The secret to a longer life

The hypothalamus下丘腦 is a small structure located deep within內 the brain. It plays a critical role in controlling growth, reproduction生殖 and metabolism代謝 - but now it could hold the key to ageing老化 too. 

A team of scientists in the US looked at this region of the brain in mice小老鼠. They found that blocking a chemical in this area increased the animals' lifespan壽命. Healthy mice typically live for between 600 to 1000 days. 

But the rodents嚙齒動物 in the study were living about a fifth longer without suffering problems that are common in old age, such as muscle loss or memory problems. Conversely反過來, when the scientists boosted提振 the substance in the hypothalamus, the animal's lifespan was shortened. 

The researchers now want to fully understand the biological mechanism behind this process. They say the work could provide new insights見解 into age-related diseases - and in the future even raise the prospect of drugs that could increase our lifespan.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/05/130503_witn_ageing.shtml

Makeover

Catherine: Hello you're listening to The English We Speak with me Catherine.

Feifei: Catherine? Is that you? Wow!! I almost didn't recognise you there! You look totally different!

Catherine: Yes, it's me. What do you think?

Feifei: You look... Different! You've had your hair cut - and it's a different colour!

Catherine: Do you like it?

Feifei: Well yes I do! It's very different to your normal hairstyle! But it really suits you - and it makes you look a lot... Younger!

Catherine: Younger in a good way, i hope...

Feifei: Most definitely! And, let's see... You're wearing a new jumper... New shoes...

Catherine: Do you like them?

Feifei: Well yes! Normally you wear quite dark colours... But these are so bright! You look really pretty!

Catherine: Thanks, Feifei!

Feifei: It's true - but something else is different... Let's see... Aha! Your eyeshadow眼影... Blusher腮紅... Lipstick唇膏 - you've completely changed your make-up!

Catherine: Oh the make-up? Yes, that's different too. Everything's different, in fact! I've had a makeover.

Feifei: A makeover? I said you've changed your make-up. What's all this about a makeover?

Catherine: Yes, I've changed my make-up. And I've changed my hairstyle and the type of clothes I wear too. When you make lots of changes to something so that it looks completely different, fresh, new and much better - you've given it a makeover.

Feifei: Ohhh... You've completely changed your appearance so that you look better, fresher, nicer. That's a makeover. What verbs go with makeover?

Catherine: Have a makeover, give something a makeover, get a makeover, need a makeover. Here are a few examples:

• I was so fed up受夠 with the way my husband dressed穿著. He looked so untidy all the time! I threw out all his old clothes and took him shopping for a complete new wardrobe衣櫃. Now he's had a makeover, he looks as handsome as he did when we first met.
• - This room looks so old-fashioned! It really needs a makeover.
  - Yes, if we paint the walls and change the curtains窗簾 it will look so much better.

Feifei: So not only people but also things can have makeovers.

Catherine: You can give almost anything a makeover, Feifei. Even you can have a makeover - I'll take you shopping if you like! We can start with your hair - a nice short cut I think would suit you, then get you a nice new pair of skinny jeans, and change your makeup, and get...

Feifei: I'm quite happy with the way I look, thanks. I don't think I need a makeover.

Catherine: Oh, OK, sorry.

Feifei: That's OK.

Catherine: Just a haircut then...

Feifei: No!

Catherine: Colour change maybe? A little bit of red here and there?

Feifei: I do not need a makeover.

Catherine: Well, if you change your mind, you know where I am! Now I must be going, I'm going to give my living room a makeover and there's a sale on at the furniture shop.

Feifei: Well, good luck with that Catherine.

Catherine: Thanks Feifei. Join us again for more The English We Speak.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2013/04/130409_tews_118_makeover.shtml

To cook the books

Neil: Hello and welcome to the BBC Learning English kitchen with me, Neil, and my assistant, Feifei.

Feifei: Yes, welcome to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. I am very excited today because Neil has asked me to be his assistant in the BBC Learning English kitchen.

Neil: That's right. I've started boiling the water in the saucepan平底鍋 and now I'll prepare the ingredients.

Feifei: Oh, I'm so excited! I wonder what Neil's going to cook. So what are the ingredients?

Neil: There we go.

Feifei: Neil, I think you are emptying your bag from the library rather than the supermarket!

Neil: No Feifei, this is right. I'm going to cook the books.

Feifei: Cook the books?! Are you crazy?!

Neil: Yes, Feifei. I might look happy and full of joy but there's something terrible I have to admit.

Feifei: Oh no. What's that?

Neil: Well... I have serious financial problems. I'm millions of pounds in debt債務.

Feifei: Oh no! How will cooking the books help?

Neil: It's an expression in English. If you 'cook the books', you change the numbers in a company's financial records so you can take some of the money for yourself illegally.

Feifei: Neil! That's not like you. Let's hear some more examples of that phrase being used.

• A: Did you hear Dave the accountant got fired for stealing from the company?!
• B: Yeah, he'd been cooking the books for years.

• A: The chief executive執行長 of that bank got sent to jail for cooking the books.
• B: Well I think he deserves it. Fraud詐欺 is a serious crime.

Feifei: Hmm, so are you cooking the books so you can pay off your debts?

Neil: Yes, it's the only thing I can think of. I'm desperate絕望!

Feifei: I don't think that's a good idea, Neil. Fraud is a serious crime. Oh, but hang on. What's that floating漂浮的 on the top?

Neil: Oh it's just a lottery ticket. I use them as bookmarks.

Feifei: Let me check the lottery numbers on my smartphone.

Neil: What's the point? I never win.

Feifei: Actually Neil, you've won!

Neil: I've won? I'm a millionaire! My problems are over! Let's celebrate! Let's have a meal! Here - this one I've just cooked.

Feifei: Neil didn't cook the books in vain徒勞. Mmm - these books are actually delicious!

Neil: Not bad, are they?!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2013/04/130430_tews_121_cook_the_books.shtml