Building a better future

This discussion paper says the antidote解毒劑 to fears about resources is what's known as material efficiency; that's making the things we want, but with less material.

The researchers say we could use half as much cement水泥 in buildings, for instance例子,比方, if we designed and built them with more time and care. We don't do it now because labour's dear and materials are cheap. We could drastically顯著 reduce steel鋼鐵 in cars, if governments deterred阻止 the trend towards bigger, more powerful vehicles.

The researchers say material efficiency is vital重要 for tackling climate change, too. For the UK, for instance, to generate clean energy so materials are produced in current quantities, would need the equivalent of a four-fold increase in nuclear power or a 40-fold increase in wind power. That's barely幾乎 feasible行不通, they say, so resource efficiency is the only way ahead.

The researchers say the trick will be to make sure that good design allows people to continue getting the things they want but simply made from less. For the transition過渡 to happen fully they urge督促 governments to shift taxation稅收 away from people and on to resources. This would be controversial爭論的 but the researchers predict預測 it will create jobs for people to manufacture製造 goods in a more intelligent way.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/01/130128_witn_resource_shortage.shtml

Listing all species on earth 'a possibility'

We've already found more than a million species, but unearthing發掘 the rest was thought to be an impossible task.

But now it seems an army of amateur業餘 scientists have taken up the cause. A new study concludes總結 that, thanks to them, we're in a golden age of discovery, with 20,000 new finds charted繪製 each year.

There could also be far fewer plants and animals left for them to find. The researchers say rather than tens of millions of species living on Earth, there could be between two and eight million.

If the appetite for discovery continues to grow, they say a full ecological生態 audit審計 could be a possibility within the next 100 years.

The scientists also looked at the numbers of species going extinct滅絕的, and said this had been overestimated高估.

Professor Mark Costello, from the University of Auckland, is the lead author of the study:

"Suddenly people say we're in the middle of a mass extinction大滅絕 crisis well that's a bit premature過早的 because when we look at the extinction rates that are actually happening they're not as bad as people have been letting on."

But the International Union for the Conservation of Nature disagreed with the team's conclusion that the rate of new species found was higher than the numbers being lost.

The organisation's deputy director said it was more important to save species than to count them.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/01/130125_witn_listing_all_species.shtml

Tourists take on shark

In a scene reminiscent of令人想起 the film Jaws, a shark approaches靠近 the shore岸邊 of an Australian beach.

However, unlike the film, beachgoers don't flee from從…逃離 the fish, they wrestle搏鬥 it and attempt to coax哄 it back out to sea.

The shark was also spotted發現 in the shallow淺水 waters of a creek小溪 by frightened嚇壞的 parents, children and tourists before finding its way back to open water.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/01/130123_vwitn_tourists_take_on_shark.shtml

To know your onions

Li: Hello, I'm Li and welcome to The English We Speak, and today I'm here with Rob. Hi Rob.

Rob: Hello Li. Now come on Li, concentrate, I need you to help me finish this quiz in the newspaper. If I get all the questions right, I might win a holiday.

Li: Oh right. I love quizzes, especially if it means you can win a holiday! OK Rob, what's your next question?

Rob: Right. It says here, what is the capital city of Chile?

Li: Easy. Santiago.

Rob: Good. Next, what is the name of the world's largest ocean?

Li: The Pacific – of course!

Rob: Wow – you're good Li. You really know your onions.

Li: I know my onions? Err, was there a question about onions?!

Rob: No Li!

Li: Good, because that is one thing I don't know anything about, onions – except that they make me cry.

Rob: Don't cry Li. It's a compliment. If someone says you know your onions, it means you are experienced in something or you know a lot about a particular subject. So really, it means you're clever!

Li: Oh really?! But why 'onions'?

Rob: It is a strange term and some people say it comes from a man called S.G. Onions who made fake coins to help teach children about money. If they learnt about money they would know their onions.

Li: I see. But I suppose now we just use it as a silly expression.

Rob: We do. Like this...

• If you ever need someone to fix your computer, ask Bob, he really knows his onions!

• Look, you got full marks in the maths test – you really do know your onions.

• That tour guide really knew her onions, didn't she?

Li: So knowing your onions means knowing a lot about something. Well that describes me very well then!

Rob: Hmm. Now another way of saying it, is that you really know your stuff.

Li: Stuff. You mean like this...

• When it comes to making cakes, my mum really knows her stuff.

Rob: Well, knowing your onions or knowing your stuff, is very useful when you're doing a quiz like this. So Li, here's another question Li. Complete the name of this flavour of crisp... 'Cheese and something...?'

Li: Oh, that's tricky... cheese and ham? Cheese and apple? I've got it! It's cheese and onion crisps!

Rob: Brilliant Li. You really do know your onions. And now I might win a holiday.

Li: That's great but who are you going to take with you?

Rob: Probably my girlfriend.

Li: Oh right. I didn't want to go with you anyway – you have got onion breath!

Rob: Oh dear. Join us again soon for another programme about everyday English sayings.

Li: Bye!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2013/01/130122_tews_107_know_your_onions.shtml

What does Europe want from Obama?

In President Obama's second term there are two longer-term developments that will affect the relationship with Europe. The first is the US budget deficit, the second the so-called "pivot曲紐" - or the rebalancing of focus towards Asia. 

America's finances will mean, now even more than in the first term, the US will be what some have called a "frugal節儉 superpower" -leading from behind as they did in Libya, and as they look to be doing in Mali. 

But then that frugal nature is not altogether一起, 通通 bad news. The US remains by far迄今為止 the biggest customer for European exporters. 

Generally the Europeans are content with the status quo現狀. The last thing they need at a time when Europe is so embroiled in捲入 its own internal debates辯論, is the external distraction of a change in guard保衛 across the pond池塘.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/01/130121_witn_what_does_europe_want_from_obama.shtml

Whistling language

After almost dying out in the 1970s, a kind of whistling language is now undergoing a revival正處於復甦

Silbo Gomero, as it's known, has become a compulsory義務 subject in one school in Spain's Canary Islands.

The whistling approximates the sounds of the Spanish language.

It can be heard from two miles away, and was used to communicate across valleys山谷 and ravines峽谷 before the arrival of telephones.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/01/130116_vwitn_whistling_language.shtml

Armstrong's confession

The confession took long time to come. Despite being stripped of被剝奪 his Tour de France titles last year following a doping investigation, Lance Armstrong always denied cheating. 

But he had been lying. The 41-year-old American cyclist told Oprah Winfrey he used performance enhancing增加 drugs in every Tour de France contest he won. 

He took banned substances物質 and used blood transfusions to boost提高 his performance. Without them, he said, it wouldn't have been possible to win. 

Armstrong said he kept repeating "one big lie" and conceded that his admission would be "too late" for most people. "All the fault and all the blame lies with me," Lance Armstrong said. 

But he claimed his actions had not felt like cheating at the time and denied having pressurised other members of his team to dope.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/01/130118_witn_armstrong.shtml

Golden Globes

Argo pulled off a surprise win. Directed by Ben Affleck, the film revolves around圍繞 the Iran hostage crisis in 1979. It beat Steven Speilberg's Lincoln which had been the favourite to take the award for best drama. 

Speaking at the ceremony, former president Bill Clinton said Lincoln was an extraordinary非凡的 film. Its leading man Daniel Day-Lewis was named best actor:

Actor, Daniel Day-Lewis:
Are you sure there's room for another ex-president on this stage? Well, if you thought that was showing off, Her Majesty the Queen of England is about to parachute降落 in in a couple of minutes to make a last minute pitch for Skyfall.

In the category for best musical, Les Miserables won the top award. There were also accolades榮譽 for its stars Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway. In other categories, the award for best song went to Adele for her James Bond theme, Skyfall.

The singer was a little overwhelmed不堪重負 by her success:

Singer-songwriter, Adele:
Honestly I've come out for a night out with my friend Ida, we're new mums. We've literally come for a night out, I was not expecting this. Thank you so much. It's so good. It's very strange to be here. Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your world for a night. It's amazing.

In the category for best foreign language film, the Austrian drama Amour was the winner. And in the television section, Downton Abbey lost out to輸給了 Homeland for the award of best drama.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/01/130114_witn_golden_globes.shtml

Take with a pinch of salt

Kaz: Hi. You're listening to The English We Speak. I'm Kaz and today I'm having dinner at Li's house.

Li: Hi, I'm Li and I've prepared some chocolate mousse慕斯 for dessert.

Kaz: Oh thanks. I love chocolate mousse. Mmm, it's delicious.

Li: Good! Anyway, what was I saying? Oh yes, I don't know if I want to stay in this house. I mean, Chris thinks it's haunted鬼屋 and that there are ghosts here! He says he can sense their presence存在...

Kaz: Really? I can't sense anything.

Li: Shhh... listen? Can you hear something?

Kaz: No Li, I can't hear anything - just the wind outside. If you want my advice, you should take it with a pinch of salt.

Li: OK, I will... Yuck! That's disgusting.

Kaz: Li, what are you doing?

Li: I just ate my chocolate mousse with a pinch of salt, as you suggested, and it's absolutely disgusting.

Kaz: Li, I was talking about what Chris said about ghosts in your house. In English, if you take something with a pinch of salt, it means you don't completely believe it.

Li: Really? What a weird expression. So if I take something with a pinch of salt, it means I doubt whether something is true.

Kaz: Yes, and sometimes Chris does exaggerate誇大, so you shouldn't always believe everything he says.

Li: Let's hear some examples:

• Apparently they're going to sell the company and make everyone redundant多餘的.
• You should take it with a pinch of salt; it's only a rumour謠言.

• The other day he told me he speaks 23 languages fluently.
• I take everything he says with a pinch of salt because I know he likes to exaggerate.

Li: Ah, right. So when Chris told me there were spirits精神 or ghosts in my house, I should take it with a pinch of salt. Maybe he's just making it up to scare me!

Kaz: I'm sure he just said it as a joke. Do you want some more chocolate mousse - without a pinch of salt this time?

Li: Good idea. Mmm, it does taste really nice without salt.

(Sound of banging, creaking)

Li: What was that?

Kaz: It's probably the wind?

(Ghost sounds - oooooo ooooooo)

Li: It's not the wind. Someone's in the house! Look, there's someone coming into the room!

Voice: Ooooo, Oooooooo, I'm a ghost!

Kaz: What the...? Hang on a minute, I recognise that voice.

Li: Chris, Chris? Is that you? Why are you covered in a white sheet?

Chris: I'm a ghost that's come to haunt you... I heard you made some chocolate mousse, Li, so I came over to eat some... Ooooo...

Li: You scared us! I really do have to take what you say and do with a pinch of salt.

Chris: Mmm... delicious!

All: Bye!

Li: Unbelievable!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2013/01/130115_tews_106_take_with_a_pinch_of_salt.shtml

China to invest in low-cost homes

The government's promising to build or renovate修復 10 million households家庭 for low-income families this year and next. Officials will provide about 40% of the cost. The rest will be raised from the families or companies who benefit from the programme. 

It's an ambitious有雄心 target, perhaps too ambitious. The state-controlled media here says, last year, a plan to build just under six million affordable homes wasn't completed. It's getting harder and harder for families in Chinese cities to buy even a small apartment. 

The government's responded with measures to try to curb抑制 speculation推測, making it more expensive to buy second homes, and telling local governments to set price targets. Qi Ji, a housing minister, said these price curbs were an effort to direct the limited supply of housing towards those who needed it most. 

Property developers房地產開發商 are already complaining that the plans to build so many affordable homes will hit their profits利潤. Ten million units would be more than half the number of new homes built here last year. 

But China's Premier, Wen Jiabao, has promised to work harder to address public concerns about the housing market. Reports in the state media quote飲用 officials as saying a new round of controls will be introduced if property prices don't stabilise in the weeks ahead.

Chris Hogg, BBC News, Shanghai
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/03/110309_witn_houseschina_page.shtml

Billionaires list grows despite downturn

Forbes has been tracking the world's billionaires since 1987 and this year there are more mega-wealthy individuals than ever before.

The world's richest man is still Carlos Slim; the Mexican telecoms tycoon財閥 But fast-growing rivals are challenging US dominance優勢. Asia now has 332 billionaires, even more than in Europe. One hundred and fifteen billionaires are in China, many created as Chinese companies have listed on the stock market. And Moscow is the city with the most billionaire residents. is worth $74 billion. The US has Microsoft's Bill Gates and investor Warren Buffett, plus six Facebook billionaires - 413 American billionaires in all.

Commodities商品, like steel and oil, have soared飆升 in price creating fortunes this year. The authors warn that they may not last.

Caroline Hepker, BBC News, New York

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/03/110311_witn_billionaires_page.shtml

Half of all food wasted

The world has limited resources and a growing population. By the end of this century there could be three billion extra mouths to feed. So wasting food, this new report says, is a tragedy悲劇 that should not continue. The study says changing the way consumers in the rich world reject less-than-perfect-looking vegetables in the shops, and eat large quantities of meat - which requires a lot of resources to bring to market - could have an impact. 

But the engineers who wrote this report also recommend better use of scarce稀缺 land and water around the whole world. They say that putting more land to agriculture will be difficult without damaging the environment, so improving the efficiency of farming is vital重要. The report says better irrigation灌溉 is the key here, because water used in agriculture is often sourced來源 badly: from aquifers含水層 which are poorly managed. In some cases, the engineers say, governments and aid agencies have exacerbated加劇 this problem by sinking boreholes鑽孔 in the wrong places. 

The report also says that irrigating灌溉 crops農作物 through spraying噴 or flooding fields is wasteful because so much of the water evaporates蒸發. It says that drip滴灌 or trickle細流 methods of irrigation, while more expensive to install, can be as much as a third more efficient.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/01/130111_witn_food_waste.shtml

Shark fin discovery

Thousands of shark fins魚翅 drying on a Hong Kong rooftop.

It's thought they were stored away from the gaze of tourists and conservationists who find the trade hard to stomach.

They say the practice of removing the fin and tossing扔, 丟 the shark back into the sea is barbaric野蠻的.

But shark's fin soup is considered a delicacy美味的 by many Chinese diners食客, who also claim it has medicinal qualities藥用價值
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/01/130109_vwitn_shark_fin_discovery.shtml

Not rocket science

(Sound of a rocket being launched)

Kaz: Hello, I'm Kaz.

Yang Li: And I'm Yang Li. Hey Kaz, why are we listening to this rocket launch?

Kaz: Well, it's dramatic, but there's another reason. I thought it could introduce today's expression.

Yang Li: Tell me more.

Kaz: The expression is 'It's not rocket science'.

Yang Li: 'It's not rocket science', meaning?

Kaz: Something that's not complicated or difficult to understand - 'it's not rocket science'.

Yang Li: For example?

Kaz: OK. Somebody can't get the television to work and asks you, "How do I switch this thing on?" You would say "It's not rocket science. Just press 'on' on the handset".

Yang Li: So there's nothing complicated about it. You just press the 'on' switch and away you go. But is the expression 'it's not rocket science' only used for gadgets小工具?

Kaz: No, not at all, Li. In fact it's used for many situations that are just obvious... for example - why are we always short of money?

Yang Li: Well, it's not rocket science Kaz - we don't get paid enough!

Kaz: Brilliant Li. That's an excellent example.

Yang Li: Yes, I like it too. But let's listen to some more examples:

• How do I cook this soup?
• Come on Rob, it's not rocket science, all you have to do is open the tin罐頭 and heat it up.
• I can't understand why our company is in such a mess?
• It's not rocket science to figure that out - there are too many managers!

Yang Li: OK Kaz, the phrase 'it's not rocket science' is used for situations that are obvious. But I get the feeling that the phrase 'it's not rocket science' is quite informal, right?

Kaz: You're right Li. So please use with care!

Yang Li: Absolutely.

Kaz: It's usually used with the negative 'It's not rocket science'.

Yang Li: Well, I'm sure of one thing Kaz.

Kaz: What's that Li?

Yang Li: Presenting this programme is not exactly rocket science - it's easy!

Both: Bye!

(Sound of a rocket being launched)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/

Australian cigarette packaging

Tobacco companies and retailers零售商 that try to circumvent規避 Australia's plain-packaging laws could face prosecution起訴, according to health authorities.

They're investigating whether to take action against cardboard紙板 covers and stickers that hide graphic anti-smoking warnings.

One firm that produces labels says that sales have soared飆升 because consumers can't stand the sight of the packets they buy.

Just over a month ago, Australia banned all tobacco company logos and colours from packaging, which now has disturbing colour pictures of smokers suffering from tongue舌頭 and lung cancer.

The president of the Australian Medical Association, Steve Hambleton, is confident that those who attempt to skirt避免 the legislation will be shut down.

President of the Australian Medical Association, Steve Hambleton:
If you're trying to circumvent it, it's not right, and I know that the government will actually either fix the problem by changing the law or enforcing the law. But the second thing I thought was, this is obviously working. If companies are going out of their way to hide the warnings and to hide the labels, they know it's having an impact and that's reassuring令人欣慰的 for us.

Tobacco companies had argued that Australia's plain packaging measures措施 would deprive剝奪 them of copyright without proper適當的 compensation補償. But in August their case was dismissed by the High Courts.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/01/130107_aus_cig_packaging.shtml

Italian car sales crash

Italians' love for fast cars is legendary眾所皆知. But glamour魅力 is, it would seem, no defence against the current economic gloom暗淡, 低迷.

New figures from the Italian motor dealers經銷商' federation聯盟 show that the country's best known luxury sports cars, Ferrari and Maserati, have seen their sales in Italy plummet垂直落下 over the past year; Ferrari's by more than 56%, Maserati's by 72%.

The actual實際 number of vehicles sold is, of course, tiny. Just 248 Italians forked out for支出 a Ferrari last year, not surprising, perhaps, when each car costs the equivalent of up to $300,000.

The head of the motor traders' federation blamed high taxes for the fall in sales.

However, while poorer Italians may register an uncharacteristic flicker of schadenfreude幸災樂禍 at the news that their richer compatriots同胞 are cutting back, they won't have much time to gloat.

Official figures recently showed that almost a third of Italians are on the verge of poverty貧困邊緣, while the average Italian family is bracing itself for支撐 an extra €585 of government taxes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/01/130104_witn_italian_car_sales_crash.shtml

The fruits of hard labour

The poignant令人心酸的 fruits of a prison courtyard.

On South Africa's Robben Island, famous for its jail, volunteers are harvesting收穫 vines葡萄樹 planted種植 in a garden once tended by受...照顧 its most famous inmate, Nelson Mandela.

Over the years many people have been accused of trying to cash in on the Mandela brand but the participants參與者 in this scheme see it as a way of cherishing珍惜 his memory.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/11/130102_vwitn_fruits_of_hard_labour.shtml

US 'fiscal cliff'

The big concern about the standoff對持 in Washington is that the economy could go back into recession不景氣 if the tax increases and spending cuts go through. Any damage could be moderated主持 if the measures are partly reversed逆轉 in the next few months, but there are reports suggesting that there has already been some impact on business investment and jobs.

Some differences between President Obama and the Republicans in Congress have narrowed縮小, on income taxes, for example. But they are not resolved and there remain major divergences分歧 over how to stabilise the US government finances.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/12/121231_witn_us_fiscal_cliff.shtml

Falklands invasion 'surprised' Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher's private reflections反射 about the Falklands War are contained in包含 evidence證據 she gave to a committee of inquiry調查委員會 after the conflict.

"I never never expected the Argentines to invade入侵 the Falklands head-on," she said. "It was such a stupid thing to do ... I did not think it would happen."

But two days before Argentine forces went ashore岸上 Mrs Thatcher was told an invasion侵略 was imminent即將來臨. She thought this was the worst moment of her life. And she said at the time no-one could tell her whether British forces could retake the Falklands.

The government records also describe her determined efforts to prevent France from selling Exocet飛魚 missiles導彈 to Peru because of fears they would be passed on to Argentina.

In a confidential機密的 telegram電報 to President Mitterrand in May 1982 Mrs Thatcher warned him that if it became known that France was releasing the weapons, it would have a devastating破壞性的 effect on the relationship between Britain and France.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/12/121228_witn_thatcher_falklands.shtml

Kids on Bikes

They might not have a wardrobe衣櫃 of Lycra but these racers賽車手 want to win just as much as their professional counterparts同行.

A legacy遺產 of Britain's summer sporting success is that clubs like these are growing in popularity日益普及.

Children as young as two are learning to ride and compete.

It's a far cry from相距甚遠 the pressure of the velodrome but even at this age learning to lose is a harsh嚴酷的 lesson.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/11/121226_vwitn_kids_on_bikes.shtml

Go down a storm

(Stormy weather)

Kaz: Hello, I'm Kaz.

Yang Li: And I'm Yang Li. Hey Kaz, there is a storm raging outside - let's shut that door.

(Door shuts)

Yang Li: Ah that's better. Now I can ask you about your party last weekend. How did it go?

Kaz: It went down a storm Li.

Yang Li: Your party 'went down a storm.' You mean you cancelled it because of the weather? Because of high winds and rain? Or snow?

Kaz: No, no, no Li. If something 'goes down a storm' it means it's massively successful and enjoyable - so my party went really well - it went down a storm.

Yang Li: People loved it?

Kaz: Exactly. People loved my party so I can say 'It went down a storm.'

Yang Li: Your party went down a storm - it was incredible.

Kaz: That's right.

Yang Li: Well, Kaz, I gave a presentation yesterday.

Kaz: Oh OK. How did it go?

Yang Li: It went really well, everyone loved it, it went down a storm.

Kaz: That's great Li.

Yang Li: Yes, I'm delighted欣喜的 and I like today's expression. Let's listen to some more examples:

• You should have seen the new band last night. They went down a storm with the audience.
• My idea for more holidays went down a storm with my colleagues.
• I like the looks of this new toy. I'm sure it'll go down a storm with our customers.

Yang Li: Kaz, you know, to me the word 'storm' has negative associations because storms are usually destructive.

Kaz: I agree Li but in this case it's used in a positive sense.

Yang Li: But it is informal, right?

Kaz: Yes it is.

Yang Li: So our listeners should use it with care.

Kaz: That's right Li. So what do you think our listeners will think of today's expression?

Yang Li: I'm sure it'll go down a storm!

Both: Bye!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2012/12/130101_tews_104_go_down_a_storm.shtml