Drug-resistant malaria

Artemisinin is a frontline前線,第一線 drug in the fight against malaria. It's used around the world, and can clear the infection in just a few days. 

But reports of resistance對抗 began to emerge出現 in western Cambodia in 2008, and this has now spread蔓延 to other areas in South East Asia. 

To investigate, scientists sequenced the genomes基因組 of more than 800 malaria-causing parasites寄生蟲 collected from all around the world. 

They found that some of the strains菌株 present in Cambodia were significantly different to the rest, and these were able to withstand承受 artemisinin treatment. 

The researchers don't yet know how the parasites are beating the drugs. 

But they say understanding their genetic fingerprint will help them to quickly detect偵測 and track跟蹤 these strains if they spread.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/04/130429_witn_malaria.shtml

On the up

(Jennifer and Jean are finishing work for the day.)

Jennifer: Jean, look at the time! It's 5 o'clock. Time to go home. Are you coming out for a drink after work?

Jean: Sure, shall we go to the bar on the ground floor?

Jennifer: Great idea, I love it there. It's very handy working six floors above one of the best bars in London!

Jean: I know. Let's go. Shall we take the stairs? I know six floors is a long way down, but the lift is always broken.

Jennifer: I think it's been fixed now... let's see...

(Pushes button, lift doors open)

Jean: It has been fixed. Great!

Jennifer: Things are on the up in this place!

Jean: Up? That's not right, we need to go down. The bar is on the ground floor, we are on the sixth, so we definitely shouldn't be going up...

Jennifer: No, that's not what I mean. In English, the phrase 'on the up' is used to describe something that is improving, or getting better. Things are 'on the up' here – they are getting better because the lift has been fixed.

Jean: I see!

Jennifer: Let's hear some more examples of this phrase.

• My sister has just got a new job. The company has given her a house and a car as part of the deal – things are on the up for her!
• The economy is on the up now that the new government is in power. They've already helped to create thousands of new jobs!

Jean: On the up. Great phrase!

(Lift bell rings)

Jennifer: Well, here we are, I'll get the drinks in. What would you like?

Jean: I think I'll go for a cocktail, please, a Cosmopolitan一種雞尾酒 maybe?

Jennifer: No problem, I'll get one too. Two Cosmopolitans, please.

Barman: It's your lucky day! All cocktails are half price today!

Jean: Brilliant, things are on the up because the price has gone down!

Jennifer: Very good!

Jean: Cheers! (Clinking glasses)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2013/04/130423_tews_120_on_the_up.shtml

A white elephant

(Finn and Feifei on a visit to the zoo)

Feifei: Hi. I'm Feifei and joining us here today in the zoo to present The English We Speak is Finn.

Finn: Hi.

Feifei: What's the matter, Finn? You sound worried. The zoo is a place of fun.

Finn: Yes, and I love animals too. But I don't know what I'm going to do with that white elephant.

Feifei: That one over there?

Finn: No. The one my uncle is giving me.

Feifei: Your uncle is giving you an elephant?

Finn: Yeah, he is moving to South Africa and he's giving away some of his things.

Feifei: And are you ready to take care of an elephant?

Finn: That's the problem. I'm not. It is beautiful...

Feifei: Oh yes, I'm sure it is!

Finn: ...and it is powerful...

Feifei: Yes, very powerful!

Finn: But it needs too much petrol!

Feifei: Petrol?!

Finn: Yes. Old sports cars need a lot of petrol, you know.

Feifei: That's a relief. You're talking about a car.

Finn: Of course! I wasn't talking about an actual elephant.

Feifei: The elephant sounds relieved too.

Finn: Yes, he does. In English, when you call something a 'white elephant' you mean that it's large, costs a lot of money to keep and has no useful purpose.

Feifei: A sports car is useful.

Finn: Not for me. I am a cyclist and I love my bicycle. Listen to some examples of how to use this expression.

• I've paid a lot of money for this posh豪華的 designer dress that I never use. It is a white elephant!

• The new airport is a white elephant! It's got four runways and it's equipped配備 with the latest technology, but not many people visit this region.

Feifei: Oh. So a 'white elephant' is something that might look good but in reality it's a waste of space.

Finn: Yes, it is.

Feifei: Unlike these elephants we have here in the zoo. They seem to be very popular.

Finn: Shall we go and have a look, Feifei?

Feifei: Indeed and they're grey, not white!

Finn: Bye.

Feifei: Bye.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2013/04/130402_tews_117_white_elephant.shtml

Finger on the pulse

(Finn and Feifei are in the cinema; the film is about to start)

Finn: Hi, I'm Finn. This is The English We Speak. And this is Feifei.

Feifei: Hi. I hope you can hear me. This cinema is very crowded吵鬧的! I've never heard of this movie... and who are these actors, Finn?!

Finn: Well, Feifei, when it comes to the best new actors, I have my finger on the pulse.

Feifei: Finger on the pulse? Oh, don't do that here, Finn. You mean you touch the wrists手腕 of all these film actors? Where is your British reserve?!

Finn: No. I am not going to touch anybody's pulse or wrists and my fingers are here, in my popcorn爆米花. In English, 'to have your finger on the pulse' means: to be familiar熟悉 with the latest trends最新的趨勢 and developments.

Feifei: Ahhhh, that's a relief.

Finn: You might hear the expression 'to have your finger on the pulse' or 'to keep your finger on the pulse'. Let's hear some examples.

• You have to keep your finger on the pulse of consumer trends if you want to succeed in business.

• How do I manage to dress so well all the time? I buy this fashion magazine every week because it really has its finger on the pulse.

Feifei: Ah I see. So this expression is about keeping up-to-date with trends.

Finn: Yes it is.

Feifei: Finn, I've been looking at the poster of the film while we wait for the door to open and... this film...

Finn: 'The City That Never Sleeps'. Yes?

Feifei: There is a picture of a zombie殭屍 on the poster... and... what is that in the corner? A dead woman! Is it a horror movie, Finn?!

Finn: Calm down. It is a great movie. Full of blood and suspense. It will be a thrill驚險片!

Feifei: Oh. I don't like that, Finn! I really don't like that! I get really upset when I watch this sort of movie. My heart races... here, put your actual finger on my actual pulse... Here.

Finn: Oh, OK, OK, sorry Feifei. Your heart is beating very fast. I didn't know you had a problem with horror movies. Let's go and watch a musical then.

Feifei: 'The Sound of Music'?

Finn: Go on then!

Feifei: That's much nicer! Bye.

Finn: Bye.

Both: (Singing) Doe, a deer, a female deer. Ray, a drop of golden sun...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2013/03/130326_tews_116_finger_on_the_pulse.shtml

LOL!

Jennifer: Hello, and welcome to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. I'm Jennifer, and with me in the studio today is Rob.

Rob: Hi there!

Jennifer: In this programme, we teach you about English words or phrases that you might find a little confusing.

(Phone text message sound)

Jennifer: Rob! You shouldn't have your phone switched on in the studio! It's not professional!

Rob: Sorry Jen, it's just a text message... It's from my friend - I made her a cake for her birthday.

Jennifer: That's very kind of you. Is she texting you to say thank you?

Rob: Well... actually... no! In fact, I think she's angry at me!

Jennifer: What do you mean?

Rob: Let me read it out. Her message said: "I'm supposed to be on a diet - don't make me any more delicious cakes ever again!" I think I've really upset her!

Jennifer: Are you sure you've read it correctly?

Rob: Yes! She's upset, I'm a bad friend - what should I do?

Jennifer: Hold on, let me have a look at the message - pass your phone over.

Rob: OK, here you go.

Jennifer: It says "I'm supposed to be on a diet - don't make me any more delicious cakes ever again..." Ah, I understand now. I don't think your friend is cross with you.

Rob: Really, why not?

Jennifer: Look at the text message. Do you see that she has written the letters L.O.L. - or LOL - at the end?

Rob: Oh yes! I didn't spot that... L.O.L. LOL. What does that mean?

Jennifer: It's a good example of English 'text speak', that is, language people use when texting, writing emails or talking over the internet. LOL, or L.O.L. stands for 'laughing out loud'.

Rob: Laughing out loud?

Jennifer: Yes, it's used instead of the sound of laughter. It’s usually used to show that something is a joke, or that a comment is meant to be funny - so your friend was joking when she said "don't make me any more delicious cakes!"

Rob: Phew! That's a relief. So I can write LOL on the end of a message, to let people know that I'm laughing or joking about something?

Jennifer: That's right.

Rob: Right! I'm going to practise. Let me send you a message. (Typing on phone) Sent!

Jennifer: (Text message sound) OK let me read it. "Hi Jen, I've decided that teaching English is too difficult. I'm going to teach Spanish instead, LOL!" I hope you're joking, Rob!

Rob: (Laughing) You KNOW I'm joking, I wrote that I was 'laughing out loud' - LOL - at the end.

Jennifer: Good, because we've got so many more words and phrases to learn in English before you can even think about any other languages! Join us again for another edition of The English We Speak, bye for now!

Rob: Bye!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2013/04/130416_tews_119_lol.shtml