California earthquake drill

They played the tape in railway stations, school classrooms and offices. More than nine million people in California took part in the annual 'shake out'; an earthquake drill演習 to remind people what to do if the 'big one' hits. The scientists say it's almost certain the San Andreas fault斷層 will cause an earthquake measuring higher than a seven on the Richter scale里氏地震規模 in the next thirty years, and that it's long overdue.期待已久

Dr Lucy Jones, a seismologist地震學家 with the US Geological Survey地質調查局, says people have to remember the risks: "We've had a rather quiet time in LA for the last 15 years, we haven't had a lot of big earthquakes, that's not going to last and so we need to have ways of getting people to think about it, take responsibility, because a lot of the damage is preventable."

The biggest earthquake on the San Andreas fault in recent history was 1906, which destroyed huge areas of San Francisco and killed thousands of people. More recently, motorway bridges have been brought down, but it's been 18 years since the last major quake. Organisers of the shake out want to remind people their reflex action should be to get on the ground and under a table. More people get hurt, it seems, trying to race outside where the risks are often higher.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/10/121022_witn_earthquake_drill.shtml

Reinventing the wheel

Some might say they are off their trolley手推車＝.發瘋了

But to succeed in this race, you need to be in control of your senses as well as your vehicle.

Creativity and showmanship攬客 count as much as mechanical expertise in the Red Bull Soapbox Race.

This year's event in Hong Kong featured特色 vehicles decorated as everyday items. The hotpot got applause掌聲 but it was this skull-shaped哭魯頭 entry that won over the judges.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/10/121017_vwitn_soapbox_race.shtml

Swimming samurai

Keeping the tradition afloat浮著的… This is swimming samurai-style.武士風格

Mutsuo Koga shows off his skills in the Japanese city of Yokohama.

But once he's in the pool, it's sink or swim. The armour盔甲 weighs 15 kilos.

The feared warriors戰士 developed this form of swimming around the 15th century. They had to brave waves and currents.

Nowadays, the most difficult part seems to be getting out of the pool.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/10/121010_vwitn_samurai.shtml

Keep your chin up!

Rob: So, how are you feeling, Vera?

Vera: Thank you for visiting me here in hospital, Rob. I feel awful! My leg is broken, my chin下巴 is bruised傷痕累累 and my pride自尊心 is hurt! I had a silly fall while I was skiing over the weekend.

Rob: Oh, bad luck, really. But your leg will heal and your bruises will disappear soon, Vera. There will be no sign of them in a few weeks' time.

Vera: Yes, I know Rob. But now I'm in pain! I'm in pain!

Rob: But you'll get better, Vera. Just keep your chin up!

Vera: Keep my chin up?! (Talking to herself) Keep my chin up might be a new form of treatment... Rob has always been very knowledgeable of these alternative medicines and treatments. Perhaps it is good for circulation. (To him) Is it good for circulation循環, Rob?

Rob: No Vera, it doesn't help your circulation! Keep your chin up but... well, what are you doing? That's not what I mean!

Vera: It's not what you mean?! My chin is up now. Isn't it high enough? Will it help my bruises disappear, Rob?

Rob: Not really. But it will make you feel better, Vera.

Vera: How come, Rob?

Rob: In English, when we tell someone to keep their chin up, we are telling them to stay positive in a tough situation. Let's listen to some examples.

• "When young people say it is difficult to earn a living nowadays, I tell them to work hard, keep their chin up and they will go places."
• "I've just had an argument with my husband. My daughter said she wants to leave school and my cat ran away. I feel like crying. Sometimes it is hard to keep my chin up."

Vera: Ah, I've got it – when you want to tell someone to remain positive in a tough situation, you say "keep your chin up!" That's a relief, Rob. My chin was feeling even more painful than it was before.

Rob: Well, you can relax now. And next time you go to some slope坡 for some skiing make sure you stay on the nursery slopes初學者的坡度場地.

Vera: Nursery?! But that's where children do their skiing! That's for kids!

Rob: No, not just for kids, Vera... for beginners too! Anyway, don't be angry! Keep your chin up! With a lot of training, one day you will be a great skier.

Vera: Yes, maybe you are right. If I keep my chin up and train a lot, one day I will be a great skier!

Rob: Good. Well, bye for now.

Vera: Bye.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2012/10/121030_tews_95_keep_your_chin_up.shtml

Flyboard takes off

Surfing down under as you've never seen it before.

Flyboard, invented發明 by a Frenchman last year, is catching on in Australia.

The board is attached to a jet ski by a hose管. The water pressure allows the pilot to hover 徘徊up to 10 metres in the air.

The dive would make a dolphin jealous.

With his feet, the rider controls direction and with his hands, he keeps the board stable.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/10/121002_vwitn_flyboard.shtml

Auctioning Marie Antoinette's clothes

Before Marie-Antoinette arrived at the guillotine斷頭台, she amassed累積 an opulent富裕的 collection of artwork and furniture. And today, in Paris to mark the anniversary of her execution執行 on the 16th October 1793, some of it goes under the hammer.

Of particular note:特別注意 a pair of green and pink silk絲綢 slippers拖鞋 which belonged to the queen. Not one of the shoes she dropped while climbing the scaffold鷹架 - that still resides駐留 in a French museum. But there is a framed cotton sleeve of a garment服裝 she wore in prison. And a fragment of a patterned silk dress she owned before her arrest.

There are portraits人像 and etchings銅版畫 of the king and queen, glassware玻璃器皿, candelabras燭台, dinner sets - and, among other historic artefacts文物, a fork and spoon from St Helena that belonged to Napoleon. All together they are the symbols of a decadent腐朽的 tyranny專制 but they still hold great fascination - and not just to the French.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/10/121018_witn_marie_antoinette_auction.shtml

A clean sweep

A job that requires a head for heights.沒有懼高症

Some bin men垃圾桶 in Rio have to abseil攀岩下降 down shanty town hills to retrieve what others have left behind.

A harness披肩？ and ropes are the essential不可少的 tools for reaching items such as old fridges, food wrappers, guns and even a body.

A big clean-up operation is underway as Brazil prepares to host the World Cup and the Olympics.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120926_vwitn_abseiling_in_rio.shtml

Life's big questions?

Where to turn to in an economic crisis?

Philosophy. This Italian town set up a trail線索 to encourage people to ponder思考, 深思 life.

It includes a chair that utters說出 words of wisdom.

This bar owner in Corigliano d'Otranto serves up drinks and cards with questions like: "Why have I been born?"

The local philosopher's helping hand is very much in demand.需求
Corigliano's seminars attracted some 1,000 people. The idea might catch on in other towns.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120919_vwitn_philosophy_italy.shtml

Hajj security

They have a tough mission ahead.

Thousands of members of the Saudi security forces have been taking part in a parade遊行 ahead of the world's biggest religious gathering搜集.

The Hajj involves over 2 million Muslim pilgrims朝聖者.

With tensions緊張 simmering情勢 in the region, particularly in Lebanon and Syria, the logistics are even more complicated than usual.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/10/121024_vwitn_hajj_security.shtml

Stagecoach

It may look like a tram電車 but, in fact, it's a theatre.

In Mexico City, vehicles normally used for public transport have been getting a makeover改造.

Mexicans hardly ever scrap報廢 their buses. These, donated by Japan over 20 years ago, have been reborn as community centres and shops.

This lorry貨車 carries knowledge. It's a mobile library, offering space for children's activities and seminars.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120912_vwitn_theatre_bus.shtml

Peaceful La Paz

Its name may mean 'peace', but the Bolivian city La Paz is not normally noted for its calm.

That is, apart from on the annual day of the pedestrian行人.

Vehicles are banned for 24 hours and the usually traffic-choked車潮 streets are taken over by cyclists, street performers and people playing sport.

The idea is to raise the environmental awareness意識 of Bolivians.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120905_vwitn_peaceful_la_paz.shtml

Helping refugees survive the winter

More than 340,000 Syrians have already fled their country. But with two to three thousand crossing the borders 跨越邊境every day, the UN refugee agency expects that figure to double to 700,000 by the end of this year. Most of those fleeing arrive with nothing more than their clothes, many are young children, and now winter is coming: the hardest season for refugees, said the agency's chief spokeswoman, Melissa Fleming.

"It is awful to be a refugee, it's awful to live in a tent帳篷, it's even worse if you have to live in a tent when it's freezing and windy and cold and wet outside, so we want to make sure that at least the situation is liveable for people who have no other choice… survival is their only option, fleeing across borders."

The refugee agency is sending stoves灶, fuel燃料, blankets and warm clothing to camps in Jordan. In Lebanon, where there are no camps, some cash will be provided to help refugees pay rent. And pre-fabricated預先制作 shelters庇護所 are being considered for both Lebanon and Turkey. But the refugee agency says it has huge concerns for the estimated 1.2 million people displaced流離失所 inside Syria – many without food or shelter. Although aid agencies are managing to reach some in urban城市的 areas, the UN admits only a fraction分數 of those in need are getting help.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/10/121015_witn_syria_refugees.shtml

Cost an arm and a leg

(Rob and Vera go shopping)

Rob: Ah Vera, it's great that you've come with me during our lunch break to do some shopping. I need to buy a suit to go to a wedding and I have to look very smart.

Vera: And I will make sure of that, Rob. Everybody says I have good taste. I've always chosen my husband's and my son's pyjamas睡衣 and they look good while they sleep! Rob, I love that grey suit in the window!

Rob: Wow! It looks really smart, actually. It will make me look great!

Vera: Exactly! Let's go into the shop, you must try it!

Salesman: The colour suits you, Sir! I will see if I can find a smaller size so that it fits you perfectly.

Vera: You see, Rob... This salesman knows what he is talking about. He thinks it looks good on you. But he is right - a size smaller would fit better. And everybody in the wedding will think you are a powerful man.

Rob: Yes. Wait Vera, this suit is not for me. I'm reading this label and it says it costs an arm and a leg!

Vera: An arm and a leg!? This is terrible, Rob! It's barbaric野蠻! This is the 21st century, not the Middle Ages! And the salesman seems quite civilised文明的. He sounded like a nice man who wouldn't demand your limbs四肢!

Rob: Don't worry, Vera. I will keep all of my limbs. In English, when we say something costs an arm and a leg we mean that it is very expensive!

Vera: So, it is something people say but it doesn't actually involve arms and legs. That's a relief!

Rob: Let's hear some examples while I get back into my old clothes.

• "I'd like to travel all over Europe, but the air fare might cost me an arm and a leg."
• "You have to pay a lot of money to give your children a good education nowadays如今, 現今, 現在! A place in a top university costs an arm and a leg."

Rob: So, what expression do you use when you want to say that something is very, very expensive?

Vera: You might say it costs an arm and a leg.

Rob: Yes. Now let's leave this expensive suit here and get out of the shop before that posh-sounding salesman comes back.

Vera: Good idea. He will look down on us, Rob. But I would... pay a nail and an elbow for that scarf there... and that red dress over there, it might cost a foot and a knee... Oh, look at that handbag! It's a designer one and must cost an ear and a hand...

Rob: What are you talking about, Vera!? We only say "an arm and a leg"! Now, quickly, let's get out of here!

Vera: OK, OK. Bye...

Rob: Bye.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2012/10/121023_tews_94_cost_arm_leg.shtml

World hunger overestimated

A few years ago the United Nations announced that the number of hungry people around the world had gone through the one billion mark. But the UN agencies now say that at the time their data tended to exaggerated誇大 the problem. They say progress in the fight against hunger has actually been better than was thought.

But all the same, new and more accurate準確的 figures show that just under 870 million people are malnourished營養不良 today. That's more than 12% of the global population. And in Africa the battle is being lost. More and more people there are hungry. One of the UN agency chiefs said that in this advanced age高齡 it was "entirely unacceptable" that 100 million children don't get enough to eat.

The report talked of the need for economic growth that might provide vulnerable脆弱的 communities with greater income-earning opportunities. But, as it looked for long-term solutions, the UN also spoke of the importance of good governance, political stability and the rule of law. The creation of conditions in which economies, and education and health services, might develop in the poorest parts of the world.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/10/121011_witn_world_hunger.shtml

Holiday congestion in China

They called it the "great queue隊列 of China", and it went viral病毒 on the internet. It was a photo showing a visitor on the Great Wall near Beijing last week, with the famous structure snaking蜿蜒 to the horizon behind him completely hidden by a mass of other tourists. The vast廣闊 imperial帝國的 palace宮殿, the Forbidden City, at one point welcomed more than a hundred-and-eighty-thousand visitors in a single day.

In the desert沙漠 at Dunhuang, at least two camels transporting tourists reportedly died from overwork. And Chinese media said road traffic was up by thirteen per cent on last year, causing unprecedented史無前例的 jams. Many people in China don't take their leave entitlement權利 because regulations aren't properly enforced執行: they save their travelling for the two big annual public holidays - the other is at Chinese New Year. Then, it seems as if the whole country has shut down and everyone is on the road or on the train.

There've been renewed appeals上訴 for a third public holiday, in May, to be lengthened延長 to spread傳播, 散播 the strain應變. And a commentary by Xinhua news agency went further, calling for a proper正確, 適當 system of paid leave帶薪休假. It said that as Chinese people's living standards improved, public holidays were no longer enough to fulfil滿足 their needs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/10/121009_witn_chinese_holiday.shtml

French hotel apology

The Zadig, due to open in 2014, will be a cosy舒適, 40-room hotel on Paris's chic別緻 Left Bank. But it won't be open to just anyone: its owner Thierry Gillier told the fashion journal, Women's Wear, that certain kinds of guests would not be allowed, like Chinese tourists, for example. "There is a lot of demand in Paris," said Mr Gillier. "Many people are looking for quiet hotels, with a certain privacy隱私."

A spokesman for the fashion label said he had NOT been misquoted被錯誤引用, but misinterpreted曲解. He later urged the journal to change "Chinese tourists" to "busloads of tourists" But that has not stopped the backlash反彈 on Chinese websites.

Zadig et Voltaire's success has been phenomenal非凡的. The company is constantly expanding擴大 around the globe. And in a statement designed to limit the damage, Mr Gillier apologised again for any offence caused. "The words do not reflect either my line of thought or my ethics道德, 倫理," he said. "The remarks were doubtless clumsy笨拙," he added, "and I am deeply sorry they might have hurt my friends from China."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/10/121008_witn_french_hotel_apology.shtml

Cleaning up space junk

Keeping an eye out for dangerous debris廢墟 is a critical part of operating the international space station. A week ago, Russian controllers were ready to take evasive action逃避措施 when two pieces of junk loomed close擦身而過. Further inspection檢查 indicated表明 a move wasn't necessary at that point. This new threat is believed to be slightly稍微的 more serious.

Controllers take a very few risks with the station - they move it if the chances of a collision碰撞 are greater than one in 10,000. Earlier this year, astronauts太空人 had to take refuge in escape逃生 capsules膠囊, when a piece of debris碎片 from a satellite was detected發現 too late to move the ISS. But the space junk missed by about 23 kilometres.

NASA tracks pieces of debris bigger than ten centimetres. Their numbers are estimated to have increased by 50 percent over the past five years, the result of a collision between two satellites in 2009. In 2007 China used a missile導彈 to destroy one of its own satellites and, in the process, created more than 3,000 trackable objects. For the six crew currently on board, the manoeuvre動作 to avoid this piece of junk might provide a bit more excitement興奮 than recent activities, which have included mending補 a broken toilet.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/10/121005_witn_space_junk.shtml

Miliband's "One Nation"

Ed Miliband took to the stage走上舞台, no doubt毫無疑問 mindful of謹慎的 a recent opinion poll, suggesting only one in five voters believe he would make a good prime minister. His party hopes this performance表現 will make some voters think again. It was a performance that began with talk of his background as the child of Jewish refugees and a promise to fight the current scepticism懷疑 towards people in power and, particularly, politicians.

The party faithful忠實的 in the audience also cheered his attacks on the coalition聯合 government, which he accused被指控 of giving tax cuts to the rich while cutting spending on the poor and failing in its central aim of reducing borrowing借貸. Most importantly, Mr Miliband attempted to set out the kind of Britain he would lead if elected, pointedly and repeatedly using a phrase first coined創造 by a Conservative保守黨 Prime Minister in the 19th century, "one nation".

His party's supporters clearly liked it and the initial reaction from political commentators has also been favourable良好的, with many describing it as his best performance since becoming leader. But the Conservatives accused Mr Miliband of continuing to stand for more spending and borrowing which had created the mess in the first place. Although the next general election is over two years away, it feels like the campaign has already begun.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/10/121004_witn_ed_miliband.shtml

Shrinking fish

Although projections預測 of global temperature rises show relatively相對 small changes at the bottom of the oceans, the resulting impacts on fish body size are "unexpectedly large", according to this research. As ocean temperatures increase, so do the body temperatures and metabolic rates代謝率 of the fish. This means they use more oxygen氧 to stay alive and, according to the researchers, they have less available for growth發育.

They've calculated that up to 2050, fish will shrink收縮 in size by between 14 and 24 percent, with the Indian and Atlantic Oceans worst affected. The warming waters are also likely to drive fish more towards the poles極, leading to smaller species living in areas like the North Sea.

According to the scientists, their models may underestimate低估 the potential impacts. When they looked at case studies involving涉及 North Atlantic cod鱈魚 and haddock黑線鱈, they found that recorded data on these fish showed greater decreases in actual body size than the models predicted.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/10/121002_witn_shrinking_fish.shtml

Stare tactics

Pictures posted in Chinese websites show up to 20 uniformed officials surrounding周圍 illegal food stalls攤位. According to China's state-run news agency Xinhua, the government inspectors督查 then stood and stared凝視著 at the vendors until they left. Apparently, all the staring worked. Xinhua reports that vegetable sellers along one road in the city of Wuhan last week moved out of "shame and embarrassment".

The officials - called Chengguan in Chinese - patrol巡邏 city streets checking that vendors have the necessary licences. But they're frequently criticised for their thuggish殺人 behaviour which has triggered引發, 引起 riots騷亂 in the past.

Their staring tactics戰術 have won some praise好評 online. One internet user said it was better they used their "eyes instead of their fists拳頭". But others have termed all the staring as "emotional abuse". It's not the first time these tactics have been deployed in Wuhan. Chinese state media say it’s likely the officers are exploring non-violent law enforcement techniques執法技巧. But it had one unintended意想不到的 consequence後果. Curious好奇的 bystanders旁觀者 stood and stared themselves wondering what on earth was going on這究竟是怎麼回事

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/10/121001_witn_chinese_staring.shtml

No time for Russian trains

Imagine trying to timetable cross-border train services without knowing just a month before, whether the clocks are going to change. That's the situation that RZhD, the Russian state railway company faces.

The company runs trains to - among other places - Ukraine and Finland. Both of those countries will switch back to winter time on October the 28th. But Russia abandoned the bi-annual 兩年一度clock change last year, choosing to stay on summer time throughout各處, 到處 the winter months.

If that was certain某些, 肯定地 to be true this year too, things would be easier for RZhD, and for the airlines for that matter. But still, with only a month to go, nobody knows whether Russia will switch to winter time on October the 28th or remain on保留在 permanent永久性 summer time. So RZhD has announced that it will be selling no tickets for international services after the end of October, until the government makes a decision one way or another.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120928_witn_russian_trains.shtml

Hunky-dory

Helen: Hi, I'm Helen, and welcome to The English We Speak. Sorry, I'll be with you in a minute, Chris – I'm just on the phone to Rob...

Chris: Sure.

Helen: Rob, do you need me to come and record with you in the studio this afternoon?

Rob: No, don't worry – I've got Neil coming over to record with me. Everything's hunky-dory.

Helen: Everything's wha-?

Rob: Gotta go. Speak to you later – bye!

Helen: OK, b- … Oh, he hung up.

Chris: Having a busy day, Helen?

Helen: Yes, it's been so busy – I've got to move all these boxes. How is your day going?

Chris: No problems really. I've finished my script and I've already recorded another programme with Rosie... I'm hunky-dory.

Helen: Hunky-dory? That's what Rob just said to me. Neither of you is very hunky though…

Chris: What?!

Helen: Well, hunky means muscular doesn't it?

Chris: Well yes, hunky is a slang word for describing someone who is muscular…

Helen: So, you're not telling the truth when you say, 'I'm hunky… Dory'. My name's not 'Dory' though – why do you call me that?

Chris: I wasn't lying and saying 'I'm hunky'… and I wasn't calling you 'Dory' either. The phrase hunky-dory doesn't have anything to do with being muscular – it's an informal way of saying something's fine or satisfactory滿意的.

Helen: Ohhhh… It's a bit of a strange phrase though.

Chris: Yes, it is. No-one really knows where it comes from, other than it's believed to be an American phrase.
Helen: I see. So how can you use it?

Chris: Well, here are some examples:

• I was really worried I'd lost her, but everything's hunky-dory now – she was waiting for me by the car.

• Our washing machine broke last night. An engineer is coming to take a look at it today, so it should be hunky-dory soon.

Chris: So you can use hunky-dory as an informal way to say that a situation is fine.

Helen: Now I understand! … Well, sadly nothing is hunky-dory for me… I've got all these boxes to move.

Chris: Is that why you invited my here?

Helen: Maybe…?

Chris: Hmm… right then, let's get on with it. Right, where do you want them?

Helen: Just over there, thanks.

Chris: OK…

Helen: Haha! My work will soon be done! … Join us again for another edition of The English We Speak and visit our website, bbclearningenglish.com. Bye!

Danish sperm donor passes on disorder

Known only as donor 7042, the man gave sperm to the Nordic Cryobank in Copenhagen. Current regulations in Denmark say that the number of women who can be impregnated by the same donor should be limited to 25. But he's thought to have fathered 43 children and at least five of them have been diagnosed with neurofibromatosis神經纖維瘤 type 1.

This rare罕見的 genetic condition遺傳性疾病 affects the nervous system, and in its most severe form can lead to learning difficulties and blindness. Mia Noegaard is one of the women who received sperm from the donor, and says the bank continued distributing the sperm after the alarm was raised that there might be problems with it.

The Danish Health and Medicines authority also criticised the Nordic Cryobank for not telling fertility clinics婦產科 quickly enough about their suspicions. But the director of the bank, Peter Bowers, said they acted as fast as they could. He also denied that their screening procedure篩檢程序 was to blame.

Denmark is popular with women who want to conceive using artificial insemination人工授精 because it's one of the few countries in Europe that allow donors to retain保留 their anonymity. From the 1st of October a new law will reduce the number of women who can be impregnated using one sperm donor down from 25 to 12. It will also require sperm banks and fertility clinics to act more quickly and stop the use of sperm that could pass on an inheritable遺傳 disease as soon as a suspicion is raised.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120927_witn_danish_sperm_donor.shtml

Malaysian babies thrown away

Single mothers are resorting to more desperate ways to hide their pregnancies. Last week, a newborn was dropped from the third floor of an apartment complex in the Malaysian capital and died. Two days later, a foetus胎兒 was left under a stairwell樓梯間 at the Kuala Lumpur airport. Then, further east in the conservative state of Terengganu, a baby girl was found in front of a mosque清真寺 with her umbilical cord臍帶 still attached, suggesting that she was abandoned放棄 shortly after birth.

Hundreds of Muslim babies have been left this way in recent years. Social workers believe it is driven by the shame of having a child out of wedlock婚姻 and abortion墮胎 is limited to women facing health risks.

To help these women, OrphanCare opened the country's first baby hatch孵化 two years ago, which allows mothers to drop off their child anonymously. But some say the only way to stop unwanted意外 pregnancies is to teach prevention, rather than just abstinence禁慾 in schools. It's unlikely to change anytime soon. Sex is still considered a taboo topic in this Muslim-majority country, leaving young girls who find themselves pregnant feeling they have no choice but to leave their child any way they can.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120925_witn_malaysian_babies.shtml

Dep. Prime Minister sings "I'm sorry"

"We made a promise before the election, that we would vote against any rising上升,上漲 fees…
We would vote against any rising fees…
We would vote against any rising fees…
It was a pledge保證,誓約 made with the best of intentions, the best of intentions意圖.
But we shouldn't have made a promise we weren't absolutely sure we could deliver."

It's the Deputy副 Prime Minister Nick Clegg as never heard before. His apology over tuition fees學費 for students, turned into something decidedly斷然地 more entertaining娛樂 via通過 a clever bit of computer software.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry…
There's no easy way to say it: I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

His original, pre-musical apology, had been considered a risky strategy. After all, how often do politicians ever admit to being wrong or say sorry? But given his and the Liberal Democrats' abysmal深 opinion poll ratings民意調查 since joining the coalition聯盟 two years ago, the verdict判決書 was: the apology was worth a try. Whether the singing version will make matters better or worse is hard to say. But a source close to Mr Clegg says he found it very funny and has given permission for the video to be released - provided any profits利潤 go to charity.

"The liberal democrats are sorry.
There's no easy way to say it: we are sorry.
And if we've lost your trust, that's how I hope we can start to win it back."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120924_witn_dep_pm_sings_im_sorry.shtml

Health risks in married cousins

There is an expression which is commonly used in parts of Asia and the Arab world, suggesting that marrying a first cousin is a match made in heaven天作之合. Mazar - not his real name - is a British Pakistani, and married to his first cousin. Two of Mazar's five children are severely ill嚴重疾病 with matching health problems, which also run in his extended family, who live in northern England. He says the majority of his relatives followed the same marriage tradition.

"When she was born she had liver disease. When she had her first liver transplant移植手術, that got rejected拒絕. Then she had a second liver transplant while she was still there. And then my son was born and he had exactly the same problem."

General practitioner Dr. Rizwan Alidina from Birmingham says the practice has been common for centuries, as a means to preserve維護, 保持 family wealth. He does not believe, however, in passing legislation法律 - banning traditions observed by a specific group of people. He's an advocate for倡導 the power of education.

"If you go down the legislation route, you get non-engagement, but if you actually start looking at educating and being able to give informed consent choices… because, remember, that these people getting married are adults."

Even though the infant mortality rate新生兒死亡率 within the Pakistani community is high, the risk of developing other severe illness is even higher, indicating that a healthier future should perhaps come from within.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/10/121012_witn_marrying_first_cousin.shtml

Chicago teacher's strike

The decision by union leaders to extend延長 their consultation period咨詢期 over a deal reached with the city at the weekend, has escalated升級 a political battle with Chicago's mayor. Rahm Emanuel vowed誓言 to end what he called an illegal strike.

It's the first of its kind in twenty five years, and is awkward尷尬 for President Obama, who has close ties密切關係 to the mayor and whose political career was forged成型 in Chicago. In a tough election battle選戰, he needs the support of the teachers unions, the Democrats have long counted on依靠. But the president has pushed for the very reforms at issue here, including teacher evaluations the union says could lead to thousands being unfairly sacked.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120918_witn_teachers_strike.shtml

Working could kill us

Too much work, too little time and no freedom to make decisions can lead to a form of stress known as job strain工作壓力. It can appear出現 in any profession職業, but is more common in lower skilled jobs低技術工作 which can combine tough強大的 workloads工作量 and little responsibility.

The analysis looked at data from nearly two hundred thousand people in thirteen European countries. It found that those in high strain jobs were twenty three per cent more likely to have had a heart attack or to have died from coronary heart disease冠狀動脈心臟疾病. However, smoking, not exercising or having an unhealthy diet all have a much greater impact on the heart.

Agencies, such as the British Heart Foundation, said stress at work was often unavoidable無可避免的, but people in high stress jobs could target risks to their heart in other areas of their lives.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120917_witn_work_stress.shtml

Nursery offers time for making babies

This is Malcolm Brabant in Denmark, where a group of nursery幼稚園 workers have made the children's parents an offer that's hard to refuse難以拒絕: 'we'll look after your children for an extra two hours for free, so that you can go to bed and make more babies.' This once-off一次性 service is designed to draw attention to the dwindling不斷減少 number of births and to do something about it.

In terms of birth rate, Denmark languishes一蹶不振 at number 185 out of 221 countries in the world. If the increasingly越來越多 older population continues to expand, Denmark will not be able to support pensioners退休人員 and others dependent on state benefits.

The nurseries offering free babysitting are in the district區 of North Fyn, to the west of Copenhagen, where 200 fewer babies were born last year. Dorthe Nyman, the head of the Grasshopper蚱蜢？ nursery, described it as a serious problem.

Fifty percent of parents have accepted their offer, but there'll be no time for a romantic dinner and slow seduction誘惑 because couples only have two hours to perform in the national interest. Ms Nyman said if their offer was successful, they'd be happy to do it all over again.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120914_witn_denmark_babies.shtml

Things are looking up

Chris: Hi, I'm Chris, and welcome to The English We Speak. It's a nice day here in London, so I've come outside to meet Helen. Ah, there she is! Helen, how are you?

Helen: I'm... fine... thanks.

Chris: What are you doing? What are you looking at?

Helen: I'm looking up.

Chris: R-Right. But I can't see anything.

Helen: Neither can I.

Chris: Have you seen an aeroplane飛機 or something?

Helen: Not sure...

Chris: Maybe a bird?

Helen: Well, apparently顯然地 things are looking up.

Chris: Things are looking up?

Helen: Yes, Rosie told me that the weather has been sunny for the last three days, so things are looking up. I thought I'd come and see for myself... But there's not much going on to be honest.

Chris: Ah, I think you've misunderstood. Rosie didn't mean there are things up in the sky.

Helen: Really? What do you mean?

Chris: It's an expression. You use the phrase 'things are looking up' when you want to suggest that conditions are getting better or more positive.

Helen: Oh, right...

Chris: Here are some examples:

• My wife and I both found great new jobs last month, so things are looking up.

• Things are finally looking up now that he's recovered from his illness.

Helen: So when Rosie told me that things were looking up, she meant that the weather has been getting better at the moment.

Chris: Yes, she's suggesting that it looks like the weather in general is improving. So what do you think? Do you think the weather is getting better?

Helen: So far, yes, yesterday was really hot. I hope it lasts for the weekend… But if things get worse, would you say, 'things are looking down'?

Chris: Not really. Instead, you could say: "It's taken a turn for the worse".

Helen: It's taken a turn for the worse. That's a useful phrase.

Chris: Oh, but hang on... look at that black cloud in the sky. It looks like it might rain after all. That's typical English weather!

Helen: Oh great. Things really have taken a turn for the worse! Quick, let's get back to the office before it rains.

Chris: Let's go! Do join us again for another edition of The English We Speak and visit our website, bbclearningenglish.com. Bye!

Helen: Bye!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2012/10/121009_tews_92_things_are_looking_up.shtml

Californian stink!

The complaint calls came in as people wondered where the overwhelming絕大多數 odor氣味 was coming from. Air quality officials空氣檢測員 went searching for the sulphur硫磺 smell, checking rubbish dumps, refineries煉油廠 and the usual suspects嫌疑犯.

But finally the stink was linked to the Salton Sea - the state's biggest lake - created by mistake a century ago when water irrigation灌溉 engineers accidentally diverted轉移 the entire整個 Colorado River into the desert for 18 months. Fed since then by fertilizer-laden肥料 irrigation run-off water, the sea suffers periodic booms繁榮 and busts蕭條 of life. Millions of fish recently perished滅亡 and stormy weather暴風雨 whipped up刮起 the stink from the bottom of the shallow lake淺水湖 and spread the smell of rotten臭雞蛋 eggs 150 miles.

"It was a very large and unusual odour event", the air quality inspectors informed the public, but now the wind's changed and much of southern California is smelling sweetly once again.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120913_witn_la_stink.shtml

"Draconian" drunk cycling law in Poland

It's exercise time for the inmates犯人 at this semi-open prison on the outskirts郊區 of Warsaw. Among the prisoners is 41-year-old Slawomir. He'd cycled騎車 to buy groceries雜貨店 when he bumped遇到 into a friend he'd not seen since his schooldays. They drank a few beers, and Slawomir was caught by the police on his way home. He says he doesn't feel like a criminal.

Slawomir, prisoner: 
"I think this is too strict. I have a family, a 9-year-old son, and all of a sudden this has happened. My family is very sad. It's my daughter's wedding on Saturday and I don't know if I can go, probably not. I think a different type of punishment would be more useful."

The alcohol limit for both cycling and driving is low, just one beer and you can be over it. Most offenders on bicycles are usually finedand banned from cycling. If you can't pay, or break the ban even while sober清醒, you'll probably end up in prison. Pawel Moczydlowski, the former head of the Polish Prison Service, says the law is both draconian嚴厲的 and ineffective無效的.

Pawel Moczydlowski, former head of the Polish Prison Service: 
"This is a crazy policy and we have overcrowded擠 prisons. For me it's not possible to accept this law because the people who are drunk and they are on the bicycle usually they are alcoholic. These people are sick and the reaction should be to treat these people, not to punish these people."

For almost a decade, there's often been more drunk cyclists in Polish prisons than drunk drivers. In terms of the law, one cycling enthusiasts運動愛好者' group says, Poland is the Saudi Arabia of Europe.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120911_witn_poland_cyclists.shtml

Courageous burglar

Instead of handing down a hefty沈重 jail term監禁 to Richard Rochford for burgling three homes in five days, Judge Peter Bowers was sympathetic同情. He acknowledged that burglary竊案 victims suffer trauma but, after hearing that Rochford had given up drugs, gave him a suspended 12-month sentence, a one-year driving ban and an order to complete drug rehabilitation.戒毒

But what really drew the ire of引起憤怒 his critics were his comments. He told the court, "It takes a huge amount of courage to burgle somebody's house. I wouldn't have the nerve." The Prime Minister, David Cameron, speaking on ITV, joined the outcry強烈的 against the judge.

"Burglary is not bravery華麗的, burglary is cowardice膽怯, burglary is a hateful crime. People sometimes say it's not a violent crime but actually if you've been burgled you do feel it was violent."

Mark Clayton's house was burgled by Rochford, and he says that the judge's definition of courage is wrong.

"I did 22 years with Her Majesty's forces. I served in some unsavoury令人討厭的 spots in the world and I've had to do a lot of things that, you would say, took immense巨大的 courage, not just me but, as a team, took an immense amount of courage."

Jeremy Dean, QC, a criminal defence lawyer, said the judge's use of the word 'courage' was unfortunate.

"Sometimes lawyers, as well as everyone else, use language which they subsequently.後來 regret後悔, and this was regrettable令人遺憾的, but the fact of the matter is that the judge clearly passed a sentence which, he believes, is likely to protect the public in the long term, more than to send this particular offender to prison for a limited period of time."

The Office for Judicial司法 Complaints said it is considering the matter after being contacted by members of the public who are angry about the judge's comments.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120910_witn_courageous_burglar.shtml

High-flying president

He famously fought bears, saved the Ussuriysk tiger, flew a fighter jet, put out forest fires from aboard a plane, and just happened to stumble upon意外發現 two ancient古 Greek amphoras陶土罐 while performing a deep-sea dive.潛水 

But now Vladimir Putin is to embark從事 on arguably可以說 his most bizarre離奇的 stunt特技: flying at the head of a flock群 of endangered瀕臨危險的 Siberian cranes. According to reports, this should happen in the Yamal Peninsula, in north-western Siberia, en route to the APEC summit首腦. Mr Putin's spokesman has confirmed that his boss has been taking flying lessons, and that he'll be making a stopover at Yamal, but would not elaborate闡述. 

This is all part of the project 'Flight of Hope', where cranes, born in captivity出生不是在自然環境下, are helped by hang gliders to migrate to Central Asia to spend the winter. But this time, weather permitting允許, flying suspended暫停 under a huge wing, will be Russia's top VIP. Vladimir Putin will be leader of the pack, the Alpha Male, showing the birds the route. 

For the flight, the Russian president will don穿上 a white robe長袍, a helmet頭盔 and a beak鳥嘴! Wildlife experts say this is necessary so that the birds recognise him as their leader. Since they are born in captivity, white robes would be the first thing they remember. During the flight, he's also supposed to emit發出 some specific recognisable sounds. 

Russia's very active blogger and twitter-sphere has, understandably, gone into overdrive, with people refusing to believe this is for real. Spoofs惡搞 are coming in thick and fast, with one blogger announcing that Mr Putin is to lead next year, a shoal淺灘 of endangered fish from the bay海灣 of St Petersburg, to a place where they can spawn產卵 in safety.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120907_witn_flying_putin.shtml

My mind has gone blank

Rosie: Hi. You're listening to The English We Speak. I'm Rosie and today Li is with me.

Li: Hello!

Rosie: And today we're going to be talking about... Er... Li, what are we talking about again?

Li: I don't know, you're the one presenting the programme.

Rosie: I know, but my mind's just gone blank.

Li: Your mind has gone what?

Rosie: My mind's gone blank - which means it's completely empty, like a blank piece of paper.

Li: Oh dear, completely empty? Right, let's start with something basic then. Do you remember what your name is?

Rosie: Of course I remember what my name is! When you say your mind has gone blank, it means you've forgotten what you were going to say.

Li: Oh, I see. So in this case you completely forgot what you were supposed to be talking about in this programme?

Rosie: Exactly! Do you remember it happened to me when I had to give that presentation...

Rosie's boss: Right, now Rosie is going to talk a bit about the project and its aims.

Rosie: Yes. Well... Erm... Erm... Sorry, my mind's just gone completely blank.

Li: Well, don't worry. It happens to the best of us. I was in an interview once and I couldn't think of an answer to a very simple question...

Interviewer: So Li, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Li: Ah, yes... There's so much to say, I don't know where to begin. Let's see... Sorry, my mind's just gone blank.

Interviewer: Right, I see.

Rosie: Ha! And did you get the job?

Li: Yes, I did! I was really surprised after my mind went blank like that in the interview. I suppose I was the best candidate. I do have a lot of experience and they must have really liked me as a person...

Rosie: Ah! I've just remembered what we were supposed to be talking about today! We were going to discuss...

Li: Sorry Rosie, but it's a bit too late now. Next time, perhaps? If your mind doesn't go blank, that is.

Rosie: It won't. Thank you Li.

Li: Join us again for another edition of The English We Speak and visit our website... That is the... Oh, what's the web address again? My mind has gone blank...

Rosie: It's bbclearningenglish.com. Bye!

Li: Bye.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2012/10/121002_tews_91_mind_gone_blank.shtml

Philippine senator’s plagiarism

Senator參議員 Vincente Sotto's speech initially最初 made headlines for very different reasons. He was speaking out against公然反對 a bill promoting促進 free birth control - a divisive subject分裂的主體 in this strictly嚴格 Catholic country. Shedding掉 tears, he said he believed that his baby son had died three decades ago because his wife had been pregnant while taking the contraceptive pill.避孕藥 

Pictures of his emotional address made the front pages of most newspapers. But soon after Mr Sotto gave his speech, a pro-birth control researcher discovered that a large chunk塊 of it - the part where the senator gave evidence to back up支持 his claim說法 - came from a blog called the Healthy Home Economist. 

The blogger, an American woman called Sarah Pope, who has no medical training, says she doesn't agree with Senator Sotto's position and claims that he twisted her words扭曲. The senator has responded to the growing online attacks against him by saying he's a victim of cyber-bullying(網路欺凌).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120904_witn_phillipines_senator.shtml

Shut up

(Li and Rosie are at the cinema)

Li: No, come on... Don't do it! Don't do it!

Rosie: Li... She's an actress女演員 in a film, she can't hear you. And besides, it's rude to talk in the cinema.

Li: But it's just so frustrating. Don't go into the house! Don't do it! Oh, no! I can't watch!

Rosie: Li, shut up!

Li: I know, he's shut her up in that house and won't let her go. She's his prisoner now...

Rosie: No, Li... I was telling you to shut up. It's a rude way of saying 'Be quiet.'

Spectator: Excuse me, will you please shut up?

Rosie: I'm really sorry. Li, I can't take you anywhere.

Li: Oh well look, the film is over now, anyway. Sorry about the talking, but I just get a bit carried away得意忘形.

Rosie: Well, I'm sorry I told you to shut up. It is quite a rude expression in English, but you just kept talking and wouldn't shut up!

Li: So can I tell someone to shut up when they're making noise?

Rosie: You can, but it's informal and can be rude. So, if you're in a formal context, you should say something like "Could you please be quiet?"

Li: OK, so in a meeting, if someone is speaking, I won't tell them to shut up. I'll say: "Could you please be quiet?" But if I'm really annoyed at one of my friends, I can tell them to shut up.

Rosie: Yes, although sometimes it's used when people are joking in English. Let's listen to some examples:

• "I'm so tired. And thirsty. When are we going to get there? If only you'd drive a bit faster..."
• "Will you please shut up? I can't concentrate with your constant不斷的moaning.呻吟"

• "I look fat in this dress. It's so clingy緊貼!"
• "Oh shut up! You look great."

• "I just read the whole book in an hour."
• "Shut up! No one can read that quickly."

Rosie: So in that first example, we heard the expression 'shut up' used in a serious way. But in the second and third examples, it doesn't mean we want someone to be quiet - it means: "I don't believe you" or "Don't be ridiculous!"

Li: So when someone says something silly or ridiculous, we can say 'shut up'. And again, we only really do this with people we know well as it's informal. You've been warned!

Rosie: Well, one thing's for sure, I'm never, and I mean never, going to the cinema with you again.

Li: Shut up! I don't believe you... You love going to cinema with me. I always buy you popcorn!

Rosie: Shut up! I always get the popcorn!

Li: Oh, shut up.

Rosie: You shut up...

Li: No you shut up.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2012/09/120925_tews_90_shut_up.shtml

France's drug wars

France's second city is in the grip of正在經歷 a violent turf war地盤爭奪 over drugs. It's not new but it's getting worse all the time. 19 people have now been killed in the Marseille region this year alone, two this week. The police say nearly all the killings are carried out by riva競爭者, 對手l drug dealers毒販 on the gritty不友善的 housing estates屋 in the north of the city, using machine guns from eastern Europe bought on the black market. 

While the government quickly ruled out sending in the military, the prime minister has announced公布 an urgent meeting will be held next week to examine檢查 the situation in France's second-biggest city.

The illegal drug trade used to be run by the Marseille and Corsican underworld地下社會. However, the authorities say they have now been replaced by far more ruthless無情的 and reckless魯莽的 French youths of North African origin who see drugs as a quick route out of poverty.

With drug dealing the biggest single employer on many housing estates, the police say no matter how many people are arrested there are always youths ready to fill the vacuum.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120903_witn_france_drug_war.shtml