
Example: He lost 5 kilos but after a few weeks he put it back on again.

pointless
there is no good reason to do it
Example: It is pointless calling that company. They never answer the phone.

will-power
an ability to say no even if you want to say yes
Example: I try not to eat cakes, but I have no will-power.

Mobile phones

Today Doug and Jackie talk about mobile phones. Is having a mobile phone important? Could you live without your mobile?

This week’s question: In Britain we call it a mobile phone. In Canada and the United States they call it a different name. Which of these names is not a name for a mobile phone?

a) cell phone
b) cellular phone
c) c phone

Vocabulary from the programme

mobile
a small phone that you can take anywhere
Example: I’m always on my mobile. I take it everywhere I go.

Another meaning: If something is mobile, it can be moved easily

I couldn’t live without…
use this expression to talk about something or someone that is very important to you
Example: I couldn’t live without my secretary. He does everything in the office.

private life
the things you do away from work, e.g. at home
Example: Some film stars don’t like answering questions about their private lives. It’s personal!

a text message
a way to communicate with a mobile phone without making a phone call –
you write a message and send it to people to read on their phone
Example: Send me a text message when you get to the station.

‘Text’ is usually a noun
Example: Did you understand the text I sent you?

Nowadays ‘text’ is a verb as well – to text
Example: Text me!

The language of text messages:
If you want to write a message quickly, you can send shorter words.
Examples:
Where r u? = Where are you?
Pls = please
2 = to or too

Are you intelligent?

Are you really as intelligent as you like to think you are? A study shows men are more likely to overrate their intelligence than women. Jackie and Callum look at the results and at the language of abilities.

This week’s question: The word ‘intelligence’ comes from the Latin verb ‘intellegere’. This means…

a) to see
b) to know
c) to understand

Words to describe intelligent people
bright (most often used with children)
smart
clever
sharp
quick

Words meaning ‘the things you can do’

abilities
Example: I’m not sure he has the right abilities for this job.
We can be specific about kinds of abilities, for example, mathematical ability, musical ability etc.

skills
Examples:
I want to develop my writing skills.
He is a skilled writer.

talents
Examples:
He has a talent for painting.
He is a talented painter.

gifts
Examples:
She has a gift for singing.
She is a gifted singer.

Note: gifts and talents are more likely to be used to mean natural abilities that you are born with, while skills are things you can learn or acquire.

to do something to the best of your ability
to do it as well as you can
Example: I promise I will do it to the best of my ability.

Stress at work

Today Doug and Jackie talk about stress at work. Do you have a stressful job? Do Doug and Jackie have stressful jobs?

This week’s question: Which of these jobs is considered the most stressful?

a) a broadcaster
b) a teacher
c) a pilot

Vocabulary from the programme

broadcaster
someone who presents programmes for radio or television
Example: Jackie and Doug are broadcasters.

to have a lot to do
to be very busy
Example: When you are working in a restaurant, there is a lot to do.

to be difficult
a difficult person is someone who always complains or argues
Example: Difficult customers always want to see the manager.

to have responsibility
to be in a position where what you do affects other people
Example: A football manager has a big responsibility to his players and the fans.

stress
This word is used a lot nowadays. There are many different forms:

Noun: Stress is bad for your health.

Adjective: – He is shouting a lot. He looks very stressed.
– Yes, he looks very stressed out. (informal)

Words that are similar to stressed

nervous
Example: He was very nervous when he was performing at the concert. He had stage-fright.

anxious
Example: I’m going on a business trip but I’m very anxious that I am going to forget something. Where’s my passport?!

the opposite of stressed: relaxed
Example: I have to take an exam tomorrow but it’s quite easy. I’m very relaxed about it.

Cost of living

What’s the minimum amount you could earn to have a reasonable standard of living? A recent report in the UK has come up with some figures. In this programme Callum and Jackie discuss the subject and try to agree on what are the necessities and the luxuries of modern life.

This week’s question: How much do you think is suggested as being the minimum amount a single man needs for an acceptable standard of life in the UK?

a) £11,200 (about US$22,400)
b) £13,400 (about US$26,800)
c) £15,600 (about US$31,200)

Vocabulary from the programme

a budget
the amount of money that is set aside for a particular expense

Examples:
food budget, household budget, clothes budget

to budget
to calculate and set aside money for particular expenses

the Budget
the annual official statement by the minister in the British Government responsible for finance about the economy of the UK. The statement includes details about changes to public spending and taxes.

budget (adjective)
very cheap

Example:
“When we go on holiday we always stay at a budget hotel. It means we have more money for entertainment.”

to think long and hard (about something)
to think very carefully about something

Example:
“I thought long and hard before deciding to give up my job and go and live in the country.”

Credit crunch

The world economy is experiencing some difficulty at the moment. The price of fuel is rising and in the UK the price of property is falling. Problems in the US banking system have led to what is now known as ‘the credit crunch’. Callum and Jackie discuss this topic and look at some of the language that has become common in the business news.

This week’s question: ‘Credit crunch’ is an expression which has only recently become widespread. When is the first mention that Callum finds of it on the BBC website?

a) January 2007
b) June 2007
c) December 2007

Vocabulary from the programme

the credit crunch
a term that has recently become common to describe the situation when it becomes difficult to borrow money at low interest rates. This situation applies to banks and other organisations as well as individuals

the bubble has burst
a period of time when something that has been very successful has come quickly to an end

Example:
“It looks as if the bubble had burst for the property market in the UK.”

negative equity
a situation where the value of your property is less than the money you have borrowed to pay for it. If you sell your property you will not be able to repay the money you borrowed

Example:
“Thousands of people are going to find themselves in negative equity if house prices continue to fall.”

a first-time buyer
somebody who has never owned property before who is buying for the first time.

a mortgage
the money that is borrowed from a financial organisation to pay for a property

Example:
“It used to be possible to get 100% mortgages, but since the credit crunch this is very rare now.”

the property ladder
the process of owning a property then selling it and buying a better property

Example:
“It’s very difficult for those on low incomes to get onto the property ladder.”

Cryptozoology

Are there any strange creatures wandering around the forests and mountains in your country? Do you have monsters in your lakes? In this programme Callum and Jackie look at the search for one such creature.

This week’s question: The word cryptozoology is the study of creatures like the Yeti and the Loch Ness Monster. The prefix ‘crypto’ comes from a Greek word. What does it mean?

a) unknown
b) hidden
c) mysterious

Vocabulary from the programme

cryptozoology
the study of creatures which are believed by some to exist in the present day but for which there is no definite proof

reputed to be
believed to be or said to be but not proven to be true

Example:
“The Loch Ness Monster is reputed to have a long neck and several humps.”

an artist’s impression
a drawing based on what someone has described

eye-witnessess
people who have seen something with their own eyes

Example:
“The police have asked for any eye-witnessess to the accident to contact them.”

surprisingly
unexpectedly

incongruous
out of place, not right for the situation

Example:
“Wearing jeans and a T-shirt at a formal wedding would be rather incongruous”

conclusive
definite

Example:
“There is no conclusive proof of the existence of the Yeti.”

irrefutable
impossible to prove wrong

Example:
“The evidence against him was irrefutable and the jury found him guilty.”

Day trip with a difference

Day trips are fun ways to spend a day! In this programme Callum and Neil look at the opportunity to take a day trip which is literally out of this world. If you can afford it, you can now book a ticket for trip into space.

This week’s question: Which planet is mostly closest to Earth?

a) Mars
b) Venus
c) Jupiter

Vocabulary from the programme

a day trip
a short holiday, going somewhere and coming back on the same day

a day-tripper
someone who goes on day trips

under-wraps
kept secret

to glimpse
to see something but only for a short time or not completely. Also a noun.

Examples:
“If you’re lucky you might catch a glimpse of some dolphins in the bay.”
“I glimpsed the president when his car whizzed past.”

weightlessness
the experience of not having weight, for example when in space

Example:
“If you take a day trip to space you will experience weightlessness.”

stunning
fantastic, amazing

Example:
“From space there are stunning views of Earth.”

Dhaka traffic

This week’s programme takes us into the heart of one of the busiest and noisiest parts of the world! Jackie and Senjuti are in downtown Dhaka among the cars and rickshaws, discussing a topic that’s not going anywhere fast: traffic!

This week’s question: Many cities in the world have introduced a ‘congestion charge’. But which of these cities does NOT have a congestion charge?

a) Stockholm
b) Singapore
c) Geneva

Vocabulary from the programme

a congestion charge
a charge you have to pay for driving your car into a certain area – the aim of congestion charges is usually to reduce traffic

a traffic jam
when a lot of vehicles are close together and can’t move or can only move very slowly

chaos
a state of confusion and disorder

to feel frustrated
to be annoyed, usually because you can’t achieve something that you want to achieve

tedious
very boring

Living abroad

Elena is leaving BBC Learning English to travel the world. In her final programme she talks to Callum about travelling, living abroad and emigrating.

This week’s question: From July 2005 to July 2006 how many people emigrated from the UK?

a) 385,000
b) 485,000
c) 580,000

Vocabulary from the programme

to emigrate
to move permanently to another country and make it your home

an expatriate
someone who lives in a country which is not their own

Example:
“There is a large British expatriate community in Australia.”

Britpack
a word used to describe a group of Britsh expatriates

like-minded people
people who share your culture or background and have similar opinions

Example:
“When livng abroad it’s quite common to find like-minded people to mix with.”

to be laid-back
to be very relaxed

Example:
“There’s a very laid-back atmosphere in Barbados.”

to fit in
to belong and feel you are part of a group

Example:
“It can be difficult to fit in when you first move to another country.”