Singing apes

Humans have vocal folds聲帶 very similar to those of apes人猿, but we can also precisely恰恰, 就是 control the shape塑造 and size of our vocal tract.聲道 For powerful high notes, soprano singers女高音 match the natural frequencies of the two.

But how to find out if gibbons長臂猿 can do the same? Give them some helium氦. Helium raises the natural frequency just of the vocal tract but not the vocal folds. In helium-huffing gibbons, calls stayed just as piercing because the animals tuned調整 their vocal tracts to match the higher frequencies. In short, gibbons sing soprano all the time.

It's not just a primate靈長類動物 party trick - this separation between the actual source of the sound and the mechanism of shaping it is something that biologists thought was a result of a long evolutionary process, leading to our finely-controlled speech. But it seems nature came up with the biological equipment for these techniques long before humans headed to the opera.

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/08/120824_witn_soprano_gibbons.shtml

An ice treat for animals

Code red heat warnings have been issued by Italy's health ministry, as a heatwave nicknamed 'Lucifer' scorches燒焦的 the Mediterranean region地中海地區. But at the zoo in Rome, keepers are ensuring確保 the lions and tigers stay cool by freezing their food in large blocks of ice. The animals have to lick舔 through icy layers before getting to the joints of meat contained inside, like a giant lollipop棒棒糖.

Klaus Friedrich, the zoo's veterinarian獸醫, says making these meat-flavoured treats is part of their strategy to cool the animals down: "The animals get bored, like children, so they find new ways - how to prepare the ice. So sometimes you put the ice in a bucket桶子 of water, and you put a string inside, and you hang this on a tree or you hide it somewhere. There are different ways to give this food and these ice creams... So they like it a lot."

The smaller animals, like lemurs狐猴, are fed pieces of watermelon and special ice cream, while the monkeys are given bamboo canes filled with yoghurt and frozen fruit. Italy is suffering遭受 from its worst drought乾旱 in ten years, caused by a high-pressure system that's bringing hot air from Africa to Europe. Spain is also sweltering悶熱的, while the heatwave熱浪 has fuelled推動 forest fires森林火災 in the Greek island of Chios and the north-east of Bosnia.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/08/120823_witn_an_ice_treat_for_animals.shtml

Retiring elephants

They're not the healthiest specimens規範 of the ten thousand that live in Burma.

But thanks to the opening of this elephant retirement home, these animals do at least have a safe refuge.

The owners have brought in healthy elephants to boost促進 funding for food and medicine through tourism.

They say visitors should see them in their natural habitat and not as creatures生物的 of entertainment表演會.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/08/120822_vwitn_retiring_elephants.shtml

Let the Alternative Games begin

The events at the London Olympic Games might have kept millions of viewers glued緊盯 to their screens, but to the inhabitants居民 of Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales they seemed a little mundane世俗的.

The town is hosting its own version of the Games, which challenge competitors競爭對手 just that little bit extra. The sprinters短跑運動員 have to race in three-inch high heels高跟鞋, the long distance runners have to go backwards and the hockey teams have to play underwater. Thousands of competitors from around the world will participate in 35 events over a two-week period.

The town has been organising組織 quirky詭詐的 sporting events for over 30 years. It all started with the man versus horse marathon – a gruelling嚴罰 race that pits 600 runners and 50 horses and their riders against each other over 22 miles of rugged崎嶇, Welsh mountain terrain地形. The horses are generally quicker, but human runners have won on two occasions場合 in the race's history.

In true Olympic spirit精神, this year the organisers are welcoming other quirky sports from around the world, including wife carrying and Russian egg roulette – where competitors take it in turns to smash粉碎 a batch of six boiled煮沸 eggs against their foreheads額頭; the loser is the unlucky one who gets the raw egg in the batch.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/08/120821_witn_alternative_games.shtml

Where is the best city to live?

A slick聰明的,滑舌的 advert廣告 by the Melbourne tourist board shows pictures of its enviable令人羨慕得 schools, beaches, transport system and nightlife, all of which have helped it earn the number one spot as the world's most liveable city.

The 140 cities in the survey are judged on five broad categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. The top scorers tend to be mid-sized cities in wealthy countries with a low population density密度, 濃度. Some seven of the top ten – including Vancouver, Toronto and Sydney – are in Australia or Canada. Vienna, Helsinki and Auckland also made the top ten.

Of the cities surveyed – and some like Kabul and Baghdad were not included for safety reasons – Dhaka in Bangladesh was rated the least liveable. Lagos, Harare, Algiers and Karachi all scored poorly as well.

The city that has dropped fastest down the list in the last year is Damascus, due to the ongoing conflict in Syria, while infrastructure improvements in China mean that cities like Shanghai and Suzhou have scored better than they did last year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/08/120817_witn_global_city.shtml

No-win situation

Rob: Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Rob.

Li: And hello I'm Li.

Rob: Shh shh Li – quiet please! I need to concentrate, the race is about to finish and I've got a bet on.

Rob: Yeah! I've won. I've actually won. I'm rich!

Li: Well done Rob. So what have you won Rob?

Rob: Ten pounds!

Li: Oh just ten pounds. Ah well, that's quite useful actually.

Rob: Is it. Why is that?

Li: Well, you owe me five pounds and you did say you would buy me a glass of champagne if you won a race.

Rob: Oh right, did I? So, that will leave me with…. fifty pence. Maybe I'm not a winner after all. Honestly! Every time I make some money I have to give it away.

Li: Sorry Rob, it's a no-win situation or a lose-lose situation. Rob, you can't gain any money because you'll always lose it on something else.

Rob: So even though I did win something, I have also lost. That's a no-win situation is it?

Li: I'm afraid it is. A no-win situation is one in which a favourable outcome is impossible. You are bound一定的 to lose whatever you do. You can also use this phrase to describe situations that aren't just to do with money, like this:

• I can get the bus or train to work – either way I'm going to be late. It's a no-win situation.

• The cafe only served ham or beef sandwiches but as a vegetarian I was in a no-win situation.

• If she helps in the garden, Mum won't be pleased and if she helps in the kitchen, Dad won't be pleased. She really is in a no-win situation.

Li: So a no-win situation is one that is certain to end in failure and disappointment. So Rob I can see you are disappointed because you have spent your winnings on me.

Rob: I am. It seems impossible to win money just for myself.

Li: Actually I also won some money – fifty pounds – so I'll buy you a drink, in fact I'll buy you something to eat too and you don't need to pay me back that five pounds.

Rob: Really? Oh Li that's very kind of you. Now I'm in a win-win situation!

Li: Yes, the opposite of a no-win situation is a win-win situation. This is where there is a favourable outcome for everyone involved. Like this:

• The house buyer got a good price and the seller was happy to sell quickly so it was a win-win situation.

• If I get to invest your money in the company and you get to share the profits, it's a win-win situation.

Rob: So, in a win-win situation everyone is happy! Just like our situation now. So, where are you taking me for dinner Li?

Li: Did I say dinner? I was just going to buy you a sandwich.

Rob: Oh. That's not such a good win-win situation, is it?

Li: Maybe I'll buy you some chips too!

Rob: OK great. Let's go. Bye.

Li: Bye bye.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2012/08/120821_tews_85_no_win_situation.shtml

Plain sailing

Rob: Hello. I'm Rob. And this is Li!

Li: Hello.

Rob: The weather is so great today we're outside on the sea, sailing in this beautiful boat. What do you think Li?

Li: Impressive. Rob, I didn't know you had a sailing boat – in fact I didn't know you could sail a boat!

Rob: Don't worry Li, I know what I'm doing.

Li: Mind that rock!

Rob: Whoa…it's ok Li. I’m in control – just keep your hand on that rope繩. We've got the wind in our sails, the sea is calm平靜的 – we can just easily sail around this island and be home in time for tea.

Li: Oh right. I thought our excursion遠足 was going to be trouble free – or plain sailing.

Rob: What? Plain sailing? We're not sailing any planes Li.

Li: No Rob. Plain sailing一帆風順. It's an expression used to describe an activity that goes well or smoothly and is easy and uncomplicated.

Rob: Yes of course – this sailing is going well and is actually quite easy – so you're right – this is plain sailing. But can we only use the phrase to describe sailing boats?

Li: No. Although it was originally a sailing term, it can really refer to any activity. Listen to these examples:

• Driving through the city was difficult but once we were on the motorway it was plain sailing all the way.

• Once we found some office space and recruited招聘 staff, setting up our business was plain sailing.

Li: So plain sailing means things are going well. I have to admit Rob, your sailing skills are very good and …oh watch out for that big wave!

Rob: Whoa...ouch! I've hit my head on the boom咚. Oh no, we're heading for the rocks again…hold the rope Li, quick!

Li: I've changed my mind Rob, this isn't plain sailing anymore! That's taken the wind out of your sails Rob.

Rob: Err, it's still windy Li. Look at the sails.

Li: No Rob. That's another sailing idiom成語 – to take the wind out of your sails is an expression that means your boasting吹噓 and arrogance傲慢 has been challenged. Let's hear some other people using this expression:

• I was all ready for a big argument but when he bought me some flowers it took the wind out of my sails.

• The negative feedback from my boss has really taken the wind out of my sails.

Rob: Hmm, Li you've certainly taught me a lot about sailing today – there are some really good expressions – but one thing you haven't taught me is how to sail this boat.

Li: You said you knew how to sail it.

Rob: Well when I said I had been sailing several times I had….but I meant on a ferry….as a passenger.

Li: Oh. Watch out!

Rob: That was close. I've a feeling this really isn't going to be plain sailing after all.

Li: Too right! Bye bye.

Rob: Bye. Now Li could you just hold that rope there please.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2012/08/120814_tews_84_plain_sailing.shtml

Confronting witchcraft in Britain

There have been some shocking cases of violent child abuse in Britain in recent years. To mention just two: Kristy Bamu was murdered in 2010 because his attackers thought he was a witch巫婆. He was 15. And then there was the gruesome陰森 case of the headless torso軀幹 belonging to a five or six-year-old boy found in the River Thames a decade ago.

In trying to tackle the problem, the government has brought together faith宗教 leaders, charities, the police and social workers. Under its new action plan it urges敦促 closer cooperation between these groups. Those critical of the plan, while welcoming it as an important step, say more faith leaders need to acknowledge the problem of ritual儀式 killings.

Despite the differences of opinion which exist, the government says it will now help provide support to those who witness見證,目睹 such activity. It also says it wants to appoint任命, 指派 mentors – people who can listen to members of affected communities. But the government admits that more research is needed for the problem to be properly eradicated根除.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/08/120816_witn_witchcraft_britain.shtml

IOC withholds South Korean medal

The sign that's put the South Korean footballer onto the headlines read "Dokdo is our land." Dokdo, or Takeshima in Japanese, are a set of islands half way between Korea and Japan, that have been disputed爭議 between the two countries for decades.

A Korean Olympics Committee official told reporters that the sign that the midfielder中場 displayed was handed to him by spectators觀眾 at the end of the match, and the player simply ran with it overcome with the joy of victory勝利. FIFA, the world football governing body, has asked the Korean Football Association to further進一步 investigate調查 the incident and provide results by the 16th.

Political messages are banned禁止 at the Olympics and the 23-year-old footballer was barred from attending the medal award ceremony.

In South Korea, passion激情 remains high over the rocky岩石 islands under dispute. For many Koreans, it is a reminder of 35 years of colonial rule殖民統治 by Japan. While Korean territory領土 before its annexation合併 was eventually returned, the claim to Dokdo or Takeshima has continuously been disputed.

On Friday, a few days before Korea's Liberation Day, President Lee Myung Bak made a surprise visit to Dokdo, the first South Korean President to set foot on踏上 the disputed islands, generating fierce criticism批評 from Japan.

.http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/08/120814_witn_korean_olympics.shtml

Tango therapy

It's been described as a sorrow悲傷, 悲哀 you can dance to. But now tango is being used as medical therapy.

Doctors in Argentina have found it helpful as a rehabilitation technique技術 for patients getting over heart surgery or coronary冠狀動脈 problems.

According to the stats統計, only 15% of patients turn up for traditional recovery programmes.

Doctors hope free tango lessons will be more attractive than a session on a treadmill跑步機

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/08/120815_vwitn_tango_therapy.shtml

New protection for Nepalese women

Officially almost 60,000 Nepalese women are now working in the Middle East but the unofficial estimate is closer to 200,000. Many of them are under 30 years old and will be directly affected by the new ban.

The government's been under growing pressure to do more to protect its workers. Women employed in the informal sector部門 as part of a household家庭 are very vulnerable脆弱的. Nepal's Embassies in the region say they deal with numerous眾多的 cases of alleged據稱 physical or sexual abuse, as well as complaints about unpaid wages工資 and terrible conditions.

Many run safe houses to support women who flee逃跑 their employer's homes. It's only 18 months since the government ended a 12-year ban on all women workers to the Gulf隔閡, 海灣. That was imposed強制 after a young woman working in Kuwait committed suicide. Now they're adopting this partial部分 ban in the hope that older women might be less at risk. Nepal has a high unemployment rate失業率 and the government is trying to strike a balance取得一個平衡 between protection and allowing women to pursue opportunities.

Other countries face the same dilemma困境. Two months ago, Kenya banned its citizens from working in the Middle East because, it said, increasing numbers were being mistreated虐待. Last year, Indonesia introduced a ban on women working as maids女傭 in the region. That followed numerous cases of abuse and the execution執行 of an Indonesian maid who was accused of killing her former employer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/08/120813_witn_nepal_women.shtml

The Crying Games

As the national anthem聖歌 of the Dominican Republic played, Felix Sanchez cried uncontrollably. The winner of the 400m hurdles跨欄 took deep breaths, trying to regain恢復 his composure鎮靜, but his bottom lip continued to wobble搖晃 and his tears continued to flow. He is not the only one to have shown his soft side at London 2012. Countless無數 athletes across all disciplines學科 have been weeping哭泣 on podiums頒奬台. The former Olympic table tennis player, Matthew Syed, says this wellspring來源 of emotion is understandable.

Matthew Syed, former Olympic table tennis player:
This is one of the great joys喜悅 of the Olympics. It is like a wonderful opportunity to experience emotional intensity強度, 亮度, for us as viewers, for the athletes too. And when you deconstruct解構 what they've gone through to get to this stage: the sacrifices犧牲, all of the hardships艱辛, the ambitions野心, the neurosis神經官能症, that is wound up in that moment, you can kind of understand why it sometimes gets too much for them.

All that pressure leads to tears of despair絕望 as well. The Chinese weightlifter舉重, Wu Jingbao, said he was ashamed for disgracing羞辱 the motherland after failing to win gold. And the Olympic hosts - famed for their stiff upper lip咬緊牙關 - have been choking up哽咽起來 along with the best of them. The British Olympic champions Victoria Pendleton, Chris Hoy, and Jess Ennis, all wept openly as they collected their medals.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/08/120809_witn_crying_games.shtml

Sporting rivalry

The Australian team has had a disappointing time at the Games so far, achieving far fewer gold medals than expected. Their team officials have conceded失球 that they won't reach their aim of finishing among the top 5 countries, a blow exacerbated加劇 by the fact that their sporting rivals對手, Great Britain, are way ahead in the medal count.

The Australian sports minister, Kate Lundy, says her country is unlikely to catch up and that she will honour a bet made with the British sports minister to row a length of the Olympic rowing venue場地 in a Great Britain shirt. Her British counterpart對方也是同樣位置的人, Hugh Robertson, is relieved not to have to carry out his forfeit喪失 in central London.

The fierce激烈的 rivalry競爭 between the two teams was spawned催生 by cricket板球, and the Ashes series between England and Australia that's staged上演 roughly大約 every two years since the 1880s. They also fight for supremacy霸權 in rugby.

Australia's lacklustre呆滯 Olympic performance表現 has led to calls for the government to increase funding for sports, but the Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, said today that the country should enjoy the Games now and examine the team's overall整體的 performance later.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/08/120810_witn_sporting_rivalry.shtml

The best cities to live in are revealed揭示

Boris Johnson, mayor of London:

People are coming from around the world, and they're seeing the greatest city on earth, aren't they!

The mayor of London Boris Johnson has been bigging up吹噓 the Olympic host city, as thousands of visitors arrive for the games. But is it, as he says, "the greatest city on earth"? A new report that compares the cultural offerings產品 of 12 of the world's major cities seeks尋求 to answer that question.

It shows that London has the most museums and comedy喜劇 performances表演 of the 12 cities, but that Paris comes out on top for cinemas and live music venues場地, New York has the greatest number of public libraries and theatres, and Istanbul has more historical sites than anywhere else on the list.

The other cities featured特色 in the report were Berlin, Shanghai, Johannesburg, Sydney, Mumbai, Sao Paulo, Singapore and Tokyo. The researchers used 60 different indicators指標 to compile編寫 the report and Richard Naylor is one of the authors.

Richard Naylor, author of the study:

Culture is quite intimately密切地 entwined纏繞 with the economic fortunes經濟財富 of cities and it contributes貢獻 not just in terms of the actual直接地 direct實際 amount金額 of GDP generated by culture but also through, kind of, creating the excitement意思 and dynamism活力 of those cities that attracts, not just tourists, but also people who want to come and live and work in those cities.

The report was commissioned for a cultural summit in London that's bringing together representatives代表 from around the world to discuss how to create successful cities. For emerging economies新興經濟體 - like Shanghai, Sao Paulo and Mumbai - the most salient point突出的一點 is that the best and brightest want to live in places with vibrant充滿活力 cultural sectors行業. And so the cafes, record shops and parks detailed in the report are not just nice things to have, but in fact essential to their city's future economic success.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/08/120806_witn_culture_city.shtml

Hong Kong's clean-up operation

The clean-up operation begins.

Millions of pellets which are used to make plastic have been washed up on Hong Kong's beaches, following the worst typhoon in 13 years.

Environmentalists are concerned that the pellets will absorb dangerous toxins, which could enter the food chain食物鏈.

Several hundred volunteers turned up to try and remove the translucent半透明 pellets, but the beaches could still take months to clean.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/08/120808_vwitn_hong_kong.shtml

Down with the kids

Down with the kids

Helen: Hello. Welcome to The English We Speak with me, Helen...

Rob: ...and me Rob. Hi!

Helen: Rob, I like your trainers, very cool... and look at your designer jeans. Trendy! Rob's looking quite trendy today - for a change!

Rob: So you like them then?

Helen: I do but... it's not really what someone your age normally wears.

Rob: I see. But don't you think it makes me look cool and fashionable and... younger?

Helen: Erm...

Rob: I'm just trying to get down with the kids.

Helen: The kids?! You're down with the kids? Down where exactly?

Rob: Oh Helen, keep up! I'm not going anywhere. I mean I'm keeping in with the kids. I'm in tune with the younger generation - yeah!

Helen: So Rob, to do this you have to dress like a teenager?

Rob: Not just that. I share the same interests as young people. I listen to their music on my mp3 player. Like this.

Helen: Could you turn that down please! So you're acting young when really you aren't! It seems getting down with the kids is about behaving like them. Well, you are certainly a big kid Rob! Let's hear some examples of people using this phrase.

• My Dad's bought a new skateboard so that he can be down with the kids!

• I almost broke my neck snowboarding on holiday but hey, at least I'm down with the kids.

• She's dyed染 her hair red and pierced刺 her nose just so she can be down with the kids!

Helen: So Rob, what else are you doing to be down with the kids?

Rob: Hey Helen, doing things like chillin' and being where it's at.

Helen: Rob not all kids talk like that.

Rob: Oh right. Well, I've got some rollerblades旱冰鞋 so I can blade刀片 round the park. The only trouble is... I can't seem to get them on... Ouch, my back!

Helen: Are you OK? It looks like Rob has a bad back背傷, so he won't be down with the kids for a while! Do you need some help?

Rob: Thanks. I think I'll just put my slippers拖鞋 on - much more comfortable.

Helen: Remember, being down with the kids can be hard work. See you next time. Bye bye!

Rob: Bye. Ouch, my back! Helen, could you just put that slipper over there please? Thanks!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2012/08/120807_tews_83_down_with_the_kids.shtml

Lost Boy runs for Olympic gold

Lost Boy runs for Olympic gold

The journey to London 2012 for the American runner Lopez Lomong has been long and extraordinary非凡. He was one of the so-called Lost Boys - thousands of child refugees who fled civil war in Sudan.

Lopez Lomong:
My journey started when I was 6 years old, in the little village of Kimatong. We were in a church when the rebel soldiers came in and ordered everyone to lay down. They took all the young kids to the training camp - I was too young to hold an AK-47 and go to war because I was only 6 years old. I witnessed a lot of kids dying every day because of the food they were giving us. They were giving us a grain糧食 which was mixed with sand - a lot of kids were eating this food - but it doesn't digest消化 in the stomach and they die.

One night Lopez Lomong managed to crawl out of the rebel camp and started running. He thought he was going back to his village, but his first ever race took him all the way to Kenya, where he spent the next 10 years in a refugee camp. Life was hard and he would run to forget his hunger. But one day he caught a glimpse一撇 into another world. He spent all the money he had - five shillings - to watch one Olympic race on TV.

Lopez Lomong:
I saw Michael Johnson running the 400m final and he ran so fast. What really inspired me so much is that when he went to receive the medal I saw the tears come out of his face – in Africa, a grown-up person cannot cry like that. I thought, why did he cry? He just won the race, he wasn't last. But eventually I ended up seeing that he was running behind something bigger than himself – he was running for his country. From that moment, I said I would like to run for that country one day, and he became my role model from that point.

His dreams came true when the United States agreed to take 3,500 of Sudan's Lost Boys as part of a government resettlement安置 programme. He even met his hero Michael Johnson and after years of training he qualified for the Beijing Olympics, where he was their flag bearer旗手.

But he has never forgotten his roots and frequently visits South Sudan, where he helps to provide clean water, education and medicine through his foundation, '4 South Sudan'. He truly真正地 represents these Olympics because he's not just running for gold for the glory榮耀, but to inspire the next generation in America and across Africa.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/08/120807_witn_lost_boy_runs.shtml

Quids in

Rob: Hi! I'm Rob. And this is Helen!

Helen: Hello.

Rob: Now come on Helen, we've no time to waste. This jumble sale has nearly finished and we haven't got any bargains討價還價 yet.

Helen: Yes, all I've bought is an old teddy bear and a hat with a hole in it. A jumble sale義賣 is a great place to pick up some second-hand goods but make sure they are things you want! So what are you looking for Rob?

Rob: Some antique pots and vases. Then I can sell it to someone else and I'll be quids in!

Helen: What? Quids in? What a strange saying.

Rob: It means I'll be in profit - or I will have made or saved some money through some kind of financial transaction.

Helen: I like the sound of that. But did you say squids in - like the creature in the sea - a squid烏賊?

Rob: No Helen, the word is quids - it's a slang word for pounds. A quid is £1. You might hear people talking about it like this:

• I'm broke so can you lend me a quid to buy a cup of tea - please?

• Come on ladies, who wants these lovely strawberries? Only two quid a box.

Rob: So a quid is a pound and if I am quids in it means I will have made some extra pounds sterling.

Helen: Ah! Why didn't you say? Quids in means you could be rich!

Rob: Possibly. Let's hear some other people who are hoping to be quids in:

• If we complete this deal, we'll be quids in!

• With such a good exchange rate you'll be quids in when you go abroad on holiday.

• I paid £50 for it but sold it for £60 so I'm quids in!

Helen: OK Rob, if we're going to be quids in today we need to get buying things.

Rob: Did I say 'we'? Anyway, look at this old vase - it's only £10. I could clean it up and sell it for £20.

Helen: Sounds fantastic. We really would be quids in then. Come on then let's buy it.

Rob: Right OK, I've got my bargain for today, let's go home.

Helen: Rob watch that step!

Rob: Whoa! Oh no, my vase - it's broken.

Helen: Oh! Do you think you'll be able to get £20 for it now?

Rob: No, I won't even get a penny.

Helen: Rob won't be making a profit on selling his old vase now it's broken. He'll be quids out!

Rob: Sorry, what did you say?

Helen: Is there such an expression as being quids out?

Rob: No there isn't! But there is an expression about being out of pocket.

Helen: Hmm, I think we'll leave that for another day. Come on Rob I'll buy you a drink to cheer you up.

Rob: Thanks Helen. See you next time on The English We Speak. Bye.

Helen: Bye!

Micro-finance 'misused and abused'

Muhammed Yunus is no stranger to controversy爭議. He sent a letter of resignation earlier this month from his job as the head of Grameen Bank, after effectively being forced 強迫 out. He told me it was very painful to leave because the non-profit-making institution非營利機構 was his 'baby' - but he had no other option left.

He said the prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, had been 'badly advised' when she accused his bank of 'sucking吸 blood' from the poor.

Asked about a micro-finance crisis in India, where there were allegations of exorbitant過高的 interest rates and threatening tactics恐嚇戰術 by lenders, he said commercial organisations which had entered the micro-credit business had 'lost track.'

Muhammad Yunus:
"The idea of micro-credit was misused濫用. Idea of micro-credit was abused. So when micro-credit focussed on the social issues turned into money-making issues, that was a mission drift漂流, 飄移 completely."

Professor Yunus denied suggestions that the broader廣泛的 concept概念 of micro-credit had failed. He suggested that a separate banking system should be created for the poor, while the profit-making companies in the sector should not be allowed to call themselves micro-credit lenders.

Lesley Curwen, BBC News

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/05/110525_witn_yunus.shtml

Iraq’s former Olympic president

Almost two years before construction on London's Olympic Park even started, Ahmed Al Sammarai was kidnapped綁架 as he presided over主持 a meeting of the Iraqi Olympic Committee. Gunmen took 38 officials in all, before releasing 13. 25 have never been seen since.

What followed was a statement聲明 of condemnation譴責 from the IOC's President Jacques Rogge and a demand for answers. 18 months later, Iraq was suspended暫時 from the Olympic Movement運動 for government interference干預. But it was reinstated復職 in time for the Beijing Games, and has eight athletes in London.

Mr Al Sammarai's wife, Niran, believes her cause導致 has become an embarrassment困窘 for the Olympic Movement. She is urging President Rogge to reinvigorate振興 the campaign for freedom and justice正義, 公道 for all 25 held.

In a statement, the IOC said the President had met her and continued to follow the situation closely and offer any help it could. But the meeting took place nearly five years ago. Niran Al Sammarai doesn't know if her husband is alive or dead; but she continues to believe he can be found - only if the IOC takes a lead challenging the Iraqi Government for answers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/08/120803_witn_al_sammarai_story.shtml

Bad news for Australian economy

Australia now knows the cost of its summer of disasters, with the flooding and a cyclone氣旋 in resources-rich Queensland hitting the country's bottom line.

It's contributed to a 1.2 % fall in GDP, the biggest contraction in the Australian economy in twenty years.

With rail lines buckled彎曲,扭曲 by flood waters and digging brought to a halt at many mines, coal exports from Queensland were particularly severely嚴厲的 hit.

The Australian economy has also been badly affected by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Japan is the country's second biggest trading partner.

On top of all that, the Australian dollar has been at its highest levels against the US dollar since first being floated in the 1980s, which has also hit exporters.

Australia managed to avoid recession不景氣, 後退 after the global financial crisis, earning it the nickname 'the wonder from down under'. And most economists think this figure is a one-off blip曇花一現.

Asian demand for Australian resources, like iron ore and coal, should help the economy rebound反彈, and the prediction預測 is for a resumption of恢復 strong growth by the end of the year.

Nick Bryant, BBC News, Sydney

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/06/110601_witn_australia_economy.shtml

Battle of the phones

The lawyer representing代表 Apple opened the case by showing slides of Samsung phones from 2006 and comparing them to 2010 models, which were produced after the release of the iPhone. He highlighted their similarities相似之處 and said, "it's easier to copy than to innovate," claiming Samsung's own internal documents show the South Korean company made the decision to copy the iPhone.

Apple is demanding $2.5bn in damages賠償. Samsung denies the charges - the company's lawyers were also preparing opening statements for the jury陪審團 of seven men and two women, who will have to come to terms with完全瞭解 the complexities of patent law.

The case is being heard by a federal court in San Jose and is expected to last four weeks. The world's two biggest technology companies have been challenging each other on legal patent專利的 issues in a variety of different countries as they compete in the fast-growing mobile market. The outcome of the case could have a big impact on the sale of Samsung devices in the US if Apple wins and could affect the price of Apple products if the court rules in Samsung's favour贊成.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/08/120802_witn_phone_wars.shtml

The oldest underwear?

Supporting women for six centuries.

These bras, discovered in a medieval castle in Austria, reveal that the undergarment內衣 may have been worn as far back as the 15th century.

Apart from the wear and tear磨損, they look remarkably顯著的 similar to their modern day versions.

They were spotted almost by accident when the floorboards of the castle were removed during renovation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/08/120801_vwitn_oldest_bra.shtml