Stress in the workplace
Rob And Neil discuss a rise in the number of people suffering from stress in the workplace.
The question is: According to a survey carried out this year, what is considered to be the most stressful job? Is it:
a) A commercial airline pilot
b) A school teacher
c) A surgeon
Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme!
-Vocabulary to understand the text:
stress
a feeling of tension and worry
absence
being unavailable
tough
difficult, hard
employees
people who are paid to work for somebody
taking its toll
causing suffering, harm or damage
public sector
part of the economy that is controlled or supported financially by the government
organisational change
replacing the structure of a workplace with a different one
job security
the probability of someone keeping their job for a long time
redundancies
jobs which will stop existing
a strategy
a plan to achieve something
counselling
professional advice about a problem, often relating to mental health
Handwriting for the modern age
Rob and Cath talk about fonts and how the choice of fonts can indicate what type of person you are.
The question is: Do you know which language the word ‘font’ originates from? Is it:
a) Spanish
b) German
c) French
Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme!
-Vocabulary to understand this text:
fonts
different styles and sizes of letters that are used in printing or typing
an array
a group or collection of things or people, often large or impressive
typography
the way of preparing and arranging printed material, especially designing how text will appear when it’s printed
calligraphy
the art of producing beautiful handwriting often using a brush or a special pen
unsophisticated
simple and basic
characteristics
qualities or features that are typical of someone or something
humanitarian
concerned with reducing suffering and improving the conditions that people live in
competent
efficient and effective
loathed
disliked very much
jaunty
light-hearted, full of confidence and energetic
Aboriginal bones
Rob and Cath talk about why it’s important that Aboriginal bones, which were kept in museums, are being returned to their people.
The question is:
Where in your body would you find the humerus bone? In your:
a) leg
b) arm
c) head
Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme!
-The vocabulary to understand the text is:
native
A native of a country or region is somebody who was born there.
artefacts
An object which is of interest to archaeologists, usually something made by humans.
ancestors
The people we are descended from: our parents, grandparents, etc.
indigenous
People who originally belonged to a place.
safekeeping
To look after something for someone.
torment
Extreme unhappiness, pain or upset.
ceremony
A formal or religious event, such as a wedding or a burial.
rituals
Actions which are traditionally carried out in a particular situation or ceremony.
moving
Something that makes you feel very emotional.
embracing
To put your arms around somebody or something.
lobby
A group of people who work together to persuade an organisation to do something.
Succession
Rob and Stephen talk about new changes to ancient laws about succession in the British monarchy.
The question is: This is a royal question! Can you tell me which King did the current British Queen, Queen Elizabeth the Second, succeed? Was it:
a) King George the Fifth
b) King George the Sixth
c) King Edward the Eighth
Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme!
-The vocabulary to understand the text is:
succession
act or process of following in order or sequence
monarch
a king or queen who reigns over a country
abdicates
gives up a position of being a king or a queen
outdated
no longer useful or relevant
approval
a positive opinion of someone or something
dominance
preference of something or someone over other similar things or persons
ruled out
prevented from happening or from being possible
historic
important in history
reforms
changes and improvements to the law, social system or institution
implementing
carrying out a plan, system or law
Gaffes
Sarkozy told Obama that the Israeli Prime Minister was a liar. It was a private conversation. The only problem was the microphone was turned on. Find out about this and other political gaffes with Neil and Callum.
The question is: A question about Presidents. Who is the President of Germany? Is it:
a) Angela Merkel
b) Christian Wulff
c) Jurgen Klinsmann
Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme!
-The vocabulary to understand the text is:
political gaffes
something a politician says or does which wasn’t meant to be heard and causes embarrassment or offence
overheard
heard something without meaning to or without the speakers’ knowledge
ethically unsound
below the standards of their profession
deference
a politeness and respect for someone or something
bigoted
a person with strong and unreasonable opinions which they won’t change despite evidence
the final nail in the coffin
the last in a series of events leading to the failure of something
legislation
laws
Night Skies
The best places to see stars are the darkest places on the planet, like deserts and mountain tops. Recently, it has been discovered that Exmoor National Park, in south-west England, is one of the best places in the UK to see stars because it’s so dark there at night. It’s even been awarded special protection status. Find out more about this with Neil and Callum.
The question is: how many moons has the biggest planet in the solar system, Jupiter, got? Is it:
a) 1
b) 12
c) 64
Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme!
-The vocabulary to understand this text is:
light pollution
artificial light at night which makes the night sky lighter and means stars can’t be seen very well
twinkling
describes the way light from stars seems to shine strongly then weakly
satellite
an object which moves around a larger object in space
star gazer
someone who enjoys looking at stars
realm of opportunity
chances to explore a certain area of interest
amateur astronomers
people who study the stars as a hobby
TV Addicts
Most people can’t imagine life without TV, yet it’s only 75 years since regular broadcasting began.
The question is: how many hours a week on average does someone in the UK watch television? Is it:
a) 20 hours
b) 30 hours
c) 40 hours
Listen out for the answer at the end of the programme!
The vocabulary to understand the text is:
addict
someone who can’t stop doing something (usually something harmful like taking drugs but also time-consuming activities like watching TV)
medium
a method of communication, such as radio, TV or newspapers
telegraphy
a method of sending messages over long distances using radio or electric signals
to settle for (something)
to accept something less than you hoped for
visual
relating to what can be seen
experimental
new or being tried for the first time
mystical
relating to powers that we cannot understand
manufacturers
companies that produce things
high definition
a new, high standard for TV quality
spoilt for choice
a phrase meaning to have too many options or things to choose from
